St. Clair County settles discrimination suit with former clerk

February 7, 2017, 7:47 am

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A discrimination suit against St. Clair County Circuit Clerk Kahala Clay settled Jan. 30, the day it was set to go to a jury trial in federal court in Benton.

Kelli Garner, who claimed Clay fired her in violation of medical leave and disability laws on the day she sought to fill out Family Medical Leave Act paperwork, had sought backpay totaling $40,009.87 and damages under the FMLA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Illinois Human Rights Act, according to court documents.

A chronic sufferer of migraine headaches, Garner would miss work periodically, her complaint stated.

She was represented by Ferne Wolf and Joshua Pierson of Maryville, Mo.

The day before she was terminated, Garner claims she had requested time off for a doctor's appointment at which she was given medication that unexpectedly made her fall asleep "such that she was unable to return to work," her complaint stated.

On Jan. 7, 2015, she claimed she returned to work with a doctor's note; went to the payroll clerk for FMLA paperwork; and later was summoned to a meeting with Clay, who discharged her.

Garner was employed as a deputy clerk from May 2013 until her termination in January 2015. She sued in May 2015.

The county was represented by Katherine Porter of Becker, Hoerner, Thompson & Ysursa as special assistant to State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly.

In its defense, the county asserted immunity under the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act. It also claimed that the county could not reasonably accommodate Garner's hardship.

District Judge Phil Gilbert entered judgment of dismissal with prejudice and without costs 90 days from Jan. 30.

"Should the parties fail to consummate settlement within 90 days, they may petition the Court to delay entry of judgment until a later date," he wrote.

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Man sues Aldi after tripping on pallet of pumpkins

February 7, 2017, 8:02 am

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Editor's note: A previous version of this article mistakenly stated that the plaintiff is Madison County State's Attorney Tom Gibbons. The Record regrets the error. 

BELLEVILLE - A man is suing Aldi Inc. after he allegedly tripped on a pallet of pumpkins while shopping at a Swansea store.

Tom Gibbons filed his lawsuit on Feb. 2 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court through attorney Jeff Kopis of Kopis Law in Belleville.

Gibbons claims he was shopping on Oct. 2 at the Aldi store, located at 1708 North Illinois Street in Swansea, when he allegedly tripped on the corner of a pallet stacked with pumpkins at the end of an aisle.

Gibbons alleges he injured his back and chest as a result of the fall, suffering disability.

He also claims he endured necessary medical care, treatment and services, requiring him to expend money.

Gibbons alleges Aldi failed to manage, inspect and maintain its premises in a reasonably safe condition, failed to have a safe procedure for removing dangerous tripping conditions from areas of ingress and egress, failed to provide a safe and proper place for Gibbons to walk, allowed the premises to become unsafe or dangerous, failed to inspect the premises to be certain it was in a safe condition and failed to warn shoppers of the dangerous condition.

He says Aldi owed a duty to its customers and employees to keep the premises in a reasonably safe condition and to not create or allow any dangerous conditions to exist.

Gibbons seeks more than $50,000, plus court costs.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-42

A solution to the property tax problem

February 7, 2017, 8:32 am

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Todd Grigg teaches the importance of dollars and cents.

For more than 20 years, students in Grigg’s consumer education class at Triad High School in Troy have learned how to buy their first car, how to pay for college, and how to balance a checkbook.

But last week was different. Grigg taught one of his most painful lessons of the year: property taxes.

“There’s no doubt,” he said. “In our area and in our state we’re losing people because of high property taxes.”

Grigg is on the front lines of a problem plaguing communities across the state. Illinoisans pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation. And that’s driving people to seek greener pastures elsewhere. Due to Illinoisans’ rapid flight to other states, the Land of Lincoln has been the only shrinking state in the region for the last three years running.

Each year during his tax lessons, Grigg stands in front of a map. And he details opportunities beyond Illinois’ borders.

“I feel I have an obligation to tell them because I care about my students’ well-being more than my state’s well-being,” he said. “I don’t want [my students] to make the mistake of staying here because it’s the only thing they know.”

Local governments shouldn’t be hiking property taxes when so many people are heading elsewhere and teachers feel compelled to offer students an exit plan. That’s a recipe for disaster. Homeowners deserve a property tax system that will give them security in their homes and certainty in the future. They deserve relief.

That’s why comprehensive property tax reform is a key part of a new plan to balance the state budget without tax hikes: “Budget Solutions 2018” from the Illinois Policy Institute.

The first step in the Institute’s plan is a five-year property tax freeze. No longer will Illinoisans see local property taxes rise faster and faster as their personal incomes stagnate. But a freeze isn’t enough. Illinois needs to make its local governments accountable again. Lawmakers must pursue several different reforms.

For one, the state must make it far easier to consolidate units of local government, which often do not provide unique services and come with expensive and duplicative bureaucracies that residents must fund through property taxes.

Illinois has by far the most units of government in the nation, at nearly 7,000. But right now, it can be more difficult to get rid of a unit of local government than it is to amend the Illinois Constitution.

Further, curbing wasteful spending habits at the local level requires eliminating state subsidies that block accountability.

That includes ending revenue-sharing agreements that fuel excessive spending; stopping pension subsidies that allow school districts to dole out higher administrative pay, pension spikes and other unsustainable perks; and doing away with the special carve-outs in the education funding formula that shift state dollars to districts with property tax caps and special economic zones.

Some local governments will cry foul at losing even a dime of state money. That’s to be expected. But this is where the final step of real reform comes in: eliminating costly state mandates imposed on local governments.

Local leaders who actually want reform are currently handcuffed by Springfield. The state must empower local officials to drive the best bargain for taxpayers.

Right now, one-size-fits-all collective bargaining rules drive up the cost of contracts for public projects. The most expensive workers’ compensation costs in the region consume hundreds of millions of public dollars. And outdated prevailing wage rules often mandate six-figure salaries and benefits for basic construction work.

All three of these items require bold reform because all three are baked into property tax bills.

Ultimately, until state and local lawmakers can look residents in the eye and say they’ve tackled the property tax problem head-on, don’t expect families to stick around.

Mentors like Grigg will continue to tell the truth. And Illinoisans will continue to listen.

St. Clair County foreclosures Jan. 12-Feb. 1

February 7, 2017, 9:24 am

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January 12, 2017

PNC BANK V. DEBRA JONES, $52,903.78, 228 SUNSET DR., BELLEVILLE. 17CH27

JANUARY 17, 2017

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK V. EUGENE NICOL, $92,472.41, 118 JULIA PL., BELLEVILLE. 17CH31
GSMPS MORTGAGE LOAN V. PAUL AND KAREN PENDL, $27,781.07, 2423 ST. MARC DR., CAHOKIA. 17CH32
CIT BANK V. SALLY MCCONNELL, $19,574.36, 2107 LOUISE AVE., CAHOKIA. 17CH33
NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE V. JENNIFER HAENTZLER, $47,756.15, 1009 ROYAL HEIGHTS RD., BELLEVILLE. 17CH38

JANUARY 18, 2017

BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING V. MIRA AND MICHAEL FRANKLIN, $130,469.92, 613-615 WESTFIELD CT., BELLEVILLE. 17CH45

JANUARY 19, 2017

US BANK V. ROBIN AND DAVID ETHINGTON, $70,000.00, 819 S. MAIN ST., MARISSA. 17CH48

JANUARY 20, 2017

FREEDOM MORTGAGE V.  KELLY AND JEFFREY DOVE, $103,622.14, 9141 BUNKUM RD., FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS. 17CH49

JANUARY 23, 2017

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE V. MATTHEW GERALDS AND KELLEY STRONG GERALDS, $128,019.34, 9505 RISDON SCHOOL RD., MARISSA. 17CH50
US BANK V. CARLTON RAGSDALE, $163,495.57, 1529 N SMILEY ST., OFALLON. 17CH52
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK V. HARRIS BIRCHLER II, $37,891.80, 205 S. EUCLID AVE., MARISSA. 17CH53
WELLS FARGO BANK V. ALBERTA BEAN, $32,457.99, 647 GARFIELD HUBBARD SR. BLVD., E. ST. LOUIS. 17CH54
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON V. ERICA DAY, $107,869.81, 103 KARL PL., OFALLON. 17CH55

