No Valid Driver’s License, Operating Uninsured Vehicle, Operating Vehicle without Evidence of Registration. (Delayed Entry) H24-2443

Date and Time: 05/14/2024 11:56PM

Location: E Main St/S Market St

Arrested: Kenneth D.L. Denton(34)(M) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers conducted a traffic stop and a computer search showed Mr. Denton to

not have a valid driver’s license. Mr. Denton was mailed Vermilion County Notice to

appear.

Fire Call

Time: 4:38pm

Location: 1100 blk Savannah Court

Details: HFD was dispatched to the smell of smoke inside of a residence. Fire department cleared

without incident.

Volunteers play a huge role in assisting Balloons Over Vermilion 

provide our marquee summer family fun festival. This year's dates

and times are July 12th & 13th 3-11pm

at the Vermilion Regional Airport Danville, IL.

They also play a part in giving back to the local Vermilion County 

Community when our Impact Grants are awarded in the spring of 2025

In the seven short years of the combination of Balloons Over

Vermilion and Festival of Trees Danville over $500,000 has been

donated to schools, organizations and groups that impact the youth

and their families of Vermilion County. 

We would like to ask your help in inviting people to join us

as a volunteer for our 2024 event.

Sign up is easy! Go to BalloonsOverVermilion.com and click the 

Volunteer tab. You get to choose what time fits your schedule and 

what task you would like to help with. There is a short description of

what is involved with each task. Volunteers receive parking passes and 

free admission to the event. Here is the direct link to our sign up site

https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/13325184030/false#/invitation

Thank you very much for your continued support of Balloons Over Vermilion!

See you in July!

For more information about volunteering for Balloons Over Vermilion

contact Mary Surprenant at happytohelp1129@gmail.com or 217-918-0062.

What we all call "the mall" was auctioned off in 3 parts over the last 3 days:

Part 1 (referred to as The Strip): County Market, Pet Supplies Plus, Dunham's, & Ross. This had a minimum starting bid of $1.75 Million and an unknown reserve amount (undisclosed to bidders).  Although there was a final bid of $3.75 Million, the reserve amount wasn't met, so it did not sell (yet).  With taxes & fees, the price would've been close to $4 Million.

Part 2 (referred to as the Interior Mall): former Burlington, Carson's, Movie Theater, Food Court, restrooms, other closed stores, the DACC Barber College, & currently operating stores: JoAnn Fabrics, Bath & Body Works, Hibbett's, CitiTrends, & Jodi's Dance Studio (excluding the Slumberland & Shoe Sensation building owned by Slumberland).  There was a minimum bid of $1 & it was an absolute sale meaning that it would/should be sold no matter the amount of the final bid.  I didn't get the exact selling amount, but it was ~$500K, and with taxes & fees, the final price would have been ~$600K.

Part 3 (referred to as the Outlot): most of the parking lot to the west of Aspen Dental & east of the first row by the old Sears Automotive. There was also a minimum bid of $1 & it was also an absolute sale meaning that it would/should be sold no matter the amount of the final bid. I didn't get the exact selling amount, but it was ~$43K, and with taxes & fees, the final price would have been ~$60K.

The City was an unsuccessful bidder.  The total price for the sale of the Village Mall is ~$4.5 Million including everything.

Aspen Dental, Buffalo Wild Wings, & McDonald's are all independently owned & were not part of the sale. 

We DO NOT know who made these bids but will share once we are notified & legally able to do so.  Local developers we spoke w/wanted to keep all existing businesses & planned to expand both shopping & entertainment options, so it's our prayer that one of them won!  We have been working behind the scenes to ensure the future success of this facility & will continue to do so.  Neither I nor other City Team Members will offer further commentary at this time because it's truly all we know.  #wearedanville #danvilleisus #danvilleproud #danvillestrong

– State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) announced over $31.5 million in Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) water related infrastructure projects for east central Illinois. 

