Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois • Page 8

Mid-IllinoU Newspapers AH Tuesday, June 4, 1996 Detective details home repair fraud scheme -at trial incidents, the only witness who has apparently linked him to those alleged frauds can't be located. Baugh, 52, who has numerous convictions for home repair fraud, is charged with trying to bilk a 92-year-old Mattoon woman out of $3,200 on March 28, 1995. He is also accused of obtaining more than $5,000 from an 89-year-old Charleston woman for shoddy roof repairs on Feb. 28 of meaning he would have to post $15,000 to be released. Baugh said he wanted the lower bond in order to attend hearings in Terre Haute in civil cases against him.

Recent fraud charges in Indiana have been dismissed, he claimed. When Baugh pleaded guilty in the 1993 Coles County case, he was already serving prison time for repair fraud convictions out of Champaign, Mason and Vermilion counties in Illinois. He also has other Indiana convictions, according to Wambach. Another son, Terry Baugh, pleaded guilty in that earlier Coles County case and a later one, as well, and also received prison time. suspicious and Busby left without the money, the detective related.

Busby told the officers that Baugh picked the two elderly women to attempt to defraud because another ring he led had been able to bilk money out of them in the past, Metzelaars said. One of those earlier incidents resulted in Baugh's 1993 Coles County conviction for which he received a four-year prison sentence. He was arrested last week-near Terre Haute, from where he is originally. During Monday's hearing, he said he is currently living near Greenup. Under questioning Monday by Public Defender Lonnie Lutz, representing Baugh, Metzelaars and Lt.

Ken Belleau of the Charleston Police Department both said Baugh denied taking part in the schemes. Officers from neither department have questioned Baugh's sons Dennis Baugh and William Baugh Jr. about the incidents. A third son, Tony Baugh, who Busby also said was involved is now deceased. Assistant State's Attorney Susan Wambach, who is prosecuting the case, said charges against the other sons could be possible later.

Also during Monday's hearing, Circuit Judge Ashton Waller denied Lutz's request that Baugh's bond be reduced. He remains in custody with bond set at 150,000, Man cheated elderly women, police testify By DAVE FOPAY StaffWriter CHARLESTON A home ring lastjeartargeted two elderly women previously" victimized by a group led by the same man, according to a police testimony Monday at a hearing for the suspected ringleader. Though the suspect, William A. Baugh, was ordered to stand trial in connection with the latest Knit Cap News in Brief Boating safety class offered in Neoga NEOGA Area residents will have the opportunity to learn boating safety basics at a Department of Natural Resources safety course scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Saturday at St.

Mary's Assumption Hall in Neoga, according to Tim O'Dell, coordinating instructor for the class. State legislation requires that people age 12 through 17 have a Boating Safety Education Certificate before they can operate a motor-driven boat without adult supervision. The certificate is issued by the Department of Natural Resources. This is an excellent opportunity for young people who need the course to comply with the law," O'Dell said. The course is open to the public and anyone, regardless of age, may take the course to brush up on boating safety habits.

The eight-hour course includes instruction in rules of the wa- ter, Illinois boating law, first, aid, safety operation, boating construction, design and maintenance and other topics that will help make participants safe and responsible boaters. Further information about the course is available by contacting O'Dell at 895-3751. Canoe race to benefit senior citizens TOLEDO The 13th Annual Life Center of Cumberland County Canoe Race shoves off June 22 from Ryan Bridge. The race will benefit Senior Citizens of Cumberland and Clark County. Registration for the race is under way with applications available through the Life Center office or by calling 849-3965.

The race will begin at 9:30 a.m. from Ryan Bridge located 10 miles north of Greenup. The race ends near Route 121 by the Embarras River in Greenup. Each two-member team must raise at least $75 in pledges. At registration the team will receive pledge sheets.

Each team must supply its own canoe and other items for the race. The cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the top three racers. A rain date is set for June 29 in case of rain or high water. Teams registered will be notified if a change occurs. All pledges are to be turned in before the race.

Man still critical after fall from school roof KANSAS A Clark County man remained in critical condition Monday after falling from a high school roof Friday afternoon. Terry Sanders of Marshall was taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana Friday after falling 27 feet through a skylight in the Kansas school gym's roof. Sanders, an employee of Martinsville Roofing was part of a crew putting a new roof on the school. in August while he was in custody in Indiana on other fraud charges. Busby said he joined Baugh and three of his sons in a repair fraud scheme around Terre Haute, and in eastern Illinois, according to Sgt.

Larry Met-zelaars of the Mattoon Police Department. The group had their victims write checks to Busby, who would then cash them and give the oner to Baugh to distribute to- the ring's members, Metzelaars said during Monday's hearing. Busby said he was able to cash the check from the Charleston woman. However, when he tried to cash the Mattoon woman's check, a bank employee became Ssw 4' drainage problems. Fishel said that engineers from the Illinois Department of Transportation are looking into ways to solve drainage problems in northern Areola.

No action was taken on the issue. Also Monday, the council unanimously passed an amendment to annex three pieces of rural property into the city limits. The following tracts of land were annexed: approximately 46 acres south of Moore Park; 35 acres east of Interstate 57 and south of Illinois Route 133; and 65 acres to the east of the second tract of land. iiiukm n.uw.i 4hji. era i r.s last year.

He pleaded mnocen Monday and was ordered to return to court on Aug. 13. Also charged with those crimes is Ricky Busby, who remains at large. Detectives with both the Charleston and Mattoon police departments questioned Busby 14'' the business. In another matter, the council discussed the city's water drainage problems.

