Community News
Rotary hears from State’s Attorney Jennifer Watson
Felony charges have dropped from 2010
State’s Attorney Jennifer Watson enlightened the Area Rotary Tuesday, March 6 during a regular scheduled luncheon. Watson gave insight on what is going on at the State’s Attorney office at this point in time. Watson, who was an assistant State’s Attorney for twelve years, was appointed State’s Attorney in 2010 after Vince Moreth retired. “It was a natural normal course and my desire to be the State’s Attorney,” Watson opened.
Becoming State’s Attorney, Watson wanted to make some changes in the office. She did not have much time in 2010 because her predecessor left in September, so 2011 was her first full year on her own. Watson wanted to shed light on the charges she has had over the last year compared to the year 2010.
The major felony offenses that are commonly charged at the State’s Attorney’s office are burglary/theft, dangerous drugs (any controlled substance), aggravated batteries, sex crimes, criminal damage to property, stolen vehicles, weapon charges, forgery, and obstructing justice. After looking at those categories and comparing the charges from 2010 to 2011, there was a drop of the felony charges. “There were a few categories that went up,” Watson explained, “But overall, there was a drop by 17. There were 228 felonies in 2010 and 211 in 2011.”
The drop of seventeen felony charges is “very significant” Watson noted, as it would be almost two less a month through Watson’s office. “We consider that to be quite a bit.” Traffic citations also decreased in 2011, according to a report done by Judge Deihl, by 1,200 citations. Lastly, the felony driving while license revoked was reduced in 2011 by twenty-two from 2010.
After pondering what the reason could be that the felony driving while license revoked was down, Watson assumed that it could be down because of BAID system which is the breath analysis interlocking device that is installed in a vehicle after an individual has been revoked from alcohol charges. The individual has to breathe into the device to start the car and even breathe while driving the car also. “There are a lot of checks and balances,” Watson explained, “It isn’t like someone else can breathe into it and start the car and let someone else drive the car. They are prompted periodically to blow into the apparatus.”
In addition to the harsh penalties, driving while license revoked might be down because of the severe consequences that follow. According to Watson, you are looking at prison time and there are several people that can attest to that. “The most alarming statistic we found in 2011 was that out of 611 misdemeanors, 123 were domestic battery.” That is very alarming to State’s Attorney Watson as that is almost eleven each month.
One of the reasons why Watson believes that there is more domestic battery charges, because there might be more domestic out there and more reporting of it. “There tends to be hesitation for a victim of domestic violence,” Watson said, “Because there is always the hesitation that nothing might be done.” In this period, Watson believes there has been more reporting of it because the State’s Attorney office works closely with Safe Families and Order of Protection.
To try and solve the hesitation problem, Watson has tried victimless prosecution. It happens a lot that the victim does not want to follow through with the charges because they got scared and unaware of the process, so it makes it very difficult for Watson to prosecute those kinds of cases. “We want to work on more victimless prosecution,” Watson explained, “It is an uphill process, but we can file motions to allow hear-say. That is something that is not practiced so often, but it is something we are working on.”
In addition to filing motions, the State’s Attorney office wants to work with police and start considering every domestic a ‘victimless domestic.’ “That way we are looking at certain things, like photographs of the scenes. We also would get statements from neighbors, kids, and even medical personnel,” Watson explained, “It is something we need to be working on actively and hope to have success with that while cutting down on repeat offenders.”
A slight increase in felony charges were found under dangerous drugs compared to the year 2010. “It was a slight increase,” according to Watson, “Because, I think, law enforcement agencies are charging teams instead of just individuals.” Several meth labs were shut down in 2011 and since agencies are dealing with teams, the State’s Attorney office is finding that more people are getting charged and a great number of people are being arrested. It is attributed to the fact that several people are being busted with labs.
Sex crimes has also decreased, from 18 in 2010 to 8 in 2011 while aggravated battery went from 32 in 2010 to 22 in 2011.
