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75 CENTS — Vol. 174, No. 142
Friday, June 5, 2009
TV crew doing segment on jail escape
An emotional Janie Gansz, owner of Janie’s Hair Craze, embraces a friend Thursday outside her business as firefighters from seven departments battle an apartment fire above her shop at the corner of First Street and East Ferguson Avenue in downtown Wood River. Firefighters believe the fire started in a middle apartment near a space heater and spread into the area above the ceilings, making it hard to extinguish and contain. Several people were evacuated from the building. Below, a firefighter directs a hose line at fire in the ceiling of a front apartment that was gutted by the blaze. Additional photos on Region, page C1.
By LINDA N. WELLER The Telegraph ALTON — A cable TV crew will film today and Saturday at a building most people would sooner not visit — Alton City Jail. Alton Police Chief Chris Sullivan said the crew, which has visited Alton “a couple times,” will return to film a documentary on the only escape from the 7-year-old jail, which took place May 2, 2006. “They are going to be filming in the jail lobby, inside the jail and outside the jail,” Sullivan said. “They are going to interview a number of officers that were involved, and the U.S. Marshal’s office.” Besides himself, Sullivan said the crew would interview Deputy Chief David Hayes, jail superintendent Sgt. Shane Gibbs, Sgt. Gary Cranmer, Pfc. Marcos
See ESCAPE, Page A11
Officials talk layoffs after budget meeting CHICAGO (AP) — An idea to raise the state income tax took a back seat when Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders met Thursday to continue negotiating a new budget, with them focusing instead on moneysaving moves like raising the state e m p l o y e e retirement age and slashing government jobs. “ T h a t ' s something which we know we have to do Quinn first, to cut government spending. That's what people are doing in their homes and that's what we're going to do here,” Senate President John Cullerton said after emerging from the more than two-hour meeting at Quinn's downtown Chicago office. The talk of cuts comes after the fact because lawmakers ended their legislative session over the weekend without agreeing on an
See BUDGET, Page A12
WHAT’S OUTSIDE
The Telegraph/ JOHN BADMAN
SEE VIDEO, PHOTO GALLERY @ thetelegraph.com
Pair rescued from apartment fire Blaze damages hair salon in building By CYNTHIA M. ELLIS
She then went to wake her uncle. “It was scary,” she said. The two were trapped, waiting to be rescued. Fire Chief Steve Alexander said thick black smoke and heavy flames were rolling out the side of the building as firefighters arrived shortly before 10 a.m. The department had been told about the upstairs occupants and firefighters Mike Carlisle and Nathan Kamp quickly worked to get the duo out. “The two were at the window waiting,” Alexander said. He said Carlisle and Kamp placed a ladder at the side of the building leading to the window, which allowed the two to climb
The Telegraph WOOD RIVER — An 8-year-old girl and her uncle were awakened by the smell of smoke in a downtown apartment Thursday morning and with help from firefighters escaped through a second-story window. Brenda Cole had spent the night with her aunt and uncle, Janie and Chris McClellan, and was planning to enjoy her first day off from school. Instead she awoke to a smoky nightmare inside the building at First Street and East Ferguson Avenue. “I woke up because I started coughing from the smoke,” Brenda said.
See FIRE, Page A11
Calhoun clerk steps down, deputy stepping up By MAGGIE BORMAN The Telegraph
For The Telegraph
Republican Calhoun County Clerk Lucille “Suzie” Kress, left, has resigned, effective June 30, and her deputy clerk Rita Hagen, also a Republican, will be her replacement.
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Hagen has worked in the Calhoun County Clerk’s office since 1987. Both women are Republicans. Kress began working in the Calhoun County Clerk’s Office as a deputy clerk in 1976 and was elected as county clerk in 1986, serving a total of 33 years, 23 as clerk.
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HARDIN — The longtime Calhoun County clerk will retire effective June 30 and be replaced in the job by the chief deputy. The Calhoun County Board of Commissioners accepted the resignation of Clerk and Recorder
Lucille “Suzie” Kress at Thursday’s County Board meeting. At the same time the board accepted Kress’ resignation, they also approved appointing chief deputy clerk Rita Hagen as her replacement upon the recommendation of the Calhoun County Republican Party.
