Christina Whittaker Young

The search for Hannibal resident Christina Whittaker Young continues, despite rumors swirling around about her being found.

The latest story was that she’d returned to Hannibal Sunday night. Not true, family and police say. Family said they were in Iowa today to continue looking for her.

Click here for more.

I stay away from anything resembling a retail outlet on Black Friday.

A few years back I had to do the annual Friday morning after Thanksgiving shopping story, and it took a few sessions with a local happy pill expert to recover.

I got three phone calls today. One person complained about traffic on Broadway and asked why it wasn’t controlled better.

Uh, you could have stayed home.

The second was about a lack of certain stores in Quincy, and why we don’t have them.

Uh, you could have gone out of town, if indeed this is such a big deal.

The third was from a woman who complained about a retailer selling stuff earlier than advertised. Certainly that seems like bogus advertising, so I suggested she contact the Better Business Bureau.

Geesh. Serious bidness, this shopping stuff!

Seems Quincy isn’t the only town losing an annual blues festival in the summer.

“Simply The Blues” in Fort Madison, Iowa, will not take place in 2010. Organizers say rising costs and stagnant attendance factored in the decision.

The festival took place in early May from 2004 to 2009.

Quincy has free blues concerts on summer Friday nights. Fort Madison does not. Iowa blues lovers are welcome next summer, but get to Washington Park early!

The Historic Quincy Business District announced the dates for the 2010 Blues in the District Concert series. In 2010, the concert dates will be June 11, June 25, July 9, July 23, Aug. 13, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10.

There is a wreath hung over the railing on the east side of the Paloma Diner. A sign on the door says it’s closed until later in the week. The co-owner, Lesa Richmiller, was killed in a car crash early Saturday morning. She was reportedly on her way to work to open the restaurant early for deer hunters.
Prayers, then, for the Richmiller family. Her 13-year-old daughter was also injured in the crash but will hopefully recover from physical injuries, including a broken arm.
Brianne Buss, 22, has been charged with two counts of aggravated driving under the influence. Authorities are not saying what her BAC level was after the crash.
Buss comes from a good family in Clayton. She’s a full-time student at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. She has a 3-year-old son.
Buss was a waitress at a local establishment in Quincy and the patrons and staff there have nothing but good things to say about her.
Much will be learned in the coming days. The only thing we know right now is both sides need prayer.

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) reminds us to protect ourselves, family and home when  traveling or staying close to home with our loved ones.

NCPC suggests following these safety tips to avoid problems during your travels or while at home enjoying a feast with family and friends.

Planning your travels safely
•    Make sure your house appears “lived-in” when you are away.  Lock all doors and windows, set household lights (inside and out) on timers.
•    Trim your hedges and bushes so thieves cannot have a place to hide out.
•    Have a neighbor park a car in your driveway to make it appear as if someone is home, and pick up your mail and newspapers while you are away.
•    Invest in an alarm. An alarm system controls access points to your home and lets you know if someone has invaded your space.
•    File a “travel plan.” Let someone know where you are going, the route you plan to take, and when you plan to arrive. If you deviate from that plan, let someone know.

When on the road traveling
•    Do not stop if your car is bumped from behind or if someone says there is something wrong with your car. Go to a service station or a well-lighted, populated area and call for help.
•    Never leave items of value such as car phones, cameras, jewelry, or other expensive belongings visible in your car. Lock them in your trunk or take them with you.
•    Fill the gas tank before dark and lock your car doors, roll up your windows if you step away from the car for any reason.

Safety away from home
•    Carry money separately from credit cards. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.
•    Stick to well-lighted and well-traveled streets at all times.
•    Select ATM machines in visible, well-lighted locations.
•    Do not leave valuables in your hotel room. Most hotels have safes for guest use.
•    Keep your hotel room door locked, even when you are inside.

A graduation ceremony for the Quincy Police Department’s fall 2009 Citizens Police Academy took place Thursday night at the Eagles Club, with 22 graduates honored.

For 10 weeks, 22 people have attended Thursday night sessions and learned the ins and outs of the department. Everything from drug investigations to crime scene processing was covered.

Pro Act officer Kelly VanderMaiden should be commended for running the program. It’s free and there’s another session starting in March.

“The Citizens Police Academy is one of the best things our department has done for the community,” said Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley said. “The Quincy Police Department has been running the academy for over 10 years.  Over that time, hundreds of our citizens have attended, each coming away with a better understanding of the department and law enforcement in general.  Each academy graduate is an ambassador for the department, helping us all to work together for the good of our community.”

Congrats to the graduates!

Adams County is now posting a long list of people wanted for misdemeanor offenses.

Click adamscountycriminalmisdemeanors1109-1 for the first list. Supposedly it will be updated regularly.

While most of the people wanted are from Quincy, it is interesting to see more than a few are from out of town.

Jon McCoy formally launched his second bid to become Adams County Sheriff. Story is here.

Couple of things from his press conference in Mendon this morning ….

— Fighting drugs will be his top priority as sheriff. He touted his experiences starting what is now known as the West Central Illinois Task Force, and recalled the first collaborative effort to fight drugs, known as Operation Octopus. “We made 38 drug arrests of drug dealers and we got 38 convictions,” McCoy said. “It comes down to leading by example … It looks like the Adams County Sheriff’s Department is leaving the task force behind and doing their own thing.”

— He says the current administration of Sheriff Brent Fischer is “top-heavy,” and he says more deputies should be on the road instead of inside the Adams County Courthouse. He’d trim the investigative unit, which currently has five officers.

— On the sheriff’s department budget: “The current administration receives a handsome budget and they should be able to stay within it … As sheriff, I would never go over budget.”

I teach guitar lessons and I never fail to be inspired by youngsters who pick it up just like that.

Just saw a Poynter Institute piece on 10-year-old Collin Johnson, who plays guitar, drums and keyboards like a seasoned pro.

A Youtube clip of Collin is here, and a Minnesota Web story is here.

Amazing!

Florida man arrested for hitting priest after claiming he thought the priest was a terrorist … click here.