(Hillsboro)--A 49 year old woman was found Wednesday morning deceased in her car on Suits Lane, near Red Bridge Trail. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, on Tuesday, family members of 49 year old Wilma Giller reported her missing. Giller was last seen Sunday afternoon in Taylor Springs, and was reported to be headed back to her residence in Panama.

A search by family members, friends, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and the Illinois State Police Aviation Unit discovered a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix in a deep ravine near Suits Lane. Giller was found inside the vehicle. She was reported dead at the scene by the Mongomery County Coroner's Office.

An investigation is ongoing.

(Hillsboro)--During the Hillsboro City Council meeting Tuesday night, Commissioner Bruce Holcomb reported that the city is working on a water leak at Edgewood Estates. Holcomb stated that workers are trying to determine where the leak is coming from. More information could be determined later this week.

Mayor John Downs reported that a night shoot will take place on December 4th from 6pm until 9 at the shooting range.

The Hillsboro City Council was also given information regarding city parking lot repairs. The Hillsboro Planning Commission recommended that the council come up with a plan to fix the city owned parking lots. Mayor John Downs stated that a plan is in the works. No time frame for the plan was mentioned.

The Village of Wilsonville will soon have new additions to the local park after obtaining an AT&T community award given to the Wilsonville Community Outreach program.

Village officials joined members of the Wilsonville Community Outreach program, Macoupin County officials and State Senator Andy Manar to receive a $1,500 grant from AT&T for playground equipment. Manar's office contacted AT&T to nominate the Wilsonville Community Outreach program for the grant.

The Village of Wilsonville matched the AT&T grant, and several individuals have made private contributions towards the project.

State retirees are encouraged to attend an informational meeting concerning major insurance changes that are coming in the near future.

The meeting will be held this Sunday (Nov. 24) at 3:00pm in Bothwell Auditorium on the Blackburn College Campus in Carlinville.

State Representative Wayne Rosenthal is hosting the meeting and officials with Central Management Services will be on hand to provide information and answer questions. According to Rosenthal, those that attend will have the oppurtunity to learn more about their Medicare Advantage options, as well as what they need to do to sign up or opt out.

(Chicago)--The Illinois State Board of Education voted Friday morning to disband the Christian and Montgomery County Regional Office of Education.

According to Montgomery County Board Chairman Roy Hertel, the board voted seven to one in favor of the consolidation. Hertel says that Montgomery County will now be joining Fayette, Bond, and Effingham County for the new Regional Office of Education.

The consolidation was in response to a state law that required the State Board of Education to reduce the number of regional offices outside of Cook County from 44 offices to 35.

(Hillsboro)--One person was arrested following an alcohol related accident Sunday in Hillsboro. According to the Hillsboro Police Department, a car driven by 31 year old Richard Stewart of Hillsboro was westbound on Water Street, near the intersection of Oak Street, when he collided with a parked car belonging to 28 year old Nicole Hayes of Hillsboro.

The accident caused Hayes vehicle to collide with the front of her residence, causing damage to the house. Stewart was cited with DUI, possession of cannabis, and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Carlinville Lake leases will not be revised following action by the Carlinville City Council this week.

Alderman voted down any revision of the lake lease price that was inacted last month.

Numerous leasees from Carlinville Lake opposed the recent increase to $1,200 per year and voiced there concerns at the last city council meeting. The matter was reviewed and placed on the agenda for possible reconsideration.

The matter could be reviewed again in the future; however, a time period of at least six months is required before revisiting the matter.

(Litchfield)--The Litchfield VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary announced the three finalists in this years Patriots Pen essay contest. They include: Madeline Ellis, Ellen Flemming, and Hannah Niemann.

The finalists were selected from a field of fifty students from the 5th thru 8th grade at Litchfield Middle School. The three finalists and their parents will be honored at a banquet on December 7th.

The first place winner will receive a 150 dollar savings bond and a gold medal; the second place winner will receive a 100 dollar savings bond and a silver medal; and the third place winner will receive a 50 dollar savings bond and a bronze medal.

The directors of the Good Samaritan Ministry of Carlinville will be in charge of the Salvation Army Bellringing fundraiser which begins on November 21st and continues on weekends until Christmas.

