News

Elementary students welcome home a war hero

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013, 10:25pm

(Source: KFVS multimedia journalist Arnold Wyrick)

JONESBORO, IL (KFVS)- Wednesday afternoon turned out to be a very special one for a soldier returning from the battlefields in Afghanistan, and the students at Jonesboro Elementary School.

They all came out to welcome home U.S. Army Specialist Jerod Schaefer.

As the sirens blared from the caravan escorting Schaefer through town and onto the school, the kids waved their flags and cheered his arrival.

And within seconds of stepping out of the car he was driving the hugs began, the first one from his grandmother.

Then it was a long awaited hug from his cousin Allison Toler.

"I just really missed him so much, it's unbelievable," said Allison. "And we're going to go riding four wheelers and everything else. And we're going to play in the dirt and go down the big hill and have some fun."

The ride is going to have to be on another day though because Specialist Schaefer had a few more kids to say hello too.

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Jonesboro soldier welcomed home from Afghanistan

Submitted by KFVS Web Staff

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013, 5:25pm

JONESBORO, IL (KFVS)- A Jonesboro soldier received a special welcome home Wednesday from elementary students.

Spc. Jerod Schaefer of Jonesboro returned from Afghanistan.

His cousins along with their classmates welcomed Schaefer home with signs and cheers.

Schaefer also attended school at Jonesboro Elementary.

Look for more on this special welcome home from Arnold Wyrick tonight on Heartland News.

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Ware man gets 9 years behind bars for arson

Submitted by James Long, Digital Content Producer

Wednesday, March 20th, 2013, 10:40am

Ware man gets 9 years behind bars for arson

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - A Ware man has been sentenced to serve 9 years behind bars in connection to several arson incidents in 2012.

According to Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds, Corey E. Iman, 19, of Ware, Illinois was sentenced to 9 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections in connection to the fires that happened in January and March 2012.

Iman pleaded guilty to two counts of felony residential arson. He was arrested in March 2012 following an investigating by ISP and the Union County Sheriff's Office.

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Pinckneyville woman to direct regional tourism development office

Submitted by Steve Pobst on Tuesday, March 19th, 11:06 am

MARION, IL (KFVS) - A new opportunity for tourism development has arrived in Illinois.

Recently, the Trails to Adventure Regional Tourism Development Office (RTDO) opened at 3000 West DeYoung St., Suite 800B , Marion, Illinois.

Tibretta Reiman, from Pinckneyville, Illinois, is the Development Director.

Reiman was Executive Director of the Foundation for Pinckneyville and has been involved with tourism for five years.

The Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT) has designated four regions for tourism development.

The regional offices were formed to work with local Tourism Bureaus and Convention and Visitors Bureaus to bring visitors to Illinois.

The regional offices also market counties that are not covered by a bureau.

The regions are: Chicago and Beyond in the north; Great Rivers Country on the western side; Land of Lincoln in the central part of the state; and Trails to Adventure in southern and eastern Illinois.

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State's Attorney reminds public about tax refund fraud

Submitted by Amber Ruch, KFVS12 County News Digital Content Producer

Monday, March 18th, 2013, 3:09pm

State's Attorney reminds public about tax refund fraud

UNION COUNTY, IL (KFVS) - Union County State's Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds is alerting the public about what he says is identity theft and tax refund fraud associated with April's tax filing deadline.

According to Edmonds, tax refund fraud commonly occurs when stolen identity information is used to file a tax return in the victim's name and the thief then gets the refund that would be due to the victim.

Tax refund fraud has previously been reported in Union County and the State's Attorney's Office urges the public to protect identifying documents and information as the tax deadline approaches.

Members of the public with questions or reporting suspicious activity may call the Union County State's Attorney's Office at 618-833-7216 or the IRS Protection Specialized Unit, toll-free at 1-800-908-4490.

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Anna beating suspects facing new felony charges

Submitted by KFVS Web Staff

Friday, March 15th, 2013, 2:06pm

Damian Tracy says he and a couple of his friends were riding around on Saturday night, and that they were drinking.

ANNA, IL (KFVS)- A brutal beating of a sixteen year old Anna boy sends him to the hospital and four other teenagers to jail. Now the teens behind bars are facing new charges.

According to Union County State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds, the four teens accused now face one count each of felony mob action. They four are already facing charges of felony aggravated battery.

Damian Tracy says he and a couple of his friends were riding around on Saturday night, and that they were drinking.

Shortly before 7 p.m. that night they decided to stop off at a popular teen hangout in Anna, known as 'The Sneak.'

"I remember coming back to 'The Sneak" and them dropping me off so they could go drink some more," said Tracy." And that's really all I remember after that."

Damian says he doesn't remember being hit in the head with a baseball bat, and waking up in the Union County Hospital several hours later.

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