GPP 12.25.13

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GREENE PRAIRIE PRESS DECEMBER 25, 2013 – Vol. 144, No. 52 – Carrollton, Illinois 62016

INSIDE LOCALS

Roodhouse hires back former employee following alleged overtime infraction By CArmeN eNSiNger Greene Prairie Press

Catelyn’s 5th birthday. See page A3

NEWS

The Roodhouse City Council hired Tim Garner as a full-time worker at the South Shop following an hourlong closed session at the Dec. 18 regular city council meeting. Tim Garner, husband of alderwoman Terry Garner, came under scrutiny in 2010 when he was fired by the former administration for falsifying documentation for overtime. According to former alderwoman Flo Bryant, overtime in the department decreased by 98 percent when Tim Garner was terminated. The South Shop, which is the util-

ity department, currently employees three full-time employees and one part-time employee. According to past practice, and the practice of most municipalities and other agencies, any time an opening becomes available, the position is posted internally first, giving any current part-time or full-time employee in another department an opportunity to apply for that position. Consideration is usually given to the in-house employees. If there are no applications in-house, the position is then advertised to the general public. Alderman Jim Knox introduced the motion, which passed by a 3-2 margin with Terry Garner abstain-

ing from the vote due to a conflict of interest. Aldermen Knox, Ralph Phillips and Barb Alred voted in favor of hiring Tim Garner while aldermen Garrett Rogers and Charles Huffines voted No. Following the meeting, Knox was asked if there had been any current employees who had applied for the position. His comment was “no comment.” He also said “no comment” when asked if the Utility Superintendent had even requested the city hire another full-time worker at the South Shop. Mayor Martin did respond, saying the city had 15 applications for the position and that they had one appli-

cation from a current employee. “While it has always been the practice to hire in-house, it is not specifically in the ordinances,” Martin said. “I don’t think we need to hire anyone going into this time of year, but the council basically runs the city and I just keep score.” Garner had worked for the city for around 20 years before he was terminated in 2010. Martin said he would not be given his previous seniority before his termination. “He will be hired in as a new employee and therefore will be at the bottom of the seniority scale,” Martin said. Garner was hired in at $15 an hour

Addie wins iPad Mini. See page A4

By CArmeN eNSiNger Greene Prairie Press

NEWS

Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press

Two-year-old Brady rhoades gives a look of disappointment when he learns Christmas comes only once a year . Brady is the son of Tony and Amanda rhoades of White Hall .

COUNTY NEWS

SPORTS

Osborne appears in Greene County court to face charges By CArmeN eNSiNger Greene Prairie Press

Lady Hawks improve to 9-0. See page B8

ONLINE greeneprairiepress .com

Greene Prairie Press Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A6 Court . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A4 Local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A3 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . A6 Our Town . . . . . . . . . . . . A8 Public Notice . . . . . . . . . B5 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B4 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B8

Obituaries in this issue: bazailliOn, COle, FOrd, Kelly

© 2013 Greene Prairie Press

beginning Dec. 21 with a 90-day probationary period. The council also approved raises to the rest of the full-time employees at the South Shop. The South Shop is the only department within the city that is not unionized, and alderman Ralph Phillips said the wages needed to be fair for all workers in this department. “We have a big distance between employees' pay at the South Shop,” he said. “They go from $15.37 an hour to $17.69 and none of them get the same wage for the same job, and I think it’s time we got together to do something about it.” (See, roodhouse, A2)

Missing woman’s body found near Joe Page Bridge

OH, NO

News from the pews. See page A5

75¢

Candice Osborne, the former Greene County probation officer, made her first appearance in Greene County Circuit Court on Friday afternoon on charges alleging Theft and Official Misconduct while she was performing her duties as county probation officer. Charges were filed against Osborne, of Roodhouse, on Dec. 3, alleging theft of over $10,000 but under $100,000. According to court documents, Osborne falsely overstated the number of miles traveled in her monthly claims for mileage in a series of acts between Sept. 1, 2004 and Dec. 31, 2011. The Official Misconduct charges allege Osborne, in her official capacity, performed acts in excess of her lawful authority by overstating the number of miles she had driven in the month of December 2011. Because Osborne was an employee of the county, Special Prosecutor Charles Zalar with the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, has been brought in to try the case on behalf of the state and the Honorable David Cherry of Scott County has been appointed judge on the case. Osborne appeared in court with her attorney, Craig Grummel, and former Greene County State’s Attorney Matt Goetten, who is now working for the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, appeared on behalf of Zalar for the initial hearing. According to Judge Jeffery Tobin of Morgan County, who