JANUARY 24, 2017

HSBC BANK V. CARLOS BURNS, $65,819.18, 131 LUCINDA AVE. UNIT #133, BELLEVILLE. 17CH59
PACIFIC UNION FINANCIAL V. NICHOL MORENO AND GLENN YOST, $119,294.23, 306 W. 2ND ST., OFALLON. 17CH60
FIRST COLLINSVILLE BANK V. GREGORY DAMRON, $95,661.49, 101 CORAL DR., COLLINSVILLE. 17CH75
PHH MORTGAGE V. DONNA JOHNSON, $39,921.99, 221 MISKELL BLVD., CAHOKIA. 17CH76
DITECH FINANCIAL V. NELLIE WRIGHT, $81,273.43, 119 NORTH 28TH ST., BELLEVILLE. 17CH77

JANUARY 25, 2017

NEW PENN FINANCIAL V. DONALD AND JEANETTE APPLETON, $62,585.99, 701 N. 76TH ST., E. ST. LOUIS. 17CH71

JANUARY 26, 2017

ASSOCIATED BANK V. DANIEL AND AMY GERTEISEN, $82,994.87, 518 W. ADAMS ST., MILLSTADT . 17CH62

JANUARY 27, 2017

M&T BANK V. CHRISTINE KISRO, $28,871.15, 417 CHURCH ST., CAHOKIA. 17CH72
HSBC BANK V. ALTHEA BUSH, $44,114.87, 428 WILSON LN. FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS. 17CH73
ASSOCIATED BANK V. THE REX CARR LAW FIRM, $15,739.55, 412 MISSOURI AVE., E. ST. LOUIS. 17CH74

JANUARY 30, 2017

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE V. KAREN AND JEFFREY NICHOLS, $91,815.02, 513 LOUISA AVE., DUPO. 17CH79
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE V. MARGARET BEST, $102,389.74, 522 HIGHLAND ESTATES DR., OFALLON. 17CH80

JANUARY 31, 2017

WELLS FARGO BANK V. THOMAS CARLEY II, $55,825.46, 1787 AMBROSE TERRACE DR., SWANSEA. 17CH86

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

WELLS FARGO BANK V. DOUGLAS AND JULIANNA PETERS, $276,136.48, 2608 FAIRWAY DR., BELLEVILLE. 17CH85

St. Clair County real estate Jan. 26-31

February 7, 2017, 9:59 am

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JANUARY 26, 2017

BELLEVILLE

$42,924- 26 N. DOUGLAS AVE. - PATRICK BRYDON TO KELLEEN STOKES
$35,493- 210 LEBANON AVE. - PATRICK BRYDON AND KELLEEN STOKES TO KELLEEN STOKES
$71,000- 2209-2211 N. RICHLAND PRAIRIE BLVD. - FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE TO RINGKAMP DEVELOPMENT
$87,000- 1822 JAY ST. - A&E MIDWEST INVESTMENTS TO ATHENA MILLER
$10,000- 223 N. 11TH ST. - FANNIE MAE TO JERMAINE BALL
$4,500- 615 ST. CLAIR AVE. - ESTATE OF RICHARD STEPHENS TO ELLEN THIELEMAN
$42,900- 2551 PLUM HILL SCHOOL RD. - FANNIE MAE TO KRISTIN SUMMERS AND ANGELA KEMPFER
$22,000- 16 ROSEHAVEN DR. - FANNIE MAE TO AMANDA GRIFFIN AND MCCALLA RAYMER PIERCE
$12,500- 740 N. 17TH ST. - ESTATE OF RICHARD STEPHENS TO ELLEN THIELEMAN
$120,000- 228 BROOKMONT DR. - PARRONE AND ASSOCIATES TO AMANDA HODGE AND TITUS SLEET

CAHOKIA

$15,000- 708 ST. MAUD - BRANNAN PLACE INVESTMENTS TO 708 ST. MAUD LAND TRUST

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS

$75,000- 9502 MARYANN DR. - LARISSA KENNEY AND MAURO PERALTA TO ALISHIA RANDOLPH
$214,500- 9110 BASSWOOD DR. - TAMMY KRUMMRICH TO CHAD AND CRYSTAL ADAMS

MASCOUTAH

$197,000- 605 MOORLAND CR. - DANIELLE HOLBERT TO KYLE KEMKER

OFALLON

$287,739- 809 FIELDPOINT CT. - INNOVATION CONSTRUCTION SERVICES TO JUSTIN AND SARAH WARD

SMITHTON

$65,000- 4239 ENGLISH OAK LN. - JOHN AND CATHERINE RANEY TO DALLAS PLASTERING CO.

SUMMERFIELD

$22,000- 405 E. WAKEFIELD ST. - DORIS SCHAFFSTALL AND KAREN ZOTZ TO DANG THANH TAN AND NGUYEN VAN THANH

SWANSEA

$45,000- 120 CASTLE DR. - SECRETARY OF HUD TO HERVE GELIN

JANUARY 27, 2017

BELLEVILLE

$44,000- 6012 W. WASHINGTON ST., 130 CLEARVIEW DR., 229 LOWELL CT. - MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BOND CO. TO CLAVE
$30,000- 816 PORTLAND AVE. - GEORGE AND BARBARA LEVELING TO KENNETH R. RIVER
$5,500- 808 WINSLOW RD. - OVATION REO 3 LLC TO JERRY L. LEEHY SR.,
$70,000- 5 JOHANNA PL. - MIDWEST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT SERVICES TO CHAD LITTON
$126,000- 216 CHURCHILL DR. - PAUL AND COURTNEY MUNIE TO SHAWN HAVEY
$205,000- 874 ASHLEY COVE CT. - JOHN AND MARGARET MCCONNELL TO CARTUS FINANCIAL CORP.
$194,000- 874 ASHLEY COVE CT. - CARTUS FINANCIAL CORP. TO PATRICK AND LAUREN WHEELER

CAHOKIA

$6,736- 1064 ST. MARGARET DR. - KENNETH AND DENISE SPISAK TO CLJ SERVICES
$38,264- 120 ST. PAUL DR., 144 ST. DOROTHY DR. - KENNETH SPISAK JR. TO CLJ SERVICES
$95,000- 129 ST. JAMES LN., 28 ST. GREGORY DR., 145 ST. JAMES LN. , 50 ST. AMBROSE DR., 128 ST. BARBARA LN. - KENNETH SPISAK TO CLJ SERVICES
$23,500- 1064 ST. MARGARET DR. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$22,000- 120 ST. PAUL DR. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$22,000- 144 ST. DOROTHY DR. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$22,000- 128 ST. BARBARA LN. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$22,000- 50 ST. AMBROSE DR. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$22,000- 145 ST. JAMES LN. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$23,500- 129 ST. JAMES LN. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$23,500- 28 ST. GREGORY DR. - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS

$103,000- 18 ESTATES VIEW DR. - JUDY LAUGHLIN TO TIFFANY FRAWLEY

MASCOUTAH

$269,973- 826 TANZANITE LN. - CNR INC TO MICHAEL AND JENNIFER KNIGHT
$450,000- 105 S. COUNTY RD. - NORMAN AND CAROLYN ROWOLD TO RMT MALIBU LLC
$163,500- 6433 HIGHBANKS RD. - DANIEL AND ROBIN VOEGELE TO WILLIAM AND MARY  HENSLEY

OFALLON

$243,000- 686 JANEITA CT. - ANTHONY AND BECKY BRITTINGH TO ROBERT AND LINDSAY LAFOLLETTE

SHILOH

$45,000- 134 SHILOH HEIGHTS DR. - ST LOUIS INVESTMENTS TO TIM AND JAYME BORKOWSKI

JANUARY 30, 2017

BELLEVILLE

$26,250- 15 N. 47TH ST. - SUBLETTE HOLDINGS CO. TO ERIC AND BUDDY GILLAN
$78,750- 15 N. 47TH ST. - BERKSHIRE REALTY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP TO ERIC AND BUDDY GILLAN
$98,000- 322 S. PENNSYLVANIA AVE. - BRIAN WEBB TO DONALD NOLL
$40,000- 2100 E. B ST. - JONES TRUST NO 1 TO GREGORY POWERS
$17,000- 1749 ALEXANDER ST. - US BANK TO SOUTHERN SPECIALTY PROPERTIES
$315,000- 159 WYNDROSE ESTATES DR. - DANIEL AND AMANDA FRIEDERICH TO MICHAEL AND ANNE LOUTH
$134,000- 556 WINDRIFT DR. - BRIAN TUCHTEN AND ANDREA GULA TO JOYCE PRYOR
$64,200- 536 VILLA DR. - MARY AND DENNISE DAVIS JR. TO GERRY LOESER
$10,000- 411 & 413 N. 1ST ST. - DIETERICH BANK TO ELLEN THIELEMAN

CAHOKIA

$13,000- 2009 DELORES ST. - V.I. INC TO ERIC KNAUST

E. ST. LOUIS

$11,500- 644 N. 76TH ST - FREDERICK BRADLEY TO CLJ SERVICES
$16,500- 644 N. 76TH ST - CLJ SERVICES TO TOPSTONE INV CAH 1 LLC
$100- 2336 CAROL - AMERICAN HOMEOWNER PERSERVATION LLC TO STATES RESOURCES CORP.

