The National Weather Service in Lincoln says that mostly dry conditions are expected Sunday, with lingering thunderstorm chances south of I-70. Highs of 83 to 88 are expected. Chance of rain is 20-40% south of I-70, 10% north of I-70.

Another storm system will move into the region Labor Day bringing good chances for thunderstorms which may produce heavy rainfall as well as a slight risk of severe wind gusts and hail. Highs of 82-88 are expected with a 70% chance of rain.

As heard on 94.3 WMKR, Central A&M fell to Milford with a score of 56 to 13.

Mid-America Preparatory School is located in Herrick. Rick Allen is principal of the Christian school, which is in its 7th year.

[audio:AllenaudioAug2914.mp3]comment here[/audio]

For more information, contact Allen at 618-428-5600.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Richard Budds, 40, of Taylorville was arrested on August 28^th on a bond forfeiture warrant for driving on a suspended/revoked license.

ACCIDENTS:

On August 21^st, Gary Freitag, 48, of Taylorville was traveling northbound on Linda Lane. Freitag came to the stop sign at the intersection at Kennedy Road. And Linda Lane. He tried to come to a stop but the 2001 Harley Davidson he was driving hit loose gravel. The motorcycle went on its side at the intersection. Freitag stated he thought his arm was broke. He was taken by ambualnce to Taylorville Memorial Hospital for treatment.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING:

Kim Long, 43, of Taylorville was turning from Madison Street left onto Spresser Street. Nola Lefever, 75, of Palmer, was turning left onto Spresser. Long and Lefever struck in the middle of Spresser Street.

Caroline Thompson, 77, of Taylorville was stopped at a stop sign in her 2010 Chevy Impala at the intersection of McAdams Drive and East Park Street. She failed to yield the right of way to Dalton Tarr, 21, of Rochester and struck the rear passenger wheel of his 2011 Dodge pickup.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

8-27-14 1 Motor Vehicle Accident, 1 EMS

8-28-14 3 EMS, 1 Aotomatic Assist

8-29-14 1 EMS

A Taylorville man has been busted on a driving violation. According to reports, 40 year old Richard Budds was arrested Thursday for driving on a suspended or revoked license.

Springfield, IL – Law enforcement officials are reminding motorists to take the necessary safety precautions to prevent senseless tragedies during the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

Continuing through Tuesday, September 2, the Illinois State Police will enforce the four most common traffic violations: speeding, DUI, seat belts, and distracted driving. Troopers will also be on heightened alert monitoring intelligence from the Statewide Terrorism Intelligence Center (STIC) for suspicious vehicles, special alerts, and any criminal activity crossing state lines.

Labor Day marks the end of summer for families and the beginning of a new school year. Many families and young adults will be on the roads and especially vulnerable to driving under the influence.

District 9 added that Alcohol Counter Enforcement (ACE) patrols and roadside safety checks will also be operational. Driving under the influence is still the number one cause for traffic crashes and fatalities, especially during holiday celebrations. Designating a driver or arranging for public transportation saves lives. Drinking and driving is a deadly combination. Nearly two of five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related traffic crash, with over 40 percent resulting in a fatality.

Shelbyville Manor is planning its annual Fall Festival. Kristi Gorden, Director of Marketing and Sales at Shelbyville Manor, says it happens this weekend:

[audio:gordensvillemanor082914.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Fall Festival is always held the weekend after Labor Day.

SPRINGFIELD – The Lincoln Land Community College Board of Trustees welcomed new faculty at its August meeting last week.

Phyllis Bieverof Minier, instructor in surgical technology, is a certified surgical technologist with substantial clinical experience in all aspects of surgical assisting.

Dr. Ashley Greenof Franklin, assistant professor of English, will teach developmental English and direct the Writing Center.

David Leitnerof Chatham, assistant professor of English, began at LLCC in 2011 as an adjunct faculty member teaching English and literature.

Tim McKenzieof Decatur, assistant professor, journalism and humanities, was an adjunct faculty member last year at LLCC.

Deana Schenkof Springfield, instructor in English, has taught as an adjunct instructor at LLCC since the fall of 2006.

Also at the meeting, trustee Jeff Fulgenzi commended U.S. Senator Dick Durbin for his recent roundtable discussion and press conference held at LLCC, calling attention to student loan debt and the questionable practices of some for-profit colleges. Fulgenzi agreed with Sen. Durbin that community colleges are a quality and affordable alternative to for-profit colleges and should be strongly considered by all seeking higher education.

September is Severe Weather Preparedness Month, and the American Red Cross is urging you to develop an emergency plan. Tara Winter of the Red Cross says it's a good way to keep your family safe:

[audio:wintersevwxprepredcross082914.mp3]comment here[/audio]

You can get lots of free information on this topic, visit redcross.org.

As heard in WTIM, Taylorville defeated Mt. Vernon with a score of 40-20.

As heard on WSVZ, Shelbyville defeated Pawnee with a score of 47-12. 

THE 66TH ANNUAL PANA TRI-COUNTY FAIR KICKED OFF LAST NIGHT FEATURING THE LITTLE MISS, JUNIOR MISS AND MISS QUEEN PAGEANTS

ZARA GUZMAN OF MORRISONVILLE WAS SELECTED AS THE SECOND RUNNER-UP IN THE LITTLE MISS CONTEST, KAYLEE KUHN OF PANA FIRST RUNNER-UP AND ADRIAN RHODES OF PANA WAS NAMED THE 2014 LITTLE MISS PANA TRI-COUNTY FAIR

IN THE JUNIOR MISS PAGEANT, SECOND RUNNER-UP AND PROPLE'S CHOICE AWARD WENT TO JOSEPHINE MOORE OF ASSUMPTION, RECEIVING MISS CONGENIALITY AND FIRST FUNNER-UP WAS SWAY DENTON OF PANA, AND BRAYER DENTON OF PANA WAS CROWNED 2014 JR. MISS PANA TRI-COUNTY FAIR QUEEN

IN THE MISS PANA TRI-COUNTY PAGEANT, AMY HEBERLING OF TAYLORVILLE WAS SELECTED MISS CONGENIALITY, AND THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD WENT TO MEREDITH EPLEY OF PANA, SECOND RUNNER-UP WAS GABRIELLE MERRIMAN OF ASSUMPTION, RECEIVING FIRST RUNNER-UP WAS REBECCA BLAND OF PANA, AND ABIGAIL BURGENER OF MOWEAQUA WAS CROWNED 2014 MISS PANA TRI-COUNTY FAIR QUEEN

THE 66TH ANNUAL PANA TRI-COUNTY FAIR RUNS THROUGH LABOR DAY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST  

The area Triad organization is once again sponsoring the Senior Police Academy. Richard Peters tells Regional Radio the classes start this coming Thursday:

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Alexander Shanks, 21, of Taylorville was arrested on August 27^th on a bond forfeiture warrant for contempt of court.

Rodney Aten, 36, of Taylorville was arrested on August 27^th on a bond forfeiture warrant for contempt of court.

Nicole Erwin-Gaymor, 23, Of Centralia was arrested on August 27^th on a bond forfeiture warrant for driving on a revoked or suspended license.

ACCIDENTS:

On August 23^rd, a Christian County Deputy was dispatched to a single vehicle accident with injury. Two deputies arrived on scene and observed Kody Page, 30, of Taylorville in the west bound ditch facing south and observed several mailboxes and mailbox posts laying in the same ditch east of Page. There were tire marks leaving the roadway and entering the ditch on the north side of the road. The tire mark continued west until meeting with a driveway/culvert at 3719 Lincoln Trail. Tire marks were observed again on the west side of the driveway over the mailboxes and continuing to Page's location. The deputy approached Page, and she stated she was experiencing head/neck pain and that she swerved to avoid striking an animal and lost control of the 2002 Chrysler she was driving when she entered the north (west bound) ditch. Contact was made with the owner of the damaged mailboxes. EMS arrived on scene and transported Kody Page to Taylorvillle Memeorial Hospital.

On August 28^th, Kerstin Kresin, 23, of Pana stated she was west bound on county road 1900 north road and that a deer ran into the roadway and she was unable to stop at the intersection. Kresin struck the ditch and went into the filed. She was not injured.

Ronald Stivers, 45, of Taylorville was southbound on county highway 7 at intersection with county highway 6. He was at the rest at the stop sign, Haley Little , 22, of Stonington was at the rest on county highway 7 behind Stivers. An uninvolved vehicle was traveling east on county highway 6 and turned north on county highway 7. As the uninvolved vehicle turned, Stivers backed up from the intersection to allow more room. Stivers then backed into Little. Stivers was driving a 1996 Peterbilt Tractor and Little was driving a 2004 Lincoln LS.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 22, officers were dispatched by 911 to 427 White Ave. for a juvenile stating someone was trying to harm her. Officers then went to 1301 West Park Ave to investigate the matter further. Subsequent to investigation, Christopher Morgason, 33, of Taylorville was arrested for sale or gift of alcohol to a minor. Christopher Morgason was released from the Taylorville Police Department on a notice to appear.

This year's Chillifest will also feature the 175^th anniversary celebration of Taylorville and Christian County. CEO of the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Patty Hornbuckle says the combination adds a whole new dimension to this year's festivities:

Central Illinois is cleaning up after severe thunderstorms rolled thru the area last night, bringing as much as 3 to 4 inches of rain in less than 2 hours.

Many city and rural roads were flooded immediately after the heavy rain Tuesday night.

Tree limbs, branches and leaves ended up in the street. Illinois Route 29 west of Casey's in Taylorville was blocked for a time by Taylorville Police, as they cleared a large branch that had fallen off of a tree into the roadway.

Listener reports indicate as much as 4 inches fell in less than 2 hours, in the Regional Radio listening area.

There have been no reports of damage or injuries as a result of last night's severe weather, which extended from Ford County in east central Illinois, to Christian County.

Slots for the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest Little Miss Chilli Pepper pageant on Saturday, October 4^th, are full, according to Chamber officials.

But they add there are a few slots available for the Little Mister Chilli Pepper and Junior Miss Chilli Pepper pageants.

Deadline for entries for both pageants is September 4^th.

Entry and waiver forms, and pageant rules, are all posted on the event's web site, chillifest.info, that's with 2-L's. They're also available at the Chamber office on the 2^nd floor of the U.S. Bank building on the south side of the Taylorville square during weekday business hours.

The 2014 edition of Chillifest—which includes a celebration of the 175h anniversary of the City of Taylorville and Christian County—takes place October 4^th and 5^th on the Taylorville square and also at the Christian County Historical Society grounds.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Kurklan Dickey, 19, of Taylorville was arrested on August 26^th on a bond forfeiture warrant for criminal damage to property and consumption of liquor by a minor.

ACCIDENTS:

Kalie Catlin, 22, of Mt. Auburn was traveling north bound on 2100 E. Road approximately ½ mile south of County Highway 2 when a deer ran into the roadway. Catlin was unable to stop and hit the deer with her 2013 Chevroley Cruise.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

8/25/14 1 Automatic Assist

8/26/14 1 EMS, 1 line down

The Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce has selected its Member of the Quarter. McMillan Landscaping was chosen. McMillan offers landscaping services including design, construction and maintenance. You can call McMillan Landscaping at 820-5114.

There will be a coffee and donut reception this coming Wednesday morning at 1016 S. Spresser to celebrate the selection, starting at 8am.

The Christian County Sheriff's office reports another deer-car collision. 22 Year old Kalie Catlin of Mt. Auburn was reportedly headed north on 2100 East Road just south of County Highway 2 Tuesday when she says a deer ran into the roadway. Catlin couldn't stop in time to avoid hitting the animal. Her 2013 Chevy Cruise was damaged. Fortunately, no human injuries were reported.

The annual Pana Labor Day Parade Horse Show will he held just prior to the parade, Sept. 1, 2014, approximately 9:30 a.m., at the Wallace Bros. Stable (former stockyards) at the intersection of Poplar Street and Cold Springs Road (1 block west of Parkway Apartments and Kitchell Park). In addition to the awards for the Oldest and Youngest Riders, prizes will be awarded in the classes of Pony, Hitch, Western, and Parade/Costume. Everyone and anyone is welcome to participate! The show is for fun! The only requirement for entering is that you have a horse or pony! Following the show, all horses may be ridden in a caravan via Cold Springs Road and Hickory Street to join the parade line-up on East Second Street. For additional information, call 217-562-7202. In case of inclement weather on Labor Day morning, you may call 217-565-2332 to inquire if the show will be held.  See you there!

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club learned about the new Illinois gun concealed carry law, at their noon luncheon Tuesday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

John Garner, a retired master sargent formerly with the Illinois State Police, founded the Illinois Concealed Carry Academy north of Edinburg, and provides concealed carry classes that are required under the new state law.

In remarks to the Kiwanis Club, Garner said that that guns provide what he calls a “constant state of peace”, adding that Illinois law does require those wanting to carry guns in the state to jump thru a lot of hoops.

[audio:GarneraudioAug2614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Garner told the Club that police in Ferguson, Missouri, were wrong in using military tactics to handle the recent unrest there, and said police should have communicated more with protesters, and been more part of the community than they were.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium. For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Tonya Fisher, 39, of Taylorville was arrested on August 25^th for theft.

Jessica Koonce, 22, of Bulpitt, was arrested on August 25^th for driving with a suspended license.

INCIDENT:

On August 24^th, Joseph Newingham called the Christian County Sheriff's Department to report unknown subject(s) removed some scrap metal and the back end of a vehicle from his property. The subject(s) took an old radial arm table saw and the back end of a white 1965 Ford Ranchero off a flatbed trailer parked on the west side of his garage. The incident occurred sometime between August 17^th and August 24^th.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 24^th, a Taylorville Police officer made contact with a make subject that he knew had a valid warrant out of Christian County. The information was ranhru L.E,A.D.S. and verified the warrant. Logan Fleming, 21, of Taylorville was arrested and transported to the Christian County Correctional Center in lieu of bond.

On August 22^nd at 12:14 pm, a Taylorville police officer was dispatched to Webster Street and Vine in reference to a subject unresponsive in the intersection. The officer arrived on the scene as Sutton's Ambulance drivers were getting the driver out of the vehicle. The ambulance personal checked the subjects vitals and determined the subject, Steven Moore, 49, of Taylorville was medically ok. The officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Moore. He was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and transported to the Taylorville Police Department. The suspect was processed and released without his drivers licence .

On August 24^th, a Taylorville Police officer was dispatched to 724 S. Florence Street for a disturbance. Upon arrival, James Turner, 53, of Taylorville was arrested for resisting and obstructing a peace officer.

On August 23^rd at 9:20 pm, an officer was dispatched to 1100 East Elm in reference to a domestic disturbance. Subsequent to investigation, Karen Hall, 51, of Taylorville was arrested for domestic battery.

On August 24^th, officers were dispatched to the lobby of the police department for a walk in complaint from Taylor Sparling. She said she was on the west side of the square when Brittany Spencer, 18, of Nokomis, began yelling at her about a Facebook status Sparling had posted. Spencer continued to yell and hit Sparling multiple times. Brittany Spencer was arrested for battery and released on a notice to appear from the Taylorville Ploice Department.

On August 23^rd at 3:40 am, officers were dispatched to 902 S. Wyandotte in reference to a hang up . Billy Brown, 33, of Taylorville and Veronica Sroczynski Oak Lawn, Illinois were located at his residence. Both had valid warrants out of Montgomery County. They were transported to the Christian County Sheriff's Office in lieu of bond.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

8-22-14 3 EMS

8-23-14 9 EMS, 1 Motor Vehicle Accident

8-24-14 3 EMS

8-25-14 5 EMS

8-26-14 1 Public Assist

Both police and ambulance were called out early last Friday morning on reports of an unresponsive driver who was sitting in the middle of the intersection of Webster and Vine Streets. When cops arrived, Sutton Ambulance drivers were reportedly getting the man out of his car. The officer determined that the man was medically ok but apparently smelled of alcohol. 49 year old Steven Moore of Taylorville was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was processed and released without his drivers license.

Good Police work led to the arrest of a Taylorville man Sunday. According to reports, a Taylorville officer made contact with a man who was known to be wanted on a warrant. After his name was run through LEADS, the warrant was apparently confirmed. 21 year old Logan Fleming was arrested and taken to the Christian County Jail and held there in lieu of bond.

When we think of drug abusers, we may imagine a wasted street person or a wild young partier, but nobody is immune to drug dangers. Caroline Reynolds, who directs the “New Vision” program at Shelby Memorial Hospital, says the elderly can also fall victim:

[audio:reynoldselderly082714.mp3]comment here[/audio]

If you'd like to learn more about the “New Vision” program, call Shelby Memorial Hospital at 774-6436.

There will be a meeting of Pana Pride tonight. The organization which is dedicated to the revitalization of the Pana community meets at 6:30pm at the Pana Jr. High School Auditorium. The public is invited.

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville will be presenting Richard Conner with the medals his late-father, Charles Conner, received for his service in World War II. In a tragic fire, Richard lost all of the medals his father was awarded and will be receiving replacement medals at a presentation ceremony at 1:45pm on Tuesday, August 26, at the Meridian Ballroom, Morris University Center, on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The medals to be presented include the Air Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Immediately following the medal presentation, Rep. Davis is hosting a Veterans Job and Resource Fair for 13th District veterans, military service members and their families from 2pm – 4pm at the same location. Employers ranging from Growmark, Inc. to Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. and others will be on site to provide attendees with information about job opportunities with their organization.

Pana Police are reporting a hit and run last week. According to reports, Aden R. Reel called Pana cops to report that his car was damaged by an unknown vehicle while he was parked at the Pana Save-A-Lot store on 4th St. Reel's vehicle was reportedly damaged on the driver's side door and rear fender. If you know who is responsible, call the Pana Police Department.

A Pana man was arrested Friday on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle. 54 year old Rocky L. Davis was reportedly found to be driving a vehicle reported missing from Texas after a suspicious person call from the public. Davis was reportedly also charged with driving on a revoked license. He was taken to the Christian County jail where he was held in lieu of bond.

Pana Battery Arrest

Few details are available concerning the arrest of a Pana man on battery charges. According to reports, 42 year old Michael E. Suter was arrested after an incident that took place on the 400 block of North State St. Suter was released after being given a notice to appear.

The new 4H year starts next week. Peggy Hampton of the University of Illinois Extension says joining the 4H is easy:

The Taylorville Park Board heard an update on the Lake Shore irrigation project from Jeff Boldig, golf course superintendant. According to Boldig the 1^st phase of the project, the main line irrigation, is under way and expected to be completed in 30 days or less, weather permitting. Over the next 3 weeks the main line pipe will be installed starting on hole 11 and continuing along holes 15, 10, 6, 5 and 4. After that phase is completed the main line pipe for holes 12, 13 and 14 will be installed, followed by the main pipe for holes 3, 6, 7, 9, 1, 18 and the driving range. Boldig announced that the project is moving along well as is the rebuilding of the bunkers on the front 9 holes. Play is up approximately 3 to 4% for the year. The fall projects include the seed work on the bunkers, bridgework and concrete work. Overall the state of the golf course seems to be pretty positive at this time.

In other reports, Recreation Director, Bailey Hancock announced that the pool closed for the year on August 13^th as did the daycamp. On August 14^th, the monthly Senior lunch was held and the 13 ducks were released in the pond and all 13 are still present and accounted for. September projects include a car show September 7^th from 10 to 4, the Brooklyn Cox Memorial Run will be held September 13th and the Walk for Life which will be held on September 27^th.

The board gave permission for the student spirit section, “The Purple Reign”, under the direction of Lee Mateer, the use of 12 picnic tables for each home game. The tables are to be placed on the tennis courts and used to feed the spirit section. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:40.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for most of our listening area until 7pm on Tuesday. Dangerous heat index values will peak between noon and 6pm each day through Tuesday. These values will peak between 103 to 106 degrees in the afternoon hours. Monday is likely to have the highest heat index values during the period.

The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will lead to an increased risk of heat related stress and illness. The effects are cumulative the longer the heat persists. The very young, the elderly, those without air conditioning, and those participating in strenuous outdoor activities will be the most susceptible. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. Beat the heat…check the back seat! Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle.

An excessive heat warning means that prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency, Call 911. Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. 

As heard on Newstalk WTIM, the Taylorville Defense won over the Taylorville Offense with a score of 20-0.

The Taylorville High School football team will hold their annual Purple and Gold Scrimmage this evening at the football field. Admission is just a dollar, with the proceeds going directly to the football team.

The evening begins at 6 with the freshmen team taking the field for warm-up's, followed by a scrimmage.

The J-V squad takes the field for warm-ups followed by a scrimmage at about 6:40.

The varsity squad takes the field at about 7:20 followed by their scrimmage, which will be 2 halves of 20 minute running clocks.

You can hear the T-H-S varsity football scrimmage tonight on WTIM starting at 7.

And this important reminder....all Taylorville High School sports broadcasts are now heard at new places on the radio dial since WTIM has moved. The games will now be heard at THE BIG 870 AM and 96-point-3 FM, and also streamed live at taylorvilledailynews-dot-com.

2 men, including one from Taylorville, were found in a car in Riverside Park on Springfield's north side late Thursday afternoon, both dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Sangamon County Coroner Cinda Edwards told Regional Radio News that 82-year-old Robert S. Hall of Taylorville, and his brother, 76-year-old Ronald H. Hall of Springfield, were both found slumped over in a car parked in Riverside Park, by a Springfield Park District employee at about 5:30 Thursday afternoon. The employee called Springfield Police, who found both men each with a single gunshot wound.

Edwards said their preliminary investigation points towards a possible double suicide.

[audio:Edwardscut1Aug2214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Autopsies on both victims were conducted Friday morning, and Edwards said the results indicated a single gunshot wound to each victim.

[audio:Edwardscut2Aug2214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Edwards says a double suicide is highly unusual.

[audio:Edwardscut3Aug2214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Edwards added that her investigation into Thursday's double suicide will continue.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Jacob Wafford, 37, of Pana was arrested on August 21^st on a bond forfeiture warrant for resisting a peace officer.

INCIDENT:

On August 21^st, Nick Hackney call the sheriff's office in reference to a theft from his residence. He stated unknown subject(s) came upon his property at 2016 South Houston Street and removed an old refrigerator, old clothes dryer and a pile of scrap metal. The theft occurred between 6:00pm on August 20^th and 9:30am August 21^st.

ACCIDENT:

On August 13^th, Bree Beeson, 37 of Pana was traveling east on 1950 North Road and missed a curve and ran into a bean field. She them turned around in the bean field and drove back out to the roadway. Beeson traveled north turning on 1960 North Road. She was traveling south. She came to 1800 North Road and continued south onto the church parking lot. Beeson then hit a pole light causing the 2011 Hyundai Sonato to come to a stop. The pole then fell and landed on a picnic table causing damage.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 21^st at approximately 2:39 am an officer spoke with David Denbow in reference to someone knocking on a window of the residence. Brian Durbin, 23, of Taylorville was arrested and transported to the Taylorville Police Department for processing. He was released on a notice to appear.

On August 21^st at 4:25 am officer's were dispatched to 1301 West Adams Street in reference to a fight in progress. Marshalle Dubay, 34, of Taylorville and Dotty Eppenger, 27, of Taylorville were arrested for battery. Doty was transported to Memorial Hospital by ambulance. Both were released on a notice to appear.

ACCIDENTS:

Garent Wilson, 23, of Taylorville was driving east on West Spresser. He stated he became distracted when he saw a semi trailer in the center turn lane. He looked away for a moment and them noticed vehicles stopped in traffic in frot of him. He quickly deployed the brakes, Caleb Reber, 31, of Taylorville was behind Wilson and had to quickly deploy the brakes, but struck the rear of Wilson's 2000 Chevy Silverado bumper and trailer hitch and major front end damage reported to Reber's 2008 Cadillac.

On August 21^st, Michelle Ackley, 30, of Taylorville was leaving from the exit of Jensen's parking lot and did not see Rosella Wise, 60, of Owaneco who was headed north on North Webster. Ackley advised she pulled out in front of Wise. Ackley received front end damage and was issued a citation for failing to yield at a private drive. Wise stated she was headed north on North Webster when Ackley pulled out in front of her. Wise had major damage to the passenger side of her 1996 Buick Century and her vehicle was towed fron the scene.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

8/20/14 1 EMS

8/21/14 3 EMS, 1 Motor Vehicle Accident

8/22/14 1 EMS

For Taylorville Scrimmage Football, Taylorville Defense Team defeated the Taylorville Offense with a score of 20-0, as heard on WTIM 96.3.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Bennie Beck, 28, of Pana was arrested on August 20^th on a bond forfeiture warrant for possession of cannabis.

ACCIDENTS

On August 16, 2014 Daniel Delaney, 23, of Altamont was traveling southbound on U.S, Highway 51 at approximately 975 North. He went off the roadway hitting a sign then into then went into the median of the highway. He came back on the roadway then into the east ditch. Delaney had damage to the left, front pane and the front wheels of his 2001 Ford Taurus. The vehicle was towed from the scene. Delaney stated he had fell asleep while driving.

On August 16 at approximately 11:50 pm, Justin Bland, 24, of Taylorville was traveling north bound on 750 East Road. Kaylan Hawkins, 22, of Palmer was traveling west bound on 1250 North Road. At the intersection of 750 East 1250 North Road, Bland failed to slow at the intersection and hit Hawkins with the front, right end of his 1990 Jeep Cherokee. Hawkins 2012 Ford Fusion was hit on the front, left end. Hawkins then went off the roadway to the north west of the intersection into the corn field. Bland went into the ditch on the north west corner of the intersection. His vehicle overturned onto its side in the ditch. Both vehicles received damage and were towed from the scene. All occupants fron both vehicles were taken to area hospitals. Passengers in Bland's vehicle were 19 year old Thomas Bland of Taylorville and 19 year old Chase Crites of Taylorville. Justin Bland was issued a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid and accident.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 20^th at 1:47 am, officers were dispatched to 824 Sequoia Court. Upon arrrival, the officer observed a female to have tow valid warrants. The officer contacted the Taylorville Police Department dispatch who verified the wattants were active. Holly Conaway, 20, of Taylorville was arrested and transported to the Christian County Sheriff's Office in lieu of bond.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 20^th at 1:47 am, officers were dispatched to 824 Sequoia Court. Upon arrrival, the officer observed a female to have tow valid warrants. The officer contacted the Taylorville Police Department dispatch who verified the wattants were active. Holly Conaway, 20, of Taylorville was arrested and transported to the Christian County Sheriff's Office in lieu of bond.

