(OLNEY) While a cold front moved to our south with some spotty showers & storms late yesterday afternoon, an upper midwestern high pressure ridge will keep us dry today thru tomorrow - then that front will move back northward with a chance of isolated rain on Saturday, but dry Sunday - listen for updates.

(NEWTON) Governor Pat Quinn signed into law yesterday a bill that takes effect immediately, which amends a current law that provides the State with improved investigatory abilities & allows the State to recover the high costs associated with investigating & litigating cases of fraud & waste in public contracting - the State Attorney General's office says it will improve enforcement of state government.

(OLNEY) Jurors in the federal corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich return to the deliberation room today in Chicago - the group of six men & six women began talks yesterday after receiving all evidence exhibits & heard over two hours of instructions from the judge - some say a verdict will come by week's end.

(NEWTON) The family of a man who choked to death at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle late last year says the facility's employees should not have let him have solid food - the 79 year old man was on a restricted diet because of swallowing problems - the state is asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed - a LaSalle County Judge has set a September 30th hearing to decide whether to dismiss or process the case.

(OLNEY) Warm & wet conditions pretty much ruled last week's farm conditions around Illinois as the state's corn & bean crops continue to develop - here in our 10-county region, farmers say the local corn crop has nearly all silked out, with over half now in the dough stage - about 80% of the local bean fields are blooming, with a third of the soybeans now setting pods - statewide farmers indicate both the corn & bean crops are 75% in good to excellent condition, with 10% or less in poor to very poor condition.

(NEWTON) A DNR hunter safety course is set to start tonight & continue on Saturday at the Sunrise Youth Center & Community Building in Newton - that's tonight from 6:00 til 9:00 and Saturday from 8:30 til 4:00, all free of charge for those age 10 & older - the ten hour course will include instruction in wildlife management, firearms safety, hunter ethics, game identification, first aid, & game regulations - space is limited & reservations are still required - call the Jasper County Extension office in Newton.

(OLNEY) A reminder that Fall Kids Mall of Richland County is gearing up for its upcoming "shopping day" set for August 7th, a week from this Saturday - it's for local children, 4 years old thru 5th grade, who may need clothing assistance - with no financial requirements, each child will receive two pair of pants, three shirts, a pair of athletic shoes, plus socks & underclothing, along with essential toiletries - while there is no pre-registration, that day signup & shopping will run from 9:00 til 12 noon, all at the Trinity Lutheran Church, at the east edge of Olney - for more information or details, call anytime at 395-9269.

(NEWTON) State Representative David Reis has announced a series of traveling office hours for next week - a member of the lawmaker's staff will be available at the Teutopolis City Hall next Wednesday, August 4th, from 11:00 til 12 noon, and at the Clay City Village Hall next Wednesday afternoon, from 1:30 til 2:30 - constituents are also invited to call or contact his District Office in Olney as well.

(OLNEY) Two area county fairs continue : the Crawford County Fair in Oblong has its 4-H livestock auction this morning at 9:00, with the Truck & Tractor Pulls tonight & Motocross Racing tomorrow night : the Edwards County Fair in Albion has it's ATV & Truck Mud Bog tonight with Motocross Racing set for tomorrow night : both fair's also feature carnival rides, games for all ages, and concessions.

REMINDERS

The Ramblin' Rose School Bus will offer free school supplies next Tuesday night from 5:00 til 7:00 at the Newton Masonic Lodge - for all school age children in Jasper County & the surrounding area

The St Thomas Parish in Newton is hosting a public "open house" for their new church this coming Sunday, from 12 noon until 2:00 - all are invited in to view the new church building in Newton

A free "meet & greet" with U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kirk is set for this Saturday evening in the Olney City Park from 4:00 until 6:00 - includes free food - stop by, visit & ask questions

The Midwest Goat Producers will have an independent livestock buyer at the Albion Stockyard this Saturday morning from 10:00 til 12 noon for marketable goats & sheep - call 869-2525 for details

Applications are accepted for the Summer Energy Assistance Program - call the ERBA offices in Olney, Newton, Robinson, Greenup, Lawrenceville, or Charleston - signup deadline is tomorrow

It's the final day for student registration for the Jasper County Schools, from 11:30 this morning until 7:00 tonight - grades K thru 8 in the NCHS cafeteria - for grades 9 thru 12 in NCHS room 114

(OLNEY) A cold front over the upper midwest will move down over Illinois today, giving us a chance of shower & thunderstorm activity thru tonight - then a high pressure ridge will keep us mostly dry Thursday thru Friday with the chance of scattered storms returning for the weekend - listen for updates.

(NEWTON) A new report shows Illinois is holding steady in terms of child poverty & teen birth rates, ranking 24th in the annual "Kids Count" study - recent gains have been made in the number of teens that have graduated or are in school - the national survey ranked New Hampshire first with Mississippi last.