LEBANON

$157,500- 11200 HAGEMANN RD. - ANDREW VOLLMER TO CARLA CRUZEN

MARISSA

$120,000- 116 & 118 S. MAIN ST. - CHELSEA CAMPBELL TO JBL ENTERPRISES

MILLSTADT

$175,000- ROADTOWN RD. - ROGER HARTMANN AND SANDRA HOLDNER TO WILLIAM BECKER

OFALLON

$383,403- 504 LAKE VISTA WAY - HUNTINGTON CHASE HOMES CORP. TO JASON AND LAURA MAHAFFEY
$204,900- 1200 PEPPERIDGE DR. - KALON GREEVES AND CHELSI SMITH TO SCOTT AND MELISSA GYLLENBORG
$301,332- 1304 YEATS CT. - D&F CONTRACTING TO JEREMY AND MELISSA CLANIN

SMITHTON

$271,163- 4657 CHESTNUT RIDGE WAY - D&F CONTRACTING TO KATELYN SCHMEDER

SWANSEA

$25,000- 4216 SMELTING WORKS RD. - ROBERT AND JOYCE GOODNETTER TO VERIZON WIRELESS

JANUARY 31, 2017

BELLEVILLE

$45,500- 1424 BEL AIRE DR. - JOHN L. AND EVANGELINE HANEY TO SHARINE BELLAMY
$147,000- 49 SIGNAL HILL BLVD. - DANIEL WAYNE CHAMBERLIN TO WEICHERT WORKFORCE MOBILITY
$147,000- 49 SIGNAL HILL BLVD. - WICHERT WORKFORCE MOBILITY TO SARAH PENDERGRASS
$5,000- LISA LN. AND 425 N. 36TH ST. - DOROTHY FEDER TO C. RICHARD VERNIER
$101,500- 49 HI POINTE DR. - FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN CARLYLE TO SHAUN DOWNS AND ROBERT STEWARD
$94,500- 10 LLOYD CR. - B&T BUILDING CONCEPTS TO GERALD COX
$68,500- 1316-1318 UNION AVE. - MICHAEL HEFFERMAN AND DIANE CAHNOVSKY TO SHELBY J. ATKINS JONES
$121,000- 105 WINCHESTER DR. - BLAKE AND MELANIE KECK TO SCOTT WEBER AND SARAH SCHMIDT
$103,000- 17 LAKEWOOD DR. - NAFI ALIMI TO STEPHEN HAGAN
$42,099- 109 BARRINGTON DR. - WELLS FARGO BANK TO BOBBIE BALLANCE
$162,500- 2777 BROOKMEADOW DR. - LINDSEE MEYER TO SAMANTHA ND JOHN BURNS

COLUMBIA

$239,900- XXXX BLUFFSIDE RD. - VERA REICHERT TO EILEEN AND EARL DOERR TRUST

E. ST. LOUIS

$18,900- 8208 CHURCH LN. - HAWK PROPERTIES TO LILLIE CASWELL
$150- 5611 PIGGOT AVE. EAST - HUSSIN ILYAS TO GREENBRIDGE HOLDINGS LLC

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS

$15,000- 9111 N. STREET - STATE BANK OF WATERLOO TO DANIEL AND TONYA HASENSTAB

MARISSA

$125,000- OLD LENZBURG RD. - ROBERT HUGHES TO GERALD NIERMANN
$25,000- OLD LENZBURG RD. - ROBERT HUGHES TO GERALD NIERMANN
$25,000- OLD LENZBURG RD. - ROBERT HUGHES TO GERALD NIERMANN
$25,000- OLD LENZBURG RD. - ROBERT HUGHES TO GERALD NIERMANN

MASCOUTAH

$1,100,000- 9711 FUESSER RD. - HOSSEIN AND SHARON SHAHARI TO 3 J PROPERTIES 1

OFALLON

$39,900- 248 PEORIA LN. - ESTATES AT PRAIRIE CROSSING DEVELOPMENT TO FULFORD HOMES
$125,801- 1005 EDGEWATER DR. - THE JUDICIAL SALES CORP. TO JIMEL ENTERPRISES

SHILOH

$35,000- 856 BLUFF RIDGE LN. - SD2 LLC TO FULFORD HOMES

SWANSEA

$135,000- 30 HUNTWOOD CT. - NICOLAS FUEHNE TO DANIEL CLARK AND KATHERINE SANDERS

Man sues Buckey's Express over slip and fall

February 3, 2017, 2:51 pm

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EDWARDSVILLE — An man is suing a gas station after he slipped and fell on a puddle of water.

Greg Cavin filed a complaint on Jan. 23, in the Madison County Circuit Court against Buck's Inc., doing business as Buckey's Express, doing business as Buchanan Energy, alleging the gas and store operator failed to properly maintain their premises in a safe condition.

According to the complaint, Cavin alleges that on June 28, 2015, he was lawfully at Buckey's Express to purchase gas for his vehicle. While filling up his car and cleaning the windows, he claims he slipped and fell on a puddle of water on the floor.

As a result, Cavin alleges he sustained bodily injuries resulting in pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss wages and medical expenses.

The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to properly inspect the premises, failed to provide adequate lighting and failed to warn the plaintiff of the existence of the dangerous condition.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant for an equitable sum of $50,000, plus costs of this suit.

He is represented by Michael P. Glisson and Timothy J. Chartrand of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson in Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-102

Madison County foreclosures Jan. 27-Feb. 3

February 7, 2017, 10:42 am

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JANUARY 27, 2017

FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE V. BENTLEY AND YVONNE MCINTYRE, $205,160.02, 109 EMERALD WAY, GRANITE CITY. 17CH68
CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES V. SCOTT AND AMY TRITTSCHUH, $86,747.16, 3701 JOHNSON RD., GRANITE CITY. 17CH69
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES V. RENE AND TROY MCKEE, $111,870.94, 203 DALE AVE., COLLINSVILLE. 17CH70
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK V. MARK AND CYNTHIA DAVIDSON, $54,269.66, 805 MISSOURI AVE., S. ROXANA. 17CH71

JANUARY 30, 2017

FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE V. PATRICIA HAMBY, $40,382.73, 610 VERMONT ST., BETHALTO. 17CH73
DITECH FINANCIAL LLC V. JAMES II AND ANGELA EBERHART, $30,271.10, 896 STATE ST., WOOD RIVER. 17CH74

JANUARY 31, 2017

US BANK V. GEORGE AND ASHLEY SCHANK, $94,256.94, 1601 CLARK AVE., GRANITE CITY. 17CH75
US BANK V. MAMIE WEST, $40,746.17, 1129 E. 7TH ST., ALTON. 17CH76

FEBRUARY 1, 2017

WELLS FARGO BANK V. ANGELA BROWN, $39,392.40, 123 E. TYDEMAN AVE., ROXANA. 17CH77
FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE V. JOHN AND JUDITH HILL, $83,049.09, 2076 JOLLY ROGER DR., EDWARDSVILLE. 17CH78
FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN STAUNTON V. MICHAEL KARLAS, $69,151.86,440 N. 6TH ST., WOOD RIVER. 17CH79

FEBRUARY 2, 2017

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE V. DARLENE BUSH, $39,529.42, 701 VICTORY DR., COLLINSVILLE. 17CH80
REGIONS BANK V. FRED LAIRD, $31,701.79, 120 E. HAWTHORNE ST., HARTFORD. 17CH81
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON V. WINSTON WALLACE, $311,358.08, 6159 STONE WOLFE DR., GLEN CARBON. 17CH82

FEBRUARY 3, 2017

HSBC BANK V. DAVID PRINCIVALLI, $89,176.43, 801 E. 4TH ST., ALTON. 17CH83
WELLS FARGO BANK V. HEIRS OF GEORGE CLUTTS SR., $22,265.42, 2638 E. 24TH ST., GRANITE CITY. 17CH84