 ACCIDENTS:

On August 19, a juvenile was traveling west on Poplar when his brakes failed. He stated he could not stop his vehicle, andt attempted to signal to the driver, Asan Asani, 55, of Taylorville by waving out of the window. The juvenile continued through the stop intersection, as was struck by Asani on the driver side d

On August 18, Doreen Hilbert, 57, of Taylorville was pulling out of Davis Memorial Parking lot crossing the intersection of Franklin and Othelle heading north on Othelle. Kourtney Kater, 17, of Stonington was traveling west bound on Franklin. Hilbert did not yield to Kater heading west bound on Franklin. Kater hit Hilbert in the rear passenger tside rear wheel of the 2004 Cadillac she was driving, Hilbert ended up facing south on Othelle Street. Kater's received front end damage & remained facing west bound on Franklin Street. Hilbert's 2011 Chevy Aveo was towed from the scene.

oor.

The Kincaid Village Board has called a special meeting for Monday night at 7 o'clock at Village Hall.

Items on the agenda include the acceptance of the resignation of village president Doug Thomas, approving payment to Thomas of some eleven-hundred 75-dollars, and appointing a trustee as acting president until next April's election.

The Kincaid board is also scheduled to accept the letter of resignation from police officer Seth Foster, and discuss hiring a new officer for the Christian County community.

Tomorrow's Taylorville Main Street Farmer's Market will feature entertainment. Market Manager Ed Downs says it all starts at 9:am:

[audio:farmersmktentertainment082214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Farmers Market includes all kinds of produce, including sweet corn, tomatoes and melons. Baked goods and arts and craft items are also featured.

Keeping your dog well groomed is important for many reasons that you may not know about. Gabby at Tail Command in Taylorville says there are 5 important reasons:

[audio:tailcommandgabby082214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Tail Command also offers doggy day care, boarding and training. They recently added a “Pet Taxi” service.

It was another successful year for area 4H members at the Illinois State Fair. Peggy Hampton, 4H and Youth Development Educator for the University of Illinois Extension says several purple ribbons were awarded:

 [audio:hamptonfairwinners082214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Illinois State Fair ended Sunday.

This year's Chamber of Commerce Chillifest will feature more entertainment than usual, mostly because the 175^th Anniversary of Taylorville and Christian County will be celebrated as well. Patty Hornbuckle, CEO of the chamber, says a much anticipated event that was called off last year will take place this year:

[audio:patty175chillifest082114.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Chillifest and the 175^th anniversary celebration will take place October 4^th and 5^th.

More details are coming out after Pana man was killed by an Illinois State Police SWAT Team late last month. Christian County Sheriff Bruce Kettelkamp tells Regional radio News the situation unfolded in the early morning hours of July 29^th:

[audio:sheriffpanashooting1082214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Sheriff negotiated with the suspect until the Illinois State Police SWAT Team arrived:

[audio:sheriffpanashooting2082214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Pana Police Officer who was shot suffered a serious wound to his left arm. The officer, who is the father of two, is still recovering. The man killed was identified as 25 year-old Josh A. Edwards of Pana.

Stacia Tom, 25, of Madison, Illinois was arrested on August 19 on a bond forfeiture warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

Ryan Tester, 33, of Taylorville was arrested on August 19 for domestic battery.

Holly Conaway, 20, of Taylorville was arrested on August 15 on a bond forfeiture warrant for issuance of warrant.

On August 15, 2014 at approximately 5:30 am a Christian County Deputy was patrolling the area of Illinois Rt. 48 at 1900 North traveling southeast and observed a northeast bound vehicle parked on the shoulder with the hazard lights on. The deputy stopped in the roadway and asked the driver, Donald Sisk, 43, of Nokomis who was standing outside if he needed assistance. Sisk stated he had hit a deer. The deputy observed front end damage to Sisk 2008 Chevy Silverado, as well as a deceased deer in the opposite ditch. A tow was not required.

At 2:59pm on August 18, Brogan Burney, 17, of Kincaid was west bound on Tower Street and was stopped at the stop sign waiting to turn north onto North Street, when Cody Dorsey, 17, of Kincaid came behind Burney and hit the back of her 2001 Chevy S10.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

1 Carbon Monoxide Detector, 1 Smoke Scare, 1 EMS, 1 Automatic Alert

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 19: 8 EMS, 2 Motor Vehicle Accident

Scott Tucker, 44, of Heyworth was arrested on August 18, 2014for burglary.

James P. Wright, 55, of Assumption was arrested on August 18, 2014 for disorderly conduct.

Shawn Hill, 27, of Taylorville was arrested on August 19, 2014 for domestic battery.

On August 18, 2014 at 5:08 pm, officers were dispatched to Walmart in reference to a retail theft. Subsequent to investigation, Nikki L. Hairston, 25, of Witt, was arrested for retail theft.,

Giving birth can be a painful process, and many women will opt for an epidural or other methods. Pam Hood, Perinatal Education Coordinator for Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon says despite the discomfort, many women still opt for natural childbirth:

[audio:sarabushlincolnnatural082114.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Srah Bush Lincoln offers childbirth and infant care education. Find out more at the website, sarahbush.org.

Election time is rolling around again. Ballots will be cast November 4^th. State Senator Andy Manar of Bunker Hill tells Regional Radio News results often revolve around turnout:

Just when you think they've sunk as low as it's possible to go, scamsters come up with a new way to cheat people. According to Public Advocate Mac McGuire, a new scam revolves around the recent death of celebrity Robin Williams:

[audio:macrobinwilliams082114.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Similar scams often involve fake celebrity deaths.

The Christian County Board heard an extensive report and plea for their blessings on a proposed medical marijuana facility to be located approximately 10 miles west of Taylorville and 8 miles north of Morrisonville. Longtime resident and farmer, Clayton Bloome of Christian County, shared a detailed report including proposed location, blue prints of the facility, security plans and community contributions. The total project has an estimated 6 to 8 million dollar cost and will facilitate the growing, cultivating and distributing of the medical marijuana to the proper distribution centers. Mr. Bloome projected that the facility, when completed would hire approximately 15 to 25 local employees at an annual income of somewhere around $35,000 to $45,000 annually. Security for the facility is said to be extremely extensive with perimeter fencing and video surveillance. There will only be one facility licensed per state police district, meaning there will be 22 allowed in the state of Illinois. District 9 is the district that Christian County falls in and is one of 7 counties in that district. Mr. Bloome expects the competition to be quite heavy to land a facility in District 9.

In other business, the board approved the purchase of new roadway design software from Softree for $3725. The sale of a parcel of land, approximately 50'x75', located behind the Highway Department yard to an adjoining property owner. The parcel is part of the old Butler Binion Railroad property. The Highway Department will trim some of the trees on the Courthouse lawn. Some, like the tree near the Lincoln Statue is to large for the Highway Department to remove and will require the county to get quotes or bids on the trees that cannot be handled by the Highway Department.

The board agreed to withdraw the poker run and raffle ordinance upon recommendation of the Executive, Personnel and Liquor Committee. It was determined that the time and effort involved in the paperwork was more extensive than the $25 fee that was allowed to be collected. It was also agreed to adopt a resolution allowing the enactment of a fee of $10 to support Christian County Special Courts.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:45.

CAPTION TO PIX: The Taylorville Kiwanis Club hosted Taylorville native and US Congressman Rodney Davis, at their noon luncheon Tuesday. From the left: Taylorville Mayor Greg Brotherton, the newest member of the club; John McClure, who sponsored Brotherton's membership; Congressman Davis; and Kiwanis president Chris Weittenhiller.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from Taylorville native and U-S Congressman Rodney Davis, as their program speaker at the weekly lunch meeting Tuesday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Davis spoke to Kiwanis members about his upbringing in Taylorville.

[audio:DavisaudioAug1914.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Davis said he was pleased to help pass the farm bill as well as a bill to modernize locks and dams to assist in shipping grain to domestic ports and overseas.

The Taylorville Congressman also told the Kiwanis Club that government in Washington is dysfunctional, and in a question and answer session following his remarks, he told the group he was hopeful that the United States Senate will have a Republican majority as a result of the upcoming November elections.

Davis represents Illinois' 13^th Congressional District and is also up for re-election in November.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium. For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.

Regional Radio News has learned that Steve and Laurie Henry, owners of H&R Block franchises in Taylorville, Nokomis, Pana and Shelbyville, have sold their Pana and Shelbyville offices to Ronny Pearce of Taylorville.

Pearce was formerly employed by the Henry's, and owns H&R Block offices in Sullivan, Mattoon and Charleston.

The transaction is expected to close in November. The Henry's will continue to operate H&R Block offices in Taylorville and Nokomis. Steve Henry is also the owner of C-S-H Investment Management in Taylorville.

With school back in session this week, student athletics are underway with football at the top of the agenda. At the same time, we are becoming more and more aware of the problems that can be caused by concussion. Melissa Rybolt of Pana Community Hospital tells Regional Radio News that they have a program in place intended to help address the problem:

[audio:ryboltconcussion082014.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Rybolt says it isn't just football players that are threatened. Participants in soccer, basketball and other sports can also be affected.

An important event for the American Diabetes Association is coming up. Spokeswoman for the ADA Vanessa Wiseman says it takes place in October:

[audio:wisemanstepoutada082014.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Statistics show nearly 2,200 people in Christian County suffer from some form of diabetes.

Taylorville students shouldn't expect to miss school or be dismissed early this year because of the hot weather. Superintendent Dr. Greg Fursteneau tells Regional Radio News the school buildings are now air conditioned:

U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville has a message for those who don't believe human trafficking is a problem in Central Illinois:

[audio:davishumantrafficking082014.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Congressman Davis, who represents Illinois' 13^th Congressional District, has advanced several anti-human trafficking bills in the U. S. House of Representatives.

Cardinals begin series with the Reds tonight at 6:40pm on 96.3 WTIM.

St.  Louis,  MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt  Carpenter went 3-for-4 with a home 
run  and three  RBI and the St. Louis Cardinals hung on to down the San Diego 
Padres, 7-6, in the finale of a four-game series. 

The  Padres  certainly made  things interesting  until the  final out, as they 
worked three walks against Trevor Rosenthal to load the bases in the ninth. 

Rosenthal  was pulled  for  Seth Maness  with one  away,  and Abraham  Almonte 
greeted him with a two-run single to center to pull San Diego within 7-6. 

Matt Adams saved the tying run from scoring with a diving stop of Seth Smith's 
ground  ball to first base. Adams dove to his right and got just enough of the 
ball  to stop it  from going into the outfield, and second baseman Kolten Wong 
gathered it and threw Smith out at first. 

With  the go-ahead run now at second, Maness got Yasmani Grandal to fly out to 
left to secure his second save. 

Adam  Wainwright  (15-8) became  the majors' second  15-game winner by tossing 
seven  solid  innings. He retired  the first 11 batters  he faced but wound up 
allowing four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits. 

Jake Goebbert went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI to pace the Padres, 
who dropped three of four in the series after winning five in a row coming in. 

Goebbert  tripled  into the right-field  corner in the  sixth to knock in Jedd 
Gyorko  and  scored when Wong's  throw to third went  into the seats along the 
third-base side. 

The  play pulled San  Diego within a run after trailing 5-0, but the Cardinals 
got  the  two runs back  in the bottom half  thanks to Carpenter, whose double 
into  the  right-field gap proved to  be the game-winner as both Peter Bourjos 
and Tony Cruz came around to score. 

Odrisamer  Despaigne (3-4)  did not  make it  past the  fourth inning  for San 
Diego, having surrendered five runs on six hits. 

The Cardinals  batted around  against the  rookie hurler  in a four-run first 
frame. Jon Jay stepped up with the bases loaded and drove one through the left 
side  to bring in  a pair, and Bourjos and Cruz each singled in a run with two 
away. 

Carpenter  got just enough of a Despaigne offering to send it over the wall in 
right-center  leading off the second, and it stayed 5-0 until the Padres' bats 
woke up in the fifth. 

Alexi  Amarista  drove in Goebbert  with a single  to center, and Will Venable 
scored when Yangervis Solarte's comebacker caromed off Wainwright's foot. 

Denver,  CO  (SportsNetwork.com) -  Michael Cuddyer  hit for  the cycle as the 
Colorado  Rockies defeated  the Cincinnati Reds, 10-5, to sweep a doubleheader 
on Sunday. 

Cuddyer,  who  was reinstated off the  disabled list after missing his last 60 
games with a left shoulder fracture, became the seventh Colorado player to hit 
for the cycle and the first since Carlos Gonzalez on July 31, 2010 against the 
Chicago Cubs. 

Cuddyer  drove  in three and scored  three runs, Corey Dickerson had two hits, 
three  RBI and two  runs scored and Josh Rutledge posted three hits and a pair 
of runs scored for the Rockies, who have won three of their last four games. 

The  Rockies trailed 5-2  before plating three in the seventh and five more in 
the eighth to go ahead. 

Drew  Stubbs hit a three-run, walk-off homer in the first of this doubleheader 
after Colorado had been down 9-5 entering the ninth. 

Adam Ottavino (1-4) tossed a scoreless eighth to notch the win. 

Ryan  Ludwick scacked  a two-run homer for Cincinnati, which has dropped seven 
of  its last  nine games.  Carlos Contreras  (0-1) allowed  five runs  -- four 
earned -- over 1 1/3 innings to garner the loss. 

Charlie  Blackmon walked  and Rutledge  singled  to begin  the seventh  before 
Dickerson's  base hit brought home Blackmon.Cuddyer singled to load the bases. 
Nolan  Arenado  then bounced one to  third, which allowed Rutledge to score as 
Ramon  Santiago stepped  on the base for  a force out, and Cuddyer came across 
when Satiago's throw to first got away to tie it. 

With  the bases  loaded and two away  in the eighth, Dickerson reached out and 
slapped a double to right-center to push across a pair. Cuddyer lined a double 
down  the left-field line  to bring home two more and Stubbs hit an RBI single 
later in the frame to give Colorado a 10-5 advantage. 

The  Reds  opened the scoring  in the first on  Jay Bruce's RBI groundout, but 
Colorado got the run back in the fifth on a Brandon Barnes leadoff homer. 

Cincinnati  went back  ahead with three runs in the sixth. Ludwick cracked his 
two-run  shot to left-center and Brayan Pena later added an RBI double to give 
the Reds a 4-1 lead. 

Cuddyer's  leadoff blast  in the home half  made it 4-2, but Cincy got another 
run in the seventh via a Santiago sacrifice fly. 

Chicago,  IL  (SportsNetwork.com) -  Conor Gillaspie's  grand slam powered the 
Chicago Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox  to a 7-5 victory  over the Toronto Blue Jays in the rubber 
match of a three-game set on Sunday. 

Jordan  Danks hit a two-run homer and finished with three RBI, while Alejandro 
De  Aza had two hits  and a run scored for the Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox, who have won five of 
their last six games against the Blue Jays. 

Scott  Carroll (5-7) earned  the win despite giving up five runs on eight hits 
and three walks with two strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings. 

Jose  Reyes went  3-for-5 with two runs scored and Edwin Encarnacion stroked a 
two-run shot for Toronto, which has dropped five of its last six. 

Starter Drew Hutchison (8-11) allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks 
over seven frames in defeat. 

The  Blue Jays opened the scoring in the first. Reyes led off the frame with a 
double to right and moved to third on Melky Cabrera's sacrifice bunt. 

Jose  Bautista's grounder was fielded by first baseman Jose Abreu, whose throw 
home  reached  catcher Adrian Nieto  in time. Reyes  jumped over Nieto and was 
tagged out after failing to touch the plate. After an umpire's review, the out 
call was overturned with the ruling being that Nieto blocked the plate. 

In the home half, De Aza hit a leadoff single and Adam Dunn and Avisail Garcia 
both worked two-out walks to load the bases. Gillaspie then crushed a fastball 
over the wall in right center field for a grand slam. 

Gordon Beckham kept the rally going with a single to left and Danks homered to 
left-center field made it a 6-1 game. 

Josh  Thole's walk  led off the fifth  for Toronto ,and Reyes and Cabrera both 
singled  to  load the bases with  no outs. Thole scored when Bautista grounded 
into  a  double play  and Encarnacion  followed with a  two-run blast to left, 
getting the Blue Jays within two runs. 

Colby Rasmus opened the sixth with a single to left and Juan Francisco doubled 
to right. Dioner Navarro then greeted Daniel Webb with an RBI single to right, 
making it a 6-5 ball game. 

Danks' sac fly to deep left plated Gillaspie for a 7-5 score in the home half. 

Zach  Putnam  tossed a scoreless  eighth for  Chicago and Jake Petricka worked 
around a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to secure his ninth save of the season. 

Pinch-hitter Nolan Reimold grounded out to second to end the game. 

A popular local restaurant will be the place for this month's Greater Taylorville Chamber  of Commerce Business After Hours.  Chamber CEO Patty Hornbuckle says it takes place next week:

Those expecting a blessed event should look into an educational series being offered by Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System.  Perinatal Education Coordinator Pam Hood tells regional Radio News about the “Oh Baby!” program:

[audio:hoodsarahbush081514.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The next 5 week session begins Wednesday and continues through September 17^th.  The next session after that begins September 7^th.  The hospital also provides a one-day “Oh Baby! Extreme” session.  Call Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center at (217) 258-BABY, that's 258-2229.

Memorial SportsCare will hold its 7^th annual women’s biathlon on Sunday, September 21^st, at 9 a.m. at 4550 W. Iles Avenue in Springfield. The biathlon is a noncompetitive event that features a 20-kilometer bike ride and a 5-kilometer run. Registration is limited to the first 500 women who sign up. Women can register online at active.com and type “Memorial SportsCare Women’s Biathlon” in the search box. If you are participating in the relay, you and your partner must register separately.

School is back in session now, and local districts are still struggling to deal with diminished funding from the State of Illinois.  State Senator Andy Manar of Bunker Hill is hoping the Illinois House of Representatives takes up his school funding reform bill, which he has already pushed through the Senate:

[audio:manarsb16081814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Senator Manar says school funding reform is overdue in Illinois.  The Senator will be in Taylorville this Wednesday at the Christian County Senior Citizens Center for the annual Senior Fair.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Brandon White, 25, of Taylorville was arrested on August 17, 2014 for criminal damage to state property.

Alannah Wilderman, 23, of Pana was arrested on August 15, 2014 on a bond forfeiture for obstructing an officer.

Lori K. Kobe, 45, of Taylorville was arrested on August 15, 2014 for domestic battery.

Cole Y. Shoraga, 22, of Taylorville was arrested on August 15, 2014 for driving while on a suspended license.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS/CRASH:

On August 14 at 7:45pm, Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to the parking lot of M&M Auto Mart for a large fight. When the Taylorville Police Department Officers arrived, they located a large group of people yelling in the parking lot behind M&M Auto Mart. After an investigation, Anthony D. Benavides, 18, of Taylorville was arrested for domestic battery, aggravated battery to a police officer, resisting/obstructing a peace officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Benavides was transported to the Taylorville Police Department, processed, and transported to the Christian County Correctional Center.

A Taylorville Police Department Officer was dispatched to the 700 block of West Vandeveer Street in regards to a domestic. The Taylorville Police Department Officer arrived and made contact with a male and female subject. After investigating the incident, Lori K. Kobe, 45, of Taylorville was arrested, transported to the Taylorville Police Department, processed, and transported to the Christian County Correctional Center in lieu of bond.

On August 15 at 6:23pm, Walmart Loss Prevention advised they observed two females attempting to leave the store without paying for several items, which included clothes and alcohol (value:$1,174.05). Walmart Loss Prevention advised he stopped the females inside the vestibule just before the main exit. A person from Loss Prevention advised they followed one of them until she crossed Route 29. The female, Brittany R. Hull, 20, of Springfield was located at Landmark Automotive and transported back to the Taylorville Police Department by a Taylorville Police Department Officer. Hull was processed and released on a Notice To Appear of September 15, 2014 at 10am, per States Attorney. Photos of the stolen items and the sales receipt were placed into evidence. The Taylorville Police Department Officers were unable to locate the second female.

On August 16, Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to the 100 block of West Franklin for a possibly intoxicated male. Upon further investigation, Levi T. Simpson, 19, of Springfield was arrested for Possession of Cannabis<2.5 grams.

On August 17 at 7 pm, Taylorville Memorial Hospital called and advised a male patient just left the E.R. and while in the parking lot of the hospital, he broke a taillight out of a silver Hyundai car. The Taylorville Memorial Hospital guard witnessed the male kick out the taillight. The security guard advised he attempted to stop the male, but the male left heading south towards East Park Street. The male was identified as Brandon N. White, 25, of Taylorville. White was located at the corner of Market and Cherokee by a Taylorville Police Department Officer and was transported back to the Taylorville Memorial Hospital. During the arrest, White dented the hood of the Taylorville Police Department Officer's squad car. The owner of the damaged vehicle was advised of the damage. On August 17 at 9:16pm, White was released from the Taylorville Memorial Hospital. White was arrested and transported to the Taylorville Police Department, where he was processed and then transported to the Christian County Correctional Center in lieu of bond.

On August 16 at 11:12pm, Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to The Loading Zone referencing an altercation that was about to become physical. Michael Y. Mason, 29, of Taylorville was arrested and transported to the Taylorville Police Department for processing.

On August 17 at 2:26am, Taylorville Police Department Officers responded to a one vehicle roll over accident at 1091 Taylorville Road. When the Taylorville Police Department Officers arrived, there was no one around the vehicle. It appeared that Michael L. McCallister, 46, of Taylorville drove off the road, hit a mailbox and culvert, and turned over onto the driver's side. McCallister was towed from the scene. McCallister traveled approximately 117 feet in the ditch and struck the mailbox and driveway culvert and then traveled approximately 75 feet, rolling at least one time and coming to rest on the driver's side partially in the roadway. At 8:04am, McCallister came to the Taylorville Police Department to report his accident. McCallister stated he came off of Briarcliff road and spun the tires on the wet pavement, causing him to go into the ditch and hitting the mailbox and culvert and rolling the vehicle at least one time. McCallister was asked why he didn't report the accident when it happened and McCallister said he didn't know what to do, so he walked to his daughter's residence. McCallister was issued citations for Failure to Reduce Speed to avoid and accident and failure to give information after striking property. No injuries were reported.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 15
2 EMS, 1 Motor Vehicle Accident

August 16
1 Motor Vehicle Accident, 2 EMS

August 17
1 Automatic Alarm

The deadline for entrants for the 2 contests during the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest October 4^th, is quickly approaching.

Deadline to enter the Little Miss, Little Mister and Junior Miss pageants, is September 4^th.

There is a limit of 15 for each of the 3 contests. So far, there are eleven Little Miss contestants, 2 Little Mister contestants and 3 Junior Miss contestants.

Official rules, entry and waiver forms for all 3 contests, are available at the Chillifest web site, chillifest-dot-info, that's with 2-L's. Forms are also available at the Chamber office on the 2^nd floor of the U-S Bank building on the south side of the Taylorville square.

At Monday night's Chillifest Committee meeting, Chamber C-E-O Patty Hornbuckle told Regional Radio News that the entertainment lineup will feature 2 stages this year.

[audio:HornbuckleaudioAug1814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Chillifest will also feature the 175^th anniversary celebration of the City of Taylorville and Christian County this year.

A lot of business was transacted at the one hour and 20 minute meeting of the Taylorville City Council Monday night.

The Council OK'd an agreement to have all city assets appraised for accounting control and insurance valuation, with the appraisal costing some eleven-thousand 500-dollars; they OK'd a debt collection agreement with Credit Collection Partners to help the city collect some 100-thousand dollars in past due fines and fees; and upon recommendation of the City's Planning and Zoning Commission, aldermen re-zoned property at the northwest corner of Lincoln Trail and Illinois Route 48, owned by the Sinha (sin-hah) family from Residential-2 to Commercial-2.

The Council Monday night approved an ordinance annexing 6 different properties into the city limits so they can be offered city water, and OK'd the city's demolition of a property at 717 East Vine after getting consent from the landowner, Theola Brackett of Springfield.

The Taylorville City Council Monday night passed a number of motions that came out of various committees. Aldermen OK'd a motion allowing waterfowl hunting on Lake Taylorville for the 2014-15 season with the same rules as last year, and bow-only deer hunting on the lake for the 2014 season. Exempted dates were October Eleventh thru the 13^th due to Youth Hunting on the north end of the lake. They also voted to advertise to hire an office leven one position in the treasurer's office, an office level 3 position in the police department and allow the replacement to begin work 30 days prior to the retirement date of the existing employee, and OK'd advertising for a deputy treasurer if needed.

Taylorville aldermen Monday night acted on a number of committee motions. Council members OK'd a 4-point-2 percent wage increase over 2 years for the police department following completion of negotiations with their union; they OK'd allow the police department to begin phase one in plans for a new firing range; voted to approve repairs to a water department tractor totaling some 75-hundred dollars and repaired a dump truck totaling over 52-hundred dollars. Aldermen OK'd a nearly one-thousand dollar yearly fee for a service agreement for a fuel terminal at Taylorville Airport; voted to instruct city attorney Rocci Romano to terminate an existing lake property lease with Rick and Lisa Champley, with a new 2-year lease agreement to be offered; and approved the leasing of 4 parcels of farmland around Lake Taylorville for the next 3 crop years.

Alderman also OK'd the closing of the 100 block of West Franklin Street on August 23^rd for the Veterans Motorcycle Rally sponsored by the Taylorville American Legion.

Some 150 to 200 motorcycles will participate.

Dustin Clark, whose building on the Taylorville square collapsed in late July, reported to the Taylorville City Council during their meeting Monday night, that his insurance company has authorized him to begin the re-building process of replacing the front of the 2 storefronts. He told aldermen that the clean-up and shoring has begun.

[audio:Clarkcut1Aug1814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Clark added tin will be removed off the front in the near future to install a new support beam.

[audio:Clarkcut2Aug1814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Clark added he was hiring his own structural engineer, plus the insurance company was hiring their own structural engineer, to make sure the work is being done properly.

Council members pressed Clark for something in writing from the insurance company's structural engineer, saying that the building was structurally sound, so that barricades around the northeast corner of the square could be tightened up to just surround the work area where Clark's crew would be working. Clark said he would work with his insurance company to provide the city with that paperwork.

The building housed a To the Moon Tattoos and Bolinda's Shoe Store. Bolinda's has since moved to the former Doc's Maytag building on the north side of the square.

On Monday,  August 18^th at 11am, there will be a grand opening and ribbon cutting for a Twice the Ice in Pana. Ryan Elledge, owner of Pana Twice the Ice, says it makes ice on location, and it’s located at 101 E. Washington in Pana.

[audio:ElledgePanaTwicetheIce081614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

For more information on Twice the Ice products, you can visit their website at twicetheice.com.

Governor Quinn has announced that Illinois’ Unemployment rate has dropped to a near six-year low. The unemployment rate for Illinois now sits at 6.8 percent as of July, compared to 7.1 percent in June. Governor Quinn also announced that 11-thousand private sector jobs have been added in Illinois, and states that “Illinois’ comeback is going strong and we’ve got more work to do.” Governor Quinn wants to push a new tax cut for businesses that help provide job training. This new tax cut will lower the cost to train workers, so it may help businesses create new jobs and will ensure workers have the skills necessary to drive a 21^st century economy. 