(OLNEY) Illinois' is a finalist for the second phase of U.S. Department of Education's "Race To The Top" competition - 17 other states are also wanting a share of the $3.4 billion, with the winners to be announced in September - Illinois was among five finalists in the first round, but received no money.

(NEWTON) The fate of our former Governor is in the hands of a Cook County jury - after the final arguments were made yesterday, Judge James Zagel has given the jury its final instructions - if found guilty on all 24 counts, Rod Blagojevich faces more than 400 years in prison & millions in fines.

(OLNEY) Police Chief Rick Chaplin has issued the June activity report for the Olney Police Department - it received a total of 669 complaints from the public, an average of at least 22 calls per day - Officers made 378 public assists, investigated 28 burglar alarms and 18 traffic accidents, made 37 criminal arrests, & made 31 traffic arrests, including 4 DUI's - there were 17 arrests for criminal damage to property, 12 for theft, 5 for alcohol use, 4 for burglary, and 1 for drugs - received 257 emergency 9-1-1 calls in June.

(NOBLE) The Noble Village Board met earlier this week - the Board : agreed to payoff the balance of the Village's sewer bond, which included $90,000 of principal and $996 interest : discussed, but no action, on the water tower contract with Pittsburgh Tank & Tower, which owes the Village some water tower work & maintenance - the Board has until October to extend or terminate the contract : discussed the condition of several trees within the Village : accepted the resignation of Board member Deanna Mitchell, now leaving a Board vacancy - those Village residents interested in serving on the Board should contact Village Hall in Noble with a written request : the Board's next regular meeting is set for August 9th.

(NEWTON) The Newton Rotary Club is offering Community Service Grants to organizations of Jasper County - the grants have a maximum amount of $1,500 which are funded thru Rotary International, where local clubs can apply for funding local community service projects - application forms can be picked up at the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce office or found online at the Chamber of Commerce website, at www.newtonillinois.com, under downloadable forms - applications are due in by September 15th.

(OLNEY) The best of luck goes out to Jordan Ridgely, who won the County Master Showmanship award & now moves on to the state competition to be held two weeks from tonight at the Illinois State Fair up in Springfield - the contest recognizes 4-H youth who've excelled at showing animals countywide as they're judged on handling the three species of beef, sheep, & swine - started by farm broadcasters in Illinois back in 1999, the contest recognizes outstanding youth & provides a state forum for the competition.

(NEWTON) The Jasper County Schools have student registration set up for today & tomorrow, for grades K thru 8 in the high school cafeteria & for grades 9 thru 12 in NCHS room 114 - that's today from 9:00 til 5:00, then tomorrow from 11:30 til 7:00 - first day of school for students is August 20th.

(OLNEY) The Richland County Highway Department will be replacing the concrete box culvert along Elbow Lane, one mile west of Route 130, between Sunny Brook Road & Fox Road - the existing culvert will be demolished today & weather permitting, the new culvert will be installed by next Friday, August 6th - this portion of Elbow Lane will be closed today thru the end of next week or til the work is done.

(OLNEY) Two area county fairs continue : the Crawford County Fair in Oblong has more 4-H judging today, with the small Demo Derby tonight - then the 4-H livestock auction tomorrow morning at 9:00, followed by the Truck & Tractor Pulls tomorrow night : the Edwards County Fair in Albion has it's Kid's Night Pedal Pull tonight, followed by the ATV & Truck Bog tomorrow night : both fair's also feature all types of carnival rides, plenty of games for all ages, and all kinds of food and concessions.

(OLNEY) A Wayne County man is dead when his car was struck by a Canadian Railroad freight train yesterday morning in Papertown, down in Jefferson County - authorities are still investigating the crash that killed 56 year old Phillip Beeson of Cisne - State Police say he was the only person in his car.

REMINDERS

The Holy Cross Parish Picnic is set for this Sunday in Wendelin - meal ticket sales will begin at 9:30 that morning with serving in the Parish Hall - also a country store, games, entertainment, & more

The Claremont Community Center will host a fundraising cookout & bake sale this Saturday at the Olney IGA with serving from 10:00 til 2:00 - all proceeds to the center's scholarship fund

St Thomas Youth Paper Drive is Saturday morning from 7:00 til noon at the Schackmann Insulation Building in Newton - for newspapers, paper bags, & inserts - no magazines, no twine, or no strings

Applications are accepted for the Summer Energy Assistance Program - call the ERBA offices in Olney, Newton, Robinson, Greenup, Lawrenceville, or Charleston - signup deadline is this Friday

Next area blood drive : today from 2:00 til 7:00 at the Red Brush Christian Church, just north of Louisville, along Route 45 : then Sunday from 9:00 til 1:00 at the St Paul Lutheran Church near Wheeler