RICHLAND CO.—We’re wondering if even the eleven people that keep voting for him every other year might not be tired of his yammering.

Last night at the Olney City Council meeting (03.11.13), Brian James O’Neill II/Jr./deux/whatever, who has really been restraining himself this election season for the past couple of months—by not dressing weirdly, raising hell, etc.—apparently couldn’t hold it in anymore, and lost it during the public input portion of the council meeting. Here, you get a glimpse of what we have to put up with in Olney and Richland County, as Brian James O’Neill presents to the Olney City Council why he should be mayor:

RICHLAND CO.—It’s becoming a situation of “who DOESN’T have issues with Andy Hires?” And we have a little bit of review of what happened last night  (03.14.13) at the Richland County Board meeting, where, it seems, sheriff’s department expenditures are getting out of control monthly. Give a listen as Jade reports:

Richland County sheriff (although many of us are ashamed to have to call him that) Andy Hires

OLNEY—Here’s the complete rant at the Olney City Council meeting Monday, March 25, 2013, the next-to-last city council meeting where mayoral candidate Brian James O’Neill has an opportunity to voice his very important yet largely indecipherable opinions…he’s gearing up, folks, and he’s got “free money”:

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Prior to Tuesday’s election, Disclosure is bringing you the coverage we’ve given of the majority of our readership area so you’ll be aware of the contested races. This information is appearing in the current print version on stands right now, so if you need a hard copy of it, hurry and get out to pick one up; the new issue is due to hit the stands beginning April 16 and 17, which means we’ll have a full recap of election results in the new issue. In the interim, we’ve opted to go ahead and post the contents of the current issue’s front-page coverage of the ballots by county, to spur interest and ensure that everyone gets out and VOTES. There may not be many contested races, but that doesn’t mean these offices are not important. The school boards, township officials, aldermen/council seats, mayoral races and other items on the ballot, including ballot questions (such as whether a location should remain ‘dry,’ or whether a public safety tax should be imposed) are the bottom-line basics of public service…and they’re being abused daily in Illinois (and everywhere), so it’s important to PAY ATTENTION TO THEM. And the best “attention” you can pay to them is to show that we can do a better voter turnout locally than something in the teens or 20s.

So here is the eighth of the posts, which will conclude Monday and will be run alphabetically between now and then, continuing with Richland.

Richland County: Mayoral races include the nutcase

Brian James O’Neill douchebag, running for office AGAIN

As usual every two years, the poor Richland County ballot in some form or fashion carries the name of the ubiquitous nutball that everyone wishes would just disappear and take the smell with him: Brian James O’Neill II (deux, junior, etc).

This year, it’s the mayoral race, where O’Neill (who is not handicapped except by his own making; and he’s not some poor pathetic disabled person, but is instead a socially-awkward reject who makes himself even more so by being deliberately abrasive, obnoxious and repulsive, including not bathing) is once again going to receive his traditional 11 votes unless some of the people within the city of Olney wise up and stop giving the idiot the time of day.

Incumbent mayor Mark Lambird is once against seeking the office, challenged this year by attorney Ray Vaughn.

It has, however, been disclosed that Vaughn is nothing but a patsy for former mayor Tommie Fehrenbacher, who, over two terms, managed to alienate a huge chunk of Olney with his behind-the-scenes manipulation of properties and sweetheart deals from which he personally benefitted. Because of this, Fehrenbacher found he couldn’t be a viable candidate against Lambird, and so he put up Vaughn as his front-man. To this end, Vaughn, and Fehrenbacher’s errant kid, Morgan, have been sitting with their heads together at recent city council meetings, lobbing questions and snide comments toward Lambird at every opportunity.

Mark Lambird

Fortunately, it’s a sizable consensus of Olney citizens who are appalled enough that already, one attorney is pretty much running things in their city—Larry Taylor, who is not only the city attorney but now the city manager following the resignation of Randy Bukas some time back. So the thought of Vaughn as mayor, to this consensus, is rather unappealing. The fact that he’s so closely associated with Fehrenbacher strips away his favor the rest of the way, so it’s likely going to be Lambird for another four years.

Two council seats are up for election this go-round: Gary Foster and Bob Ferguson are looking to keep their positions on the council, but they’re being challenged by Jeremiah Brown and John McLaughlin, both of whom have run solid campaigns with a lot of exposure and may unseat both incumbents. This would be to the relief of many, as Foster has proven to be belligerent and disagreeable, not in the favor of those he represents, but for his own motives, especially when it comes to the city’s fire department.

Is Claremont mayor legal?

And if anyone can term Olney “poor” on account of the presence of O’Neill, who isn’t qualified to hold a decent conversation with a sane person let alone an office, Claremont certainly can use the qualifier as well: only one person is again seeking the office of mayor there, and his immigration status still has not been put to rest, despite questions by Disclosure to someone who should know—the village’s legal counsel, Bart Zuber. John Joyce, who at least during the last election (2009) was on the ballot illegally as he was at that time an illegal immigrant from Ireland, still hasn’t been challenged by anyone who at least can challenge it, that being only someone in the village of Claremont. This, once again, is the apathy shown by voters, who just want to go about “letting someone else do it,” and in the case of Joyce, no one can complain about any alleged illegal status (on the ballot or otherwise) unless it’s one of the couple dozen registered voters of Claremont, this according to the Illinois State Board of Elections. So there he is, and no one runs against him, until someone in Claremont wakes up or develops enough sense to challenge/complain about the situation.

There is a mayoral race in the village of Parkersburg in south Richland County: K. Darlene Clark and Tom Hanna will each be seeking the office. For village clerk in P’burg, there’s actually a race: Sandra K. Reich versus Kelly Hanna.

And, in the village of Noble, a mayoral race between Richard Clark and John Mason is on the ballot.

Contested trustee races

A handful of Richland County townships have contested races for trustee: Madison, Noble, Olney and Preston.

In Madison Twp, Republicans Austin Ridgely, Dave Bricker, Shawn Rose and Franklin Dorney and Democrat Brad Hayes compete for four open spots.

In Noble Twp, Republicans Steve Hemrich, Mike Shan, Brian VanBlaricum and Jerry Brunell, and Dems Greg Amerman, Blake Coan and Richard C. Weidner seek four open positions.

In Olney Twp, Republicans Carmen Kowa, Heather D. Cecil, Jeffrey E. Fleming and Donald E. Barnett seek four open seats against Dems Jeffery L. Small, Ashley Breanne Waggoner, Stephen Kessler and Brandt Patterson (while we’re not positive of the identity of the Republican Jeffrey E. Fleming, if it’s THE ATTORNEY Jeff Fleming, we advocate ANY choice, including Dems, over that miserable sonofabitch, who should stick to “practicing” law [as he'll obviously never get it right] and stay OUT of politics…so voters in Olney Township, please send him a message and send him packing.)

In Preston Twp, Democrats Wade Wilson and Donna M. Foster face Republicans Dennis R. Graves, John R. Snider, Kyle Henton and Deana Whitaker for four seats.

Other township races

Contests in Richland’s townships are as follows:

In Bonpas Twp, Republican James M McDowell seeks the seat of township highway commissioner versus Donald P. Gayer, Democrat.

In German Twp, Republican James L. Jones is running against Democrat James Schneider for township supervisor.

In Madison Twp, Republican Pat Morgan vies with Democrat Kenneth Wilson for the township highway commissioner spot.

In Olney Twp, Kimberly Houchin, Republican, is running against Mary Kay Stoltz, Democrat, for township assessor.

In Preston Twp, there are a couple of races: For township clerk, Dem Kim Kuhl seeks the seat against Donna Whitaker-Mitchell, Rep. For township assessor, it’s Dem Cathy Bromm versus Independedn Michelle Kuenstler. And for township highway commissioner, it’s Dem Phil Kuenstler versus Chad W. Stanley, Republican.

School board races

There are quite a few school districts that have contests in Richland, countywide.

The portion of Richland that covered Edwards County Community Unit School Dist. 1 has three to be selected from five: in Twp 2S Range 10E, Lawrence Speir, Jr, Rita James, Dale Woods and Richard (Rick) Wolfe (of the belligerent Wolfe clan of Albion), and in Twp 1S Range 10E, Jayare Buerster Jr. seek the seats.

In East Richland Community Unit School Dist. 1, Alex Cline and Micah Grimes from Twp 4N Range 10E and Pete Seals from Twp 3N Range 10E seek two unexpired two-year terms.

In Jasper County Community Unit School District 1, three of six seek the seats: Mandy S. Rieman, Donald Leventhal and Jed Earnest in Twp 6N Range 9E, Gordon Millsap in Twp 6N Range 11E, Holly Farley in Twp 7N Range 9E and H. Andrew Pullen in Twp 8N Range 8E.

Ballot question has hackles raised

A ballot question has raised the hackles of residents in Richland: the proposition for a special county retailers’ occupation tax for transportation purposes. This is yet another one of those “sales taxes” that authorities, who can’t handle the public’s money properly, places on the ballot with the threat that if it doesn’t pass, property taxes will have to be raised. However, the last sales tax increase, and worse the Public Safety Tax, went into effect and taxes were raised anyway. Further, the PST, imposed in 2001, was sold to the public as ONLY supposed to be utilized until the county’s new jail was built; then, it was promised, the PST would end and stop being collected. The jail was completed a couple of years ago…and the PST is still in effect, and the county STILL can’t manage the money it brings in. So voters are encouraged to send a message to the county stewards by voting “NO” on the sales tax question, and tell the county stewards to be a bit more responsible in their expenditures…including telling David Hyde to stop charging people who use force to defend themselves, some in their own home, so lawsuits won’t strip the county coffers dry.

OLNEY—Disappointing news coming out of the city of Olney: incumbent mayor Mark Lambird has been beaten by the second-worse challenger to the office other than Brian James O’Neill.

In a stunning upset tonight, attorney Ray Vaughn, who is a shill for former mayor Tommie Fehrenbacher (who Lambird beat in 2009), prevailed with about 55 percent of the vote, proving that Fehrenbacher can exert his influence for ‘his’ candidates and put the town once again in the hands of the man who uses his political position to enrich himself.

Vaughn has recently been attending meetings with Morgan Fehrenbacher, the nasty female-child of Tommie whose exploits in disrobing in public places have become a thing of legend in the past ten years or so.

Mayor-elect Ray Vaughn, at far left, with the bottle blonde Morgan Fehrenbacher, his constant companion at Olney city council meetings, glaring at the camera.

The ten or so votes that Brian James O’Neill II, smelly town reject, was able to secure tonight wouldn’t have helped Lambird, so no blame can be thrown on him. Instead it can be placed on those who somehow believe that charging the county a million dollars for a parking lot or being investigated for graft in the securing of a state office on property he owns (both of which Fehrenbacher did during his time in office) is “advancing the city,” Now, with Vaughn in place as mayor, Fehrenbacher can pull strings without having his face—which so many despised—attached to it. Apparently not enough of those people understood the connection between the two. They’ve now got four years to figure it out.

O’Neill was a no-show tonight at the courthouse. After a ridiculous 25-page response to the Olney Daily Mail’s mayoral questionnaire, he might have somehow gotten the idea through his thick head that his name on the ballot is a source of ridicule, not fame, and he was out of the picture with his ten or so votes garnered by some jokers within the city every two years that he runs for office in some capacity.

The public safety tax that was promoted so heavily by road district people failed; voters sent a message to the county to manage their money more responsibly and stop relying on sales tax after sales tax to prop up the coffers. Now we’ll see if our property taxes in Richland are raised, as is always the threat when the PSTs are brought to the ballot.