“Investing in water infrastructure is an investment in the future of our communities,” Sen. Rose affirmed. “With aging infrastructure and increasing environmental challenges, these projects are vital to provide to clean and safe water for the impacted communities”.

The projects include loans to the following entities: the Sangamon Valley Public Water District will receive $10,513,832; the City of Newman will receive $463,323; the Village of Rantoul will receive $17,932,603; and the City of Hoopeston will receive $2,654,918 for water infrastructure projects. Some of the projects are illegible for partial loan forgiveness – a huge benefit to local citizens. 

Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund includes two loan programs, the Water Pollution Control Loan Program which funds both wastewater and stormwater projects, and the Public Water Supply Loan Program for drinking water projects. Both programs provide funding at a low interest rate of just 1.81 percent for State FY24. These SRF programs receive federal capitalization funding annually, which is combined with state matching funds, interest earnings, repayment money, and periodic bond sale proceeds, to form the source of financing for these infrastructure projects. The state matching funds for State FY2020-2024 are being provided through Governor Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, thus increasing the funding capacity of both loan programs.

Speeding 83 in a 55 mph Zone H24-2422

Time: 12:23 am

Location: State Route 9/N 1850 East Rd

Cited: Kellie D Webb (F) (50) of Indianapolis, IN

Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Ms. Webb received a citation with notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court and was released from the scene.

No Valid Driver’s License, Uninsured Vehicle, Operating Vehicle with No Evidence of Registration H24-2443

Time: 11:56 pm

Location: E Main/S Market St

Cited: Kenneth D. L. Denton (M) (34) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the listed subject identified as the driver. Mr. Denton was released from the scene and was mailed citations for the above charges and notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court.

 A Cissna Park man is dead and an Ashkum woman is hurt after a crash in Iroquois County on Monday morning.

Just before 9:40 a.m., Iroquois County Sheriff’s Deputies, Crescent EMS, and Watseka Fire arrived at the scene in rural Watseka. Authorities said the accident happened at the 1600 East and 1900 North intersection.

An investigation suggested that 77-year-old Rodney Windhorn of Cissna Park was traveling south on 1600 East. Meanwhile Rhonda Kollmann, 66 of Ashkum, was traveling east. Windhorn failed to stop at the fully marked intersection, hitting Kollmann’s van.

The Iroquois County Sheriff’s Office said Windhorn was pronounced dead at the scene. Kollmann was hurt and taken to a nearby hospital, then ultimately airlifted to another one for further treatment.

Illinois State Police assisted the Sheriff’s Office at the scene. The incident remains under investigation.

Traffic Accident H24-2343 Date/Time: 5/9/24 3:45pm Location: 100 blk N 4th St Unit # 1: 2012 Toyota driven by Olivia LaBounty (F) (20) of Hoopeston Unit # 2: 2012 Buick parked and unoccupied, owned by Jennifer Cundiff of Hoopeston Details: Unit # 1 was backing out of a parking space and struck Unit #2. No injuries, no tickets and both vehicles were insured.

Domestic Battery, Intimidation of a Witness H24-2384 2024-3598 Time: 6:31 pm Location: Primrose/Larkspur Ln Arrested: Kevin E Lefever (M) (25) of Penfield Details: HPD was dispatched to the area for a disturbance where Mr. Lefever was then arrested for the listed charges and transported to HPD for processing. He was later transported to the PSB in Danville to await arraignment. 

Today, Governor JB Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) awarded $1.7 million in grant funding to 40 small and mid-sized manufacturers across the state through the Made in Illinois Grant Program. The Made in Illinois program provides up to $50,000 in matching grant funding to local Illinois manufacturers to support innovation and strategic advancements in manufacturing. IMEC served as grant administrator for this program.

“Manufacturing is on the rise in Illinois and my administration is providing local manufacturers with the resources they need to compete in the future,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to this grant, 40 diverse recipients across the state will receive the capital they need to advance innovation in their field.”

