Sunrise Coal, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hallador Energy, announces the signing of a Side Track Agreement with the Norfolk and Southern Railway to construct a truck to rail coal loading facility. The facility known as the Princeton Loop will be located 6 miles West of Princeton, IN on Highway 64 and includes the ability to unload trucks, blend coals, load 135 car unit trains in four hours and store over 4 million tons of coal. The new facility will primarily serve utility coal plants served by the Norfolk Southern once the rail facility is completed in the spring of 2018. Hallador's President and CEO, Brent Bilsland, stated, "We are excited about the development of the Princeton Loop as it enables Sunrise's low-cost production to access substantial new markets and better serve our customers."
New State Law Limits Out Of State Wine Sales
Wine retailers in Illinois are suffering the consequences of a law enacted earlier this year that makes it a felony to ship wine into the state without the proper license.
One wine industry expert said requiring another license for retailers is just another way for the state to make money at the expense of small business owners.
Cynthia Fleischli, executive director for the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance, said retailers can no longer ship their wine without a shipping license because of the new law that grew out of Senate Bill 2989, an amendment of the Liquor Control Act of 1934.
An increase in oversight and enforcement of interstate wine shipping is tied to a three-tier system in Illinois that dates back to Prohibition, according to Fleischli.
“A three-tier system means that you have to go through a distributorship,” she said. “You can’t manufacture, you can’t own, and you can’t distribute.”
If you are a retailer and you don’t have a shipper's license, you’re sending your product directly to consumers without going through the three-tier system and this had a negative financial impact on some distributors in Chicago, Fleischli said.
Fleischli said the state now requires a number of licenses from wine retailers to do business in the state.
“A manufacturer's license, you have the retailer’s license, you have the events license, you’ve got the shipper’s license. That’s four licenses and I am just scratching the surface,” Fleischli said.
SB2989 made it a Class 4 felony for wine retailers to ship wine into the state and it is having a negative impact on their bottom line.
Fleischli said the wine industry brings in more than $700 million to the state every year. There are 108 wineries in Illinois and they’re all in rural areas, she said.
This law will make it difficult for small businesses to make a profit.
“In Illinois, to do business is very difficult,” she said. “When you implement laws that prohibit people from making money or being able to keep the money that they make, that makes commerce very difficult.”
Fleischli doesn’t think members of her alliance will be heavily impacted by this law.
“Our people already have the shipper's license and they’re not purchasing from someone that doesn’t have a shipper's license because they are making their own wine,” Fleischli said.
Fort Branch man arrested on DUI charge
On November 25, 2017, at 3:12 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a report of an intoxicated male trying to get into a Red 2016 Toyota Tundra at the Fastbreak Marathon located at 805 E Oak Street in Fort Branch, Indiana. Upon arriving at Marathon Deputy U.B. Smith was able to locate the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver 34 year old Kevin Herren Jr. of Fort Branch. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside investigation that resulted in Mr. Herren being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail.
At the Gibson County Jail Mr. Herren was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated (DUI.) He remains in custody on a $750 bond.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Traffic stop leads to the arrest of three on drug charges
On November 23, 2017, at 12:52 a.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith stopped a 2014 Chevy Cruze for speeding on US 41 near Fort Branch, Indiana. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of burnt Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside investigation that resulted in the arrest of the driver 35 year old Eric Cripe of Fort Wayne for Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Possession of Marijuana. Also arrested were passengers 43 year old Aaron Staniszewski for Possession of Marijuana and 52 year old Patricia Staniszewski of Calien, Michigan for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance. All subjects were transported to the Gibson County Jail, and have since posted bond.
Assisting Deputy Smith in his investigation was Deputy Jennifer Loesch.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Allendale Ruritan Club Saluted
Allendale Ruritans Fred Deadmond, Bob Bowser, and Jim Barger accepting Ruritan National Community Service awards at the Lincolnland Ruritan Fall Convention in Olney.
Vincennes man arrest on DUI charge
On November 23, 2017, at 10:05 p.m. Gibson County Deputy U.B. Smith stopped a Silver 2006 Nissan Frontier for failure to yield for law enforcement and speeding on US 41 near County Road 1025 South. Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Smith detected the odor of alcohol coming from the driver 33 year old Martin Garcia Ventura of Vincennes. At that point Deputy Smith began a roadside DUI investigation that resulted in Mr. Ventura being taken into custody and transported to the Gibson County Jail.
At the Gibson County Jail Mr. Ventura was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated /Refusal and Operator Never Licensed. He remains in custody on a hold from an outside agency.
All Criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Coyote Problems In Illinois
With colder weather sweeping in, Illinois residents, especially those with pets, should be aware that coyotes will be searching for food for winter, which means they are more likely to be closer to homes.
Lynsey White, director of Humane Wildlife Conflict Resolution with the Humane Society, said people should make sure they are not unintentionally providing food for a coyote.
“You also want to make sure you are not unintentionally feeding a coyote by leaving pet food outdoors for example,” White said. “You want to make sure your trash cans are secure. You just want to make sure you are not providing any additional sources of food.”