With school back in session soon, parents should be aware of a program for kids with type 1 diabetes.  Vanessa Wiseman of the American Diabetes Association says moms and dads already have a lot to worry about when it comes to sending their kids off to school:

[audio:williamsvanessaada081414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Call 875-9011 to find out more about the Safe at School Program.

Taylorville and Christian County are celebrating 175 years this year. The celebration will take place at the Pence Building at the Christian County Historical Society on October 4^th and 5^th. This celebration is about the history of Christian County and its townships. The Historical Society is located near routes 29 and 48 on Morrison Drive in Taylorville. For more information, contact the Christian County Historical Society at 824-6922. 

Rod Kelsay, secretary of the Illinois Cooperative Council, awarded Larry Kraft, immediate past board chairman of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives in Springfield, with the 2014 Illinois Cooperative Council’s Outstanding Cooperative Director award. Kraft has been an outstanding leader within the electric cooperatives. Kraft was praised by Kelsay for going out of his way to help others, and for being greatly respected by his peers. For more information on AIEC, call 529-5561 or visit their website at aiec.coop

Cardinals continue series with Padres tonight at 5:40pm on 96.3 WTIM.

St.  Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Lance Lynn pitched six strong innings and 
the  St.  Louis Cardinals  held off the  San Diego Padres,  4-2, in the second 
contest of a four-game series. 

Lynn (13-8) surrendered six hits, a run, walked one and had six strikeouts. 

Matt  Adams  and Jhonny  Peralta each had  a pair  of hits and  an RBI for the 
Cardinals, who posted their third straight win. Pinch-hitter Oscar Taveras had 
a run-scoring single. 

Will  Venable doubled in  San Diego's first run in the fifth inning and pinch- 
hitter Yasmani Grandal hit a two-out homer off Pat Neshek in the ninth. 

Tyson  Ross (11-11) loaded the bases on walks in the first inning and ended up 
yielding  five  hits and three  runs over six frames  to suffer his first loss 
since  July 13  at Dodger Stadium. The  right-hander had been 4-0 over a five- 
start span. 

The Padres have lost back-to-back contests since a five-game winning streak. 

Matt  Carpenter, Kolten  Wong and Matt Holliday all walked to start the first. 
Adams  then  lined a hit  to center. Peralta plated  Wong with a grounder that 
produced an out at second. 

Wong  singled in Jon Jay in the fourth before Venable's double to right-center 
scored  Jace  Peterson in the  fifth. The Padres failed  to add on, though, as 
Tommy  Medica  struck out  and Seth Smith  popped out to  leave two runners in 
scoring position. 

Taveras  singled  in Jay in the  eighth, and Neshek, after giving up Grandal's 
blast  to  center, surrendered  a double  to Chris  Nelson. Venable struck out 
swinging to end the game and give Neshek his fourth save. 

Flushing,  NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Eric Campbell hit a three-run homer in the 
fourth  inning to  help lift the New  York Mets over the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, in 
the first match of a four-game set at Citi Field. 

Zack  Wheeler (8-8)  tossed 6 2/3 strong innings for New York, scattering four 
hits  and  conceding only two runs.  The right-hander tied his season high for 
strikeouts with 10 and improved his record to 5-0 in his last nine starts. 

"I've  been  able to keep  my walks  down," Wheeler said  of his success as of 
late. "Tonight was a little hiccup. I've been able to go after guys, repeating 
everything and feeling more comfortable each time out." 

Jenrry  Mejia pitched a  perfect ninth inning en route to his 18th save of the 
season as the Mets snapped a three-game losing streak. 

Travis Wood (7-10) struck out five over 5 1/3 innings, but was tagged with the 
loss for surrendering the homer to Campbell. Wood is winless (0-5) in his last 
11 starts. 

"We  were both limited as far as offense and runs on both sides," Cubs manager 
Rick Renteria said. "I thought both sides kept everyone in check. We just fell 
a little short." 

Anthony  Rizzo and Starlin Castro drove in Chicago's two runs as the Cubs lost 
for just the second time in their last seven meetings with the Mets. 

The Cubs  put runners  on first  and second  to start  the second inning, but 
couldn't  pick up a  run in the frame. After Castro and Welington Castillo hit 
back-to-back  singles, Wheeler  recovered, striking  out Arismendy  Alcantara, 
Ryan Sweeney and Chris Valaika to end the inning. 

Chicago took advantage of its chance in the third, scoring two runs. Wood drew 
a walk and Javier Baez singled. With runners on second and third and one away, 
Rizzo's  groundout plated Wood to open the scoring. Castro then hit a grounder 
up  the  middle for an  RBI single, scoring Baez.  Wheeler hit Castillo with a 
fastball, but Alcantara popped out for the third out. 

The  Mets took  the lead with three  runs in the fourth. Wood walked the first 
two  batters,  David Wright and Lucas  Duda, before getting Travis d'Arnaud to 
pop out in the infield. Campbell stepped to the plate and sent the first pitch 
he saw over the wall in left-center field to clear the bases. 

Vic  Black, Jeurys Familia and Mejia combined to throw 2 1/3 scoreless innings 
of relief for the Mets. They struck out four batters and didn't allow a hit. 

                                   Game Notes 

The Cubs and the  Mets each finished with four hits. Chicago was 1-for-6 with 
runners  in  scoring position, while New  York was 1-for-4 ... Castro finished 
with  two singles, extending his hitting streak to 14 games ... Wright had his 
hitting  streak  end at 13 games.  He went 0-for-4  with a run scored ... Wood 
lost  for the  first time in six  career meetings with the Mets. He hasn't won 
since  beating the Phillies on June 15 ... Mejia has at least one strikeout in 
his last 10 outings. 

Chicago,  IL  (SportsNetwork.com) - Jose  Abreu finished 3-for-5 with two runs 
scored  and  three more batted  in as the Chicago Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox used two five-run 
innings  to  beat the Toronto Blue  Jays, 11-5, in  the first test of a three- 
game set. 

Adam  Dunn and Dayan Viciedo drove in two runs each for the Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox, who won 
for  just  the third time in  their last nine attempts. Alexei Ramirez crossed 
the plate three times and Conor Gillaspie added an RBI double. 

Hector Noesi (7-8) gave up five runs in five innings, but was backed by plenty 
of run support on his way to the victory. 

Melky  Cabrera hit  a two-run homer for  the Blue Jays, who have dropped their 
seventh  straight road game for the second time this season. Jose Reyes picked 
up an RBI with a sacrifice fly and Adam Lind had an RBI single. 

Toronto's Marcus Stroman (7-4) gave up five runs while recording only two outs 
before  being removed in the first inning. The rookie surrendered five hits in 
the Blue Jays' 10th loss in 13 August games. 

Edwin  Encarnacion finished  0-for-4 with one strikeout in his first game back 
with  the Jays  since straining his right quadriceps muscle against Oakland on 
July 5. 

The  Blue Jays  wasted no  time getting  on the  board. Reyes  hit a  lead-off 
single,  followed by a Cabrera pop out in foul territory. Jose Bautista walked 
to  put  runners on first and  second, but Encarnacion struck out. Lind lofted 
one into shallow left-center field that dropped for a single and scored Reyes, 
putting the Blue Jays up 1-0 in the first. 

"In  the  first inning,  they  get  that one  run  and  then he  settles  down 
Somewhat," Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox manager  Robin Ventura said of Noesi. "We did a good job 
of minimizing the damage tonight." 

The Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox responded  with five runs in their half of the first. Alejandro 
De  Aza opened  the inning with a  double and Ramirez took first after getting 
hit in the hand by a fastball. The runners moved up on a balk by Stroman, then 
Abreu  singled  on a  line drive  to right  field, scoring  De Aza and sending 
Ramirez  to third.  Dunn grounded out, but Ramirez scored on the play. Viciedo 
grounded  one  down the right-field line  to plate Abreu and Gillaspie's line- 
drive double to right pushed Viciedo across for the fourth run. 

Stroman struck out Tyler Flowers for the second out of the inning, but gave up 
a single to Jordan Danks before being replaced by Chad Jenkins, who got Gordon 
Beckham to ground out to end the inning. 

Toronto pulled within one in the second. A double by Colby Rasmus and a single 
by Munenori Kawasaki put runners on the corners before Reyes hit a fly ball to 
center,  deep  enough to  score Rasmus.  Cabrera smacked one  over the wall in 
right field to make the score 5-4. 

"They  take that  5-1 lead, then we  strike back," said Blue Jays manager John 
Gibbons. "We were right there until the fifth and then they open it right back 
up." 

Chicago stretched the lead to two. Ramirez singled and Dunn moved him to third 
with  a  single of his own.  Viciedo hit a soft  fly ball to right that scored 
Ramirez. Gillaspie followed with a ground ball to left, loading the bases, but 
Flowers struck out on a foul tip to end the third. 

The Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox  exploded for  another  five  run  inning  in the  fifth.  Six 
consecutive  singles  to start the  frame scored  four runs. Todd Redmond, who 
stayed  on the  mound after getting the  final two outs of the fourth, threw a 
wild  pitch  allowing Abreu to  score. Viciedo  walked and Redmond was removed 
before  being able  to get an out  in the inning. Dustin McGowan took over and 
retired the next three batters. 

Lind  and Dioner  Navarro hit  back-to-back singles  in the  sixth and  Rasmus 
walked  to  load the bases for  Toronto. Valencia grounded into a double play, 
but Lind scored to make it 11-5. 

On August 11^th at approximately 8:45 am, a complaintant in Pana reported that sometime between 11am on August 8^th and 9am on August  10^th someone used a BB/Pellet gun to cause damage to a stained glass window on the east side of the Pana Christian Church located at 1005 E. 6^th. The case is currently under investigation. Any information, please contact Crime Stoppers or Pana Police Department.

On August 11^th at approximately 1:17pm, a retail theft occurred at BP in Pana. After the incident, 23-year-old, Scott T. Beverage was arrested for retail theft and given a notice to appear.

With only about six weeks left in its season, the Taylorville Main Street Farmers Market is now in peak time for produce availability.  Market Manager Ed Downs tells Regional Radio News it doesn't get any better than this:

[audio:farmersmktabundance081514.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Market, which runs through the end of October, is open every Saturday from 9am to 12:30 on the east side of the Taylorville Square.  In addition to all knids of produce, the Market offers fresh baked goods and arts and craft items.

The 3rd annual Race to Remember is being held on August 23^rd at Fox Ridge in Charleston. The race will start at 7:30 in the morning. Theresa Gowin, owner of Gowin Parc, says that the run is meant to be a family event, and all proceeds will go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

[audio:Gowinracetoremember081414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

For more information on how to register for Race to Remember, you can call (217).710.2220 and ask for Heather, or visit the website at active.com and type race to remember in the search box.

Lake Land College has just proudly announced that Jacqueline Joines, Brocton, is now the executive director for college advancement at Lake Land College. Joines will look over alumni services, foundation operations and grant development. Joines was previously the director of development at Eastern Illinois University for the past 16 years. For more information about Lake Land College, visit lakelandcollege.edu.

Cards continue series with Padres tonight at 6:40pm on 96.3 WTIM.

St. Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Jon Jay's pinch-hit, two-run double in the 
eighth inning helped give the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-3 win over the San Diego 
Padres to begin a four-game series. 

Jhonny  Peralta hit  a two-run home run  for the Cardinals, who have won their 
past two games. 

John Lackey pitched seven strong innings, giving up two runs on five hits with 
three  walks and five strikeouts. Seth Maness (4-2) nabbed the win for tossing 
a 1-2-3 eighth. 

Jedd  Gyorko and  Rymer Liriano each drove in  a run for the Padres, who had a 
five-game winning streak snapped. 

Eric Stults had a strong start, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and 
a  strikeout  over seven innings.  Alex Torres (1-1) didn't  get an out in the 
eighth, however, as he allowed two runs on two hits and a walk. 

With  the game tied  at 2-2, Tony Cruz singled to start the Cardinals' half of 
the  eighth and  Daniel Descalso  followed with  a walk.  Matt Carpenter  then 
singled  to load  the bases and the  Padres brought in Nick Vincent to relieve 
Torres. 

With  the infield and outfield playing short, Jay lofted a pitch over the head 
of center fielder Will Venable for a double and a 4-2 lead. 

"As a pinch-hitter you have to be ready to go," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny 
said of Jay. "He was ready." 

Vincent didn't allow another run to keep the Padres in striking distance. 

With  Trevor Rosenthal  on the mound to  close the game for St. Louis, Yasmani 
Grandal  singled  to lead  off the  ninth. Alexi Amarista  later hit a one-out 
single and Chris Nelson walked to load the bases. 

Jake  Goebbert then  hit a single to right and Grandal easily scored. Amarista 
rounded  third in an attempt to tie the game, but Shane Robinson made a strong 
throw to home and A.J. Pierzynski made the tag on Amarista. 

The  play  was reviewed  to see if  Pierzynski did tag  Amarista, who tried to 
slide  around the tag and wound up tapping home plate before home plate umpire 
Bob Davidson called him out. The call was upheld. 

"These  plays  come from  New York so  there was no  explanation given to me," 
Padres  manager Bud  Black said  of the  play at  the plate.  "When that  play 
occurred,  you  saw two  major-league players react  to a play  that a tag was 
missed." 

Venable  then drew a four-pitch walk, but Rosenthal struck out Tommy Medica to 
pick up his 36th save of the season. 

Peralta's  two-run  homer in the  second gave the Cardinals the lead, but the 
Padres  tied the  game in  the sixth  on a  run-scoring fielder's  choice from 
Gyorko and RBI single by Liriano. 

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Scooter Gennett drove in two runs and Mike 
Fiers  tossed six  dominant  innings  as the  Milwaukee  Brewers defeated  the 
Chicago Cubs, 6-2, in the finale of a four-game set on Thursday. 

Fiers (2-1) struck out a career-high 14 batters and allowed just three hits, a 
walk  and  no runs to win  his second straight start.  His 14 K's are the most 
ever  thrown by a  Brewer in a road game and second-most in franchise history. 
Ben Sheets fanned 18 batters for the Brewers in 2004. 

"Just  getting the  win is  awesome after  losing the  last two,"  said Fiers. 
"Personally, it was a great outing, a lot of strikeouts." 

Khris  Davis and Mark Reynolds both homered for Milwaukee, which halted a two- 
game skid. 

Chris  Valaika  hit a  two-run single and  Anthony Rizzo had  two hits for the 
Cubs, who struck out a combined 16 times. 

Edwin  Jackson  (6-13) was tagged  with the loss after  giving up five runs on 
seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 frames. 

"I  never felt like I got in a rhythm," said Jackson. "Either I was too low or 
too high." 

The  Brewers  opened the scoring early.  Jonathan Lucroy and Davis both worked 
two-out  walks in the  first and Gennett knocked them in with a double off the 
right-field wall. 

Davis  tacked on a run for Milwaukee with a solo shot to left with two outs in 
the third for a 3-0 score. 

Lyle  Overbay  singled to  right with one  out in the  fourth and hustled home 
after Elian Herrera tripled off the bag at first and Justin Ruggiano misplayed 
the  ball  in right.  Two batters  later, Carlos Gomez's  liner to left plated 
Herrera for a 5-0 lead. 

Chicago  pushed across  two runs in the seventh. Justin Ruggiano hit a two-out 
single  off  Zach Duke and moved  to third after Welington Castillo reached as 
Herrera's  throw sailed  past first  and  into the  seats. Valaika's  grounder 
trickled past a diving Herrera into left field, plating both runners for a 5-2 
game. 

In  the eighth,  Reynolds crushed a changeup into the left-field seats for his 
21st homer of the season to account for the final score. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Kane E. Passini, 19, of Kincaid was arrested on August 14, 2014 for 720 ILCS 600.0/3.5-A

Bobby Boehme, 30, of Rantoul was arrested on August 14, 2014 for parole violation.

Anthony D. Benavides, 18, of Decatur was arrested on August 14, 2014 for domestic battery.

Levi Simpson, 19, of Taylorville was arrested on August 14, 2014 for possession of liquor by a minor.

Vernon L. Roberson, 52, of Decatur was arrested on August 14, 2014 on a bond forfeiture for driving while under the influence.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARREST:

On August 12 at 6:58pm, Taylorville Police Department Officers initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle at Bidwell and Pawnee streets. Taylorville Police Department Officers knew 26-year-old Dontrell D. Franks of Taylorville was a passenger in the vehicle. Franks had a valid Christian County Warrant. Taylorville Police Department Officers arrested Franks and secured him in the patrol vehicle. The Taylorville Police Department Officers then made contact with the driver, Michelle S. Dixon, 20, of Springfield. Dixon didn't have a valid driver's license. Dixon was arrested for driving without a valid driver's license. Dixon was transported to the Taylorville Police Department and released with a notice to appear. Franks was transported to the Christian County Correctional Center.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

A 14-year-old is now in custody for throwing railroad spikes from a railroad overpass onto the northbound lanes of I-55. The spikes caused damage to 5 vehicles.  A responding Illinois State Police Trooper observed the juvenile. When the juvenile saw the Trooper, he fled on foot. The Trooper chased the juvenile to the juvenile’s residence before the Trooper was able to put the juvenile into custody. The charges against the 14-year-old are: criminal damage to property, vehicular endangerment, and depositing injurious materials on a roadway.  

School starts for Taylorville students Friday.  Morning and afternoon commuters will notice increased bus traffic and plenty of kids walking to and from school.  The superintendent of Taylorville schools, Dr. Greg Fursteneau, reminds drivers to be extra careful:

[audio:fursteneaubecaeeful081414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Drivers are reminded that speed limits are 20 mph near schools.  And don't forget it's illegal to pass a school bus while it is loading and unloading.

A fatal accident at a New York racetrack has put racer Tony Stewart in the spotlight.  One of Stewart's business partners, Bob Sargent, says it was an unusual situation:

[audio:BobSargentMaconAccident081314.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Sargent, who co-owns the Macon Speedway along with Stewart, says they are trying to find ways to prevent such accidents:

[audio:BobSargentAccidentcut2081314.mp3]comment here[/audio]

While some people have accused the hot-headed Stewart of hitting the driver intentionally, Sargent says he is convinced it was just a tragic accident.  Macon Speedway hosted “Taylorville Night” last Saturday.

Bolinda’s Shoe Store has recently moved to a new location due to the collapse of the tattoo parlor on the Taylorville Square. The new location is right next to the Taylorville Cinema on the north side of the Taylorville Square at 115 West Main Cross.  

Cards begin series with Padres tonight at 6:40pm on 96.3 WTIM

Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Carpenter had three hits and scored twice 
and Justin Masterson pitched a gem as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Marlins 
on  Wednesday, 5-2,  to avoid getting swept  in Miami for the first time since 
1995. 

Masterson  (2-1)  was dominant in  his third start  for the Cards since coming 
over  in a trade  from the Indians. The veteran righty allowed just three hits 
over seven efficient innings. 

Masterson  had allowed 10  runs on 14 hits in eight innings over his first two 
starts with his new club. 

Matt  Adams drove in a pair of runs and Masterson had his first career RBI for 
the  Cards, who salvaged  the third and final game of this series. The Marlins 
haven't swept the Cardinals at home since July 28-30, 1995. 

Marlins starter Nathan Eovaldi (6-7) took the loss after surrendering all four 
runs -- two earned -- on eight hits over six innings of work. 

Jon Jay led off the visiting third with a single to left and moved to third on 
Carpenter's  base hit two batters later. Kolten Wong struck out for the second 
out  of the inning  but Matt Holliday drew a walk to load the bases for Adams, 
who bounced a two-run single to right. 

Carpenter  scored the third Cardinals run on an error in the fifth inning and 
Masterson  helped  himself in the  sixth, delivering  an RBI single to shallow 
right field with two outs. Oscar Taveras reached base earlier in the inning on 
Jordany  Valdespin's  error and  scored when Masterson  chopped one in between 
first and second base and into right field. 

Sam  Dyson walked Daniel  Descalso with the bases loaded in the eighth to make 
it 5-0. 

Jeff  Baker's  sixth-career pinch-hit  home run against  Kevin Siegrist in the 
bottom of the ninth made it 5-2, but Trevor Rosenthal came on and recorded the 
final out to end the game. 

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to- 
back  home runs  in the third inning  and a Cubs rookie downed the Brewers for 
the second straight night as Chicago pulled out a 4-2 victory on Wednesday. 

A  day after  Kyle Hendricks helped pitch  the Cubs to a shutout win, Tsuyoshi 
Wada  (2-1) held  Milwaukee scoreless into the seventh before consecutive home 
runs by Rickie Weeks and Martin Maldonado ended his night. 

"Kyle and Wada have really stepped up and it's been nice," Rizzo said. 

Wada  only allowed  three other hits and  was backed by three hits apiece from 
Chris Coghlan and Starlin Castro, who also drove in a run. 

Kyle  Lohse (11-7)  gave up all four runs  on seven hits to take the loss, the 
third in four games for the NL Central leaders. 

Lohse  suffered an ankle injury during his at-bat in the top of the inning but 
stayed in the game and served up long balls to Baez and Rizzo. 

"It  didn't  feel right...and I  tweaked it checking  a swing," Lohse said. "I 
couldn't push off the way I wanted to." 

The  blasts made it  4-0 after the Cubs had scored twice in the first courtesy 
of Rizzo's sacrifice fly and Castro's RBI single. 

Lohse  did  not come  back out  for the  fourth, and  Marco Estrada threw four 
scoreless innings to keep the Brewers within striking distance. 

Weeks  and  Maldonado made things  interesting, but Justin Grimm, Neil Ramirez 
and  Hector  Rondon combined to  keep Milwaukee off the  board the rest of the 
way. Rondon picked up his 16th save with a perfect ninth. 

San  Francisco,  CA (SportsNetwork.com)  - Jake Peavy  finally got another win 
after the longest drought of his career. 

It  took  an assist  from  one  of Major  League  Baseball's  newest and  most 
controversial rules. 

MLB's  experimental rule aimed at cutting down on home plate collisions helped 
Peavy  and  the San  Francisco Giants beat  the Chicago Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox in the same 
stadium  where one of those collisions three years ago sparked debate over the 
need for such guidelines. 

The Giants scored seven runs after an out call at home plate was overturned in 
the  seventh inning and beat the Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox, 7-1, on Wednesday in the finale of 
a two-game series. 

The Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox had a 1-0 lead in the seventh before Joe Panik hit a broken-bat 
grounder  to first baseman Jose Abreu, who threw home to get Gregor Blanco for 
what appeared to be the inning's second out. 

Blanco  slid to the back side of the plate to avoid catcher Tyler Flowers, who 
tagged  him. But Flowers was straddling the plate before the ball arrived -- a 
no-no  under  the new rule  -- and  the call was  overturned by the MLB replay 
operations center in New York, tying the game. 

"Definitely he was blocking the plate," Blanco said. 

Chicago  manager Robin  Ventura was irate and earned an immediate ejection for 
coming out of the dugout to argue. Ventura's protest turned old-school when he 
kicked dirt over the plate. 

"We  made the  play and the guy  was out," said Ventura. "They don't take into 
consideration  the guy was out by a long shot, so I obviously don't agree with 
it." 

It  sparked a seven-run  rally for the Giants, who bounced back from a loss in 
the  series opener to avoid what would have been their third six-game slide of 
the season. 

Peavy (1-3) gave up four hits in seven innings, including a long solo homer to 
Adam  Dunn. He struck out three and walked three in his first win in 19 starts 
since  he beat  Toronto on April 25.  He had been winless in three starts with 
the Giants since they acquired him from the Red Sox last month. 

Jose Quintana (6-9) was lifted with two outs in the seventh and took the loss, 
his  second in a row. He was charged with four runs on four hits and two walks 
and struck out seven. 

Debate  over the possible  need for a home plate collision rule spiked in 2011 
after  Giants  catcher Buster Posey, then  the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, 
suffered a fractured fibula and torn ligaments in his left ankle at AT&T Park, 
ending his season. 

In  Tuesday's  series opener against  the Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox,  Posey was deemed to have 
been  standing out  of the way in  accordance with the new rule when he tagged 
Jordan  Danks out  in the 10th inning.  The Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox, after MLB confirmed the 
call, won the game anyway a batter later. 

Baseball's  collision  rule, No.  7.13 in  the books,  is sometimes called the 
"Posey Rule" because of the 2011 play. 

"I  know this rule  has created a lot of controversy and they're talking about 
maybe  tweaking it  in the offseason, but it's the rule," Giants manager Bruce 
Bochy said Wednesday. "You can't block the plate." 

"It  is what it is and we'll take it," Bochy said. "It's a good win. We needed 
it." 

Two key double plays allowed Peavy to face just one batter over the minimum in 
the first three innings, but Dunn homered for the second time in the series in 
the fourth inning, driving a fastball into San Francisco Bay to give the White 
Sox the lead. 

Quintana  mostly coasted into the seventh inning, pitching out of a jam in the 
second  with  two runners on and  working around Posey's leadoff triple in the 
fourth.  Peavy escaped  out of a bases-loaded situation in the sixth on Alexei 
Ramirez's inning-ending pop up. 

In  the seventh, Angel Pagan added a two-run single and Hunter Pence and Posey 
also  had RBI  hits. The last two  Giants runs scored when Dunn, playing right 
field, chased Pablo Sandoval's fly ball into right-center and missed it. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CRASHES/ ARRESTS:

On August 13, 2014, Justin E. Stepp, 34, of Taylorville was traveling southbound on 1250 E. Road. At approximately 369 North, a deer came onto the roadway from the east. Stepp struck the deer with the front end of the vehicle. Stepp had damage to the front end of the vehicle. Stepp was towed from the scene by Taylorville Towing. No injuries were reported.

On August 13, 2014 at approximately 8:31am, Ronald E. Emerson, 66, of Assumption was westbound on Township Road 1450 North. Kathryn N. Knight, 17, of Taylorville was southbound on Township Road 1900 East. The standing field corn on the north east part of the intersection prevented the drivers from seeing each other. Both Emerson and Knight slowed for the intersection, but neither came to a complete stop. Knight struck the right wheel and tire of Emerson. No injuries were reported. Knight was towed from the scene.

Seth A. Wilbur, 24, of Taylorville was arrested on August 13, 2014 for 720 ILCS 5.0/17-3

Brian P. Mast, 40, of Decatur was arrested on August 13, 2014 for home repair fraud.

Bree A. Beeson, 37, of Pana was arrested on August 13, 2014 for driving while under the influence of alcohol.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARREST:

On August 13, 2014, Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to CVS Pharmacy in Taylorville in reference to a male subject there attempting to pick up a fake prescription. Taylorville Police Department Officers arrived and spoke to the employee and the suspect. Upon further investigation, Seth A. Wilbur, 24, of Taylorville was arrested for Prescription Fraud. Wilbur was transported to the Taylorville Police Department, processed and lodged in the Christian County Sheriff's Office in lieu of bond.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 13
1EMS, 2 Public Assists

The Christian County Sheriff’s Office reports that on Wednesday just before 4 p.m., Christian County 911 received a call of a crash south of Assumption near Kemmerer Village. 24-year-old, Brandon Kraus of Moweaqua was traveling westbound on Township road 900 North. Kraus reportedly lost control of his 1998 Chevy Blazer on Township Road 2500 East. The vehicle overturned resulting in Kraus and his passenger, 23-year-old, Alannah Wilderman of Pana, being ejected from the vehicle. Kraus was pronounced dead at the scene due to injuries sustained in the crash. Wilderman was transported by Assumption Ambulance to Pana Community Hospital, and later transported by helicopter to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield. The crash is still under investigation.

