Local News

Top Stories From 2014 in DeWitt County (6-10)

As we wrap up 2014, Regional Radio News takes a look back at some of the top headlines from this year in Clinton and DeWitt County. Today we take a look at stories 6-10.

The results are based off statistics compiled through DeWittDailyNews.com. The stories as presented have been edited from their original versions.

#10 - Fugitive Sought In Aggravated Battery, Armed Robbery Case Arrested (Aug. 13)

The public's assistance in August resulted in the arrest of a wanted fugitive.

The fugitive the Clinton Police Department was seeking the public's help in capturing turned himself in.

Regional Radio News learned Dennis L. Eveland III turned himself in after the Clinton PD issued a statement seeking information in locating Eveland. Eveland was wanted in Dewitt County on multiple arrest warrants on charges of armed robbery, and aggravated battery.

According to Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers, at approximately 2:10 pm [Aug. 13], Eveland turned himself in to the DeWitt County Jail and is in their custody.

Eveland was believed to be possibly be armed and considered dangerous.

Authorities remind residents their information on any other fugitives or other crimes can be submitted through Clinton Area Crime Stoppers by calling 217-935-3333.

The CrimeStoppers phone line is not recorded and does not utilize caller identification.

CrimeStoppers does not want your name, just your information.

#9 - Hoffman to Board Members: You're Not Smart Enough (May 2)

No top stories list would be complete without a County Board story, and only one highlights this year's list.

Several Board Members exchanged some very heated and personal words at [the May 1] DeWitt County Board meeting.

Board Member Terry Hoffman presented several questions to State's Attorney Karle Koritz regarding how the Board is moving forward regarding the Clinton Landfill. Koritz explains his answer is the same as its been in previous [meetings].

[audio:5214hoffman1.mp3] [/audio]

After another back and forth with the board member and the former State's Attorney, the discussion grew more personal when Hoffman referred to David Newberg and Camille Redman as quote-"not smart enough" at which point, Danny Ballenger interjected.

[audio:5214hoffman2.mp3] [/audio]

Redman requested Board Chair Sherrie Brown control Hoffman but Brown says she won't control a specific board member if the rest can't stay in line. Several argued Brown can't handle her job and Ballenger requested Brown resign, to which she requested the same of him.

[audio:5214hoffman3.mp3] [/audio]

#8 - Clinton IGA Employee Arrested For Threatening Customer (August 8)

Clinton authorities have indicated to Regional Radio News a Clinton IGA employee has been arrested for unlawful use of a weapon over a dispute with a customer.

[August 8] a verbal altercation broke out between a Clinton IGA employee and a customer over the grocery store's product.

Clinton Police arrested Jonathan Bratcher ,38, of Clinton for unlawful use of a weapon after an altercation in IGA. Bracther was transported to the DeWitt County Jail and released to corrections.

#7 - Suspicious Vehicle Spotted At Clinton School (March 21)

A suspicious vehicle spotted near a local elementary school Friday had authorities on the lookout in Clinton in late March.

Just before noon [March 21], officials at Clinton's Webster Elementary School spotted a suspicious vehicle in a neighboring park. Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers indicates the vehicle was a silver Honda with tinted windows. He says this is the second time the vehicle has been spotted at the school in recent days, and it appeared the male driver was taking pictures of students.

[audio:missingvehicleaudio1.mp3] [/audio]

The Clinton Police Department plans to increase patrols around all of the community's schools in response to the incident. Clinton Schools Superintendent, Dr. Jeff Holmes, notes the district is also taking precautions. He says all of the district's buildings are on the lookout for the vehicle, and students at Webster Elementary were kept inside the building the rest of the day Friday.

[audio:missingvehicleaudio2.mp3] [/audio]

School officials were unable to identify the license plate of the silver colored Honda with dark tinted windows.

#6 - Baum Recovering Following Motorcycle Accident (Sept. 6)

A Clinton businessman [spent time] in Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, after a motorcycle accident in mid-August in the western United States that shattered his right leg.

Scott Baum was riding with several other Clinton residents who also were on motorcycles, in Kingman, Arizona on August 18th, when Baum took a spill and his motorcycle landed on his right leg.

The impact shattered the leg bones into many pieces. He was airlifted from Kingman to University Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Doctors stabilized the leg enough for him to be flown to Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, where he was admitted August 27th.

Specialists had had to perform several skin grafts on the leg.

Baum and his family own and operate the Chevrolet and Buick dealership in Clinton.

Tune into Regional Radio News New Year's Day and we'll reveal the top five stories from 2014.

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