The Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, Mo.
(Photo courtesy of Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary)

Special prosecutor to handle Madison corruption allegations

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office will appoint a special prosecutor to handle allegations of corruption in Madison County government, under terms of a circuit court ruling.

In January, a newly-formed “Madison County Public Corruption Task Force,” established at the request of Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons, conducted a series of raids on the offices of several Madison County officials; with seized computers and records turned over to a grand jury for investigation.

Shortly thereafter, Madison County Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler, County Administrator Doug Hulme, and IT Director Rob Dorman filed a civil suit, contending State’s Attorney Gibbons has an inherent conflict of interest.

While Gibbons had requested the investigation —and would apparently be prosecuting any charges brought against county officials as a result — the state’s attorney under Illinois law also is charged with providing legal counsel to county officials, the suit notes.

A similar suit was filed by former county Administrative Director Steve Adler.

In a June 11 ruling, Associate Judge Jerry E. Crisel of the Illinois Second Judicial Circuit, effectively agreed; prohibiting Gibbons from conducting the ongoing investigation or prosecuting any resulting charges. He then requested the state attorney general appoint a special prosecutor to take over those functions.

He also ordered Gibbons to provide at least some legal counsel to county staff and office holders involved in the case. The county officials had requested the court appoint private attorneys to represent them.

The civil suits were filed in the Illinois Third Judicial Circuit, which covers Madison County. However, Third Circuit Chief Judge David Hylla, earlier this year, appointed Second Circuit Associate Crisel to hear the cases.

Madison school selected for STEM career initiative

The Bernard Long Elementary School in Madison is among 25 Illinois schools selected for a new three-year program, designed to encourage underprivileged students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Elementary and middle schools selected for the Bicentennial STEM Fusion Program, sponsored by the Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA), were announced last month by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

The STEM Fusion initiative provides participating schools a three-year science teacher professional development program; with teachers then providing enrichment program for students who are talented, interested and motivated in mathematics, science, and technology.

The program focuses on teachers and students in grades 4-8.

More than 100 schools applied for the 25 three-year Fusion programs; made available as part of the Illinois Bicentennial Celebration.

To qualify for the program, schools must serve primarily populations that are underrepresented in the science and technology fields, demonstrate a commitment to embedding STEM in their curricula, and present a sustainability plan to carry the program forward into the future, according to the academy.

The IMSA is a three-year residential public high school in Aurora, with an enrollment of approximately 650 students.

Seventy other qualifying Illinois schools will receive a one-year STEM Fusion curriculum.

Riverlands Bird Sanctuary extends trail system

Trail extensions at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton, Mo. are set to open with a ribbon cutting celebration, Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at 10 a.m.

The new extensions will provide new connections to existing trails in bird sanctuary. They will have paved surface to make the trail system more easily accessible to a greater number of visitors, according to Riverlands administrators.

The Riverlands sanctuary has more than 8.5 miles of trails featuring viewing platforms and bird blinds. The trails take visitors through prairies, marshes, and bottomland forest habitats; offer viewing opportunities for a wide variety of birds that live in or migrate through the area.

While some of the Riverlands trails are closed during the winter migratory season (Oct. 15 – April 15) each year, the paved trails, surrounding the bird sanctuary’s centerpiece Audubon Center, will be open year-round.

The new trail extensions were made possible through a continuing partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The National Audubon Society.

Maps are available online at riverlands.audubon.org/about/trails-riverlands.

Thirty-nine EMTs honored for ‘clinical saves’

Thirty-nine Metro East emergency medical technicians (EMT), paramedics, and dispatchers were honored for their roles in successfully resuscitating emergency medical patients, during the 2018 Abbott EMS Clinical Save Banquet, May 22, in Columbia.

All emergency medical personnel recognized during the banquet saved at least one life over the course of the past year —  with some credited for up to seven “clinical saves,” according to Abbott spokespersons.

Also, recognized for life-saving assistance to sick or injured patients were:

• Five Metro East fire departments, [Belleville Fire Department, Caseyville Fire Department, Fairmont City Fire, Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department (Pontoon Beach), and Venice Fire Department];
• Four area hospitals (Anderson Hospital, Memorial Hospital, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, and Touchette Regional Hospital), and
• Five area law enforcement agencies (Caseyville Police Department, Fairview Heights Police Department, Fairmont City Police Department, Pontoon Beach Police Department, and Swansea Village Police Department).

Fifty-one EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers from the Missouri side of the St. Louis area were also honored during the banquet.

Abbott is the largest private ambulance service in the St. Louis regional — serving Madison and St. Clair counties in Metro East, Effingham and Franklin counties in south central Illinois, and the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County in Missouri.

Patients who have been saved, and their families, were also invited to the ceremony.

–Metro East Area News Briefs–