was presiding, the theft charge is a Class 2 felony which carries with it a possible three to seven years in prison, which could be extended to seven to 14 years, a fine of $25,000, two years mandatory supervised release, probation or conditional discharge for four years. The official misconduct charge is a Class 3 felony which carries a possible sentence of two to five years in prison or an extended term of five to 10 years, up to a $25,000 fine, one year mandatory supervised release, 30 month conditional discharge or probation. Goetten addressed the court regarding count 2. “There is an ancillary downside to Count 2 for Mrs. Osborne if convicted,” Goetten said. “She has earned through time employed by the county a pension through IMRF and a conviction would have an impact of her losing her pension.” Cherry asked Osborne if she were aware the conviction on count 2 may also affect her by either losing her pension or having some benefits reduced. She said she did. An arrest warrant was never issued for Osborne – instead a summons was sent. Pursuant to her appearance Friday, bond was set in the amount of $5,000 with Goetten noting she is a long time member of the community and does not represent a flight risk. A preliminary hearing date has been set for Tuesday morning, Jan 28 at 9:30 a.m. Courthouse documents show Osborne started working with the county in 1976 until the time of her resignation on June 1, 2012.

The body of a woman with strong ties to Jersey County who has been missing since late November was found Dec. 19 in Greene County near the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin. Two men were charged with two counts of first degree murder, a Class M felony, in the death of Courtney Coats, a 30-year-old woman who had been missing from Alton for 27 days. Brandon L. Chittum, 30 of Collinsville, and Patrick A. Chase, 28 of Alton, also face a Class X felony count for dismemberment of a human body and a Class 3 felony count for concealment of a homicidal death. Calhoun County Sheriff Bill Heffington said his office assisted the Alton Police Department in the search for and recovery of Coats’ body. “I’m just glad it came to a head and got solved,” Heffington said. “Not knowing has got to be tough for the family.” According to a press release issued by the Alton Police Department Dec. 20, APD filed numerous search warrants and subpoenas, and conducted many interviews in its investigation of Coats’ disappearance. Electronic communications associated with Coats were also used during the investigation of her disappearance. The search for her body began Thursday night, but authorities suspended the search until the morning when daylight could aid officers. According to a release issued by Rob McMillen, Greene County sheriff, in the morning of Dec. 20, officers found a trash bag containing human body parts which led to the discovery of other bags along the Greene County side of the Illinois River. Emily Hejna, Alton Police Department public information (See, missing woman, A2)

North Greene Jr. High softball team honored with road signs

Submitted photo

The North greene Jr . High girls softball team was honored recently for their appearance in the elite 8 round of the state tournament by the city of roodhouse which purchased signs which will be posted at the north and south ends of town . Presenting the signs was roodhouse mayor Tommy martin (holding sign) . The team ended the season with a record of 13-5 and an overall batting average of .364 . This was only their second year as an organized school sport . Front row, left to right: meagan roberts, Jessica Jilg, Tori Smith, Hailey Fox and Deelany Bell . middle row: Heidi Davidson, mallory rogers, madison mcClenning, Kaitlyn Smith, Brittni Clanton, Alexis guthrie, Danielle Wojcek, Stephanie Cathers and madison evans . Back row: coach Tim roberts, coach Jeff Clanton and coach Kinsey mcmillen .

By CArmeN eNSiNger Greene Prairie Press The North Greene Junior High girls softball team was honored for its appearance in the Elite 8 at the state tournament this year by the presentation of a large sign, which will be placed on each end of Roodhouse. The city of Roodhouse paid for the signs and presented them to the team at their banquet on Dec. 18. The softball program is in only its second season, making an appearance at state quite an accomplishment. The Lady Warriors finished the season with a record of 13-5 and tore up the field with their batting, boasting an overall batting average of .364 on the season. C

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The Lady Warriors were coached by Tim Roberts who is in his second season as head coach, along with assistance from Jeff Clanton and Kinsey McMillen. Roberts was pleased with his team’s performance. “We hit extremely well and had some good pitching and base running to go along with it,” Roberts said. “I think just having the experience from the year before helped, too. Most of these girls got to see me last year so they knew my coaching style and knew what I expected of them.” Roberts said the success is a great reflection on the school and the community. “North Greene is a community of people which feeds off success,”

Roberts said. “They want to do good and they want to see other people do good. The kids see that and they want to perform as well as they can – they don’t like to lose in anything.” Roberts is looking forward to another stellar season next year. “We have a lot of strong sixth and seventh graders returning next year and we are bringing back our pitcher and catcher and overall we have a lot of team speed and I expect our hitting to be there again and our defense to continue to improve,” he said. “This is a great group of girls – they are great teammates and all got along well and they are just hard workers. I’m sure they will all be practicing over the summer to get ready for next year.”


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