(Litchfield)--A bankruptcy judge has approved an auction for Schutt Sports. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Schutt Sports will be offered for sale at an auction next month after a federal bankruptcy court approved the firm's bid to sell the company.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware approved holding an auction for Schutt and its assets on December 14th, with bids due by December 10th. According to court documents, the move comes a week after Delaware based Kranos Intermediate Holding Corporation made an offer to buy all of Schutt Sports assets.

Schutt Sports filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 6th after losing at 29 million dollar lawsuit against Riddell Incorporated.

(Highland)--A Hillsboro woman was killed in a three vehicle accident Sunday evening on Interstate 70, near Highland. According to Illinois State Police, a vehicle driven by 18 year old Christina Watson was westbound on Interstate 70. She reportedly made a sudden lane change and struck the back of a vehicle driven by 18 year old Nicholas Lindenmeyer of Arcola.

Lindenmeyer's vehicle slid off the roadway into a drainage ditch. Watson's vehicle overturned, striking the rear corner of a trailer of 38 year old Ronald Yoder of Pennsylvania. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

(Nokomis)--During a special Nokomis Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, the board approved to opt out of the South Central Conference beginning with the 2012 school year. The motion passed in a four to three vote. According to Superintendent Scott Doerr, the Board will be looking at other avenues to determine a conference for the school district for the 2012 school year.

The Nokomis Board of Education also approved to expel a student effective immediately for violations to the student handbook concerning the possession of tobacco, controlled substance, or paraphernalia. The expulsion is from now until December 31st.

A Gillespie woman was injured Thursday evening in a car-tractor accident near Lake Williamson.

According to the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office, 66 year old Mary Demoss was southbound on Rt. 4 when she reportedly failed to see a southbound 4640 John Deere tractor and ran her 2009 Chevy Cobalt into the rear of the tractor at 5:20pm.

Demoss sustained incapacitating injuries and was transported by Dunn's ambulance to Carlinville Area Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the tractor, 29 year old Cory Semplowshi of Wilsonville was not injured.

The Cobalt was extensively damaged and towed from the scene. The tractor was driven away.

No citations were issued.

(Hillsboro)--The Montgomery County Board District 6 election was decided Tuesday afternoon. According to Montgomery County Clerk and Recorder Sandy Leitheiser, Montgomery County was waiting on thirty four absentee ballots. Three of those ballots were for the County Board District 6 race, where John Downs was leading Ron Deabenderfer by one vote.

The county received one out of the three absentee ballots, and it resulted in a tie between Deabenderfer and Downs. A coin flip was used to break the tie, where Ron Deabenderfer was declared the winner.

A Mt. Olive man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday night near Mt. Olive.

According to Illinois State Police, 39 year old Roger Conlee Jr was eastbound on Rt. 138 when his 1977 Kawasaki crossed into the westbound lane and narrowly missed an oncoming vehicle around 8:38pm. The motorcyvle then went down on the pavement and Conlee was ejected. The motorcycle traveled an additional 305 feet before coming to rest.

Conlee sustained serious injuries and was transported by Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance to Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton for treatment.

State Police charge Conlee with DUI, improper land usage, driving to fast for conditions/failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.

(Nokomis)--A 28 year old Nokomis man was arrested Wednesday, and faces various charges in connection with a stolen vehicle in Nokomis. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Eric Root was arrested by Sheriff's Deputies, and Nokomis Police Department for the alleged stealing of a vehicle on October 8th.

The vehicle was found submerged in a pond north of Nokomis. Root is being held in Montgomery County jail in lieu of two hundred thousand dollars bond.

(Hillsboro)--A 44 year old Witt man arrested following an investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. According to reports, the Sheriff's Office was investigating a parked vehicle in the northbound Coalfied Rest Area. 44 year old Lloyd Andries was taken into custody after he was found of being in possession of meth and cannabis.

The investigation also led to the search of Andries residence on West Ford Avenue in Witt, where additional drug items were also seized. Andries was cited with possession of meth, possession of cannabis, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Witt Police Department, South Central Illinois Drug Task Force, and Illinois State Police Meth Response Team assisted with the arrest. Additional charges are pending.

(Hillsboro)--An update on last week's election was given during the Montgomery County Board meeting Tuesday morning. According to Montgomery County Clerk and Recorder Sandy Leitheiser, the county had a fifty four percent turn out. She said results from the election will not be made official until two weeks after the election, as the county waits for absentee ballots to be mailed back. According to Leitheiser, the county has thirty four absentee ballots left to be returned. Three of those ballots are in County Board District 6, where Democrat John Downs leads Ron Deabenderfer by one vote. According to Leitheiser, the county has received one of the three ballots back. The race for County Board District 6 will be reopened on Tuesday, November 16th at 1pm to count the absentee ballots. Leitheiser says a coin flip will be used in case of a tie.

