Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 7

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Note: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements. Paid Legal Advertisement SUNDAY FEBRUARY 3 RD DU QUOIN STATE FAIRGROUNDS EXHIBITION BLDG. ANTIQUES COLLECTIBLES MISCELLANEOUS 1.25 SNOW: Emergency purchase FROM PAGE 1 In member of the state board overseeing purchasing for the Quinn administration complained that state agencies had to make emergency purchases worth $61 million in the first quarter of the fiscal year. By Procurement Policy Board member Ed Bedore said the state spent just $32 million on similar no-bid deals for the entire last full year of the Blagojevich administration. is a told the board as he questioned whether how much the alleged mismanagement was costing taxpayers.

As the winter of 2013 descended on Illinois, IDOT had a fleet of 3,252 plows ready to tackle any ice or snow that might build up on the 43,500 lane miles of roadway the agency maintains. But without of those plows would be useless. IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin said each snowplow blade can last several hundred they are prematurely damaged by hitting pot holes or other objects. The mild winter of 2012 was kind to the cash-strapped budget.The agency reported spending $37.3 million on snow and ice operations last year, compared to $85.3 million in the previous winter. Spending on is used to melt snow and also down in 2012, with $15.1 million worth of salt spent to $35.7 million the previous year.

In its request for the emergency snowplow blade officials said the company holding the original contract could- provide enough blades when they were needed. But that contract covered the fiscal year ending in July.In its said the main purchasing agency the Department of Central Management Services was still working to ink a new contract as winter set in. In officials apparently decided they wait any longer and filed the request for the emergency purchase. Ervin said many of the new blades have been delivered to the districts affected by the shortfall, which cover cities like Rock and Lincoln. kurt.erickson@lee.net 217-782-4043 ASSESSMENT: Controversy heats up in Jackson County YOUNG: jury given evidence, some conflicting FROM PAGE 1 Young died from a single gunshot wound March 24 in Carbondale apartment bedroom of her sometime police dispatcher Richie Minton said.

The inquest at Jackson County Courthouse was the first time results of the Illinois State Police investigation and forensic pathology results were made public. Illinois State Police Special Agent Aaron Cooper read transcripts of text messages from cell- phone that showed the 21-year-old Marion native was suicidal in the hours before her death between 4:45 and 5:45 a.m. A text message from cell- phone at 4:41 a.m.stated she would myself in the than a dozen entries filled with suicidal threats were found in personal said. Police also found an undated suicide note to her family that was never investigator said. Other evidence may have led jurors to question suicide.

No fingerprints were found on the pistol owned by to investigators. Gunshot residue evidence was inconclusive.The right-handed Young was shot above the ear on the left side of her head. Cooper said wound was consistent with a drop of blood was found on a comforter on from her body. Police found blood spatter on bedroom closet door and carpet.Young’s body was found on the floor several feet away. State Trooper Daniel crime scene there were no signs of a he tell that the body had been reportedly told police he moved the body to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation and only then saw the gunshot wound.

did not attend the out drinking in the hours before death.Cooper said the gunshot would have been if Minton was have slept through Minton also changed out of a pair of pajama bottoms with blood police told troop- ers.He was exiting his bathroom when city police arrived about 9 a.m.to answer a 911 call. Carbondale police Chief Jody said ISP was asked to investigate to erase any public doubt about any potential conflict of interest. Cooper said he never allowed to had a lawyer by the time Cooper arrived at police station to interview Minton. Charles uncle and a the family would push for further investigation. not done by any said retired Mount Vernon police captain.

inquest findings have no bearing on criminal or civil trials. No criminal charges have been filed. Jackson County Attorney Mike Carr said he could not comment about whether he would send the matter to a grand jury. dw.norris@thesouthern.com 618-351-5074 On Twitter: FIRE: Two killed in the blaze FROM PAGE 1 An investigator with the state fire office was at the residence for several hours after the fire was said, but was unable to determine the cause of the fire. know exactly where it started but cannot say conclusively why it just know.There was nothing suspicious and no foul play was Several agencies assisted with Coello, Zeigler and Buckner Frankfort Fire Department Ambulance Service and Abbott EMS.

Autopsies and funeral arrangements are pend- ing.A fund will be set up to help pay for funeral family member said. 618-927-5633 On Twitter: FROM PAGE 1 Reeder said his assessments better reflected the value of those county board Chairman John Rendleman disagreed, saying it was call a spade a spade: lowering assessments on our Rendleman said. Reeder said comments were out and out Rendleman did not have the expertise needed to have an informed opinion on assessments. guess what they like like a township assessor doing his said. do they want me to do? Chief County Assessment Officer Maureen Berkowitz has statutory authority to override she did on 23 of 26 properties in question.

Taxpayers unhappy with their assessments may appeal to the board of review.There is also an appeal option to the property tax appeal board. Berkowitz provided a list of the 26 properties in of which were described as having lowered assessments.Berkowitz upheld three of the 16 such assessments. Berkowitz said assessment of the Murphysboro which would have trimmed more than $1.1 million from its full market value was low-ball she overrode it. Reeder said he used the value per square foot of Walmart as a baseline and found was overvalued. Reeder sent letters to at least some of the property owners whose assessments he lowered.He said he would every attempt to get this corrected for office had a different assessment than his.

Reeder said neither the letters nor the way he came to his assessments were out of the he would advocate for appellants if they chose to go to the board of review. township have the right to defend my said. Reeder lost to Berkowitz in the 2010 Democratic primary for chief assessment officer.In the last two has clashed with Berkowitz over late tax bills and property tax exemptions. Rendleman said Reeder was trying to discontent with Maureen nothing Berkowitz on Jan.22 about the issues between Reeder and her has been an ongoing thing Reeder said he was being personally attacked because party leaders fear he will run against Berkowitz in 2015. politically motivated and has nothing to do with just said.

Rendleman said, no political motivation in making sure that property tax assessments are fair across the Reeder is up for re-election as Murphysboro Township assessor in April. dw.norris@thesouthern.com 618-351-5074 On Twitter: Berkowitz PAULNEWTON THE SOUTHERN The scene of a fatal fire is shown Thursday at 210 W. Sylvester Ave.in Christopher.Christopher V.Pyles,38,and Mary Sue in the blaze that broke out late Wednesday night. RIEFLY Clinton says she did what she could about Syria WASHINGTON Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton issued a parting warning Thursday about civil Iran of playing an increasingly prominent role in directing the she said heightened the danger of a larger regional conflict that draws in Israel or other neighbors. done what was possible to told reporters on the eve of her last day as secretary of state.

But she painted a harrowing picture of a war that could still get worse. worst kind of predictions about what could happen internally and spilling over the borders of Syria are certainly within the realm of the possible said. The conflict distressing on all told a roundtable of journalists day before John Kerry is sworn in as her successor.She pointed the finger primarily at it of dispatching more personnel and better military materiel to President Bashar regime to help him defeat rebel forces.Its Lebanese also playing a bigger role in the conflict. The Associated Press.