The body of an Alton woman was found Tuesday morning, nearly a week after she had been reported missing by her family.

According to the Madison County Sheriff's Office, the body of Adria Jean Hatten, 39, was found in a secluded wooded area inside Horseshoe Lake State Park, which is south of Pontoon Beach.

Captain Mike Dixon with the Madison County Sheriff's Office says the investigation into Hatten's death is ongoing, and an official cause of death is unknown at this time.

Hatten was last seen leaving a friend's home in Wood River on January 21, around 10:30 a.m. Her vehicle was abandoned and stuck in a muddy field off of Big Bend Road in Madison at 9 a.m. last Tuesday, according to a Department of Natural Resources Officer.

Last week, the Sheriff's office reported that no evidence of foul play had been developed.

Assisting in the search were the State Police Air Patrol, Department of Natural Resources, Saint Clair Special Emergency Services Canine Division and members of the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) Mobile Field Force.

Last week, the Hillsboro City Council voted to advertise an opening for the position of Water Superintendent.

The opening comes after current superintendent Roger Fath announced his intent to retire after 38 years of service. Applications for the position must be turned in to City Hall at the close of the business day on Friday, February 23. Michael Finn, who is currently employed with the water department, will serve as interim superintendent until the position is filled.

The council also formally adopted a resolution naming Brian Lee as the person responsible for redeveloping the storefronts and apartments at 229 South Main Street. The council had discussed the work that needed to be done as part of their previous meeting earlier this month. The work is part of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Agreement.

The next Hillsboro City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, at 7 p.m.

Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp is warning area farmers of a recent theft of diesel fuel near Morrisonville.

According to the sheriff, approximately 700 gallons of diesel fuel was stolen from 325 North 200 East Road, which is approximately three and a half miles southwest of Morrisonville. The fuel was stolen from two semi-trucks and two fuel storage tanks. Sheriff Kettelkamp said that it appeared someone with a truck pulling a trailer left the area from where the theft occurred.

The sheriff reminds area residents to use heavy duty locks on their storage tanks and park their vehicles in a well-lit open area. Also, be sure to report unusual activity or unfamiliar vehicles in the area immediately to the sheriff's office.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact the Christian County Sheriff's Office at 217-824-4961.

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The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies are warning Montgomery County citizens -- specifically parents -- about the increase of synthetic drug use in the community.

Synthetic drugs are created using man-made chemicals rather than natural ingredients. Most synthetic drugs are created to mimic illegal drugs but are not controlled substances. This results in most synthetic drugs being just as addictive and dangerous, but legal.

In October, according to Montgomery County Undersheriff Rick Robbins, the Sheriff's Office seized an unknown liquid that allegedly had the street name of "liquid Xanax." The substance was analyzed by the state police laboratory and was identified as Flubromazolam.

The Hillsboro Police Department recently seized Sweet Tart candies and sugar cubes that had been altered with a liquid drug that was being sold. Within two weeks of the seizure, the sheriff's office also seized an unknown liquid mixed with red food coloring that had been applied to sugar cubes. Undersheriff Robbins said that lab results determined that both unknown substances were the illicit drug, Etizolam.

One Montgomery County resident was taken to a local emergency department due to hallucinations and a high temperature after eating an altered Sweet Tart.

According to Montgomery County Coroner Randy Leetham, Flubromazolam was recently found at the scene of an overdose death along with other controlled substances. The cause of the death was a combination of the illicit drugs.

Robbins is encouraging parents to speak to their children about the risks of using any type of drug, whether they are illegal or not, that is not prescribed by a doctor's office or an over-the-counter type of drug. Anyone who has questions or has more information on the drugs may contact their local law enforcement office or the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

The City of Hillsboro has announced that they will be accepting proposals for the purchase and turnkey installation of four community outdoor warning sirens and associated activation equipment.

The proposal will be for four, Whelen R4 electronic, radio controlled community outdoor warning sirens; and four, Whelen WPS-2908 electronic, radio controlled outdoor warning sirens. The city will make a determination after proposals are received on which four units best fit the needs of the city.

Sealed proposals must be received by City Clerk Cory Davidson at Hillsboro City Hall no later than Thursday, February 22, at 4 p.m. in a sealed envelope clearly marked 'Bid-Outdoor Warning Siren System.'

