(Litchfield)--The City of Litchfield was a recipient of a twenty one thousand dollar grant to help cover costs associated with two early warning sirens. The grant came through the U.S.D.A. Rural Development Community and Facility Grant program.

The two sirens will be located at Marina One, which will cover the main area of Lake Lou Yaeger, and on Solar Circle, which will provide coverage to over five hundred residents in the area.

(Hillsboro)--A 56 year old Hillsboro man was killed in a semi accident Wednesday afternoon near Fillmore. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, around 5pm the Sheriff's Office received a call regarding a semi truck that had overturned. Sheriff's Deputies, and the Fillmore Police Department responded to the accident on Nokomis Road and Hawk Avenue.

Reportedly, the semi driven by 56 year old Terry Applegate of Hillsboro, was traveling southbound on Nokomis Road when he left the road and overturned. Applegate was trapped in the semi, and was extricated from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office. The accident remains under investigation.

(Hillsboro)--Members of the Hillsboro Moose Lodge approved Sunday afternoon to keep the lodge open with plans for reorganization. Members in attendance appointed John Ostermann to fill the vacant position as Administrator, and Tobin Ott to fill the vacant position of Governor during the process.

I was encouraged that members of the Hillsboro Moose Lodge attend the lodge's meeting on the first and third Monday's of the each month to give feedback during the reorganization process.

(Hillsboro)--The Hillsboro Moose Lodge will be holding a special meeting on Sunday to discuss the future of the lodge. A letter was recently mailed to three hundred good standing members. The meeting will inform members of the financial state of the lodge, and to fill vacant officers.

The letter stated that if new officers can not be found, or revenues and participation at the Moose's Social Quarters do not increase three options can happen. Those options are: 1. Dissolve the charter; 2. Consolidate the charter with a neighboring lodge; or 3. Become a Moose Service Center.

The meeting is scheduled to begin Sunday afternoon at 3pm, and good standing members of the Hillsboro Moose will be allowed at the meeting.

According to the Litchfield Police Department, on Tuesday (Oct 19th) :

* 18 year old Kayla Schmidt of Mt. Olive was arrested and charged with retail theft.

* 20 year old Amber Lavender of Litchfield was arrested and charged with retail theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of cannabis less than 2.5 grams.

* 26 year old Jeramiah Severtson of Litchfield was arrested on a Montgomery county warrant. Severtson was also charged with operating an unnumbered boat.

* 18 year old joseph Brackett of Taylor Springs was arrested and charged with retail theft.

All four posted bond and were released form the Montgomery County Jail.

* 56 Dale Burkel of Festus, Mo. Was arrested and charged with driving while license revoked and illegal transportation of alcohol by a driver. Burkel remains in the Montgomery County Jail.

The annual Bond, Fayette, Effingham Women Teachers Dinner will be held at the Vandalia Junior High School on Monday November 1st at
6:30 pm.
Retired teachers need to make advanced reservations no later than October 26th, by calling the Regional Office of Education in the county they reside in.
This dinner is designed to be informative, educational and provides the opportunity for teachers to establish new relationships and maintain old ones.

Litchfield CUSD #12 has announced the implementation of a district-wide mentoring program. The district is seeking community members who will volunteer to become mentors to students in the district. A mentor is a guide, a coach and a listener. The mentor will provide a successful, trusting relationship, a positive role model, one on one support and experience with life skills, which in turn could give the child a more positive outlook on life and the benefits of a quality education.

Responsible mentoring:
. Is a structured, one-to-one relationship or partnership that focuses on the needs of mentored participants.
. Fosters caring and supportive relationships.
. Encourages individuals to develop to their fullest potential.
. Helps an individual to develop his or her own vision for the future.
. Is a strategy to develop active community partnership.

K-12 students who are seen as struggling socially, emotionally or academically can be referred to the mentor program by building administrators, faculty or staff. Parents can also request their child be a part of the program by contacting the principal at their child's school. District representatives will soon begin visiting with the Ministerial Alliance and other service organizations to explain the program and request volunteer mentors. Persons interested in becoming a volunteer mentor are asked register at the Unit Office and then go through the National Mentoring Partnership Website training program online. Volunteers will need to be fingerprinted before being selected. All information regarding the mentoring program is listed on the District's website at http://www.litchfieldpanthersorg/ or may be obtained by calling the District office at 217-324-2157.

