Is The Law Equally Applied To All In Carterville, Illinois?

By Turde Staines

May 08, 2006

  After reading the complaint against the property of James Vaughn, I decided to take a walk and see if it was an isolated incident of harassment.

  So I started walking from non other than the police station on Pennsylvania Street, which used to be Thompson Street. As I walked around "Devil's Corner", I started smelling a horrible odor, it almost made me vomit. It was something rotten. I then looked over and seen to my opposite side a shed that was almost ready to fall over, and it made me wonder.

  I walked up Matthew Street, and seen plenty of brush, not brush piles either, we are talking about brush laying everywhere! The northern tip of Matthew Street looked like a junkyard. Then I stayed on the road and walked towards Mark Street, there at the corner at an Alderman's yard, I seen brush everywhere. I seen broken trees that had rotted that could easily become a fire hazard when the weather turns more dry.

  I walked down Mark Street (west) and seen many yards that not only had brush, but trash and huge piles of limbs with something plastic in the piles. I seen a couple of cars with invalid tags, expired plates, you know the drill. Why no citations, Mr. Grass Patrol?

  I got to the end of Mark Street and could not help notice that James Vaughn's yard was looking as immaculate as a golf course fairway! Did The City of Carterville forget where Vaughn learned his landscaping skills? It was The City, namely the late Kenny Horn who taught Vaughn how to make a yard really stand out. Oh the days at the Cemetery long have been forgotten apparently. A normal thinking person would let Vaughn alone, his yard shows skills The City had passed down to Vaughn. Remember, something isn't right with this picture anyways! People running this town do not seem to think logically.

  I walked up and down the streets of Carterville, some yards looked great, some looked like crap. Then I started writing down the names of the folks who owned the land. Could City Hall be "playing hometown politics"? I think they are, it's still a right to form an opinion in Carterville, isn't it?

  I then talked to some land owners, they had not received any complaints from City Hall courtesy of Mr. Grass Patrol. I asked them if they were familiar with Mr. Vaughn's property, all said Vaughn's yard was immaculate! All said, "it's a case of harassment against Vaughn, and Vaughn should force City Hall's hand, and make them prove their point in court"!

  What City Hall should know, as soon as Vaughn received the warning, Vaughn's friends took pictures of all Aldermen/City Council member's yards. City employees yards were also included in the photo session, which proves this is a case of harassment against Vaughn, beyond a shadow of a doubt!

  I do not know where this will end up, but Carterville City Hall would be wise to leave Vaughn alone, as he is ready to go forward with a harassment lawsuit. Anybody who knows Vaughn, is aware of the fact he does his "homework". He has a large network of friends that is sickened by City Hall's latest harassment stunt. Everything is documented. Stop and think about it.

  I could not help but wonder about the injury Vaughn sustained in 1985 while working for The City. Was Vaughn awarded a pension, or was a job formed to keep him on the payroll? It's been done for others, but not Vaughn. Vaughn has always refused to kiss ass!

  All I can say is the people taking part in these harassment tactics should be aware that all this could boomerang in the next Mayoral Election. Do these people partaking in these illegal tactics love the one giving them orders more than their jobs? I realize it's a long way off, but it's going to come around one day as sure as I'm sitting here.

  I'm not claiming the entire payroll of City Hall is behind this tyranny, don't get me wrong. Some are dead against it, and will not partake in it. Who knows, Vaughn may have a "mole" inside City Hall providing him with the information he needs to pursue this to even a higher level.

  Maybe I'm from "The Old School" but shouldn't a City Council Member (Vaughn's alderman) at least called and warned about a possible violation? According to the stories floating around, City Hall had a meeting with "several complaints"--when pressed to show these "complaints" City Hall could not produce them! Why? They didn't exist in the first place! Albeight, if complaints "surface" now, you can bet you can connect the dots to the complainers and City Hall!

  If Mr. Grass Patrol is so "rough and tough" as he claims, and since he's on "friendly terms" with Mr. Vaughn as he claims, why didn't he drop by Mr. Vaughn's residence and deliver the notice in person? In my opinion, it's the true mark of a coward!

  When Vaughn went to The Police Chief, where was Mr. Grass Patrol? Mr. Grass Patrol sure called Mr. Vaughn's 86 year old Mother as soon as Vaughn left the Police Department, and claimed, "I just missed Jim". Maybe Mr. Grass Patrol was truthful, but I doubt it, how far is Vaughn's house from The Police Station? Why didn't Mr. Grass Patrol drop by Vaughn's home later and explain the complaint?? Answer: Mr. Grass Patrol took the heat for whoever gave him the order to write Vaughn a complaint. People are not dumb!

  Bottom line, tyranny reigns in Carterville--like it or not. It's the "land of cliques", but that all will end in the next mayoral election. Tyrants: Get ready to stand in the unemployment lines!

  The "Water Leak" was dropped as well as the complaint about the property, by City Hall. Is it any wonder why?

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