According to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office a crack in the rail is to blame for a train blocking all but two rail road crossings in Litchfield but two on Sunday morning. Repair work took around three hours to complete finely opening around 11am

According to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office a crack in the rail is to blame for a train blocking all but two rail road crossings in Litchfield and will remain so for hours.
North of town, Sallee Avenue by the High School and the Niemannville Trail crossing south of town by Walton Park are the only two crossing that remain open.
WSMI News will have more on this story as it develops.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office a crack in the rail is to blame for a train blocking all but two rail road crossings in Litchfield and will remain so for hours.
North of town, Sallee Avenue by the High School and the Niemannville Trail crossing south of town by Walton Park are the only two crossing that remain open.
WSMI News will have more on this story as it develops.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, a crack in the rail is to blame for blocking all but two railroad crossings in Litchfield and will remain so for hours.
North of town, Sallee Avenue by the High School and the Niemannville Trail crossing south of town by Walton Park are the only two crossing that remain open.
WSMI News will have more on this story as it develops.

The Macoupin County Master Gardners will hold their annual Garden Tour on Saturday 28 from 10am until 3pm.

Beautiful, private residential gardens in the Carlinville area will be featured on the Garden Tour and the gardens may be toured at the leisure of the ticket holders.

Cost of the tour is $5 per person. Tickets are available at the Extension office at #60 Carlinville Plaza until Friday, June 27 and will be avialable Saturday, June 28 at Magnolias Restaurant at 531 South West St., Carlinville.

The garden tour will be held rain or shine. The tour benefits the U of I Master Gardener activities and the many educational programs offered for the public. For more information call 217-854-9604.

(Springfield)--The West Frontage Road of Interstate 55 south of the Coalfield Rest Area will be receiving some repair work. The Illinois Department of Transportation informed County Board Chairman Roy Hertel of a temporary road closure of the Frontage Road. The closure will take place south of the rest area to Route 48.

The closure is expected to begin late September, and should last around 20 days. The current plans includes, but not limited to, patching and resurfacing of existing pavement.

The project has a tentative letting date of August 1st. However, that date could be changed depending on funding.

(Staunton) - A Mt. Olive man was killed early Friday morning in a three car accident on Interstate 55 at mile marker 33. Two vehicles were stopped for construction on the Northbound lane of I-55 when a vehicle driven by 35 year old Michael Schultze failed to stop and struck one of the vehicles. Schultze was take by Staunton EMS to Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton where he was pronounced dead by Macoupin County Coroner Brad Targhetta. Illinois State Police are investigating.

(Virden) - On Saturday (June 21) in Virden there will be a free child safety event at Freedom Auto Group. Operation Kid Safe is a free program that affords parents the opportunity to get digital fingerprints of their children, which is done with the same techonlogy that the FBI and Secret Service use. Operaton Kid Safe has been around 13 years and has helped over a million children in North America. Operation Kid Safe is free and will be in Virden from 9-5 Saturday June 21.

(Butler)--A new Miss Montgomery County Fair Queen was crowned during ceremonies held Wednesday night in Butler. The new Miss Montgomery County Fair Queen is Shayla Grosenheider, the 20 year old daughter of Doug and Alicia Grosenheider of Litchfield. She was also awarded the Dallas Steward Award. First runner up went to 19 year old Jacy Littrell of Raymond, and second runner up went to 19 year old Natalie Hewitt of Litchfield.

The Montgomery County Fair also crowned its Junior Miss during ceremonies held Wednesday night. Being crowned as the new Junior Miss was Logan Wertin, the 14 year old daughter of Jim and Meg Wertin of Litchfield. First runner up went to Gracie Jones, and 2nd runner up went to Jordan Jacobs.

(Bunker Hill) - The fire that destroyed an apartment building in Bunker Hill remains under investigation. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State Fire Marshall continues its investigation into the fire that started around 2 pm Saturday afternoon. Twelve local fire departments responded to the fire that wasn't completely put out until Monday morning. WSMI News will have more information once the investigation is complete.