Proposals will be opened during the city council meeting on Thursday, February 27, at 7 p.m. Each proposal will be evaluated based on cost, value and other factors deemed to be in the city's best interest.

For a copy of the bid specs, contact Cory Davidson at (217) 532-5566, or pick up a complete set at Hillsboro City Hall on Main Street.

A bald eagle has taken to the skies in Litchfield after months of rehabilitation for injuries she received in a territorial fight.

Martha the eagle was released at Lake Lou Yaeger in Litchfield on Saturday morning as dozens of onlookers rooted her on. Some of the over 500 people attending the release said they hoped Martha would reunite with George, the bald eagle who has been her nesting partner. The two have called Lake Lou Yaeger home since 2004.

Martha was found last April in a ditch just outside the entrance to Rainmaker Campground near Butler.

Friends of Lake Lou Yaeger president Robert Wilson told reporters that Martha was clawed under the neck area, and workers at the TreeHouse Wildlife Center in Dow wanted to make sure all of those injuries healed.

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The Montgomery CEO class recently visited both Litchfield and Lincolnwood High Schools to explain what the CEO class is and how it has personally impacted each members' educational experience.

Approximately 100 juniors at Litchfield High School and 30 juniors at Lincolnwood learned about the CEO experience; which includes dressing professionally, etiquette, tours and speakers, the creation of a class business and each student starting his or her own individual business while in class.

Interested juniors at Litchfield and all juniors at Lincolnwood participated in problem-solving and teamwork exercises with the current CEO class team members. 23 from Litchfield and 14 from Lincolnwood stated that they had interest in pursuing the application process.

Applications are currently available online for all interested students who are juniors at each of the Montgomery County high schools. Parents and interested students may find additional class information at montgomeryceo.com.

Applications are due to the students' high school guidance counselors by February 28.

A Virden man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison.

On Tuesday, Associate Judge Joshua A. Meyer sentenced 33 year old Thomas A. Hess to the prison term afte a Macoupin County Jury found Hess quilty of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.

According to Macoupin County State's Attorney Jennifer A. Watson, the sentence stems from allegations that began when the child was 6 to 7 years old.

In November of 2016, the child disclosed to a family member that Hess was sexually assaulting her when she was at his home. Authorities were notified, along with DCFS the Virden Police Department investigated the sexual assault complaint. Following the investigation, Hess was arrested on December 20, 2016. He has been held at the Macoupin County Jail since that time.

Hess will be required to serve 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Nineteen members of the public spoke to the Illinois Commerce Commission Tuesday afternoon about the future of downstate energy plants owned and operated by Dynegy. The public hearing was held in front of a standing-room only crowd in the county boardroom at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro.

Fillmore resident Heather Hampton+Knodle addressed the commission, saying that it would be a mistake to close "the cleanest coal-fired power plant in the world," referencing the current plant in Coffeen. She added that based on her personal experience, solar power is not an economic option, as one megawatt of power from solar energy requires approximately 150,000 panels, where as the Coffeen plant itself is able to produce 900 megawatts of power.

Hillsboro School Superintendent David Powell spoke about the impact closing the Coffeen plant would have on the school district he serves, stating that 31 percent of property tax revenue for the district comes from the power plant. He also said that the power station "doesn't need a handout, but just wants a level playing field."

Montgomery County Board Vice Chair and Finance Committee Chair Megan Beeler also referenced the financial impact the loss of the Coffeen plant would have on the county. She said that in 2016 alone, Dynegy paid $5.4 million in property taxes to Montgomery County, and that losing the plant would mean the county would lose businesses, services and tax dollars.

Other local representatives who spoke at the hearing included Hillsboro Mayor Brian Sullivan, Montgomery County Board members Glenn Savage and Dillon Clark, and local resident Bill Schroeder.

Representatives from Jasper and Randolph Counties, as well as the city of Newton, also spoke out in favor of giving a level playing field to Dynegy and the downstate Illinois power plants. Each speaker gave support to Senate Bill 2250 and House Bill 4141, which seek to reduce a disadvantage faced by downstate energy producers by making energy prices more competitive.

Opponents of the legislation were also represented hearing.

Tracy Fox of Peoria, said she and other residents of her area are concerned about coal ash issues caused by plants such as the one located in her hometown. She also claimed that "Dynegy is a company that is only about Dynegy," and that she believes the economics of coal do not work.

