Connect with us

News

Washington Park residents still waiting for municipal building to be replaced

Published

on

[ad_1]

WASHINGTON PARK, Ill. – Some Washington Park residents are wanting to know when the village will be able to replace its municipal building, which was destroyed by fire in October 2021.  

The building housed Washington Park’s police, fire and public works departments. Plans to rebuild are contingent on state funding. 

State Rep. Kevin Schmidt (R-Cahokia Heights), said state law requires the village to submit five years of financial records before receiving a grant to rebuild. For Washington Park, that requirement is a problem.

Trending: King Charles III coronation in London: Watch live

“The previous mayor destroyed all the financial records,” said Schmidt. He introduced HB 2341, which would allow communities without the necessary records to appear before a commission to make their case.

Schmidt said the bill has 50 co-sponsors and passed unanimously out of committee.  He predicts it would easily pass the full house, but there has yet to be a vote.

“I’m just wanting an answer for the people of Washington Park on why the bill is not being heard,” said Schmidt. “I suspect it’s an issue of politics over people, which is never a good thing.”

“I feel like we don’t matter,” said Washington Park resident Tammi Cotton amid the wait. She hopes lawmakers find a way to approve the money as soon as possible.

“We need the police station. We need the fire department,” said Cotton.

The fire department has been operating out of a private warehouse on a temporary basis. The police department has been operating from space at the village hall. Schmidt said the city is seeking $600,000 from the state to rebuild.  

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

Published

on

[ad_1]

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

Illinois man charged with sharing sex video of former St. Louis County official

The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading

News

St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

Published

on

[ad_1]

ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading

News

Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

Published

on

[ad_1]

ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

Accused killer’s case thrown out over one question at trial

Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

Close Modal

Suggest a Correction

Suggest a Correction

[ad_2]

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending