Approximately 400 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers will be recognized Feb. 6 and 7 by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.A Those being honored this weekend include: Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry in Marion; Company A, 2nd Battalion, 130th ...

Two semi trucks full of food and medical supplies are expected to soon arrive in Haiti.

According to doctors, it is the number one killer of women in southern Illinois.

A group attempting to buy Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion says the course will be forced to close, and they say the blame lies with the Federal Government.

Newspaper stories report that after the election came to a close Tuesday, night - the republican candidate for Williamson County Commissioner said that Brent Gentry has made mistakes, and that:

"Brent Gentry presented a weakness to attack."

MARION, ILLINOIS —Despite the attempts of three Illinois politicians, it looks like the final tee times have already been played for the championship golf course in Marion, Illinois - The Kokopelli Golf Club and Restaurant.

The facility could be completely closed and out of business, possibly as early as the coming week.

New owners who are trying to purchase the course and restaurant, which is situated around Marion's executive-style estates and homes, have been met with concerns about a suspected link between one of the club's investors and the government of Zimbabwe, under dictatorial rule by controversial President Robert Mugabe. That suspected link, led to The Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), a division of the U.S. Treasury, placing a blocking order on the title of the property.

Also iof interest is how the facility came about. The Kokopelli TIF which brought about the golf course Club House and estates development came about during the continued westward expansion, which also spawned developments such as the "Hill," in Marion.

Like Marion's Mall TIF, the "Kokopelli TIF," is known throughout the State, as well as in the judicial system, when "special" provisions- unique only to Marion - had to be grand-fathered in with regard to the Kokopelli TIF, due to the way Marion had conducted the TIF development. The Court's closed Marion's loop-hole, and allowed the development to stand - but, kept future golf course TIFs from being developed like Marion's "special" TIF.

The Illinois Centre Mall is located across from the entrance of the Kokopelli Golf Course and dozens of luxury homes. The Appellate Court ruled earlier that the entire area was considered when Marion's Mall TIF District was overturned and disallowed. The court cited that due to the Mall's close proximity to the state and federal highways - that the entire area was likely to develop without the TIF District - and ruled against the Mall TIF.

Three candidates for governor landed at Williamson County Regional Airport Monday hoping to secure last-minute votes in a tight election.

Many who attended a Heartland church service Sunday morning received quit a scare.

Invalidated petitions lead to Calls - Special Meeting scheduled at Court House on Thursday, February 4, 2010 -

-School Board of Elections to hear objection filed regarding petitions to halt Creal Spring School -

MARION, ILLINOIS — It will be announced on Monday, February 1, 2010, that "Calls providing notice of objection and special meeting," will be served (by sheriff deputies) upon five individuals within the Unit 2 School District.

Those named, will be served a notice that the objection has been officially filed, and that the objection will be considered at the Williamson County Courthouse, Thursday, February 4th - during an official meeting (open to the public) before the School Board of Elections, Todd Goodman (Chairman, President), Sharon Wilson (Secretary) and Dick Sanders (longest serving Board Member) - (at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioner's room), where among other things, signatures and addresses, will be checked from the submitted petitions - against the County's official voter's registration information on file.

Tom Knox, an Amtrak worker for the last six years, helps Yessenia Olivas, a sophomore from Chicago studying public relations, onto the train.

PHOTO: As was determined by the Illinois appellate court, the area shown in the aerial photograph, depicts continued growth along the Illinois Route 13 corridor and Interstate 57 in Marion, Illinois - an interchange design which was established specifically with anticipated growth in mind. The image associated with this story, identifies the "entire redevelopment area," which was ruled by The Illinois appellate court, in Castel Properties v Marion, Illinois, who affirmed the trial court's determination that, the city as defendants, failed to meet the "but-for" test, and highlighted the extensive evidence that growth and redevelopment were occurring in the area; and would likely continue to occur (without TIF).

The Illinois appellate court, in Castel Properties v Marion, Illinois, affirmed the trial court's determination that the city therein failed to meet the "but-for" test, and highlighted the extensive evidence that growth and redevelopment were occurring in the area; and would likely continue to occur (without TIF).

Moreover, in giving plain meaning to the TIF statute, the Board was to consider the "redevelopment area on the whole," in making its blighting and but-for analysis. Thus, the Board was to consider the "entire redevelopment area," in determining whether it would be developed without TIF.

In addition to the ruling that the area - the "entire redevelopment area," was deemed to have failed to meet the standards in accordance to the TIF statutes, City documents indicate that once the Illinois Centre Mall TIF was defeated in court, $19M in public bonds (associated with the parking lot at the mall) were issued as an offset for the developers loss.

MARION, ILLINOIS — Confirmation comes from both the Williamson County Commissioner's office, and the Marion Unit 2 School District, - who have indicated that a notice from Williamson County Tax Assessor, Jeff Robinson, has been received, notifying all parties that a Tax Hearing regarding the Real Estate Taxes for the Williamson County Pavilion, is scheduled for:

UPDATE: February 9, 2010 at 1:15 p.m.

The Hearing will be held at the Williamson County Courthouse, and is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

EVERYONE is urged to attend.

— Information included in the complaint includes Mayor Robert Butler's statements that the Pavilion was broke - forcing the City to step in and eliminate the assessed real estate taxes for a private company - The Williamson County Events Commission, Corporation.

(from City Council Meeting, February 13, 2008)

Mayor Robert Butler:

There was no way they (Events Commission) could generate enough money to pay the real estate taxes - and there was no way they (Events Commission) would have the money to retire the bonds they had to float to get the money to build the Pavilion."

So it wasn't a matter of showing preference to somebody - it was a matter of trying to salvage a sinking ship. And so, if the City had not accepted the conveyance of this property (Pavilion) that whole project... it would have died - It would have gone down the tubes..."

The Williamson County Events Commission, Corporation - who file as a 501 (c) (3) charity - pay ZERO DOLLARS in real estate taxes since Mayor Butler claimed the City owned the building.

A deficit real estate tax amount Unit 2 Schools have identified as being in excess of $700,000 to the School District alone since the taxes were averted (after 2005).

Banking officials have said that the Events Commission was never in peril of going out of business - and annual documents required as charity status of the Events Commission filed by the Commission's, Bruce Troutman, at the Illinois Attorney General"s Office, indicate the Mayor's statements cannot be supported...

Expect updates on this story

Opinions vary on planned upgrades to a busy stretch of highway in southern Illinois.

Dark days are looming in Marion, Illinois

Truth, is a word which keeps escaping many of our elected city and county officials, and, there is not much use for the truth at the City Hall in Marion, Illinois. Especially with Mayor Bob Butler's sentiments that, "Sometimes, the truth doesn't matter."

In the past few weeks alone, one councilman, Bob Owens has been quoted in the Southern Illinoisan - with little more than hot air, to back up his statements to the public. In fact, the Councilman's statements brought about strong reactions from Unit 2 Administrators, who have called Councilman Owens statements, "Bold faced lies" - and have said that Bob Owens, is a "forked-tongued guy."

FBI probe into Rock Island, Illinois, County Clerk's office involves how the handling of federal grant money was reported to have been misused by some County Officials.

In the probe, the misuse of federal grant funds are being investigated due to information which suggests that the public funds were obtained for one purpose - and used for something else.

Similarities are drawn in the growing case in Marion, Illinois - where a Tourism Tax was levied, and from that money, a second company used funds to purchase property and construct a multi-million dollar events center, The Williamson County Events Commission, Corporation - which was formed by Tourism Bureau Board Members - and is subsidized 100% by the BED TAX which flows straight to the Bank of Marion, in Marion, Illinois.

''As a basic rule, you're not allowed to use government money for ANY personal gain or interest," said Rock Island County States Attorney, Jeff Terronez.

EDITORIAL: "Magic Money" man speaks

It is known that, when E.F. Hutton spoke - people listened

However, it is also understood that when County Board Chairman, Brent Gentry speaks, well... let's just say that people listen - but hardly a soul believes the words falling from his face.

EDITORIAL: A "ringing" endorsement...?

During July of 2005, Marion Mayor Robert Butler spoke openly regarding his exception to the state's Republican Party chairman, Andy McKenna, who was seeking an investigation into the release of $3 million in funding for infrastructure in the area that is now home to Rent One Park in Marion.

BOB BUTLER: (July 14, 2005, press conference):

Politicians spend $3 million in Chicago and think nothing of it.

That's not right and that's not fair and all the critics can go to hell.

NOW BUTLER SAYS:

"We may have had a disagreement over funding of a ball park five years ago," Butler said. "But I can't let that overcome my respect for him and his integrity."

Petitions found to be invalid

MARION, ILLINOIS — The election authority which was considering the petitions filed recently by Marion attorney's Ronald Osman and Tom Wolfe have been cast down.

The election authority has ruled that none of the petitions are valid - sighting - "significant error in filing," and that a letter was forwarded to Unit 2 School Board president, Todd Goodman, stating that there was much case law in support of their ruling.

Marion school board renews tax objection to pavilion.

Marion School Superintendent Wade Hudgens said the protest filed in Williamson County (once again), is identical to one filed by the school district nearly a year ago, in March, 2009.

Which is a POOR REFLECTION on a City Administration, who has placed "favors," and industry growth in-front of the needs of the students and coming generations of the tax payers.

BOB BUTLER:

"I fear we are seeing something happen here in Marion that I thought would never happen - we are moving to a police state..."