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THE PANTHER CREEK DUO BAND FROM EFFINGHAM, IL WILL PERFORM AT THE PIKE COUNTY SENIOR CENTER LOCATED AT 220 W ADAMS IN PITTSFIELD ON SATURDAY, JAN. 10.  DOORS OPEN AT 5:30 WHEN FOOD WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR YOU EVENING MEAL.  MUSIC  BEGINS AT 6:30.  COME FOR AND ENJOYABLE EVENING OF FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT & HEAR A WELL KNOWN GROUP.  ADMISSION  IS A FREE WILL DONATION.

PITTSFIELD AMERICAN LEGION

THE PITTSFIELD AMERICAN LEGION IS UPDATING IT'S LIST OF ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM PIKE COUNTY. WE WANT ADDRESSES OF ALL THE MILITARY SERVING BOTH STATE SIDE AND DEPLOYED AND THEIR FAMILIES. PLEASE CONTACT TAMMY @ 437-5221 OR JOYCE @ 285-5671 PLEASE LEAVE A M ESSAGE

PIKE CO CHRISTMAS BASKET

THE CHRISTMAS SEASON IS FAST APROACHING. ANYONE WISHING TO PICK UP A PIKE CO CHRISTMAS BASKET APPLICATION CAN  DO SO AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS. TWO RIVERS REGIONAL OFFICE, PIKE CO JAIL ENTRANCE WAY, IL DEPT. OF HUMAN SERVICES.
ANYONE WISHING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRAM IN ANYWAY CAN CALL 285-2726 OR MAIL CONTRIBUTIONS TO PIKE CO CHRISTMAS BASKET PROGRAM, 202 E ADAMS, PITTSFIELD IL 62363 , ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

MetroSource News 01/06/2009
Illinois Summary (1st)

The Latest

(Undated) -- Here's the latest on the stories making news at this hour. Illinois' new pick for the U.S. Senate is now pleading his case in Washington. Roland Burris says first D.C then impeachment questions in Springfield. Lawmakers push back the next date for impeachment hearings at the Capitol. A judge gives lawmakers access to tapes and prosecutors more time in the case against the Governor. Pat Quinn wants to change the laughing stock by setting-up a good government panel in Illinois. And cops chase then shoot it out with a suspect near Bloomington-Normal.

>>Burris: Going To Washington Not Certain Of Seat

(Springfield, IL) -- Roland Burris is going to Washington to claim his Senate seat, but he could be in for a fight. He says he plans to meet with Illinois' senior Senator Dick Durbin and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Tuesday and Wednesday. Burris says that he will "negotiate" with Durbin and Reid, but also is calling himself "Illinois' junior senator." Burris's place in the Senate is uncertain because he's linked to embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Blagojevich appointed Burris to fill the open Senate seat after federal prosecutors say he first tried to sell the seat to the highest bidder. That news scared many potential Senators away, and drew warnings from Durbin, Reid, and others to leave the seat open. Burris says he sees no reason to separate himself from Blagojevich and that the governor's appointment is legal and final. Senate Majority Leader Reid has said Burris will not be seated in the Senate, in part because Secretary of State Jesse White refused to sign off of Burris's appointment from the governor. Burris called these attempts to stop him "politics and theater."

>>Burris Expected At Impeachment Panel Thursday

(Chicago, IL) -- Illinois lawmakers will get their chance to quiz new U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris as to how he got his job from Governor Rod Blagojevich later this week. Burris says he will testify in front of the impeachment panel Thursday, and explain any contact he's had with the disgraced governor. Burris says lawmakers will have to wait for him to perform his new "Senatorial duties" before he can come back to the Illinois Capitol. He's scheduled a few days of meetings on Capitol Hill to negotiate a seat in the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers have subpoenaed Burris to probe his contact with Blagojevich before and after his appointment. Federal prosecutors have accused the governor of first trying to sell the seat. Impeachment panel members say they want Burris to tell them what he know "under oath." Lawmakers are moving toward the first impeachment vote by the end of the week. An impeachment vote in the full Illinois House is expected before next week when a new General Assembly is sworn-in.