Street and Alley Committee Chairman Dee Shonkwiler that several citizens attended the committee's meeting to address water drainage problems on the west side of the city. Shonkwiler said that in the Diamond Street area, the city will attempt to make corrections by cleaning ditches and building a catch basin in one yard to eliminate schoolyard water. "It's going to be a slow process, but it's something we're going to continue to try to hammer out," Shonkwiler said of the city's Photo by Tetsuya Kikumasa A statue at McAfee Gymnasium on the campus of Eastern Illinois University wears a pair of shorts on its head. Areola considers carriage rides as tourist draw a Kll Ik J. All of the properties are farmland, said Emerson Moore, city attorney.

Petitions were made for annexation by the land owners, he said. The land will remain private property. "Basically, the overall idea is to promote the development of the city," Moore said. In addition, it may also be the intention of the landowners to be added to the Tax Increment Financing district, Moore said. In fact, one of the property's annexation petitions included a stipulation that if the property is not added to the TIF district within five years, the owner may petition to disconnect the property from the city, he said.

ji.ih a 2 Photo by Sarah Wong 1 Subdivision focus of Greenup meeting By JANICE HUNT StaffWriter ARCOLA The city of Areola may soon ha ve another tourist attraction: horse-drawn carriage rides. The City Council tentatively approved plans for the business pending more information concerning routes and clean-up measures. "I think this would be a good attraction for Areola, but I would like to know more," said council member Peggy Clark. The carriage business, run by Patricia Walt, would not have a contract with the city, and the city would not collect any fees from National Guard recruiter says tuition program main draw now, not patriotism By DAWN SCHABBING StaffWriter GREENUP The village board Monday discussed the recent annexation of a subdivision and the issue of getting electricity to it. At an adjourned meeting May 15 the board agreed to annex into Greenup a 20-acre piece of property located on the east edge of town.

Developers of the property are Stan Holsapple of Greenup and Bill Grunloh of Effingham. There will be four phases in the development beginning with the sale of nine lots measuring about 120 by 130 feet each. Holsapple displayed a plat of the land which is contingent upon state approval. At last month's regular meeting the board heard a proposal from PSCI Consulting Engineers of Schaumburg on a 10-year electrical improvement plan estimated at $3.8 million. Part of the plan includes short-term solutions which would allow the village to serve the newly annexed subdivision.

Board members decided to contact the engineer and get an estimate of how much it would cost to supply electricity to the subdivision and possibly Evapco an industry that manufacturers commercial air conditioners. Action on the issue is expected to take place at an June 20 meet By DAWN SCHABBING StaffWriter ing after receiving information from the electrical engineers. Holsapple said he had other options available to him should the village choose not to service his subdivision. In other business, the board: discussed the ambulance runs to the moto-cross race track. The board agreed to have its attorney, Millard Everhart, compose a letter to Jean Ramsey, owner of the track, explaining that the village will bill him directly rather than the patient.

This will take effect 10 days upon receipt of the letter. The village ambulance service picks up patients from Ramsey's ambulance outside the track area. Ramsey is licensed to run the service but if he leaves the track with his only ambulance the race cannot continue, based on state laws. The village has about 50 percent unpaid bills coming from the track and has been attempting to work out an agreement with Ramsey. approved a 1 ,000 donation to the Greenup Chamber of Com merce to go toward the cost of placing signs along Interstate 70 subject to state's approval.

approved a construction of a board walk and overhanging porch at the Antique Mall owned by Pat Black. discussed roof repairs and informal estimates. for the Centennial Olympic Games on July 19. In Chicago, families garbed in red, white and blue, cheered from the sidewalks. Business people peered down from highrise windows and helmeted construction workers, who had adorned girders with American flags stopped working as the torch passed below.

mi mm I. i MATTOON The Illinois National Guard is offering new experiences to individuals in return for a commitment to serve their government. The Mattoon unit under the recruitment of SFC David Miller is off to learn about a variety of careers including law enforcement, mechanics and computers, among others. These soon-to-be soldiers have agreed to spend six years serving their country primarily under the scholarship program which will allows eligible individuals to attend any Illinois state-funded university or college of their choice free. "Ninety-nine percent of the recruits join because of the college tuition and fees reimbursement program," said Miller.

"Patriotism is not as popular as it was and is dwindling," he said. The recruits will depart Thursday for eight weeks of basic training followed by an additional five to 13 weeks of job training. "Basic training is no more than taking your individual ideas away from you and teaching you to work as a team," Miller said. Miller said the biggest problem new recruits have going off to basic training involves adjusting to being away from home, friends and family. "I don't lie to them about what the National Guard is about.

I make sure they are taken care of," he said. The Guard supports local communities, state and nation when called. The program also offers monthly salaries and retirement benefits. In return the soldiers serve monthly weekend drills and two weeks every year. Miller has been a recruiter for six years after serving in active military duty for nine years.

Olympic torch returns to Chicago CHICAGO (AP) The 19-car train bearing the Olympic flame was greeted at its final destination Monday by thousands of people hoping to catch a glimpse of one of Illinois' 77 Olympic torch-bearers. The 1996 Torch Relay is an 84-day, trek across the country that will reach Atlanta Front (from left to right): Darrel J. Corrington, PV2 Rachael A. Brumleve; Jeremy Ritchie, Michael Carpenter. Back (from left to right): Douglas B.

Mlecks, Christopher E. Knetemeyer; Jason Turner, James Vanmeter, Curt M. Cummings..