Macoupin County is starting ‘drug court’ which is statutory and can be found in most counties. “We are new to implementing it,” Watson noted. Basically, individuals that do not have a violent history can have a two year probation period. During those two years, you are drug tested at least three times a week during the first thirty days. After the first thirty days, the drug testing can be modified. A jail time of 180 days is subject to review at any time if there are violations found. If there are multiple violations, drug court is not applicable.
“This shows you how we are seeing a decline in crime,” Watson closed, “But there are certain aspects that are considered alarming to us. We are looking into it and taking it very seriously.”
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Wins $2,000 Prize and Video She Created will Air on 160 TV Stations Nationwide
CHICAGO – Emily Bergen, 16, a student at Gillespie High School in Gillespie, has won the annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest. Antonio Knott, 15, of Merrillville High School in Merrillville IN, placed second in the voting, and Noelani Elizalde, 17, also from Merrillville High School, was third.
Sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, teens from Illinois and surrounding states were invited to submit ideas for a 30-second PSA about sharing the road with other passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians.
Three finalists were selected and each worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second TV public service announcements. The public was then able to vote for their favorite online. More than 1,400 online votes were cast.
The winner received $2,000 and will be featured on nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. The first runner-up got $1,000 and the second runner-up won $500. All three finalists’ teachers received $100 gift cards.
Bergen’s winning PSA shows a young driver starting her car and pressing a “share the road” button. As she drives, an AI voice warns her of a bicyclist, a pedestrian and children in a school zone. The voice then reminds her, “Cars don’t come with devices like me, which is why you need to know how to share the road.”
“The carnage on our roads can be reduced if drivers remain aware of others who share the road,” said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving. “We think the creative ideas about sharing the road from our Drive Safe Chicago winner and runners-up convey that message effectively.”
“Although today’s new cars are safer than ever, with technological advances that are proven to help avoid crashes,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts, “drivers must still be aware of others they are sharing the road with, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrians.”
The National Road Safety Foundation says driver error accounts for 94 percent of all fatal crashes, with speeding and driver distraction among the leading factors. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads and highways in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of injuries and an estimated annual cost of more than $340 billion.
View Bergen’s winning video below:
Bergen’s video is also featured center on the National Road Safety Foundation’s website with the runners-up videos to the right and to the left: https://m.shortstack.page/NLxMqT
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Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List.
Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. Below is an excerpt containing students residing in Macoupin County.
President’s List
BENLD – Ryleigh L. Phillips; Zander E. Rieffer; Emily R. Schoen; Tristen B. Wargo;