Money placed in a bellringer's kettle during the Christmas season or donations sent to the Salvation Army in St. Louis and marked "for Carlinville, IL" will be used in the Carlinville area to help needy families with rent, utility bills assistance, short term lodging, healthcare, medicine and transportation costs. Approximately 200 families were helped last year.

Margaret Duncan, Carlinville Salvation Army Fund Allocation Director, says she is only able to help about one-half of the people who have a need and would like to see larger monetary contributions to the "Tree of Lights" campaign. This years goal is $30,000.

Bellringers are needed and anyone who would like to volunteer in Carlinville can call 217-854-7362 or 217-854-5124.

(Nokomis)--Area residents continue clean up efforts following storms that sweept through the area on Sunday. Nokomis and Witt firemen were called out to the farm of Steve Johnston for a structure fire. Access to the farm on East 23rd Road was made difficult due to downed power lines. The Pana Fire Department sent a truck to provide assistance. The residence suffered extensive damage, but no one was injured.

Trees and limbs were downed in the area and numerous outages were reported. Portions of I55 between Route 48 and Farmersville, East 23rd Road, and the Nokomis/Taylorville blacktop were also closed for a time following the storms. Electric service is still out in many areas of the county.

The Girard Chamber of Commerce is hosting a communtiy roundtable with U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis, Illinois Senator Andy Manar and Illinois State Representative Wayne Rosenthal.

The purpose of the roundtable is to discuss federal and state resources available to help Girard and area respond to the Crown III mine closure.

The event is open to the public and will be held Monday, November 25th in the Girard Middle School Multipurpose Room starting at 5:30pm.t

(Litchfield)--The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce announced that they will be having a meet and greet Monday with Congressional Candidate Ericka Harold. Harold is running in the primary for the 13th Congressional District. The meet and greet will take place Monday from 9 until 11 at the Holiday Inn Express.

The Litchfield Chamber of Commerce is not endorsing any candidate or party, but rather is encouraging its members and the community to get to know the candidates as well as their stance on the issues that will be impacting the community.

The third Annual Build Benld Senior Citizens Free Christmas Dinner will be held on Sunday, December 8th at the Benld Civic Center. Seniors living in Benld need to register by Monday, December 2nd.

Current Benld senior resident age 60+ can sign up for this dinner, live entertainment and a gift at the Benld Civic Center, Cahokia Township Office, Benld Library, Veschak's Bakery, the Benld Post Office or Michelle's Pharmacy in Gillespie before Monday, December 2nd.

Meals will be delivered to senior shut-ins and the Benld Civic Center doors will open at 11:30am and dinner will be served at Noon on Sunday, December 8th.

The Blackburn College Department of Performing Arts is hosting its 42nd Annual Madrigal Feast. The Madrigal Feast provides the audience with an entertaining evening of dinner theatre. The dinners will be held Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23 at 7:30pm in the Demuzio Campus Center on the Blackburn College campus. For one weekend every year the campus center is transformed into a candlelit world of castles, knights, royalty and music.

Blackburn Voices, the College's chamber vocal ensemble, will sing Renaissance madrigals as well as Christmas music to kick off the holiday season. Blackburn Voices is directed by Dr. Elizabeth Zobel. Music will also be provided by a brass quintet of musicians from the Blackburn College Bank.

The menu consists of a choice of Chicken Romano or Butternut Squash and Lentil Pot Pie, served with roasted red potatoes, broccoli, and apple crisp. An alternate children's meal is also available. To order tickets or for more information, contact the Performing Arts Department at performingarts@blackburn.edu. There will be no tickets sold at the door.

Congressman Rodney Davis will be in Carlinville on Monday, November 25th to answer questions about the Affordable Care Act and other business related topics.

the Business Roundtable is scheduled from 1-2:30pm in the Macoupin County Farm Bureau auditorium located at 220 North Broad, Carlinville. The event is sponored by the Macoupin County Farm Bureau and hosted by the Macupin Economic Development Partnership.

All large and small businesses in the area are invited to attend this free informative event.

On Monday, November 11 at 11am, Blackburn College will honor United States military veterans at the annual Veterans Day Convocation in Clegg Chapel. The convocation is open to the public.

This year's convocation speaker is U.S. District Judge Richard Mills, Major General in the Illinois State Militia and a retired Colonel in the Army of the United States. His military career spans 33 years, having served in Combat Engineers, Military Intelligence, Counter Intelligence, and the Judge Advocate General's Corps.