Madison County real estate Jan. 19-26

February 7, 2017, 11:06 am

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JANUARY 19, 2017

ALTON

$59,900- 0 SEMINARY RD., TRACT 3 - CHARLES PARISH III TO DAVID AND KIMBERLY HAUCK

BETHALTO

$17,500- 919 W. CORBIN ST., - FANNIE MAE TO PATRICK LYONS
$99,500- 117 ABBOTT ST. - DENNIS AND CHERYL WILSCHETZ TO SCOTT AND ASHLEY WASSER

COLLINSVILLE

$186,900- 157 PINE HOLLOW LN. - JENNIFER AND TODD STEWART TO STEVEN AND DONNA BRADLEY

E. ALTON

$82,000- 87 BENDER AVE. - DARREN PELOT TO BRITTANY SEBASTIAN

EDWARDSVILLE

$251,500- 5548 QUERCUS GROVE RD. - DAVID AND KIMBERLY POTEET TO DAVID AND DENISE WHITTINGTON
$183,000- 294 DEEP COVE DR. - BRUCE AND SHERYL WYMAN TO JONATHAN AND JERI WOELFEL
$155,500- 305 N. BUCHANAN ST. - BETTY SCHMIDT TO JOHN AND PATTI ALEXANDER

GODFREY

$147,500- 3402 MORKEL DR. - THOMAS SCHNEIDER TO EVAN STUTZ
$25,000- 5200 PINE RIDGE DR. - JANETTE CRAWFORD TO ROBERT GEILHAUSEN



GRANITE CITY

$20,000- 2508 JERDEN AVE. - IMPROVEMENT HOMES LLC TO TOPSTONE BAYFLIP CAH I LLC
$30,500- 2407 TERMINAL AVE. - THE SECRETARY OF VA TO SOFIA PROPERTIES LLC
$20,150- 2419 GRAND AVE. - FANNIE MAE TO BUSCHMAN AND HUTCHASON PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC
$29,500- 18 TULIP AVE. - US BANK TO ROBERT BROWN
$30,000- 743 NIEDRINGHAUS - GOSHEN REAL ESTATE TO CHARLES ZEITLER
$9,595- 2442 SHERIDAN AVE. - GOSHEN REAL ESTATE TO JOSHUA WANIA
$17,500- 2008 WASHINGTON AVE. - GOSHEN REAL ESTATE TO CALEB DAVID AND MATTHEW FINGERHUT
$62,000- 1947 JOY AVE. - MATTHEW AND SARAH MACKO TO DANIEL MCKINNEY
$30,000- 2633 NORTH ST. - KATHLEEN MEDLIN TO DEVON STEIN

HIGHLAND

$88,000- 1704 PARKVIEW DR. - CAROL HUNDSDORFER TO VIRGIL SCHRAGE

MARYVILLE

$64,000- 312 PARKVIEW ST. - FANNIE MAE TO LUKE ALLAN AND CONNIE MASSANDER

S. ROXANA

$35,000- WASHINGTON AVE. - LAND DEVELOPMENT CO. TO DANNY SR. AND ANNETTA COPE

TROY

$117,900- 414 ACKERMAN PL. - LORI PULLMAN TO JAMES HOFFMAN

WOOD RIVER

$241,317- 3425 MAPLE RIDGE DR. - FULFORD HOMES RHT LLC TO WILL AND ASHLY MAYNARD
$115,950- 441 5TH ST. - DAVID AND MICHELLE ANDERSON TO NATHANIEL AND NICOLE GILL
$75,000- 220 CHASSEN AVE. - MARIE KINDER TRUST TO JEROME AND DEBORAH WADE

JANUARY 20, 2017

ALTON

$1,402,523- 3430 COLLEGE AVE. - PROFESSIONAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TO SCF RC FUNDING III LLC
$97,000- 2423 EDWARDS ST. - JEREMY AND MARY MILLS TO JAMES SHOEMAKER
$34,000- 3429 MERIDOCIA ST. - ESTATE OF CAROLYN BOSWELL TO RAY COMBS AND SALLY SMITH
$800- 1900 ESTHER ST. - ALVIN ELLIOTT TO MITCHELL HOLMES SR.

COLLINSVILLE

$342,000- 1701 ST. LOUIS RD. - FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZERENE TO LIFEPOINT MINISTRIES
$50,000- 416 RIDGEMONT RD. - BETTY PETTY TO RANDALL WATT
$112,000- 502 WESTERN AVE. - BART ASTRAUSKAS TO AMY SLATER
$78,000- 1203 POWELL AVE. - SHAWN AND JENNIFER MOORE TO AAGE AND LINDA BRANDSOY

E. ALTON

$15,000- 714 VALLEY DR. - SECRETARY OF HUD TO BRIAN TRIMM
$37,000- 111 HERMAN ST. - MICHELLE AND WILLIAM OERTER TO SARAH SALZMAN

EDWARDSVILLE

$152,000- 1454 CASTLE CT. - ARVIND AND DIMPLE AGGRAWAL TO MALKIT SINGH GREWAL ET AL
$192,000- 1902 MEADOW LN. - THOMAS AND JOHN OWEN TO HAROLD II AND NANCY ROBERTS
$325,500- 1010 ST. LOUIS ST. - EMIL CROOK TO LOWELL LYTLE

GLEN CARBON

$95,000- 206 BLUE RIDGE - CHAMPAIGN INVESTMENT LLC TO DIAMANTE CAPITAL

GODFREY

$75,000- 242 ADMIRAL DR. - GREGORY POPE TO JAVA TAYLOR

GRANITE CITY

$71,000- 2501 BENTON ST. - ERIC MANN TO ANDREW MCDERMOTT AND KRISTEN PASTORIZA
$13,000- 2609 MADISON AVE. - BANK OF AMERICA TO GILMORE PROPERTIES AND INVESTMENTS LIMITED
$8,925- 2703 MYRTLE AVE. - FANNIE MAE TO ODELL ROY LLC
$4,800- 2033 ILLINOIS AVE. - SECRETARY OF HUD TO RAMONE BOYD
$10,000- 4741 WARNOCK AVE. - RICHARD AND VICKY WRIGHT TO GENE AND MELVA BARRY

HIGHLAND

$55,000- 1306 8TH ST. - JANE KORTE TRUST TO KATHY TILSON
$98,000- 62 NORTHWEST MANOR - STACY HEUBERGER TO RICHARD AND MELISSA ROBBS
$224,000- 305 BANEBERRY DR. - METTLER DEVELOPMENT TO JAMES AND BARBARA DONAHUE
$300,000- 44 WILLOW CREEK DR. - DANIEL AND LINDA ROSE TO JOHN AND CHRISTINE TAYLOR

MARYVILLE

$310,000- 113 STONEBRIDGE CROSSING DR. - OSBORN HOMES TO LYNELL ROBINSON JR.
$172,500- 2017 BRIARBEND CT. - ELLEN DEVINE TO STEPHEN BURGESS JR. AND COURTNEY WISENOR

NEW DOUGLAS

$2,750- 511 W. ST. LOUIS ST. - 511 W. ST. LOUIS ST. LAND TRUST TO DAVE SULLIVAN

ROXANA

$82,500- 401, 403, AND 405 CLARK ST. - CATHY BLACKWOOD TO ROBERT MILLER AND CINDY SIMPSON

TROY

$9,300,000- 39 DOROTHY DR. - FOUNTAINS TIC 1 LLC ET AL TO SNH/LTA PROPERTIES GA LLC
$140,000- 8606 COLONIAL ACRES RD. - PAMELA BROSKAM TRUST TO BRUCE BOURLAND
$93,000- 802 LANCELOT LN. - HELENE KILPATRICK TO TRAVIS KINDER
$8,500- 440 PARKSIDE DR. - TRACY HOLEMAN TO AND SAND FUTURE INVESTMENTS LLC
$13,000- 515 CHICKADEE ST. - TERRY CASHEN TO AND SAND FUTURE INVESTMENTS LLC

JANUARY 23, 2017

ALTON

$500- 210 LAMPERT - CITY OF ALTON TO WESLEY MCGOWAN
$500- 2400 HUMBERT ST. - CHARLES BRUCE TO MICHAEL KILLION JR.

BETHALTO

$117,900- 828 BRIARWOOD DR. - FANNIE MAE TO WINDOM PROPERTIES
$108,000- 5 FERNWOOD CT. - AARON AND CLAIRE JOHNSON TO PATRICK HARRIS

COLLINSVILLE

$131,000- 210 CAMELOT DR. - MLH2 PROPERTIES LLC TO RICKY HUNG YEE HUA, JANE CHENG CHIEN HUA AND SAN HUA
$115,000- 1031 CALIFORNIA AVE. - DEBRA AND DONALD GOOLSBY TO MORRIS HANNON
$137,800- 1711 KEEBLER AVE. - SARAH RUNGE TO LERCH HOMES INC.