RICHLAND CO.—Here’s Britard’s post-election rant at the Richland County Board meeting tonight, 04.11.13; he got close enough to Jade that YOU might be able to smell him, poor kid. O’Neill was on the agenda as regards “ballots” but had a hard time sticking to the subject, a faux pas that’s going to get his ass thrown out one of these days:

RICHLAND CO.—Even before this year’s crop of marijuana has had ample time to take root, lawmen are putting a significant dent in the area’s supply of weed.

That said, stealing other people’s property still seems to keep the courts busy.

This month’s crim report begins with Susan Bryan, 25, 804 East South Ave., Olney who has been charged with Unlawful Delivery of Cannabis after authorities say on Feb. 20, she knowingly delivered 10-30 grams of cannabis.

Of course, unlike the rest of the country, Richland authorities are not saying where she allegedly made her delivery or to whom, just that she did.

Hedging his bets, state’s attorney David Hyde also filed an Unlawful Delivery of Cannabis “2.5-10 grams” charge just in case the math is off by 20 grams or he can’t quite get a conviction on the felony charge.

Bryan is not exactly a stranger to the inside of a jail cell.

Having been arrested in 2006 and charged with one count of Methamphetamine Delivery and Use of a Vehicle to bring about the Production of Methamphetamine, the state’s attorney saw fit to amend the charges and convicted her on one count of Reckless Conduct for which she was given 12 months conditional discharge and ordered to pay $787 in fines and fees.

Bryan is probably best known for her part in whisking away murderess Connie Vantlin in early 2006 a day or so after Vantlin took a hammer to her roommate Norma Sines and dragged her body to the back of their house, hiding it under boxes of Christmas décor. Bryan had family “out east,” where the two went; it was unclear whether or not Bryan knew about the death of Sines, but she was never charged with anything in relation to the crime.

It’s not who you know…

Jason Dale Kuhlig, 37, of 410 Silver St., Olney has been charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver 30-500 grams after authorities say they caught him with that amount of weed at his home on March 20 at 12:12 a.m.

Kuhlig was convicted in 2009 of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Deliver 500-2,000 grams and was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail and 24 months probation after the charge was reduced to 10-30 grams.

What happened to the 490-1970 grams of weed is not clear.

Kuhlig shelled out $4,662 in fines and fees and was just released from probationary requirements December 18, 2012.

Sources informed Disclosure recently that Kuhlig had beaten one of state’s attorney David Hyde’s alleged best buddies, the ever-violent and rumored snitch Jackie O. Jackson, of Claremont, with a MagLight.

Unfortunately, Jackson is said to have recovered from his beating and was back out on the street within days.

It is unclear just how authorities knew that Kuhlig would have any amount of cannabis in his Olney home.

What is clear is that when Jackson himself was arrested for cannabis possession, the charge ultimately was dismissed.

Gun inventory up at sheriff’s department!

Mark A. Ogburn, 48, of 315 East Lafayette, Olney has been charged with one count of Burglary after police say on or about August 4, 2010 he knowingly and without authority entered a building, identified as B & M Truck Equipment, owned by Lee Milone, located at 4678 Weinmann Dr., Olney with intent to commit a theft.

Documents indicate that Ogburn was taken into custody March 30.

Documents also indicate that an additional charge was filed accusing Ogburn of, on March 24, at the above address being a Felon in Possession/Use of a Weapon/Firearm.

The firearms were identified as an 870 Stevens Arms shotgun, a .22 caliber Savage rifle, a 12 ga. Mossberg shotgun, a .22 caliber Marlin rifle and a .50 caliber Connecticut muzzleloader.

Given the Richland County sheriff’s department has had more than its share of deputies/past sheriff’s illegally help themselves to weapons from the evidence locker, one hopes these firearms are well inventoried.

A total cash bond of $10,500 has been set in the two cases.

RICHLAND CO.—The March meeting of the Richland County Board (March 14, 2013) started off with a “No Show” from the putrid Brian James O’Neill II and cheers of joy from the county board, and moved on as quickly as possible from the public comments, in case O’Neill happened to appear, the Finance Committee gave their report.

The board seemed very unhappy over the expense report from Sheriff Andy Hires. The expenses for the Sheriff’s budget just last month were $103,000, which is a lot more money than the board would like, pointing out that prior months, expenditures in the budget at $80,000 dollars was really high.

As for what Hires is spending this money on… that’s not clear; expenditures like the new Tahoe K-9 vehicle, which is coming out of the public safety tax, or the brand new van to transfer inmates, which is coming out of the commissary fund, are not being paid for out of the sheriff’s actual county-levied budget, so what he is spending $103,000 on is a question that is being asked.

In past months, Hires advised that they were housing other counties’ inmates and that that was what was making the bill run so high. However, the other counties pay a per diem fee to house the inmates, that per diem fee being not only enough to handle their expenses on a daily basis (food, electricity, water, etc), but enough to make a little money for the jail, as it was set at a high enough rate to do just that (much to the griping of the surrounding counties who use it). So Hires’ excuse is falling a little short of reality.

As for how the finance committee board is going to handle the sheriff’s expenses, $150,000 will come out of the public safety tax fund, and be transferred over to the county general fund.

More money spent; pest arrives

At the most recent Richland Co. board meeting Kevin Park, who is the Emergency Management Coordinator, spoke about three ‘emergency use’ radios still needing to be installed in the emergency operations center or dispatch center.

He went on to discuss that the dispatch center cost was going to be a total of $11,134.32 for not just the radios, but the installation, an antenna, electric wiring, electric phone and computer for data and that the money would be coming out of the public safety tax fund. A motion was passed to pay for the installation of the radios, everyone voting yes except board member Emily Blackford.

At this point the vile county/city pest, O’Neill, came bouncing into the meeting announcing to chairman Gregg Amerman that he was “Here!!” and carrying on while there was a topic of discussion on the table at the moment. Amerman called O’Neill out of order once, giving him a warning.

When O’Neill had his turn to stand up and speak, he got up from his chair, boisterously telling everyone in the room how he is the reason Olney Mayor Mark Lambird didn’t get re-elected, which several people in the meeting chuckled over (O’Neill had a showing of 10 votes; he’s lost one over the past two years; see election coverage for full details).

As O’Neill was walking up to the podium, he was arguing with Amerman, talking about how Amerman “violated his freedom of speech” and that he was going to give Amerman a lawsuit. As normal, O’Neill’s speech, or lack thereof, was incomprehensible but was supposed to be on the topic of election ballot and procedures.

And: more expensive radios

After O’Neill’s rant, Hires said there needed to be replacements of console radios in the dispatch center. The dispatch had been using old radios and waited until this year to budget for new ones. Hires went on to say that it was alright because it’s in the budget and that half of the expense is being paid for by the city, saying it was “going to take three or four months to build it (the radios)” and that it would “be sent to Effingham to be programed, so we will have some time before we have to pay the full amount.”

The amount that was budgeted is $90,000, Hires says, but finished saying that it “Might be five to six months before the installment is finished.”

Board member Leo Ledeker asked if the 9-1-1 board was going to help pay for the system of if they were just going to sit on their money. It was then said they aren’t going to help pay for the system to be installed.

The finance committee reported that the county claims were down this month being a total of $44,500 in claims, and pointed out that $6,000 of the claims were from lawyer fees from state’s attorney David Hyde…who is on a salary paid for by the state, so what exactly that amount was will be investigated at a future date.

Problems with the courthouse

A motion was passed for approval to authorize the sale of the squad cars that the sheriff’s department is no longer using and then talk ensued about courthouse maintenance that needed to be handled.

Board member Bill Clow proposed that the repairs that need done on the courthouse, such as paint peeling, plaster falling from the ceiling, a security system, and air that is whistling through the windows, be turned over for the building commission to pay for, as well as the highway garage.

The building commission either sells bonds or can get loans to get the work done at the courthouse.

RICHLAND CO.—A strange jury trial run by an even stranger pro se defense litigant proved on March 19 the veracity of the old adage “a man who represents himself in court has a fool for a client.”

Justin Doris, 32, a violent convicted felon who’s currently under pending felony counts after an incident with a county deputy in 2011, opted to represent himself in a 2012 misdemeanor case regarding non-payment of child support.

Doris demanded a jury trial on the misdemeanor, as is his right, but the charge was one of those that’s a little too simple to be sending to a jury: whether or not he was refusing to pay child support to his ex.

With the first panel of potential jurors present, Judge Robert Hopkins, presiding over the proceedings, started off jury selection with a few questions about whether they knew Doris (the son of a retired state police investigator, Mark Doris), the prosecutor, David Hyde, or Doris’ ex, Rachel Cunningham. Hyde had only one question for the 28 potential jurors: “Is there any reason you could not give a fair trial?” With no one answering ‘yes’ to this question, Hopkins asked if Doris had any questions for the potential jurors.

He had no questions; just sat at the table and wrote in his yellow note pad.

After a full twelve-person jury with two alternates was assembled (the twelve comprised of five men, seven women), opening statements were underway.

Opening statements

Hyde told the Jury they were there due to a failure to pay child support by Doris for his son Carter, who was in the custody of his mother Rachel Cunningham.

Hyde told the jury that the state had to prove four things: Proof that there is a court order; that there has not been a payment in over six months; that Doris could pay and refused; and finally that Doris stopped paying in May of 2011 when Cunningham told him she was getting married in July.

Doris’ opening statement showed he was doomed from the outset.

“I am not a lawyer,” he advised the jury. “I cannot even afford a lawyer, and I hope you guys bear with me and my lack of knowledge and understanding of the law” was all he said before he sat back down.

The state then admitted four documents of various court orders for petition of child support, as well as computer records of payment history, support history and back payment history from 2007 through March 18, 2013.

Crash course

As Doris was being basically walked through step-by-step and getting an extreme crash course on how-to-be-your-own-lawyer, Hyde then called Rachel Cunningham to the stand.

Cunningham stated that she now had two children: Carter who was now 7, and a 1-year-old with her husband, Nick Cunningham.

Cunningham said she works as an emergency room RN at three different hospitals. Cunningham also stated that she and Doris had been in an off and on again relationship from 2004-08 and she has had custody of Carter since birth.

Doris has supervised visits every other weekend and he worked various jobs during their relationship, she testified.

Cunningham then told the jury, under direct questioning, that Doris was ordered by the court to pay $100 a month child support as well an additional $25 a month for back support in 2008 but he did not start paying until August 2009.

In May of 2011 Cunningham informed Doris that she was getting married on July 23. On July 6, during the last conversation they had, Doris informed Cunningham that he would no longer be paying child support because she was not getting Carter back. Cunningham then told the jury that Doris had lost his job in August 2010.

Exercise in futility

Justin Doris’ chance to cross-examine Cunningham was little but an exercise in futility.

He started off with the question “Have you ever been pregnant before?” to which Hyde immediately objected. Hopkins sustained the objection.

“Do you know the law they are charging me with?” Doris asked her next, which again was met with objection from Hyde and sustained by the Judge.

Hopkins then told Doris that he needed to form “specific questions,” so his next question was “Have you ever violated a court order by not bringing my son to see me?”  which again met with objection by Hyde and again the Judge informed Mr. Doris that he needed “specific dates or instances for his questions.”

With each question, Hopkins as well as Doris, both grew more irritated, which caused Doris to slap his note pad down on the defense table.

Doris’ final question for Cunningham was “Have you or your family ever made threats against me?” again bringing an objection from Hyde.

