Southern Illinoisan from Carbondale, Illinois • Page 7

Local RIEFLY HE OUTHERN I LLINOISAN HURSDAY ANUARY ONTACT jeff.wilson@thesouthern.com 1B GOTCATTITUDE? That was an awful pun. Just read comics inside. PAGE 4D FRANKLIN COUNTY School bus in crash: No students were injured in a crash between a school bus and car Tuesday in rural West Frankfort. The bus carrying West Frankfort students was involved in a collision at 3:42 p.m.at the intersection of Old Marion Road and Street on the outskirts of the County Sheriff Don Jones said. The by James O.Smith,66,of West Frankfort was eastbound on at the stop sign at Old Marion Road and then turned north into the path of a car driven by Travis J.Webb,20,of West Frankfort.

Smith told deputies he did not see vehicle when he made the said. Both Smith and Webb suffered minor injuries.Two passengers in vehicle were also injured and were taken to Herrin Hospital for treatment. The crash remains under investigation.No tickets have been issued yet in connection with the crash, although Webb was cited for possession of cannabis after a small amount was found in his said. SALINE COUNTY Man gets 15-year sentence: Andrew Jeffrey Harrisburg was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in state prison and two-years of mandatory supervised release for the July 7 stabbing death of Eddie Hardin. The defendant pled guilty to second-degree murder after admitting earlier to Harrisburg police investigators he stabbed Hardin multiple times during a fight at 29 N.Club St.He argued he stabbed the victim in self defense.

Saline County Circuit Court Judge Walden Morris sentenced McDonald. Man sent to prison: Joshua T.Hodge,32,of Harrisburg was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in state prison and two years mandatory supervised release after he pled guilty to unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. ASaline County grand jury returned a felony indictment against Hodge on Sept.12. Evidence indicated Hodge sold an informant 5.3 grams of cocaine in June 2011. Saline County Circuit Court Judge Walden Morris sentenced Hodge.

MOUNTVERNON Armed robberyreported: Mount Vernon police are investigating the armed robbery of a local business Wednesday. Convenience Store, 1801 S.10th robbed by a man armed with a handgun at 2:59 a.m.,Mount Vernon police said in a statement.No injuries were reported. The as a black 5 inches on foot and was last seen traveling northbound from the store. Anyone with information is asked to call the Mount Vernon Police Department at 618-242-2131. CARBONDALE Fire station groundbreaking: Carbondale will host a groundbreaking ceremony for its new fire station at 10 a.m.today.

The groundbreaking takes place at 401 N.Glenview of on the west side. Construction on the $3.1 foot station is expected to be complete by the fall. The new fire station will replace the current west-side facility on Oakland Avenue. The Southern BYNICKMARIANO THE SOUTHERN Negotiations between several interests over the drafting of Illinois legislation to regulate fracturing continued Rep.John the different groups are at the table. We continue to make progress on the issue to protect communities and the ground water and allow the industry to develop and benefit the area and the economy in a responsible said.

Though Bradley would not commit to a time frame for when a bill might be drafted, the goal is to have legislation in place before oil and gas companies begin the controversial drilling practice commonly referred to as said. Bradley is among legislators taking a lead role in establishing new state regulations to govern fracking without delaying its use through a moratorium as favored by many environmental groups and some local city of Carbondale and Jackson and Union counties among them. Other local communities have voiced their support for the practice because of the potential impact on jobs and the economy it might have. Barb of the Shawnee Group Sierra more study is needed on the environmental and health impact of uses millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals to extract natural gas from shale rock. Although the Sierra Club is working with other organizations involved in legislative preference is for a moratorium to allow time for further McKasson on Wednesday during a presentation on the issue.

