Suspect unknown in liquor store robbery

Photo by: (bizbuysell.com) The scene minutes after the suspect escaped.

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer

Ripley Way, PA- An armed man with a pillow case over his head robbed the Black Derby Liquor Store of 2311 Ripley Way at gunpoint last night.

Police arrived at the store minutes after, but the robber escaped with $2,845. (Would research to find out if it was solely cash that was stolen.)

Steve Bellinos, 28, was working behind the counter at 7:12 when a gun man entered the store demanding Bellinos empty the contents of the cash register into the pillowcase.
The robber was wearing blue jeans and a dirty white T-shirt with a torn right sleeve. Bellinos said the robber was 6 feet tall and weighed 155 pounds.

Officers Fulgham and Lopez arrived at the scene seven minutes later. Officer Fulgham fired a warning shot, but missed the robber as he escaped. (Would get more information from officials and police department. Would probably insert a quote from the police team who was at the scene.)

Ralph Martinson, 53, is the owner of the Black Derby Liquor Store. (Research to find out information about his reaction or include a quote if he is interviewed.) move the amount stolen to the lead

John Paul Reinicke, 35, who saw the gunman fleeing the store, said (include town of residence; research to find this), “The officers did a great job,” he said, “The guy ran so fast he looked like a track star.”

Police Chief Antonio Grasso stated that the Police Internal Security Squad will be making a routine investigation of the incident. (include attribution) (Find out when and obtain a quote from Police Chief Grasso on his thoughts on the incident; also get information on what they plan to investigate and what they are looking for)

Police ask that information on the suspect be reported to (give contact info.)(research to find a contact number).

Rapid fires spread across Springfield

Photo By: (BLfiredepartment.com) Brushfires spread across springfield and many residents worry if they will ever stop.

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer


Springfield, IL- Hot, dry weather has been taking a toll on grasslands and fire fighters over the last few weeks.

Saturday, in the wake of 15- and 25-mph winds and a high temperature of 99 degrees, fire protection agencies from across the area responded to sixteen calls.

The most violent grass fire occurred on Peabody Road north of Prathersville and west of Route 19. County Fire Chief Debra Schuster said that paramedics were treated on site and at least five of the 35 fire fighters were treated for heat exhaustion.

Three fire fighters were hospitalized for heat exhaustion, while two of the fire fighters were flown to Springfield Hospital (include town name). All three were treated and released.

Dennis Sapp, fire captain of Station No. 1 (research location) said the blaze on Peabody Road was most likely started by a trash fire. The blaze destroyed some nearby farmland and a barn located on the farmland.

Schuster said that fires such as the one on Peabody Road have been occurring all day. The northern part of the city and county has been hit hard lately. When questioned about the cause of these fires, Schuster was reluctant to suspect arson, but in the end believes that careless burning was a more likely cause.

“We don’t have any evidence there is an arsonist,” Schuster said. “We sure hope we don’t have someone running around starting fires on purpose but there is that possibility.”

Concerns of senior citizens take a new turn

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer

Springfield, IL-The school board candidates met Tuesday night with members of the Lenoir Retirement Community center. It was an unforeseeable shift in topics of discussion from previous meetings. The typical talk of the $35 million dollar bond was not the area of most concern among senior citizens that night. Year round schooling was the topic of discussion.
I argue with Board President Fay: an elimination of trailers would lead to increased costs which the city cannot afford right now. It just isn’t practical. Different scheduling would confuse the administration and the students.
Although overcrowding is ubiquitous issue it needs to be dealt with gingerly. Candidate Larry Doman would like to increase teacher salaries and eliminate overcrowding, but money is too tight to accomplish these goals at the moment.
I feel that school board candidates may be promising goals that are out of their reach at the present time. It all sounds good, but is unattainable at the moment.
Possibly in the future, funding can be raised for more classroom construction in hopes of eliminating the trailers. Due to the minimal threat of the faculty unionization, I believe this is an issue that can be dealt with after construction begins.

Death of police officer takes toll on town of St. Joseph

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer
St. Joseph- The death of a police officer sent shockwaves through the quiet town of St. Joseph last night. A shooting rampage killed a police officer and the gunman and injured three others near 22nd and Frederick Streets in St. Joseph yesterday.

