St. Libory News

John Wetzig boarded a plane Friday for his first trip out of the country. His destination? Paderborn, Germany, a 1,200-year-old city at the mouth of the Pader River.

Trailnet will hold a Bicycle Fun Club ride on Sunday, with registration from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at St. via STLtoday

“The conference was a wonderful experience”

Two McKendree students were asked to present papers at the Midwest Regional Conference of the American Academy of Religion held at Dominican University in Oak Park, Ill. via McKendree College News Center

“Identity Crisis for the Creole Woman: A Search for Self in ' Wide Sargasso Sea .' ”

The 10th issue of Scholars , McKendree University's online journal of undergraduate research, features the work of seniors Laura Mueller and Natallia E. Sullivan, junior Rebecca Lindstrom and sophomore ... via McKendree College News Center

“People in similar circumstances should be treated in similar ways.”

A former supervisor in the St. Clair County circuit clerk's office was ordered Friday to pay $25,000 in restitution and serve eight weekends in jail after pleading guilty to stealing more than $130,000 from the county.

Randolph County Circuit Judge Richard Brown sentenced Sandra Middendorf, 40, of Red Bud, to five years of probation, ordered her to pay $25,000 in restitution and serve eight weekends in the county jail -- as well as undergo any recommended drug and alcohol treatment. The judge found she wouldn't have stolen the money if she had not been addicted to cocaine and abusing alcohol. Read more

A former employee of the St. Clair County circuit clerk's office was sentenced to five years probation and $25,000 restitution after pleading guilty to stealing more than $131,845.

Sandra Middendorf, 39, of Red Bud, was arrested in November 2004 along with Angela Croissant, 33, of St. Libory, after police said the two were taking a portion of the bond money paid to the sheriff's department and other police agencies. The thefts occurred between Jan. 1, 2002, and April 20, 2004.

During a sentencing hearing Friday morning, Middendorf also was sentenced to eight weekends in the county jail and must undergo drug and alcohol treatment. Read more

“This crash is a vivid reminder of the need to heed Scott's Law”

An overall photo of the three car accident involving a Illinois State Police car on Illinois Route 15 near Belleville on Thursday. via Belleville News