Traffic on the 4-lane Illinois Route 29 between Springfield and Rochester was tied up Thursday afternoon, after an accident involving a car and a tractor. Multiple Illinois State Police cars responded to the crash during the 4 o'clock hour, and reportedly one person was airlifted from the scene with injuries.

Stay tuned to Regional Radio and taylorvilledailynews.com for further details on this accident.

A local business displaced by a building collapse last month hopes to reopen tomorrow (Thursday).  Bolinda's Shoe Store was located on the NE corner of the Taylorville Square before the building partially collapsed, displacing Bolinda's and To the Moon Tattoos. 

Bolinda's is relocating to the former Doc's Maytag location on the N side of the Taylorville Square. 

Portions of the NE area of the square are still restricted for both pedestrian and vehicle traffic because of fears about falling debris.

Agriculture Day was yesterday at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan talks about what impacts financial security, including student loan debt and identity theft.

[audio:agdaybroadcast2014lisamadigansnippet.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Madigan warns people that you have to be careful when giving out information about student loan debt. Websites and fake emails are everywhere, and it’s easy to get your debt information and identity stolen. 

A Christian County man has been elected to represent Shelby Electric Cooperative on the Association of Illinois Cooperatives Board of Directors.  John Scott of Pana was elected as the organization recently held its annual meeting in Springfield.

Based in Springfield, the AIEC provides a variety of services to 29 electric cooperatives, serving customers in 90 counties.

It was announced Monday that Lisa Rakey of Big Brothers Big Sisters has been named the Executive Director of the organization's Illinois Capital Region.  Rakey, who had been Director of Community Relations, tells Regional radio News they also have a new site supervisor for Taylorville:

[audio:rakeybbbsgrigoroff081114.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Big Brothers Big Sisters is currently accepting applications for participants and volunteers.  Call (217) 753-1216.        

Most people don't realize where the funding comes from for the Christian County Economic Development Corporation.  Mary Renner, Director of Economic Development for the CCEDC says surprisingly, no taxpayer money is involved:

[audio:rennerfunding081314.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Renner says the CCEDC is currently focusing on developing a new industrial park for Taylorville near Rt. 29.  

Cards vs. Marlins tonight at 6:05 on 98.3 WTIM

Miami,  FL  (SportsNetwork.com) - Jarred  Cosart pitched seven shutout innings 
and  earned  his first win with  the Miami Marlins, who  held on for a 3-0 win 
over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. 

Cosart  (1-1) pitched  for the first time  since making his Marlins debut in a 
5-2  loss to Cincinnati on Aug. 1, a day after he was acquired from Houston in 
a six-player trade at the non-waiver deadline. 

His  spot was skipped  in the rotation because of a sore oblique but he showed 
no  ill  signs against the Cardinals, giving up just  three hits and one walk 
while striking out three to pick up his 10th victory over the season. 

"He was great," said Marlins manager Mike Redmond. "You never really know when 
a  guy takes that  many days off what you're going to get but I think the time 
off for him was good. He was sharp." 

Donovan  Solano hit a  two-run homer for Miami, which has won four of its last 
five, including the first two games of this three-game series. 

The Cardinals, who  have lost four of five, never really threatened until the 
ninth  inning, when  they had runners at the corners against Bryan Morris. But 
Mike  Dunn came  in to  strike out  Matt Adams  and earn  his first  save this 
season. 

The  Marlins scored all three of their runs off Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright, 
who was trying to become the majors' first 15-game winner this season. Instead 
Wainwright (14-7) allowed seven hits and a walk in seven innings. 

Wainwright  pitched out  of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning by striking 
out Garrett Jones and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, but the Marlins scored three runs 
off him in the fourth to take the lead. 

Casey  McGehee led off with a double and scored on Saltalamacchia's single and 
Solano hit a two-out homer off the left-field pole to make it 3-0. 

St. Louis' only baserunners in the first five innings were Mark Ellis, who hit 
a  one-out single in the third, and Oscar Tavares, who walked in the fifth and 
was erased on a double play. 

Cosart  escaped the sixth  after giving up a leadoff single to Ellis, who went 
to  second  when Matt  Carpenter reached on  an error. Jon  Jay singled in the 
seventh but went nowhere. 

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Hendricks pitched shutout ball into the 
eighth  inning  as the Chicago Cubs  bested the Milwaukee Brewers, 3-0, in the 
second meeting of a four-game series between the division foes. 

Hendricks  (4-1) has made an immediate impact since being called up to the big 
leagues,  and  the 24-year-old's  latest gem  had him  limiting the NL Central 
leaders to six hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings. 

"That's  something I've  always  done since  I was  little,  is pitch  quick," 
Hendricks said. "The pace of the game is big for me." 

The  rookie right-hander,  who was making his sixth start, ran into trouble in 
the  eighth  and was  pulled with the  bases loaded, and  Pedro Strop kept the 
Brewers off the board by getting Jonathan Lucroy to bounce into a double play. 

Justin  Ruggiano and  Arismendy Alcantara both went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while 
Anthony Rizzo added a solo homer for the victors. 

Wily Peralta (14-7) squandered a chance at becoming MLB's first 15-game winner 
by surrendering three runs on seven hits across 6 1/3 innings. 

"He  struggled with  his command," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "He made 
some great pitches but overall he battled." 

Peralta had won five straight starts coming in and was 10-1 in his previous 11 
decisions. He was the victim of defensive adjustments in the second and fourth 
innings and coughed up Rizzo's 26th home run of the year in the sixth. 

The  Brewers  had the  infield in with  a runner  on third and  one out in the 
second,  and Ruggiano laced  a single into the hole between short and third to 
bring in Alcantara. 

The  same situation  arose in the fourth with the same outcome, as Alcantara's 
base hit to right got past a diving Mark Reynolds at first and allowed Starlin 
Castro to score. 

Rizzo went the other way for his first home run since July 22, and after Strop 
escaped  the eighth-inning  jam, Hector Rondon hurled a 1-2-3 ninth to collect 
his 15th save of the season. 

San Francisco, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Gordon Beckham's RBI single in the top 
of the 10th inning gave the Chicago Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox a 3-2 win over the San Francisco 
Giants in the first game of a brief two-game series. 

Jordan  Danks walked with  one out and Moises Sierra singled to put runners on 
the  corners  in the 10th against  Santiago Casilla (1-2). Sierra stole second 
before  Alejandro  De Aza grounded  back to second.  Danks raced home, but was 
thrown out to temporarily keep the score tied at 2-2. 

The  next batter  was Beckham, and after  saving the game in the bottom of the 
ninth  with  a terrific defensive  play, the second  baseman lined a single to 
left to plate Sierra and give the Sox a lead. 

"Gordon had a good game," said Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox manager Robin Ventura. "The plays he 
made defensively tonight, besides just the hit, the plays he made defensively 
saved the game for us." 

Zach Putnam (4-2) recorded the final four outs for the Sox to earn the win. 

Chris  Sale  was in line  for the win before  getting betrayed by his bullpen. 
Sale  was his usual dominant self for Chicago, tossing eight scoreless innings 
with  12 strikeouts before  Jake Petricka came on in the ninth looking to nail 
down the save. 

Pablo  Sandoval slapped a  single into left to lead off the frame, and Michael 
Morse  and Travis  Ishikawa both singled back  up the middle to load the bases 
with no outs. 

Joe  Panik then  grounded into a double-play to plate Sandoval. Beckham made a 
diving  stab on Panik's grounder and flipped to Alexei Ramirez covering second 
with his glove to start the double-play. 

Brandon  Crawford's single to right tied the game and chased Petricka from the 
contest.  Putnam  came on and  struck out Gregor Blanco  to send the game into 
extras. 

"Great job these guys did coming back," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "Down 
two in the ninth and we had some great at-bats. I think we all thought Panik's 
ball  was getting  through. They not only  got the out, but they turned one of 
the best double-plays I've seen." 

Adam  Dunn  gave the Solid navy;background-color:yellow"> White Sox an  early lead  with his 18th  home run of the 
season in the top of the first inning against Ryan Vogelsong. 

Vogelsong  allowed  just two more hits  during his seven-inning outing but was 
overshadowed by Sale. Vogelsong walked two and struck out five for the Giants, 
losers in five straight. 

De  Aza singled to  lead off the game. Jose Abreu took his place on first base 
after  a fielder's choice  and with two outs, Dunn crushed a 1-0 offering over 
the wall in center. 

San Francisco's best chance against Sale came in the bottom of the first, when 
Hunter  Pence tripled  with  one out.  Buster Posey  then  grounded to  Alexei 
Ramirez  at  shortstop, and  Pence got  a slow jump  before breaking for home. 
Ramirez's throw was off target, but Tyler Flowers had time to secure the relay 
and tag Pence to keep the Giants off the scoreboard. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Dontrell D. Franks, 26, of Springfield was arrested on August 12, 2014 on a warrant for contempt of court.

Tawny L. Thomas, 19, of Stonington was arrested on August 12, 2014 on a bond forfeiture for underage drinking.

Logan D. Fleming, 21, of Taylorville was arrested on August 12, 2014 on a bond forfeiture for underage drinking.

Amanda S. Brello, 25, of Decatur was arrested on August 12, 2014 for driving on a suspended license.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

Due to recent phone system upgrades, Lincoln Land Community College-Taylorville has a new phone number. Effective immediately, the facility may be reached by calling 217-786-2754.

Registrations also are still being accepted for fall 2014 classes, which begin Aug. 25.

More information about registering for classes is available online at www.llcc.edu/admissions or by calling LLCC-Taylorville at 217-786-2754.

The Pana Police Department is reporting an incident of identity theft that occurred Wednesday. Around 2:17pm, Stephanie L. Cohen of Decatur reported that a stolen check was used at Walmart for a purchase over $500. During the investigation, 25-year-old Tiffany N. Mullins of Argenta was identified from surveillance images recorded during the transaction. Information will be forwarded to the State’s Attorney’s office for reference of possible charges.

The Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Illinois Capital Region has named Lisa Rakey as the organization’s new Executive Director effective August 11, 2014.

Rakey joined BBBS in 2006, and as the Director of Community Relations for Christian, Macoupin, Montgomery and Sangamon Counties, she oversaw a wide range of responsibilities including establishing and building donor relationships, conducting presentations to various local organizations and businesses, and acting as a spokesperson and advocate for the BBBS organization. She had previously held positions with the Prairie Center Against Sexual Assault and the Macoupin County Public Health Department.

BBBS is the Nation’s oldest and largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network. Their mission is to help children reach their full potential through life-changing, professionally supported one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more information please call (217) 753-1216 or visit us at http://www.bbbscapitalregion.org

The Speaker of the U.S. House, John Boehner was in Taylorville last week attending a fundraiser for Congressman Rodney Davis. Representative Wayne Rosenthal tells Regional Radio News he had a chance to talk to the Speaker:

[audio:rosenthalboehner081214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Rosenthal says Illinois Republicans are hoping to see their fortunes change after the November elections:

[audio:rosenthalmadigan081214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Rosenthal is unopposed in the upcoming contest. The elections will take place November 4^th.

Chicago,  IL  (SportsNetwork.com) -  Yovani Gallardo  pitched seven innings of 
one-run  ball  as the Milwaukee Brewers  opened a four-game series against the 
Chicago Cubs with a 3-1 victory on Monday. 

Gallardo  (7-6) scattered six hits, struck out six and did not issue a walk in 
pitching the NL Central-leading Brewers to its fourth win in five games. 

"I  made pitches  whenever I needed to,"  said Gallardo. "I just gotta keep it 
(close) and let the guys come back and swing the bat." 

Scooter  Gennett went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI while Mark Reynolds 
added a solo homer for the victors. 

Jake  Arrieta  (6-4) pitched into  the eighth inning  but was saddled with the 
loss having allowed two runs on five hits. 

The  best defensive play of the game came from someone wearing a Cubs uniform, 
but  it was  from a  fan sitting  in the  left-field bleachers  after Reynolds 
crushed a first-pitch fastball nearly out of the stadium in the second frame. 

The  ball would  have landed on Waveland  Avenue had it not been for a elderly 
man standing on the top row and snagging the solo blast out of the air. 

Chicago  tied it in the fifth when Chris Coghlan's screamer ate up Reynolds at 
first base. Justin Ruggiano scored from second on what was ruled a double. 

Ryan Braun was thrown out at home in the seventh on a double from Gennett, but 
Gennett scored the go-ahead run on Khris Davis' line drive into the left-field 
corner. 

"In  the seventh, a  couple pitches that really didn't have the bite stayed in 
the  zone  with not a lot  of movement, and they  put some good swings on it," 
said  Arrieta. "They  have a really deep  lineup, and it shows by what they're 
doing and how they're playing as a team thus far this year." 

Gennett  added  an insurance run  in the  ninth with a  base hit to center, as 
Aramis  Ramirez lumbered  around to score thanks to Arismendy Alcantara's off- 
target throw. 

Francisco  Rodriguez  worked around a one-single  in the ninth en route to his 
league-leading 36th save. 

                                   Game Notes 

Reynolds  has recorded  at  least 20  home runs  seven  consecutive years  ... 
Rodriguez  is one  save away from tying Rollie Fingers (341) on MLB's all-time 
saves  list ... Arrieta lost for the first time in eight home starts this year 
... Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro extended his hitting streak to 10 games. 

Coverage of today's Cards and Marlins game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 5:35pm. 

Miami, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Giancarlo Stanton smacked a pair of homers and 
the  Miami Marlins  defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, in the opener of a 
three-game set. 

Stanton  cracked a two-run and solo shot and also made a fantastic diving grab 
to  rob an extra-base hit from Kolten Wong along the right-field warning track 
in  the fifth inning  for Miami, which has won three of its last four games on 
the heels of a 2-6 stretch. 

"I  didn't think  he had a chance at it  ... he ran a long way for that ball," 
Marlins manager Mike Redmond said of Stanton's catch. 

Christian  Yelich was  3-for-4 with  an  RBI and  two runs  scored, while  Tom 
Koehler  (8-9)  struck out five  and allowed three runs  on eight hits and two 
walks over five-plus innings to notch the win. 

The Cardinals had the game-tying run at first base in the ninth after plating 
two  runs against Steve Cishek, but the submarine right-hander struck out Matt 
Adams to end the game and record his 30th save of the year. 

Matt  Holliday whacked a pair of doubles among his four hits to go with an RBI 
and  scored a  run and Jon Jay  smashed a two-run blast for the Cardinals, who 
have dropped four of their last six games. 

"Those guys have been playing unreal," Wong said of the Marlins. "It was tough 
for us." 

Shelby  Miller  (8-9) surrendered five  runs on eight  hits and two walks over 
five frames to garner the loss. 

After the Cardinals tied the game following a three-run top of the fourth, the 
Marlins  plated a pair in the home half and added another in the seventh to go 
ahead. 

Jarrod  Saltalamacchia hit a one-out single and Adeiny Hechavarria followed by 
lining  a triple  down the  right-field line  to bring  him home.  Hechavarria 
scored on Yelich's base hit up the middle two batters later. 

Yelich  began the  seventh with a bunt single and Jordany Valdespin's base hit 
put runners on first and second. During Stanton's at-bat, Sam Freeman uncorked 
a  wild pitch that went off the back wall and ricocheted right back to catcher 
A.J. Pierzynski. 

Pierzynski,  though,  threw the ball away  trying to throw out Yelich at third 
and  he  scampered home easily  to give the Marlins  a 6-3 lead. Valdespin was 
thrown out at home following Casey McGehee's comebacker back to the mound. 

Wong's  RBI triple  and Holliday's  run-scoring  infield single  in the  ninth 
capped the scoring. 

Earlier,  Stanton's two-run,  opposite-field  blast into  the Marlins  bullpen 
opened  the scoring in  the first and his moonshot onto the concourse in left- 
center in the third gave Miami a 3-0 advantage. 

St.  Louis got all three of those runs back in the fourth. Holliday doubled to 
lead  off  the  frame  before  Adams  and  Jhonny  Peralta  both  struck  out. 
Pierzynski's  base  hit into left  pushed across  Holliday and Jay followed by 
clubbing  his two-run blast  into the seats in right beyond the bullpen to tie 
the score. 

                                   Game Notes 

This was Stanton's 13th career multi-homer game and his first since May 23. He 
has  31 homers this  season, tying him with the Chicago White Sox's Jose Abreu 
and  Baltimore's Nelson  Cruz for  the  MLB lead  ... Miami  was 2-for-9  with 
runners in scoring position, while St. Louis finished 2-for-11. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Raymond C. Simmons, 54, of Taylorville, was arrested on August 11, 2014 for meth manufacturing and possession of meth materials.

Tina M. Tirpak, 48, of Taylorville, was arrested on August 11, 2014 for meth manufacturing and possession of meth materials.

Briar D. Samson, 19, of Taylorville, was arrested on August 11, 2014 for meth manufacturing and possession of meth materials.

Khristopher G. Koonce, 23, of Taylorville, was arrested on August 11, 2014 on a warrant for possession of a controlled substance.

Ashley Y. Dye, 20, of Oakland, was arrested on August 12, 2014 for domestic battery.

Jesse A. Williams, 24, of Taylorville was arrested on August 11, 2014 for obstructing justice and driving on a suspended license.

On August 11, 2014, Complainant, Vincent N. Drnjevic called the Christian County Sheriff's Office to report unknown subject(s) removed his riding lawn mower from the backyard, located at 1305 S. Robin Street in Hewittville. The incident occurred sometime between 4:00 PM on August 10,2014 and 9:00 AM on August 11, 2014.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS/CRASHES:

On August 7, 2014 at 7:06 pm, a Taylorville Police Department Officer was flagged down in regards to a suspicious male subject walking South on Main Street. The Officer located the subject, Kevin M. Rensman, 22, of Edinburg. Rensman was placed under arrest for public intoxication, transported to the Taylorville Police Department, and later released on a notice to appear.

On August 12, 2014 at 12:43 a.m., Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Big Bend Rd. to reference of battery. Ashley Y. Dye, 20, of Oakland was arrested for domestic battery and a warrant out of Edgar County. Dye was transported to the Taylorville Police Department for processing. Dye was then transported to the Christian County Correctional Center in lieu of bond.

On August 12, 2014 at 12:01 am, a Taylorville Police Department Officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle at E. Franklin and Paw Paw. Brandon M. Banning, 20, of Taylorville was arrested for driving while license suspended. Banning was transported to the Taylorville Police Department for processing and released on a notice to appear.

On August 8, 2014 at approximately 3:07 pm, Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to Park Street at Shawnee for an accident with no personal injuries. Upon arrival, the vehicles involved were pulled off the roadway into a nearby business parking lot. When speaking with Amy J. Nicol, 62, of Pana and Ciera Fuller, 19, of Moweaqua, they both stated they were traveling westbound on Park Street when Fuller stopped quickly, and Nicol rear ended Fuller. Fuller sustained significant damage to the rear end of the vehicle, and Nicol had minor front end damage and damage to the radiator. Nicol was towed from the scene but wanted a private tow. Nicol was cited for Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident and Operating an Uninsured Vehicle.

On August 9, 2014 at approximately 4:34 pm, Taylorville Police Department Officers were dispatched to Lincoln Trail at Route 48 for an accident with no personal injuries. Upon arrival, a Taylorville Police Department Officer observed Kimberly L. Olsen, 26, of Hartsville behind Sara E. Lowe, 33, of Decatur. The Officers then moved the vehicles into a nearby parking lot to get them off the road. When speaking with Olsen and Lowe, they stated that Lowe was stopped at the stop light behind traffic and Olsen rear ended them. Olsen was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Lowe sustained damage to the bottom left of the trunk lid and bumper. Olsen had mirror damage to the front bumper. Neither car was towed due to crash.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 11, 2014:

1 Fire

August 12, 2014:

1 EMS

(Springfield, IL)  --  People with chronic illnesses can start applying for the medical marijuana program.  State officials will start accepting applications from people whose last names begin with A through L on September 2nd.  Patients whose last names begin with M through Z can start submitting applications on November 1st.  The nine page applications are posted online at MCPP.Illinois.gov.  There is a 100-dollar annual application fee, but veterans or people on Social Security Disability Income will pay half of that. 

Copyright © 2014 
Metro Networks Inc. 

[audio:rddIdolUp21.mp3]comment here[/audio]

(Springfield, IL)  --  That's Kendall Seaton from Beecher City, Illinois hoping to wow the American Idol producers at the Illinois State Fair.  She says she started pursuing her dream to sing a few years ago, and she figured this audition might give her the exposure she needs to make it. 

[audio:rddIdolUp11.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Seaton sang "Dirty Dishes" by Scotty McCreery during her audition Friday morning, but Idol rules prohibit her from saying if she's made it to the next round.  

Copyright © 2014 
Metro Networks Inc.

When most of us think about the American Red Cross, we think of huge disasters and blood drives.  Executive Director of the organization's Central Illinois region, Carl Baker, says the American Red Cross does that and a lot more:

[audio:bakerredcross072914.mp3]comment here[/audio]

To contact the Red Cross, call 787-7612 or 428-7758. 

School will be back in session soon, and parents need to start thinking about their kids nutrition needs.  Nutrition Educator for the St. Louis District Dairy Council, Joyce Fikri says since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, parents should consider allowing their kids to eat their morning meal at school:

[audio:fikrischoolbreakfast080714.mp3]comment here[/audio]

For more information, go to the District's website, stldairycouncil.org.

The Christian County Senior Citizens Center in Taylorville will host a Senior Fair next week.  Illinois Senator Andy Manar, who attended last year's event, tells Regional Radio News he will be there again this time around:

[audio:manarsrfair081114.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Senator Manar represents Illinois' 48^th District.

Seattle,  WA  (SportsNetwork.com) - Austin  Jackson smacked a three-run double 
and  drove in  all four Seattle runs  as the Mariners topped the Chicago White 
Sox, 4-2, in the finale of a three-game set. 

Chicago seriously threatened Fernando Rodney in the ninth. 

Alexei  Ramirez and  Jose Abreu  singled before  Adam Dunn  and Dayan  Viciedo 
struck  out. Conor Gillaspie  rolled a base hit up the middle to plate Ramirez 
and Tyler Flowers was hit by a pitch to load the bases. 

Rodney, though, buckled down to fan Jordan Danks on three pitches to notch his 
33rd save of the year. 

Erasmo Ramirez scattered four hits and walked one before being pulled with one 
out  in the fifth  inning. Dominic Leone (5-2) came on to toss 1 2/3 scoreless 
frames to notch the win. 

Chris  Taylor posted  two hits and two  runs scored for the Mariners, who have 
won five of their last six games. 

John  Danks  (9-8) allowed four  runs on  eight hits and  two walks over 6 1/3 
innings  for  Chicago, which has  dropped seven of  its last nine games. Tyler 
Flowers homered in defeat. 

"Johnny  pitched  a good  game," White Sox manager Robin  Ventura said of his 
starting  pitcher.  "You get a  couple infield rollers  and Jackson had a good 
day, but I thought Johnny pitched well enough to win the game." 

The  Mariners jumped out  to a 4-0 lead after plating three runs in the second 
and another in the seventh. 

Three  straight two-out  singles by  Taylor,  Logan Morrison  and Jesus  Sucre 
loaded  the  bases before Jackson cleared  them when he looped his double down 
the left-field line. 

"It  was a big situation,  just to put the ball in play and not try and do too 
much,"  Jackson said. "I  was able to get a pitch out over the plate and put a 
good swing on it." 

Taylor  coaxed  a walk  to  begin  the seventh,  moved  to  second on  Sucre's 
sacrifice  bunt and scored  on Jackson's base hit through the hole on the left 
side for Seattle's four-run cushion. 

The White Sox got on the board in the eighth on Flowers' leadoff shot to left 
before making things interesting in the ninth. 

                                   Game Notes 

Seattle  was 3-for-7  with runners in scoring position, while Chicago finished 
1-for-5  ... Jackson  has 38 RBI on  the year ... Flowers' homer was his ninth 
homer of the season. 

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Anthony Rizzo hit a walk-off RBI single in 
the  bottom of the  12th inning to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 win over the 
Tampa Bay Rays to salvage a three-game set. 

Ryan  Sweeney  led off  the 12th with  a single against  Cesar Ramos (2-4) and 
moved to second on Chris Coghlan's sacrifice bunt. Javier Baez then reached on 
a  strikeout wild  pitch to  put runners  on the  corners. Another  wild pitch 
allowed  Baez to  advance to second and Rizzo followed by launching his single 
into the gap in right-center. 

"That  was big,  he stayed on it," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of Rizzo's 
at-bat. "Fortunately for us, we outlasted them today." 

Carlos Villanueva (5-6) tossed a scoreless top of the 12th to earn the win. 

Baez  and Rizzo each went 2-for-6 with Baez also driving in a run for Chicago, 
which played its sixth extra-inning game in its last 12 contests. 

Desmond  Jennings had an RBI double among his two hits for the Rays, who had a 
three-game winning streak snapped. 

Both teams plated a run apiece in the fifth and seventh innings. 

Curt Casali hit a leadoff double in the top of the fifth and later scored when 
a charging Baez committed a throwing error on Jennings' infield single. Baez's 
RBI single in the home half tied the score. 

Jennings cracked a one-out RBI double in the top of the seventh. Sweeney hit a 
one-out  double in the  bottom of the frame and Coghlan followed with a triple 
to plate him and make it 2-2. 

                                   Game Notes 

Chicago  starter  Travis Wood allowed  an unearned run  on four hits and three 
walks  over six  innings, while Alex Cobb  surrendered a run on six hits while 
fanning  six  over six  frames for  Tampa Bay  ... The Cubs were 3-for-9 with 
runners in scoring position, while Tampa Bay finished 2-for-9. 

Coverage of today's Cards and Marlins game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 5:35pm. 

Baltimore,  MD  (SportsNetwork.com) -  Kolten Wong went  4-for-5 with two runs 
scored  to  help the St. Louis Cardinals avoid a three-game sweep against the 
Baltimore Orioles with an 8-3 victory on Sunday. 

Peter  Bourjos hit  a three-run homer to  back a solid outing from Lance Lynn, 
who allowed three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. 

More  importantly, Lynn (12-8) held the powerful AL East leaders homerless for 
the  first  time in the series.  Baltimore launched nine homers in winning the 
first two games by a combined score of 22-5. 

"We  like having  Lance  on the  mound in  these  situations," said Cardinals 
manager Mike Matheny, "and we felt good about what our offense could do." 