A police officer was responding to the scene, in which a gunman stood on the steps in front of the Calvary Baptist Church firing at cars as they drove by. The police officer, Bradley Thomas Arn, 28, was killed when bullets hit his back window seven times, striking him in the back of the head and killing him. Another office (unknown name, will research further) shot and killed the gunman after responding to an emergency call by witnesses.

The gunman was seen walking down several street blocks near 22nd street before the shooting, wearing camouflage and carrying a backpack. Officials were not able to find identification. A white male with a Mohawk, he had pockets full of ammunition, a shotgun loaded on his back and a knife on his belt.

The unidentified gunman fired his high powered rifle directly at the car of a police officer who was responding to the scene. (Will attribute this to the police.)
St. Joseph resident Jack Martin, 56, was critically injured. Valerie Sharp, 28, and Kenny Cordonier, a firefighter were injured, treated and released.

A fellow officer (research to find his name, even though not available) stated that the police force was in shock and he said it was the “First massive shooting of its kind in St. Joseph, things like this just do not happen in St. Joseph.” St. Joseph’s has not lost an officer on the force since 1991. The officer was struck and killed by an automobile. (Further research done here and it will be confirmed.) (Will include a sidebar on history of police shootings in area.)

(Research to find out the name of this police officer) said, “Officers are shocked to say the very least, having been through this before you go through the shock, don’t believe it. You say it happens to other police departments not us. Then you go through the anger stage. Right now we are in the process of employing counselors to talk with police officers who are in need.

At the hospital police officers were seen on their hands and knees praying. Later, Mike Herder, a commander (research further, to obtain more information from him) was visibly shaken. (Would insert quotes from him)

Officer Arn, a six-year veteran of the St. Joseph Police Department, leaves behind a wife and two three years old twin daughters. Funeral arrangements are still being discussed. (Research further to find funeral arrangements)

Henry Higgins, 28 Falls Victim to a Fatal Car Crash

Photo By: (Coryhama.com) Higgins and friends at his high school graduation.
By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer

Springfield, IL- Henry Higgins, 28, of Springfield, Illinois, died in a two-car crash Friday night at the corner of U.S. 63 and Route NN in rural Lincoln County. Higgins was president of his senior class at Springfield High School (research to find out the year), lettered for two years on the University of Illinois football team playing tight end and recently obtained his real estate license with the firm of West Haver, Springfield.

Thomas Henry, 32, the driver of the other car is being hospitalized in Springfield Hospital. (Would need specifics on his condition. Would also need to review accident report to say what specifically happened.)

Would try to make it more personal.) Higgins was very much involved during his high school and college careers. (Would insert more ideas to make it more personal; get information from family and friends.)

Higgins was a go- getter (would hopefully get info from classmates or friends to support this). After concluding his college career, Higgins earned his real estate license and was associated with the firm of West and Haver in Springfield. Higgins was also a member of the Springfield Jaycees. (Get more information on how he was really involved with Springfield and insert quotes from members of the town)

Survivors include his wife, Cloris; his parents Ralph and Amy Higgins of Springfield; a sister, Ruth, of Birmingham, Ala; and a brother Russell, of St. Louis.

Funeral services will be. on Tuesday at the Newman Center (research to find address)with a burial in the City Cemetery (research to find address) Friends may call the Restwell Funeral Home (research to find address)from 7 to 10 p.m. on Monday.

(Would like to get more information from family and friends. This would make it more personal and allow the reader to get to know Henry Higgins. It would also portray him as being very involved in the community and in everything he did. Would get more information to show that he was a go-getter. Would also try to obtain information from family to show that he had a large impact on the town.)

Unforeseeable debate among school board candidates and Senior Citizens

Photo By: schoolboard.com; The School Board debate held last night at the Lenoir Retirement Community Center.

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer


Lenoir, PA- Senior citizens in the Lenoir School district (I’d have to do research on this) are worried that a proposal for year-round schooling might hit their wallets hard. This was the main issue of concern at the school board candidate debate held on Tuesday night.

School board candidates held contrasting positions on the proposed changes at the debate. Some believed the plan for a 12-month school schedule could eliminate the need for trailers that now house additional classrooms and aid in reducing overcrowding. Others believed that this new scheduling would be costlier as opposed to adding permanent buildings.