national position is there has to be very strong standards to protect our air and water and land.Unless there are those standards we will continue to work for stricter state so far has developed adequate it remains to be seen what are the As part of any new rules and regulations, that would be administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Fracking negotiations continuing John Bradley realizes IDNR will need funds SEE FRACKING PAGE 2B AARON EISENHAUER THE SOUTHERN The open sign remains lit Wednesday as the line reaches out the door of El Greco in Carbondale. Owner: El Greco sold BYNICKMARIANO THE SOUTHERN A packed El Greco on Wednesday night is testament to how important the restaurant of more than 35 years has been to a loyal customer base that waited nearly 90 minutes for one last gyro from the Carbondale eatery. is the understanding of El founder and long-time owner Tasis Karayiannis that the restaurant will only be closed temporarily and will re-open serving the same said. Karayiannis and his partners, including his wife and brother, elected to sell the business along with Old Town Liquors, located in the same building at 516 S.Illinois it was said.To the best of his Greco opened in 1974. is hard to be able to do all the things you need to do.It is time to slow 66- year-old businessman said.He also owns Southern Recycling Center in Carbondale.

El Greco and Old Town are being sold to Carbondale businessman Chandrakant Patel, owner of Blue Fish Liquors and said.Patel said he would not comment on the deal because some details remain pending. Old Town remains open for business today whereas El Greco will be closed at least for a short said. Braving rapidly dropping temperatures and snow flurries, a long line of new and old customers quickly formed outside the restaurant around 5 p.m. and lasted well into the night.To get through the line took about 20 minutes.Then they had to wait more than an hour to get their orders. is proof here that people care about this place.I hope they do decide to keep it said Brian lifelong Eatery has chance of opening again AARON EISENHAUER THE SOUTHERN Ian Provence works quickly to fill orders Wednesday at El Greco in Carbondale.The restaurant became busy as word of its closure spread.

SEE ELGRECO PAGE 2B BYHANNAH DOUGLAS THE SOUTHERN SPRINGFIELD BUREAU SPRINGFIELD Illinois taxpayers have a few more options to take into consideration this tax season. On Illinois Department of Revenue said it will begin accepting and processing tax returns filed electronically after delaying the start of the filing season by a month because of tax changes related to the federal debate over the fiscal cliff. As a way of eliminating check cashing fees for people without standard checking or savings also can choose to receive their Illinois refund on a debit they use the free online filing filing their tax return electronically rather than mailing in a paper can ensure that their refunds are issued as quickly as Hamer, Illinois Department of Revenue director, said in a prepared year, almost 80 percent of taxpayers filed For state taxes filed errors can be caught before returns are filed, and signatures can be affixed electronically. tax returns are processed direct deposit refunds generally paid in about a week. Taxpayers can also file electronically, either through paid tax preparers or software designed for 2012 tax year filings.

Low-income taxpayers and seniors can also seek assistance from a statewide list of volunteer tax professionals. state of Illinois works with nonprofit agencies to help low-income and senior filers so they can file early and get the biggest refunds to which they are Hamer said. hannah.douglas@lee.net 217-528-1079 State opens tax season, has new options IDR encourages citizens to use electronic filing CLICK CONNECT: For more this story online at www.thesouthern.com. New home found for police HQ BYSTEPHEN RICKERL THE SOUTHERN The Marion City Council this week took action on a number of infrastructure improvements and made way for a new headquarters for its police department. The council approved a bid from Wiggs Excavating in Benton for work to replace water lines at Browns Lane and Second Street from Copeland to Cherry.Comm- issioner Anthony Rinella said there are frequent breaks in the old line and it is not economically wise to continue repairing the line.

The bid was approved for a little more than $130,000, but the city might be eligible for a $75,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, City Engineer Glenn Clarida noted. SEE STATION PAGE 2B BYD.W.NORRIS THE SOUTHERN CARBONDALE A planned bicycle and pedestrian path in Carbondale got a substantial financial assist from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The city was awarded a $329,950 grant for the first phase of construction of the downtown would run north from Mill Street to Main Street along the Canadian National Railway tracks east of Illinois Avenue.The path would link campus to the Town Square neighborhood. grant was part of almost $50 million in federal funds awarded through the state for 54 projects.A news release Wednesday from Gov.Pat Carbondale gets grant for a path SEE GRANT PAGE 2B.