Baltimore  starter  Kevin Gausman (6-4)  was charged  with three runs on eight 
hits  over five  innings. Nick Markakis and  Nelson Cruz each knocked in a run 
for the O's. 

Matt  Carpenter, Wong  and Matt Holliday each  singled to open up the game for 
St. Louis in the first. Matt Adams grounded into a fielder's choice to score a 
run  before Jhonny Peralta  laced a single to center that scored Wong. Jon Jay 
walked  to pack the  bags again, but Oscar Taveras flied into a double play as 
Adam Jones gunned Adams down at the plate attempting to tag from third. 

"I  did a  good job bouncing back  in the second inning, but that first inning 
was  a rough one," said Gausman. "It kind of seemed like wherever they hit the 
ball, we didn't have a guy there." 

Baltimore  answered in  the home half with  and RBI double off the bat of Cruz 
that cut the deficit to 2-1. 

Jay  got  the run back in  the third, however,  ripping a single to right that 
scored Wong. 

The  O's  trimmed the  deficit to  one again in  the fifth. After back-to-back 
singles  from Markakis  and Manny Machado, Adam Jones flied out to center that 
allowed  Markakis to move  over to third. Lynn then uncorked a wild pitch that 
pushed Markakis across to make it a 3-2 game. 

With  one out and runners at the corners in the sixth, Daniel Descalso sent an 
RBI single to right, restoring St. Louis' two-run cushion. 

The  pendulum continued to  swing in the home sixth, with Markakis making it a 
one-run game again courtesy of an RBI single to center. 

Back-to-back  doubles  from Descalso and Carpenter  made it 5-3 in the eighth, 
then  a pinch-hitting  Bourjos left little doubt of the outcome with his homer 
in the ninth. 

                                   Game Notes 

Baltimore  catcher  Caleb Joseph  had his  five-game homer  streak end ... The 
Orioles  had won  three straight and 12-of-16  coming in ... St. Louis is 8-12 
against  the  American League this season,  while Baltimore is 9-5 against the 
Senior Circuit. 

Penny and Gary Sprehe of Centralia, were fishing at the Shelbyville Dam spillway on Sunday afternoon around 4:30pm.  They spotted a funnel cloud just north of the dam and took these dramatic pictures.

Penny tells taylorvilledailynews.com that they ran for cover in one of the nearby rest rooms.

The Shelby County Sheriff's Office tells taylorvilledailynews.com that there were no injuries or damage from the funnel cloud.  Thanks to the Sprehe's for providing these pictures.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Christopher D. Spoor, 22, of 272 South Pitman Street, Wagner, was arrested August 8 on a bond forfeiture for indecent solicitation/aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Keith A. Westbrook, 27, of 111 South Houston Street, Taylorville, was arrested August 9 on a bond forfeiture.

Vickie L. Sunderland, 45, of 8197 West Outer Road, Sherman, was arrested August 11 on a bond forfeiture for the issuance of a warrant.

CRASHES:

On August 7 at 6:55am, Robert C. Wood, 44, of Edinburg was traveling southbound on County Highway 5. Just north of County Highway 20, Wood went to follow the slight curve to the left but Wood told police that the vehicle continued straight. Wood's vehicle reportedly exited the roadway to the right, went over a private lane, and entered the west ditch, striking several small trees. Wood continued in a southwest direction before striking the northeast corner of the oil battery containment dike/berm before coming to a rest. Wood's vehicle received major front end and front passenger side damage.Wood was taken to Taylorville Memorial Hospital for injuries described as minor by the report.

On August 10 at 7:15am, Michael L. Young, 38, of Decatur, was traveling northbound on Township Road 1600 East. Just north of Illinois Route 29, a deer entered the roadway. Young was unable to avoid striking the deer. Young received major front end damage. No injuries were reported.

On August 8 at 6:21am, Jordan D. Leischner-William, 22, of Niantic, was northbound on County Road 2025 East. Leischner-William stated he took evasive action to avoid a deer and failed to stop at the intersection of 2975 North. Leischner-William crossed over 2975 North and struck the ditch embankment. Leischner-William caused planted bean damage as it traveled 50 feet before coming to rest in the field. No injuries were reported.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 3 at 1:47am, a Taylorville Police Department officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for failing to stop st the stop light at East Park Street and Walnut Street. After an investigation, Cody C. Sunderland, 27, of Blue Mound was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Sunderland was transported to Taylorville Police Department, processed, and released with a notice to appear.

On August 8 at 9:38pm, Taylorville Police Department officers made a traffic stop on a vehicle at Silver and Pauline Streets. After an investigation, Samantha L. McPeek, 32, of Taylorville was arrested for driving on an expired license over one year. McPeek was transported to Taylorville Police Department, processed, and released with a notice to appear.

On August 9 at 11:00am, a Taylorville Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle. Keith A. Westbrook, Jr., 27, of Taylorville was arrested for a warrant out of Shelby County. Westbrook, Jr. was transported to Christian County Sheriff's Office in lieu of bond.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 10
5 EMS

August 11
2 EMS, 1 Gas Odor

The Christian County Sheriff’s Office reports that one person was injured following a 1-vehicle crash on Thursday. Around 6:55am, 44-year-old Robert C. Wood of Edinburg was traveling southbound on County Highway 5. Just north of County Highway 20, Wood went to follow the slight curve to the left but Wood told police that the vehicle continued straight. Wood's vehicle reportedly exited the roadway to the right, went over a private lane, and entered the west ditch, striking several small trees. Wood continued in a southwest direction before striking the northeast corner of the oil battery containment dike/berm before coming to a rest. Wood's vehicle received major front end and front passenger side damage. Wood was taken to Taylorville Memorial Hospital for injuries described as minor by the report.

An example of the packages Palmer residents will receive. 

Residents of Palmer will be receiving a mini surprise from Oreo this week. Palmer was one of the 50 small towns in 50 States to be chosen for the Oreo Mini campaign. Oreos says many of these small towns often go overlooked and many people probably don’t know about the little things that make them so unique.

Filled with an OREO Mini and a note from OREO, the pint-sized parcels come straight from “the tiniest mini mart there ever was,” Mel’s Mini-Mini Mart.  Mel’s is the starring fictional store in the brand’s recent long form video. The video can be seen on our website taylorvilledailynews.com.

As part of the program, 500 Oreo Mini parcels will be available each day at  OREOMiniDelivery.com on a first-come-first-served basis between August 11 and August 22, Monday through Friday. This allows people to send a custom OREO Mini delivery to a friend, colleague, family member, or anyone else of their choosing.

Entry forms are now available for the 2014 Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest Little Miss, Little Mister, and Junior Miss pageants all taking place Saturday, October 4th.

Rehearsal for the Chillifest Little Miss & Little Mr. Pageant will be held Friday, October 3rd at 5 p.m.on the stage in front of US Bank.
The Little Miss and Little Mr. Pageant is scheduled for
Saturday the 4th at 9:00 a.m. and contestants need to arrive by 8:30 a.m.

The Junior Miss rehearsal will be held Friday, October 3rd at 6 p.m.
The Junior Miss interviews will start at 8:00 a.m. and the pageant will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Little Miss and Mister contestants must be residents of Christian County, and at least 4 years old, but not more than 6 years old, on October 4th. Junior Miss contestants must also be residents of Christian County, and be at least eleven, but not more than 13 years old, on October 4th.

Contestants may wear pageant dresses or Sunday best. Junior Miss contestants will wear the same dress/outfit for both interview and pageant. Contestants should be dressed appropriately for weather at the rehearsal and at the pageant. Judges will not be present at practice.

Pageant officials ask that everyone have a positive attitude and that parents, friends and family be a positive role model for the contestants.Members of the audience should stay seated and not draw attention to contestants or to themselves.

Applications for all 3 pageants are due into the Greater Taylorville Chamber office on September 4th. Application forms and waiver release forms, are available at the Chamber office on the 2nd floor of the U.S. Bank building on the south side of the Taylorville square, or by going on-line to chillifest-dot-info, that's chillifest with 2-L's.

The Taylorville School Board met Monday night and held a presentation on the tentative FY15 budget. Superintendent Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau says the biggest hurdle once again is the proration:

[audio:fuerstenaufy15081214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Dr. Fuerstenau says while all funds are projected to have a positive fund balance at the end of FY15, all funds except for Working Cash and Fire Prevention & Safety are expected to have deficit spending. Fuerstenau added that the state has currently paid all that was owed to the district for FY14. The final hearing for the FY15 budget will take place at the September 8th meeting.

The Taylorville School Board discussed the Mt. Auburn facility at their meeting Monday night. Superintendent Dr. Gregg Fuerstenau says the Mt. Auburn village board voted at their last meeting to relinquish their option on the building which leaves the school board with the options to tear the building down or put it out for bid. Fuerstenau told the Board that they really need to weigh their options:

[audio:fuerstenaumtauburn081214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The facility has been empty since 2005. The Board decided to discuss it further at the building committee meeting that will take place before the September 8^th Board meeting.

The Taylorville School Board also discussed the project for the Building Trades Program at the High School. One option the Board is looking at is working with a homeowner and local contractors on a house that is already under construction. The students would be given various tasks to get the hands on experience but it would come as no cost to the District. Member Jim Andruch says there have been some free labor concerns that have come up with this idea but he says it would be no different from other high school program projects:

[audio:andruchbuildingtrades081214.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The other option the Board is considering is just doing in-class projects.

The meeting adjourned at 8:05pm.

The Taylorville Police Department reports one person was injured in a crash on Thursday. Around 12:01pm, a 16-year-old male juvenile was reportedly exiting from Subway and attempting to make a left turn onto Webster Street when 54-year-old Eve M. Carlile of Blue Mound struck him. The male advised he had someone waive him through traffic and he did not see Carlile before the impact. The male was issued a citation for failure to yield from a private drive. The male's vehicle received front-end damage. Carlile advised she was headed north on Webster Street and just entered the turn lane when the 16-year-old pulled out from Subway in front of her. Carlile's vehicle received front-end damage and she was transported to Taylorville Memorial Hospital with injuries described as not physically evident by the report.

C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation, Board of Directors held their 49th annual board meeting in Effingham on August 7 with over 200 people in attendance. C.E.F.S. showcased their annual accomplishments in helping people and changing lives.

CEO Paul White indicated that the organization had very effectively served the needs of the communities’ limited-income population in the service delivery area. White said 27,910 people received agency services, with the assistance of 247 local community partners and with the help of 4,028 volunteers providing 144,972 volunteer hours the agency was able to provide local coordinated efforts to benefit limited-income people.

More information about C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation can be obtained on the agency website at www.cefseoc.org or by calling 217/342-2193 or by contacting your local county C.E.F.S. outreach office.

Shelbyville Memorial Hospital is offering help for those with substance abuse.  Caroline Reynolds is with the “New Vision' program, and she says getting help when trying to break your addiction may be a matter of life and death:

[audio:reynoldssmh080814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Call the hospital Monday through Friday from 774-6436 to find out more about the New Vision program.  Talk to Caroline or Judy.

Pictured: Bolinda's new location on the Taylorville Square.

Bolinda’s Shoe Store is targeting this upcoming Thursday to open the doors at their new location on the Taylorville Square. Co-owner Bob Farris says the move is going smoothly and thanks people for their patience:

[audio:farrisopening080914.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Bolinda’s is moving into the former Doc Maytag’s location on the Taylorville Square at 115 W. Main Cross. If you have any questions, you can call 824-5984.

A Pana Attorney has become an advocate for senior citizens.  Robert J. Beyers says he is convinced that there is a need for his services, and says he was gratified to see such a good turnout for a recent workshop he put on:

[audio:beyersworkshop080614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The workshop was held last week at Oak Terrace Resort.  You can call Beyer's Law Office at 562-5077.  He's located at 123 E. 3^rd St. in Pana.

The Taylorville School Board will meet Monday night at 7:00pm at the Administration Education Center on Spresser Street. Items on the agenda include: a presentation of the tentative budget for FY15 and the establishment of a final hearing date, discussion on the Mt. Auburn facility, and consideration of the need for continuation of the designated hazardous walking areas within the District as previously granted by the Illinois Department of Transportation. We will have details following the meeting at taylorvilledailynews.com.

St.  Louis,  MO (SportsNetwork.com) -  Ryan Griffin threw  for 179 yards and a 
touchdown as the New Orleans Saints opened the preseason with a 26-24 win over 
the St. Louis Rams. 

Griffin,  a  second-year product out  of Tulane,  came on for quarterback Luke 
McCown  and completed 16-of-23 passes. He found first round pick Brandin Cooks 
for a 25-yard touchdown connection late in the third quarter that proved to be 
the difference. 

Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson each ran for touchdowns, with Ingram racking up 
83 yards on eight carries. Cooks caught five balls for 55 yards in addition to 
the  score  for the Saints, who  finished with an  11-5 record in 2013 and won 
their postseason opener against the Eagles. 

Veteran  signal  caller Shaun  Hill threw  a pair of  touchdown passes for the 
Rams, while Austin Davis picked up 134 yards and a score on 10-for-16 passing. 

Both  starting  quarterbacks, New Orleans' Drew  Brees and Sam Bradford of the 
Rams, were given the night off. 

Cory  Harkey  caught a  16-yard touchdown  pass from Hill  on St. Louis' first 
possession.  Shayne Graham kicked a field goal late in the period and Robinson 
took it in from a yard out early in the second to give the Saints a 9-7 lead. 

Hill's  second  touchdown strike  of the  game went to  Stedmon Bailey from 24 
yards  out midway through  the second. Ingram ran it in for a 22-yard score on 
the  ensuing New  Orleans  touch,  and Rams  kicker  Greg  Zuerlein split  the 
uprights on a 45-yard kick as the clock expired to send the Rams into halftime 
with a 17-16 lead. 

Derek  Dimke drilled a  37-yarder to put the Saints back in front early in the 
third, and Cooks' touchdown reception with 3:43 to play in the quarter made it 
26-17. Davis' 15-yard touchdown pass to Austin Franklin capped the scoring. 

The Rams  got into field  goal possession on the  final touch thanks in large 
part to a 42-yard reception by Alex Bayer. A penalty with just seconds to play 
set  up a 59-yard  kick for Zuerlein, but the young kicker put it wide left as 
the game ended. 

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Zach Miller caught two touchdown passes and 
the  Chicago Bears upended  the Philadelphia Eagles,  34-28, in the preseason 
opener for both teams. 

Jay  Cutler threw a 10-yard pass to Miller in the back of the end zone late in 
the first quarter, and Miller caught another touchdown pass from Jordan Palmer 
in the second. 

Cutler  finished with 85 yards on 9-of-13 passing for the Bears, whose backups 
also  proved effective.  Palmer completed 8-of-11 throws for 104 yards with an 
interception, while Jimmy Clausen tossed for two scores. 

Clausen  connected with Chris Williams and Micheal Spurlock for TDs after Matt 
Barkley's  scoring strike  to David Fluellen had given the Eagles a 28-17 lead 
early in the second half. 

Philadelphia  started  slow with  Nick Foles  getting picked  off twice in his 
three  possessions under  center. Mark Sanchez was an efficient 7-of-10 for 79 
yards and led the Eagles' second-team offense to 14 points courtesy of Matthew 
Tucker's two touchdown runs. 

Josh Huff returned a kickoff 102 yards for a TD in the loss. 

Seattle,  WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Hisashi Iwakuma fired seven innings of one- 
run  ball and the Seattle Mariners defeated the Chicago White Sox, 4-1, in the 
second test of a four-game set. 

Iwakuma  (10-6) scattered five hits and struck out three for the Mariners, who 
have won four in a row and five of their last six. 

"He  wasn't  as sharp as he  usually is, but  he gave us seven sharp innings," 
Seattle  manager  Lloyd McClendon said of  Iwakuma. "He certainly knows how to 
pitch when he doesn't have his best stuff." 

Mike  Zunino  smacked a three-run homer,  while Chris Taylor posted three hits 
and scored a run in the victory. 

Fernando Rodney tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 32nd save of the year. 

Jose  Quintana (6-8) allowed  four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits and two 
walks  over 5 2/3  frames for Chicago, which has dropped four straight and six 
of its last seven contests. 

Dayan Viciedo clubbed a solo shot in defeat. 

The White Sox led 1-0 before the Mariners surged ahead with a four-run fifth. 

Chris  Denorfia  worked a leadoff  walk, Logan  Morrison reached on a fielding 
error and Zunino cracked his three-run shot the opposite way to right. Kendrys 
Morales  added a sacrifice  fly later in the inning to give the Mariners a 4-1 
lead. 

"Q  was  pitching great and  then walk, error does  him in," White Sox manager 
Robin Ventura said of Quintana. 

Chicago,  who recorded just one hit the rest of the way, never put a runner in 
scoring position. 

Viciedo's Solo  blast to  right opened the  scoring for the White Sox in the 
fourth. 

                                   Game Notes 

Seattle  went 3-for-9  with  runners in  scoring position  ...  The White Sox 
activated  pitcher Zach  Putnam off  the 15-day  disabled list  on Friday  ... 
Zunino's blast was his 18th of the year. 

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Kiermaier hit a go-ahead RBI single in 
the  10th  to give the Tampa  Bay Rays a 4-3  win over the Chicago Cubs in the 
first match of a three-game set at Wrigley Field. 

After  Logan  Forsythe flied out to  start the frame, Desmond Jennings and Ben 
Zobrist  hit back-to-back  singles off Hector Rondon (3-4), putting runners on 
the  corners. Kiermaier's line drive into center field scored Jennings for the 
game-winning run. 

Matt  Joyce  also had  a pinch-hit RBI  single, which came  in the eighth, and 
Jennings  hit a solo home run in the third, as the Rays won for just the third 
time in their last eight attempts. 

Brad  Boxberger (3-1) let in one run in the ninth to blow the save, but struck 
out two during a perfect 10th inning to pick up the win. 

"I'm  really proud  of our  guys  for fighting  back," said  Rays manager  Joe 
Maddon.  "[Boxberger] was  outstanding again. It was just unfortunate, but how 
about  him coming back  and getting the thick part of the batting order? Great 
job." 

Ryan  Sweeney singled in  the Cubs' run in the bottom of the ninth to send the 
game  to extra  innings. Starlin Castro and  John Baker drove in the other two 
runs for Chicago, which lost for only the fourth time in its last 11 games. 

Newly called up Cubs prospect Javier Baez went 1-for-5 with a single and a run 
scored  in  his home  debut after hitting  three home runs  in his first three 
major  league games,  including a homer in  the 12th to lift the Cubs over the 
Rockies on Tuesday. 

The Cubs scored  one run in the first  to take an early lead. Baez hit a line 
drive  to  left for a  single, then  Anthony Rizzo doubled  with a fly ball to 
right. Castro singled to right, pushing Baez across. 

Jennings'  leadoff  homer in  the top  of the third  tied the  game at one run 
apiece. 

Rays  starter Chris Archer struck out Luis Valbuena to start the bottom of the 
fourth,  but walked  the next  batter, Arismendy  Alcantara. Archer  fielded a 
ground  ball  hit by Sweeney, but  his throw to  second was off the mark. With 
runners on first and second, Baker hit a line drive to right field that scored 
Alcantara. 

After  allowing  the home run  to Jennings, Tsuyoshi  Wada, who started on the 
mound  for  the Cubs, retired  the next 12 batters  before giving up a leadoff 
triple to Sean Rodriguez in the seventh, ending his night. Brain Schlitter got 
Yunel  Escobar to ground  out, then Curt Casali to ground one to short. Castro 
fielded  the  ball and threw home,  but Rodriguez slid  in front of the tag of 
Baker at the plate for the run, tying the game. 

"Wada  threw well  today," said Cubs manager  Rick Renteria.  "He deserved  a 
better  fate... We almost got through the (seventh inning), but obviously they 
scored  there. He was very effective, he mixed his pitches and he got some big 
outs when he needed to." 

Jennings struck out to start the eighth before Zobrist doubled on a line drive 
to  left, and  Joyce's line drive into  center field plated Zobrist to put the 
Rays up 3-2. 

Pinch-hitter  Justin Ruggiano  singled on a ground ball to right field to open 
the  bottom of  the ninth,  and  Alcantara moved  him  over to  second with  a 
sacrifice  bunt. Sweeney  hit a  ground ball  past the  diving glove  of Logan 
Forsythe at second for a game-tying single. 

                                   Game Notes 

Castro  has  61 RBI  on the  season ... Schlitter  was given  a blown save for 
allowing  an inherited run  to score in the seventh ... The Rays finished just 
2-for-11  with  runners in scoring position  and left seven men on base, while 
the Cubs were  3-for-8 and left six on  ... The Rays are 5-6 since going on a 
season-high nine game winning streak from July 12-26. 

Coverage of today's Cards and Orioles game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 2:30pm. 

Baltimore,  MD  (SportsNetwork.com) - The  Baltimore Orioles hit six home runs 
on  Friday en  route to  a 12-2  drubbing of  the St.  Louis Cardinals  in the 
opener of a three-game series. 

J.J.  Hardy homered  twice in the rout, while Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Chris 
Davis and Ryan Flaherty went yard as well. Nick Hundley had three hits for the 
O's, who extended their major league-best record since July 1 to 23-10. 

All nine starters in Baltimore's lineup had at least one hit. 

The  power surge  overshadowed a terrific start by Chris Tillman, who held St. 
Louis  scoreless over  6 2/3 innings before A.J. Pierzynski hit his first home 
run  as a member  of the Cardinals. Tillman (9-5) struck out seven and gave up 
just two runs on four hits. 

Machado  was hit with a pitch around singles by Nick Markakis and Jones in the 
top of the first inning, putting Cardinals starter Justin Masterson (1-1) in a 
bases-loaded  jam with  no outs. Masterson fanned the next two batters and got 
Hardy to ground out, temporarily avoiding the big inning. 

It  came in the  second, though. Flaherty singled and scored on a Hundley base 
knock  to left. After  Markakis drew a walk, Machado made it 4-0 with his home 
run to left center. 

Hardy led off the third inning with a solo home run and again Masterson loaded 
the bases before getting pulled for reliever Nick Greenwood. Greenwood induced 
a 1-2-3 double-play and a groundout. 

Masterson's  final line  included five  runs on  seven hits  in just  two-plus 
innings. 

Hardy  homered again  in the fourth inning,  this time with Jones and Davis on 
base  for an 8-0  Baltimore lead. Jones and Davis hit solo blasts in the fifth 
and  sixth,  respectively, and Flaherty plated  the 11th and 12th Orioles runs 
with his sixth-inning home run. 

After  Pierzynski's  shot to right  made it  12-2, Brian Matusz took Tillman's 
place on the mound and recorded the next four outs. Brad Brach needed just six 
pitches to get through the ninth. 

                                   Game Notes 

The  Orioles  have won  seven consecutive  series openers  ... Tillman won his 
first  interleague  start in 11  tries. He improved to  1-1 in those games ... 
Masterson  has lost his last three decisions against Baltimore ... The Orioles 
outhit  the Cardinals, 15-4 ...  Prior to the  game, St. Louis placed pitcher 
Jason  Motte on  the 15-day disabled list and recalled Greenwood from Triple-A 
Memphis. 

There is still time to register for fall semester 2014 classes at Lincoln Land Community College. Fall semester begins Aug. 25 and runs through Dec. 18.

New students should contact the Enrollment Services office on the Springfield campus at 786.2292 to begin the enrollment process, or they may contact LLCC in Jacksonville, Beardstown, Taylorville or Litchfield. 

Current students may register online via WebAdvisor (a link to WebAdvisor is available at www.llcc.edu in the upper right-hand corner.)  Returning students – those who have attended LLCC in the past but have not been enrolled for one or more semesters – may register online via WebAdvisor, in person or by phone.

More information can be found at www.llcc.edu/admissions.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center is holding two blood drives in Christian County next week. The first will be Tuesday, August 12^th at the Stonington United Methodist Church, located at 304 North Elm, from 4 PM – 7 PM. The second will be Thursday, August 14^th at the Davis Memorial Christian Church, located at 1500 West Franklin in Taylorville, from 4 PM – 7 PM. To schedule an appointment, call toll free at 1-866-GIVE-BLD or schedule an appointment online at www.bloodcenterimpact.org. Walk-ins are also welcome. 

The Blue Mound Fall Festival got off to a wet start Thursday night, but better weather is expected for the rest of the event.  Good crowds attended despite the rain.  The opening night pageants were moved to a church across the street, and a Zumba demonstration was held under Wise Park's large pavilion.  

Friday's attractions include a char-broiled pork chop dinner starting at 4:30, and at 8pm, a performance on stage by West End Boogie Project, sponsored by hometown favorite Marshall Sperry.  

Saturday events include a 5k run, with the annual parade at 11am. There's a horseshoe pitching tournament at 2pm, followed by a fried chicken dinner at 4. The stage show at 8pm will feature Scott Watles and the Blue Suede Crew.

Both evenings will feature bingo at 6pm and a dance at 9pm, along with carnival rides and plenty of fair food.  Wise Park is located just off of Route 48 in Blue Mound.

The Taylorville Main Street Farmers Market is in full swing now, and Market Manager Ed Downs says among other things, they will be featuring pumpkin blossoms this week:

[audio:farmersmktpblossoms080714.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Market Manager Ed says they will also feature live entertainment this week.  The Farmers Market also offers Baked goods and arts and crafts.  It's open from 9am until 12:30pm on the Taylorville Square.

The University of Illinois Extension will host another Telenet next week.  Chris Casey, Community and Economic Development Educator for the Extension says the Telenet will center around government budgets:

[audio:caseyextensionbudget080814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Extension office in Taylorville is at 1120 N. Webster.

Pictured: Cody Morris (left) and his father Rodney Morris (right) pose with their FFA President jackets.

A Mattoon father and son recently broke into the record books of the Illinois State FFA. Rodney Morris, whose son Cody was elected as the 2014-15 Illinois State FFA President, tells Regional Radio News that they are the first father-son duo to be elected president:

[audio:rodneyffapres080814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Cody says it was a special moment to him when he found out the news:

[audio:codyffapres080814.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Cody recently showed cattle and sheep at this year’s Coles County Fair. 

Seattle,  WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Kyle Seager, Robinson Cano, Endy Chavez and 
Dustin  Ackley  homered as the Seattle  Mariners routed the Chicago White Sox, 
13-3, in the opener of a four-game series. 

Ackley  knocked in  four runs and scored  twice for the Mariners, who have won 
three in a row. Chavez had three RBI and scored a pair of runs. 

"We  had a  good night," said Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon. "I think we're 
coming (offensively). We're getting there." 

Seattle starter Roenis Elias (9-9) took a no-hitter into the fifth and allowed 
two  runs on two  hits with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. Elias had lost 
four of his previous five decisions. 

Dayan  Viciedo hit  a two-run homer for  the White Sox, who have dropped three 
straight.  Scott  Carroll (4-7)  gave up  seven runs on  seven hits with three 
walks over five-plus innings. 