Board President Elton Fay claimed that year-round school was impractical and leads to many complications. Fay substantiated his argument by alluding to the increase in costs for year-round schooling and offset of schedules among students of different ages. He claimed, “What Mr. Lane fails to tell you is that if we are to avoid erecting additional buildings to save on construction costs, the cost of educating our children would go up substantially.”

Candidate Larry Dorman said he aims to focus on eliminating overcrowding in schools and increasing teacher’s salaries. The incumbent, Kerry Corino, claimed that large class sizes are hard to avert with the increasing population.

When the subject of unionization was brought up, Fay said teachers in the state do not bargain collectively, something he is in accord with. Corino then spoke of the anti-union sentiments of teachers correlating it to the way in which the city functions.

A Fire Breaks out at Lincoln Downs Race Track

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer

Photo By: Capcodfd.com; Firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames at the Lincoln Downs Race Track this morning.


Springfield, Il- The Lincoln Downs Race Track in Springfield suspiciously caught fire in the morning killing 13 thoroughbreds; arson is suspected.

An arson squad has been assembled. Fire chief Bernard Perry said, “Flames were shooting out of the building when we got here.” Dan Bucci, assistant general manager of the track said the fire started in the middle of the barn and not the end. He too believes that it was a suspicious fire. (Would like to get more information on his feelings about it)

Fifteen horses were killed in all: two saddle horses were also killed in the blaze, while two other horses escaped the building with fire on their backs. Albert Ramos, a jockey for the race track watched in despair as the workers cleaned up the area. He said he has lost some of his best friends.

(Would get more information about what this means for the future of the race track and how citizens can get involved and help out at the race track.)

Are Football Helmets Really Effective?

Photo By: Teamskyline.com; A standard high school football helmet.

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer

Redmont, CA- Pete Stenhoff, a (investigate to find out what position he played) on the Chula Vista High School football team, was caught in the heat of the game when he rammed his head into the ball carrier's chest and cracked his vertebrae in his spine, leaving him paralyzed.

Stenhoff is one of the 20,000 high school football players injured on the field each year: 2,500 injuries are permanently disabling. Last year, 13 youth died. (I'd have to conduct research on this.) Injuries are most prominent to the neck or head.

Why are the neck and head so vulnerable? Many parents and school officials are claiming that helmets are not efficient enough to counter these injuries. Coaches are looking into purchasing new helmets with more cushioning and support. (Would investigate and conduct interviews with concerned parents and school officials. Also would include responses from coaches.)

Stenhoff said he is not bitter. "I knew the risks involved when I decided to play football, he said, and added, "but I wish I would have known just how bad it could be."

Some parents are suggesting that physical education and health classes educate their students about the safety measures required by sports and recreational activities. (Would include a quote from a parent and physical education teacher.) Other parents feel that more improved helmets need to be designed and purchased (more information needed) in hopes of curbing the paralysis statistics.

Shaquille O'Neal: Powerful on and off the Court

Photo by: ryansadawordpress.com; Shaquille O'Neal, a strong force to deal with on and off the court.

By: Lauren Goldstein; Staff Writer

Hollywood, CA- Everyone knows him. Even if you are not an avid basketball spectator, you have heard of Shaquille O’Neal. His shoes are big to fill, on and off the court. The towering center for the Cleveland Cavaliers is renowned worldwide as much for his high scoring game of endorsements as his game of hoops.

His endorsement value has skyrocketed within the last five years. Shaq’s annual off-court income is about $15 million. His annual salary totals about $2.1 million excluding his endorsements. O’Neal has been making great strides in his endorsement career. His face is everywhere: magazine advertisements, billboards, and television commercials.

The Cavaliers center is strong on and off the court. Shaq is often portrayed as the “tough guy.” In his advertisements last year for Comcast, he’s paired up with Ben Stein to exemplify Comcast’s strength and innovativeness. ”It’s hard to” forget his endorsement deal with Burger King in 2002 when he dressed up for each decade that Burger King has been in business. The scenes and costumes were flashy, bright and vibrant.

The end seems nowhere in sight for Shaquille O’Neal, the iconic symbol of American basketball, as he continues to rake in the cash with his larger than life endorsement deals. As his popularity increases, the end is nowhere to be seen. This star will be shining brightly for many more years to come as corporate executives capitalize on his popularity.