Not being specific

Hopkins, visibly irritated, informed Doris once more that he needed to issue specific dates or times within his questions.

Doris slapped his note pad down again and advised that he had “no further questions.”

After Cunningham stepped down, Hopkins dismissed the jury for lunch.

Upon their departure, Doris approached the judge.

“When do I get to face my accuser?” he asked.

Hopkins looked dumbfounded.

“You just had the chance to question her, Mr. Doris,” he said.

“No, this is the State of Illinois versus me, so when do I get to face my accuser?” Doris asked, adding that it was in the Constitution that “we get to face our accuser,” so again he asked when he would get to face his accuser.

As the judge was trying to explain to him how court works, Doris stands up and pushed his chair in to leave.

Hopkins stopped him and told him he was not dismissed yet, and advised him he was not finished talking to him and to please be seated.

The judge then informed Doris that he (Hopkins) went to law school to become a judge and that Mr. Doris was a layman…as if that explained everything. Hopkins then recessed for lunch.

Closing

When court resumed, Hyde published the four previously-mentioned exhibits and let the jury read each document individually, which process was like watching ice melt in the fridge, as it took about 30 minutes of those in the courtroom watching people read silently to themselves.

When the jury was finished reading the documents, the state rested its case.

Doris had no witnesses to call and chose not to testify so he, too, as defense, rested.

For closing statements, Hyde reminded the jury that Cunningham stated that payments of $125 had been made until July of 2011 and that the state had also showed proof of payments being six months or more behind, as was stated in part in the charge.

Hyde stated that this also proved willful failure to pay (which is the rest of the charge) and that child support stopped being paid when Doris found out Cunningham was getting married.

The State, Hyde said, proved the ability to pay, as Doris had numerous different jobs, but did not pay. Hyde reminded the jury that Doris told Cunningham that he did not have to pay and would not pay. Hyde said he believed that the State had proven beyond reasonable doubt and asked for a guilty verdict.

Doris started his closing by saying that “the State defines child support as a payment of money when every parent knows it takes more than just money.” He also stated that the State failed to prove that he could pay or had a job and that he tried his hardest while he was employed until 2011. Doris went on to say that he doesn’t deny that he and Cunningham had arguments as they were in their early 20s trying to raise a child (which was totally immaterial to the matter at hand), and that he’d quit paying when he lost his job.

At that point Hopkins stopped him and explained that he could not talk about not paying due to losing his job, as he chose not to enter that as evidence; as well, he could not testify during closing arguments.

Doris sat back down and the jury received their instructions and the case.

Verdict

They came back within 10 minutes with a verdict of guilty.

He was partly right, partly wrong

While Doris, whom many describe as half a bubble off anyway, had the right to a trial by jury in a misdemeanor case, he probably shouldn’t have exercised it under the circumstances.

He apparently didn’t fully understand—and wasn’t talked through it by Hopkins, as a judge is supposed to do for a pro se litigant—that he was there for the singular purpose of defending himself against the specific charge of Refusal to Provide Support. The intelligent pro se litigant would have attacked the verbiage of the law as it regarded “refusal,” and proven immediately that he hadn’t refused, but had merely been unable, an easy thing to do if he wasn’t receiving any form of pay.

Interestingly, under Illinois family law, there is no statute regarding “refusal,” but instead are several other terms involving “failure” to provide support, under which the term “refusal” is utilized. Doris should have attacked the charging document and proven that Hyde is incompetent even in matters as menial as this, as most of the jurors likely were aware of how incompetent Hyde was during the Brandon Jenkins trial a year ago.

Further, Doris was correct: the state was his accuser, not Cunningham. Doris should have requested that Hyde take the stand…but that would likely have so confounded both Hyde and Hopkins that the proceedings would have been stopped until a determination could be made on the procedure of such a thing.

Ray Vaughn, above, mayor-
elect of Olney, was but
one of the candidates that defeated incumbent mayors in southeastern Illinois.

SO. ILL.—The regional voter turnout had a wide range depending upon the number of offices up for grabs, this for the April 9, 2013 consolidated election.

Municipal and township races, as well as a handful of ballot questions, were the biggest draw for this go-round, but sadly, not big enough: an overall average of Disclosure’s main counties of coverage had a deplorable voter turnout. In the 13 downstate/south counties Disclosure regularly covers, most of it in the Second Judicial Circuit, the average among the 13 was 30.21 percent turnout. This featured a high of 47.95 percent in Gallatin County (where turnout is typically high) to what’s being called a “historic low” in Wabash County of 6.8 percent (where turnout is typically one of the lowest in the region)…meaning the nation’s apathy toward doing something about the political climate, one that begins with the reluctance to serve/run for office, might be fairly said to end at the ballot box when “there’s no one to vote for.”

Here now are the unofficial outcomes of the main counties in Disclosure’s coverage area for the Consolidated Election 2013; the totals in this, obtained on deadline, are not final and may change pending counting of absentee and provisional ballots.

Clay County

Clay County saw few contested races, most of what they did have contested falling into the realm of the townships’ trustee races.

However, there was a four-candidate race for three spots as Clay City village trustee. Mike Delonshaw came away from that with the top votes at 109; Rod Franklin next at 104 and Dan Patridge seated with 81 votes.

And the village of Xenia had a village trustee race, this one with three of five. Selected were Suzie Hosick, 48 votes, Thomas J. Henson, 43 and Bill Bradley, 39.

Also in the village of Xenia was a two-woman contest for village clerk; Dawn Cazadd prevails over Jenny Gould by one vote, 35-34.

A three-way race for highway commissioner in Xenia Township saw D. Allen Bonham emerging winner over Mike Burdine and Cody Gould, 47-33-31, respectively.

In Oskaloosa Township, that same position went to Rick Payne over Jason Guinn, 80-24.

Four trustees in Larkinsburg Township were selected from amongst eight: Wesley Horath, 85 votes, Louise Beccue, 76, Lloyd Weidner, 56 and Dale Wayne McKinney, 50. Four competed for the position of highway commissioner in Larkinsburg Township, and Ernest Elledge took the least at 66 votes, almost twice his next-nearest opponent, Dean McKinney with 26, while Eric Yingst and Glenn D. Yingst each received 18 votes. And a Larkinsburg Township supervisor was chosen: Claye Warren, who defeated Eric I. Bailey, 74-58.

Blair Township also saw a race for trustees, with Jon Vandyke, 120 votes, Dwaine Worthy, 116, Kenny Hilderbrand, 85 and Stewart Smith, 72, attaining those seats. Blair Township’s highway commissioner will be Ronald L. Kincaid, who defeated Alan Slagley and David McPeak, 89-50-23.

Louisville Township had one challenged office: Highway commissioner, which is now Matt Byers, defeating Tommy Ballard 230-140.

Harter Township has four trustees selected from six competing: Ted Whitehead, 600, Raymond J. Muhs, 526, Amy Sailer Leonard, 522 and Joe Gilliland, 492. Harter Township also had a race for highway commissioner, in which James S. Tackitt prevails over challengers Johnny R. Williams and Bob Meares, 472-259-223.

In Bible Grove Township, four of five were chosen for township trustee: Neil Gould, 82 votes, Reggie Birch, 71, Aaron L. Hardin, 69, and Darren Birch, 48. Also in that township, Cory Wendling defeated Andy Wood 54-49 for highway commissioner.

In Clay City Township, Darrell Britton defeated Kevin Henry for highway commissioner, 140-104. That county also had four trustees selected: Terry Woodrow, 138 votes, Rod Franklin, 133, Steve Spitzner, 122 and Bill Staser, 121.

On the Clay City Community Unit School Dist. (hereinafter all referred to as “CUSD”) 10 school board, Kelly Hance, Amy Dulaney and Darren Lewis will be seated. There were 43 write-in votes.

For Flora CUSD 35, Curtis Leib, Rick Porter and Justin Cook will be seated.

And the North Clay Unit 25 School Board will seat Darrell McKnelly, Ryan Ballard, Cecil Cochran and David Simmons; there were 23 write-in votes for that board.

Five people were elected to serve on the Xenia Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, this after a mass walkout last year of firefighters over real irresponsibility with department money courtesy of Daniel Edgington, who is now out: Shand Kanitz, Randy Hockman, Burl DeWayne Wesner, Joyce M. O’Donnell and William P. Moorman will serve where only three were serving last year, and will be elected instead of appointed by the county board. This was accomplished by a ballot question placed by citizens petitioning their government last year to rectify the situation, and they were successful in their endeavor.

Crawford County

Crawford saw a turnout of 33.39, prompted by mayoral/village president races in their various towns/villages.

Robinson saw the retention of their incumbent mayor Roger E. Pethtel over challenger Lon M. Smith, 923-375.

Flat Rock chose Larry Keeler over Brandi Weber for mayor, 77-32.

Palestine also kept their incumbent mayor, Pat Schofiel, over Candy Carter and Earnie Mendenhall II, 281-62-60.

Races on councils/boards came from Ward 2 in Robinson, where Karen Bowman bested Nikki Aldrich 117-79. In Palestine, three were selected for village trustee: Harry Gene Purcell, Ricky Stork and Lloyd Dunlap, 307-247-243.

In townships, Honey Creek had a race for supervisor: Greg Wampler defeated Daniel Gower, 279-220. They also had a selection for township clerk, with Lynn McCleave defeating Beverly Hemrich, 275-223. And for highway commissioner, Chris Bonnell defeated Ralph Weger, 341-167.

Hutsonville Township had competitors for township trustees; four of six prevailed: Guy Rumler, 199 votes, Mike Kraemer, 192, Ryan Love, 176 and Todd Seaney, 168, with Seaney narrowly defeating Rob Lowrance, 167, and Tim Terry, 164, for the final seat, the outcome of which could change upon official tally, it being so close.

Martin Township selected four trustees from a field of five: Bill Midgett and John Russell received 87 votes, Danny Mundhenk, 84, and Madeline Harris and Dewayne Mundhenk received 75 each, tying for fourth; no word as of press time was available on how that matter was going to be settled.

In Montgomery Township, a race for highway commissioner was decisively settled for Ed Carpenter over Michael Eakins, 200-49.

Oblong Township also had a highway commissioner race, and Jerry Ping took it over Jerry D. Lewis, 569-139.

In Prairie Township, a highway commissioner race saw Gerald Hill prevail over William Gamblin, 140-63. And in that same township, four trustees were elected: Lyle Crane, 146 votes, Chris Weck, 131, Charles Guyer, 127 and Derek Staley, 125.

In Robinson Township, a highway commissioner’s race had David Lachenmayr trouncing former Crawford County deputy Troy Love, 1,364 to 497. A township supervisor was chosen: Larry McCoy, 1313, over Debra Dix, 567. And four trustees were selected: Patrick J. Richards, with 1,097 votes, Lori Ann Hodge, 1,018, Shirley A. Berry, 1,003, and Gregory C. Wolfe, 942.

The Palestine Public Library had selected for them three trustees, Rhonda Kaye Eller, Terrie L. McDaniel and Robert F. Taylor.

Crawford County’s voters in the Hutsonville CUSD 1 chose Chad Guyer, Mike Knecht and Tina Callaway for their school board picks; in Red Hill No. 10’s District, Jim Legg outpaced Bob Christy and the third and fourth picks were Roger Kissen and Dixie Purcell; for Palestine’s school board, Crawford’s picks were Shari L. Eckert, Matt McCoy and Susan J. Hawkins; and Oblong School District No. 4 selected Todd Musgrave, Chad Pusey, and Michael Higgins.