The Humane Society offers a few recommendations for pet owners to keep coyotes from being attracted to your house. Residents should avoid feeding pets outside, make sure yards are free from fruit that has fallen from trees, clean up bird seed, set trash cans out the morning of pick-up instead of the night before and use trash cans with tight lids. If composting, do not compost meat or fish.
Neighborhoods with free roaming pets can also attract coyotes. Keep pets in an enclosed, coyote-proof area. Coyote-proof fences are at least eight feet tall and made from materials coyotes cannot climb, or at least six feet tall with a protective device like chicken wire on top. Fences also must extend at least one foot underground to prevent coyotes from digging under to get through.
“The most important thing is to make sure that you’re not letting your cats or dog roam around freely outside,” White said.
If a coyote is spotted, the Humane Society recommends hazing. Hazing involves yelling and approaching a coyote with arms extended or using noisemakers like pots and pans to scare them. Residents also can throw items like sticks or small rocks that will not hurt coyotes. It is important to continue showing aggression toward the coyote until it has left the area completely.
The Humane Society said killing a coyote will not eliminate them from the area because another one will simply move into the unclaimed territory, and the species is effective at reproducing in large numbers.
Big Changes Proposed At SIU
The chancellor at Southern Illinois University's main campus is doubling down on his plan to change the school and hopefully reverse years of declining enrollment and lost money.
But the faculty senate at SIU Carbondale doesn't like Chancellor Carlo Montemagno's plan to restructure the campus. They say his plan is too sudden, too broad, and will close too many programs or departments.
Montemagno last week said that doesn't matter. He said SIU cannot continue to hemorrhage students and their tuition dollars. That means campus bureaucracy must go.
"We are spending too much time and money on administration, and not enough on teaching and research," Montemagno said in a video message to campus last week. "[Adding] to this challenge is outdated ways in which our departments function, limiting innovation and collaboration."
At SIU Carbondale, just 1,354 of the school's 4,795 employees work in a classroom. The budget for the school was more than $488 million last year. As a result, Montemagno said, the school is stuck in a downward spiral.
"We have lost 50 percent of our freshman class over the past three years alone," Montemagno said. "The nearly nine percent drop in enrollment this year reflects a $9.4 million loss in tuition revenue. We have 6,000 fewer students than we had just 10 years ago."
Montemagno said he knows that new programs, a new focus on students, and an effort to bring SIU Carbondale out of its entrenched ways can turn the school around.
"We cannot continue to do what we've always done and expect a different outcome," Montemagno said. "We must change."
Jasper County Crash Sends 3 To Hospital
ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12
WHAT: Personal Injury Crash
WHERE: County Rd 300N @ County Rd 1000E (Jasper County)
WHEN: 11/23/2017 9:17 P.M.
VEHICLES: Unit 1 - Red, 2004, Hyundai
DRIVER: 16 year old female Marshall, IL
PASSENGERS: Dustin Rash, 25, West Union, IL Matthew Matlock, 31, West Liberty, IL
CHARGES: Driver –Too fast for conditions, One passenger limit Passengers – Failure to wear Seatbelts
Transports: Driver and Both Passengers - Jasper County Ambulance, Richland Memorial Hospital
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate Unit 1 was traveling Eastbound on County Rd 300N just East of County Rd 1000E. Driver of Unit 1 was traveling too fast and lost control of the vehicle. Unit 1 traveled off the North side of the roadway and struck a ditch. Unit 1 traveled back onto the roadway where it came to rest. The driver and both passengers were all transported to Richland Memorial Hospital.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Bridgeport Pursuit Ends in Wabash County
Last night at 8:12 p.m. Lawrence County Dispatch advised the Bridgeport Police Department along with the Sumner Police Department were in pursuit of a 2000 white GMC Sonoma south bound on the Bridgeport blacktop entering Wabash County.
It was reported that the suspect vehicle had thrown out a mobile meth lab in Lawrence County as authorities attempted a traffic stop. The Wabash County Deputy was staged at E 1200 Rd. (Bridgeport Blacktop) and Highway 11, in an attempt to deploy stop sticks. The stop sticks were deployed successfully and the suspect vehicle turned east bound onto Highway 11 and then south bound on a gated lease road with a flat rear passenger tire. The pipe gate was secured at the time and the suspect drove through it. The suspect vehicle continued south bound on the lease but struck a tree and came to rest. The driver fled the vehicle on foot into a wooded area. The Sheriff's Office requested assistance from the MCPD K-9 unit, but the suspect was taken into custody prior to their arrival.
Taken into custody and transferred to the Bridgeport Police Department was Anthony Waide Skipworth , 24 of Monroe City, Indiana. Skipworth is facing a list of charges in Lawrence County,has an active Knox County, IN warrant with possible charges in Wabash County.
Sheriff Derek Morgan, "All four departments worked a textbook pursuit and it was ended before the public was put at risk. Without the use of stop sticks it is hard to determine where this pursuit would have gone and where it would have ended. I want to commend the Bridgeport, Sumner, Mt. Carmel, Police departments and Deputy Bogard on their quick thinking, actions of bravery and willingness to work together to end this pursuit. "
