Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
by Steve Dunford
Benton and West City firefighters were called to an apartment fire at 105 West Carlton. The fire was limited to one porch and a room.
Buckner Fire Protection District provided mutual aid for West City.
We will share any information as it becomes available.
DIX, IL- Jefferson County Deputies are working an accident I 57 southbound at the Jefferson Marion County line. It’s down to one lane getting ready to be shut completely down to land a helicopter.
Avoid the area if at all possible
BENTON, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake presents the second installment of the “Fall Small World” series – A Daytime Owl Prowl and Campfire Fun at the Rend Lake Visitor Center on November 7th, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. This event is tailored for children ages 2 – 5 years old, but everyone is welcome. Learn about the sounds of our favorite owls, touch and feel the furs of Illinois mammals, make s’mores over a campfire, and more! This activity will be outdoors so please dress accordingly. In the event of rain, activities will be held indoors.
For more information about this free event, call the Rend Lake Visitor Center at (618)724-2493. Be sure to “Like” us Facebook at facebook.com/rendlakeusace.
PADUCAH, KY – Please click on the link below for an interactive webpage for the climate information in the past for this region.
INA, IL – Local musicians are less than two weeks away from “celebrating American musicians” during the Rend Lake College Fall Concert. The free event, set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 in the RLC Theatre, will feature performances by the college’s Concert Band and Choir, and Women’s Chamber Choir, alongside special guests.
Director Sara Alstat, Music Associate Professor, said every performance will include pieces composed or arranged by American musicians. She is anticipating it being the largest Fall Concert in the last decade with more musicians taking the stage.
“Directing the RLC Concert Band this semester has been a new and exciting adventure for me,” said Alstat. “I hope everyone comes out for an enjoyable evening.”
The 2016 Fall Concert featured members of the Concert Choir during one performance.
(RLC Public Information)
The Concert Band will perform Carl Strommen’s “Cumberland Cross,” “Gershwin Prelude Suite” with music by George Gershwin and arranged by Elena Roussanova Lucas, “Highlights from ‘La La Land’” with music by Justin Hurwitz and arranged by Michael Brown, and “Highlights from ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’” with music by John Williams and arranged by Michael Brown.
The Concert Choir will feature several traditional spirituals, including “Wade in the Water” and “Ain’t that Good News,” both arranged by Moses Hogan.
The Women’s Chamber Choir, the newest ensemble at RLC, will feature two pieces of poetry by Emily Dickinson, including “The Definition of Beauty” with music by Alice Parker, and “Evening” with music by Ruth Morris Gray. They will also perform Andrea Ramsey’s “Psalms for the Soul.”
The evening will also feature several special guest performances, including those by several in-district music directors: Amber Nichols, Music Director for Pinckneyville schools; Keith Shasteen, Christopher High School Music Director; and Megan Zurliene, Sesser-Valier High School Band Director. Several RLC Music program alumni and Pinckneyville Community High School students will also perform alongside community members.
To learn more about the Fall Concert, or to become involved in the RLC Concert Band and Concert Choir, contact Sara Alstat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1817 or alstats@rlc.edu. More information about RLC’s Music program can be found at www.rlc.edu/programs-and-degrees/381-music.
Springfield, IL State Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) voted against House Bill 4117, which failed to pass the House on Thursday. The bill would have outlawed all trigger modification devices intended to accelerate a firearm’s rate of fire.
“House Bill 4117 was an attempt to trample on the rights of Illinois’s law abiding gun owners,” Severin said. “The bill sought to outlaw the sale, purchase, and ownership of all ‘trigger modification device’. The language in the bill was vague and quite frankly poorly written. It basically would have made felons out of many law abiding gun owners.”
Proponents of the bill acknowledged that the legislation was drafted in response to the events that took place in Las Vegas.
“The sponsor admitted that this was a knee jerk reaction to what occurred in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. Everyone agrees those acts were despicable but sticking it to gun-owners is simply the wrong response. I will always stand opposed to legislation that targets our second amendments rights as HB 4117 did.”
The bill needed 2/3rds majority in order to pass and failed 48-54.
Washington, D.C. – Today, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of legislation he authored to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to veterans. Bost introduced the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 (H.R. 1329) in March and helped guide it to passage in the House this summer. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by President Trump next week.
“I applaud Republicans and Democrats in the Senate for passing this critical legislation,” said DAMA Subcommittee Chairman Bost. “I’m proud to carry this bill to provide important cost-of-living adjustments to our nation’s veterans and their dependents. It’s vitally important that we ensure the men and women who have served receive the benefits they have earned. We need to get this legislation to the President’s desk for signature as quickly as possible.”
Background:
The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 will provide a cost-of-living increase for wartime disability compensation; compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation in uniform. This increase is set to begin December 1.
The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Freeze
Warning, which is in effect from midnight Saturday night to 10 AM
CDT Sunday.
* TEMPERATURE…Readings in most locations will fall into the
upper 20s to lower 30s. Some locations mainly to the west of
Interstate 57 may drop into the middle 20s and experience a hard
freeze. Areas of frost can also be expected.
* IMPACTS…Sensitive vegetation may be damaged or killed.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Freeze Warning means sub-freezing temperatures are imminent or
highly likely. These conditions will kill crops and other
sensitive vegetation.
…Patchy Frost and Near Freezing Temperatures Possible Late
Tonight into Early Saturday Morning…
Cold Canadian air will continue to overspread the quad state
region tonight. Temperatures will approach the freezing mark over
much of the region, and many locations may experience a brief
period of freezing conditions near sunrise. In addition, patchy
frost may develop in the most sheltered areas. Those with
sensitive outdoor vegetation may want to take protective actions.
Hazardous Weather Outlook, National Weather Service Paducah, KY
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.
.DAY ONE…Tonight
An area of rain will gradually come to an end across west Kentucky
and southwest Indiana through the evening. Along the back edge of
the rain a few periods of sleet will be possible before the
precipitation comes to an end. Temperatures will be well above
freezing and no accumulation or other impacts are expected.
A Freeze Warning is in effect for areas along and west of a line
from Dexter to Jackson Missouri after 4 AM tonight. A few hours of
freezing conditions are expected along with areas of frost.
Elsewhere, temperatures may briefly reach the freezing mark at
sunrise and some patchy frost will be possible.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Saturday through Thursday
A Freeze Warning is in effect for the entire area Saturday night
into Sunday morning. A hard freeze will be possible over portions
of southeast Missouri, but most locations will see temperatures in
the upper 20s to lower 30s. Areas of frost will be possible as
well.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…
Spotter activation is not anticipated.
by Steve Dunford
THOMPSONVILLE, IL – In a tradition that goes back, and don’t quote me on this, but since TCHS was established as a four year high school in the early 40’s this has been an annual Thompsonville tradition.
Times have changed and the events have, but the carnival is still going strong.
When I was in school it was one of the highlights of the school year. Other than short co-ops with West Frankfort and Johnston City, the Tigers have not fielded a football team. Homecoming is during the basketball season, and this was like a second event.
On this cold, rainy night, even if you are not from Thompsonville, make the short drive over there for a great time.
