Illinois Summary - 11/17/11

Mining Jobs In Central Southern Illinois

(O'Fallon, IL)  --  The mining industry is booming in Illinois and about 75 new jobs are coming to the Central and Southern regions of the state.  Erin Higginson with Indiana's Custom Staffing Services says they're looking for both experienced and inexperienced people who have a mining certificate.  The jobs pay between 13 and 25 dollars an hour.  Anyone interested in one of the positions should attend a job fair in O'Fallon today at the Hilton Garden Inn between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

More Adoptees To Apply For Birth Certificate

(Springfield, IL)  --  Two-hundred-and-85 adopted adults in Illinois applied to receive a copy of their original birth certificate this week.  That's just more than one-percent of adoptees in the state who are now eligible to access the document.  Joliet's Fredetta Gibson wasn't in that number but she says she plans

to apply by the end of the week.  She says she hopes to find her biological mother and get answers to questions that she's had since she found out she was adopted.

Quinn Close To Agreement On Facility Closures

(Springfield, IL)  --  Governor Quinn says he's close to a striking a deal with lawmakers that will keep more than 19-hundred people working.  The deal will avert his plan to close seven state facilities.  Quinn vetoed more than 360-million dollars from the budget and if lawmakers give him 225-million, he says he can keep the facilities running through the end of the fiscal year.  Quinn says he's still negotiating with lawmakers, but the plan could go through when they return to session November 29th.

Drug Operation Dismantled

(Quincy, IL)  --  Some cocaine is being taken off the streets in the Quincy area.  Adams County State's Attorney Jon Barnard says they've busted a major cocaine distribution operation.  The conspiracy was run by Sylvester Purham while he was in the Illinois Department of Corrections.  Purham plus eleven others are in custody, charged with a total 47 criminal counts.  If convicted, each conspirator will spend at least 15 years behind bars.

Murder Trial Costs Big Bucks

(Galesburg, IL)  --  Knox County is dishing out more than 45-thousand dollars to pay legal expenses for convicted spree killer Nicholas Sheley.  The County Board's Finance Committee received news that Sheley's attorney, Jeremy Karlin, has submitted the bill.   State's Attorney John Pepmeyer says he has no reason to question the total amount of Karlin's bill.  In fact, he says the county can expect to see another 15-thousand dollar bill from Karlin after Sheley is sentenced tomorrow.