E. ALTON

$38,500- 604 WASHINGTON AVE. - HAROLD PRATT TO DARRELL AND LINDA GILL

EDWARDSVILLE

$64,000- 413 SANNER ST. - CHRISTOPHER VEATH TO JEREMY LOEMKER
$27,000- 7401 LAKE JAMES DR. - PATSY JACKSON TO BROK CHASTEEN
$100,000- 30 DORSET CT. - JULIE DANIELS TO ANN OROZCO

GLEN CARBON

$387,400- 218 EDWARDS ST. - REMINGTON PROPERTIES TO BRIAN AND JESSICA THERIEN

GODFREY

$183,000- 5302 SHANNON DR. - BRIAN AND JENNIFER DISKIN TO WILLIAM AND COURTNEY KINKEL

GRANITE CITY

$55,000- 2657 GRAND AVE. - TIFFANY AND DAVID WYCOFF TO LINDA WHITFORD
$59,000- 3029 RAMONA DR. - DOROTHY VAUGHN TO SCOTT PINKAS

MARYVILLE

$117,500- 300 W. ZUPAN ST. - SHAWN HARTMANN TO DAVID EDWARDS

TROY

$270,000- 2600 CHELSEY DR. - JOHN AND RHONDA STOWE TO GERALD HASSEBROCK

VENICE

$100- 424 LINCOLN ST. - MICHAEL JACKSON TO ISAIAH LAWRENCE

WOOD RIVER

$70,000- 27 ECKHARD AVE. - KAYLYN AND ELVANUS WATTS TO MARK HEINOLD
$26,500- 158 E JENNINGS AVE. - DIAMANTE CAPITAL TO HD HOMES LLC

JANUARY 24, 2017

ALTON

$345,000- 3201 FOSTERBURG RD. - CHESTER DAIRY CO. TO ALTON MINI MART INC.

BETHALTO

$225,000- 310 W. BETHALTO DR. - CHESTER DAIRY CO. TO SSP DAIRY CORP.
$56,986- 307 MINE ST. - JPMORGAN CHASE BANK TO REBECCA GREEN

E. ALTON

$92,000- 714 RIDGEWAY - ELLEN CASE TO CANDACE AND DENISE WILLIAMS
$76,000- 813 WILLOWAY AVE. - NANCY WILSON KING TO DAVID HASSEL
$6,500- 114 CARDOT ST. - CHRISTOPHER KADELL TO ELLEN CONNOYER CASE

GLEN CARBON

$50,000- 3 CAROLYN - LINDA PARKER TO KURT HINNEN

GRANITE CITY

$101,500- 4 ROBIN CT. - KEITH AND LISA MATHENIA TO TALYIA GREEN
$81,000- 2532 PINE ST. - DEBBIE HENCY TO HENRY AND JAMIE WILLIAMS
$15,000- 2437 CENTER ST. - WELLS FARGO BANK TO TIMOTHY AND TIFANI GRAY

HAMEL

$35,000- THIRD ST. - BOEKER PROPERTIES TO JORDEN WEDEL AND SHELBY BOEKER

TROY

$160,000- 513 NANCY CT. - BRANDON SACHS TO AMBER BRENTON

WOOD RIVER

$30,900- 679 E. LORENA AVE. - BANK OF AMERICA TO TILLER HOLDINGS
$108,000- 171 E. PENNING AVE. - WILLIAM AND JENNIFER LEWIS TO NEIL CUSTER

JANUARY 25, 2017

COLLINSVILLE

$63,005- 205 EMERY ST. - JPMORGAN CHASE BANK TO CALDWELL PROPERTY INVESTMENTS

EDWARDSVILLE

$263,400- 44 WILLOW CT. - STEPHEN KLINGEL TO CHRISTY SONTAG

GODFREY

$87,000- DAVIS LN. - PAUL AND MARY BARTLETT TO AMY MARKO
$1,500- GRACE ST. - CORNERSTONE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH TO FRED AND SHERRI WHITWORTH

GRANITE CITY

$33,653- 2716 IDAHO AVE. - SECRETARY OF HUD TO LISA CANTLON
$32,750- 16-18 MERCER DR. - THE SECRETARY OF VA TO CHRIS MOULDON
$120,000- 1823 CLEVELAND - ROBERT AND LORRIE STOPPKOTTE TO KEITH FEARS
$16,000- STATE ROUTE 203 - GEORGE CAPELA TO BRYAN BAUER
$84,000- 3806 FRANKLIN AVE. - NANCY FREIBRUGHAUS TO MARK DITTMANN
$99,000- 2 FRONTENAC LN. - EDWARD AND LAVEEDA KNOBBE TRUST TO KEELEY AND ERIC REED

HIGHLAND

$169,000- 18 GRANITE CT. - JEFFREY AND DEBORAH KUHN TO MARK AND FELICIA FREY
$145,000- 2347 KENNEDY LN. - TERRY HENSCHEN TO JASON AND KATHRYN METTLER

MARYVILLE

$261,000- 1 TIMBERWOOD DDR. - VICKY TARRANCE TO MATTHEW AND TIFFANY NIMMONS

S. ROXANA

$32,500- 434 OHIO AVE. - US BANK TO ANTHONY AND HENRY HOLMES

WOOD RIVER

$6,500- 810 PENNING AVE. - SHEREN SHIFFLETT TO RICHARD URSCH

JANUARY 26, 2017

ALTON

$56,000- 2741 HILLCREST - PATRICK TAYLOR TO CHELSEA MARINACCI

BRIGHTON

$84,000- 7610 MONTCLAIRE AVE. - CHARLES SCHEER TO BRANDON AND DANIELLE FEEZEL

COTTAGE HILLS

$50,000- 1405 2ND ST. - JIMMY HARRISON JR. TO CALVIN AND CASSIE WIENEKE

EDWARDSVILLE

$80,000- 829 SHERMAN AVE. - BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING TO RANAE HARRIS , ANN RITZ AND REBECCA LANTER
$86,000- 19 DORSET CT. - LORI AND CHRISTOPHER NAZETTA TO ROMAN AND SILVIA FERDINAND
$200,000- 305 THOMAS TERRACE - MOHAMMAD RAZEGHI TO KBG PROPERTIES

GLEN CARBON

$265,000- 5 BLUE SPRING CT. - ALAN AND JULIE WILKINSON TO LEE HUNTLEY SR.

GRANITE CITY

$15,000- 3412 LAKE DR. - BENNY AND RHONDA NOLAN TO BENNY NOLAN

---

HeplerBroom attorneys named SuperLawyers, Rising Stars

February 7, 2017, 11:16 am

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EDWARDSVILLE - Twenty-two HeplerBroom attorneys were recognized with the Super Lawyers Magazine after being named Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.

Specifically, 12 attorneys were named 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers and 10 were named 2017 Illinois  Rising Stars.

The attorneys recognized at Super Lawyers at the Edwardsville office included: Beth A. Bauer recognized for Class Action, Brenda G. Baum recognized for Product Liability Defense, Troy A. Bozarth recognized for General Litigation, Gordon R. Broom recognized for General Litigation, Jeffrey S. Hebrank recognized for Class Action, Larry E. Hepler recognized for Class Action, Theodore J. MacDonald, Jr.  recognized for Medical Malpractice Defense and W. Jason Rankin recognized for Class Action.

At the Springfield and Crystal Lake offices, Stephen R. Kaufmann was recognized for Professional Liability Defense and Aleen R. Tiffany was recognized for Construction Litigation.

The attorneys recognized out of the Chicago office include Linda J. Hay recognized for Professional Liability, Anne M. Oldenburg recognized for Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice, Robert H. Sands recognized for Class Action and Anthony J. Tunney recognized for Professional Liability Defense.

The Edwardsville office also had four attorneys recognized for the 2017 Rising Stars, including Andrew K. Carruthers recognized for Business/Corporate Law, Matthew B. Champlin recognized for Product Liability Defense, Jason D. Johnson recognized for Business Litigation and Gregory W. Odom recognized for Civil Litigation Defense.

Two attorneys at the Springfield office were recognized as Rising Stars, including Jessica L. Galanos for Civil Litigation Defense and Michael P. Murphy for Product Liability Defense.

