The Illinois Personal Injury Weblog of Schaeffer & Lamere P.C.

Gambling in Illinois: A Troubled Industry

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Illinois gambling is at a crossroads," by Ryan Keith--

Illinois gambling is at a crossroads.

The nine riverboats are paying the nation's highest casino tax, and all but the Casino Queen in East St. Louis have seen sharp declines in attendance and revenue. Many have cut jobs and services while competing casinos in Indiana and Missouri are thriving.

At the same time, Illinois policymakers are weighing whether to expand gambling to Chicago, and opponents are calling more loudly than ever to abolish gambling. Riverboat owners and their hometowns warn that if the state doesn't lower the tax rate the results could be disastrous.

--Posted by Madison County Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Busted in Godfrey

From the Alton Telegraph: "Authorities seize $300,000 worth of marijuana in Godfrey man's home," by John Krupa--

Authorities have shutdown a hydroponic grow-room that supplied users in Alton, Godfrey and Jerseyville, seizing $300,000 in marijuana that could have hit the streets in a matter of days.

Jersey County Sheriff Paul Cunningham said an anonymous tipster led officers to the residence of Michael W. Lyons, 46, of the 10000 block of Chestnut Lane in Godfrey, on Friday.

After acquiring a search warrant, deputies found seven 4-foot marijuana plants, 13 immature plants, numerous recently plucked buds, a surveillance camera monitoring the building’s exterior, five grow lights and other materials commonly used in the indoor manufacturing of marijuana.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Smoking Ban Debated in St. Louis County

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Effort to ban smoking opens fiery debate," by Clay Barbour--

The battle lines were drawn in ash Tuesday as the St. Louis County Council held the first of two public hearings on a proposal to ban smoking in all public buildings.

More than 100 people packed the council's chambers as 24 public and private organizations tackled the proposal and the effect it would have on the region.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Man Survives Crash With Train

From the Alton Telegraph: "Man escapes serious injury in van-train crash," by Cynthia M. Ellis--

Not many people who are hit by a train are lucky enough to walk away. But a 53-year-old Alton man did just that Thursday when he left the hospital with only broken bones.

Donald Halbe, of the 300 block of Gretel Court, suffered only broken bones after a freight train smashed into the driver’s side of his van shortly before noon in the 900 block of Canal Road in Hartford.

"He is really lucky to be alive," said Officer Bill Robertson of the Hartford Police Department. "It could have been much worse."

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

A Short History Lesson

From the Belleville News-Democrat: "Freedom drew blacks to metro-east," by Ramona Curtis--

There are no historical markers on Illinois 3, but off the highway is a church that symbolizes the heritage of freedom and black self-determination in Brooklyn.

The historic village that today has 676 residents is considered the nation's first settlement of former slaves to become an incorporated town. Brooklyn was established 180 years ago by a group of slaves from Missouri who crossed the Mississippi River to freedom in Illinois.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Alton's Future Is Looking Bright

From the Alton Telegraph: "Sandidge touts Alton progress: Mayor gives annual State of the City address," by Linda N. Weller--

As his second term nears its end, Mayor Don Sandidge described recent high points of his administration Tuesday evening during his annual State of the City address, from decreased crime and lower city expenditures to new businesses.

"A few years ago, we had an area on the Beltline that we couldn’t get anyone interested in," Sandidge said. "We took a gamble and started talking to a developer, Gary Grewe, and we worked with him on building a mini-mall." . . .

Sandidge said city officials are working with entertainment specialists Contemporary Productions of St. Louis as they plan a 4,000- to 5,000-seat amphitheater in Riverfront Park that will be built this year. The city is negotiating with the company to enlist entertainment for the venue.

"They think they can bring in acts pretty rapidly after it is up and running," Sandidge said.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Deer a Problem West of River Too

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "West St. Louis County residents at meeting divided on deer issue," by Mary Shapiro--

Erin Shank, urban wildlife biologist with the state conservation department, told the crowd recent surveys suggest the West County herd far exceeds the 15 to 20 deer per square mile recommended by the state.

Recent population surveys conducted in St. Louis County by the conservation department and private contractors found 40 to 86 deer per square mile, she said.

Shank said the task force has reviewed effects of high deer numbers and potential solutions. A random task force attitude survey mailed recently to 5,605 residents showed homeowners' main goals included reducing traffic accidents involving deer and maintaining the health of the deer herd.

--Posted by Illinois personal injury attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Deer on the Run

From the Alton Telegraph: "Loss of habitat increasingly putting deer in harms way" Here's the caption to a photo by John Badman:

Traffic on the Homer Adams Parkway in Alton passes behind a doe that was apparently struck by a car, as she lays crippled Monday in the Upper Alton Cemetery. The deer, who was suffering from broken hind legs and at least one bro Traffic on the Homer Adams Parkway in Alton passes behind a doe that was apparently struck by a car, as she lays crippled Monday in the Upper Alton Cemetery. The deer, who was suffering from broken hind legs and at least one broken front leg, was put out of its misery a short time later by an Alton Police officer. Deer vs. car accidents are up in Alton and in all of Madison County

Posted by llinois Personal Injury Attorney T. Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Bank Clerk Thwarts Scam

From the Alton Telegraph: "Bank clerk credited with thwarting scam," by Linda N. Weller--

An alert, caring bank clerk in Alton prevented an 88-year-old man from clearing out his bank account last week and sending his money to scammers supposedly representing the "Canadian Sweepstakes."

Clerk Stacey Butler, of the North Alton branch of U.S. Bank, 1520 Washington Ave., tried twice to convince the elderly customer not to withdraw all $3,400 from his account when he came to the bank Jan. 19 and 20.

When the man seemed unconvinced on his second trip, Butler called police, the report says. A police officer talked the man out of withdrawing his money and persuaded him to disregard calls from the fraudulent telemarketers.

Posted by Madison County Workers' Compensation Attorney Evan Schaeffer of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Bank Robber Makes of with Hoard of $2 Bills

From the Alton Telegraph: "$2 Bill Bandit Hits Alton Bank," by  Cynthia Ellis--

Authorities are investigating the robbery of an Alton bank Monday morning in which the suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash -- much of it $2 bills.

Officials with the Alton Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating the robbery, which took place around 9:45 a.m. at the Union Planters Bank at 2850 East Homer Adams Parkway.