Litchfield resident Mary Ellen DeClue said she believes the commission should carefully consider input from the Solar and Wind communities. She added that "not having a coal severance tax in the state is a missed opportunity."

The ICC has until February 26, to submit a final report to the Governor's office.

The frequency and damages caused by severe storms and other natural hazards in Macoupin County will be discussed when the Macoupin County Hazards Mitigation Planning Committee meets Tuesday, January 23 at the Macoupin County Jail, 2nd Floor Board Room in Carlinville beginning at 7:00pm.

This committee, comprised of County and municipal representatives, will meet over the next several months to update the Macoupin County All Hazards Mitigation Plan to reduce damages caused by natural and man-made hazards.

All committee meetings are open to the public.

According to Jim Pitchford, Macoupin County Emergency Management Coordinator, the goal at this committee meeting is to begin identifying how often severe weather events occur and the kind of damages caused throughout the county. Based on this information the committee will begin to develop and update lists of activities and projects to reduce damages caused by the events.

Interested persons can provide input at these Macoupin County Hazards Mitigation Planning Committee meetings, or submit their comments and questions to their municipal or county representatives.

On January 9, the Hillsboro City Council accepted the retirement date for the city's water superintendent during their first meeting of 2018.

Public Improvements Commissioner Don Downs read a letter of intent to retire from Water Superintendent Roger Fath. In the letter, Fath said it was an "honor and a privilege to serve as the city's water superintendent for 39 years."

Downs said that Fath has been a major part of the new water plant that was built years ago, and that he's ready to take a break. He mentioned calling Fath as recently as New Years Eve to help with a water problem within the city, and despite feeling under the weather and the late time of night, Fath left his home to address the issue. The date of retirement has been set for March 2.

Mayor Brian Sullivan's appointment of Don Karban to the Zoning Board of Appeals was approved by the council, 4-0. Mayor Sullivan said the Hillsboro Planning Commission has repeatedly said that they would like to have more involvement with the board, and they recommended having Karban -- who sits on the planning commission -- fill a vacancy on the Zoning Board of appeals. The seat was left vacant by Dave Hamlin, who recently resigned.

A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) redevelopment proposal was approved for a property on South Main Street. The work will be done by Brian Lee on a property located across the street from the new National Bank building. The property has sustained termite damage, and both buildings next to it would be in danger of becoming damaged if the building itself were to collapse.

Mayor Sullivan said the building contains two storefronts and two apartments. The funding, which will be $100,000 total, will be distributed in three payments. The first payment of $30,000 will be made after the first storefront is ready to have a 'for rent' sign placed inside. The second payment, also for $30,000, will be made after the second storefront is completed. The third payment will be made for the remaining $40,000 once the apartments are completed.

Mayor Sullivan said Mr. Lee told him he believed the work would take between two and three years to complete. Lee also said he believed he could have both storefronts completed in a year and a half. City Attorney Kit Hantla said this type of project is what TIF money must be used for. The proposal was approved, 4-0. Mayor Sullivan added that there will be a formal resolution to finalize the funding at the next meeting.

The council also approved liability and workers compensation insurance for 2018. The city will spend $74,174 on workers compensation insurance in the next fiscal year, and $83,497 for liability insurance. According to city Clerk Cory Davidson, the total amount of $157,671 is $45,000 cheaper than last year's coverage. The motion passed, 4-0.

A payment of $29,000 to Stutz Excavating was also approved for repairing East Street as soon as weather allows. Commissioner Downs said that the payment will cover the cost of the materials, and Stutz Excavating agreed to accept less than full price since it wasn't the completed project.

Downs also explained that East Street is still closed because if it is kept open during the freezing and thawing of winter and spring, the improvements that were made last fall would be lost. He apologized for the inconvenience, but stressed the importance of doing the job right rather than making it worse.

The council also approved hiring Extreme Pyrotechnics, LLC to put on the fireworks display on July 4. Finance Commissioner Katie Duncan said this is the same company who put on the fireworks in 2017, after the previous company backed out at the last minute. The council voted to approve a payment of $10,400 since the company does not do agreements.

The next Hillsboro City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 23, at 7 p.m.

At the Montgomery County Board meeting Tuesday morning, the board again discussed Allscripts employees and why they are choosing not to relocate to Montgomery County.