Edwards County

In Edwards, the voter turnout was centered in Albion, where big ward races were going on and a “wet/dry” vote would enable those within city limits to buy and sell alcohol in a retail setting as opposed to just the clubs. Voter turnout, therefore, was a respectable 38.3 percent.

No mayoral race was on tap, as former mayor Ryan Hallam ceased to be an incumbent candidate in early February, which was predicated, it’s since been learned, on the possibility that he fraudulently signed a contract for construction of the new Albion fire station (see related story). As such, the only one on the ballot was former mayor Steve McMahel, who nevertheless received a symbolic 556 votes, displaying a showing of support for the town’s new mayor.

On the city council it was firefighter supporters versus supporters of the public’s right to have their tax dollars spent wisely, and it went fifty-fifty.

Ward 1 saw the peoples’ candidate, incumbent Aarol Stewart, prevail over former alderman Kevin Savage and firefighter supporter Rochelle Thomason, 151-107-73.

Ward 2 had two seats up for election, and saw firefighter candidate/former sheriff/former firefighter Scott Meserole take the seat over contender/peoples’ candidate Randy Speir, 101-72. While Meserole was ostensibly put up as a candidate by the firefighters, however, he indicated to Disclosure the day after the election his disgust with the fireman walkout, and how the churlish behavior was one of the things he saw during his tenure as sheriff…and was a big factor in his April 2008 resignation, as he “couldn’t get anything done” because of childish public officials in Edwards County.

Former firefighter Dana Mosson barely defeated the peoples’ candidate in Ward 2, David Works, 66-64. Since this is an unofficial total, it remains hopeful that there may be absentee/provisional ballots that could change this outcome over the next 30 days.

Edwards County doesn’t have townships, but instead has road districts. There were a couple of contests as such: In Road District 1, Mark Beehn prevailed over Tony Keortge, 83-44, and for clerk in that road, the ill-tempered Jackie Knackmus was finally ousted by the more gentle Robert E. Keortge, 69-59. In Road District 2, the only other contest, a write-in made a better showing than a ballot contender but both were still defeated when Robert Headley prevailed with 35 votes; on the ballot was Nancy Cowling who garnered 22 votes, but edging ahead of her was write-in Mike Greathouse with 29 votes. Tying with Cowling was another write-in, Robert Hayes, in that district.

Completely overlooked in all the mayhem was the fact that the village of West Salem has a convicted felon on the board. Only two board positions were open, and Don Cornelius and Logan Yates took those. Yates, however, is a convicted felon from a 2001 Burglary in Clay County. Disclosure checked with Clay County and the felony has not been expunged, as was what was reported to have been the case when Mike Ristvedt held a board position in West Salem after a federal weapons (explosives) conviction more than 20 years ago. However, when Disclosure checked with Ken Menzel at the Chicago office of the Illinois State Board of Elections, it was discovered that expungement doesn’t matter: in the state of Illinois, according to Illinois Municipal Code, a convicted felon of any length of time (one year ago or 50) cannot hold a city or village elected office. Disclosure is in the process of making a report to the Illinois Attorney General on the matter, as far too much of this kind of thing is going on in the state, and it’s being totally ignored by uninformed people and media alike.

Also in West Salem, two were selected from among a field of three for the coveted position of library trustee: Mary Jane McKinney and Kelsey Adam Schilt beat Elmer Ellsworth Lytle, 153-92-41.

And of course, the “wet/dry” vote went well for those who were looking to overturn the decades-long prohibition of alcohol sales in a place other than a club (or illegally out of the back door of certain residences) in Albion: voters elected to remove it 333-323, meaning the city can now reap the benefits of having a potential liquor store, or even a nice restaurant that sells wine, beer and mixed beverages with a meal, on their sales and other taxes. Amusingly, because of the backwards-sounding wording on the ballot question, Indiana television stations reported for hours on April 9 and 10 that the prohibition had been upheld and the town was still “dry.”

Gallatin County

The little southern county of Gallatin once again lead the pack in the Consolidated Election with voter turnout: 47.95, still low, but number 1 in the coverage area. Several contested offices in villages and townships, as well as a ballot question about the ubiquitous public safety tax, prompted the run to the polls.

In the village of Equality, Brittany Johnson took the office of village clerk with 135 votes, over Patricia Barnes, 58, and April Bilski, 25. A write-in on the village trustee ticket, Bruce Gowan, actually came in the third of three with 123 votes; Garrett Wargel and Billy C. Moore were the to two vote recipients with 173 and 131, respectively.

In the village of Junction, a write-in also lead the night, and landed the office of village president over incumbent Melinda K. Robbins, 23 to 18.

In the village of New Haven, a trustee race was on, with Zella Medlin, Amy Lashley and Brigitte Browning, 130-86-73. They are joined by Jackie Wicker, who was the only one running for a two-year unexpired term.

In the village of old Shawneetown, a trustee race found Kenny Oldham, James Back Jr. and Nell A. Moore-Rosser prevailing, 51-47-37.

In the village of Ridgway, Anthony Drone (204), Mike Kitchens (183) and Ardon Smith (160) took the lead in the trustee race.

In the city of Shawneetown, David Barker, who ran unsuccessfully for circuit clerk last year, prevailed in the mayor’s race, besting Robert Boon and Terry Williams 184-174-75.

Township races were heated in Gallatin, particularly in beleaguered Equality, where the Bayer-Glover combine has held sway for years and to the detriment of that area. While many of their supporters were retained as trustees, other offices were overthrown. In particular, that of highway commissioner in Equality Township was a big deal, and former Equality mayor Lee Parker handed Jimmy Bayer his butt on a platter with a vote tally of 195 to 154. For township supervisor, it was David Casey over Doggie Poshard narrowly, 165-156, that vote likely muddied by the presence of third candidate Bill Springer, who took 27 decisive votes away from the main two. And for township trustee, Cletus Wargel took top votes at 268, followed by the nasty-tempered Pat Frohock, 223, then Terry G. Wood, 172 and Don Collins, 169.

Ridgway township had a supervisor’s race: Robert McGuire prevailed against Barbara Stricklin Rodgers, 188-153.

New Haven Township had a highway commissioner race, where David Chamberlain received 93 votes to Jim Fromm’s 89.

Shawnee Township also had a highway commissioner race: Jay Barton won against Sherman E. Rider, Jr., 67-35. There also was a township trustee race, and Kimberly Bryson and Sandy Willis each received 52 votes, followed by Rhonda Twitchell (34) and Misty Hazel (30).

Members of the Gallatin County CUSD 7 board were selected: Rob M. Wood (954 votes), Gary Clayton (863) and Richard Case (819).

Gallatin voters also gave in to another public safety tax, passing it 1210-633.

Hardin County

A bit of confusion ensued at one polling location in Hardin County, marking a weird election there, where there was only a 33.5 percent turnout, very very low for one of the southeasternmost counties in the coverage area.

While county prosecutor Tara Wallace investigated and released press information the day after the issue, that didn’t seem to soothe those voters who received a ballot containing incorporated candidates for those voting in unincorporated areas.

It didn’t help that Wallace’s numbers for the outcome of votes in Rosiclare didn’t match the unofficial final tabulation Disclosure obtained from the county clerk’s office.

Wallace’s press release stated that the six ballots that were given to voters in unincorporated Rosiclare incorrectly wouldn’t have made a difference to the emerging candidates from the particular race of city commissioner, even if all those voters had selected candidates on that ballot—something they weren’t supposed to do, being that they lived outside Rosiclare city limits. However, they were handed ballots meant for those within city limits.

Wallace’s numbers had Bryan Keith Stone receiving 216 votes; Roger D. Brazell, 168; Final tabulation on the unofficial results released at 8:15 p.m. that night read Stone, 261; Brazell, 204; Oxford, 187; Williams, 173; Winchester, 172; Atkinson, 170; Stoker, 158; Lane, 165; and Hayden, 69.

In Rosiclare, the mayoral race wouldn’t have been affected by just six votes: Roy W. Tolbert prevailed over Rusty Warren, 250-172, although many news outlets were reporting the reverse on that night for some reason.

In the village of Cave-in-Rock, incumbent mayor Marty Kaylor kept his office against the challenge of Perry Foster, 57-34.

In Elizabethtown, the citizenry, remembering what Heck Rose did to them a couple of years ago, gave him a resounding “NO” for his bid (again) for the office of mayor—from which he’d “retired” (read: resigned) in 2011—and voted to keep incumbent Bertis Cook, 84-58.

They didn’t have much of a choice when it came to village trustee, as all three running were elected, but a message was sent to Heck’s sister, Sandra “Sandbags” Conkle: only her close friends and family were interested in having her back as a village trustee, all 27 of them. The other two running, Rebecca Barnard and Bruce Hemphill, had much better showings by comparison: 105 and 78, respectively.

Sandbags, regular readers will recall, had the distinction of enduring a slow-speed comeapart during the 2011 flood, wherein her true colors showed during the emergency of residents not having drinkable water, and Sandbags stubbornly refusing to distribute water hoarded at the village fire department, where her husband, the then-alive Ed Conkle, was fire chief.

A Hardin County school board race saw former HC Schools principal Jimmy Stunson, who also “retired” last year after numerous reports of kids on the school bus waving to him as he sat on a village barstool in the afternoons, exchange the barstool for a seat on the board. Top vote recipient for the school board race was Jerry D. Fricker with 839; followed by Ricky D. Williams, 702; Natalie Vaughn, 572; and Stunson’s 550.

And Hardin, too, passed a public safety tax like Gallatin did, displaying the power of the Democrats in both counties, who believe it’s okay to tax the citizens beyond their limit, then tax them some more. The PST, which will not preclude raising of property taxes if the county fathers believe it’s necessary, at least didn’t have a landslide victory like Gallatin: 561 to 472.

Hamilton County

A mayoral contest in McLeansboro and a few challenged seats on townships, as well as McLeansboro’s own wet/dry vote, were big enough draws to bring Hamilton County’s overall voter turnout to 38.13, on the higher end of the southeastern part of the state.

Long-time McLeansboro mayor Dick Deitz was a landslide over challenger Matt Bilderbeck, whom Disclosure learned has had numerous run-ins with the law and has a somewhat shady past, and only ran because he “wanted to prove he could.” Unlike Logan Yates, however, he doesn’t have a felony conviction, and therefore could run legitimately. Yet, he was stomped: 668-177, proving Deitz’ popularity and capability as the city’s mayor keeps the voters coming back to him term after successful term.

One contest was had in the city’s wards: Ward 1, where Dennis Crain defeated Billy Glenn, but not by much: 218-197.

The village of Dahlgren also had a mayoral race, with Steve Wilkerson easily sliding past David Wicks Jr., 99-26.

Township trustee races were held in Crouch Township, where Denise Hopfinger (67 votes), Brian Lueke (62), Richard Hatfield (55) and Ron Webb (54) edged in over Dwayne Smith (53 votes) for the four seats; and McLeansboro Township, where Dennis Johnson (645 votes), Kyle Ingram (642), Becky Cross (639) and Bill Ingram (585) prevailed.

A race for highway commissioner in Twigg Township had Jeffrey “Tinker” Wheeler squeaking past Randall Price, 115-113.

The vote for Hamilton County Board of Education had Tom Maulding with 1,335 votes, Randal Kirsch, 1,207, Larry Launius, 1,233 and Danny Anselment, 1,141.

And the wet/dry was decisively in favor of going wet, with 534 votes for “not prohibiting the sale of alcohol in the city,” 341 for continuing the prohibition.

