(Hillsboro)--The Montgomery County Health Department has announced five special vaccination clinics for school age children which will be held in addition to the regularly scheduled monthly clinics.

The first clinic will be held on Tuesday, August 2nd, from 8am until 1pm and from 4pm until 7 at the Litchfield High School. The second clinic will be held from 11am until 6pm on Wednesday, August 3rd, at the Hillsboro Junior High School. The third clinic will be held Wednesday, August 3rd, from 3pm until 6 at the Raymond Grade School. The fourth clinic will be held Thursday, August 4th, from 8am until 1pm at the Nokomis High School. The final clinic will be held Wednesday, August 10th, from 8am until 11 at the Coffeen Grade School.

Parents are asked to bring a copy of their childs vaccination records with them to the clinic. Illinois Department of Public Aid recipients must bring their medical cards with them. Only individuals 18 and over will be able to sign for vaccinations. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

For more information you can contact the Montgomery County Health Department.

(Hillsboro)--The Macoupin Montgomery County Crimestoppers is seeking information on two suspected arsons in Donnellson. Reportedly the incidents happened on the evening of July 23rd between 8 and 10:15. Both structures were abandoned at the time.

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

(Hillsboro)--The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a 27 year old Taylor Springs man. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a residence Sunday afternoon in the two hundred block of Montgomery Street in Taylor Springs. Upon the arrival, the body of 27 year old Kyle Harrell was found. Harrell was pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

A preliminary investigation indicated that Harrell may of died from an suspected overdose of heroin. The investigation also resulted in the arrest of 26 year old Jeffrey Degg of Hillsboro. Degg was charged with possession of heroin. He is currently begin held in the Montgomery County jail in lieu of fifteen thousand dollars bond. An investigation is still ongoing by the Montgomery County Sheriff's and Coroners Office.

The annual Girard Festival Days celebration will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Girard City Park. There will be lots of exhibits and food and drink. Friday night there will be the Little Miss and Mister Pageant along with a performance of the 144th Army Band of the Illinois National Guard based in Springfield. Satruday night there will be a Talent Show along with the introduction of the Miss Girard contestants and the Citizen of the Year Award will be presented. Sunday night there will be a program honoring area veterans followed by the presentation of the Teen Citizen of the Year and then the Miss Girard Pageant.

The Carlinville Chamber of Commerce is promoting the Super Summer Weeekend this week and next. Sidewalk sales begin Thursday, July 28th and will continue Friday and Saturday. Friday night, the Carlinville Rotary Club will host its annual Ice Cream Social during the band concert on the square. Saturday, there will be the "Dog Days of Summer" Dog Show beginning at 11:00 on the north side of the Macoupin County Courthouse.

On Saturday, August 6th, the Carlinville Chamber sponsors City Wide Yard Sales. The 3rd annual Route 66 Car Show will be held in the parking lot of Emmanuel Baptist Church, just southwest of the Carlinville square. That night, the Chamber will have its annual dinner at the Demuzio Center at Blackburn College.

More than 200 Illinois Post Offices are on the possible chopping block as the United State Postal Service looks to cut costs. According to the USPS, it's not a done deal. They're conducting studies accross the state to determine which of the offices should be closed. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says a physical Post Office is no longer necessary to take care of customers needs. He say the USPS of the future will be "smaller, leaner and more competitive." The only Post Office in Macoupin County on the review list is the Sawyerville Post Office.

(Hillsboro)--The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a 27 year old Taylor Springs man. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a residence Sunday afternoon in the two hundred block of Montgomery Street in Taylor Springs. Upon the arrival, the body of 27 year old Kyle Harrell was found. Harrell was pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office.

A preliminary investigation indicated that Harrell may of died from an suspected overdose of heroin. The investigation also resulted in the arrest of 26 year old Jeffrey Degg of Hillsboro. Degg was charged with possession of heroin. He is currently begin held in the Montgomery County jail in lieu of fifteen thousand dollars bond. An investigation is still ongoing by the Montgomery County Sheriff's and Coroners Office.

A benefit fundraiser will be held on Saturday, August 6th for a Staunton man who was seriously injured in Afghanistan. Stewart Heim, a member of the Marines, was injured earlier this summer when his patrol came upon an I.E.D., an improvised explosive device. Friends of Heim's are holding a benefit dinner at the Staunton V.F.W. on the 6th from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Pulled pork bar-b-que, baked beans and slaw will be on the menu. The money raised will be used to help with family expenses. Heim has served in Iraq and then in Afghanistan. According to friends, he's facing several months of rehab.