"It  starts  with me on  the mound.  I didn't have  a good performance, and it 
transitions  over to  guys  pressing I  guess, trying  to  make things  happen 
without good starting pitching," said Carroll. 

The Mariners took a 1-0 lead on Ackley's homer in the first. 

Chavez  added a two-run  homer in the fourth. Mike Zunino hit a two-out single 
and crossed the plate on Chavez's blast to right. 

Elias'  no-hit bid came to an end in the fifth when Conor Gillaspie hit a one- 
out double to right. Moises Sierra worked a two-out walk before Gordon Beckham 
popped out to first. 

The  home run parade continued in the bottom half. Ackley walked and scored on 
Cano's blast to right. 

The White Sox hit a home run of their own in the sixth. Jose Abreu was hit by 
a pitch and crossed the plate on Viciedo's shot to right-center field. 

But  the Mariners  responded with three runs  in the home half. With the bases 
loaded  and  two outs,  Ackley hit a  two-run single to  left off Daniel Webb. 
Austin Jackson then scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-2. 

Seattle tacked on three more runs in the seventh. Logan Morrison's RBI double, 
Chavez's  run-scoring  single and  Ackley's  RBI  groundout  made it  an  11-2 
contest. 

Alexei  Ramirez hit  an RBI double in the  top of the eighth. But Seager hit a 
two-run homer in the bottom half. 

                                   Game Notes 

Chicago  went 0-for-5  with runners in scoring position and stranded seven ... 
The  Mariners had 12  hits, compared to five for the White Sox ... Utility man 
Willie  Bloomquist  of the  Mariners will undergo  arthroscopic surgery on his 
right knee on Friday. 

Denver,  CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Javier Baez homered twice and Kyle Hendricks 
tossed  eight solid innings as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Colorado Rockies, 
6-2, in the rubber match of a three-game set on Thursday. 

Baez,  who homered in his MLB debut on Tuesday, finished 3-for-4 with four RBI 
and  two runs scored  and Starlin Castro also homered for the Cubs, who earned 
their  first series  victory in Denver since sweeping a three-game set on Aug. 
3-5, 2004. 

"I  thought he  had  some  really good  approaches,"  said Cubs manager  Rick 
Renteria. "He was able to put his bat on the ball and do some damage." 

Kyle  Hendricks  (3-1) surrendered just  two runs on six  hits and a walk with 
four strikeouts to earn the win. 

Justin  Morneau had two hits, an RBI and a run scored and Corey Dickerson also 
drove  in a  run for Colorado, which  has dropped six of its last seven. Yohan 
Flande  (0-4) gave up  four runs on seven hits and a walk across six frames in 
defeat. 

The Cubs  opened the scoring in  the second. Justin Ruggiano singled to left, 
moved  to second  on  Welington Castillo's  groundout and  slid  into home  on 
Arismendy Alcantara's single to right. 

Chris  Valaika singled to lead off the third and moved to second on Hendricks' 
groundout.  Two  batters later,  Baez hit an  RBI single to  left and moved to 
second on Dickerson's fielding error. 

Hendricks retired the first nine batters before Charlie Blackmon's base hit to 
center  opened the  fourth. Blackmon took second on Josh Rutledge's flyout and 
scored on Morneau's double to deep left, making it a 2-1 game. 

Nolan  Arenado's  bloop hit landed in  front of Castro at short, who misplayed 
the  ball to allow runners on the corners. Flande left the runners stranded by 
striking  out  Carlos  Gonzalez  and inducing  an  inning-ending  flyout  from 
Dickerson. 

Baez and Castro led off the sixth by cranking back-to-back solo shots to left, 
giving the Cubs a 4-1 advantage. 

"They  score with the home run," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "If you keep 
them  in  the park, it  makes it tougher  on them. We  weren't able to do that 
today." 

In  the  home half, Morneau  singled and Gonzalez  walked with two outs before 
Dickerson's line drive to center plated Morneau to get the Rockies within two. 

After  Chris Coghlan walked to start the eighth, Baez smacked an 0-1 slider to 
right-center for his third home run of the series and a 6-2 lead. 

                                   Game Notes 

The  start of the game was delayed 39 minutes due to rain ... The Cubs won the 
season  series against  the Rockies, 5-2. It is their first series win against 
the  Rockies since  2008 ...  Colorado went  3-for-9 with  runners in  scoring 
position and left six men on base. 

Coverage of today's Cards and Orioles game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 5:30pm. 

St.  Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com) - Kolten Wong smacked a pair of solo homers 
among his three hits and scored three runs as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated 
the Boston Red Sox, 5-2, in the finale of a three-game set. 

Adam Wainwright (14-6) struck out seven and allowed two runs on seven hits and 
two  walks  over seven innings  for the Cardinals, who  have won four of their 
last five games. 

Wainwright  became the  second pitcher  in the  majors to  reach 14  wins this 
season after Milwaukee's Wily Peralta, who did it earlier Thursday. 

"It was just another grind, another battle," Wainwright said. "I think I 
finally made some good adjustments that helped me in the long run today." 

Jhonny Peralta cracked a two-run double among his two hits and scored a run in 
the victory. 

Pat Neshek worked a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his third save of the season. 

Brandon  Workman (1-5) surrendered  four runs on six hits and two walks over 5 
1/3 frames for Boston, which has dropped seven of its last nine contests. 

"That  got  me today, I  put up  a three-spot in  the first," Workman said. "I 
threw well after the first." 

The Cardinals opened the scoring with three runs in the first. 

Matt  Carpenter  worked a leadoff walk  and Wong followed with a single. After 
Matt  Holliday flied out, St. Louis executed a double steal with Carpenter and 
Wong. 

Matt Adams struck out, but Peralta followed with a slicing one-hop double into 
the  gap in  right-center to bring home Carpenter and Wong. Oscar Taveras then 
rolled a base hit through the hole on the right side to bring home Peralta. 

Boston got two runs back in the third. 

Brock  Holt  and Dustin Pedroia began  the inning with singles and Mike Napoli 
singled  up the middle with one out to plate Holt. Christian Vasquez's two-out 
base hit up the middle scored Pedroia to cut the gap to 3-2. 

Wong  clubbed his first homer of the game into the front row of seats to right 
in  the  fifth and launched  his second blast  deep into the spectators behind 
right in the seventh to stake the Cards to a 5-2 edge. 

                                   Game Notes 

The Cardinals were  2-for-6 with  runners in  scoring position,  while Boston 
finished  2-for-11 ... Wong has nine homers this season ... Wainwright lost to 
Boston twice in the 2013 World Series. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Bennie L. Beck, 28, of 103 West 3rd Street, Pana, was arrested August 7 on a bond forfeiture for possession of cannabis of more than 5000 grams.

Rebecca A. Ittenbach, 34, of 400 West Franklin Street Apt 1003, Taylorville, was arrested August 7 for possession of a controlled substance and endangering the life/health of a child.

Phillip R. Daugherty, 36, of 400 West Franklin Street Apt 1003, Taylorville, was arrested August 7 for theft and forgery.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARREST:

On August 5 at 5:33pm, a Taylorville Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle at Cherokee and Esther. Terri L. Weah, 45, of Taylorville was arrested for driving while license suspended. Weah was transported to Taylorville Police Department for processing and released on a notice to appear.

CRASHES:

On August 7 at 12:08pm, Kurt M. Powell, 42, of Chicago turned onto Washington Street. Powell completed the turn and began traveling on Washington Street when the top of his semi truck caught overhead electrical wires causing damage to a utility pole and wires. The damaged pole and wires caused power outages to associated buildings/businesses. Powell reported no damage to his vehicle. No injuries were reported.

On August 7 at 12:01pm, a 16-year-old male juvenile was reportedly exiting from Subway and attempting to make a left turn onto Webster Street when Eve M. Carlile, 54, of Blue Mound struck him. The male advised he had someone waive him through traffic and he did not see Carlile before the impact. The male was issued a citation for failure to yield from a private drive. The male's vehicle received front-end damage. Carlile advised she was headed north on Webster Street and just entered the turn lane when the 16-year-old pulled out from Subway in front of her. Carlile's vehicle received front-end damage and she was transported to Taylorville Memorial Hospital with injuries described as not physically evident by the report.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 6
1 Public Assist

August 7
1 EMS, 1 Motor Vehicle Accident, 1 Power Line, 1 Elevator Rescue

August 8
1 Public Assist

If you are looking to start a career in horticulture, Lake Land College offers two horticulture programs. The horticulture certificate is a year-long program, designed for students seeking educational training and employment in landscaping, greenhouse management, plant propagation, nursery management, golf course management and turfgrass management. In addition to 33 credit hours of specialized courses in horticulture, business and soil science, students receive 12 weeks of supervised occupational experience at approved internship locations.

The horticulture production and landscape associate degree is for students seeking advanced training within the green industry including greenhouse management, golf course management, landscape design, nursery management and landscape construction. The 20 weeks of internship allow the student to specialize within the production or landscape areas of their choice.

To learn more about the horticulture programs at Lake Land College, call 217-234-5232.

The Habitat for Humanity in Shelby County is holding a house blessing this Sunday in Shelbyville. Elma Rincker with Habitat for Humanity tells Regional Radio News it will take place at 2:00pm:

The Relay for Life of Shelby County was held this past weekend at Forest Park in Shelbyville. Phil Miller, CFO of Shelby Memorial Hospital, says the event was a big success:

[audio:millerrelayforlife080714.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Miller says they are already making plans for next year’s event.

The truck that will be arriving Thursday.

The Taylorville Fire Department will soon be adding the new platform truck to their lineup. Assistant Fire Chief Andy Goodall says barring any unforeseen circumstance, they will have the truck sometime Thursday night. The platform truck was purchased through the issuance of bonds by the City. 

Pictured: The East Vine Property house as it currently stands.

The Taylorville City Council could have possession of the property on East Vine Street, where a rundown house sits, soon rather than later. City Attorney Rocci Romano told the Council that the one known co-owner is willing to sign a document of consent that will allow the City to tear it down and avoid going through a court process:

[audio:romanoeastvine080714.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Alderman Ray Koonce suggested that they take a picture of the house that way if any of the other co-owners do appear, they can show them the state the house was in.  

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Behind two Adam Rosales home runs and 5 2/3 
scoreless  innings from  Nick Tepesch,  the Texas  Rangers earned  their first 
winning  streak in over a month by dealing the Chicago White Sox a 3-1 loss at 
U.S. Cellular Field. 

Rosales'  two-run blast in the top of the second was the lone black mark on an 
otherwise  dominant  performance by Chicago  ace Chris Sale (10-2), who struck 
out  nine and  yielded just three hits over six innings, despite receiving his 
second setback of the season. 

The  utility  man added a solo  shot off Daniel  Webb in the seventh inning to 
help Texas record back-to-back victories for the first time since June 27-28. 

Tepesch (4-7) halted a long drought of his own after scattering six hits and a 
walk.  The right-hander  had  dropped four  straight  decisions since  besting 
Minnesota to begin the Rangers' two-game streak in late June. 

"We didn't know what Tepesch would give us after having 10 days off, but today 
he  stayed  focused and executed  his pitches," Rangers manager Ron Washington 
said. "He did a great job." 

The White Sox, outscored  by a 46-15 margin in losing four of five, got their 
lone run on a Dayan Viciedo solo homer in the seventh. Alexei Ramirez finished 
3-for-4 in defeat. 

Tepesch  only struck out two batters and allowed the leadoff man to reach each 
time  between the  third and sixth innings.  He got needed help in the form of 
three double plays to protect the 2-0 lead he had been staked to by Rosales. 

The  first of  those  twin  killings was  perhaps  the  biggest, as  Chicago's 
Alejandro  De Aza doubled  to lead off the bottom of the third, but was caught 
off  the bag when  Gordon Beckham followed with a liner into Rosales' glove at 
second for a 4-6 putout. 

De  Aza later singled to begin the White Sox' half of the sixth and was pushed 
to third on Ramirez's two-out double to left that chased Tepesch. Roman Mendez 
then entered for Texas and got the dangerous Jose Abreu to ground out and keep 
it a 2-0 game. 

Rosales started off his first career multi-homer outing with an opposite-field 
shot  off  Sale that came  after the All-Star lefty  hit J.P. Arencibia with a 
pitch  top open  the second. The long  ball was his third in 10 career at-bats 
against Sale. 

"I  guess  I jinxed myself.  I checked [the stats]  yesterday just to see, and 
sure  enough, he  had two  homers," Sale  said. "Everyone's  got their  guy, I 
guess." 

White  Sox  center  fielder  Adam  Eaton crashed  hard  into  the  wall  while 
attempting  to retrieve  Rosales' early  blast,  injuring his  lower back  and 
being forced to exit the contest. 

Webb  relieved Sale to  begin the seventh and had his seventh pitch of the day 
deposited over the left-field wall by Rosales to put Texas up 3-0. 

Viciedo  took Mendez  deep in the bottom  of the inning to answer for Chicago, 
but the White Sox managed just one more hit the rest of the way. Neftali Feliz 
fanned  the  only two hitters he  faced in the ninth  to close out the win and 
register his fourth save of the year. 

                                   Game Notes 

The  Rangers won  consecutive games on the  road for the first time since June 
13-14  at  Seattle, and  had lost  seven straight series  as the visitor after 
taking  that  set from the Mariners  ... Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus ended 2- 
for-3  to extend  his hitting streak to  13 games ... Ramirez now owns a nine- 
game  hit streak for the White Sox ... De Aza, who sat out Tuesday's 16-0 loss 
to the Rangers with a bruised knee, went 2-for-2. 

Denver,  CO  (SportsNetwork.com) - Carlos Gonzalez's two-run homer highlighted 
Colorado's  six-run  sixth inning, as the  Rockies pounded the Chicago Cubs on 
Wednesday, 13-4, in the middle installment of a three-game set. 

The Cubs led 4-3 through five, but Nolan Arenado doubled in Justin Morneau to 
tie the score and Gonzalez followed with his 11th homer of the season. 

"Hopefully  this is a sign that CarGo is getting on track again," said Rockies 
manager Walt Weiss. "We've seen him have a night like this many times. When he 
gets rolling, it's something to see." 

Chicago starter Jake Arrieta (6-3) allowed four more hits in the inning before 
finally  getting the axe.  He was charged with nine runs on 13 hits over five- 
plus forgettable innings. 

"I  knew  after my bullpen session  that I was going  to have to make a pretty 
substantial adjustment to command the ball," Arrieta said. 

Corey  Dickerson went  4-for-4 with  three RBI  and three  runs scored,  while 
Gonzalez  finished with  three hits  and three  runs in  the victory.  Michael 
McKenry also went yard for the Rockies, who snapped a five-game losing skid. 

Jordan  Lyles  picked up the win  in his return  to the mound following a two- 
month  hiatus  with a broken  left hand. Lyles (6-1)  allowed four runs on six 
hits over six innings of work. 

Chris  Coghlan, like  Dickerson, finished a home  run shy of the cycle for the 
Cubs. Arismendy Alcantara hit his third homer of the season. 

After  Gonzalez made  it 6-4, the Rockies weren't done in the sixth. Dickerson 
doubled  and  McKenry singled  to  put  runners  in  scoring position  for  DJ 
LeMahieu,  who reached  safely on an RBI bunt single down the first-base line. 
Pinch-hitter  Brandon Barnes finally ended Arrieta's outing with an RBI single 
to left. 

The  one positive for Chicago was the return of relief pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa, 
who relieved Arrieta and recorded the final three outs of the sixth in just 10 
pitches.  Fujikawa hadn't pitched since May 26 of last season after undergoing 
Tommy John surgery. 

Dickerson  drove in  two more runs in  the seventh and McKenry added a two-run 
homer to make it 13-4. 

Earlier,   Coghlan  opened  the  game  with  a  triple  to  right-center,  and 
Anthony Rizzo's sacrifice fly gave the Cubs an early 1-0 advantage. 

Alcantara  padded the  cushion in the fourth inning, following Luis Valbuena's 
two-out walk with a home run to right. 

The  Rockies fought  back to tie the score  in the home fourth, with a pair of 
triples  leading to two of the three runs. Morneau hit his third triple of the 
season  and  scored on an Arenado  ground out. With two away, Gonzalez singled 
and  Dickerson  looped a  three-bagger down  the right-field  line to trim the 
deficit  to a run. McKenry knotted the score, grounding the first pitch he saw 
sharply to left. 

                                   Game Notes 

Arrieta  ended his  stretch  of 10  straight quality  starts  ... The  Rockies 
improved to 21-9 against the Cubs at Coors Field since last losing a series to 
Chicago there in August, 2004 ... Gonzalez (ankle) hadn't started since August 
1  ... Lyles was activated from the 60-day disabled list prior to the game and 
pitcher  Brett Anderson was placed on the 15-day DL. The Rockies also recalled 
pitcher  Brooks Brown from Triple-A Colorado Springs and designated outfielder 
Jason Pridie for assignment ... To make room for Fujikawa, the Cubs designated 
outfielder Nate Schierholtz for assignment. 

Coverage of today's Cards and Red Sox game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 5:40pm. 

St.  Louis,  MO (SportsNetwork.com)  -  Xander  Bogaerts  knocked in  both  of 
Boston's  runs, including a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the ninth inning, as the 
Red  Sox  beat  the  St.  Louis Cardinals, 2-1,  in  the  middle  test  of  a 
three-game series. 

The Cardinals  sent Trevor Rosenthal (1-6)  to the mound in the ninth. Yoenis 
Cespedes  singled,  Mike  Napoli  doubled and  pinch-hitter  David  Ortiz  was 
intentionally  walked to load the bases with no outs. Bogaerts followed with a 
sacrifice fly to center. 

Boston sent out Koji Uehara to close things out in the bottom half. He put men 
on  first  and second with  two outs  before getting Jon  Jay to ground into a 
fielder's choice to end it. Uehara picked up his 23rd save of the season. 

Former  St.  Louis pitcher Joe Kelly  gave up one  run on three hits with four 
walks  over seven innings in his Boston debut. Kelly was traded to the Red Sox 
last week in the deal that sent John Lackey to the Gateway City. 

"Definitely  good to get that win in there," Kelly said. "I had a good time, I 
enjoyed it, I had fun. Especially pitching against the Cardinals." 

Junichi  Tazawa (2-3) tossed a perfect eighth to get the win for Boston, which 
snapped a three-game skid. 

Shelby  Miller  allowed one  run  on  four hits  over  seven  innings for  the 
Cardinals, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. 

"I thought (Miller) was very, very good today," praised Cardinals manager Mike 
Matheny. 

The Cardinals scored their only run in the first. Matt Carpenter led off with 
a double and crossed the plate on Matt Adams' single to right. 

Boston tied the game in the fourth. Daniel Nava hit a two-out single and raced 
home on Bogaerts' double to left. 

                                   Game Notes 

The  start of the game was delayed 63 minutes due to rain ... The Red Sox went 
0-for-7  with  runners in scoring  position, while the Cardinals went 1-for-10 
...  Kelly  went 2-2 with a  4.37 ERA in  seven starts with the Cardinals this 
season. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Richard S. Ginger, 32, of 204 Walnut Street, Dawson, was arrested August 8 for driving with a suspended license.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARREST:

On August 6 at 12:07am, a Taylorville Police Department officer located Nathan T. Mount, 19, of Shelbyville who the officer knew to have a valid warrant out of Shelby County. The officer contacted Taylorville Police Department dispatch who verified the warrant was active. The officer placed Mount under arrest and transported him to Christian County Sheriff's Office in lieu of bond.

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) is in the process of activating a Central Illinois Chapter. According to their mission statement, BACA exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. The group will be speaking at the August 12^th meeting of the Taylorville Kiwanis Club which is held at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Auditorium at noon. A video further detailing what BACA is all about can be seen below.

Taylorville saw a visit from a nationally known figure the other day.  According to Congressman Rodney Davis of Taylorville, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner (BAY-nur) was in Taylorville Monday for a fundraiser:

[audio:davisboehner080614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Like Speaker Boehner, Congressman Davis thinks the impeachment talk is off message for Republicans:

[audio:davisimpeach080614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Congressman Davis also received two big endorsements for re-election on Tuesday from the Illinois Education Association’s and the National Education Association’s political action committees.

Pictured: Kiwanis board members Jerry Woodard (seated) and Dean Ray, accept a check for $1075, from WRAN groovy 97.3, as half the proceeds from the annual WRAN Taylorville Kiwanis Club Radiothon.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club held their annual radiothon Tuesday on groovy 97.3 WRAN. Kiwanis member Martin Vota explains why he chose to join the club:

[audio:votajoinkiwanis080614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Member Dean Ray, who is also on the Kiwanis Board, says he decided to join after visiting the Club:

[audio:rayjoinkiwanis080614.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club raised a total of $1,075 through the radiothon.

The National Transportation Safety Board recently released a probable cause on the Taylorville airplane crash that occurred in 2012. According to the NTSB, the crash was due to an improper airspeed, the flaps being at the wrong angle, and too many people in the door area during exit which caused a shift in the airplane’s center of gravity. The report says the plane was traveling at a speed of 100 mph with the flaps retracted while it should have been flying at 110 to 120 mph with the flaps set at 30 degrees.

Also there were reportedly five of the parachutists hanging on to the outside of the airplane with several others standing in the door and the remainder were standing in the cabin forward of the door. According to instructions on the operator's skydiver briefing card, no more than four jumpers should be allowed to occupy the door area during exit. The NTSB report says these 3 factors likely lead to the aerodynamic stall/spin and a loss of control of the plane. The pilot, 30-year-old Brandon Sparrow, was killed in the crash. There were no injuries amongst the 12 parachutists and no one on the ground was injured either. You can review the full report by clicking here: NTSB Full Report.

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Robinson Chirinos homered twice to lead an 
offensive  onslaught  by the Texas  Rangers in a  16-0 drubbing of the Chicago 
White Sox on Tuesday. 

Adrian Beltre, J.P. Arencibia and Shin-Soo Choo all went deep for the Rangers, 
who  snapped a four-game losing streak by scoring a season high in runs. Texas 
scored just eight runs over that stretch. 

"We  know that even though we have a young team, (the young guys) have talent, 
they  know  they can  hit and  it's just  a matter  of getting  it done on the 
field," said Beltre. 

Colby  Lewis (8-8)  went the distance in his second career shutout. The right- 
hander scattered six hits and a walk, striking out seven in the win. 

John  Danks (9-7) was battered for nine runs on eight hits and five walks over 
4 2/3 innings. 

"I  felt great," said  Danks. "It's a shame to get your butt kicked on a night 
when you feel good." 

Choo  doubled to  begin the game, then  later scored on a single by Alex Rios. 
Beltre followed Rios with his 16th homer of the season that staked the Rangers 
to a 3-0 lead. 

Chirinos  led  off the  second inning  with his 10th  home run  of the year to 
increase  the  cushion. Three of the  next five Texas hitters reached base via 
the walk before Arencibia laced a double to left that cleared the bags. 

Arencibia  homered to begin the sixth, then Chirinos clubbed his second of the 
night  three batters  later to push the  margin to 9-0. Choo homered an inning 
later to make it a 10-run game. 

With  the bases loaded  and one out in the seventh, Daniel Robertson joined in 
on  the hit  parade with an RBI  single to right that scored two. Elvis Andrus 
added  a run-scoring double  and Robertson later scored on a wild pitch from a 
strikeout  of  Jim Adduci. Robertson  sent another RBI  hit to right an inning 
later. 

Because  the game was  well lost by the ninth, Chicago opted to use designated 
hitter Adam Dunn as a reliever. Dunn, who never pitched an inning over his 14- 
year  career,  got Andrus  to ground  out before Adduci  reached on a fielding 
error  by Alexei  Ramirez. Arencibia popped out after a Beltre walk, then Adam 
Rosales ripped a single to center that plated Adduci. Rougned Odor sent a high 
fly  ball  to the edge of  the warning track in  left that was caught by Dayan 
Viciedo to end the inning. 

                                   Game Notes 

Chicago  has lost  three of  its  last four,  getting outscored  43-14 in  the 
process  ... The White Sox had won eight of the last nine meetings against the 
Rangers  at U.S.  Cellular Field  ...  Arencibia, Chirinos  and Robertson  all 
finished  with three  hits ...  Texas went  7-for-16 with  runners in  scoring 
position  ...  All four Chicago  relievers allowed at  least one run ... Conor 
Gillaspie  collected two hits in the setback ... The White Sox will send Chris 
Sale to the hill in Wednesday's series finale against Nick Tepesch of Texas. 

Denver,  CO  (SportsNetwork.com) - Prized  infield prospect Javier Baez belted 
the  tie-breaking homer in the top of the 12th inning to give the Chicago Cubs 
a  6-5 triumph over  the Colorado Rockies in the opener of a three-game series 
at Coors Field. 

Baez,  who  had his  contract selected  from Triple-A Iowa  on Tuesday for his 
major  league  debut, took Boone Logan's  (2-2) first pitch of the 12th inning 
over  the  wall in right-center field.  The Cubs' first-round pick in 2011 was 
hitless and had three strikeouts in his first five at-bats, but lifted Chicago 
to its fourth win in five games. 

"He drove that ball pretty well," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. "He had a 
few strikeouts, but he didn't seem like he was anxious at all." 

It  marked the  third  time these  teams  have played  extra  innings in  five 
meetings this season. 

Nolan  Arenado  had three hits,  including a solo  homer, for the Rockies, who 
suffered their fifth straight defeat. 

The  Rockies wasted  a bases-loaded  chance in  the 10th  inning when  Brandon 
Barnes grounded into an inning-ending double play. 

The Cubs went  ahead in the 11th  when Ryan Sweeney singled to right to plate 
Starlin  Castro, but  they couldn't add on with the bases full as pinch-hitter 
John Baker struck out and Arismendy Alcantara grounded back to the mound. 

The  Rockies were down to their last strike when Charlie Culberson lined a 3-2 
pitch  to right  field to  score Jason  Pridie. With  runners at  the corners, 
Justin Morneau struck out swinging to send the game to the 12th. 

Hector  Rondon (3-3)  got the  win despite  giving up  three hits,  and Carlos 
Villanueva notched his second save. 

Rockies  starter Brett Anderson pitched the first three innings, but left with 
lower back spasms. Cubs starter Travis Wood lasted six frames. 

Barnes  doubled in two runs in the second, and it became 3-0 in the fifth on a 
Josh Rutledge RBI single. 

Welington  Castillo homered leading off the sixth, but the Rockies appeared to 
be their own worst enemy, leaving 12 men on base. In the bottom of the inning, 
they  failed to push  a run across despite having men on second and third with 
one out. 

"I  felt  like that  game was  lost in  the sixth  or seventh inning," Rockies 
manager Walt Weiss said. 

The Cubs pushed  across three runs in  the seventh when the Rockies used four 
pitchers. Nick Masset walked Castillo with the bases full and Rex Brothers did 
the same to pinch-hitter Chris Coughlan. Pinch-hitter Chris Valaika lifted the 
go-ahead sacrifice fly. 

