Miss Madison County Fair Queen Peyton Gehrs (on right) and Junior Miss Madison County Missy Huddleston pause following the 2015 Madison County Fair, July 21-24 in Highland. Also winning titles during the fair were Little Miss Madison County: Katie Garner and Miss Heart of Hartlieb Amy Raymond. Photo courtesy: Madison County Fair

Madison County eyes two-phase $9.3 million jail improvement plan

A proposed $9.3 million renovation of the Madison County Jail in Edwardsville tops the agenda for this week’s meeting of the Madison County Board.

County voters in March 2014 blocked an $18.8 million bond issue to renovate the 40-year-old jail. Board members say they fear state or federal authorities will step in to order improvements at the jail – at potentially greater cost – unless the county takes action to improve inmate conditions at the facility.

Under the new, scaled-back jail improvement plan, the county would initially undertake a $4 million renovation program to address “overall facility deficiencies,” according to Madison County Board Chairman Alan J. Dunstan. Those renovations can be accomplished without taking on additional debt, county officials say, Work would begin about a year from now.

The county then plans to renovate the jail’s inmate cells, at a total cost of around $5.3 million, as additional financing is arranged.

In all, the construction is expected to take about 16 to 24 months. No increase in jail capacity is planned as part of the project. The jail currently can hold up to 300 inmates and generally houses around 270.

The Madison County Board is scheduled to vote Aug.19 on a $733,579 contract with architectural firm AAIC for design work. The contract has already been approved by the county’s Judiciary Committee and Finance and Government Operations Committee.

Body parts missed in crash investigation, coroner admits

St. Clair County Coroner Rick Stone is apologizing to the loved ones of two Metro-East men, killed in an Aug. 8 accident on Interstate-255, after the finance and sister of one accident victim discovered body parts that were apparently missed by an investigator at the crash site.

Killed in the accident, near Collinsville Road, were Jared McPherson, 25, of Bethalto and Brian Lee Hubbs, 41, of Alton.

Three days later, after placing a memorial at the accident site, Candice Amizich, McPherson’s finance, and Karissa McPherson, the accident victim’s sister, reported finding a piece of a skull, other bone debris, and, what appeared to be, part of a hand in nearby weeds. The two said they were searching for a prized work knife that the accident victim often carried.

County officials noted the violence of the crash sent debris over a wide area.

Heroin death rates continue upward  

Deaths due to heroin overdose are on track to more than double this year in Madison County. As of last week, 31 heroin-related deaths had already been reported in the county. Twenty-six heroin deaths were reported in the county in 2014.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department blames a new, stronger strain of heroin now being imported into the area.

Like much of the rest of the nation, Madison County has been experiencing an increase in heroine-related fatalities since 2009. That year, the county recorded seven deaths due to heroin overdose, with 18 in 2010, 26 in 2011, 22 in 2012, and 24 in 2013.

The county Sheriff’s Department last week announced warrants against 36 individuals for heroin possession or related charges, as part of a sweep intended to curtail distribution of the drug.

Website ranks O’Fallon tops among Metro-East cities

O’Fallon ranks highest among Metro-East cities on a list of the “Best Places to Live in Illinois,” compiled by the travel website RoadSnacks.net.

Analyzing 342 of Illinois’ most populous cities, the website places O’Fallon 93^rd. Other Metro-East cities on the list include: Shiloh (tied with South Holland for 143), Swansea (146), Edwardsville (154), Glen Carbon (171), Mascoutah (179), Godfrey (198), Highland (205). Fairview Heights (208), Pontoon Beach (220), Colllinsville (237), Jacksonville (257), Jerseyville (263), Belleville (267), East Alton (308), Granite City (320), Cahokia (324), Centreville (329), Alton (334), Litchfield (335), West Frankfort (336), and East St. Louis (337).

The website ranks cities based on population density, unemployment rats, median income, vacancy rates, education, commute times, and crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics and Sperling’s Best Places.

High crime and unemployment rates were cited as factors in the lowest ranked Metro-East communities. However, the website gives East St. Louis credit for relatively high per-student education expenditures and low student-teacher ratios.