>>House Impeachment Panel Pushes Back Next Meeting

(Springfield, IL) -- With federal tapes possibly coming their way, and a star witness lined-up for later this week Illinois' impeachment panel is delaying it's next meeting. Lawmakers were supposed to meet Tuesday, but now will wait until Wednesday afternoon to take-up their probe of dishonored Governor Rod Blagojevich. The delay will allow lawmakers more time to wait for some of the transcripts of some of them federal wiretaps of the governor. And will set the stage for Thursday when Illinois' new U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris will testify. Republican State Representative Dan Brady says the House committee already has plenty of evidence, and will soon need to say "enough is enough." Lawmakers are pushing toward impeachment votes later this week or early next. Chicago Democrat John Fritchey says the one day delay shouldn't disrupt the timeline in Springfield. He says lawmakers want to hear both the tapes of the governor and what Burris has to say.

>>Judge Okays Release Of Some Blagojevich Tapes

(Chicago, IL) -- A federal judge has authorized the release of some wiretapped recordings of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. The four conversations in question deal with alleged efforts by Blagojevich to get campaign contributions in exchange for signing a bill. Blagojevich allegedly promised to sign legislation directing casino revenue to horse racing in exchange for payments from a racing businessman. Prosecutors want the tapes turned over to the State House panel investigating possible impeachment of the Governor. Defense attorneys will have until Wednesday to give their approval of certain redactions in the conversations. Prosecutors claim they've recorded thousands of phone calls since the wiretaps began in October.

>>Feds Gets Extra Time To Makes Case Against Blagojevich

(Chicago, IL) -- Governor Rod Blagojevich's December arrest forced federal prosecutor to speed up their case against the disgraced governor. But now, the feds have gotten an extension from a judge in Chicago. Federal Judge James Holderman has given the U.S. Attorney's office three more months to present an indictment against Blagojevich. Typically, prosecutors have to deliver an indictment within a month days of an arrest, but federal officials say the case against Blagojevich has grown since his arrest last month. Prosecutors say people have come forward and there are "thousands" of phone calls to be listened to. The U.S. Attorney's office now has til April 7th to present its evidence to a grand jury. The governor and his former Chief of Staff John Harris were arrested December 9th after the feds say Blagojevich tried to auction off Illinois' then-open U.S. Senate seat Prosecutors will have to deliver a formal indictment on the charges before they can go to trial.

>>Quinn Has Answer For "Laughing Stock" Illinois

(Chicago, IL) -- After calling the state a "laughing stock" under Governor Rod Blagojevich, the man who may take his job has a new idea for good government. Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn is pitching a Reform Commission that he says will bring some credibility back to state government. Quinn has tapped former federal prosecutors Patrick Collins to head his good government group, though the mission for the panel is still a little vague. Collins brings plenty of credibility, he won a conviction against former Governor George Ryan for corruption. Ryan is currently serving a six and a half year prison term. Quinn stands to become the next governor if Rod Blagojevich is impeached or convicted on federal corruption charges of his own. Quinn made national headlines by calling Illinois a "laughing stock" because of the scandal surrounding the governor and the state's open senate seat.

>>Cops: Robbery Suspect Shoots It Out On Interstate

(Bloomington, IL) -- It was like a scene out of a movie on a central Illinois interstate Monday afternoon. Police in Bloomington say 57-year-old Robert "Bobby" Sylvester robbed a local Check n' Go then jumped into his getaway SUV and sped off. Cops gave chase, that when they hit the Interstate just outside of Bloomington and police say Sylvester leapt from his SUV, gun in hand, and tried to get away. Police say he fired at them, and officers shot Sylvester down. Paramedics then quickly rushed him to a local hospital. Sylvester is also a suspect in a handful of bank robberies in central Illinois, but investigators won't say how they linked him to the crime spree. The chase and subsequent investigation tied up traffic for hours around Bloomington on both I-55 and I-39.

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Benjamin Yount/kbr SCC)
01-06-2009 02:23:45