CLARK CENTER, IL. (ECWd) – ECWd was “invited” (message on our tip line) by some local residents to attend their Township Board meeting. They were concerned that the township was about to […]
Clark County Park District Violated FOIA and Failed to Answer the Attorney General –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – Once again, the Illinois Attorney General has issued an opinion, and they have stated that the Clark County Park District has violated the Freedom of Information Act for […]
Did Clark County Park District Hire Engineer Firm in Violation of Policy ?

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – Does anyone at the Clark County Park District read the policy manual? I have, and when read in its entirety it becomes clear that policy means nothing to […]
Park District to Clark County: Monthly Financial Report so inaccurate we can’t pay any bills –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – We will take your taxes, but you are not good enough to work here In their usual form, the majority of the Board of Commissioners voted to allow […]
Edgar County Treasurer sued by RIDES Mass Transit for $152,150.49

PARIS, IL. (ECWd) – We wrote in December 2015 about RIDES threatening a lawsuit (here) and explained the situation pretty thoroughly. RIDES-MTD filed the lawsuit a couple weeks ago. The bottom line […]
Oral Arguments in Allen/Kraft v. Clark County Park District (audio) –

SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) – The Fourth Appellate Court provides audio of its Oral Arguments to the public at this link: here The Argument Date, Case Number, and Title are: 08/10/16 4-15-0963 Allen […]
Using the Illinois Municipal League to Justify Illegal and Improper Activity

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – LETTER TO THE EDITOR Using the Illinois Municipal League to Justify Illegal and Improper Activity I always try to keep my sense of humor about things I research […]
Clark County Park District Director failed to deposit over $97,404.00 –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – According to financial records received under the Freedom of Information Act, Charity Murphy, the Clark County Park District Director, had failed to deposit 273 checks totaling $55,346.28 between March […]
Reggie Phillips will be in Marshall for Springfield Update –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – Illinois State Representative Reggie Phillips will be in Marshall, Illinois for a “Springfield Update” on Monday, July 18, 2016. The public is invited. Topics for discussion include the […]
AG claims they lack authority under Open Meetings Act –

SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) – What can the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor do when a public body refuses to comply with requests for information related to a Request for Review? According the […]
Open Meetings Bill signed into law –
SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) – On June 30, 2016, Gov. Rauner signed HB4630 which made a change to the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Jeanne Ives was the Chief Sponsor in the House, along […]
TWO DEAD IN WAKE OF MOTORCYCLE VS. DEER CRASH –

CLARK CO., IL. — According to Illinois State Police, two are dead following a motorcycle vs. deer crash in Clark County yesterday (Saturday, June 25). ISP District 12, who worked the accident, […]
One-car accident results in death of two from Brocton and two Paris residents in hospital –

Marshall, CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – UPDATE: A single-vehicle, multi-occupant crash very early this morning took the life of a driver and passenger from Brocton and sent two individuals from Paris to a […]
Clark County Park District sued for failing to provide public records…again –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – Another lawsuit has been filed naming the Clark County Park District (“CCPD”) as Defendants for another in a long line of failures of their Executive Director, Charity Murphy. […]
Marshall Alderman Tim Sanders turns crybaby to Senator Dale Righter –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – In further efforts to keep those not agreeing with their positions in the dark on matters of public interest and on matters they are legally obligated to cast […]
Letter to the Editor: CEMETERY SCANDAL PARTICULARLY ODIOUS
By Warren LeFever: The Marshall Cemetery, St Mary’s Cemetery, Marshall Township, and City of Marshall violations of state law is not a small tidbit scandal. It is an entangled mess that needs […]
Marshall IL. Budget/Appropriations Hearing – redistributing your wealth –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – During their recent budget/appropriations hearing there was considerable discussion on appropriating $10,000.00 to the Marshall Cemetery. Below is what was discussed, along with our opinions of the discussion: […]
Marshall Township unlawfully gives away $15,900.00 to St. Mary’s Cemetery –

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP, CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – St. Mary’s Cemetery in Marshall, Illinois is a privately owned cemetery operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese in Springfield, tax parcel number 08-08-24-09-101-001, and is a new discovery of […]
House, Senate pass Bill concerning closed session recordings –

SPRINGFIELD, IL. (ECWd) – On the last day of session, the House unanimously concurred with Senate Floor Amendment No. 2 to HB4630. This Bill to amend the Open Meetings Act has had unanimous […]
City of Marshall votes to violate Constitution, gives away $10,000.00 –

MARSHALL, IL. (ECWd) – Culminating a several week back-and-forth “debate” the City of Marshall voted to give a private cemetery another $10,000 this year in its appropriation Ordinance. It is our understanding […]
AG says Clark Co. Park District Ethics Commission violated the law –
Clark County, Illinois (ECWd) – “The Antithesis of an Ethics Commission” In yet another example of inept leadership at the Clark County Park District – this one can place at least part, […]
Park District investigates “harassment” that does not violate their policy –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – A few weeks ago we reported (here) on the Clark County Park District directing its attorney, Lorna Geiler, to use brown-shirt tactics to investigate a FOIA requester […]
Clark Co. Park District Director not entirely truthful on Statement of Economic Interest –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – The Director of the Clark County Park District, who, according to district policy must reside within the boundaries of the district, recently filed her Statement of Economic […]
Clark-Edgar Rural Water District increases rates –

Clark-Edgar Rural Water District – (ECWd) – During their April 2016 meeting, the Clark-Edgar Rural Water District (CERWD) voted to increase the water rates it charge customers. CERWD already had one of the […]
Clark County Park District Appoints 2 Commissioners –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – The Clark County Park District held a Special Meeting on May 5, 2016 for the purpose of appointing commissioners to two vacant seats. Steve Turpin and Don […]
Clark County Park District: Terry Stepp’s extreme exaggeration debunked –

Clark County, IL. (ECWd) – One of the items Terry Stepp complained about during the Clark County Park District’s April meeting – just prior to attacking a FOIA requester with their version […]
Clark County Park District – FSG Painters can’t figure out what’s wrong –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – As we have stated previously on the issue (here) with the Clark County Park District and the “free painting” claimed by the park district’s director, Charity Murphy […]
Clark Co. Park District – “The Painting Scandal” – Part 1 –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – Timeline of “The Painting Scandal” Or, “How to destroy public trust by hiding facts from the public” – because essentially, that was the scandal in this situation, […]
Watch Park Commissioners Kuehnel, Stone, Ewing, and Stepp vote to attack FOIA requester (video) –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – In a recent article we pointed out how Clark County Park District Commissioners directed their attorney, Lorna Geiler of Meyer- Capel out of Champaign, IL., to investigate and […]
Clark County Park District still advertises Kate Yargus as their FOIA Officer –

CLARK CO., IL. (ECWd) – How long has it been . . . 1 year? 2 years ? since Yargus resigned as park district attorney – and Charity Murphy, the Clark County Park District […]