At the Chicago office, the attorneys recognized for Rising Stars included James P DuChateau for Insurance Coverage, Gabriel R. Judd for Insurance Coverage, Edna L. McLain for Product Liability Defense and Issac R. Melton for Product Liability Defense.

Attorneys Jeffrey S. Hebrank and Thomas J. Magee were also named top 2017 lawyers.

HeplerBroom operates six locations around the midwest, with five offices in in Illinois and one in Missouri. It began business in 1894, and is highly “committed to providing unparalleled client service and innovative and efficient legal expertise has allowed it to grow steadily over the years.”

HeplerBroom's attorneys “provide legal expertise in a wide variety of areas, ranging from asbestos litigation to estate planning to white-collar criminal defense.”

“Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement,” according to Super Lawyers. This service chooses attorneys using a rigorous selection process and evaluates candidates “on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement, and selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.”

Super Lawyers reported that only a few attorneys are recognized for such honors yearly. 

“Only 5% of attorneys are selected as Super Lawyers and only 2.5% are selected as Rising Stars.”

Woman sues driver over Wood River collision

February 7, 2017, 11:29 am

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EDWARDSVILLE — A woman is suing a motorist for allegedly causing a Wood River car accident.

Krista Booth filed a complaint on Jan. 24 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Garrett Binning, alleging he failed to operate his vehicle in a safe and prudent manner.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on June 5, 2015, she was operating her motor vehicle in Wood River when Binning allegedly crashed into her vehicle, causing her to sustain injuries.

As a result, Booth claims she suffered great pain and mental anguish, loss earnings and medical expenses.

The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to keep careful lookout, failed to yield and failed to timely stop his vehicle to avoid collision.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant in a sum exceeding $50,000, plus costs of this suit and such other relief as the court deems appropriate.

She is represented by Gregory M. Tobin of Pratt & Tobin PC in East Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-101

Passenger alleges injuries from Granite City collision

February 7, 2017, 11:46 am

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EDWARDSVILLE — A passenger is suing a motorist for allegedly causing a Granite City collision.

Michael Ryan filed a complaint on Jan. 25 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Donald Bono, alleging he breached his duty to operate his vehicle with reasonable care for the safety of others.

According to the complaint, Ryan alleges that on April 15, 2015, he was a passenger in a vehicle traveling on Niedringhaus Avenue in Granite City when Bono negligently struck the vehicle the plaintiff was in.

As a result, Ryan claims he sustained injuries that required medical treatment and expenses.

The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to keep careful lookout, failed to yield and failed to reduce speed or stop his vehicle to avoid collision.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant in the reasonable amount exceeding $50,000, plus costs expended for this suit and all other relief that the court deems just and proper.

He is represented by George H. Albers of Roth Law Offices PC in Granite City.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-115

Driver, passenger sue motorist for alleged negligence

February 7, 2017, 11:52 am

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EDWARDSVILLE — A driver and passenger allege injuries resulting from a car crash.

Patricia and Nathan Wilson filed a complaint on Jan. 27 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Jessie L. Jones, alleging he failed to operate his vehicle in a way that would avoid damage and injury to other motorists.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on Feb. 1, 2015, they were stopped at a red light when the defendant negligently collided with their vehicle at a speed of approximately 25-30 miles per hour, causing both plaintiffs to sustain injuries.

As a result, the Wilsons claim they suffered great pain and mental anguish, loss of earnings and medical expenses.

The plaintiffs allege the defendant failed to keep careful lookout, drove the vehicle in a careless/reckless manner and failed to stop, swerve, slacken speed, sound a warning, or any combination thereof to avoid the accident.

The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek for an amount exceeding $50,000 and for any other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

They are represented by Thomas R. Applewhite of Donner Applewhite, Attorneys at Law in St. Louis.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 2017L-000131

Madison County Board member pays tribute to firefighters

February 7, 2017, 12:26 pm

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To the Editor:

To be in the presence of such a brave and noble group, the Granite City Firefighters Local 253, I am honored. They help our community in ways large and small, each and every day. They are counted on to rescue, recover and safeguard our property, homes, businesses and loved ones at tremendous risk regularly.

This message also is directed to members of the Long Lake Fire Protection District, Mitchell Fire District and South Roxana Fire District.

The career they have chosen is one of compassion, daring and giving. It is a dangerous job that requires courage beyond what is normally expected. Firefighters are part of a brotherhood that transcends age, ethnicity and gender. They work together with the knowledge that none of us is as capable or smart as all of us.

On their slower days, prepared to serve, waiting is serving. In spite of the daunting possibilities of their next call, they are some of the kindest, most caring men and women I have ever met, doing more than their fair share of community service.

They seem to be life lovers and enjoy each other, their community, and the challenges of the career they have chosen.

In every community there are important lessons that could be learned from the way our beloved firefighters conduct themselves on and off the job.

On behalf of Madison County District 16, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have never met a firefighter that I did not like. You all are truly the best of us.

Helen Hawkins
Madison County Board District 16

New Trier High School offering students 'smorgasbord of ideologically non-diverse seminars'

February 7, 2017, 1:06 pm

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To the Editor:

A group of parents of New Trier High School students is concerned about what their teens will be taught during the forthcoming "All School Seminar Day" planned for Feb. 28, titled: "Understanding Today's Struggle for Racial Civil Rights."

New Trier High School is often ranked among the best in the country. It serves the prosperous suburbs north of Chicago - Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, most of Northfield, and parts of Glenview - an overwhelmingly white area. The township was traditionally conservative and Republican but now leans liberal and Democratic. Its main campus for sophomore through seniors is located in Winnetka and a freshman campus is in Northfield with freshman classes and district administration.

A 25-page catalogue of courses, programs, seminars, and other events scheduled for the day presents a rather bold and raw effort at hard-left propaganda with decidedly anti-American, anti-free-market, anti-family, anti-parent, and bigoted biases on display.

Below are several of the scheduled workshops and speakers

- “Whose Civil Rights?: Transpeople of Color Navigating the U.S.: Civil rights are social and political freedoms that everyone in our society is (sic) supposed to have access to; however, because of socialization, bias, and discrimination, many trans people (particularly trans people of color) do not have access to these freedoms. In this session, we will explore the current cultural climate that enforces a gender binary and, therefore, forecloses civil rights for many transpeople. We will examine how trans people are challenging and changing these systems.”

- “21st Century Voter Suppression: A group discussion about the methods and regulations used in the U.S. to deny or limit the voting rights of various minority groups…..The main emphasis of the workshop will be how to recognize, identify, and combat modern voter suppression tactics. Attendees should come out with a few concrete plans or ideas to help address the problem moving forward.”

- “A People’s History of Chicago: In the tradition of Howard Zinn, A People’s History of Chicago is a poetic, progressive history that celebrates this great American city from the perspective of those on the margins whose stories are not often told.”

For those who are unfamiliar with Howard Zinn, he was a far left historical revisionist who wrote The People’s History of the United States, which is used in many high school social studies classes. Eminent economist Thomas Sowell said this about Zinn’s pseudo-history book:

- "Western Bias in Science: Newton, Darwin, Curie…Can you think of a non-European or non-American scientist in history? Come examine the western bias in science education, its sources and its implications, in this interactive workshop."

- “Developing Empathy & Acceptance by Reading Picture Books to Children: Come to the Northfield Library and read picture books to a group of children (ages 3-5). The picture books will focus on themes of embracing diversity…and social justice. Students will lead activities related to the books with the young children. Monica Trinidad will share "her organizing work with We Charge Genocide….She will then lead a hands-on workshop that will guide participants through a discussion of the Black Lives Matter movement today.” Trinidad is "a queer, latinx artist and organizer born and raised on the southeast side of Chicago.”

One wonders what picture books students will be reading to toddlers and who chose them? What forms of “diversity” will be depicted in these picture books?

Andrew Aydin is the keynote speaker at the Northfield campus. Aydin is a policy advisor to liberal Congressman John Lewis. Aydin has contributed to the ethically impoverished Southern Poverty Law Center and the dystopian feminist comic book Bitch Planet.

Monica Trinidad will share "her organizing work with We Charge Genocide….She will then lead a hands-on workshop that will guide participants through a discussion of the Black Lives Matter movement today.” Trinidad is "a queer, latinx artist and organizer born and raised on the southeast side of Chicago.”