Jasper County

Jasper County, in the Heartland area of Disclosure’s coverage, saw a voter turnout of 24.19 percent of registered voters, about mid-range amongst the counties and likely because there were no big challenges there. Mayors or village presidents ran unopposed in the municipalities: Mark Bolander in Newton; Jason Kirby in Hidalgo; Jack Thompson in Ste. Marie; Robert Flowers in Wheeler and Sanford Andrews in Yale.

A few village trustee races were on tap: in Wheeler, Charles Emmerich and Edward Schmidt each received seven votes, and Gerald Short received five, to attain the trustee seats there. And in Yale, Jerry Middleton (10 votes), Jamie Smith (9), Jerald B. Andrew (9) and Phillip Wagner and Nicholas Huddleston (both receiving 6 votes) vied for the positions; county clerk personnel said it was up to the village to determine who would fill the fourth slot between Wagner and Huddleston.

In townships, Crooked Creek had trustees selected: Christopher Parr (89 votes), Robert Young (74), Jeff Carr (68) and James Houser (66) prevailed there. Hunt City Township saw a tie vote for first place, Jerry Tharp and Tarry Birch (34 votes), Lafe Graham (31) and James Miller (28) win trustee seats. And Smallwood Township selected four: Paul C. Will (114 votes), Daniel A. Stark (109), Nicholas Milliman (90) and David Kistner (89) selected from six.

Fox Township had a road commissioner race, in which David Pilman defeated Robert Smithenry, 76-65.

In school board races, Jasper CUSD 1 had Gordon Millsap (921 votes), Holly Farley (863) and Mandy Rieman (792) emerge the top three; Casey-Westfield CUSD C-4 had a little input out of Jasper, with Robert L. Dougherty, Alan Hutton (whose name was spelled “Hurron” on some ballots) and Terri Cox being selected as their picks among voters for that district.

Lawrence County

A couple of major mayoral races highlighted ballots in Lawrence County, but voter turnout was still dismal there: 26.85 percent, amongst the mid-range for the coverage area.

The big story was the unseating of two-term Lawrenceville mayor Brian Straub, who’d fallen considerably out of favor over the past couple of years due to two debacles, one involving the water department, and one involving his own use of city credit cards.

Emerging victorious in light of this was the city’s clerk, Don Wagner, who’d signaled is intent to run as mayor after the credit card flap last summer.

Challenging both the incumbent and the city clerk was Ed Brumley, who in the early stages seemed to be an odds-on favorite but couldn’t quite muster the support either Wagner or Straub had.

As a result, Wagner pulled ahead in the final stages of the race (and it was somewhat tense at first, as he was lagging at the outset, and the count took several hours), and defeated the other two, 458 to Straub’s 338 and Brumley’s 208.

Lawrenceville had one ward race: Ward 3, where former county board member David Courtney stomped incumbent Don Goff, 333-158.

The other big race in Lawrenceville generated plentiful jokes about payment of water bills, and with good reason: Janice Laslie, running for the office Wagner was vacating in seeking the mayoral seat, was challenged for city clerk and was soundly defeated by Rodney Nolan: Nolan 729, Laslie 241. Laslie might have been the beginning of the nails in Straub’s political coffin in late 2010 when it was revealed that she and her husband Bruce were receiving special dispensation for a water bill they owed that exceeded $3,000. It was later shown to be that Straub himself owed a back bill dating over 90 days late, but he had never been charged the same late fees others would be were they late on their bills. In some cases, voters have long memories; the Nolan-Laslie matchup was one such case.

In Ward 1, Wendell Stevens; Ward 2, John Waldrop; and Ward 4, Janice S. Holcomb, all ran unopposed.

In other municipal races, the next big news was Bridgeport, where the new mayor received symbolic votes of support as he too ran unopposed. Brad Purcell received 241 votes, not challenged by outgoing Max Schauf or any other candidate. Of 1,205 registered voters in Bridgeport, approximately 300 in the incorporated area voted, meaning Purcell received an 80.3 percent turnout unopposed—a startling number, given that Schauf’s in 2009 was something like 16 percent—and that shows that Bridgeport voters do indeed have sense…when they have a decent candidate.

A ward race was up in Bridgeport as well: former alderman Robin Wirth was up against James Hamilton and David Hammel, but Wirth prevailed: her vote tally was 15, by comparison to Hammel’s 8 and Hamilton’s 5. Ldora “Button” Laughlin in Ward 2 and Tyler Griffin in Ward 3 each ran unopposed.

A mayoral race in St. Francisville saw the unseating of incumbent mayor Stan Williams, who lost to Donald Ravellette: Ravellette 117, Williams 105.

In township trustee races, Denison picked John R. Clark, 175; Rita Sue Tillotson, 157; Dora Glenn, 148 and Alfred Mushrush, 126; Lawrence Township selected Bruce Morey, 824; Don R. Myers, 744; Jenny Schick Chapman, 649 and Roger Orr, 610; and Russell voted in Amber O’Dell, 81; Sue C. Gerhart, 77; Joe Weber, 68 and Alan Thompson, 64.

Bond Township selected a clerk, Billie Taylor, over Cynthia A. Hays-Morris, 61-45; Bridgeport Township picked a road commissioner, Stevan J. Moore over Woody R. Rousey Jr., 224-133 and a township clerk, Lisa Lemeron, over Thomas Daniel Stanescu, 243-104; Christy had a race for township clerk, Jenny Roark v. former county board member Bonnie Hann, resulting in Roark 107, Hann, 93; Lawrence selected a township supervisor in Kimberly Yost Winningham, 763 over Becky Piper, 609, and a road commissioner, Bill Shick, who ran and won against David Mefford, 956-439; and Russell chose a township highway commissioner from amongst three: Gabe Foreman took ethe lead over Richard Churchwell and Keith Fisher, 58-44-34.

Red Hill CUSD 1 saw Bob Christy take the most votes for school board, 621, followed by Dixie Purcell, 619, Ashley Ryan, 517, and Jim Legg, 449.

Richland County

It was a mixed bag in Richland, with the good and the bad featured in a voter turnout of 28.78 percent: roughly twice the turnout of the 2009 race.

At that time, the city of Olney’s mayoral race was a face-off between the highly-detested and very detestable Tommie Fehrenbacher and challenger Mark Lambird. Lambird prevailed, bringing an end to the corruption that surrounded Fehrenbacher for eight years, which included sweetheart deals between the city and the county, and alleged under-the-table bids for state facilities being sited on property Fehrenbacher owned…for which he was briefly investigated by state agencies in his second term.

However, Lambird didn’t fare as well this go-round because the Fehrenbacher crowd was in force…this time backing an attorney, Ray Vaughn, to run as challenger against Lambird. Vaughn was Fehernbacher’s pick because he’s a likeable enough guy and has nothing shady in his history. The only problem is, he’s a mere figurehead so that Fehrenbacher can operate through him, behind-the-scenes, this according to many who keep an eye on Fehrenbacher and his doings in the city. The Fehrenbacher crowd was able to drum up enough support to thwart Lambird’s retention: 927-788. Sadly, with the minimal turnout, it’s apparent that voters could have turned this election around with just a little effort, had it come to light sooner that Vaughn was Fehrenbacher’s front-man, but it came a little late in the game, and the damage was already mostly done. Now Olney is back to under-the-table and backdoor doings, and, worse, is being run by attorneys: Vaughn, and city manager, city attorney Larry Taylor, the real brains of the operation as Olney does not have a “strong mayor” form of government.

A no-show at the returns this year was bi-annual pest Brian James O’Neill II, whose stench precedes him when he walks into the courthouse…but not this election. O’Neill ran for mayor against Vaughn and Lambird, delivering a massive diatribe to the Olney paper as his candidate profile which, as usual, made about as little sense as the five-minute speeches to which he’s now limited at public meetings. While many believe O’Neill is mentally challenged, the only real problem the man has is that he’s stupid and simply doesn’t know it, and uses his obliviousness to target certain people in the community and make them as miserable as possible. For whatever reason, O’Neill has a handful of jokers that vote for him in his district, and this year, besides himself and the woman he lives with, there were eight casting a vote for his mayoral challenge, meaning he’s lost someone in the district (four years ago he received 11 votes)…but whether by death, moving out of the area or gaining a modicum of common sense, is not known at this time.

Two incumbents were seeking another four years on the council—Bob Ferguson and Gary Foster—and apparently, Foster’s grumbling personality got him booted this year. Ferguson, propped up by the same Fehrenbacher crowd who put Vaughn in place, received the most votes of the four competing: 913. This was followed by John McLaughlin, who will replace Foster, with 843 votes; then Foster with 706, and challenger Jeremiah Brown, 570. What it will take to get Ferguson booted like Foster just was remains unknown but is a challenge for 2017.

Across the county, there weren’t many matchups. Two other mayoral races came from Noble, where incumbent Richard Clark took his fourth term over challenger John C. Mason by two votes: 70-68; and Parkersburg, where Tom Hanna defeated challenger Darlene Clark, 53-37. Also in Parkersburg was a race for village clerk, where Sandra Reich prevailed over Kelly Hanna, 63-26.

Otherwise, in Claremont, the legal status of their mayor (this year, by 13 symbolic votes, as no one ran against him and the voter turnout for the village was a dismal 14.1 percent) remains unanswered: John Joyce was found a few years ago to still have an illegal immigrant status when he announced that he couldn’t hold a liquor license for the village’s only convenience store because he was in the country illegally. The Illinois State Board of Elections also advised Disclosure that it is highly illegal for an illegal to hold an elected position in the state, so Disclosure is taking that matter up with the Attorney General’s office at the same time as the issue of felons holding public office following this election.

Township trustee races otherwise dominated the landscape in Richland: in Madison, Dave Bricker (129 votes); Austin Ridgely (128); Shawn Rose (122) and Franklin Dorney (102), the entire slate of Republicans, prevailed as trustees; in Noble Township, Gerg Amerman (228); Steve Hemrich (222); Mike Shan (196); and Brian VanBlaricum (186) were selected; in Olney Township, trustees selected were Jeff Fleming (1,230); Carmen Kowa (1,163); Heather Cecil (1,075) and Donald Barnett (863); in Preston Township, Dennis R. Graves (207); Wade Wilson (196); John R. Snider (176) and Kyle Henton (147) were chosen.

Township offices had matchups, these coming from Bonpas, where there was a highway commissioner race between Don Gayer (winner with 71) and James. M. McDowell (68); German where James Schneider prevailed with 76 votes over James L. Jones’ 10; Noble, where township highway commissioner went to Pat Morgan with 203 votes to Kenneth Wilson’s 183; Olney Township, where an assessor’s race was won by Kimberly J. Houchin 1,322, over Mary Kay Stoltz, 593; Preston Township, which had three offices up for grabs: township clerk, going to Kim Kuhl with 180 versus Donna Whitaker-Mitchell, 105; township assessor going to Michelle Kuenstler, 147, against Cathy Bromm’s 140; and highway commissioner, going to Phil Kuenstler over Chad Stanley, 186-106.

The only contested school board race was at East Richland CUSD 1, where Pete Seals and Alex Cline prevailed over incumbent Micah Grimes, 1,655-1,253-918.

The ballot question regarding raising Richland County’s sales tax another .25 percent appeared yet again and was defeated, despite county engineer Dan Colwell’s implorings in a mass mailing showing how high many of the county sales tax rates were all around Richland. Voters weren’t swayed, likely thinking “too bad for them!” and opted against any more raising of the tax, which is at 6.75 percent already. Colwell tried to convince voters that the money would be put to good use and used only for county road purposes. The reality is that all it would do is free up money in the larger funds, and county spenders would then have more to play with in their particular departments. So the voters sent a message to the county: Be more responsible with the money you have, and stop asking to get it from US.