The program originally allocated $1 million in funding and was increased to $1.7 million due to resounding interest in the program from Illinois’ small and mid-sized manufacturers. The Made in Illinois program underscores the State of Illinois’ commitment to strengthening its manufacturing base which is a vital component of the state’s economy. By providing financial support to local manufacturers, the program encourages innovation and advancement within the industry while contributing to job creation and economic prosperity throughout Illinois communities.

“Illinois is a globally recognized manufacturing leader and small and medium-sized manufacturers are a critical part of our state’s manufacturing sector and economy,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “Through the Made in Illinois Program, the State is reinforcing its commitment to providing resources and opportunities to Illinois’ world-class manufacturers while supporting communities across the state.”

The Made in Illinois Grant Program represents a significant step forward in enhancing the competitiveness and resilience of Illinois' manufacturing sector. The selected manufacturers, spread across various sectors and regions of the state, exemplify the diverse capabilities and potential of Illinois’ manufacturers.

“The Made in Illinois Grant Program is just one example of the dedication to supporting Illinois manufacturers in their pursuit of excellence,” said David Boulay, Ph.D., President of IMEC. “By investing in innovation and strategic initiatives, these businesses are empowered to thrive and drive economic growth across the state.”

“Manufacturing is evolving rapidly, and staying current can be costly. Over the past five years, there's been significant investment in new equipment. Automating processes has been a critical strategic move and seeking assistance has proved highly advantageous during this transition period,” said Kurt Wagner, CEO of Wagner Machine in Champaign. “Automation has enabled the workforce to focus on higher-value tasks, enhancing efficiency, and quality improvements. This has led to continued job creation and an increase in machinist wages.”

“The Made in Illinois Grant is great program to drive local investment,” said Dan Foelske, VP Operations & Controller at Axis Designs in Aurora. “Axis Designs is currently on a steep growth trajectory. This award will help us add the automation and create the new jobs we need to support the ramp-up in demand.” 

Grant recipients are utilizing the funds in a variety of uses to directly advance innovation and growth in their fields. This includes machinery acquisition, including state-of-the-art 3D printers, specialized automation equipment, and collaborative robotics. Late-stage product testing and scaling efforts is also a key focus for grantees, which is essential for successful product deployment.

In addition to the grant opportunity, the Made in Illinois Grant Program also offers manufacturers access to expertise and resources, guiding them toward a future defined by productivity and innovation. Through expertise and resources and through the grant program, manufacturers are set to benefit from:

• Productivity Boost: Grant funds support production enhancements for sustained growth.
• Innovation Focus: The program encourages manufacturers to integrate cutting-edge technologies for continuous improvement.
• Cost-Effective Innovation: Backed by IMEC's expertise, manufacturers innovate while keeping costs in check.
• Quality Improvement: Grant recipients invest in automation to elevate product quality.
• Workforce Support: Automation and smart technologies equip manufacturers with an opportunity to up-skill their workforce.
• Market Leadership: Manufacturers gain a leadership position by adopting cutting-edge technologies.
• Machinery Acquisition: Emphasis on strategic acquisition for advanced machinery.
• Flexibility and Resilience: Fosters adaptability through advanced technologies to lower operational risk and pivot to market shifts.

Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, No Valid Driver’s License, Operating Uninsured Motor Vehicle H24-2303, 2024-3464

Date: 05/07/2024

Time: 12:48 a.m.

Arrested: Ashley Tucker (F) (36) of Hoopeston, IL

Details: HPD initiated a traffic stop for the vehicle Ms. Tucker was driving for a traffic violation. A computer check revealed she did not have a valid driver’s license. She was arrested after methamphetamine was found. She was arrested, taken to HPD, and then later transported to the PSB in Vermilion County.

Warrant Arrest H24-2307, 2024-3465

Date: 05/07/2024

Time: 12:48 a.m.