A substantial check benefiting Union Miners Cemetery and the Mother Jones Monument was presented at a press conference Tuesday in Mt. Olive. According to the President of the Union Miners Cemetery Board, Ed Becker, Mt. Olive Mayor John Skertich opened the ceremony followed by State Senator Andy Manar. Following Manar the President of the AFL-CIO, Mike Kerrigan, presented the board with a check in the amount of $61,000.00 collected from unions and individuals. Becker stated that the funds would be used to renovate both the Union Minors Cemetery and the Mother Jones Monument. Plans to have all the restoration work completed by the 150th Anniversary of the founding of Mt. Olive scheduled for June 17th through the 21st of 2015.

(Schram City)--The Montgomery County Sheriff's and Coroner's Office is investigating the death of a 27 year old Schram City woman. According to the Sheriff's Office, 911 received a phone call regarding a possible deceased person in the five hundred block of Locust Street in Schram City.

When authorities arrived, the body of 27 year old Cayla Degg was found inside the residence. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Montgomery County Coroner Rick Broaddus. The incident is under investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff's and Coroner's Office.

A three-year old bill stemming from the 2010 merger of the Girard and Virden School districts into the Noth Mac School District will soon be paid thanks to funding secured by State Senator Andy Manar.

Manar included the money in a supplemental spending plan, House Bill 6060, passed by the General Assembly on June 9. Also in the plan is an increase in funding to help cover the costs associated with voluntary school consolidations. Manar ensured $81,000 was set aside to pay the North Mac bill.

ROAD CLOSURES
UPDATED THURSDAY, JUNE 12THIn Cahokia Township in Macoupin County, Sunset Road from Franke Road to Prospect Road is closed until Saturday, June 14th.

Road ClosuresSeveral road closures will affect traffic in Montgomery and Macoupin Counties. Today, Monday, June 9th, a culvert is being replaced at the intersection of the Hillsboro North Road and Witt Avenue. The roads will be closed until 3:00 this afternoon.

In Cahokia Township in Macoupin County, Sunset Road from Franke Road to Prospect Road is closed until Saturday, June 14th.

Staunton Township will close Reservoir Road from Sportsman Club Lane to the Staunton city limits Tuesday, June 10th from 7:30 until noon. .

Road ClosuresSeveral road closures will affect traffic in Montgomery and Macoupin Counties. Today, Monday, June 9th, a culvert is being replaced at the intersection of the Hillsboro North Road and Witt Avenue. The roads will be closed until 3:00 this afternoon.

In Cahokia Township in Macoupin County, Sunset Road from Franke Road to Prsopect Road is closed until Saturday, June 14th.

Staunton Township will close Reservoir Road from Sportsman Club Lane to the Staunton city limits Tuesday, June 10th from 7:30 until noon. .

(Litchfield)--A new city clerk was appointed during a special Litchfield City Council meeting Tuesday night. Carol Burke was appointed to be the new city clerk. Burke has currently been serving the city as its Tourism Coordinator. She will replace Denise Lueker who resigned at the June 3rd City Council meeting.

The Litchfield City Council then went into closed session. When the council came back into open session, Alderman Dave Hollo made a motion to appoint Shelly Hermon as an Economic Development Coordinator Aide. That motion failed four to two with Alderman Woody Street, Bob Ostendorf, Ray Kellenberger, and Alderwoman Marilyn Sisson voting no.

Following the meeting all four council members who voted no did state that they did not have a problem with Herman, but had an issue with the process. All four expect the issue to be brought back at the next city council meeting.

Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative's 77th Annual Meeting will be held Thursday, June 12 at Glenwood Elementary School in Chatham. Registration and a free pork chop dinner will begin at 5pm, with the business meeting starting at 7pm. Vendor and craft displays will be open during the meal time, along with health screening services for members and activities for children. Displays on home energy efficiency will include heat pump and geothermal heating systems, insulation, air leakage testing, and a special area with new LED lighting technologies for both indoor and outdoor use.