General Mills served on active duty in Korea during the Korean War with the 3rd Infantry Division, where he received the Bronze Star.

In 1985, he was appointed by President Reagan as United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois.

(Litchfield)--A Litchfield college student was recently honored by the Lincoln Academy of Illinois as a student laureate. Anthony Rhoads of Litchfield was given the honor during ceremonies held last Saturday at the Old State Capitol. Rhoads is currently a student at McKendree University in Lebanon.

The Lincoln Academy Student Laureate awards are presented to students for excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities to seniors of each of the states four years university. Award winners will receive a one thousand dollar educational grant, a student laureate medallion, and a certificate of achievement. The 50th annual convocation and investiture of laureates of the Lincoln Academy will take place Saturday, May 3rd at the Field Museum in Chicago.

Other local winners include Christopher Branch of Edwardsville, and Lindsey Posmanick of Troy.

A new hunting license may soon be made available to youth hunters under a proposal sponsored by State Senator Andy Manar of Bunker Hill. The measure Senate Bill 853, creates the Youth Hunting License, which allows youths (ages 16 and under) to hunt while accompanied by a licensed parent, grandparent or guardian.

Currently, the state requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1980 to present a valid Hunter Education Certificate of Competency before being issued a hunting license. Manar's proposal is similar to junior hunting permits issued in neighboring states and would allow youths to obtain licenses without completing a hunter safety course.

The license will cost $7 and will be available upon request from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to Illinois residents under the age of 17. Once issued, the license will be valid until the following March 31.

The measure passed 57-0 in the senate and now awaits approval by the House.

The Macoupin Center for the Developmentally Disabled has announced that lack of money in its scholarship fund may force several needy students to withdraw from the Macoupin County facility before Thanksgiving arrives.

According to Rosalind Bloome, MCDD's professional bookkeeper, there is a need for money in the scholarship fund by November 25 or the center will lose three or more students before the Thanksviving weekend.

MCDD is a day learning center for up to 22 Macoupin County residents age 18 and older, all with physical and /or mental disabilities. Students are taught math, writing, reading, and related academic skills, as well as life and social skills.

Parents or guardians of many of the 20 students currently under MCDD's care are able to afford most or all of the facility's $100 per month costs. But there are those who cannot, and they rely on the scholarship fund.

According to MCDD's President Mary Cox, about the only meaningful sources for funding the scholarship are contributions from individuals, organizations, and businesses.

"The center accepts contributions any time of the year," Cox added. "But there is some urgency here. We really need to re-build our scholarship fund by November 25."

Any person or organization that wants to make a tax-deductible contribution to the MCCD should send a check or money order--made payable to MCDD--to MCDD, 700 E. Elm Street, Carlinville, IL 62626. Mark the check "Scholarship Fund."

(Litchfield)--A referendum allowing residents of the City of Litchfield to vote on an electric aggragation program took another step closer. During the city council meeting Tuesday night, the council approved the first reading for the city to be apart of the "opt out" program. Final action will take place in December.

The city council tabled a contract with Affordable Gas and Electricity regarding the program. The council is seeking more information regarding the company. A decision on the contract will take place in December.

The city council then went into closed session for the discussion of litigation and personnel. No action took place when the council came back into open session.

(Raymond)--During the Raymond Village Board meeting Monday night, the board approved its 2013-2014 tax levy in the amount of over eighty three thousand dollars. According to Village President Dennis Held, the levy is four percent over last years levy.

The Raymond Village Board also approved plans to place a Christmas Tree in downtown Raymond during the holiday season. Holiday lights will be going up on the 24th.

An update regarding the Dollar General store was also given. According to Village President Dennis Held, construction on the new store will begin this week. The store could be open late November, or early December.

(Harvel)--Friday morning, Montgomery County 911 recevied a report of a man saying he was going to commit suicide. Deputies were sent to an address on Henry Street in Harvel. As they arrived, a gunshot was heard from inside the house. When deputies entered into the house, they found a man with an apparent self inflicted gun shot wound to the head.

The victim was identified as 53 year old Doug Owens. He was airlifted to St. John's Hosptial where he was prounounced dead. An investigation revealed no criminal activity.