Arrested: Jason Kinnaird (M) (47) of Hoopeston, IL

Details: HPD initiated a traffic and Mr. Kinnaird was found to be the passenger. Upon a computer check it was revealed that Mr. Kinnaird was wanted on a Vermilion County warrant. He was arrested, taken to HPD, and then later transported to the PSB in Vermilion County.

Fire Call

Time: 2:09 p.m.

Location: 600 block of West Elm

Details: HFD and HPD were called to the area as an illegal burn. The fire was put out.

Burglary to Auto (delayed entry) H24-0228, 2024-3433 Date: 01/13/2024 Time: 7:02 pm Complainant: 44 year old Hoopeston female Arrested: Anthony Chandler (M) (42) of Hoopeston Details: At above time and date, HPD officers took a report for burglary to auto. After an investigation, Mr. Chandler was arrested and taken to HPD then later transported to the Danville PSB to await arraignment. Possession of Methamphetamine; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia H24-2290, 2024-3434 Time: 2:25 am Location: 400 Block of East Honeywell Arrested: Anthony Chandler (M) (42) of Hoopeston Details: HPD officers were on foot patrol when they stopped and questioned Mr. Chandler. He was brought to HPD for questioning in a previous case. A search found methamphetamines and paraphernalia. He was arrested and taken to HPD and then later transported to Danville PSB to await arraignment. Wanted on Warrant (Vermilion County) H24-2299 2024-3459 Time: 8:51 pm Location: 400 blk S Dixie Highway Arrested: Brian P Root (M) (52) of Hoopeston Details: HPD located the above subject known to have an active Vermilion County warrant. He was taken into custody and transported to HPD for processing. He was later transported to the Public Safety Building Danville, IL by the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department to await arraignment. 

Operating Vehicle with Expired Registration Plates or Registration Sticker, Operating Uninsured Vehicle H24-2238 Time/Date: 5/2/24 9:16pm Location: W Orange/1st Av Cited: Susie Wisdom (F) (47) of Hoopeston Details: HPD officers stopped the vehicle Ms. Wisdom was driving for a traffic violation. A computer check revealed the registration was expired. Subject was given citations and was released from scene with traffic court date.

Traffic Accident H24-2244 Time: 7:58PM Location: 700 blk of E Maple Unit 1: 2004 GMC Sierra driven by a 16yr old Male of Hoopeston Unit 2: 2010 Pontiac G6 parked by a 16yr old Female of Hoopeston Details: Driver of Unit 1 was backing out of the driveway when he struck Unit 2 which was parked. Both units insured, no tickets or injuries. Both driven from the scene.

Wanted on Warrants H24-2248 Time: 6:19 pm Location: 400 block of N Market Arrested: James Shoulders (M) (60) of Olathe, KS Details: Officers checked out with Mr. Shoulders. A computer check revealed he had outstanding warrants from Saline Co, IL and Johnson Co, KS. He was arrested and taken to HPD for processing then transported to the PSB in Danville to await extradition.

Speeding 52 in a 35 Time: 9:18 pm Location: 900 Block of West Orange Arrested: Waylon Henning (M) (26) of Rossville, IL Details: HPD officers stopped Mr. Henning for a traffic violation. He received a citation for speeding and a Vermilion County Traffic Court date then released from the scene.

Driving While Registration Suspended H24-2272 Time: 12:42 am Location: N 6th Ave/W Main St Cited: Reina L Tapia (F) (21) of Hoopeston Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Ms. Tapia was cited for the listed charge and released from the scene with a notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court.

The Vermilion County Coroner stated that a male/white pedestrian who was struck by multiple motor vehicles on County Road 2030 East north of Voorhees Street in the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 is still under investigation. An Autopsy was preformed late yesterday and an identification has not yet been made.

The Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office and the Vermilion County Coroner’s office continue to investigate. Authorities ask that anyone with information as to the identity of the decedent or the circumstances surrounding the traffic crash to contact the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office at 217-442-4080 or Vermilion County Crimestoppers

Warrant Arrest( Vermilion County 23CM347) H24-2217 2024-3292

Time: 4:39PM

Location: 101 W Main St(Tedd’s Home Beverage)

Arrested: Courtney J St Clair(34)(F)of Hoopeston

Details: HPD officers were out with Ms. St Clair and a computer check showed Ms. St Clair to have

an active Vermilion County Warrant. Ms. St Clair was arrested and transported to HPD for

processing and later transported to the PSB by a Vermilion County Sheriff Deputy.

Fire Call

Time: 11:07 pm

Location: 500 blk E Main St

Details: HFD was dispatched for an odor investigation. All units cleared without further incident.

Warrant Arrest H24-2165 2024-3217

Time: 1:27 a.m.

Location: 400 blk of S 2nd Ave.

Arrested: Jalen Hulett (M) (20) of Brazil, IN

Details: HPD officers were called to the area for a suspicious person. Mr. Hulett was located and a computer check revealed he was wanted out of Vigo County, IN. He was taken into HPD custody and later transported to the PSB in Danville to await extradition.

Warrant Arrest H24-2164 2024-3216

Time: 1:08 a.m.

Location: E Young Ave./N Market St.

Arrested: Sara Mahorney (F) (37)

Details: HPD officers were called to the area for a possible battery. Ms. Mahorney was located and a computer check revealed she was wanted on a Vermilion County warrant. She was taken into HPD custody and later transported to the PSB in Danville in lieu of bond.

Speeding (37mph in a 25mph), Driving While License Suspended H24-2085

Date & time: 4/25/24 8:29 pm

Location: W Main St/S 3rd Ave

Arrested: Marcus J. A. Colunga (M) (19) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Mr. Colunga was taken into custody and transported to HPD. He was later released with citations and notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court.

Operating When Registration Suspended for Non-Insurance H24-2096

Time: 2:05 am

Location: 900 blk S Dixie Highway

Cited: Kayla D Miller (F) (34) of Rossville

Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Ms. Miller received a citation and was released from the scene with notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court.

Operating Uninsured Vehicle, Operating Vehicle with Expired Registration Plates/Sticker

H24-2122

Time: 1:45 am

Location: S 3rd St/E Washington St

Cited: Lucas T Morgeson (M) (40) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Mr. Morgeson received citations and was released from the scene with notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court.

Criminal Sexual Assault (Threat/Use of Force) H24-2101 2024-3207

Time: 6:41 pm

Location: 301 W Main St -- Hoopeston Police Department

Arrested: Edward R Burton (M) (25) of Hoopeston

Details: An investigation led to an arrest for the listed subject. He was taken into custody and processed at HPD. He was later transported to the Public Safety Building Danville, IL to await arraignment.

Speeding 80 mph in a 50 mph H24-2071 Time: 12:01 am Location: W Orange St/State Rt 1 Cited: Blake M Walker (M) (26) of Danville Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Mr. Walker was given a citation and released from the scene with notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court. 

On April 15, 2024, Rahkeam Cammon (DOB: 10/13/1992), formerly of Danville, Illinois, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for Unlawful Possession of a Weapon by a Felon, a class 2 felony, to 7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Following his time in prison, Cammon will serve a term of one year mandatory supervised release. Judge Robert McIntire heard evidence that on September 10, 2023, Danville Police Department was dispatched to a bar on Vermilion Street in Danville for a report of a man with a gun. Danville Police responded and observed the suspect matching the description get into a car. An officer approached the vehicle and the suspect drove away at a high rate of speed. Shortly after, a vehicle crash was reported and police found the suspect vehicle at the scene of the accident. Rahkeam Cammon was located nearby on foot and was positively identified as the driver of the suspect vehicle. Police found the suspect’s gun inside the car. State’s Attorney Lacy thanked the Danville Police Department for their quick response in this case. She added, “My office will continue to work with police agencies to follow Illinois law to remove guns from the hands of felons.”

