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The Illinois State Police has announced that charges have been filed against eight subjects who led multiple police agencies on a pursuit on Saturday.

Subjects that have been charged with a Class 2 felony of Theft include Terrence Bell (right), 25, Darius Bowdry, 21, Julian Campbell, 22, Derrick Crowder, 24, Jacob Lee, 27, Keyshyla Thomas, 22, Mario Washington, 24, and Dejaun Winguard, 21. All of the subjects are from Chicago.

On Saturday, multiple suspects, including those listed above, were involved in a theft from Saks Fifth Avenue Department Store at Plaza Frontenac in St. Louis. The suspects fled the scene in two different vehicles. One of the vehicles was spotted on I-55 near Maryville at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, and a pursuit ensued. The pursuit continued north on the interstate and into Litchfield, before returning back to I-55 northbound.

At approximately 11:10 a.m., the vehicle came to a stop at the center median south of Farmersville, and the eight subjects fled the vehicle on foot. All were captured and arrested.

The eight subjects charged, as well as the ones remaining at large, are believed to be involved in a theft ring that has struck high-end retail establishments in Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and Ohio. The theft ring is believed to be responsible for $1.9 million worth of stolen goods and damages.

The case continues to be investigated, and no further information is available at this time.


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The city of Nokomis will host their Christmas Events during the first two Saturdays in December with the theme, "North Pole Express."

On December 3, the St. Louis Church will host their Winter Wonderland. The parish center will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 1 to 3:30, there will be a Snowflake Pageant at Cornerstone Academy.

at 2 p.m., the Nokomis Library will be open for Christmas crafts. The tree lighting will be on display at Fred B. Johnson Memorial Park beginning at 5:30. Concluding December 3rd events, the Nokomis Community Choir will host "Christmas Caroling in the Park" from 5:30 to 6.

On December 10, there will be a Christmas parade beginning at 9:45 a.m. At 10, the Christmas walk will take place downtown with various local businesses. At 1 p.m., Treats with Santa will be available at the Masonic Lodge. The lodge will also host a screening of the movie, "The Polar Express" at 2 p.m.

The windows of downtown businesses will be decorated with judging taking place on December 10.

The Hillsboro Runners Club will host their 6th annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, November 26. The club will also debut a 10K Run/Walk on the same day.

The race will begin by the lower parking lot at Hillsboro High School and finish on the high school track. Awards will be presented and refreshments will be available at the ag building following the race. Proceeds from this year's race will be donated to Brandon and Mila Hamm, whose wife and mother Jenna was tragically killed earlier this year while on a run.

The Hillsboro Runners Club is a non-profit group that aims to promote exercise, health and fitness and overall improvement of the community.

The race will begin at 8 a.m. Race packet pick-up will be on Friday, November 25, from 6 to 7 p.m. at T-Shirts Ink, and from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at the high school ag building before the race.

Two parents have been arrested by the state police for aggravated battery to a child.

On November 1, State Police investigators were requested by the Shelby County Sheriff's office to investigate unexplained injuries to a 12-day old infant from Cowden that was brought into St. Anthony's Hospital in Effingham. The injuries were foudn to be consistent with child abuse, and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services was contacted to assist in the investigation.

On Wednesday, November 9, agents arrested the infant's mother, Kayla Girard, 20, and father, Devan Porter, 19, for aggravated battery to a child. Both were placed in the Shelby County Jail under $100,000 bond.

The following are Election Night results from contested races in Montgomery County:

County Board District 1 (Two Elected):

Connie Beck - 1167
Jeremy Jones - 971
Write-in - 346County Board District 7 (Two Elected):

Glenn Bishop - 1070
Dillon Clark - 946
Mary Bathurst - 767State's Attorney:

Chris Matoush - 6325
Erik Hyam - 6204Coroner:

Randy Leetham - 7116
Barbara Schmedeke - 5390Montgomery County Mental Health Services Question:

Yes - 6248
No - 6042Nokomis School Board Referendum:

Yes - 979
No - 854Fillmore / South Fillmore Township Consolidation:

Fillmore

Yes - 260
No - 40

South Fillmore

Yes - 76
No - 33For a complete list of election results in Montgomery County, visit montgomeryco.com.

A semi rollover on I-55 on Monday, November 7, caused the southbound lanes of the interstate near Springfield to be closed for several hours.

According to the state police, a semi driven by Edward Carter, 50, was entering the southbound lanes from I-72 when it overturned, blocking the southbound lanes. The accident occurred at approximately 8:03 a.m.

The I-55 southbound lanes and the entrance ramp from I-72 were closed for several hours while the vehicle was removed. Traffic resumed as normal at approximately 1:06 p.m.

The City of Litchfield will host the annual Route 66 Half Marathon on Sunday, November 13, on Historic Route 66.

To ensure the safest conditions for the race's participants, Historic Route 66 from 13th Avenue north to 10th Avenue south will be closed from 7 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Litchfield Police will be present at the intersections of Route 16, Ferdon Street, and Tyler Avenue to assist vehicles that must cross Historic Route 66.

The race will begin and end at the Skyview Drive-In. Various runners from across the country are expected to participate. For more information, log onto visitlitchfield.com or call 324-8147.

Illinois State Police District 18 sponsored a Trunk or Treat for the surrounding communities on Monday, October 31. Approximately 700 participants attended the event, held at the District 18 headquarters in Litchfield, to meet local first responders and receive candy.

Officers from the state police, the Litchfield Police Department, Gillespie Police Department, Macoupin County Sheriff's Department, and Montgomery County Sheriff's Department attended the event. Firefighters from the Litchfield Fire Department were also in attendance with two ambulances and a ladder truck.

District 18 Commander Timothy Tyler said this event is key for first responders and the public. Many people don't get to see first responders except in stressful or tense situations. Allowing the public to see the tools and interacting with officers in a laid back environment will help keep trust strong in the community.

District 18 also wanted to extend their gratitude to some of the local stores for supplying candy for the event, as well as the first responders who took the time out of their busy schedules to volunteer.

Montgomery County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser, the Illinois Attorney General and the State Board of Elections are informing voters who have requested vote-by-mail ballots from a third party and sent it in to them but haven't yet received their ballot to check with the County Clerk's office to make sure they received the request.

According to Leitheiser, state officials are investigating what appears to be a delay in the County Clerks' receiving some of the third party requests, and with election deadlines approaching, she wants to be sure those requests are processed in time.

In addition, Leitheiser says that voters who applied for a vote-by-mail ballot and did not receive it or have not sent in a completed ballot can vote in person during the early voting period or on Election Day instead.

For voters who would still like to vote by mail, the last day to submit the application is Thursday, November 3. After that, the County Clerk's office will not be able to mail out ballots.

Those who would like to vote early may vote at the County Clerk's Early Voting Center at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro during the week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday, November 5, from 8 a.m. to noon. For questions, call the County Clerk's Office at 217-532-9530 or send an email to sandyleitheiser@hotmail.com.

Local residents may once again gather in the Montgomery County Board Room on the second floor of the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro on election night to view the county election returns as they become available after the polls close at 7 p.m.

Montgomery County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser encourages voters to gather at the courthouse to be a part of the process as it occurs. She says that updated results from the Montgomery County website will be shown on an overhead projector, and they are pleased to offer this service to county residents once again.

WSMI News will have up-to-the-minute local election results as they come in on November 8, and residents may calso view returns on the Montgomery County website at montgomeryco.com.

Vote-by-mail and early ballots cast at the County Clerk's office will also be processed after the polls close, and then merged in with precinct results after all precincts have reported.