Left: John Hudspeth; right: David Fields The current state’s attorney of Clinton County announced on Monday he will not seek re-election, while a seated assistant has announced his intention to run for that top office.
John Hudspeth issued a statement Monday morning that he would not seek to retain his seat in the 2020 general election, a position he has held since December 2008.
Hudspeth said, “It has been my privilege to serve the residents of Clinton County as their state’s attorney for the last 11 years. My current term in office will expire following the 2020 general election and I will not be a candidate for re-election. At this point in my life, I look forward to having more time for recreational pursuits and spending more time with my family.”
Reached by phone on Monday, Hudspeth said he did not want to add any more to his statement, other than, “I think I said what I need to say; it’s time to relax a little more. No one’s epitaph said ‘I wish I worked more.’”
David Fields, an assistant state’s attorney serving under Hudspeth, announced on Monday his intention to run for Hudspeth’s office, seeking the Republican nomination in the 2020 general election.
An Illinois State University graduate, Fields obtained his law degree from Southern Illinois University. He has been with the Clinton County State’s Attorney’s office since 2015.
“My dad was a police officer for close to 30 years, having retired as captain of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, so having the chance to serve the public has always been a goal of mine. Becoming state’s attorney is the opportunity I have aspired to since I started law school,” Fields said.
Fields is a career prosecutor, having interned at the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office and then working as an assistant state’s attorney in the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office.
“My entire legal career has been spent representing the state of Illinois, and I have gained a tremendous amount of experience, having done so for the past 10 years,” Fields said.
In his current position, Fields has had the chance to handle each and every responsibility bestowed upon the Clinton County State’s Attorney.
“We are not a large office, so you have to be prepared to handle every matter, from a traffic violation to a juvenile neglect case to a felony drug case. That is why I believe the knowledge I have gained in this office is so valuable,” Fields said.
Fields lives in Damiansville with his wife and three children. He said he believes the role of state’s attorney provides a unique opportunity to protect and serve the residents of Clinton County.
“We chose to make Clinton County our home and to raise our children here. Each day I am thankful to practice law in an outstanding courthouse facility and to work with some of the finest law enforcement in the state,” Fields said. “I am dedicated to this work and this community, and I believe that I am the best and most qualified candidate to be the next state’s attorney for the people of Clinton County.”
Germantown native and Air Force Lt. Col. John Haake will be the guest speaker at Monday’s Clinton County Veterans Day program in Germantown. This year’s Clinton County Veterans Day Service is hosted by Germantown and the American Legion - Diesen Winkler Post 325 in Germantown.
The day begins on Monday, Nov. 11, with a church service at 9:30 a.m. at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Germantown.
Following the church service, all are invited to enjoy a chicken dinner at Germantown Legion at 11:30 a.m., with meal tickets going for $10.
The Veterans Day program officially begins at 1 p.m. with John Haake, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, serving as the guest speaker.
Haake is a native of Germantown. He graduated from the University of Dayton in May 2001 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry. His initial assignment was to 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as an Infantry platoon leader, Infantry company executive officer, and as a Battalion air operations officer.
While assigned to 2/327th, Haake deployed as part of the invasion of Iraq.
Haake then attended the Infantry Captain's Career Course followed by completion of the U.S. Army Special Forces Qualification Course ('Q'-Course), with follow-on assignment to 1st Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky as the detachment commander of an Operational Detachment- Alpha (Special Forces 'A'-Team).
While a detachment commander, Haake deployed to Oman, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan and Lebanon.
Following his detachment command, Haake served as a Special Forces Company executive officer and the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) assistant operations officer.
Breese Journal staff report
Wood River champs — Pictured is the 2019 Class 2A Wood River Regional champion Mater Dei Lady Knights after they blew away Columbia last Thursday and Roxana last Tuesday. The Lady Knights then defeated Freeburg in the Wesclin Sectional semifinal on Monday. They played rival Central on Wednesday for the sectional title. (Photo by Bruce Hixon) If volleyball teams needed any reminder why Mater Dei received the No. 1 seed in Sub-Sectional A of the Wesclin Sectional, they got that reinforcement with the domination the Lady Knights used to claim the championship of the Class 2A Wood River Regional last week.
It marked the seventh regional title in nine seasons for Lady Knights coach Chad Rakers since he took over the volleyball program’s reins from his father, Fred Rakers, prior to the start of the 2011 season.
Not only did Mater Dei win both of its contests at Wood River in straight sets, but the Lady Knights won each set by double digits. Mater Dei began its postseason path last Tuesday when it disposed of Roxana in the semifinal round. The Lady Knights completed their romp through the field at Wood River on Thursday when they rolled past Columbia in the championship match.
The Lady Knights (28-9) then took down Freeburg in two games on Monday in the Class 2A Wesclin Sectional. Pinckneyville took down Central in the other semifinal to set up the championship on Wednesday at 6 p.m. with the winner moving on to Friday’s Vandalia Super-sectional to play the Salem Sectional champion.
Mater Dei 28-25, Freeburg 26-13: The Lady Knights avoided a scare in the first game on Monday in Trenton.
Freeburg gave the Lady Knights everything they wanted as the game went back and forth throughout with 14 ties.
Mater Dei took an early lead with two Freeburg errors and a block from junior Jessie Timmermann as they led 3-1. Kills from Caroline Gagen got the game even at 3-3.
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447.30 |
| Sun., Nov. 3 | 447.38 |
| Tues., Nov. 5 | 447.19 |
| October 1 | .32" |
| November | --- |
| November 1 | .00" |
| November 2 | .01" |
| November 3 | .00" |
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| November 5 | .05" |
