CARTERVILLE, IL (WSIL) - If you drive up to the entrance for the Blue Heron Campground and Marina, you will see a temporarily closed sign.
That's because the Crab Orchard Wild Life Refuge closed the campground down on Thursday, September 28th.
Kevin Holderby is from Carterville, Illinois. He says he usually goes to the lake a lot, and today was quieter than normal.
“Oh Just a lot of activity with people," Holderby says. “You hear dogs barking, a lot of people that come and go.�
Justin Sexton is the Refuge's Manager. He says that Crab Orchard owns the campground and Marina, but they contracted the operations for Blue Heron to its board and shareholders.
“We felt the need, we had to temporarily suspend their contract,� Sexton says. “Just while we were doing a fact finding slash investigation of these allegations.�
Sexton says they are also looking into Blue Heron with the Williamson County Sheriff's Office for missing funds, but he says he couldn't get too deep into details because of the investigation.
“Looking into some of their reporting requirements, and looking at how they are operating on the behalf of the government,� Sexton says.
Sexton says that people who do have boats in the marina can come get them, but should reach out to Blue Heron’s board or shareholders if they have questions about refunds.
“Right now the public can't go in there, " Sexton says. “They can't camp.�
Several people drove up to the campgrounds entrance today, and were surprised to see it closed. Including Rod Joplin, who was planning to charge his boat's battery.
“I didn't attend the members' meetings even though I'm a member, but it always had good participation, and people coming and going,� Joplin says.
Sexton says that the wildlife refuge does plan to re-open the campground for public use, but because of the investigation he can't share a date yet.Â