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50 CENTS — Vol. 174, No. 93
Incoming mayor seeks funds for Grafton Ferry
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Friday, April 17, 2009
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By JILL MOON The Telegraph GRAFTON — Mayor-elect Tom Thompson met with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development this month to seek funds specifically for the Grafton Ferry. “It looks promising,” Thompson said Thursday. Thompson “We are seeking federal and state government assistance. The focus was
See FERRY, page A9
Quinn announces extended unemployment benefits By KATHIE BASSETT For The Telegraph The Illinois seasonally adjusted unemployment rate reached 9.1 percent in March, Gov. Pat Quinn said Thursday as he announced an Extended Benefits Program for workers who otherwise would have exhausted their benefits. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, unemployed workers will receive an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance. “The proud workers of Illinois deserve this additional help to weather the storm of this deep national recession,” Quinn said in a news release.
See BENEFITS, page A9
Teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges
The Telegraph/JIM BOWLING
Ryan Raymond, 10, gets hit out by his brother, Alex Raymond, 13, while they play a game they invented called driveway baseball that combines elements of baseball and dodgeball Thursday afternoon at their house on Wedgewood Drive in Godfrey. The two were taking advantage of the warm weather and extra leisure time during their spring break from attending Evangelical Elementary School in Godfrey.
Man’s body pulled from lake Victim’s sister drowned there 14 years ago By MAGGIE BORMAN The Telegraph LITCHFIELD — Searchers recovered the body of a Staunton man Thursday from Lake Lou Yaeger, where his sister drowned more than 14 years ago. A two-day search for the missing boater ended at 11:41 a.m. Thursday
when the body of Mark Mansholt, 49, of Staunton, was located by sonar on a fishing boat. Litchfield Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson said a volunteer arrived Thursday morning to assist in searching for Mansholt, who was believed to be in the lake. “The volunteer had very sophisticated sonar on his fishing boat, and launched the boat,” Wilkinson said. “At 11:41 a.m., the sonar located the body near Lake Lot 300, about 3 miles north of the primary marina. “The body was submerged in the water about 150 feet from the shore, within the same three or four acres of where (Mansholt’s) boat had been found running in circles Wednesday
Dena Marshall of Godfrey took advantage of the warming weather Thursday to go for a walk with her children atop the levee on the River Heritage Parkway (Illinois Route 143) in Alton. Elaina, 3, got a piggyback ride, while Ashten, 10, and Will, 7, led the way on foot. The National Weather Service forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a high around 70 degrees today, becoming mostly cloudy overnight with a low around 50. Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy with highs in the upper 60s and a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, with the same chance of precipitation Sunday, when highs should be in the lower 60s.
By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT The Telegraph EDWARDSVILLE — The Edwardsville High School teacher accused of sexual assault and sexual abuse of a student pleaded not guilty Thursday and was released after her husband posted $3,000 cash bond. Kasey E. Johnes, 37, of the 200 block of Ashford Drive, Glen Carbon, appeared Thursday by video and told Madison County
The Telegraph/JOHN BADMAN
See CHARGES, page A9
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afternoon,” the police chief said. After the sonar detected the body, divers went into the lake and recovered it at 12:30 p.m. The Litchfield Police Department had been notified about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday of an unmanned boat going in circles on the lake, and the department launched a search by 3 p.m. The search continued into Wednesday night, utilizing divers, scent dogs, sonar and volunteers walking the shoreline of the lake until 12:30 a.m. Thursday. The search resumed around 7 a.m. Thursday. Mansholt died in the same lake as his sister, Illinois State Police Special
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Two charged with sexually assaulting young girl