Saline County

The feature of Saline County’s ballots this year was that there were so few offices being challenged, resulting in a dismal voter turnout of 26.63 for one of the more highly-populated counties downstate.

A single mayoral race came from Raleigh, where James W. Agin defeated Charles Maloney, 56-36. In that village was also a selection of three trustees; those were Jean Ellis, 53 votes, Ron Maloney, 51, and Athel Wiseman, 46.

A village trustee race was held in Galatia, where David L. Grant took top votes with 127, followed by Rickey Cates, 103, and Larry Kukla, 99.

Township trustee races occurred in Galatia, with Mike Triplett taking top votes at 174, followed by Larry Darnell with 155, Gerald W. Heflin with 150 and Merlina Pritchett with 139; Harrisburg Township, where Roger Angelly received 1,054 votes, Roger Craig, 1,051, Steve Horn 854 and Lovie Stunson, 699; and Raleigh Township, with Ron Bradley receiving 180 votes, Willard Prather, 156, Jack Whitlock, 146 and Sarah Davis, 137.

Township offices that were challenged were East Eldorado road commissioner, which went to Greg McKinney over Kevin Boulds, 744-331; Raleigh Township road commissioner went to Pervis Ellis, 173 over Dean Hutcheson’s 74; and the big race, that of Harrisburg Township road commissioner, wherein Bob Holmes defeated Harrisburg police chief Bob Smith, 973-880.

A selection of three for Carrier Mills-Stonefort CUSD 2 landed Stephen Scott Figg 186 votes, followed by Jeff Parks, 179, and Sammy J. Dudley 177…just edging out Georgia Cowger with 173 votes; however, Cowger, a long-time school board member, was saved from being booted off the board with votes from other CM-SCUSD districts, in particular, in Williamson County.

And a ballot question failed. Voters were asked if the sale of bonds should be made to build a new high school; the district was told NO 1,239 times, to a yes vote of 1,075. Reports were that a student at the polling place in the old high school accessed the public address system on election night and was asking people to vote for the bonds in question; he was shut down, but whether anything will be done about him remained unknown as of press time. The general consensus was that he should be given a stern talking to and it be done with…but electioneering is electioneering, and some believe the kid should be punished in accordance by existing state laws.

Wabash County

The reports of having an abysmally-low voter turnout in Wabash County—6.5 percent—repeatedly offended a large group of people…apparently, the populace of the county themselves. However, they were the only ones who could change that, by first putting up their own candidates and then getting the vote out…neither of which was done this election cycle.

While low contests were blamed, that should never be the excuse for not going to the polls, if for no reason other than to show everyone it can and should be done. But with only one mayoral race county-wide—in Bellmont, where it certainly did matter—that was a hard package to sell.

There, the office of mayor was finally appropriately filled, after pissy—and now, charged—Colby Rigg resigned in a snit in the summer of 2011. Rigg was appointed mayor in 2007 with the resignation of then-mayor Ed Bowman, and was then duly elected in 2009, but couldn’t stick it out. Bowman—father of convicted serial killer Greg Bowman, who is on death row in Missouri—decided to take a stab at it again this election cycle and ran against Larry Sloss for the office. Apparently Bellmont thought the wiser of putting Bowman back in charge—after all, he could potentially appoint Rigg back in, as Rigg isn’t convicted yet and can still hold public office—and voted in Sloss, 28-25.

The only other contests in Wabash came from road districts, specifically district 2, where Joe Hall defeated contenders Danny Deisher and Alan Marx, 70-36-22. District 3’s contest was between Derek Guisewite and Timothy Glick, 66-37.

There was a write-in win for school board in Wabash CUSD 348, where Teresa Hocking succeeded in that with 124 votes. On the ballot were Kyle Peach, 351, Jared Alka, 310 and Timothy Schuler, 303.

And for Allendale CUSD 17, Tia Speth Morgan received 72 votes, Beth Etzkorn 68, Richard D. Gochenour 63, and Mike Wilson, 36 as a write-in.

Wayne County

The big story in Wayne is the loss for incumbent mayor to a challenger, and that had Wayne’s larger precinct turning out in droves, resulting in a decent (for Wayne, anyway) turnout of 32.44 percent.

Mayor Mickey Borah lost to contender Chuck Griswold, and what a loss: Griswold 1,125 to Borah’s 429. Where all of Borah’s throngs of supporters were from 2001, 2004 and 2009, at which time he was supported by Fairfield’s paper and a host of RINOs (Republicans in name only) is unknown, but the choice of whether they stayed home, lost interest or defected could be any and all. Whatever the case, it was a stunner in a way, and yet again in a way, not: The Griswold family is well-known in Fairfield for being upstanding, decent citizens, and Chuck is very well-liked, as stated in last month’s issue. So the upset is certainly one to take note, as public sentiment can be fickle and sway with the wind.

Ward races were seen in Ward 1, where Ralph Barbre defeated incumbent Tom Tucker, 205-179; in Ward 2, where Jim Griffith defeated Clifford Reever, 176-130; Ward 3, Steve Robinson defeating Ron Rush 183-174 and Ward 4, David Fletcher defeating Phillip E. Williams, 273-174.

In village races, Sims had three trustees selected: Stephanie Harris with 32 votes, Billie Moyer, 31 and Donny Robertson, 27; Wayne City, where LaDonna McKinney received 190 votes; Benny Garner, 180, and Diana Wood, 142, and James G. Smith received 135 votes for an unexpired 2-year term over Shawntell Desch, 100.

For township trustees, in Elm River, Austin Lambrich took top votes at 42, followed by Frankie Molt and Rob Neikirk both with 38 and John Harrington with 36; Indian Prairie, Lawrence Pennington received 167 votes, followed by Randy Hilliard, 150, Jeff Barnard, 132, and Justin E. Smith, 117; Mt. Erie saw Jerald Hubble get 89 votes followed by Dennis Taylor’s 73, Randy Hedrick with 72 and Clayton Massie with 67; Orchard Township went to Donald Sharp, 93, Richard Greenwalt, 79, Inez O. Copelin, 76 and William Copelin, 74; and Zif township, where the Hosseltons hold sway: Larry Leon Hosselton came in with 36 votes, followed by Warren Scott Hosselton, 34, Claren Lee Hosselton, 33 and Lee Garrett Hosselton, 30.

Other township office races were found in Barnhill for highway commissioner, where Shular Smothers defeated Jerry Webb, 137-53; Big Mound’s highway commissioner went to John K. Jones Jr. over Jack Monroe, 275-192; Indian Prairie highway commissioner went to Mark A. Talbert versus Lyle Lee Allen, 57-50; a three-way race in Jasper Township for highway commissioner with Brent Opell taking the most votes, 325, over Matt Kinney’s 187, and Ray Webb’s 66; a highly amusing three-way race in Lamard Township, where incumbent Richard (Grant) Hoskins badly defeated his challengers, Craig Donoho (96) and convicted arsonist/operator (along with the vile and somewhat dangerous Rich Tuttle) of the ridiculous Wayne’s World website, Roy Finley, who managed to get 42 of his friends and family—most of them the west Wayne yellowhammers—to vote for him; Mt. Erie Township’s highway commissioner race went to Chris Massie over Steve Bass, 80-27; Orchard Township highway commissioner went to Kevin Greenwalt, 94 votes over Jesse Kidder Jr.’s 52; and Zif Township highway commissioner went to Loren Lee Kauble by one vote over Randall Gill, 26-25.

Geff CCSD 14 school board will be composed of Ken Taylor with 131 votes, Kim Belangee, 115 and Shannon Lambert, 90. Jasper CSD 17 will be Kimberly Liston with 241 votes, Anita Pond, 235, Connie Mitchell, 202, Christopher Otey, 180; Wayne CUSD 100 will be Denise M. Barbee with 503 votes, Andrea Lewis, 453, Karen D. Haile, 355 and Bruce Johnson, 299; Fairfield CSD 112 will be Heidi Hodges, with 1,104 votes, Andrew Miller, 91, Dan Coomer, 871, and Joe DiMaggio, 866.

White County

Another upset occurred in the city of Carmi, where a big mayoral race found the incumbent ousted; the contest assisted a 30.99 percent voter turnout county-wide.

Carmi’s mayor David Port was defeated by challenger, alderman Jeff Pollard, 774-758. Many have wondered if the vote weren’t split by the presence of another contender, Bill Mears, who garnered 466 votes. Nevertheless, Pollard, still espousing bringing a hospital to Carmi (after the previous one folded in 2006, unable to keep up with the illegal immigrant population in White and nearby counties flooding the emergency room as if it were a clinic so they could get free healthcare), appealed to the greater number, and he emerged victorious.

The Carmi city clerk position went to Brian Allen, 887 votes, over Dee Blazier, 787. And a couple of ward races were on the Carmi ballot: Ward 3 re-elected Steve Winkleman, 187 to challenger Doug Redman’s 116; and Keith Davis took 396 votes in Ward 4 to defeat Leon Groves, 307.

In Crossville, Konnie Harrington, apparently having dumped Tony Wolf (father of child sex offender Tyler Wolf from five years ago), was the top vote recipient with 142, followed by Jeff Spencer, 140 and Stephanie Martin, 89, to be seated as village trustees.

Township trustee races were in Carmi Township, where Jeff Bohleber received 1,083 votes, Anthony Huffer, 1,064, David Hall, 971 and Roger Heckler, 847; Emma Township has Terry Frashier with 76 votes, David Delong, 75, Tom Scates was almost thrown out this time with a reduced 61 votes and Anna Baumgart, 59; Enfield Township has Bill Williams at 69 votes, Karen McKinney, 66, Scot Weiss, 61 and Chris Mitchell, 52; and Phillips Township has Cindy Hodgson with 226 votes, Ruth Ridenour, 181, Nicholas Combs, 155 and Terry Oeth, 152.

Other township offices that were contested included Burnt Prairie highway commissioner, which is Alan Williams over Charlie Kempton, 84-52; and Phillips highway commissioner, Denny Coston, 195 to Thomas Murk, 155.

In Grayville, school board votes went to Vanessa Fullop, 128, Charles Turner, 100, and Robert Armstrong, 99.

OLNEY—At the Olney City Council last night (04.22.13), town pest Brian James O’Neill didn’t make any more sense than usual, but his topics are getting more ridiculous. See for yourself:

Note how everybody on the council is ignoring him. If only someone would lock him up for his own good. (And for the record, we’ve never said he has a disability. We’ve said he’s evil, and stupid, and should be shut down.)

RICHLAND CO.—We’d like to point out that tonight is the anniversary of an event that really put Olney on google: the First Degree Murder trial of Brandon Jenkins.

Jenkins was the Texas man who, here in Richland County on business, was caught up in a shitstorm of drunken, misbehaving punks on the parking lot of Super 8 in Olney, and was as a result charged with intentionally killing one of those punks.

A jury saw through prosecutor David Hyde’s bullshit, and set Jenkins free (after convicting him of a misdemeanor Reckless Conduct count, added as a lesser charge) after a six-day trial that riveted the area.

We’re proud of Jenkins, his family and friends, who stood by him and whose support never wavered.

However, we’d like to point something out.

