(Witt)--A residential fire in Witt claimed the life of a Witt woman. According to the Witt Fire Department, Montgomery County 911 was called about a structure fire in the five hundred block of South Main Street. The Witt Volunteer Fire Department, the Nokomis Fire Protection District, and the Nokomis-Witt Ambulance Service was called to the scene.

Fire fighters extinguished the fire, and conducted a search of a residence where the body of a female was discovered inside. Members of the Witt Fire Department removed the female from the building. EMS staff conducted resusitation tactics, but were unsuccessful.

The incident is under investigation by the Illinois State Fire Marshall's Office, Montgomery County Coroner's Office, Witt Police Department, and the Witt Fire Department.

(Coffeen)--Coffeen Lake is closed to boating while clean up of a turbine oil leak at the Coffeen Power Plant continues. According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Dynegy, Inc. reported the spill of 700 gallons of oil into the discharge ditch on Wednesday.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reporting that no impact to fish or wildlife have been reported. The Illinois E.P.A. recommended the lake be closed as clean up efforts continues.

Just over 100 people turned out for the 2015 Primary Election in Carlinville on Tuesday.

Unofficial totals show David Steiner winning the race with 66 votes as compared to Jan Heinz Best with 44. The two democratic candidates were the only candidates involved in a primary race within Macoupin County.

Two precincts in Carlinville participated in the election for Ward #2 of the city. There are over 1,000 registered voters in the area and turnout according to the Macoupin County Elections Office was 10.64%.

(Litchfield)--A 27 year old Litchfield man was arrested following an alleged incident Friday in Litchfield. According to police, officers received a phone call Friday evening regarding a man who was walking in the fifteen hundred block of North Madison Street with a shotgun.

27 year old Russell Kitchens was found by officers with a loaded shotgun. Following a brief standoff, Kitchens surrendered his weapon and was taken into custody.

Kitchens was cited with unlawful use of a weapon within one thousand feet of a school, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kitchens was taken to Montgomery County jail.

Louis Lang of Coffeen was inducted into the Illinois Coaches Association Softball Hall of Fame for his thirty seven years of service to the sport as an umpire. Louis has officiated softball at all levels including the Illinois High School Association State Tournament and ASA events in the summer. Louie was one of four umpires to receive the HOF honor this year. Area coaches receiving Coach of the Year honors from the ICA included Brian Kernich of Mt. Olive and Amy Struble of Carrollton in Class 1A. 2015 members of the Coaches Hall of Fame included Bruce Lewis of Triad High School and Eric Zanger of Sacred Heart Griffin in Springfield. The annual banquet was held in Bloomington on Sunday. .

(Litchfield)--The Litchfield Police Department, along with four other police agencies responded to an incident Saturday afternoon in Litchfield. According to Litchfield Police, the department received a call of a large group of people fighting in the area of Kirk Terrace. Authorities responded to the intersection of Chapin Street and Kirk Terrace.

According to reports, the altercation was related to an incident that occurred the previous night. Following an investigation: 32 year old Paul Anderson of Springfield, 35 year old Christine Franks of Springfield, and 44 year old Kevin Stewart of Butler were taken into custody and charged with mob action. All were taken to the Montgomery County jail. Three juveniles from Springfield, ages 14, 16, and 17, were also charged with mob action. Two were taken to the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center, and a third was released to a parent. 43 year old April Stewart of Butler was cited with reckless driving. She posted bond and was released.

The incident remains under investigation. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, Hillsboro Police Department, and the Gillespie Police Department assisted with the incident.

(Springfield)--A 23 year old Farmersville woman has been appointed to be the next State Representative of the 95th district. Republican Committee leaders in Montgomery, Christian, and Macoupin counties selected Avery Bourne to be the new State Representative.

Bourne is a Washington University law student, and a graduate of Pawnee High School. She will be sworn into office this week. Bourne replaces Wayne Rosenthal in the House. Rosenthal resigned following his appointment as the new director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

(Hillsboro)--The Macoupin Montgomery County Crimestoppers is seeking information on mulitple thefts at Hillsboro High School. According to Crimestoppers, several I-Pads were stolen from a teacher's desk. Three I-Pads were mini's, and one was a full size.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, or the Hillsboro Police Department. You can also submit your tip by calling 1-800-352-0136, or online at www.macmontcrimestoppers.com.