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By STEPHANIE KISZCZAK The Telegraph EDWARDSVILLE — There may be additional charges filed against two men charged Monday in Madison County Circuit Court with predatory criminal sexual assault of child, officials said. Jonathan G. Eckert, 20, of the 2100 block of Appomattox Court in Edwardsville, faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. His bond was set at $350,000. Travis W. Lablance, 18, of the 6400 block of Miller Drive in Edwardsville, faces two counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. Lablance’s bond was set at $250,000. Eckert Circuit Judge Edward Ferguson issued the warrants and set the bonds. The Madison County Sheriff’s D e p a r t m e n t issued a news release saying it received a call Lablance about 9:25 p.m. Friday to investigate a disturbance on Willow Court in Holiday Shores. While there, sheriff’s deputies learned Lablance allegedly had committed a battery on Eckert in connection with allegations of a sexual assault of a child. However, through further investigation, deputies learned that both Eckert and Lablance allegedly had committed a sexual assault on a female less than 13 years old. The alleged assault took place between June and August. Eckert also is accused of committing another sex act with a child less than 13 years old at the same household on Friday. “There was information that was learned that both men had been assaulting this child,” Capt. Brad Wells of the Sheriff’s Department said. Both men were taken into custody on Willow Court in Holiday Shores. However, Wells said the two may face more charges. “It’s still under investigation, and there still may be more charges forthcoming,” he said. “We do have both men in custody.” skiszczak@thetelegraph.com
The Telegraph/JOHN BADMAN
A man crosses Main Street in Glen Carbon Monday morning just west of the covered bridge. Work should begin in earnest today to widen the street and replace the bridge, which was built in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. The improvements provide for the total replacement of the bridge and covered roof. Main Street will be closed to all traffic at the bridge, as will South Meridian Road from Guy Street to Main Street. Traffic will be detoured along Spruce and Guy streets to Meridian and vice versa. Parking will be restricted to one side along Spruce and Guy. Traffic control devices have been installed and will maintained throughout the construction period. The work is expected to be completed by Dec. 1.
DJ at WLCA 89.9 dies at 26 By ANDREW RICHARDS For The Telegraph
For The Telegraph
Andrew Walters, known to many of his friends and family as Andy or “Andyman,” died Wednesday after battling heart problems. The constant stream of people into Ss. Peter and Paul Church during the visitation on Sunday showed his family exactly how many people’s lives he had touched. Many in attendance at his funeral Monday spoke of the radio DJ and videographer as kind hearted, happy-golucky and fun to be around.
GODFREY — Andrew Walters, 26, of Godfrey has left memories for all his family and friends to remember him by. Walters, who died in his sleep last Wednesday of heart problems, was known for his upbeat spirit and positive outlook. He worked as a disc jockey on WLCA-FM 89.9 at Lewis and Clark Community College, where he played music by many local bands on his show “The Garage” from 9 p.m. to midnight each Monday. He also served as a videographer for Gebbs Total Video, for which he videotaped the monthly Alton block parties and other events. Walters cared about everybody in general, a close friend said. Walters’ mother, Christine C. (Barrett) Walters, said he always thought of other people and was the joy of her life. “We were lucky to have him,” she said. “We could have lost him three years ago, but he has touched more lives in the last three years than ever before.” Several benefits were held for Walters when he was in college,
which were popular events, friends said. Andrew Walters never complained once when he was around people, a couple of relatives said. “He never had a bad thing to say,” said Paul Walters, an uncle to Andy. “He definitely was a sweetheart kid. I never in my life ever heard him complain about one thing.” Robert McAfoos, a high school friend, recalls how Walters lived an amazing life. “There’s nothing but ‘positivity’ to remember about Andy,” McAfoos said. “He cared about people so much, more than himself; his last dollar, he would give you. He was just that kind of guy.” His parents said Walters was excited about plans to go to Hawaii and Las Vegas later this year as part of a trip for Gebbs Total Video. He partook in many activities, including golfing, photography, music and concerts. He also played on a sand volleyball team at Metro Sports in Alton, which he looked forward to each week, friends said. Andrew Walters lived every day to the fullest, said his father, Mike
“He cared about people so much, more than himself; his last dollar, he would give you. He was just that kind of guy.” ROBERT MCAFOOS A HIGH SCHOOL FRIEND
Walters. “He lived a long life in a short time,” he said. “He loved life.” McAfoos said Andrew Walters had many best friends. “It was almost as if Andy was too good to be here,” McAfoos said. “God had to get him back up there. We’re (all) going to miss him.”