Economic Development Committee Chair Glenn Savage told the board that Allscripts CEO Jim Hewitt recently spoke to the committee regarding the future of his health care software company. Hewitt, who is from the Hillsboro area, said the company is looking for a location to have a long-term campus. He stated that there are currently offices in St. Charles, Chicago and St. Louis.

Hewitt told the committee that as the business grows and more people are hired, employees are choosing not to live in Montgomery County. He said that 40 employees from the Springfield office that closed and was relocated to Litchfield were offered a package to relocate to Montgomery County. None of them took the offer. The three reasons cited for why employees are choosing not to relocate were quality of schools, property taxes being too high, and a lack of proper housing in the employees price range.

At the full board meeting, board member Jeremy Jones asked what the rating was for schools in Montgomery County, and multiple board members replied that on average, Montgomery County Schools receive a 4 out of 10. When asked about the current property tax rate, County Clerk and Recorder Sandy Leitheiser said the difference between Edwardsville, where some employees are choosing to live, and Montgomery County is about two points.

Savage said he believes board members should take this information and discuss it with officials from each school district and municipality and talk about what can be done to make improvements to make Montgomery County more attractive.

DAKOTA ACCESS PIPELINE

The Board also learned that Dakota Access Pipeline will not be paying for repairs to roads that were damaged during construction of the pipeline.

County Engineer Cody Greenwood estimated that $800,000 worth of damage was done to the roads in the county. Greenwood said that a verbal agreement had been reached between the pipeline and the individual townships involved, but the county had yet to receive an offer.

Greenwood said DAP has since begun backpedaling on issuing checks for damages. Prior to pipeline installation, the county secured a $3.5 million bond against the company, which will be used to cover the cost of the repairs. He added that each township was supposed to secure their own bonds.

When asked how other counties had been affected, Greenwood said he had spoken with engineers from Scott and Morgan counties and said they were both further along in the process than Montgomery County. Each of those counties had received offers for damages, but neither had received any funding. Greenwood reiterated that Dakota Access Pipeline appeared to be backpedaling with the other counties as well.

708 BOARD

Montgomery County Board member Earlene Robinson, who serves as the liaison to the 708 Board, said groups whose applications for funding have been denied will not be allowed to re-apply the same year, beginning next Fiscal Year.

According to Robinson, there have been multiple applicants who have been denied funds but were then told to come back with a revised proposal before funding was approved. Robinson said that beginning next year, applicants will have to wait until the following fiscal year to apply again after being rejected.

Robinson also told the board that the organization Standing Against Addiction and Drugs (S.A.A.D.) was granted $28,000 after requesting it from the 708 Board. She also said that updated applications will be available online by February 1, for organizations who would like to apply for funds for the next fiscal year. Applications will be due March 31, and by July, the 708 Board will have the final applicants approved and given to the County Board for final approval.

UNION NEGOTIATION CORRECTION

Personnel Committee Chair Jay Martin told the board that the Highway Department Union Local 1084 requested a 75 cent per hour increase in their wage when negotiating their new contract. Martin said he incorrectly reported earlier that the union had initially requested a dollar. The personnel committee and the union reached an agreement on a 25 cent per hour increase.

The board also passed a policy prohibiting sexual harassment by county employees. The policy was part of a mandate from the state that all local and county governments implement by January 15.

The next Montgomery County Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, at 8:30 a.m.

The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation is currently requesting event schedules from municipalities and local organizations for the spring and summer seasons. Events must be located within Montgomery County.

As members with the IllinoiSouth Tourism Bureau, the MCEDC is able to market events across 22 counties in Illinois, spanning from the St. Louis area to Indiana. Events such as fundraisers, parish picnics or weekly events like farmer's markets and concerts are not eligible for submission through IllinoiSouth. Priority will be given to events that are more than one day and can be expected to draw visitors from outside a 50-mile radius.

All events must be submitted by January 12, to Valerie Belusko, MCEDC Program Coordinator, at 217-851-4332 or by emailing ed@montgomerycountyillinois.org.

Events fitting the criteria will be submitted to IllinoiSouth Tourism for their Tourism Times publications. They will also be highlighted on Facebook at MCEDC-Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation and online at montgomerycountyillinois.org/tourism.

A Bunker Hill woman died in a single vehicle accident Monday morning west of Bunker Hill.

According to Macoupin County Coroner Brad Targhetta, 32 year old Heather Frith was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at 7:50am. The cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma. No autopsy has been scheduled.

