Perry County Shrine Club Treasurer Charged With Theft of $12,000
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The treasurer of the Perry County Shrine Club has been arrested and charged with the alleged theft of over $12,000 from the fraternal organization, whose work ultimately benefits the Ainad Temple in East St. Louis and the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in St. Louis.
Under arrest and charged with a Class 3 felony theft is Paul Clapp, 48, of Du Quoin. His arrest came at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and he was incarcerated in the Perry County Jail. Bond was set at $40,000 and he needs to post 10 percent of that amount ($4,000) in order to be released.
Assistant Chief of Police Jamie Ellermeyer said the alleged embezzlement was discovered in March after the club's president and members questioned the bookkeeping and account balance.
"The club reviewed the financial situation and found that they were short over $12,000," said Ellermeyer. "The club members met with Paul and he disclosed that he had taken the funds."
Clapp was appointed Perry County Shrine Club treasurer in 2008 and the funds were missing from fundraising receipts in 2009 and 2010, Ellermeyer said.
The Perry County Shrine Club has only two fundraisers during the year--the purchase and resale of sacks of onions and the Old Newsboy roadblock in downtown Du Quoin. "The onion project raises between $4,000 and $5,000 a year," Ellermeyer said.
"Paul was given every opportunity to make restitution and the funds to repay the club just were not there," he adds. "The deadlines passed and he was arrested on Monday.
Since the discovery, the club has put into place a system of checks and balances, which Ellermeyer says all orientizations need to have.
The Perry County Shrine Club and the Ainad Temple live by the credo that "strong legs run so weak legs can walk" and all of their work ultimately benefits the Shrine's orthopedic hospital in St. Louis and the shrine burn centers.
It goes without saying that this was a singular failing and support of the Perry County Shrine Club needs to fully continue.