(Peoria, IL) -- The economic woes at Caterpillar continue. Illinois' heavy equipment giant is reporting its third straight month of falling sales figures. Cat says global sales in February fell 27-percent. Company officials say the worldwide economic slowdown is catching-up with its manufacturing base. The biggest drops in tractor and heavy equipment sales came in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Cat's latest financial report shows sales there fell 37-percent. North America and the Asia-Pacific region also saw large sales drops. Caterpillar says Latin American sales dropped only two-percent, but that follows gains in that region in recent months. Cat's earnings and profit projections have also fallen-off in recent months. The company is moving ahead with 24-thousand layoffs, including cutbacks announced this month at three Illinois plants. The only bright spot on big yellow's latest report comes from the seas. Cat says demand for large-marine engines has increased as the shipping industry tries to recover from the world wide economic slowdown.

(LaSalle, IL) -- Illinois Governor Pat Quinn is now trying to get voters behind his 53-billion-dollar spending plan. The new Governor hit the road after delivering his spending proposal to lawmakers Wednesday. Quinn talked-up his plans for additional veterans care at the LaSalle Veteran's home Thursday. He says the state is willing to pay its share to take care of the men and women who served this country. The Governor's new budget includes money to add beds at the LaSalle home. And officials there have even started interviewing for the jobs that are expected with the new administration. There are 200 people on a waiting list at LaSalle, and Quinn says once the new nurses and workers are hired, some of those people can move in. Governor Quinn is trying to win-over voters after lawmakers and statehouse insiders gave his budget plan a cool reception. Quinn's proposal include tax and fee hikes, as well as budget cuts. The Governor says the state must make some "tough choices."

(Christian County) A Pana man that went before a Grand Jury this week on separate charges of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse and possession of methamphetamine manufacturing materials, heads up a list of ten people indicted in Christian County Court. The sex charges against 43-year-old John Grimes allege he had sex with a teenaged girl multiple times between 2005 and 2007. The drug charges stem from a March 4th bust, where Grimes allegedly possessed pseudoephedrine and other meth making materials. Grimes is eligible for class X sentencing in both cases because he has a previous felony conviction against him.

Others indicted on drug charges include 27-year-old Scott Patnode of Pana on one count each of possession of a methamphetamine precursor, unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing materials and unlawful possession of cannabis. 19-year-old Jordan DeClerk was indicted on counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of cannabis; 29 year old Dwayne Beck of Pana was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance; 23 year old Joseph Kerr of Tower Hill was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Twenty Four Year old Jimmy Haines of Taylorville was indicted on one count each of Failure to register change of address, failure to register change of employment, and failure to register his admission to college, all requirements under the Child Sex Offender Registration Act.

Thirty year old Jennifer Robeson of Ohlman was indicted on one count of Theft, after allegedly stealing money from a gas station between July of 2008 and January of 2009.

Twenty Five year old Jacob B. Melton of Roby was indicted on one count of Forgery for allegedly stealing, forging, and cashing a false check in January; and 40 year old Francis Koeberlein of Vandalia was indicted on one count of Deceptive Practice, for allegedly intentionally writing an overdrawn check for more than 9 thousand dollars.

Thirty One year old David L. Mays of Taylorville was indicted on one count Criminal Damage To Property, for allegedly damaging a car last April.

For the 12th year in a row, the Miller Media groups family of Radio stations celebrated National agriculture day, March 20th, with a series of special live broadcasts. The day started with a broadcast on 98.3 WRAN from the Farm House Family Restaurant in Shelbyville, featuring the RFD Radio Network’s Trisha Braid Terry. Among her guests during the broadcast was Assistant Vice President of Farm Credit Services Scott Montgomery, who talked about the prospects for a profitable upcoming year for area farmers.

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Following the morning broadcast, Trish and Co. took the show on the road to Taylorville, where she broadcasted on Newstalk 97.3 WTIM from the Farm Credit Services Office in Taylorville. Farm Credit Services Executive Vice President Chief Credit Officer Don Olsen talked with Trish during the broadcast, highlighting the importance of agriculture on a global level.