Historic Courthouse Renovations

An update regarding the renovations to the Historic Courthouse was also given during Tuesday's meeting. According to Building and Grounds Committee Chairman Terry Bone, a presentation by Hurst and Rochee will be given to the board during their December meeting. Bone says the project could go out for bid in January, with awarding in February. Construction on the project could begin in March.

Food Service Sanitation Ordinance Amendment

An amendment to the Food Service Sanitation Ordinance was also given to the Montgomery County Board. Under the change proposed, any food permit license holder can not be in violation of any state or federal laws. According to Montgomery County Public Health Administrator Hugh Satterlee, this would give the county authority to write citations for violations to the state's smoking law. Action was tabled for thirty days.

Fiscal Year Budget

The Montgomery County Board also approved its 2011 Fiscal Year Budget in the amount of over twenty two million dollars.

Walton Park Bridge

An update regarding the Walton Park Bridge project was also given during Tuesday's meeting. According to Road and Bridge Committee Chairman Bonnie Branum, the contractor awarded declined the contract on the project due to the completion date. The project is now scheduled to be rebid in January.

County Board Appointment

Montgomery County Board Chairman Mike Plunkett announced that Chuck Graden has been appointed to fill the vacancy of Nelson Aumann. His appointment will go into effect in December.

Farewell

The Montgomery County Board also said farewell to board members Dale Ogden, Nelson Aumann, Bill Sielschott, and Kent Voils. The board will be losing five members following last week's election. Board members Ron Deabenderfer and John Downs position on the board will be decided on November 16th.

(Greenville)--One person was killed in a head on accident Sunday morning in Greenville. According to Illinois State Police, the accident happened on Route 40 near Linder Boulevard. Reportedly a vehicle driven by 23 year old Robert Reavis of Smithboro was traveling westbound on Route 40 when he exited the road, and into a cornfield. Another vehicle driven by 33 year old Brock Adcock of Greenville was eastbound, when he was struck head on by Reavis's vehicle.

Adcock was extricated from his vehicle, and was pronounced dead. The accident remains under investigation.

(Litchfield)--A 37 year old Gillespie man was arrested following an alleged incident Wednesday at Litchfield Family Practice. According to Litchfield Police, officers were called to a disturbance at the facility, where a patient reportedly assaulted several staff members. Officers attempted to take 37 year old David Willis into custody as he exited the building. Reportedly, Willis became combative, striking one of the officers. Authorities were able to subdue Willis, and took him into custody.

He was charged with four counts of aggravated battery, one count of resisting an officer of the peace, and one count of disorderly conduct.

(Hillsboro)--An over 54 percent voter turn out was reported during Tuesday's General Election. In local races:

Montgomery County Circuit Clerk

Incumbent Holly Lemons was your winner with 5,906 votes. Challenger Jarod Hitchings receiving 3,636 votes.

County Board District 1

In the County Board District 1 race: Incumbent Connie Beck and Dennis Williams were your winners. Beck receiving 865 votes; Williams receiving 840 votes. David Heaton coming in third with 696.

County Board District 2

In the County Board District 2 race: Republican challenger Joe Gasparich won with 882 votes. Incumbent Kent Voils receiving 373 votes.

County Board District 6

In the County Board District 6 race, Republican challenger Scott Merano, and incumbent John Downs were your winners. Merano receiving 673 votes, Downs receiving 636 votes. Incumbent Ron Deabenderfer coming in third with 635 votes.

County Board District 7

In the County Board District 7 race, Republican candidate Nicole "Nikki" Bishop was your winner with 896 votes. Challenger Pam Voyles receiving 468 votes.

County Wide Sales Tax Referendum

The proposed county wide sales tax referendum for Montgomery County schools failed with the no's receiving over fifty eight hundred votes to the thirty five hundred yes votes.

Regional Superintendent of Schools (Christian and Montgomery County)

In the Regional Superintendent of Schools race for Christian and Montgomery County, Republican challenger Tom Campbell was your winner receiving 10,673 votes. Challenger Theresa "Terry" Trader receiving 8,918 votes.

Farmersville Home Rule Increase Referendum

The home rule municipal tax increase for Farmersville residents failed 175 to 109.

(Coffeen)--The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Communication Center received a call Sunday morning of a possible missing person. Representatives from the Coffeen Fire Department, Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service, Illinois Conservation Police, and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to the Upland Game Management Unit in rural Coffeen where the body of 40 year old Mark Reynolds of New Douglas was discovered.

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office pronounced Reynolds dead at the scene. An investigation is ongoing by the Illinois Conservation Police, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and Montgomery County Coroner's Office.