All the testimony that we heard on the last day of the defense’s case—about the dangerous conduct of the violent Earp gang, the many people they beat, the vehicles and/or houses they trashed of the people they didn’t like or had a bend against, the threats they made toward Olney law enforcement—was, despite the good it did Brandon to show the jury what he was up against, all for naught for the taxpayers of Richland County.

NONE of those incidents cited that day of testimony—the brutalization of Angelina Totten, the battery of Nathan Steber, the damage to their vehicles and house, just as examples—have ever been charged against any of the surviving Earps or Casey King.

In fact, we’ve learned that the rest of the vile gang have basically been told that if they get out of the area, their charges will be dismissed and they won’t even have to return for any follow-up.

So we the citizens of Richland County are not safe; we are not protected against this kind of filth; we are always at the whims of whomever it is that David Hyde—who doesn’t even live in this county, nor pay taxes here, but instead drives over from Crawford County EVERY DAY—has as his “boay” du jour.

So we reiterate our plea: please help us find someone to run against him in the next election, even if that’s still three years away. He’s our prosecutor because no one else wants the job. But someone has to sweep up the trash in Richland; what happened with Brandon Jenkins went a long way toward it, but more needs to be done.

Brandon and Nichole Jenkins, one year ago tonight, going home after Brandon spent almost six months in the Richland County jail for NOTHING.

RICHLAND CO.—A fiery traffic collision occurring on U.S. Route 50 at the Claremont turn in Richland County has thus far gone unadressed by public officials who worked it.

The collision happened at about 5:45 today (Sunday, May 5, 2013) according to best estimates of those who reported it to Disclosure. Eyewitnesses advised that a vehicle was following a tanker truck that was making a right turn onto the Claremont blacktop off 50, and that the vehicle subsequently crashed into the tanker, and was actually pinned under it.

To exacerbate the situation, flames erupted from the collision point.

Emergency response was swift and reportedly included local fire departments, ambulances and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

However, calls to the department at 6:09 p.m., 6:49 p.m. and again at 8:58 p.m. produced “no one available” to give information to media about the accident. During the second phone call, Disclosure was advised that deputies were at the hospital in Olney in connection with the wreck. Promises to have deputies return Disclosure‘s phone call were met with no reply at all.

This comes on the heels of Wayne County promising to have a deputy return a call from Disclosure about the Joel Boulds accident that occurred yesterday morning. No call has yet been received about the incident, which was not worked by state police but worked only by local sheriff’s department authorities.

These follow a disturbing trend wherein publicly-supported agencies simply “neglect” to give information when it’s directly requested. Saline County found out the hard way in February that there were actually LAWS on the books in Illinois as they apply to release of information when it’s requested, on an ongoing basis or on an isolated incident basis. So now, it looks like Wayne and Richland are going to find themselves in the same position.

We’ll keep you updated on what we’re going to do with these counties; in the interim, be aware that ANYONE seeking public information (and a car wreck, house fire, arrest, high-speed chase, etc., IS public information because your tax dollars are funding it; ergo, you are the source of funds for all of the response to all of the above) must be given it. The counties may have certain protocols by which they release information, but when it’s requested, it MUST BE RELEASED. DON’T let anyone tell you otherwise…and if they do, tell us about it. Because there’s a movement on in our country to clamp down on even the most miniscule of information being released to the public, so that when something big happens—something like a ‘mandatory roundup of all weapons’—you’ll already be desensitized to being told “nothing’s going on.” Something is ALWAYS “going on.” Support your independent media so that you can always be informed of what it is.

SO. ILL.—Just wanted to take a moment to remind you that this woman went missing in Jefferson County three years ago this month:

Benedetta (“Beth”) Bentley

Here’s what we know about her case:

Benedetta (‘Beth’) Rogers Bentley, 41, is from Woodstock, Illinois and went missing from either Jefferson County (where she was reportedly visiting, thus the reason for her train trip down from Woodstock) or Marion County.

Bentley, who is an exotic-looking, 5-foot 6-inch, 165 pound, brown-eyed platinum blonde, was said to have been visiting a friend in southern Illinois over the weekend of May 22-23, 2010.

When she was last seen (by whom is unclear, as is much of the story surrounding her disappearance) she was wearing a black tank top, blue denim miniskirt, flip flops, a Pandora bracelet, a wedding ring, and was carrying a large white purse and a pink and orange Vera Bradley overnight bag. She was with an unnamed friend whose purpose in traveling to Mt. Vernon was to visit the friend’s boyfriend, who was in a rehab program in a halfway house there.

It is thought that Bentley was going to the Amtrak train station in Centralia to catch a 6 p.m. train to Union Station in Chicago. The train she was supposed to be on arrived at Union Station around 11 p.m. that Sunday night. It has never been confirmed that she actually boarded the Amtrak train from Centralia to Union Station as planned. She did not arrive home as expected, and a missing person’s report was filed by her husband on Monday, May 24, 2010, with Woodstock Police. Search areas of concentration included Mt. Vernon, Centralia and Chicago. Some say it’s possible she was never in southern Illinois. At the time she went missing, it’s been revealed she was allegedly pregnant.

Disclosure was encouraged to call her husband, Scott Bentley, an attorney whose practice is in Woodstock, being told he was anxious to discuss his wife’s disappearance. Disclosure did so, leaving many messages, but no calls were ever returned.

It was later reported that the husband had moved “a love interest” into the house with him and the children.

There has been no serious investigation into Bentley’s downstate disappearance, including attempting to learn if she ever really was in southern Illinois, since that time.

There are many others missing in the Midwest and they are featured at the Facebook page Illinois Missing. Bentley’s is the latest up top there because the anniversary of her disappearance is coming up. Others featured in the past have been Ed Hataway (whose disappearance has been resolved with the finding of his body in November 2012, but has never been explained) and Joel Moore.

Ed Hataway, who was missing for weeks from Olney before his body was found in Lawrence County

Anyone who has ANY information on the whereabouts of Beth Bentley is asked to contact the Illinois State Police, who maintains a registry of missing people in the state. The state police will have the advantage of side-stepping local and county authorities in the matter, as they are sometimes the reason why people can be harmed after not taking a missing persons report seriously enough.

RICHLAND CO.—We received a set of photos of the wreck that was called “fiery” by those who were passing by the scene; according to these photos, there doesn’t look to be too much fire damage, if any. Here’s one:

Wreck on U.S. 50 at the Claremont turn

That FS truck would have gone UP if there had been a fire any bigger than perhaps a spurt of flames.

Our photog also advises that this wreck occurred well before 5:30, in clarification to what was originally published about it Sunday evening, 05.05.13.

We have more photos and are considering holding them for the print version.

We have NOT heard from Richland County authorities, even after requesting numerous times the information from the wreck.

More as we get it.

LAWRENCE/RICHLAND Cos.—There was indeed a high-speed chase last night (May 6, 2013) between Lawrence County and Richland County, this according to those who live off U.S. Route 50 that cuts across both counties; we had eyewitnesses giving us a play-by-play account at one point (shortly before midnight).

However, because of the silence of law enforcement authorities, who are beholden to both the media and the public who pay their paychecks to advise when something of this nature has occurred, we don’t have very many details.

What we do know is that the chase was initiated by Lawrence County deputies at around 11:30 p.m. The suspect lead pursuing Lawrence officers into Richland, at times reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph. They passed Claremont Road with three to four law enforcement officers in pursuit.

At some point either just past Meridian Road or between Meridian and Ste. Marie Road, the suspect vehicle ended up in a ditch.

Illinois State Police reported to be enroute and were told that their assistance was not needed; that a female was in custody of Richland County and that another person was with her; however, who was the driver, as well as the gender of the other person, remains unknown presently. Identities are, of course unknown at this time.

Richland County has been FOIA’d over the incident.

RICHLAND CO.—It appears the stall tactic used by known loser defense attorney Chuck Roberts has accomplished two things: the first is that a confessed child abuser doesn’t even get probation and the second is that he files for taxpayers to pay the bill for it all.

The case began back in April 2009 when then 35-year-old Kelly Dawn Klingler, of 520 S. Grant, was charged with one count of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse alleging that she “committed an act of sexual conduct with KB” who was 13 years of age at the time “In that the mouth of KB touched the vagina of Kelly D. Klingler for the purpose of sexual gratification or arousal of Kelly D. Klingler and that Klingler was five years older than KB.”

Roberts, who was court-appointed, then spent the next three-and-a-half years filing one continuance after another and sending one bill after another totaling thousands of dollars for taxpayers to pay.

So desperate was Roberts to screw taxpayers that a passing conversation with Disclosure publisher Jack Howser, who was waiting for an unrelated criminal case to begin in the Richland County courtroom, was billed under Klingler’s case.

The entry for May 28, 2009 reads: “conference with Jack of Disclosure and where he got information.”

“There was no discussion,” Howser said after seeing the entry. “He [Roberts] asked me where I got the confession his client gave and I told him to go f*^k himself, I don’t give out sources and he walked away. I can’t believe he would charge voters for that. I think he was just pissed because I published the confession and he had no idea his client had confessed.”

Allowed audio tape

On April 16, 2009, Olney patrolman Mark D. Hackler made contact with Klingler who said she was willing to come to the police department (PD) and speak with detective Larry Knowlton.

Hackler then transported Klingler to the PD.

Upon arrival Klingler met with city officer Holly Hamilton and Det. Knowlton.

When Knowlton asked if he could record the conversation Klingler said she had no objection.

“I told her she didn’t have to speak with us if she didn’t want to and that she could leave any time she wanted to,” Knowlton said in his report. “I told her that at the end of our conversation she would be free to leave.”

Klingler said she was willing to talk.

Had sh*t kicked out of her by vic’s mom

Apparently when Klingler arrived she looked rather battered.

“I noticed that Ms. Klingler had a dark bruise on her nose and around her left eye,” Knowlton said. “She also had a large band aid on her forehead and I asked her what had happened.”

Klingler told Det. Knowlton that Beth Elmore had come to her house and accused her of having sex with her daughter.

“Ms. Klingler said she denied this and Beth then battered her, causing injuries to her face,” Knowlton said.

The confession

Knowlton then said he asked Klingler if she had any type of sexual contact with Elmore’s daughter.

“Ms. Klingler denied doing anything at first,” Knowlton said. “She later said that she has had sexual contact one time with the girl.”

Klingler told Knowlton that approximately one year before at 601 E. Monroe St., Danny Elmore was out of town and she was watching the girl.

“Ms. Klingler said the girl was the instigator and that the girl kept telling her it would be all right,” Knowlton said. “Ms. Klingler said that the girl performed oral sex on her and also put her fingers inside her vagina.

“Ms. Klingler said it only lasted a couple minutes and that she was uncomfortable with it and she really did not like it.”

The legal community doesn’t have much use for him either

After nearly three years of continuances and a couple thousand dollars billed to the county, the charges were just up and dismissed in November 2012: No explanation, no “I’m sorry, this didn’t really happen” from the young girl who was at one time considered a victim…and about two years too late for Klingler to file a civil lawsuit against anyone who put her into a position where she might’ve felt like she had to lie to police in order to just get them to stop questioning her, if in fact she DID lie.

“It’s not just fellow attorneys that are disgusted by Chuck Roberts dragging his feet in court, clogging up court calendars and having his work shoved off on others to clean up,” said one critic of the has-been lawyer and former Richland County state’s attorney. “There are a lot of judges who have stopped appointing him to cases because he doesn’t represent the interest of his clients, but has no hesitation taking the taxpayers’ money.”

In the case of the confessed sex abuser it appears to have worked out well for the accused, but it wasn’t because of anything Roberts did, but rather what he didn’t do.