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According to the website Agday.org, National Agriculture Day is a day to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by agriculture. Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, government agencies and countless other across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture.

(Herrick) Police in Shelby County are on the look-out for the person that robbed a Herrick bank Friday Morning. According to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, the suspect entered the Herrick branch of the Community Banks of Shelby County around 8:30 this morning, and gave bank personnel a note demanding money. The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene on foot. The suspect is described as a white male in his mid 30’s with a reddish colored beard and mustache, and pale complexion. The suspect was wearing wire rimmed glasses, a navy blue wind breaker, blue jeans and a ball cap at the time of the robbery. He was last seen between the Herrick Post Office and the Herrick Community Building.
Anyone that sees a person matching that description in the Herrick area is asked to contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at 774-3941, or Shelby County Crime Stoppers at 1800-528-TIPS.

(Taylorville) A ten year boy suffered serious injuries after police say he struck a car while riding a bicycle near Elevator Street and West Main Cross in Taylorville. Police say the accident happened just before 4 o'clock Thursday. Witnesses told police the boy, Adam C. Saurez of Taylorville rode his bike through a stop sign and struck a car driven by 62 year old Carol Riggs of Taylorville. After striking the car, Suarez reportedly went up onto the hood and into the windshield before falling to the ground. Suarez was alert and responsive when officers arrived to the scene, but was taken to St. John's Hospital in Springfield for treatment of his injuries. Riggs and an passenger in her vehicle reported no injuries.

Following Governor Quinn’s Budget address earlier this week that included a proposed state income tax increase as well as various fee increases, area lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in both houses are cautiously optimistic at best. 101st district Democratic State Rep. Bob Flider says he would like to see an attempt to reduce wasteful spending and create jobs to help balance the state’s budget, before resorting to tax increases.

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109th district Republican State Rep. Roger Eddy says he appreciates Quinn’s sincerity and willingness to work with lawmakers to bridge an 11 billion dollar budget gap, but wants to know more details regarding the proposed tax increases and pension reforms before supported the proposed budget

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87th District Republic State Rep. Bill Mitchell is less optimistic, saying that a tax increase would hurt the people affected most by the struggling economy.

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Newly Appointed 51st District Republican Senator Kyle McCarter also says he hesitates supporting a tax increase plan that looks to remedy years of government irresponsibility.

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Quinn says he will look to balance the proposed tax increase by boosting the personal tax exemption in Illinois to six thousand dollars. In addition to the tax increase Quinn’s budget would also include ethics and pension reforms, icreased education funding and a required furlough for state workers.

(Taylorville) Continuing our series examine the upcoming Taylorville city election following the Meet the Candidate Forum held earlier this month at the Taylorville Jr. High, Today’s focus is on the race for Ward four alderman. After initially indicating he would run to retain his seat on the Council, current ward four Alderman John Podeschi pulled his candidacy when he decided to run for Mayor instead. That leaves a two way race between Myrna Hauser and Shawn Burtle.

Hauser is a longtime time resident of Christian County and is a graduate of the Taylorville School system. She also holds a degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. After serving as an accountant in Carbondale, Hauser spent nearly three decades as a business teacher. Hauser and her husband then opened the Market Street Inn Bed and Breakfast in Taylorville, which they have operated for 15 years. Like many other candidates, Hauser says her main objective as a city leader would be to try and balance the city’s budget deficit.

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After graduating from Stonington High School and attending Lincoln Land Community College, Shawn Burtle has lived with his family in Ward four since 1988. In addition to working for a local property management company, Burtle says he holds several rental properties in the city and runs a small ice cream truck company. Burtle says if elected, his top priority would be to open lines of communication among city leaders as well as residents, to help create a stronger community.

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Intitially Regional Radio mistakenly reported that Hauser was running unopposed in the Election. We regret the error.

Congressman John Shimkus (R, Illinois-19) voted to impose a 90 percent tax on employee bonuses if the company they work for received assistance from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), which was the Wall Street bailout program.

