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http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36684142/franklin-county-sheriffs-office-using-drones-to-help-with-investigations

BENTON, IL- (Brandon Merano, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Sheriff’s deputies in Franklin County have begun to use drones to help with investigations.

Sheriff Don Jones tells News 3 his deputies put a drone to use, during the recent bomb threat to the Franklin County Courthouse.

The September 27th bomb threat at the Franklin County courthouse caused quite the stir.

Jones says what’s more important than saving time, is the drone’s ability to save lives.

“We could check the tops of the buildings and we wouldn’t have been able to do that without the fire department and as you pointed out already that puts someone at risk,” added Jones.

Washington, DC – The bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus today announced that Representatives Mike Bost (R-IL) and Rick Crawford (R-AR) will lead the Congressional Steel Caucus as Co-Chairmen. Representative Pete Visclosky (D-IN) will continue to serve as Vice-Chairman of the caucus, which was founded in the early 1970s to promote the health of the domestic steel industry and its workforce.

“I am honored to serve as co-chair for the bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus, where we’ve got a new platform to fight for our steelworkers and American-made jobs,” said Bost. “Steel is a backbone of the U.S. economy, generating 10,000 jobs in Illinois and nearly 140,000 nationwide. But these jobs are at risk due to global competitors who refuse to play by the rules. That’s why I’ve led the charge to strengthen our trade remedy laws and better ensure proper application of ‘Buy American’ preference laws, ensuring U.S. companies and workers have the tools to preserve jobs here at home. I’m excited to work with Republicans and Democrats on the caucus to provide real results for an industry that deserves it.”

Thomas J. Gibson, president and CEO of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), today applauded the announcement of and Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) as the new co-chairmen of the Congressional Steel Caucus:

“Congressman Bost has been a leader in the fight to level the playing field for domestic steelmakers. He lead the effort to enact the first improvements to our trade laws in more than 20 years, and has consistently stood up for American workers whose jobs are put at risk by global competitors who skirt trade laws. His long-standing commitment and dedication to steel has been key in promoting more fair competition for the American steel industry.

by ReAnne Palmer 

INA, IL – Several training courses for aspiring miners and mining professionals are coming to Rend Lake College’s campus next month. All trainings will be held on the Ina campus.

First up is a 48-hour Inexperienced Miner Training for Surface and Underground miners, scheduled for 4:40 – 10 p.m. on nine evenings: Monday, Nov. 6 – Wednesday, Nov. 8; Monday, Nov. 13 – Thursday, Nov. 16; and Monday, Nov. 20 – Tuesday, Nov. 21. The class costs $165, and attendees must pre-pay and pre-register.

An Annual Refresher Training for Surface and Underground miners is scheduled for 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17. The cost of the class is $50.

Finally, four one-day MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) Electrical Qualification Retraining classes are set for 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on the following dates: Friday, Nov. 17; Saturday, Nov. 18; Friday, Dec. 8; and Saturday, Dec. 9. Attendees need only attend one class at the cost of $50. For more information or to register for any of the , contact Sally Heathcoat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 2373.

BENTON, IL-  The following are the recent arrests made by the Franklin County Sherriff’s department provided by Sheriff Don Jones.

The following are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law.

10-12-17 at 2:58 pm a traffic stop in West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Jarrett A. Cash age 35 of West Frankfort for driving whiles license suspended.

10-12-17 at 1:49 am Deputies responded to a reported suspicious vehicle in rural
Thompsonville. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Christopher R. Braden age 34 of Akin for possession of a stolen vehicle, driving while license suspended and burglary.

10-14-17 at 8:48 am a traffic stop on Rt. 37 in Whittington resulted in the arrest of Patricia K. Eairheart age 48 of Steeleville for speeding and driving while license suspended.

10-14-17 at 2:46 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on ll. Rt. 149 at the Number 9 Blacktop. A 2008 Nissan Pathfinder driven by Christi L. Jones age 34 of West Frankfort pulled from the Number 9 Blacktop onto Rt. 149 into the path of a 1997 Ford Pick-Up Truck driven by Larry G. Davis age 64 of West Frankfort. There were no injuries and Christi Jones was ticketed for driving too fast for conditions.

10-15-17 at 1:46 am a traffic stop in rural Benton resulted in the arrest of Andrew P. Simpson age 21 of Mulkeytown for driving under the influence of alcohol.

10-15-17 at 1:30 pm Deputies responded to a reported burglary and theft in rural Benton involving the theft of two ATV’s. The two ATV’s have been recovered in Williamson County and Deputies are seeking a Williamson County resident now wanted on a warrant for the theft.

10-17-17 at 1:00 pm Deputies responded to a reported burglary and theft in rural Thompsonville that involved mowing equipment. The equipment has since been recovered in the state of Tennessee. An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect.

10-20-17 at 8:34 pm Deputies responded to a domestic disturbance in rural Benton. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Damion N. Nicholson age 37 of Benton for domestic battery.