Shimkus, business owners pan tax proposal By SANFORD J. SCHMIDT
just for the cigars it already has in stock, she said. U.S. Rep. John EDWARDSVILLE — A bill to fund an expanded Shimkus, R-Collinsville, child health care pro- was in town Monday to gram could be the death talk to people at Milo’s and other knell for small groups. specialty tobacHe told a co shops such as ALK ACK group at the Milo’s Tobacco thetelegraph.com E d w a r d s v i l l e Road in or call 463-2563 Senior Citizens Edwardsville, Center that the opponents said tax would be Monday. The tax to pay for the included in a bill that the States program could increase extends Health from the current 5 cents Children’s per cigar to as much as Initiative Program, also $10 for each stogie, said known as SCHIP. The bill would expand Debbie Stubbin, who operates the shop, along the number of people eligible for the program. with her husband, Milo. She said the tax would Originally, people who put shops like theirs out earned two times the of business. national poverty level or “We’re not Big less could qualify. The Tobacco. We’re a special- new bill would expand ty shop,” she said. the coverage to people The tax would cost the earning three times the store thousands of dollars poverty level, Shimkus
The Telegraph
T
The Telegraph/JOHN BADMAN
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, talks to a small crowd of senior citizens Monday at the Senior Services Center on Main Street in Edwardsville. Shimkus was making rounds throughout his 19th Congressional District while home on the August congressional break.
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The new bill would expand the coverage to people earning three times the poverty level, Shimkus said. See VIDEO at thetelegraph.com said. The bill was designed to help the working poor, who earn enough that they do not qualify for Medicaid but do not qualify for benefits in the workplace. “The bill has run into funding problems,” Shimkus said. He said both the U.S. House and Senate have
passed versions of the bill, but President George W. Bush has said he would veto either version. Shimkus said providing health care insurance for the working poor not covered by a workplace insurance program is a longstanding issue in Congress. Shimkus said that rather than enacting a tax, he prefers an “associated health plan” approach. Under such an arrangement, small businesses could form an agreement through organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, which could bid on health insurance for their small business members. “It’s more of a freemarket approach,” Shimkus said. sanfordjschmidt@hotmail.com
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Schrempf resigns as Godfrey village attorney
F O R E !
By JILL MOON
The Telegraph/MARGIE M. BARNES
Caleb Gleason, 10, of Alton, chips his golf ball out of the sand pit on the practice green Wednesday at the Robert Wadlow Municipal Golf Course in Alton. Caleb was on spring break and spent the day at the course with his grandmother.
The Telegraph
In Schrempf’s resignation
GODFREY — Village Attorney Jim Schrempf submitted his resignation after Mayorelect Mike McCormick won the municipal April 7 election. Schrempf will cease his official association with the village when McCormick is sworn in as mayor on May 19. In Schrempf’s resignation letter, he congratulated and wished McCormick’s administration success, while acknowledging that McCormick said during his campaign that he wanted a village attorney who lived in Godfrey and also one who did not work for a neighboring municipality. Schrempf, whose specialty is municipal law, also is the city attorney for both Alton and Grafton. Schrempf stated in his letter addressed to McCormick on April 9 that he is most willing to work with whoever McCormick’s administration designates. “Currently, we’ve got lawsuits pending against the village on behalf of the law firm of Stobbs and Sinclair and another suit on behalf of attorney John Dale Stobbs,” Schrempf said Wednesday. The village also has a lawsuit pending brought by attor-
letter, he congratulated and wished McCormick’s administration success, while acknowledging that McCormick said during his campaign that he wanted a village attorney who lived in Godfrey. ney Emily Johnson regarding the right of a property owner to keep horses near the Woodfield subdivision. Several other matters are pending before various administrative tribunals. In Schrempf’s letter, he states that the legal matters need immediate attention. “All of these pending cases have matters that will require the immediate attention of your new attorney, and I would like to confer with him or her as soon as possible to effectuate a smooth transition,” Schrempf wrote. jill_moon@thetelegraph.com
Songwriter enjoys trip home to East Alton By DAN BRANNAN The Telegraph
T
ommy Karlas continues to roll in Nashville, Tenn., after his No. 1 country hit.