Arenado homered to left off Wesley Wright in the bottom of the seventh. 

                                   Game Notes 

To  make room for Baez, the Cubs optioned pitcher Blake Parker to Iowa ... The 
Cubs  are assured  of winning the season series against Colorado for the first 
time since 2008 ... The Rockies used a left-handed starting pitcher for a 20th 
straight  game, which  ties the most over  the last 100 years. That was set by 
the  1982 Kansas  City Royals. Righty Jordan Lyles will comes off the disabled 
list to start Wednesday's game for the Rockies. 

Coverage of today's Cards and Red Sox game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 6:40pm. 

St.  Louis, MO (SportsNetwork.com)  - Jon Jay hit a go-ahead RBI single in the 
bottom  of the eighth inning to lift the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 win over 
the Boston Red Sox in their first meeting since last year's World Series. 

A.J. Pierzynski poked a two-out single to left against Junichi Tazawa (1-3) in 
the  eighth before  Oscar Taveras  lined  a base  hit to  right-center to  put 
runners  on  the corners. Jay then  fisted a looping single into shallow left- 
center  to  plate the go-ahead run  and ex-Red Sox catcher Pierzynski, who was 
designated for assignment by Boston on July 9. 

Trevor  Rosenthal tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 35th save of the year, 
while Pat Neshek (5-0) struck out the side in the eighth to earn the win. 

Pierzynski  finished 2-for-3, while starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs -- one 
earned  -- on  four hits and a  walk over seven innings for the Cardinals, who 
have won four of their last five games. 

"He  made  pitches," Boston  second baseman  Dustin Pedroia  said of Lynn. "He 
beared down when he needed too." 

Starter  Rubby De  La Rosa surrendered a  run on six hits and three walks over 
six  frames for Boston,  which defeated the Cardinals in six games to win last 
year's World Series for the third time in 10 years. 

The Cardinals  squandered a leadoff  double from  Matt Carpenter in the first 
before Boston wasted Yoenis Cespedes' triple to start the second. 

Cespedes reached third when Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong was unable to 
make  a  diving grab on the  shallow fly to  right, caroming off his glove and 
rolling  to  the wall in foul  territory before a  fan reached out to snag the 
ball for fan interference. Daniel Nava grounded out and Cespedes was nabbed at 
the  plate  when Xander Bogaerts chopped  one to a drawn-in Carpenter at third 
base. 

St.  Louis opened  the scoring in the  fourth when Matt Holliday hit a one-out 
double and came home on Matt Adams' roller back up the middle, but the Red Sox 
got the run back in the fifth on Christian Vasquez's sacrifice fly to right. 

The teams traded runs in the seventh. 

Cespedes and Nava singled to begin the frame and Bogaerts moved them both over 
with a sac bunt. Vasquez was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Will 
Middlebrooks bounced a would-be, double-play ball back to Lynn, but he bobbled 
the  routine  grounder and settled for  the out at first as Cespedes scampered 
home to give Boston a 2-1 edge. Pinch-hitter Mike Napoli struck out to end the 
inning. 

"We  can  work on fielding  his position  or else he's  looking at a win right 
now," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said of Lynn. 

Pinch-hitter  Shane Robinson worked a one-out walk and advanced to second on a 
Carpenter  groundout in the home half before scoring on Wong's base hit up the 
middle to tie the game at 2-2. 

                                   Game Notes 

Allen Craig, who was acquired by Boston along with Joe Kelly from St. Louis as 
part  of the  John Lackey deal before the non-waiver trade deadline last week, 
was  placed  on the  15-day disabled list  Tuesday with a  foot injury ... The 
Cardinals  were  3-for-10  with  runners in  scoring  position,  while  Boston 
finished 0-for-5. 

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Nathan T. Mount, 19, of 1218 South Fourth Street, Shelbyville, was arrested August 6 on a warrant for 725 5/110-3.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 5 at 2:22pm, a Taylorville Police Department officer observed Keri C. Ellis, 34, of Taylorville operating a vehicle and the office knew Ellis to have a suspended driver's license. The officer verified Ellis' driver's license status through the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System. The officer issued Ellis a citation on scene and released her on a notice to appear.

CRASH:

On August 5 at 12:01pm, Ella M. Jackson, 77, of Edinburg advised she was traveling east on Springfield Road at the intersection with Cheney Street when Anna M. Babbs, 71, of Taylorville "crowded her". Jackson advised Babbs struck her driver's mirror with the passenger side of Babbs' vehicle. Jackson received damage to the driver's door, driver's mirror, and front quarter panel on the driver's side. Babbs advised she was traveling east on Springfield Road at the intersection with Cheney Street when she was struck by Jackson who was traveling in the same direction. Babbs received damage to the passenger side door. No injuries were reported.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 5
3 EMS, 1 Fire, 1 Automatic Alarm, 1 Motor Vehicle Accident, 1 Power Line

More than 1500 high school students throughout the Lake Land College district got a taste of college without ever leaving their high school classrooms during the 2013-2014 school year with the college’s Dual Credit Program.

The Lake Land College Dual Credit Program offers eligible high school juniors and seniors the chance to enroll in college-level courses while earning both high school and college credit, tuition free.

Courses are taught by a high school teacher, who is qualified to instruct college-level classes, during the regular high school day at the high school’s facilities. To enroll in dual credit courses, students must be juniors or seniors and initially have a high school grade point average equivalent of a C to enroll.  Once a student has taken at least one dual credit course, he/she must maintain an LLC grade point average of 2.0 to continue enrollment.

For more information, contact Brent Todd, director of dual credit at Lake Land, at (217) 234-5044.

The Taylorville Police Department reports one person was injured in a single vehicle crash on Friday. Around 7:33am, 80-year-old Mary E. Cundiff of Taylorville reportedly told police she was attempting to park her vehicle on the north side of Spring Garden when her vehicle jumped the sidewalk and struck the entryway. Cundiff said she did not know what caused the accident or how her vehicle ended up striking the building. Cundiff said the only thing she could remember was the impact. Cundiff was transported to Taylorville Memorial Hospital with injuries described as minor by the report and her vehicle was towed from the scene.

The Taylorville Police Department reports that 3 people were arrested Friday on drug charges. Around 11:30pm, Taylorville Police Department officers saw a vehicle parked at the entrance to Manners Park off of Palmer. It was reportedly found that the vehicle was occupied by three females. Following an investigation, 18-year-old Madison C. Noblet of Taylorville, 18-year-old Quincey L. Law of Owaneco, and a 17-year-old female juvenile were placed under arrest for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.

(Effingham, IL)  --  An Illinois doctor accused of illegally distributing controlled substances is without a license.  Dr. Naeem Kohli's license was suspended by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation last week.  The Effingham neurologist has pleaded not guilty to charges of health care fraud and illegally dispensing oxycodone, hydromorphone, and methadone.  Kohli's trial is to begin in September.  

Copyright © 2014 
Metro Networks Inc. 

A Christian County Farmer says so far, so good.  Craig Paulek says the crops are looking very good so far this season:

[audio:paulek090513.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Craig Paulek works for Pistorius Farms.  He is a graduate of Illinois State University.

The Christian County Senior Citizens Center in Taylorville will be hosting a Senior Fair later this month.  Gerry Mahr, Director of the Senior Center says they will welcome a special guest that day:

[audio:mahrmanar080514.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Christian County Senior Citizens Center is at 701 W. Adams St. in Taylorville.

Chicago,  IL (SportsNetwork.com)  - Tyler Flowers finished a double shy of the 
cycle  and  drove in  three runs as  the White Sox earned a  5-3 win over the 
Rangers in a rain-shortened series opener in Chicago. 

The game was played through a persistent rain until finally being called after 
the top of the seventh inning. 

Hector  Noesi (6-8) went all seven frames and earned his first career complete 
game against his former team, which waived him back in April. 

Nick  Martinez  (1-8) remained winless  since May  after allowing five runs on 
eight hits and three walks over five-plus innings. 

"The  rain didn't  affect  me at  all,"  Martinez  said. "This  is  a game  of 
adversity. You have to be able to deal with adversity to pitch at this level." 

Rougned  Odor hit a two-run homer for the Rangers and Adrian Beltre drove in a 
run and nearly went deep in the fifth inning. 

Adam  Eaton brought  back Beltre's potential homer, however, with a perfectly- 
timed  leaping  grab at the center-field  wall, and Flowers led off the bottom 
half with a game-tying solo blast. 

"(Martinez) left a slider up in the zone," Flowers said. "I was just trying to 
put it in play." 

Flowers  stepped in with  runners on second and third in the sixth and laced a 
base  hit to center to bring in both runners for a 5-3 Chicago lead, and Texas 
was dealt a fourth straight loss when play was halted after a lengthy delay. 

Beltre  singled  in Elvis Andrus  in the Rangers'  first at-bat, and Odor went 
deep in the second after a Noesi error extended the inning. 

Jose  Abreu  drove in two runs  with a single  to center in the third. Flowers 
tripled  off  the top of  the right-field wall  while Eaton and Alexei Ramirez 
both earned walks prior to the rookie knocking in his 85th and 86th runs. 

                                   Game Notes 

Noesi  struck out six and allowed four hits, three walks and three runs -- one 
earned  ... Eaton  extended his hitting streak  to 11 games ... White Sox left 
fielder  Alejandro De  Aza left the game  due to an injured knee ... Texas has 
dropped seven in a row on the road ... Noesi is 0-7 in 10 starts since winning 
his only decision on May 24 ... Chicago is 8-1 in its last nine home games vs. 
Texas. 

(Denver, CO)  --  The Cubs open up a three-game series with the Rockies from Coors Field in Denver tonight.  Chicago sends Travis Wood to the mound.  He's 7-and-9 with a 5.10 ERA.  Colorado counters with Brett Anderson, who is 1-and-3 with a 3.12 ERA.  First pitch is set for 7:40. 

Prized Cubs infield prospect Javier Baez has been called up to make his major league debut tonight against the Rockies.  The 2011 first-round pick is ranked by ESPN as the eighth-best prospect in baseball.  Baez has hit .342 with nine homers since the Triple-A All-Star break. 

(St. Louis, MO)  --  Lance Lynn will toe the rubber tonight as the Cardinals welcome the Red Sox to Busch Stadium.  Lynn is 11-and-8 with a 2.98 earned run average on the season and is coming off back-to-back losses.  Shelby Miller will face former Red Bird Joe Kelly in game two tomorrow with Adam Wainwright taking the rock in the finale on Thursday. Coverage of today's Cards and Red Sox game can be heard on The Big 870AM/96.3 FM Newstalk WTIM beginning at 6:40pm. 

This week Crimestoppers is seeking information in regards to a burglary that occurred in Taylorville.

Sometime between July 9, 2014 and July 16, 2014, person or persons unknown made entry into a residence located at 26 Hannon Trailer Court.  While inside, the unknown subject or subjects took several items including:  2 gold chains, 2 silver chains, $50 in change, and other items.   There did not appear to be any forced entry.  The total dollar amount of items taken is unknown at this time.

Please contact Crimestoppers if you any information on this crime or any other crimes or wanted persons.  Crimestoppers will pay cash rewards of up to $1000.00 for information that leads to an arrest and you do not have to give your name.  Crimestoppers will pay double the normal reward for information that leads to an arrest for the crime of the week. 

 You can contact Crimestoppers at 824-9100, at our website Christiancountycrimestoppers.org, or by texting CRIMES  (274632) and then your tip.  As always, you will remain anonymous. 

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On August 2 at 6:43pm, Taylorville Police Department officers were dispatched to the 800 block of East Poplar in reference to trespassing. Upon arrival, officers learned that Cassandra M. Hampton, 18, of Taylorville and Steven S. Durbin, 22, of Taylorville were just seen inside #5 East Lawn Drive which was an address both parties were given "no trespass orders" for only a few hours prior. After speaking with the homeowner, it was confirmed that they were trespassing and both Hampton and Durbin were placed under arrest for criminal trespass to residence. Both were released on a notice to appear in court.

CRASH:

On August 2 at 1:40pm, Michael W. Cherry, 32, of Springfield backed out of a parking spot at the Taylorville Municipal Airport. Robert W. Cox of Loami was parked along the backside of the parking lot. Cherry then struck Cox's vehicle. Cherry went back into the parking spot and went inside to notify Cox. No injuries reported.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 4
3 EMS, 1 Gas Odor

August 5
2 EMS, 1 Gas Odor

(Decatur, IL)  --  A disagreement over a few cookies has landed one central Illinois man behind bars.  Decatur Police say 23-year-old Allen Hall tried to strangle his roommate to death after she ate three of his Chips Ahoy cookies.  The woman says Hall threatened to kill her but she thought he was just joking.  He allegedly tried to make good on the promise while she was in the bathtub last Wednesday.  Hall is charged with attempted murder and is being held in the Macon County Jail on 75-thousand-dollars bond.  

Copyright © 2014 
Metro Networks Inc

(Litchfield, IL)  --  The Girl Scouts of Central Illinois group is getting a new home.  The owners of the Honey Bend Campground and Resort have given them 70-acres of land in Litchfield.  The group is expected to take ownership of the property by the end of September.  They should start hosting programs on the grounds sometime this fall.  

Copyright © 2014 
Metro Networks Inc. 

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville has announced that he is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to ensure that children and individuals with epilepsy and other debilitating seizure disorders have access to Cannabidiol (can-ah-buh-dial) (CBD) Oil and therapeutic hemp.

Currently, more than 300,000 children in American suffer from some form of epilepsy. Many of these children experience more than 100 violent seizures a day— any one of which could be fatal without proper care. There is evidence that CBD oil has been shown to reduce the amount and duration of seizures in children suffering from epilepsy and other seizure disorders.

The Charlotte’s Web Medical Hemp Act of 2014, removes CBD oil and therapeutic hemp from the federal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. Therapeutic hemp is defined as having no more than .3% THC, which means it has no hallucinogenic effects of traditional marijuana.

People gather to watch livestock shows at the 2014 Coles County Fair

When it comes to Fair season, the various livestock superintendents have their hands full but it’s not the only time they are working. Mark Cox, 4-H Beef Superintendent at the Coles County Fair, says they have a year-round job:

[audio:coxyearround080414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Coles County Fair Swine Superintendent John Welsh says they are available to answer questions throughout the year:

[audio:welshquestions080414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Coles County Fair wrapped up Sunday. 

Even though many people are still not computer savvy, more and more people are saving time and money by conducting business online.  The Social Security Administration is no exception.  Public Affairs Specialist Jack Myers tells Regional Radio News you can sign up for “My Social Security”:

[audio:myersmysocsec073114.mp3]comment here[/audio]

To find out more about My Social Security, log on to socialsecurity.org.

Pictured: Bolinda's new location right next to the cinema.

Bolinda’s Shoe Store is in the process of re-locating to the former Doc’s Maytag building on the Taylorville Square. Owner Linda Farris tells Regional Radio News that if you have a question in regards to shoe orders or repairs, just give them a call:

[audio:farrisphone080414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Again, the number to call with any questions is 824-5984. The new address for Bolinda’s will be 115 W. Main Cross.

Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Danny Santana went 5-for-6 with four RBI and 
finished  a homer  shy of the cycle  as the Minnesota Twins grabbed the rubber 
match  of a three-game  set against the Chicago White Sox with a 16-3 drubbing 
on Sunday. 

Oswaldo  Arcia  homered to go  along with three RBI  and Kennys Vargas added a 
pair  of hits  with two  RBI for  Minnesota, which  won two  straight after  a 
three-game slide. 

"Up  to the eighth  inning it was a 4-3 ballgame, then the ball started flying 
all over the place," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. 

Chris  Parmelee, who  didn't start the contest, homered among his two hits and 
Eric Fryer added a solo shot in the win. 

Kyle  Gibson (10-8)  continued his road dominance with another solid outing on 
the hill for the Twins. Gibson, who has now won four straight away from Target 
Field,  allowed three  runs --  all in  the  fourth --  on six  hits with  six 
strikeouts over seven innings. 

Chicago  starter Jose Quintana was in line for the win, but a high pitch count 
along with a faulty White Sox bullpen prevented that from happening. The left- 
hander was charged with one unearned run on five hits and two walks. He struck 
out five during his five-inning, 115-pitch outing. 

"They're  the guys  in there so we're  going to have to make it work somehow," 
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of the bullpen. 

Leading  by two, Chicago  chose to use Javy Guerra (1-3) in relief of Quintana 
to  begin the sixth and the Twins cashed in. Chris Colabello and Fryer singled 
around  an Arcia strikeout. Eduardo Nunez followed Fryer with a single to left 
that  plated Colabello  and Santana clubbed a two-run double to push Minnesota 
in front by one. 

The  Twins  blew the game open  in the eighth  with a nine-run inning that saw 
Chicago  use three relievers and Minnesota send 14 batters to the plate. Nunez 
walked  to begin  the frame, stole second and waltzed home on Santana's triple 
to  right.  Brian Dozier  walked to  put runners at  the corners before Trevor 
Plouffe  ripped a single up the middle for a 6-3 advantage. Vargas then popped 
a  single into  shallow  left  that plated  Dozier  and pinch-hitter  Parmelee 
singled in a run for an 8-3 margin. 

Santana  had  the chance  to complete  the cycle  later in  the inning, but he 
settled for a run-scoring infield single. Dozier capped the lengthy frame with 
a pop single to center. 

Parmalee,  Arcia  and Fryer went  back-to-back-to-back in the ninth to account 
for  the final margin. Santana again stepped in with the cycle in reach and he 
squibbed a single out to left. 

Santana  singled to  open the game, then a 45-minute rain delay ensued. Coming 
out  of  the break, Plouffe  walked with  one out to  put runners on first and 
second  before  Josh Willingham reached  on a  fielding error by third baseman 
Conor  Gillaspie. Quintana then plunked Vargas that forced in the game's first 
run, but the southpaw got Colabello to ground into a 1-2-3 double play. 

Gibson's  scoreless-innings streak  on the road ended at 19 when the White Sox 
pounded  out  three extra-base  hits in a  three-run fourth. Gillaspie doubled 
with  one  out and  Alexei Ramirez  knocked him in  with a  double of his own. 
Following  a groundout by Paul Konerko, Viciedo hammered a no-doubter over the 
wall in left that gave the hosts a 3-1 lead. 

                                   Game Notes 

The  Twins  pounded out  23 hits.  Minnesota's 49  hits in  the series are the 
second most the team has tallied since moving to the Twin cities ... Chicago's 
rookie  Jose  Abreu went 0-for-4, a  game after his 21-game hitting streak was 
halted ... Plouffe went 9-for-14 in the series. 

Los  Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Coghlan homered, drove in two and 
scored twice to help the Chicago Cubs to a series victory over the Los Angeles 
Dodgers with a 7-3 win on Sunday. 

Starlin  Castro also drove  in two and Luis Valbuena homered for the Cubs, who 
have won three of four. 

Edwin  Jackson (6-11)  yielded two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts over 
six innings of work. Jackson last won on June 20 at Pittsburgh and had dropped 
four of his last seven starts coming in. 

"This  one was for the team after last night," said Jackson. "I'm glad I had a 
chance  to save  the bullpen a little  bit. I had great defense behind me. You 
can't do it all by yourself." 

Josh Beckett (6-6) went four-plus innings for the Dodgers, allowing three runs 
on six hits and three walks to absorb the loss. 

Matt Kemp homered and Adrian Gonzalez supplied an RBI for Los Angeles. 

"For  Josh, it was a little rough," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "A lot 
of pitches to get through innings. We just didn't have much energy today." 

Coghlan doubled to start things in the first for Chicago, then crossed home on 
Anthony Rizzo's double to left. 

Los  Angeles loaded  the bases  with  no outs  in  the home  half when  Hanley 
Ramirez,  who  knocked his  first career walk-off  homer on Saturday, grounded 
into a 4-6-3 double play that scored Justin Turner. Jackson then got Matt Kemp 
to ground out to end the inning. 

Jackson led off the fifth with a double and scored on Coghlan's sixth homer of 
the season which put the Cubs up for good. 

"I  love playing  here," said Coghlan. "You  see the ball good. As a team it's 
nice to get a series victory." 

Kemp  homered to  left center in the sixth  to cut the deficit in half, and LA 
could have tied things in the seventh if it wasn't for Rizzo's glove at first. 

With  Drew Butera on second, Carl Crawford ripped a liner to Rizzo, who made a 
full-extension  leaping  grab to  rob Crawford  of an  extra-base hit down the 
line and alertly doubled off Butera at second to end the inning. 

Brandon  League  walked Valbuena, Ryan  Sweeney and  Chris Valaika to open the 
eighth  before inducing  a fielder's choice off the bat of Nate Schierholtz to 
keep  it a one-run  game. John Baker followed with an RBI groundout and Castro 
grounded a single up the middle to make it a 6-2 game. 

Gonzalez hit an RBI fielder's choice in the home half to pull LA within three, 
however,  Valbuena  smashed his  10th home run  of the season  in the ninth to 
restore the four-run lead. 

                                   Game Notes 

Chicago went 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while LA went 2-for-12 
in those instances ... League was charged with three runs on one hit and three 
walks in 2/3 of an inning ... Time of game: 3:34. 

St.  Louis,  MO (SportsNetwork.com) - John  Lackey emerged a winner in his St. 
Louis  debut, thanks  to  a  three-run seventh-inning  rally  that lifted  the 
Cardinals  to  a 3-2 decision  over the Milwaukee Brewers  in a key NL Central 
clash. 

After mustering a mere one hit against a dominant Matt Garza through the first 
six  innings, the Cardinals  rocked the  Milwaukee bullpen  for  five in  the 
deciding  seventh to claim Sunday's series rubber match and move within a game 
of the first-place Brewers in the division race. 

Matt  Holliday began  the comeback  with a  mammoth solo  home run,  with A.J. 
Pierzynski  and Oscar  Tavares  later delivering  RBI  singles against  Jeremy 
Jeffress (0-1) to put St. Louis in front. 

Garza had thrown just 71 pitches and allowed one hitter over the minimum prior 
to  being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh. Brewers manager 
Ron  Roenicke stated  afterward that the right-hander injured his left oblique 
near the end of the sixth inning. 

"Hopefully,  it's not  bad," said Garza of  the injury. "But it was bad enough 
where I had to take myself out of the game, and I don't do that. 

"I could have kept on and made it worse, and then could have been out probably 
the  rest  of the  year. I had  to go with  the smart  play. It's one of those 
things where you don't like it and don't understand it." 

Lackey  (1-0) was  tagged  for a  pair  of early  runs,  but steadied  himself 
thereafter  to throw  seven  solid  innings in  his  first  start since  being 
acquired from Boston at Thursday's trade deadline. 

Mark  Reynolds  belted a solo  homer for Milwaukee  and Aramis Ramirez went 2- 
for-4  with an RBI  in the loss, the Brewers' fifth in seven games. Ryan Braun 
also finished with two hits. 

Garza had been in total command before being forced out with Milwaukee holding 
a  2-0  edge. He  permitted just one  baserunner -- hitting  Matt Adams with a 
pitch  in the second  before erasing him on a double play -- through the first 
four  innings, then  stranded Adams following a leadoff double in the fifth to 
preserve the Brewers' two-run advantage. 

That  lead  quickly evaporated when  the Brewers' relief  corps came on in the 
bottom of the seventh, however. 

Zach  Duke surrendered  Holliday's  blast and  was then  removed  in favor  of 
Jeffress  after Adams  followed with a single. Three consecutive Cardinal base 
hits  ensued, with  Pierzynski plating Adams with a grounder through the right 
side in front of Tavares' liner up the middle that scored Jhonny Peralta. 

"We  weren't really trying to do anything except get guys on base," Pierzynski 
said.  "Matt hit  the home  run and  then we  just strung  a bunch  of singles 
together  to kind  of get us to  a point where we  were able to get a lead and 
then the bullpen did what they've done." 

The  Brewers  did threaten  against St.  Louis closer  Trevor Rosenthal in the 
ninth,  as a Khris  Davis single and a walk to Elian Herrera put the tying run 
in  scoring  position with  one  out.  Rosenthal,  though, bounced  back  with 
swinging strikeouts of Scooter Gennett and Carlos Gomez to nail down his major 
league-best 34th save of the year. 

Lackey's  debut as a  Cardinal got off to a bit of a rocky beginning, as Braun 
walloped  a double in  the top of the first inning and raced home on a Ramirez 
single  to send  the Brewers  ahead.  It was  a  2-0 game  shortly after  when 
Reynolds clobbered a slider into the left-field seats in the second. 

Lackey  was sharp from that point on, with the Brewers failing to get a runner 
past second over the veteran hurler's final five innings of work. 

"I  think  the first couple  innings he was really  excited and then he really 
settled  in and does what he does," said Pierzynski. "He makes big pitches and 
gets guys out." 

                                   Game Notes 

Lackey,  who  had spent  his previous  11 1/2 seasons  in the American League, 
improved  to 19-10  in  38 career  starts  against NL  teams  ... Gennett  and 
shortstop  Jean Segura  were both held out of Milwaukee's starting lineup with 
quad  injuries  ... Ramirez finished  the series 8-of-13  with four RBI and is 
hitting  .522  (12-of-23) during a six-game  hitting streak ... The teams will 
meet  seven more  times  in September,  including a  three-game  set at  Busch 
Stadium from Sept. 16-18. 

The sixth part of the 175th Committee’s Christian County History Series features the Locust and May Townships. The article can be seen under the letter section at taylorvilledailynews.com. The series will run for 14 weeks and most of the information comes from the quarterlies and library of the Christian County Genealogical Society.

THE CHRISTIAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

Jerome H. Mason, 30, of 1556 South Shumway Street, Taylorville, was arrested August 1 on a bond forfeiture for 720 5/12-3.2

Taylor R. Kocurek, 21, of 201 Main Street, Kincaid, was arrested August 1 on a bond forfeiture for 720 5/19-1-A

Tosh A. Cole, 31, of 312 Ridge, Kincaid, was arrested August 1 for driving with a suspended license.

Maggie D. Dust, 38, of 326 US Highway 51, Pana, was arrested August 1 on a bond forfeiture for 720 550/5-c

Jesse A. Vail, 32, of 2100 Grand Boulevard, Taylorville, was arrested August 1 for driving on a suspened/revoked license, obstructing justice, and bond forfeitures for consumption of liquor by a minor and parole violation.

Ernest S. Stewart, 25, was arrested August 3 for a violation of an order of protection.

Kevin M. Horne, 38, of 77 Christa Ann Court, Bloomington, was arrested August 2 for driving under the influence and theft of labor/services.

Caleb L. Dean, 23, of 9 West Orange, Pana, was arrested August 3 for criminal damage of less than $300 to a school.

Lance D. Stanbery, 24, of 400 West Franklin Street, Taylorvillle, was arrested August 1 on a warrant for aggravated battery.