OiYan A. Poon: “Dr. Poon challenges students to critically analyze systems of higher education, student affairs practices, and to understand their power to transform oppressive structures as social justice change agents…. she received….a 2013 National Distinguished Educator award from the Pacific Education Group’s Courageous Conversations Summit.” An award from the Pacific Education Group is confirmation that Poon is a Leftist.

The partial list of workshops offered at New Trier's mandatory event reveals a leftist dream for what the left considers education. Instead of attending a conference based on White Privilege, New Trier parents can just send their kids to school for the day long smorgasbord of ideologically non-diverse seminars to learn all about “Understanding Today’s Struggle for Racial Civil Rights.”

Parents at New Trier express anger and outrage

It is not surprising that those on the left are angry by the fact that parents of students attending New Trier have the audacity to object to the forthcoming February 28 "All School Seminar Day" of leftist indoctrination. This has resulted in the objecting parents and students being subjected to merciless bullying in social media and even face-to-face in school.

Any dissent from the official line is labeled as "racist" and "privileged"; the parents' calls for reasonable balance in discussions of such volatile issues are met with oppressive sloganeering along the lines of: "Calls for fairness and balance are themselves evidence of racism and privilege." The bullies wish to tolerate no dissent.

A parents' website is replete with background information on the agitprop program and some of the schemers behind it. It contains calm and lucid information which is accurately and neutrally presented. Visitors to the site can click through to the websites of sponsoring organizations and read their propaganda and statements of their aims and worldviews in their own (vicious and bigoted) words. One can also sign an on-line petition in support of the parents and in opposition to unfair and unbalanced programs of this kind.

Here is the latest written statement issued by parents on Feb. 5 on its website under the heading, "Parents of New Trier High who Say 'White Guilt' Isn't Enough are Being Attacked."

While you are at the parents' website, have a look at the "In Their Own Words" tab where you will find some examples of the bullying and some illustrations of the vicious race-hatred and political propaganda of which the "experts" invited into the school for the indoctrination sessions are capable. Visit also the "What You Can Do" tab. Of importance is that you speak out on social media and elsewhere in defense of the concerned parents and students at New Trier High Schools.

Respectful and thoughtful participation is likewise encouraged and would be very welcome and timely on the Facebook page devoted to discussion of the New Trier All School Seminar Day (and its one-sided program of "anti-racist" and "anti-white-privilege" indoctrination).

Concerned parents organize opposition

Betsy Hart, the well-known nationally-syndicated pro-family columnist, has children in the school. She is one of the key leaders of the Concerned Parents of New Trier.

Many in education claim they desire diversity, but their actions speak otherwise, Hart explained. Regarding New Trier's seminar, parents are not trying to shut down the Feb. 28 seminar. They just want a seminar that will be more challenging for kids. As such, parents are calling for balance and diversity to bring other ideas into the one-sided program being presented at New Trier. Parents have asked to include some topics and hire speakers of their choice, but so far requests have been denied.

The nearby city of Chicago is literally blowing up with many people who are suffering. Exploring how to keep kids out of gangs or a seminar program that would help involve students in inner cities ministries would be far more beneficial than asking parents and children to reflect on white privilege.

Reports about New Trier's racist seminar have spread beyond local media attention.

The Chicago Tribune on Feb. 6 reprinted in the front section of its main paper a report carried over the weekend by its suburban local paper, the Winnetka Talk on the growing controversy regarding the forthcoming day-long mandatory leftist indoctrination program that will be held at New Trier Township High School, once thought to be among the best public schools in the nation but now, alas, descending into the cesspool of inflammatory racist, antisemitic, and other miasms of the ascendant academic left.

Here is the on-line Chicago Tribune link to the report first published in its suburban local paper the Winnetka Talk over the weekend, as published in Section 1, Page 3, Column 1 of the Tribune on 2/6/2017: New Trier High School parents debate planned civil rights seminar.

For additional excellent insight check out a report from Mark Glennon, founder of Wirepoints: "Authoritarians at the Gate: How One High School is Ripping Its Community Apart."

Mr. Glennon begins his article with this message:

"Not since the Vietnam War have I seen as much strife and personal hostility within an otherwise friendly community. Thank the administration of New Trier High School in north suburban Chicago. This story is about the madness on college campuses now being crammed down into a public high school. More importantly, it’s about an angry brawl now growing rapidly."

Will your school be next?

What is happening at New Trier High School is not just an isolated incident. Know what is happening in your own local high school. Progressive education is now the rule of thumb in Illinois and in other states and is being supported and abetted by the Illinois Education Association.

Nancy Thorner
Lake Bluff, Ill.

Man sues consumer reporting agency over dispute

February 7, 2017, 1:19 pm

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EAST ST. LOUIS — A consumer is suing Experian Information Solutions for allegedly failing to note a dispute and modify the information in his file.

William Frederick Petersen filed a complaint on Jan. 31 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Experian Information Solutions Inc., alleging the consumer reporting agency violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges Experian failed to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation of his dispute and failed to appropriately delete or modify inaccurate information in his file.

As a result of the defendant's alleged unlawful actions and omissions, Petersen claims he suffered damages.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks actual, statutory and punitive damages, an order be issued for the defendant to modify, delete or block the inaccurate information being reported, attorney’s fees and costs, and such other relief as may be just and proper.

He is represented by Travis W. Cohron of Barker Hancock & Cohron in Noblesville, Ind.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:17-cv-00097

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Driver sues following Wood River crash

February 7, 2017, 1:37 pm

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EDWARDSVILLE — A motorist claims he was injured in a Wood River car crash.

James Cook filed a complaint on Jan. 20 in the Madison County Circuit Court against Kay Slayden, alleging she failed to operate her vehicle in a safe and prudent manner.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Nov. 6, 2015, he was traveling westbound on Edwardsville Road near its intersection with Whitelaw Avenue in Wood River when Slayden negligently caused a collision with his vehicle.

As a result, Cook claims he sustained injuries to his body, both internally and externally, causing him to suffer great physical and mental pain, property damage and medical expenses.

The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to yield at an intersection, failed to keep proper lookout and failed to give proper signal or warnings.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant for an equitable sum exceeding $50,000, plus his costs of this action.

He is represented by Michael P. Glisson and Timothy J. Chartrand of Williamson, Webster, Falb & Glisson in Alton.

Madison County Circuit Court case number 17-L-87

Madison County Board member pays tribute to firefighters

February 7, 2017, 2:42 pm

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To the Editor:

I am honored to be in the presence of such a brave and noble group, the Granite City Firefighters Local 253. They help our community in ways large and small, each and every day. They are counted on to rescue, recover and safeguard our property, homes, businesses and loved ones at tremendous risk regularly.

This message also is directed to members of the Long Lake Fire Protection District, Mitchell Fire District and South Roxana Fire District.

The career they have chosen is one of compassion, daring and giving. It is a dangerous job that requires courage beyond what is normally expected. Firefighters are part of a brotherhood that transcends age, ethnicity and gender. They work together with the knowledge that none of us is as capable or smart as all of us.

On their slower days, prepared to serve, waiting is serving. In spite of the daunting possibilities of their next call, they are some of the kindest, most caring men and women I have ever met, doing more than their fair share of community service.

They seem to be life lovers and enjoy each other, their community, and the challenges of the career they have chosen.

In every community there are important lessons that could be learned from the way our beloved firefighters conduct themselves on and off the job.

On behalf of Madison County District 16, I thank you form the bottom of my heart. I have never met a firefighter that I did not like. You are all truly the best of us.

Helen Hawkins
Madison County Board District 16

Special prosecutors often get tapped to handle politically sensitive matters

February 7, 2017, 3:24 pm

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A constant critic of Caseyville Mayor Leonard Black will stand trial for threatening a public official beginning Friday, Feb. 17 before St. Clair County Associate Judge Randall Kelley.
Brad Van Hoose of Belleville allegedly threatened to kill Black in April. Because Black holds status as a public official, the offense qualifies as a Class 3 felony, which carries a sentence range of between two and five years in prison.
Special prosecutor David Rands, who has handled more than 100 cases in Madison and St. Clair County in the last 10 years, was assigned to the prosecution after grand jurors indicted Van Hoose in September.
The last time Rands, as special prosecutor, pursued similar charges as Van Hoose’s the defendant spent 160 days in jail and two years on probation.  
Rands intends to build his case on testimony of radio voice Bob Romanik, who once served prison time for lying to grand jurors in federal court.
Black told a police detective on the date of the alleged incident that he was meeting with Romanik for coffee at the South Main Diner when Van Hoose "began yelling and cussing at Leonard and Robert.”  