Recently, the 27-year-old took time out from getting accolades for his top country song, “Roll With Me,” recorded by Montgomery Gentry, to visit with his mother and father, Kenny and Kathy Karlas, as well as family and friends in East Alton. Tommy Karlas conversed about having a No. 1 party for the song he co-wrote, “Roll With Me.” His family attended the party in Nashville on Jan. 28. “It was great,” the East Alton native said. “We hung
out with Troy Gentry, then we went to my co-writer’s party. It was one of those kinds of things that being there is the coolest part.” The Nashville songwriting sensation continues to compose songs and has one track recorded with Troy Gentry on an upcoming Montgomery Gentry compact disc. His next song will be “Daddy Don’t Go.” “I should definitely have one song on the new Montgomery Gentry album and maybe two,” he said. Karlas often goes on the road with Montgomery Gentry and writes with the singers while they are on tour. He said that is an excellent time to get writing done. “There is a lot of time when they are driving and time between sound checks,” he said. Since Karlas wrote the top song, doors are opening in
Nashville. He still plays once every couple of months at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. He hadn’t returned home since Christmas, so his trip back home recently meant a lot to him. “I love being home,” he said. “My mom is my greatest public relations person. When I come home, I always see my buddies on Friday night and hang out all day Sunday with the family.” “Roll With Me” still gets more than 1,000 plays a week and remains on the country charts. Right now, the East Alton native said he remains on Cloud Nine. “I’m finally comfortable with where I’m at,” he said. “This is a vision I had 10 years ago. I feel comfortable in my own skin, but I still have a long, long ways to go.” dan_brannan@thetelegraph.com
The Telegraph/MARGIE M. BARNES
Songwriter Tommy Karlas, 27, of Nashville, Tenn., a 1999 graduate of Roxana High School, wrote the hit song “Roll With Me,” performed by Montgomery Gentry, which was No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts for two weeks last December. Karlas was in town recently to visit family in the area.
Tea-ing off on government: Tax Day protest draws thousands in St. Louis By DENNIS GRUBAUGH The Telegraph ST. LOUIS — Thousands of people jammed into Kiener Plaza on Wednesday night to pour out teapots full of complaints against massive government spending. “They are concerned about the future of this country,” Ed Ragsdale of Godfrey said about the crowd attending what was billed as the St. Louis Tea Party, one of many such gatherings held on Tax Day across the country. “We’ve taken a huge step to socialism. We’ve never had a president bite off so
much in left-wing fashion.”’ Kiener Plaza, which holds an estimated 10,000 people, was full to the point that supporters of the event feel a larger venue will be needed when the next big protest takes place on the Fourth of July. The tea parties were promoted by FreedomWorks, a conservative nonprofit advocacy group based in Washington and led by former Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas, who now is a lobbyist. Advocates have insisted,
though, that attendance at the parties has been nonpartisan, and Ragsdale said St. Louis’ turnout had people from all political persuasions. Ragsdale, who attended with several others from the area, is chairman of the AltonGodfrey Republican Party. Signs were everywhere, and they left no doubt as to the mood of the crowd. “Obamanomics!” one placard proclaimed. “Obama makes Bush look thrifty,” another read, while still more were emblazoned with “Big government, back off” and “Trickle up poverty.” The themes and the
speeches were all tied to the same thing — multiple trillions of dollars going into national spending, begun under President George W. Bush and escalated by President Barack Obama in an effort to bring the nation out of its economic malaise. Many of those in attendance believe the spending solution is worse than the problem itself because of the likelihood that it will trigger increases in inflation and saddle future taxpayers with an unwieldy debt. “They talked about our children being mortgaged, more or less,” Ragsdale
said. “They estimated that at some point, each child will have a debt, just from Obama, of over $100,000. That’s incredible. (The crowd was) motivated to be there.” There were a number of speakers at the St. Louis event, including Ed Henry, once an assistant to former Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, sports executive Bill Hennessy, radio personality Dana Loesch and Gina Loudon, who is married to state Sen. John Loudon of St. Charles. “There were no elected people speaking; it was just grass-roots folks,” Ragsdale said.
Many of those in attendance wore teabags over the frames of their eyeglasses. People were urged not to dump tea into the nearby Mississippi River, unlike their forebearers who filled Boston’s harbor during their fateful protest of British tea tariffs in 1773. The idea was to get people to call congressmen and the media to encourage a “more sensible approach to government” and to become involved, Ragsdale said. “It was a huge success,” he said. dennis_grubaugh@thetelegraph.com