According to the Macoupin County Sheriff's Office, the accident occured around 5:49am on the Brighton-Bunker Hill Road near Elliot Road. Frith was driving westbound when the vehicle she was driving left the roadway, rolled over into a deep ravine and caught fire. The Bunker Hill and Shipman Fire Departments were called to the scene and the fire was extinguished. Frith was then extricated from the vehicle and later pronounced dead.

The crash remains under investigation. Ice is suspected as a possible cause of the accident.

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The Village of Coalton has been awarded a grant for the purchase of a new dump truck, according to the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation.

The grant is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Community Facility Grant Program. The new truck will replace a piece of equipment that is said to be very old and warn out. It will allow the village to continue daily operations such as road repair, park and water maintenance, snow and ice removal and clean-up of debris.

"The grant couldn't have come at a better time," Village President Rick Clearlock said. "Last year, the mild winter meant we did not have to put additional stress on a failing piece of equipment. The new truck is ready to go for any inclement weather that might be coming our way in 2018."

As a member of the MCEDC, the village was able to request assistance with the application process for the grant. MCEDC Program Coordinator Valerie Belusko said that Economic Development encompasses a variety of different projects and this grant application proved to be critical for daily operations.
(Photo Courtesy of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation. Pictured above are, from L-R: Village Trustees Steven Lee, Mary Speier, Steve Kimbro and Tom Detmers.)

A Jerseyville man was killed in a single vehicle crash Thursday night in Bunker Hill. According to Macoupin County Coroner Brad Targhetta, 32 year old Christopher E. Johnson was pronounced dead at the intersection of East Warren and North Franklin Street at 9:35pm. An autopsy has been scheduled.

Illinois State Police report that Christopher Johnson was driving a 2002 Pontiac when a Trooper attempted a traffic stop at 8:11pm on Highway 267, near Kemper Road in Jersey County. Reportedly, Johnson fled from the scene and the Trooper terminated the stop. A short while later, a Macoupin County Sheriff's Deputy attempted to stop the vehicle Johnson was driving and it fled at a high rate of speed. Johnson lost control of the vehicle on East Warren Street and it struck a tree. After impact the Pontiac caught fire and the Bunker Hill Fire Department extinguished the fire. Johnson was extricated from the car and was later pronounced dead by the Coroner.

The incident remains under investigation by Illinois State Police.

Multiple juveniles were apprehended in Hillsboro Tuesday afternoon after allegedly possessing stolen firearms.

Hillsboro Police received a tip Monday evening of a possible runaway juvenile from Tennessee residing in Hillsboro. Police confirmed with the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department in Tennessee, who said they had taken a report of a 15-year-old male who had run away and stolen four firearms and $5,000 in cash.

During the investigation, Hillsboro Police Chief Randy Leetham said police learned that a 16-year-old Schram City male had traveled to Cumberland County and brought the runaway to Hillsboro.

At 2:57 p.m. Tuesday, Hillsboro Police made contact with the Schram City juvenile and located one of the stolen firearms in his possession. At 4:45, the runaway from Tennessee was arrested on Park Street in Hillsboro, along with a second juvenile. There, two loaded stolen firearms were recovered along with $1,600 cash and other stolen items as well. At 7:49 p.m. Tuesday, the fourth stolen firearm was located in the possession of a 17-year-old Schram City male.

The 15-year-old runaway from Tennessee was taken to the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center, and the others were released to their parents.

The Illinois Commerce Commission will be holding a hearing on at the Historic Courthouse in Hillsboro on Tuesday, January 16, to discuss the current downstate electricity-distribution system and what can be done to ensure downstate electricity reliability.

The hearing, which will take place from 1 to 2 p.m., will be held in the Montgomery County Board room on the second floor the courthouse and is open to the public.

Representatives from Dynegy and various local leaders will be in attendance. Dynegy, the largest downstate energy producer, owns the Coffeen Power Plant and an additional seven other power plants in central and southern Illinois.

According to local State Representative Avery Bourne, Dynegy has stated that under downstate Illinois' current electricity-distribution system, the company may have to close at least four power plants by 2021 or sooner. The economic impact of these closures would mean the loss of almost 550 jobs and threaten approximately 4,000 indirect jobs.

Those who are unable to attend the hearing may submit comments to the website powerillinoisjobs.com. Additional questions may be directed to Rep. Bourne's District Office in Litchfield at 324-5200.