It has recently become known that Senator Dodd removed language from the stimulus bill that would have prohibited the bonuses AIG employees received. He is quoted as saying that Obama Administration officials asked that the language be removed.

"I would like for the taxpayers to get 100 percent of these funds back, and will continue to fight till every penny is returned," Shimkus said. "This incident shows the lack of control on these TARP funds and the lack of government oversight about how the money is spent.

"While I share concerns that the courts may rule against this legislation, the Democratic majority allowed these bonuses to be distributed. I voted for this legislation to send a signal to Wall Street and those companies abusing taxpayer dollars that Congress and the American people are not going to stand by and let them waste our money.

"As a reminder, I have consistently voted against all the bailouts - Wall Street, AIG, the banks and auto companies. We are throwing money around to all the big shots and forgetting about the people," Shimkus added.

(Christian County) Aside from the infrastructure issues in the recently purchased Taylorville Industrial Park recently purchased by the Taylorville Development Association, the Christian County Economic Development Corporation also heard reports on several other ongoing projects during the executive committee meeting earlier this week. Among those, two proposed wind farms that could blow in to the area, including the Dominion backed Prairie Fork Wind Farms in Southwestern Christian and Northern Montgomery Counties, and the Trade Winds Energy Wind Farm slated to be built north of Pana. CCEDC Executive Director Mary Renner says both projects are currently in land acquisition phases, but so far, all reports are optimistic.

The Taylorville Mine company coal mine project and the Taylorville Energy Center Coal Gasification project are both progressing according to Renner, and could actually work together to create plenty of new jobs for the area.

As for the Industrial Park Issue, concerns among the CCEDC were raised when the Christian County Sanitary District indicating they would not issue any permits to build on the 84 acre plot of land located northeast of Taylorville, as they need to look into potential problems with underground sewer lines that would serve the area. Board members feel those concerns from the sanitary district should have been brought to light prior to the TDA’s purchase of the land from ADM last fall.

The Taylorville City Council worked a fairly heavy agenda with relatively little discussion on any single issue during (Monday Nights) meeting. The council adopted the city planning commissions recommendation to approve a site plan and a special use permit for Taylorville Memorial Hospital to begin phase two construction on the hospital expansion project. The permits allow the hospital to add a parking lot for the new Springfield clinic under construction on the campus of TMH.

Before adopting the plan commissions recommendation, the council honored long time plan commission members Dr. Richard Zimmers and Larry Peterson, who announced their resignation from the committee earlier this year. Zimmers served on the commission for forty years and Peterson for nine. (Monday nights) meeting was their last as members of the commission. The council also approved Larry Budd and Tom Bellegante to replace the outgoing commissioners on a permanent basis. The council also honored Dave Griffin last night for 25 years of service on the committee.

The council also accepted the Lake/Airport committees recommendation to not impose a 50 fee per week for a second camper or tent on lake lots of Lake Taylorville. Committee chairman Martin Vota indicated the committee will intend to impose a 200 dollar fine for having any more than two campers on a lot at a time, for any length of time. Alderman Ernie Dorcinecz, who attended a committee meeting last week on this issue that garnered much discussion from the public, expressed concerns that campers will express similar concerns over the new policy.

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In other business, the council accepted a new contract between the city of Taylorville and AFSCME, which represents city workers not employed by the Police and Fire Departments. The contract is retroactive to the start of this year when the previous one expired, and allows for a yearly scheduled raise of 3.25% for all full time AFSCME represented employees

(Rural Taylorville) State Police believe blinding heavy smoke caused by a field fire is to blame for a three-car accident that sent one person to the hospital Tuesday afternoon. The crash happened around 1 o'clock on Route 48, just north of Taylorville. The name of the injured driver and extent of the injuries have not been released at this time. The two other drivers involved in the crash did not report any injuries. Authorities say they're not sure yet what caused the fire that burned several hundred yards of grass along Route 48. Illinois State Trooper Brandon Davis responded to the crash and describes the scene:

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In addition to State Police, Christian County Sheriffs deputies and the Taylorville Fire Department responded to the incident.