Area News

A Mascoutah man suspected of eluding police last month was arrested in Ashley last Friday. Michael Dawson, 42, was arrested by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on outstanding warrants from Madison, Randolph, and St. Clair counties. Dawson was the man who fit the description of a burglary suspect who authorities say fled after being spotted…

Even though the reported number of new COVID cases have remained low over the last several weeks, the Washington County Health Department is reminding residents that the threat of infection is not relegated to history. Since May 1, a total of 16 new cases have been reported in Washington County. That is up a bit…

By Travis Volz Several Washington County residents expressed opposition to a series of proposed green energy initiatives during the Washington County Zoning Board of Appeals Hearing Thursday night. About a dozen community members attended the meeting to voice their opinions on construction of wind turbines, called Wind Energy Conversion Systems, that have been proposed in…

Applications are still being accepted to be a candidate in the Washington County Fair Queen Pageant. Three spots are still available in both the 5/6 year old category and 10/13 year old categories. Spaces are also available in the 16/21 age group  as there is no maximum number of candidates. The Pageant will be held…

By Travis Volz Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Mt. Vernon woman in Radom last month. The body of Genevieve Barciszewski was found in a burning car near St. Michael Cemetery April 13. No cause of death was immediately apparent, though Washington County Coroner Mark Styninger said that no evidence…

By Debby Stricker Washington County Zoning Administrator Matt Bierman issued a building permit for a cell tower in Plum Hill Township on the last day of the permitting process. That allows Tillman Infrastructure to build a 338’ high tower on Jefferson Road, north of State Route 15. Tillman has already begun staking off the tower…

By Debby Stricker Sister and brother Darla (Schuetz) Gottman and Darel Voss, Jr. are fulfilling their long-time dream of owning and operating their own restaurant. They opened Village Grill and Pizza Saturday at the corner of Hanover and E. St. Louis St. in Okawville. Although the building has been vacant for several years, it has…

The West Washington County Unit School district, like those across the country, is seeing fewer people apply for teaching positions. The district had only three applications for a Junior High English/social studies position that was filled in April. Ten year ago, there would have been about a 100 applications for a grade school/junior high position,…

A New Baden man was killed in a motorcycle accident in Washington County Sunday. Mark Thompson, 50, was pronounced dead on the scene after a collision with a Chevrolet Traverse driven by Jason Foley, 42, of Okawville, on State Route 177 near Circle 8 Road. According to a report from the Illinois State Police, Foley…

By Travis Volz Washington County residents can breathe a little easier thanks to lifesaving equipment purchased for the county. A total of 17 new automated external defibrillator (AED) units were purchased for the county through grants from Insurance Planning and Management Group and Prairie State Generating Company. Mary Wilkey of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office…