The mandatory Illinois Department of Natural Resources Hunter Safety Education course will be held in Carlinville on February 20 and 21. Sign-in will begin at 5pm on Friday, February 20. The class will be held Friday from 5:30pm until 9:30pm and Saturday from 8am until 4"30pm. The class is presented free of charge in the Macoupin County Farm Bureau Building on North Broad Street. Meals will be provided. Students should register in advance by calling the Carlinville Police Department at 217-854-3221. The class is limited to the first 60 students to enroll.

It is the policy of the Department that youth under the age of ten must be accompanied to and during the safety education courses by an adult or guardian at least sixteen years of age.

The Illinois huner education program consists of a minimum of 10 hours of instruction. The course covers the basics of hunter responsibility, wildlife conservation and identification, firearms and ammunition, field safety, wildlife management, first aid, archery, muzzle loading, and state regulations.

The Medora fire was killed in an accident in rural Chesterfield Thursday afternoon.

Chief Kenneth Lehr was pronounced dead at the scene Thursday at 2:45pm by Brad Targhetta, Macoupin County Coroner.

According to Targhetta, Lehr was working at an accinet scene at 19121 IL Rte. 111 when he apparently slipped under a fire truck as it was backing up.

State Police report, the Medora Fire Department was responding to a medical emergency and was attempting to close the highway for a helicopter to land in response to the emergency. At that time, 59 year old Lehr of Fidelity was backed over by the fire truck.

Kenneth Lehr had been the Medora Fire Chief since 2006.

(Taylorville)--A 16 year old from Kincaid was killed, and two other people were injured in a head on accident Wednesday evening in Christian County. According to Illinois State Police, a 16 year old from Kincaid was westbound on Route 104. A 46 year old male from Taylorville was eastbound.

Reportedly, the 16 year old lost control of his vehicle due to the slick roadway, and struck the 46 year old's vehicle head on. The 16 year old was pronounced dead at the scene by the Christian County Coroner's Office. The 46 year old male from Taylorville, and a 19 year old female from Kincaid were taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries.

Route 104 was closed for approximately four hours as a result of the accident which remains under investigation.

On Saturday, February 21, 2015, Blackburn College will host the annual Macoupin County Scholarship Auction to benefit students in need from Macoupin County. The auction will be held in the Woodson Center on the Blackburn Campus. Doors open and the silent auction begins at 5pm, the dinner is held at 6pm, and the live auction will be held at 7pm. Tickets to the event are $20 per person or $140 for a table of eight.

For the past twenty-four years, the Macoupin County Scholarship Auction has raised funds to help students from Macoupin County pay for their tuition. Over the course of this time, the auction has raised over $315,000 in scholarships and aided 101 students.

Some of the auction itemss include 4 Park Hopper passes to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, a 3 night cabin stay in Lake Beaver, AR, tickets to Rams and Cardinals games, gift baskets, and more.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 217-854-5787 or online at blackburn.edu/alumni/events/macoupin-county-auction.

On Saturday, February 21, 2015, Blackburn College will host the annual Macoupin County Scholarship Auction to benefit students in need from Macoupin County. The auction will be held in the Woodson Center on the Blackburn Campus. Doors open and the silent auction begins at 5pm, the dinner is held at 6pm, and the live auction will be held at 7pm. Tickets to the event are $20 per person or $140 for a table of eight.

For the past twenty-four years, the Macoupin County Scholarship Auction has raised funds to help students from Macoupin County pay for their tuition. Over the course of this time, the auction has raised over $315,000 in scholarships and aided 101 students.

Some of the auction itemss include 4 Park Hopper passes to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, a 3 night cabin stay in Lake Beaver, AR, tickets to Rams and Cardinals games, gift baskets, and more.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 217-854-5787 or online at blackburn.edu/alumni/events/macoupin-county-auction.

(Effingham)-An Altamont man is in custody, charged with two counts with kidnapping. Bond has been set at 250 thousand dollars. 60 year old Steve Larson is alleged to have taken 13 year old Rebecca Neu of Effingham Saturday morning. Larson's car was found at the Effingham Amtrak station Saturday morning.

State Police felf that Neu was in danger with Larson and issued a state wide amber alert. Larson and Neu were found Sunday morning at a motel in Sikeston, Missouri. Neu was taken to a local hospital, and Larson was arrested without incident.

Larson was locked up in Sikeston, pending extradition to Effingham County. Multiple law enforcement agencies helped with the investigation.