Leaving the Scene of Crash – Vehicle Damage, Failure to Report Crash to Police Authority, Driving While License Suspended, Operating When Registration is Suspended for Noninsurance, Improper Lane Usage-Lane Roadways H24-1714 2024-3077 Time: 3:13 am Location: 200 blk W Washington St Arrested: Trea D Powers (M) (20) of Hoopeston Details: HPD located the above subject who was a suspect in an ongoing investigation. Mr. Powers was taken into custody and transported to HPD for processing. He was later transported to the Public Safety Building in Danville, IL to await arraignment. Fire Call Time: 2:33PM Location: 300 blk of E Washington Details: HFD was dispatched to the above location for a Carbon Monoxide detector going off. Was found to be a bad detector. Operating a Motor Vehicle with Suspended Registration for No Insurance H24-2053 Time: 5:04 PM Location: W Orange St/S Dixie Hwy Arrested: Geoffrey Fisher(48)(M)of Sheldon Details: HPD officers conducted a traffic stop and a computer search showed the license plate to be suspended. Mr. Fisher was given a Vermilion County Court Date and released from the scene.

Operating Uninsured Vehicle H24-2036 Time: 9:58 pm Location: S 1st Ave/W Penn St Cited: Thomas R Powers IV (M) (38) of Hoopeston Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Mr. Powers was cited for operating uninsured vehicle and was released from the scene with a notice to appear in Vermilion County traffic court. 

Driving While License Suspended (Citation #13953), Operating Uninsured Vehicle (Citation #13954), Obstructing Identification, Wanted on Warrant (Vermilion County 2021TR4299 Bond: $5,000 10% + $75 FTA Fee) H24-2001

Time: 8:25 pm

Location: 700 blk W Orange St

Arrested: Kenji I Byrd (F) (21) of Hoopeston

Details: HPD conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with the above subject identified as the driver. Ms. Byrd was taken into custody for the listed charges and was transported to HPD for processing. She posted bond and was later released with Vermilion County court dates.

Wanted on Warrant (Vermilion County 21DT142) H24-2002 2024-3048

Time: 9:06 pm

Location: 301 W Main St, Hoopeston Police Department

Arrested: Darin M Coon (M) (40) of Hoopeston

Details: The listed subject turned himself in on an active warrant through Vermilion County. He was taken into custody and processed. He was later transported by the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department to the Public Safety Building (Danville, IL) in lieu of bond.

On April 15, 2024, Terry Carter (DOB 6/30/1992) formerly of Danville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Deliver, a Class X Felony, for a sentence of 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, followed by a term of 18 months mandatory supervised release. Judge Robert McIntire heard evidence that an investigation by the Vermilion County Metropolitan Group uncovered that Terry Carter was dealing methamphetamine in the city of Danville. Through a series of controlled buys, enough evidence was gathered to obtain a search warrant for Carter’s residence. During the execution of the search warrant, agents found Carter to be in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine, packaging materials and drug paraphernalia. During an interview with law enforcement, Carter admitted to selling methamphetamine. State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy thanked the members of the Vermilion County Metropolitan Group for their tireless work to stop illegal drugs from endangering our community.

Wanted on Warrant Vermilion County (22CM174 Bond: $1,500 10% plus $75 FTA Fee), Wanted on Warrant Douglas County (2021CM04 Bond: $3,000 10%) H24-1944 Time: 7:33 pm Location: 400 blk W Penn St Arrested: Joel J Garcia-Hernandez (M) (30) of Hoopeston Details: HPD responded to an incident where the above subject was identified and found to have active Vermilion County and Douglas County warrants. Mr. Garcia-Hernandez was taken into custody and transported to HPD for processing. After posting bond, he was released from HPD with new court dates for Vermilion and Douglas County. 