The Chicago suburb of Wilmette ranked highest on the list, the south central Illinois town of Benton, the lowest.

Eight-day Godfrey tent revival targets racial harmony

Amid renewed civil unrest in greater St. Louis, some Alton-area religious leaders are hoping an old fashion tent revival can encourage racial harmony. The We All Matter Tent Crusade, set for Aug. 23-30, on the Cornerstone Assembly of God Church grounds, 4836 N. Alby Road, Godfrey, promises to be first-of-its-kind event with participation by six-to-10 congregations, both predominantly white and predominantly black, according to organizers Rev. Jim Keil of Conerstone and Rev. Jason Harrison, youth pastor at Alton’s Deliverance Temple Church of God in Christ.

Music, activities for children, and breakout discussion sessions on a variety of topics are all scheduled as part of the event.

A state of emergency was declared in St. Louis County (Mo.) last week, as protestors – some turning violent – marked the first anniversary of the fatal shooting of an unarmed, black youth in Ferguson, Mo. by a white police officer. However, no protests were reported by law enforcement agencies in the Metro-East.

Mid-America to again offer direct service to Las Vegas

Allegiant Air has announced it will again offer nonstop jet service from Mid-America Airport near Masscoutah to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, beginning this fall.

Allegiant specializes in air services from small communities to major travel destinations, with deeply discounted fares. The company now serves some 100 markets. The new service from Mid-America was one of 17 route expansions and two new markets announced this month.

The new service from Mid-America, the civilian airport at Scott Air Force Base, will begin Nov. 5, with flights twice weekly – generally on Mondays and Fridays, according to Allegiant spokespersons. One-way, nonstop tickets will cost $82.50, according to the airline’s website. The company flies MD-80 aircraft with 166 seats.

The Mid-America civilian air terminal opened in 1997. Allegiant began operations at Mid-America in 2009 with service to Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. However, the airline suspended operations at the airport three years later, citing a weak air travel market. The company resumed service to Florida from Mid-America in late 2012.

Monroe County tax bills mailed out, due in September

Monroe County’s 2014 Real Estate Tax bills were mailed Aug. 11, according to the county website. Due dates are Sept. 18, for the first installment and October 28, 2015 for the second installment. Payments are accepted at local banks, online through Illinois E-Pay and at the Monroe County Treasurer’s Office.

Gateway Commerce Zone moves to Include $10 million auto salvage center

The Madison County Board’s Grants Committee voted Aug. 10 to expand the Gateway Commerce Center Enterprise Zone by 20 acres to include 111 Used Auto Parts in Pontoon Beach.

Salvage yard owner Scott Jennings told the committee he is in the midst of a $10 million expansion that will include a new office headquarters, process facilities, parts warehousing and a retail sales office.

The expansion project, launched in 2009, will ultimately create 25 new full-time jobs and generate more than $2.5 million in annual retail sales, according to Jennings. Up to 20 construction workers will be needed at the site to complete the project.

Inclusion of the enterprise zone would provide a 10-year property tax abatement covering the assessed value of improvements and renovations. It would also provide a 6.25 percent sales tax exemption on building materials used to improve or renovate property within the zone, as well as on industrial equipment for the new facility.

The Gateway Commerce Center Enterprise Zone is comprised of portions of the municipalities of Edwardsville and Pontoon Beach, as well as unincorporated areas of Madison County.

The expansion of the commerce zone must still be approved by Edwardsville and Pontoon Beach officials, as well as the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development.

Sales tax exemptions in the enterprise zone apply only to building materials purchased from Illinois retailers or suppliers.

Alton Housing Authority executive director steps down

Alton Housing Authority Executive Director Andy Hightower is stepping down effective Aug. 19.Gregory Denton, the housing authority’s director of operations, takes over as interim executive director. Denton is a 41-year employee and plans to apply for the executive director position. Alton Housing Authority Commissioners accepted Hightower’s resignation during their regular monthly meeting, Aug 11. Hightower did not comment publicly.

— Metro East news briefs —