All members of the cooperative are encouraged to attend. Door prizes will be given, including a grand prize drawing at the end of the evening for $300.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriffs office, Fisbie originally filed a police report on June 3rd alleging that she had been driving on Illinois Route 16 between Irving and Witt when she was pulled over by a black colored, unmarked, police-style car with lights, and was robbed by a male brandishing a semi-automatic pistol.
During the investigation, Fisbie admitted that she lied in the police report, admitting that the incident never occurred.

According to the Montgomery County Sheriffs office, Fisbie originally filed a police report on June 3rd alleging that she had been driving on Illinois Route 16 between Irving and Witt when she was pulled over by a black colored, unmarked, police-style car with lights, and was robbed by a male brandishing a semi-automatic pistol.
During the investigation, Fisbie admitted that she lied in the police report, admitting that the incident never occurred.

(Hillsboro)--The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is searching for an individual who impersonated a police officer while robbing a female. According to the sheriff's office, 911 received a report about a person who was allegedly robbed. The victim reported that she was driving on Route 16 between Irving and Witt when she saw a law enforcement vehicle with its lights on.

The individual pulled over and the suspect approached the vehicle and demanded cash. Authorities searched the area looking for the cara and suspect with no success.

The incident is still under investigation, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Individuals can also leave a tip by contacting the Macoupin Montgomery County Crimestoppers at 1-800-352-0136.

(Nokomis)--A 33 year old Nokomis man has been arrested on child pornography charges stemming from a several month long investigation. Reportedly the investigation began when 33 year old Daniel Johnson made contact with a student at Hillsboro High School, and then a month later took pictures of students at Nokomis High School.

Johnson was arrested on Tuesday under a warrant for child pornogrpahy. The charges stemmed from pictures found on Johnson's cell phone. Johnson is currently in custody on thirty thousand dollars bond.

Macoupin County Treasurer Anne Boehm states that the 2013 real estate tax bills will be mailed on Friday, June 6th. Approximately 38,000 tax bills are being prepared for mailing with a total current extension of $41,540,649.95.

The first installment due date has been set for Tuesday, July 15th, and the second installment due date will be Tuesday, September 2nd. Penalties will be charged after the due dates. The treasurer advises every taxpayer to read the information on the back of the tax bill. The information may answer any questions that you have regarding your taxes. If you still have questions, contact the treasurer's office at 217-854-4014 ext 709.

If a taxpayer does not get his/her tax bill(s) they should contact the treasurer's office, failure to receive a tax bill or receiving one late for any reason will not relieve a taxpayer from paying taxes or any late penalties accrued.

(Litchfield)--The resignation of Litchfield City Clerk Denise Lueker was accepted during the city council meeting Tuesday night. Following a short closed session, the board announced the resignation. Litchfield Mayor Steve Daugherty announced that a special meeting has been called for Tuesday (10th) at 6:30pm to appoint a new city clerk. Lueker's last day will be on June 10th.

Tourism Board Appointment's

The Litchfield City Council approved the appointment of Lisa Brumm and Lisa Francis to the cities tourism board.

Jet Skis On Lake Lou Yaeger

The Litchfield City Council also heard from Kurt Zenner regarding the use of Jet Skis on Lake Lou Yaeger. Zenner expressed to the council that allowing jet skis on the lake would be a bad idea. No comment was made by the city council. An ordinance to allow the use of jet skis on Lake Lou Yaeger failed due to a lack of a motion.

Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center

The Litchfield City Council also heard from Martha Jackson from the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. Jackson thanked the city council for their help with the museum, which is celebrating its first year in opperation.

Meeting Dates and Times

A motion to change the meeting dates and times to the first and third Tuesday of the month failed five to three.