Legal sources indicate that Roberts’ criminal defense days are behind him and he now focuses on soaking as much money as he can out of people in family cases, divorces, child custody and orders of protection.

“And he’s not very good at those either,” the source said.

RICHLAND CO.—A South Camp Street traffic stop netted authorities a familiar face in April.

On April 20, while driving a black 2007 dodge passenger car, in the 800 block of South Camp St., Olney, David M. Mosbacker, 28, of 303 West St. John St., Olney was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance after authorities say he had hydrocodone on his person without a valid prescription.

Mosbacker has a colorful felonious past with local law, earning his first felony conviction in 2003.

Originally he was charged with two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, one count of Aiding/Abetting the Selling of a Stolen Vehicle and three counts of Aggravated Fleeing Police 21 mph over the posted limit.

After pleading to two of the fleeing charges he was sentenced October 31, 2003 to 180 days in the county jail, 24 months probation, 12 months conditional discharge, 100 hours public service and ordered to pay $1,837 in fines and fees.

Nearly one year later, on September 30, 2004, after one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon was dismissed, Mosbacker pled to Aggravated Fleeing Police 21 mph over the posted limit and Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (prescription medication) and was sentenced to three years in the IDOC and ordered to pay $1,343 in fines and fees of which he still owes $1,070.

In 2006 Mosbacker was busted and charged with Unlawful Manufacture/Delivery of Cannabis 30-500 grams, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine less than five grams, Unlawful Methamphetamine Delivery five to 15 grams, Unlawful Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia and Aggravated Fleeing.

After pleading to the delivery and possession of meth charge, Mosbacker was sentenced to eight years in IDOC and ordered to pay $3,552 in fines and fees of which he has paid nothing.

Mosbacker was back on the streets long enough in 2009 to be convicted of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine less than five grams which earned him another six years in IDOC.

He was paroled July 31, 2012.

His discharge date is listed as July 31, 2013.

As inept as Richland County state’s attorney David Hyde is, it is anybody’s guess what, if anything, will be done about the habitually-offending Mosbacker.

He is currently being held in the county jail on $7,500 cash bond.

$10K & pot plants

Barry R. Godfrey, 64, of 423 Vance Dr., Olney has been charged with one count of Unlawful Production of Cannabis Sativa Plant after authorities say on or about April 15 he was found to be growing 20-50 plants.

Godfrey was released from custody after a $10,000 cash bond, in the form of a money order, was posted on his behalf by Amanda Bower, of 402 South Elliott St., Olney.

Pills and pot

Jane B. Williams, 45, of 309 West Butler St., Olney has been busted in her home on drug charges.

According to court documents, on or about April 20 authorities took Williams into custody charging her with one count of Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance after they discovered she knowingly possessed lorazepam without a prescription, and one count of Unlawful Possession of Cannabis less than 2.5 grams.

Williams was released from custody after a $1,500 cash bond was posted on her behalf by Linda Murphy of 829 North Boone St., Olney. As part of her bond conditions Williams is forbidden to return to the Butler Street address.

RICHLAND CO.—Proceedings on the pointless order of protection have been reset in the case of Disclosure publisher Jack Howser, whose bizarre stepfather Dan Howser managed to convince a judge that just such an order should be upheld as of last September.

However, the elder Howser’s machinations may be coming under scrutiny soon when the case is next in court, this time with the younger Howser asking for the elder to explain why the order should be in place since there was never an incidence of violence, threat, stalking or harassment against the aging man by the son he adopted, and multiple instances of harassment perpetrated against the younger Howser and his family by the decrepit old man and his equally-bizarre family.

Whines about name in paper

At issue was never an incident of threat or harm anyway, as the court (represented by associate judge Kimbara Harrell) ruled ultimately: it was the fact that Publisher Howser had written, albeit truthfully, about his stepfather in his publication, and the elder Howser “didn’t like it.”

The elder Howser complained bitterly in court testimony given over ridiculously-drawn-out settings between September 2011 to early 2012 that he “didn’t know what to expect every time he went to the American Legion” (where, shamefully, he has held positions of authority despite his constant attack on the First Amendment freedoms he allegedly fought so hard for during the Vietnam War era), where his buddies would tell him that once again, he or a member of his taxpayer-supported family (his latest wife and one of his sons both work at the Lawrence Correctional Center), or another one of the family members outside of his immediate compound, was “in the paper.”

The elder Howser neglected to note that they were only mentioned in connection with pending court cases (such as small claims or bankruptcies, which Disclosure routinely covers) or in brief passing in opinion pieces (including one letter to the editor that was not written by Disclosure staff, but was instead composed by a longtime acquaintance of the elder Howser’s, who opined how suspicious it was that he married his current spouse so quickly after the death of his wife of more than 40 years, Judith Howser).

He also neglected to advise that he was pulled into the younger Howser’s guardianship case of their granddaughter in an effort to discredit Jack Howser; an effort which failed, as their bogus testimony of what an awful father he was fell flat in the face of first-hand testimony of Howser’s own stepson and his wife, as well as of Angela Howser, who recounted the previous more-than-a-decade of dedication…and of how Howser’s first wife was a nutcase who poisoned his own childrens’ minds against him.

Violent gun-nut claims

An attempt to make Howser out to be some kind of violent gun-nut in order to affect the guardianship case also fell flat with the testimony of Deputy Kevin McCormick, whom Howser’s brother Tom called on March 11, 2011, to report that Howser was “shooting recklessly” on his own property (which sits adjacent to the Dan Howser property). McCormick testified that it appeared all Jack Howser was doing on the day in question was shooting at a fixed target that had sat for months in the same location, and which had old casings nearby, showing evidence of months of use…which negated Tom Howser’s claim that his half-brother was deliberately trying to “intimidate or harass” the combat vet/correctional officer (Tom) on that day by firing at the target, a fraudulent claim as it was a regular practice (and even one that was documented on Disclosure’s website) for Jack Howser to do such a thing.

With a great effort to confuse Harrell in January 2012 testimony—and which succeeded in confusing her—erroneous diagrams were drawn that showed that when Jack Howser was firing at the target, a ricochet could have struck Tom Howser, who happened to be outside on that March 2011 day.

In truth, there was an entire building between the two—a garage/workshop—when the target practice ensued.

Harrell didn’t buy Tom Howser’s story of the target practice being aimed at him when Dan Howser took the initial complaint to the sheriff’s department on March 23, 2011, using the target practice incident as a basis for an emergency order of protection—the EOP was denied, but the old man was allowed to amend his petition.

Publication as basis for ‘harassment’

In the petition was also the complaint that every time his name was mentioned in the paper, it was an “incident of harassment.”

Ultimately, in April of 2012, Harrell ruled that the mention of the name “Dan Howser” in print was the basis of the harassment, and sort of by default…as she could find no other incidents of threats, stalking, violence or harassment (all components of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act the Orders of Protection were designed to uphold in the first place) upon which she could base the OP order.

Disclosure almost immediately discovered, however, that her decision was likely based on the fact that the paper had pissed off her husband Jack Harrell unknowingly when they wrote truthfully about the county looking at Harrell to sell the sheriff’s department new and expensive narrowband radios.

Harrell recused herself from the case in June 2012 when confronted with this in court, and the case went to White County Judge Tom Sutton.

By that time, Jack Howser had filed an appeal of the decision, asking for clarification on exactly WHAT it was that constituted ‘harassment’ and what actions he was or was not allowed to take as it pertained to his stepfather…because if Harrell was saying that writing truthfully or in opinion for about Dan Howser was the ‘harassment,’ she was subverting Disclosure’s First Amendment right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of the Press.

No ‘Prior Restraint’

Since Sutton didn’t know and couldn’t ascertain what Harrell’s reasoning was behind the decision (as she didn’t spell it out clearly in her justification for the OP), he later ruled (in September 2012) that there was no way any judge could restrict Howser from publishing anything before the fact (“Prior Restraint” is illegal), and while he upheld the OP as a matter of deference to Harrell, he clarified that the actual writing about a person in relation to a court case, or a public official (which Dan Howser, as a military veteran, retiree from the U.S. Postal Service and former Richland County Sheriff’s Department employee, clearly was and is), be it recounting of the facts or issuing opinion (especially criticism of how tax dollars are being spent, as in connection with a government paycheck or retirement check), is protected speech and could not be abrogated.

Subsequent factual articles about the case have since been printed since October 2012 with no action taken against the newspaper.

And since it’s now been a year since the OP has been in place, and there have been no incidents whatsoever, the younger Howsers are now pushing for some resolution to some things left hanging in the bogus OP.

No finalization of property-based whines

One of the main issues in Dan Howser’s petition was his claim that junk items placed on Jack Howser’s property, several feet away from the actual property line and clearly on the younger Howser’s acreage, is “harassing and intimidating” the older Howser.

How inanimate objects could “harass and intimidate” a person is one of those great mysteries, but goes a long way toward showing the utter foolishness Dan Howser continues to display.

The younger Howser placed the items on the property line in 2011 because the elder Howser’s freakish family kept trespassing, gouging into the lawn with a lawn mower and other implements and generally harassing the younger Howser.

The elder Howser, pissed off over having to look at it, called a surveyor to inspect the property line without advising his neighbors. The surveyor, Mark Bowlby from Charleston Engineering, was followed around the property by the younger Howsers on April 14, 2011, refusing to state his name, business and bonding agent even when asked, and finally left when the sheriff’s department was called.

However, before he left, he placed pins on the property boundaries, showing clearly that the elder Howser had claimed about ten feet of his stepson’s property as his own.

The elder Howser had griped in his petition for OP that he wanted a survey completed so he could place a fence between the properties, which the younger Howsers have never had a problem with, and even encouraged. But this has never been done, likely because the elder Howser doesn’t want to give up the ten feet he’s claimed, as he and his prison guard boy use it to access the back of the property and the basement dwelling where Tom Howser lives, under Dan Howser’s doublewide.

Therefore a petition has been filed, demanding that the rest of the terms of the OP be met by Dan Howser, or the order be dropped.

Attempts to get Howser to violate

Since the time of the OP, Tom Howser has ignored the basis of it, sending a “friend request” to Jack Howser on Facebook.

It’s unclear of his intentions; it might be that he was attempting to draw his brother into violating the OP, since a year mark was coming up with no “harassment” and the whole bunch are nothing if not drama queens when it comes to the matter. Further, the guardianship case has almost been resolved, with the opposing party running out of money and the Howsers still fighting; so any kind of “violation” could be brought up in that case in order to “show that Jack Howser is violent” (which has been the unproven assertion, although how an OP violation via accepting a Facebook friend request can be considered ‘violent’ is, again, a prime display of the ridiculousness the younger Howsers are having to deal with.)

As well, a request by Dan Howser’s attorney/opposing guardianship party’s attorney Chuck Roberts for Jack Howser to undergo a psychological evaluation for “anger issues” (something else concocted by the dramatists) has never been concluded; Roberts was to have provided a doctor by November, and when none was forthcoming and repeated attempts to bring up the matter were met with silence, Jack Howser has opted to push, through his attorney, the issue…which is immaterial, as Howser will continue to refuse to be examined by any psychiatrist; the request was made on the basis of what Howser has WRITTEN about his stepfather in the past in protected-speech opinion pieces, and to submit to such an evaluation is a dangerous slippery slope, as it opens other journalists up to the same scrutiny and potentially criminalize them, since the whole thing is based on something published as news or opinion.

Updates will continue to appear both at the paper’s website, disclosurenewsonline.com, as well as here in the print version.