January 2012

<strong>While surrounded by loved ones at his country home, Andrew Wesley Helmus, age 64, passed away late Sunday evening, Dec. 9, 2012, after a long battle with kidney cancer.

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<strong>Andrew was born Dec. 30, 1947, in Oak Park, Ill., a cherished son of Walter and Marie (DeBoer) Helmus.

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<strong>He married Lynne K. Spencer on Oct. 5, 1974. They had two much beloved children, Drew Spencer Helmus, of New York, NY, and Amber Marie Helmus, of Duschene, UT.</strong>

Carol Croft Mitchell, 63, of Tamms, died at 3:05 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at her residence.

She was born on March 6, 1949, in Cairo, the daughter of George and Mary Croft. They preceded her in death.

She married Warren “Buddy” Mitchell on Jan. 6, 1969.

She served as mayor of Tamms for three terms up to the week before her death. She was also a retired rural mail carrier, serving the Tamms area for 31 years.

She and Mr. Mitchell owned and operated Mitchell’s Barbeque & Catering.

A Union County grand jury has returned multiple indictments against a local man.

Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds announced Friday, Nov. 30, that the grand jury had returned indictments against Benton T. Poirier, 33, of 1870 Old Highway 51 North in rural Anna.

Poirier is charged with five counts of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, all Class X felonies, and three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, all Class 2 felonies.

The Union County state’s attorney’s office in Jonesboro reports the following dispositions of cases:

Oct. 30. Shannon Swartzell, Jonesboro. Case No. 12-CF-71. Offense: possession of another’s credit card. Disposition: 12 months of probation, fine, fee, court costs, one day in county jail, restitution, public service work, no contact with victim, provide DNA to probation.