THE TAYLORVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING ARRESTS:

On July 25 at 1:57am, Taylorville Police Department received a call in reference to subjects trying to enter a vehicle. The complainant stated the subjects fled on foot and he could hear them in the cornfield. Officers went to the area and located the 4 subjects on West Elm Street near Briarcliff Road. An officer told the subjects to get on the ground and three complied. On subject continued to flee on foot. Upon further investigation, 19-year-old Nathan T. Mount of Shelbyville, 19-year-old Austin T. Sexton, and a 17-year-old male juvenile were all arrested for illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. They were transported to Taylorville Police Department for processing and released on a notice to appear.

On July 30 at 5:25pm, a Taylorville Police Department officer was dispatched to Krogers in regards to criminal damage. The officer arrived and located two male juveniles who had damaged an item belonging to Krogers. The 2 juveniles were placed under arrest, transported to Taylorville Police Department, processed, and released to their guardians.

On August 1 at 1:06pm, Walmart Loss Prevention advised that they had detained a male and female shoplifter. Walmart Loss Prevention said both 24-year-old Jacob J. Kessler of Springfield and 19-year-old Cassie M. Crawford of Springfield selected several DVDs, removed their coverings, and attempted to leave the store without paying for them. Kessler and Crawford were arrested, transported to Taylorville Police Department and processed. They were both released on a notice to appear.

On August 1 at 2:00pm, a Taylorville Police Department officer was on patrol in the alleyway of the 1000 block of East Ash and observed two subjects walking in the alleyway of the 1100 block of East Ash. When the subjects saw the officer, they reportedly walked into the back yard of a residence in the 1100 block. The officer circled the block and observed them hiding behind a fence in a reported attempt to avoid the officer. The officer made contact with them and the male subject ran in a southwest direction. The female subject started walking as well. The officer directed them to stop however they kept running. The male subject was later detained on a nearby back yard and the female was detained in the 900 block of East Park. Following investigation, 22-year-old Steven S. Durbin of Taylorville was arrested for resisting/obstructing an officer and 18-year-old Cassandra M. Hampton was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.

On August 1 at 5:45pm, Taylorville Police Department officers were on patrol and observed a male and a female subject walking and appeared to be arguing. The officers made contact with them and following the investigation, 29-year-old Daniel L. Shimkus of Springfield was arrested for public intoxication.

On August 1 at 9:06pm, Taylorville Police Department officers went to Hershey Tower to attempt to reach a male subject with a warrant for his arrest out of Christian County. Officers left Hershey Tower after a failed attempt to reach the subject. Shortly after officers departed, the Taylorville Police Department received a call from the same subject who ultimately agree to com to the Taylorville Police Department. Following his arrival, 24-year-old Lance D. Stanbery of Taylorville was placed under arrest on an outstanding warrant for his arrest and transported to Christian County Correctional Center in lieu of bond.

On August 1 at 11:30pm, Taylorville Police Department officers saw a vehicle parked at the entrance to Manners Park off of Palmer. It was found that the vehicle was occupied by three females. Following an investigation, 18-year-old Madison C. Noblet of Taylorville, 18-year-old Quincey L. Law of Owaneco, and a 17-year-old female juvenile were placed under arrest for possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.

On August 3 at 2:01pm, a Taylorville Police Department officer was dispatched to 1218 West Pauline in reference to a violation of an order of protection. Following an investigation, 25-year-old Ernest S. Stewart was arrested for a violation of an order of protection and transported to Christian County Correctional Center.

On August 2 at 2:26pm, a Taylorville Police Department officer was on patrol and conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Wilson at Webster. Following the stop, 22-year-old David W. Moma of Taylroville was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage, and illegal transportation of alcohol.
CRASHES:

On August 3 at 2:03pm, Betty Scott of Taylorville said that she was parked at Kriegers for lunch and when she returned to her vehicle, an unknown vehicle had struck the front of her vehicle.

On August 1 at 12:30pm, Johnny R. Reece, 60, of Pana and Joshua M. Moyer, 31, of Elsberry, Missouri were traveling east on Route 104. Moyer stopped to avoid running into the back of a car that suddenly stopped in front of him. Reece was not able to avoid hitting Moyer. Reece hit Moyer in the rear passenger portion with the front driver's side portion of his vehicle. No injuries were reported

On August 1 at 7:33am, Mary E. Cundiff, 80, of Taylorville advised she was attempting to park her vehicle on the north side of Spring Garden when her vehicle jumped the sidewalk and struck the entryway. Cundiff advised she did not know what caused the accident or how her vehicle ended up striking the building. Cundiff said the only thing she could remember was the impact. Cundiff was transported to Taylorville Memorial Hospital with injuries described as minor by the report. Cundiff's vehicle was towed from the scene.

On July 29 at 1:28pm, Taylorville Police Department officers were dispatched to a two vehicle accident at Cheney and Elm. Officers arrived and spoke with both drivers. Gary L. Manuel, 68, of Taylorville stated he was stopped waiting to turn left onto Elm Street and was stuck in the rear by Jordan N. Stout, 22, of Taylorville. Stout stated she could not get stopped in time and struck the rear of Manuel. Stout was issued citations for no insurance and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Stout had to be towed from the scene. No injuries were reported.

On July 26 at 4:28pm, Spencer D. Hill, 25, of Taylorville was stopped in the southbound lane of North Cheney waiting to turn left. Kourtney M. Kater, 17, of Stonington said that she could not get stopped in time to avoid hitting Hill. No injuries were reported.

THE TAYLORVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THE FOLLOWING CALLS:

August 1
3 EMS, 1 Automatic Alarm, 1 Carbon Monoxide

August 2
2 EMS, 1 Motor Vehicle Accident, 1 Illegal Burn, 1 Gas leak

August 3
2 EMS

There has been a slight change in location for the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce’s Blood Drive. The Blood Mobile is now located in front of One East on Market Street. It will be open until 3pm today. 

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville has announced that he will be holding traveling office hours in Mt. Zion on Tuesday, August 5, and Pana and Raymond on Wednesday, August 6.

The traveling office hours in Mt. Zion will be held on Tuesday, August 5, at the Mt. Zion Convention Center, Room F, 1400 Mt. Zion Parkway, from 1:00pm – 2:30pm.

The traveling office hours in Pana will be held on Wednesday, August 6, at the Pana City Hall, 120 E. Third St., from 10:00am – 11:30am.

The traveling office hours in Raymond will be held on Wednesday, August 6, at the Raymond Village Hall, 305 W. Broad St., from 1:30pm – 3:00pm.

Appointments for a one-on-one or small group meeting with Rep. Davis are encouraged but not required. To make an appointment for the Mt. Zion office hours, please call 217.791.6224. To make an appointment for the Pana or Raymond office hours, please call 217.824.5117.

The Taylorville Water Department will have the water shut off to all of Langleyville for water line repairs Tuesday (tomorrow). This work should begin around 9:00am and should be completed in approximately 4 hours. Once the water is restored, there will be a boil order in effect until further notice. During this time, the Taylorville Water Department reminds you that you should boil your water for at least 5 minutes before use. Samples have to be evaluated by the EPA lab before the boil order can be lifted. Once test results are in from the lab, local media will be notified.

The Taylorville City Council met Monday night and heard about a recently filed lawsuit. City Attorney Rocci Romano says Jamal Shehadeh (Sh-ha-duh) is suing the City over the Freedom of Information requests:

[audio:romanofoialawsuit080514.mp3]comment here[/audio]

Romano says the previous court arrangement that settled the possibility of Shehadeh suing the first time around does not cover the most recent FOIA requests thus allowing Shehadeh to file a lawsuit.

The Taylorville City Council held a long discussion at their Monday night meeting over the partially collapsed building on the Taylorville Square. Building owner Dustin Clark was in attendance and says he plans to rebuild and does not want to tear the building down:

[audio:clarkbuilding080514.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Council raised concerns over the timeliness of the repairs and safety especially with major events such as the 175^th Anniversary and Chillifest coming up in October. Alderman Earl Walters suggested moving the barricades to open up a few more lanes of traffic that would also help nearby businesses that are currently impacted by the current barricade setup. The Council took no action on this or any other matter concerning the partially collapsed building and will discuss the situation further at the next City Council meeting on August 18 when they should have more information.

The Taylorville City Council approved a resolution for an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement between the City and May Township in regards to “borrowed equipment”.

The City Council also approved the following motions in regards to tree removal and replacement:

*Motion to allow Langen Farms, Inc. to cut down and clean up one tree at 310 RichmondAvenue at a cost of $400.00 to be paid by the property owner

*Motion to allow Langen Farms, Inc. to take down and clean up two trees at 1021 W. Poplar Street at a cost of $1,300.00 to be paid by the City

*Motion to approve the request of Eric & Loretta Kahle to remove a Crabapple Tree on the boulevard at 511 E. Heights Avenue at their expense

*Motion to approve the request of Eric & Loretta Kahle to plant a Ginko Tree on the boulevard at 511 E. Heights Avenue at their expense

*Motion to approve the request of Gerald McPhillips to have a dead tree removed at 700 W. Vine Street (Southwest corner of Vine & Shumway) at the City’s expense (due to the size)

The Illinois State Police hosted the Department’s 37th Annual Awards Ceremony on Friday to recognize 92 sworn officers and civilians for outstanding skill, valor, ability and professionalism in the performance of their enforcement and civic duties.  Officer of the Year, Medal for Honor, Purple Heart Medal and the Life Saving Medal were given to Troopers, Sergeants and Special Agents for their courage and outstanding service in various assignments. 

The Department also recognized several civilian employees for their assistance that supports the Department’s mission of keeping Illinois safe.  Awards include the Director’s Award of Distinction, Tele-Communicator of the Year, and Forensic Scientist of the Year.  Additionally, officers and non-ISP civilians were given Awards of Distinction to recognize their contribution to law enforcement and Public Safety. 

Officer of the Year, Trooper Bradley R. Williams  

Assigned to District 20 for his entire career, Trooper Brad Williams exemplifies the tenets of the Illinois State Police – Integrity, Service, and Pride.  His motivation and desire to excel are evident by his performance.  Selected as a motorcycle officer in 2012, Trooper Williams can be found patrolling District 20 on his motorcycle regardless of temperature.  He is often approached by citizens with questions regarding his motorcycle duties and is always willing to take the time to speak with and educate them.  Trooper Williams maintains a high level of activity, including leading District 20 with over 950 citations in 2013, and his contribution to improving traffic safety is evident.

Trooper Williams’ dedication was never more evident than during the early morning hours of April 24, 2013.  Prior to the start of Trooper Williams’ shift, a subject brutally murdered five people, including an infant, in Manchester, Illinois, and fled the scene.  Upon reporting to duty on his motorcycle, Trooper Williams promptly began searching for the suspect.  With area schools canceling classes and residents locking their doors in fear, Trooper Williams understood the magnitude of the situation.  It was not long before Trooper Williams spotted the suspect vehicle and initiated a pursuit.  He pursued the suspect on winding rural roads and remained remarkably calm providing updated locations and direction of travel.  Local law enforcement joined the pursuit and eventually disabled the suspect’s vehicle.  As the suspect exited his vehicle with a shotgun, Trooper Williams jumped from his motorcycle and drew his service weapon.  Just as the suspect fired a round from his shotgun at officers, Trooper Williams and Winchester Police Chief George Lindsey engaged the suspect and fatally wounded him.

Faced with an ominous situation, Trooper Williams did what he was trained to do without regard for his personal safety.  His courageous actions saved the lives of his fellow officers and prevented any further tragedy.  The Illinois State Police is proud to have Trooper Williams among its ranks. 

Telecommunicator of the Year, Laurie delosReyes

Ms. delosReyes has proudly served the Illinois State Police for 32 years as a telecommunications professional. She is an exceptional employee who has earned the respect of sworn officers, peers and subordinates.  Ms. delosReyes consistently maintains her personal composure and professional demeanor during high stress situations.  She is a knowledgeable employee and is well versed in her job duties as well as department policies and procedures.  She possesses the knowledge to handle work of the most complex nature. 

Ms. delosReyes has received countless letters of gratitude for helping with serious incidents during her career.  On June 14, 2013, an Illinois Department of Natural Resources officer lost his footing in the Mississippi River and needed immediate assistance.  He was unable to radio for help, however, Ms. delosReyes became concerned when she could not reach him for a status check.  Acting on instinct, she made calls for assistance and the officer received the help he needed from several local agencies including the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

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Awards 2014

Her persistence and attention to duty was not only evident on that day, but is used on a daily basis.  Ms. delosReyes is a valued and loyal employee who is committed to her role as a Telecommunicator with the Illinois State Police.  She handles emergency situations in a professional manner, even under the toughest circumstances.  She strives for excellence in her job duties and can always be counted on to assist others. Ms. delosReyes is an important contributor to the success of District 7.

Forensic Scientist of the Year, Katherine A. Sullivan

Ms. Katherine Sullivan is a Forensic Scientist 3 in the Forensic Biology/DNA section at the Joliet Forensic Science Laboratory.  Her dedication, integrity, leadership, and pride are demonstrated by her quality work and her commitment to advancing the field of forensic science. In 2013, she worked more than 300 DNA cases, far exceeding casework productivity expectations and placing her as one of the highest producing scientists in the Forensic Biology/DNA Section. More importantly, her work is consistently thorough and of the highest quality.

Ms. Sullivan’s leadership is evident through her forward thinking and her ability to plan for future scientific advancements, an attribute necessary for the constantly evolving science of DNA. As a result, she is frequently asked to assist on critical initiatives to ensure forward progress of the statewide DNA section. For example, in 2013, she was asked to review needed updates to the DNA Procedures Manual regarding Y-STR DNA analysis. She is well-respected among her peers and her technical counsel is often sought in identifying solutions to complex analytical issues.  

Ms. Sullivan generously gives back to the community in the area of forensics, with activities ranging from service on a criminal justice advisory board, to providing informative presentations about forensic science. She works closely with the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, providing training and guidance in the program to ensure appropriate evidence is collected properly in order to facilitate analysis. In 2013, she was integral in the creation of a feedback form for the nurses which allows them to understand how the swabs they collect provide useful information in the investigation of cases. This type of process improvement is one of Ms. Sullivan’s great strengths. 

Her commitment to the agencies served by the Joliet Forensic Science Laboratory is exemplary.  Ms. Sullivan has an excellent reputation with law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and judges.  She is a dedicated employee and upholds the high standards set by the department because she sets her personal standards even higher.  Ms. Sullivan consistently provides excellent and unwavering service to the Illinois State Police and the criminal justice community. 

Medal for Honor

The Medal for Honor is awarded to Illinois State Police personnel who perform a heroic act that, by its nature, results in saving a life, preventing a serious crime, or apprehending a person who committed a serious crime. 

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The eligible act, while of a lesser degree than that required for the Medal for Valor, must nevertheless have been accomplished with distinction. 

This year’s recipients:

Trooper Brian R. Scott, District 10

Trooper Brad R. Williams, District 20

Purple Heart

The Purple Heart Medal is presented to Illinois State Police personnel who, while in the performance of enforcement duties, are seriously injured or killed while encountering deadly force or “other actions” causing serious, life threatening injuries or death.  Receiving the Purple Heart this year is Trooper James M. Sauter.

On March 29, 2013, Trooper James M. Sauter was on duty in his ISP squad car when his vehicle was struck by a truck tractor semi-trailer at I-294 southbound at Willow Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene early Friday morning and had been a member of the Illinois State Police since June 29, 2008. Trooper Sauter had just completed a temporary assignment in Air Operations and was recently reassigned to District 15 as a patrolman.

Lifesaving Medal

The Lifesaving Medal is awarded to Illinois State Police personnel who perform actions or who apply techniques that result in saving or sustaining a human life.  Honorees:

Captain John B. Rattigan, Bureau of Identification

Master Sergeant Theodore J. Rhodes, District 12

Sergeant Craig R. Demaret, SWAT

Trooper John W. Carroll, District 22

Trooper Dwayne L. Jennings, District Chicago

Trooper Michael J. Kasprak, District 17

Trooper Brian M. Kelliher, District Chicago

Trooper Chad R. Martinez, District 5

Trooper Jose F. Malave, District Chicago

Trooper Jose A. Montes, District Chicago

Trooper Ralph E. Shelton, District 13

Trooper Brian M. Spillane, District Chicago

Trooper Howard R. Sterling, District Chicago

Trooper Demetrio Torres, District Chicago

Trooper Joel D. Vanburen, District 2

Officer Tracy Grantlen, PSU

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Awards 2014

Director’s Award of Distinction

The Director’s Award of Distinction is presented to any individual, agency, or group outside the Illinois State Police who gave extraordinary support and assistance to accomplish the goals of the Department.  Honorees:

Investigator Dwayne Buretz, Secretary of State Police

Mr. Nicholas D. Carter, Chicago, Illinois

Mr. Scott Emberle, Edelstein, Illinois

Ms. Susan Feldhake, Effingham, Illinois

Officer Steven Francisko, Illinois Conservation Police

Ms. Deanna Gawron, Westmont, Illinois

Mr. Michael S. Hairgrove, Schaumburg, Illinois

Mr. Marcos Hernandez, North Aurora, Illinois

Mr. Anthony Ladd, Chicago, Illinois

Chief George Lindsey, Chief of Winchester Police Department

Mr. Ron Newman, South Elgin, Illinois

Mr. Christopher Pratt (from 2013), Odin, Illinois

Mr. Tim Sjostrom, St. Charles, Illinois

Mr. Mike Stoner, St. Charles, Illinois

Ms. Mandy Vergara, Effingham, Illinois

Inspector Doug Wade, Blackhawk Area Task Force

Department Commendation

Master Sergeant Robert Seas (Retired)

Department Achievement Medal

Aaron R. Kustermann, State Terrorism Intelligence Center

Officer of the Year Award

Officers nominated for the ISP Officer of the Year Award must display a combination of the following qualifications and characteristics: outstanding contribution in the area of assignment; valor in the line of duty; exceptional knowledge and ability to complete job functions; overall productivity; civic contributions; and professional appearance and demeanor.  Officer of the Year nominees:

Division of Administration

Sergeant Michael A. Severino, Logistics Bureau

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Division of Forensic Services

Sergeant Abigail B. Keller, Crime Scene Services Command

Division of Internal Investigation

Sergeant Elliet R. Alger, Southern Command              

Division of Operations

Operational Services Command

Trooper Gregory A. Lecas, Special Operations Command

Special Agent Scott C. Rhodes, Medical Fraud Control Bureau

ISP Patrol

Trooper Jeffrey A. Meisenheimer, District 1                   

Trooper Nathan K. Schramka, District 2                                     

Trooper Jose A. Alvarez, District Chicago          

Trooper Jeffrey T. Murray, District 5                     

Trooper Scott W. Ahrens, District 6                      

Trooper Andy T. Fratzke, District 7                       

Trooper Jacob C. Duro, District 8                         

Trooper Eric J. Weston, District 9                         

Trooper Kevin C. Smith, District 10                      

Trooper Kenneth G. Patterson, District 11                      

Trooper Ryan J. Finney, District 12                                             

Trooper Christopher J. Watson, District 13                     

Trooper Bryan M. Clauson, District 14                

Trooper James A. Sauter, District 15                   

Trooper Brian J. Bottcher, District 16                   

Trooper John C. Morscheiser II, District 17                    

Trooper Stephen M. Tarter, District 18                 

Trooper Matthew D. Haywood, District 19                      

Trooper Brad R. Williams, District 20                   

Trooper Erik R. Shay, District 21              

Trooper Brian C. Watkins, District 22                  

ISP Investigations

Special Agent Chanto K. Iverson, Zone 1                      

Special Agent Charles E. Davidson, Zone 2                 

Special Agent Anna M. Wasylyszyn, Zone 3                

Special Agent Timothy M. Wilkins, Zone 4                    

Special Agent Douglas A. LeConte, Zone 5                  

Special Agent Elbert A. Jennings, Zone 6                     

Special Agent Jeffrey A. Kline, Zone 7               

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Awards 2014

Telecommunicator of the Year Award

Telecommunicators nominated for the ISP Telecommunicator of the Year Award must display a combination of the following qualifications and characteristics:  outstanding contribution in the area of assignment; exceptional knowledge and ability to complete job functions; initiative to expand knowledge through attendance in college courses or seminars; civic contributions; and professional appearance and demeanor. 

Telecommunicator of the Year Nominees:

Connie S. Grenoble, District 1                              

Eileen G. Mahoney, District 2                               

Beth M. DiVirgilio, District Chicago                     

Jill D. Collum, District 5                              

Richard A. Fitzpatrick, District 6                           

Laurie A. delosReyes, District 7                           

Melissa Glaub Mullen, District 8                          

Cheryl N. Clodfelter, Springfield Communications Center (Dist. 9, 14, 20)

Brian P. Wrinkle, District 10                                  

Deann R. Rizzi, Districts 11 & 18

Luke O. Lay, DuQuoin Communications (Dist. 12, 13, 19, 22)                       

Adam Fogle, District 15                              

Gail R. Johnson, District 16                                  

Tavis Fivek, District 17                               

Bradley V. Richardson, District 21                                   

Forensic Scientist of the Year Award

Nominees for the ISP Forensic Scientist of the Year Award must display a combination of the following qualifications and characteristics:  superior performance of an individual regarding casework; superior job performance; actions which exceed every day operations; and extraordinary community service or exceptional community involvement.  Forensic Scientist of the Year nominees:

Glenn D. Schubert, Southern Illinois Forensic Science Centre

Brian J. Long, Springfield Forensic Science Laboratory                                 

Debra B. Minton, Morton Forensic Science Laboratory

Jon M. Flaskamp, Forensic Science Center at Chicago

Katherine A. Sullivan, Joliet Forensic Science Laboratory                                         

Patrick J. Powers, Rockford Forensic Science Laboratory                             

Brian Stevenson, Metro-East Forensic Science Laboratory                           

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) members are hosting a trail improvement work day at Lake Shelbyville’s Chief Illini Trail on tomorrow (Sunday). The work day is scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Eagle Creek State Park in Findlay and will begin from the trailhead.  The NCCC Corps team is seeking volunteers to clear invasive plants, remove down trees, repair and build trail.  The team would like to educate volunteers on the benefits of trails to the community’s economy and well-being. For additional information, please contact Andrew Chavis at 843-862-2189.

Thousands of Children from Central America have flooded the U.S. border, causing new problems in an already chaotic situation.  Representative Rodney Davis of Taylorville says we need to do something:

[audio:davisimmigration072414.mp3]comment here[/audio]

The Congressman represents Illinois' 13^th District.

The Taylorville City Council will meet Monday night at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers located on the second floor of the Municipal Building. Items on the agenda include: a resolution for an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement between the City and May Township in regards to “borrowed equipment”, several motions to remove various trees, City Attorney update, and Mayor update. We will have details following the meeting at taylorvilledailynews.com.

Chicago,  IL  (SportsNetwork.com) - Alexei Ramirez  hit a go-ahead single in a 
four-run  eighth inning  and the Chicago White Sox held on for a 10-8 victory 
over  the  Minnesota Twins in  a back-and-forth opener  of a three-game set on 
Friday. 

Jose  Abreu  finished 3-for-3 with  two runs scored, an  RBI and a walk, while 
Tyler Flowers and Ramirez both had two RBI for the White Sox, who have won six 
of their last eight games. 

"Anything  you throw  up there, I think  he's going to hit it hard," White Sox 
manager Robin Ventura said about Abreu. "He's as hot as anyone in the league." 

Javy  Guerra (1-2) recorded  the final two outs of the eighth to earn the win. 
White Sox starter Chris Sale gave up five runs -- four earned -- on eight hits 
and a walk with seven strikeouts in six innings. 

Kurt  Suzuki drove in three runs, Kennys Vargas hit a two-run double and Chris 
Parmelee homered for Minnesota, which dropped its third straight game. 

"You  score  eight runs  with (Sale) starting  the ball game,  I bet Las Vegas 
would  take  those odds," said  Twins manager  Ron Gardenhire. "It seemed like 
every inning they scored. That's not going to win you too many games." 

Casey Fien (5-5) was charged with four runs in the eighth inning while getting 
just  one out. Twins  starter Logan Darnell allowed four runs on five hits and 
four walks in four innings of work. 

In  the  eighth, Adam  Eaton and Abreu  both singled off  Fien around a Gordon 
Beckham  strikeout  to place men  on first  and third. Consecutive RBI singles 
from Paul Konerko and Ramirez gave the White Sox the lead. 

Caleb  Thielbar entered to get Conor Gillaspie to line out for the second out, 
but  Flowers  hit a  sharp grounder  to right off  Jared Burton, scoring Dayan 
Viciedo,  who slid under Suzuki's tag at home. Alejandro De Aza's RBI base hit 
up the middle made it a 10-7 game. 

Brian Dozier, Trevor Plouffe and Josh Willingham all singled off Jake Petricka 
to  start the  ninth. Suzuki reached on a fielder's choice that scored Dozier. 
Petricka  recovered to strike out Vargas and Oswaldo Arcia to earn his seventh 
save of the season. 

In  the  second, De  Aza reached on  a force  out with two  gone in the frame. 
Moises  Sierra chopped  a line-drive triple to the right-field corner to plate 
De Aza. Eaton followed with a RBI bunt single for an early 2-0 lead. 

Minnesota  responded with  five runs off Sale in the third. Dozier and Plouffe 
hit  back-to-back  singles and  Willingham's base  hit scored Dozier. Suzuki's 
double  to left  scored Plouffe and Vargas' ground-rule double to right plated 
two  runs. Vargas  reached third on catcher Flowers' passed ball and came home 
on Chris Colabello's groundout. 

The White Sox tacked on a run in both the third and fourth. Ramirez reached on 
a force out with two outs in the third and came home on  Gillaspie's double to 
right. Abreu provided an RBI single in the fourth to get Chicago within one. 

Flowers'  solo shot to  right with two outs tied the game in the fifth and the 
White Sox took the lead in the sixth. 

Abreu and Konerko both singled off Anthony Swarzek before Ramirez gave Chicago 
a 6-5 lead with a double to left. 

The  Twins evened  the game  in the  seventh. A  challenge overturned  a call, 
giving  Dozier  a  leadoff  single.  Dozier  moved  to  second  and  third  on 
consecutive groundouts and scored on Suzuki's base hit up the middle. 

Eric Surkamp took the mound to start the eighth and struck out Arcia. Parmelee 
got  ahold of a 3-2 fastball and crushed it over the right-center wall to give 
the Twins a 7-6 advantage. 

                                   Game Notes 

Abreu  has  reached base in  his last 10 plate  appearances. It is the longest 
streak  by a White Sox player  since  Frank Thomas  reached  in 15  straight 
appearances  from  May 16-20, 1997 ...  Abreu extended his hitting streak to a 
career-high  21 games and has hit safely in 39 of his last 40 games ... Sale's 
four earned runs matched a season high ... Eaton has reached base safely in 18 
consecutive games ... The season series is tied, 6-6.