Litchfield CUSD #12 has announced the implementation of a district-wide mentoring program. The district is seeking community members who will volunteer to become mentors to students in the district. A mentor is a guide, a coach and a listener. The mentor will provide a successful, trusting relationship, a positive role model, one on one support and experience with life skills, which in turn could give the child a more positive outlook on life and the benefits of a quality education.

Responsible mentoring:
. Is a structured, one-to-one relationship or partnership that focuses on the needs of mentored participants.
. Fosters caring and supportive relationships.
. Encourages individuals to develop to their fullest potential.
. Helps an individual to develop his or her own vision for the future.
. Is a strategy to develop active community partnership.

K-12 students who are seen as struggling socially, emotionally or academically can be referred to the mentor program by building administrators, faculty or staff. Parents can also request their child be a part of the program by contacting the principal at their child's school. District representatives will soon begin visiting with the Ministerial Alliance and other service organizations to explain the program and request volunteer mentors. Persons interested in becoming a volunteer mentor are asked register at the Unit Office and then go through the National Mentoring Partnership Website training program online. Volunteers will need to be fingerprinted before being selected. All information regarding the mentoring program is listed on the District's website at http://www.litchfieldpanthersorg/ or may be obtained by calling the District office at 217-324-2157.

According to Litchfield Police:

* 48 year Jay Bramel of Litchfield was arrested on a Montgomery County Warrant.

* 21 ear old Bradley Estell was arrested on a Montgomery County Warrant and charged with possession of cannabis of less than 2.5 grams.

* 33 year old Nolan Gerl was arrested on a Macoupin County Warrant.

* 43 year old Jeff Jones of Litchfield was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct / breach of peace.

* 19 year old Cody Gray of Litchfield was arrested and charged with retail theft.

At Wednesday nights monthly meeting Macoupin / Montgomery County Crimestoppers authorized a pay out of $100.00 to a individual. This individual provided information on the whereabouts of a Gillespie woman wanted on a Montgomery County warrant for deceptive practive. The woman was arrested by Gillespie Police and turned over to the Montgomery County authorities.

Montgomery County Under Sheriff Rick Robbins recently spoke with WSMI about a string of burglaries in Sangamon and Christian Counties. Robbins explains
Listen:

Two people were injured in a single vehicle accident Sunday west of Bunker Hill.

According to information released by the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office, 17 year old Calli Johnson of Bunker Hill was driving a 2003 Ford Ranger east on the Brighton-Bunker Hill Road when she lost control of the vehicle at 9:36am. The pickup skidded back and forth and rolled over five times before coming to rest.

Johnson sustained incapacitating injuries and was airlifted by ARCH helicopter to Cardinal Glennonn Hospital.

A passenger in the vehicle, 17 year old Alina Fields of Gillespie sustained non-incapacitating injuries and was transported by ambulance to Alton Memorial Hospital.

Calli Johnson was issued a ticket for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

(Litchfield)--Litchfield Health Care Center will be closing effective at the end of the year. According to a letter released by Mid Illinois Management, LLC., Mariner Health Care, the license holder for the health care facility, has hired Mid Illinois Management, LLC. to oversee the closing of Litchfield Health Care Center.

According to Mid Illinois Management General Manager Clay Cox, this was a heavy hearted decision, but one that is necessary in today's saturated market. Mid Illinois Management LLC., will be working with families of residents to help them relocate to another nursing care facility. Litchfield Health Care Center will no longer be accepting new applications effective after the first week in November.

(Donnellson)--The Macoupin Montgomery County Crimestoppers is seeking information regarding thefts in Donnellson. According to Crimestoppers, sometime Monday the Shade Tree Service Company reported that someone cut padlocks from equipment boxes on their trucks. Several items including tree climbing equipment were taken from the vehicles.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-352-0136, or submit your tip online at macmontcrimestoppers.com.