A benefit fundraiser will be held on Saturday, August 6th for a Staunton man who was seriously injured in Afghanistan. Stewart Heim, a member of the Marines, was injured earlier this summer when his patrol came upon an I.E.D., an improvised explosive device. Friends of Heim's are holding a benefit dinner at the Staunton V.F.W. on the 6th from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Pulled pork bar-b-que, baked beans and slaw will be on the menu. The money raised will be used to help with family expenses. Heim has served in Iraq and then in Afghanistan. According to friends, he's facing several months of rehab.

Staunton Township will be oiling the following roads beginning at 8:30am, Thursday, July 28th; Streeb Lane, Cock Crow Lane, Soccer Road, Sanks Road, Kenworth Lane, and #7 Mine Road.

The Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity will be the guest speaker at the Carlinville Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner which is set for Saturday, August 6th at 5:00 at the Demuzio Center at Blackburn College in Carlinville. Warren Ribley has been the Director of the DCEO since March 2009 and has served the State of Illinois for more than twenty years. Tickets for the Chamber Dinner can be purchased by contacting the Chamber Office at 854-2141. That night the Carlinville Chamber will announce the Business, Organization and Citizen of the Year to be followed by a special Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Carlinville Area Hospital Auxilary has extended the dealine to order commemorative engraved bricks to July 31st. Kay Craig, the Committee Leader says county residents are still wanting to take part in the auxilary fundraiser. The bricks will be used to create a patio area near the front of the hospital. The bricks sell for $125 each anc can feature up to twenty letters or characters on each of three lines. The cost of the commemorative brick is tax deductible. For more information, contact Judy Minster at 217-854-6663.

The U.S. Postal Service announced today that it will be taking the next step in right-sizing its expansive retail network by conducting studies of approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs. Click here for USPS News Release.

List of Illinois Post Offices Under Study.

Road Closings as of 7-22-11

- Fillmore Trail will be closed Monday (07/25/11) through Wednesday (07/27/11) from Kink's Corner to Schoolhouse road for road work.

-The City of Raymond will be close Springfield Road from North McGown to North O'Bannon on Tuesday (7-26-11) from 7am to 10am.

(Raymond)--A measure to move forward with plans to consolidate the Panhandle, Morrisonville, and Pawnee School Districts failed Thursday night. On Monday, the Panhandle Board of Education approved plans to place the consolidation referendum on the ballot. The move was contingent to approval from both the Morrisonville, and Pawnee Boards of Education.

At their meeting Thursday night, the Pawnee Board of Education failed a measure to proceed with the proposed consolidation with the Morrisonville and Panhandle School Disticts. The measure failed six to zero. The Morrisonville Board of Education passed their measure five to two.

(Irving)--On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office responded to an ATV accident on the Coffeen-Irving blacktop, south of Seven Sisters Avenue. The body of 82 year old Cynthia Joann Stroup was found underneath her ATV from a rollover accident. Stroup has been missing since Monday evening.

The Montgomery County Coroner's Office pronounced her dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff's and Coroner's Office.

(Edwardsville)--An investigation is ongoing on several residential burglaries that have occurred in Bond, St. Clair, Madison, and Macoupin Counties during the late spring and early summer. According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office, the suspects entered unoccupied homes during the daytime stealing jewelry, electronics, and money.

On June 27th, the Bond County Sheriff's Office arrested 25 year old Brett Chastain and a second suspect in the eight hundred block of Box Elder Avenue in Greenville. Chastain was charged on June 30th in Madison County Circuit Court to six counts of residential burglary. Authorites in Madison, Bond, St. Clair, and Macoupin Counties are continuing their investigation into the burglaries.

New Miss Macoupin County and Junior Miss selected at the 2011 Macoupin County Fair on Tuesday.

The new Miss Macoupin is Kate Scheller of Mt. Olive.

1st runner up - Alli Branham of Gillespie
2nd runner up - Kylie Frensko of Benld
3rd runner up - Catie Witt of Carlinville
4th runner up - Taylor Schwab of Carlinville

The New Junior Miss is Samatha Burns of Medora

1st runner up - Reese Marshall of Benld
2nd runner up - Candace Conlee of Gillespie
3rd runner up - Kaitlin Henrichs of Dorchester
4th runner up - Michelle Gibbs of Benld

The Miss People's Choice Award went Noah Atkins-Harris of Staunton and the Junior Miss People's Choice Award went to Kaitlin Henrichs of Dorchester.