BRIGHTON – Brandon M. Adams; Ike D. Austin; Lainie L. Behrends; Reagan Beilsmith; Ian C. Brantley; Tina M. Brass; Lane Cox; Madison P. Fenstermaker; Hunter D. Gillis; Hailey Gula; Alexis R. Harrop; Gavin Humm; Thomas D. Kunz; Nicholas O. McGee; Audrey A. Perkins; Ava J. Pulley; Alyssa J. Schuchman; Addison Strohbeck; Sydney A. Valdes; Abby Van Doren; Piper L. Voorhees; Madelyn E. Zarges;
BUNKER HILL – Alex Betts; Grant J. Burch; Kayleigh K. Butler; Abigayle L. Collins; Denise Deias; Braden T. Fulton; Dillon M. Guess; Maya R. Henfling; Hannah J. Herrmann; Madalynn Hilyard; Madelyn Landreth; William Manar; Kaylee L. Richert; Andrew Sanner; Abby N. Spraggs; Noah A. Thyer;
CARLINVILLE – Jack E. Beard; Matthew J. Eldred; Jack Goby; Stephanie K. Harding; Gabriel R. Henson; Alexsis A. Kalaher; Weston E. Kuykendall; Lillian McCurley; Emerald Ondrey; Joanna M. Roemer; Jessica N. Strubbe; Karleina J. Tipps; Samuel L. Wilson;
GILLESPIE – Lauren E. Bertagnolli; Ean L. Davis; Lanie G. Doty; Kennedy G. Helmkamp;
MEDORA – Aubrey M. Reno; Anneliese M. Shatley; Haleigh Sinclair;
SHIPMAN – Alyssa L. Beck; Gracie B. Darr; Addison A. Jeffers; Tyson Kahl; Josiah A. Schuette; Bailee A. Sorgea;
SOUTH ROXANA – Lyndsey M. Johansen; Caden O. Lara; Savanah M. Stogsdill;
STAUNTON – Julie A. Aloisi; Samantha R. Anderson; Zane P. Anderson; Shane Baker; Lilly M. Bandy; Grace Bekeske; Gianna Bianco; Carson G. Buffington; Kiersten L. Carlson; Karla J. Castillo; Izabella Claussen; Lillian Dothager; Olivia M. Favre; Eli J. Henke; Alexis A. Hester; Samantha D. Hoffman; Harold I. Irvin, III; Dylan Jarden; Korryn O. Keehner; Nicholas L. Raphael; Alexis P. Schaaf; Brady Seelbach; Carli L. Skinner; Cole Sternickle; Tyler J. Thompson; Lilly Trettenero; Lillyan S. Troeckler;
Dean’s List
BENLD – Ridge A. Braundmeier; Kaitlynn E. Conner; Elizabeth M. King; Alyssa S. McCollum; Marria D. Middleton; Alyssa F. Schuette;
BRIGHTON – Garrett R. Beuttel; Troy J. Brooks; Emily Y. Cambron; Jacob G. Carpenter; Lucy Childress; Olivia Cody; Logan T. Crane; Tristyn N. Ditterline; Kaylin G. Gerard; Cooper J. Hagen; Ashlyn K. Hall; Evan Hanold; Samuel J. Harshbarger; Amelia R. Hines-Pattan; Ella J. Kadell; Daylin M. King; Kayla A. Lemarr; Tucker Mayhew; Elizabeth L. Milford; Stacey M. Mynatt; Blythe E. Roloff; Jordan R. Short; Shiann Vinson; Grace A. Wylde;
BUNKER HILL – Cole T. Burch; Hanna N. Heeren; Madelynne K. Heflin; Taylor Miklavic; Katelyn J. Miller; Abigail G. Scott;
CARLINVILLE – Boedy E. Baker; Emily A. Barbre; Zachary Chapman; Ella R. Clevenger; Alana N. Dixon; Alison J. Dixon; Nathan Dyer; Addison Eldred; Saralynn I. Joiner; Henry S. Kalaher; William G. Meyer; Chloe A. Payne; Amy L. Pocklington; Jack Rives; Lanna P. Vanderpoel; Ella C. Wise; Braley M. Wiser;
GILLESPIE – Reese E. Bussmann; Regan E. Bussmann; Addie M. Hayes; Karter Mix; Adrianne B. Niemeyer; Grace J. Vandoren; Shannon L. Wright;
MOUNT OLIVE – Libbie M. Nowell;
PIASA – Anna C. Fink;
SHIPMAN – Kaden G. Cottingham; Rocky Darr; Kathryn M. Mueller; Sayuri Owada; Rocky J. Rose;
STAUNTON – Rylee K. Baugh; David S. Dann; Belle M. Darte; Jacob A. Dillon; Vivienne Dothager; Sean T. Fleming; Kennedy L. Legendre; Zander MacHota; Savannah M. Missey; Nicholas Monahan; Nicole M. Narup; Kelley Perrine; Christopher S. Pritchett; Alivia Royer; Katie N. Schalk; Lakesi Settles; Priya E. Siegfried; Justin A. Smith; Kylie A. Tomso; Whitney Weller;
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Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, February 17 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. Appointments are requested.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/23/24 are eligible to give at this drive.