10-20-17 at 10:50 pm Deputies assisted the West Frankfort Police with a traffic stop. Sheriff’s K-9 and Handler along with West Frankfort Police charged Scott W. Wiggins age 35 of Benton with possession of a controlled substance and obstructing a police officer as a result of the stop.

10-21-17 at 1:41 am Deputies responded to a multi vehicle traffic crash at Milepost 68 south bound. A 1999 Chevrolet Silverado was south bound pulling a triple axle trailer that began to “fishtail”. The driver pulled into the median in an attempt to get it off the roadway. However; the trailer was left partially on the roadway. The Silverado was driven by Manny F. Leyva age 25 of Horn Lake, Mississippi. A 2016 Mazda driven by Steven J. Zimmer age 62 of Blue Earth, IL. was also south bound and struck the trailer. A third vehicle, also south bound struck the trailer. That vehicle was a 2016 Volvo driven by Juan N. Nava Reyes age 47 of Chicago. There were no injuries and Manny Leyva was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and for having an expired registration.

10-23-17 at 12:16 am Deputies were alerted by the Cheatham County Tennessee Sheriff’s Office that they had information that an individual wanted for kidnapping/child abduction and driving a stolen vehicle may be in the Rend Lake area. The information was that the abducted child, the 11 year old son of the suspect, may be present with the suspect as well. The suspect vehicle was located at the Seasons Motel on Golf Course Road in Whittington. Deputies arrested Michael D. Denson Jr. age 45 of Ashland City Tennessee and John T. Parrott age 30 of Joelton Tennessee without incident. The 11 year old boy was also safe, taken into custody and returned to his legal guardians in Tennessee. Denson is being held for vehicle theft, child abduction and possession of a stolen vehicle. Parrott is charged with possession of a stolen vehicle.

10-23-17 at 4:44 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on ll. Rt. 34 just east of Benton. A 2003 Buick Century driven by Paula N. Flowers age 62 of Benton was east bound and rear ended a 2004 Ford Escape driven by Joshua J. Basenberg age 33 of Benton, that was also east bound and had slowed in traffic to negotiate a turn. There were no injuries and Paula Flowers was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash, unlawful display of license plates and operating an uninsured vehicle.

WARRANTS

10-12-17 David M. Rector age 32 of Broughton. Failure to appear on traffic charges

10-12-17 Taylor N. Williams age 22 of Valier. Failure to appear on traffic charges

10-13-17 Richard E. Herring age 31 of West Frankfort. Cruelty to animals

10-13-17 Edward G. Rabal age 33 of Grovetown, GA. Failure to appear for theft

10-13-17 Chekoda W. Frick age 31 of Zeigler. Violation of an order of protection
10-16-17 Michael L. Cottonaro age 28 of Pittsburg. Failure to appear on a battery charge

10-18-17 Terrie J. Dix age 35 of Mt. Vernon. Failure to appear on traffic charges

10-21-17 Tracey L. Durham age 38 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear on a
theft charge

10-23-17 Joseph M. Gant age 37 of Benton. Contempt of court

10-23-17 Jennifer K. Smith age 38 of Vienna. Failure to appear on drug charges.
.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today voted in favor of H.R. 2142, the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act, a bipartisan bill to combat the opioid epidemic.  The legislation provides the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enhanced chemical screening devices and scientific support to detect and intercept fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The bill passed the House 412 to 3 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

“Opioids kill more people in Illinois than homicides and car crashes and drugs like fentanyl are responsible,” said Bost. “Fighting the opioid epidemic is not simply about fighting addiction. It’s also about saving lives by keeping poison like fentanyl from getting into the United States and reaching our community. We have a lot of work still to do, but the bipartisan bill passed today is a step in the right direction.”

Specifically, the INTERDICT Act:

• Ensures that CBP will have additional portable chemical screening devices available at ports of entry and mail and express consignment facilities, and additional fixed chemical screening devices available in CBP laboratories.
• Provides CBP with sufficient resources, personnel, and facilities — including scientists available during all operational hours — to interpret screening test results from the field.
• Authorizes — based on CBP guidance — the appropriation of $15 million for hundreds of new screening devices, laboratory equipment, facilities, and personnel for support during all operational hours.

Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that can be up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Although pharmaceutical fentanyl can be misused, most fentanyl deaths are linked to illicitly manufactured fentanyl and illicit versions of chemically similar compounds known as fentanyl analogs. According to the Illinois Department of Health, overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids, which include fentanyl, increased by 80% from 2013 to 2014.

The primary source of fentanyl is outside of the United States, in Mexico or China. The drug is smuggled across the U.S. border or delivered via mail or express consignment couriers. Fentanyl can also be ordered online. Due to its potency, fentanyl typically comes in small amounts, making it more difficult for authorities to detect.

by Steve Dunford

MARION, IL – Several media sources are reporting there has been a wreck involving three semis, near the 47 mile marker in Williamson County.

This is between the I-24 split and Marion.

Please avoid this area.  Further updates will be shared.