Traffic Accident H24-1938 Time/Date: 4/19/24 12:47pm Location: 700 blk E Honeywell Unit #1: 2015 Ford Escape driven by Kennedy Lind (F) (16) of Hoopeston Unit #2: 2008 Chrysler 300 parked and owned by Ashley Colunga of Hoopeston Details: Unit #1 was backing from a private drive and struck Unit #2. No injuries, no citations and all units were insured.

 Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 7 Commander, Acting Captain Brian Dickmann, announces the results of Nighttime Enforcement (NITE) patrols in Macon and Vermilion County on April 13, 2024. These NITE patrols allowed the ISP to focus on preventing, detecting, and taking enforcement action in response to impaired driving and occupant restraint violations especially between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Violations Enforcement Activity Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Citations 0 Other Alcohol/Drug Citations 0 Occupant Restraint Offenses 11 Registration Offenses 8 Driver’s License Offenses 5 Insurance Violations 3 Total Citations/Arrests 34 Total Written Warnings 14 Alcohol and drug impairment are estimated to be a factor in more than 47% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. There is one alcohol-related traffic fatality every 39 minutes in the United States. Over half of all fatal crashes in Illinois occur at night. The NITE program allows officers to work even harder at removing dangerous impaired drivers from the road and making sure everyone is buckled up. This project was funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation

Vermilion County Farm Bureau is partnering with several community and government leaders and organizations to form Connect Vermilion, a program designed to advocate for federal funds to provide reliable, speedy internet throughout the County, and particularly the more rural areas in the unincorporated areas of the County.

Improved broadband internet access is vital for economic development, education, public safety, and all aspects of county development forward. The State of Illinois has one million dollars to spread out for underserved areas of the state. Vermilion County is underserved and should position itself to receive funds to enhance this vital service. The steps we are taking now will enhance the county’s position to take advantage of this program.

Rural areas have long struggled to have access to reliable utilities, since providers make decisions for service on a cost-recovery basis. But rural areas need to have reliable internet service in today’s market, whether for ordering parts or services, selling products to customers, or needing medical assistance when help is too far away.

That’s why Connect Vermilion has joined with the Illinois Broadband Breakthrough program through the University of Illinois Extension Service, the Soybean Association, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and others. We meet weekly to advance the county’s need for this vital infrastructure. Local leaders, governments, and community organizations involved in addition to Vermilion County Farm Bureau include Vermilion Advantage, Danville Area Community College, Vermilion County, the Regional Superintendent of Schools, Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department and 9-1-1.

Now we need members of the public to complete a survey that will demonstrate the level of (or lack of) broadband service throughout the county. We urge you to encourage your family and neighbors to complete the survey as well, so that enough information is gathered.

The link to the online survey is: https://go.illinois.edu/ConnectVermilion. Please complete the survey on your home or farm computer. If you use a cell phone for the survey, we suggest that you use the local internet network rather than your cell service, so you can complete the service speed test that is part of the survey.

Those without internet service are encourage to complete a paper copy of the survey, which can be obtained at the Vermilion County Farm Bureau office, 1905-C U.S. Route 150, Danville.

We’re looking for community groups to encourage their friends and neighbors to complete the survey as well. Service organizations, men’s clubs, 4-H clubs and the like are welcome to join our efforts.

The survey will help us create a solid map of where we lack reliable and affordable internet access. That map and the data derived from the survey will be used to apply for funds to build an affordable, reliable broadband system throughout Vermilion County.

 If you have any questions, contact the Vermilion County Farm Bureau office at 217-442-8713 or Vermilion Advantage at 217-442-6201.

Traffic Accident H24-1864

Date/Time: 04/14/2024 07:24pm

Location: E Washington and Euclid

Unit 1: 2007 Ford driven by Andrew Gann (44) (M) from Hoopeston

Unit 2: Utility Pole

Details: HPD officers were called to the above location for vehicle versus pole. No injuries and no tickets. Unit 1 was insured.