Miss Congeniality was Catie Witt of Carlinville and Junior Miss Congeniality was Kaitlin Henrichs of Dorchester.

The Kay Kalaher Award was presented to Kate Scheller of Mt. Olive.

Cooling Center Info

Montgomery County Residents call 1-877-9911

The Macoupin County Public Health Department offices in Carlinville and Gillespie are available for transportation call 1-877-600-0707

Central Illinois Public Transit will provide a ride by calling 1-855-755-2478

The Girard City Hall is open as a cooling center from 10am to 8pm

(Raymond)--During the Panhandle Board of Education meeting Monday night, the board had a long discussion regarding the possible consolidation with the Pawnee and Morrisonville School Districts. Several in attendance agreed that the board is taking the right steps in exploring consolidation, however, wants the board to consider other options before making a final decision. Visitor Dick Lyons suggested the board consider to disolve the district, and become a grade school district. Lyons said the district could be broken up into four districts, and would protect vulnerable students.

Board member Greg Nimmo said the public realizes the board has to do something. Nimmo agreed that a grade school district would help the village keep its identity. Board member Mike Meisner said that a grade school district is a complicated process.

The Panhandle Board of Education approved to move forward with plans to consolidated with the Pawnee and Morrisonville School Districts. The measure passed five to two. Board members Kathy Johnson and Greg Nimmo voting no. The measure now awaits approval from the Pawnee and Morrisonville School Districts. Both districts will be meeting Thursday night.

Pre K Grant Funding

Superintendent Connie Woods said that the Panhandle School District received full funding for their Pre K program. She says that no fee for service will be needed this year, as in years past. The funding amount is over one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.

Closed Session

Following a closed session, the Panhandle Board of Education approved to hire Meghan Allen as a Raymond Grade School teacher for the 2011-2012 school year. They also accepted the resignation of Shawn Weidner as a Lincolnwood Aide.

The Panhandle Board of Education also approved a three percent pay increase for non certified staff for the 2011-2012 school year. The motion passed four to one. Board members Greg Nimmo and Rick Bormida abstaining. Brett Slightom voting no.

(Hillsboro)--Public Health officials say it's time to take extra precautions with a scorching heat wave predicted this week. County public health departments say their tips include limiting time outdoors, drinking plenty of water, and wearing loose fitting clothes. Health officials are also urging the public to keep an eye on pets, infants, and the elderly.

The National Weather Service says a high pressure system will bring hot and humid conditions lasting through most of the week. There are heat advisories, warnings and watches for most of the state. Temperatures are expected to reach in the 100's in some parts of the state.

Locally the Montgomery County Emergency Management Services announced that during this warning period, residents in need can contact the Operation Cool Down toll free hotline number at 877-532-9911 to gain access to an air condidtioned facility. According to EMA Director Diana Holmes the cooling centers will be opened on an as needed basis during the excessive heat period.

(Litchfield)--During the Litchfield Board of Education meeting Tuesday night, the board approved two sections for fee for service for the Litchfield Pre K program. The school district received a forty percent cut in funding for the program. According to Superintendent Chad Allison, the district will be looking into why funding was cut.

Bus Transporation

The Litchfield Board of Education also approved to eliminate transporting band students from the Zion Lutheran School to the High School. The cuts were due to transportation funding, and could save the district four thousand dollars.

Board Hirings

The Litchfield Board of Education approved to hire Jennifer Ruschhaupt as a sixth grade teacher; Jason Cooper as a media specialist. Cooper will also be assistant boys basketball, football, and baseball coach. The board also approved Andy Kassebaum as Freshman Boys basketball coach.

The newly constructed Litchfield Road south of Carlinville will be officially opened with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday at 10:00am

The opening of the new portion of Litchfield Road follows a near $2 million construction project that added approximately 2.5 miles of road and is designed to sustain 80,000 pound load trucks.

Macoupin County was able to access more than $1.6 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment funds and Surface Transportation Rural funds to complete the project.

(Litchfield)--One person was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident Sunday morning on Route 127, south of North 3rd Avenue. According to Illinois State Police, a motorcycle driven by 28 year old Nathan Pinnel of Morrisonville traveled off Route 127, and struck a ditch.

Pinnel was ejected from the motorcycle. He was taken by ambulance to Hillsboro Area Hosptial then airlifted by ARCH helicopter to St. John's Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Pinnel was cited with operation of an uninsured motor vehicle.