No injuries were reported following a fire at a unit at Garden Glen Apartments Friday afternoon which occurred shortly after 2:30 p.m. Mt. Vernon Fire Department Captain Chris Hurst said the fire had been contained to only one unit, Apartment 301, which was rented by Michelle Pepple, and put out shortly after 3 p.m. The origin of the fire is under investigation. Hurst said everyone within the building near Pepple's apartment unit had vacated the premises prior to the MVFD arriving on scene. Pepple, who lives at the apartment with her three children, said she was at work when she received a call from her daughter informing her their unit was on fire. She said two of her children were home when the fire broke out. A spokesperson for Garden Glen Apartments had no comment on the fire or its cause, saying "we're just trying to help people at this time."
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- County Board approves appointments MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Board approved five appointments to various county entities.
- World Class Workforce adding web presence MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Development Corporation is working to improve the World Class Workforce program and bring it to the web.
- State passes Medicaid cut plan MT. VERNON — The Illinois Legislature passed a plan on Thursday to trim Medicaid by 12 percent, or $1.6 billion. The legislation cuts Medicaid reimbursement rates to hospitals and nursing homes by $240 million per year.
- Officials urge area residents to use caution as temperatures rise into 90s MT. VERNON — Temperatures are expected to be in the mid to high 90s for the area this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
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Ina resident wins Spotlight Literacy Award
INA — Yaro Hospodarsky of Ina won a 2012 Spotlight Literacy Award, given by the Illinois Press Association and the Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White.
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Children’s home seeks foster parents
MT. VERNON — The United Methodist Children’s Home is looking for people who are willing to become foster parents to children age 12 through 18.
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Road work suspensions for weekend
MT. VERNON — Starting at 3 p.m. today, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be suspending all non-emergency road work for the holiday weekend and open up all lanes, where possible, until 12 a.m., May 28.
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City plans additional leg of bike trail
MT. VERNON — The city of Mt. Vernon has plans to include an additional leg in its bike trail.
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County unemployment rate drops
MT. VERNON — The county unemployment rate dropped seven tenths of a percentage point from March to April, coming in at 7.8 percent.
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Pool safety reminders for the start of summer
MT. VERNON — The best way to keep every swimmer safe is swim lessons, said Mt. Vernon City Pool manager Joyce Damron.
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