“Bradley got on his motorcycle and yelled, ‘I’m going to kill everyone,’” the incident report states.

“Leonard stated that he is in fear for his life,” Det. Andy Reel wrote. “Leonard is not sure what Bradley is capable of.”   

Romanik ran an unsuccessful campaign for the State House in November. The controversial radio also host made headlines earlier this week for his on-air use of racial epithets. 

Van Hoose, after his arrest, asked Rands’s employers at the Fifth District appellate prosecutor’s office for a list of his cases.  
The office supplies special prosecutors for state’s attorneys with potential conflicts of interest, and it provides temporary substitutes for vacant offices.  
Van Hoose received a list for the last 10 years showing hundreds of cases, with 114 in Madison County and 33 in St. Clair County.
Other notable St. Clair County cases include:
Rands charged former Caseyville police chief Jose Alvarez with battery in 2013, after he bumped a critic at a rowdy meeting in the village hall.  
Jurors found Alvarez not guilty. Mayor Black then fired him.
Rands dismissed a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol against lawyer David Cates of Swansea in 2014, after Cates paid a $3,000 fine for “improper standing.”  
Cates is son of Fifth District Appellate Court Judge Judy Cates.  
Swansea officer David Ray arrested David Cates on Oct. 10, 2014, at 10:38 p.m., and charged him with driving under the influence and illegal liquor transportation.  
Ray swore and signed a report of reasonable grounds for the arrest.  
“Responded for a one vehicle accident,” Ray wrote. “Found driver to have glassy bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on breath.  
“Driver had slurred speech and refused standard field sobriety test.”  
He checked a box that read, “Because you refused to submit to or failed to complete testing, your driving privileges will be suspended for a minimum of 12 months.”  
He checked a box that showed Cates surrendered his license.  
On Oct. 21, 2014, Secretary of State Jesse White notified Cates that as a first offender, he would qualify for an interlock device after 30 days.
Cates retained Thomas Keefe III, who petitioned to rescind the suspension.  
Keefe wrote that Cates was not under the influence and his arrest was unlawful.  
He wrote that Ray was without reasonable grounds to believe Cates was driving under the influence of alcohol.  
On Nov. 6, 2014, State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly moved for a special prosecutor and chief judge John Baricevic granted the motion.  
On Nov. 7, Rands entered his appearance and swore he would faithfully discharge the duties of the state’s attorney.  
At a hearing he attended on Nov. 12, Associate Judge Christopher Kolker rescinded the suspension for lack of probable cause.  
“Clerk to return defendant’s driver’s license,” Kolker wrote.  
His order reflects no objection from Rands.  
On Jan. 21, 2015, Cates pleaded guilty of improper standing.  
Kolker fined him $3,000, dismissed the original tickets, and placed him on 90 days of court supervision.  
In the same fashion, Cates beat a charge of driving under the influence in 2007, without the intervention of a special prosecutor.   
Associate Judge Stephen Rice rescinded his suspension a month after his arrest and amended the charge to reckless conduct not involving a motor vehicle.  
Rice imposed a fine of $1,500, and ordered restitution of $400 to “IGF” and $100 restitution to “Belleville PD.”  
“Treatment to be completed in 6 months,” he wrote.   
Justin Kuehn represented Cates on that occasion.

Sprague’s record in St. Clair Co. ballot battles shows three straight wins

February 7, 2017, 3:42 pm

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St. Clair County Democrat party chairman Robert Sprague has won three straight ballot battles as counsel for candidates at the courthouse.  
Recent rulings in favor of his candidates in East St. Louis and Alorton followed a December ruling for his candidates in Washington Park.  
In the East St. Louis case, Associate Judge Christopher Kolker ruled in favor of school board candidates Lonzo Greenwood and Kinnis Williams on Feb. 3.  
Kolker affirmed the county electoral board, which denied objections from LaKeisha Adams of East St. Louis in December.  
The electoral board included State’s Attorney Brendan Kelly, County Clerk Thomas Holbrook, and Circuit Clerk Kahalah Clay.  
Adams sued them on Jan. 6, claiming they denied her objections “despite evidence of widespread malfeasance.”  
On her behalf, Phillip Baldwin of Granite City wrote that she testified that her signature was forged.  
He wrote that she provided expert witness testimony challenging the validity of numerous signatures.  
Sprague entered an appearance for Greenwood and Williams as respondents, and he moved to substitute Circuit Judge Robert LeChien.  
In Illinois, any party can substitute a judge once without cause, if the judge has not made a substantive ruling.  
LeChien granted the motion, and Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson assigned Kolker.  
On Feb. 1, Kelly, Holbrook, and Clay moved to dismiss the suit for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.  
Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Porter wrote that Adams failed to serve the suit by certified or registered mail as required by statute.  
Kolker held a hearing on Feb. 3, and dismissed the suit.  
In the Alorton case, on Feb. 1, Kolker ruled that candidates of the McCall Team Party should appear on the April 4 ballot.  
He reversed the Alorton electoral board, which sustained objections to Joann Reed, Malcolm Henderson, Elesia Golliday-Brown, Leo Stewart, and Ferlandas Smith.  
Village clerk Tremylla Johnson and trustee Dwight Baxton voted against the McCall Team on the electoral board, and Mayor Kenneth Chatman dissented.  
The source of the objection against the McCall Team, Devione Kidd, allegedly committed a felony ballot violation in 2015.  
Circuit Judge Jan Fiss has set a hearing for Kidd on April 20.   
The Washington Park case stands in Sprague’s favor but hasn’t ended.  
On Dec. 30, Circuit Judge Robert Haida signed a “general administrative order” designating citizen Joan McIntosh as electoral board member and chairwoman.  
That left no place for village president Ann Rodgers, who had planned to lead an electoral board meeting on Jan. 4.  
Instead, the McIntosh board sustained objections against Rodgers and trustee candidates Shawn Newell, Marcus Henderson, Toni Whittaker and Herod Hill.  
The McIntosh board denied an objection that Newell filed against Rodgers’s opponent, village clerk Rickie Thomas.  
On Jan. 17, Rodgers and the trustee candidates petitioned for judicial review.  
Eric Evans of Granite City wrote for them that a few weeks earlier, Thomas had tried to take control of the village board and install Sprague as village attorney.  
Evans wrote that the electoral board disqualified him as counsel for Rodgers on a motion from Sprague as Thomas’s attorney.  
He wrote that their action deprived Rodgers of due process.  
As of Feb. 6, no one had set a hearing on the petition.     

Herndon to be inducted into 'Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame'; Fellow inductee is AAJ chief Lipsen

February 7, 2017, 4:33 pm

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U.S. District Judge David Herndon will be inducted into The Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in April at the Mass Torts Made Perfect (MTMP) conference in Las Vegas, alongside American Association for Justice president Linda Lipsen.
Attorneys Mark Lanier of Houston, Harvey Weitz of New York and Peter Perlman of Lexington, Ken. also will be honored at the upcoming annual conference.
“They primarily induct lawyers and a judge or two each year,” Herndon told Record.“It seems they select people they believe have shown excellency in their field.”
Herndon said he has had several close friends and colleagues that have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in the past and is honored to be inducted along with them.
“It came as quite a surprise,” Herndon said. “It’s a nice honor they’ve recognized my work as a judge.”
MTMP is a bi-annual conference that is held each spring and fall and geared towards people working in the field of plaintiff mass torts and personal injury litigations.
According to MTMP’s website, “The conferences are the largest plaintiff mass torts gatherings in the world, with more than 1,000 participants (from 450 law firms) at each event.”
Herndon does not see any conflict of interest for a pro-plaintiff group to honor an acting judge.
“Anybody who knows my work know I am not biased towards either side,” Herndon said.
Herndon also pointed out that many acting judges have been inducted in the past.
He went on to say that although the honor is a nice one, it won’t effect his career as a judge.
In order to be nominated for induction, the trial lawyer or judge must have 30 plus years of experience, be at least 60 years of age and among several other criteria, “have left an indelible mark on the American legal tradition through a lifetime of service to the American public, the Constitution, and the American trial bar,” the Hall of Fame website states.
The nominees are voted on by the publisher of The Trial Lawyer Magazine, immediate past president, current president, president-elect and chairman of the executive committee of The National Trial Lawyers association, and five living members of The Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, the website also states.
Herndon served as an associate judge in Madison County. He was nominated as District Judge by President Clinton and confirmed by the United States Senate in 1998. He was named as Chief Judge in 2007.   
The conference will be held April 26-28 at the Wynn Hotel.