Local Interest

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The latest on this case: http://www.freejamiesnow.com/pr_foia.htm

(BLOOMINGTON, IL; September 7, 2011) –The Committee to Free Jamie Snow (CFJS) announced today that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request has been submitted to McLean County and the City of Bloomington for materials related to the investigation of the 1991 murder of gas station attendant William Little.

The requested exhibits include copies of photo books that were used during the investigation for witness identification purposes on three separate occasions, related police reports and documentation, as well as information relating to reward monies distributed in the these cases.

On at least two occasions in 1991, shortly after the crime, the star witness identified suspects from the photos, neither of whom were Snow. During the third photo book review in 1993, no suspects were identified by the star witness from the photo arrays presented.

Volunteer Coordinator with Campus YMCA

Job Description

Under the direction of the Executive Director of the Campus YMCA at the University of Illinois, the Outreach Coordinator is a half-time position and responsible for: overseeing all aspects of volunteer participation, including recruitment, training, supervision, and scheduling. The coordinator is also responsible for building relationships and collaborations with key organizations, and some administrative tasks related to their work.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Volunteer Recruitment and Training

Determine and evaluate volunteer needs throughout the organization.
Investigate and post opportunities on various volunteer websites.
Review and prepare appropriate application materials for mailing or website posting.
Attend and/or present at relevant trade shows, volunteer fairs and organizations.
Determine training needs and schedule training sessions as needed.
Update and produce training materials.
Review and evaluate volunteer applications.

Many were at the Labor Day Parade in Urbana, Illinois, including Germaine Light who dressed up as Mother Jones and marched with the local chapter of Jobs With Justice.

On Monday, October 29, 2011, Travis Burr pleaded guilty to a DUI he received last summer. He will serve 10 days in jail, with one day of credit for the day of his arrest. A previous Champaign County Sheriff’s Deputy, he will serve his time in Piatt County Correctional Center. He is required to surrender himself in Monticello on September 2.

After a day of drinking at the Sadorus First Settlers Celebration (Sadorus boasts that it was the first settlement in Champaign County), Burr was driving in his car leaving the event when he caused a three-car accident. Burr rear ended a van that had stopped in front of him to turn, and Burr’s friend, Timothy Griffin, ran into him from behind. Burr blew a 0.192 breath alcohol level (state minimum is 0.08).

The IMC was the first to report in November 2010 that Burr had lost his job with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Department.    
 

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[see earlier story at: http://www.ucimc.org/content/amerens-irresponsible-excavation-5th-hill]

The Public i commemorates ten years of publication by interviewing some of those who have worked on the newspaper along the way.

You can pick up copies of the August issue locally or read it online at our new web site here.
 

Darrin Drda

Darrin Drda is a former Champaign-Urbana resident who now lives in San Rafael, California with his wife, Annabelle. He is the author of the forthcoming book The Four Global Truths: Awakening to the Peril and Promise of Our Times (www.thefourglobaltruths.com).

The city has announced that Champaign Police Chief R.T. Finney will be retiring from the department as of Jan. 20, 2012.

Finney's credibility has been significantly undermined  since being one of two officers present on Oct. 9, 2009 when Kiwane Carrington, a black 15 year-old, was shot and killed by a police bullet.

However City Manager Steve Carter may spin this news, it must be acknowledged that Finney's retiring comes after sustained community pressure over the past two years. This resulted in the election of a new Mayor and has now led to Finney's not-so-graceful exit.

BD

The most recent news about Julia Rietz:

In the what you should know section is a court docket record of the fraudulent filling of a petition with the courts by Rietz. An FOIA letter was sent to the Clerk of the Court in Champaign County. The letter seeks additional information for the case in question. The information is being withheld and blocked (by Rietz would be our guess). This is a clear violation of the law, which she proclaims that she is representing in an ethical manner. Illinois law allows 7 days in which to respond. They have not. This would lead us to conclude that there is something to hide. Now we have contacted the Attorney General's FOIA officer.

We will get the records.