KDFW Fox 4 photo.
Police end land and air search for missing dad
March 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Winner of $11 million lotto ticket sold in Benton, IL identified
February 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Town Hall Meetings planned to discuss proposed penny sales tax increase
February 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Franklin County Board press release
Franklin County voters have the opportunity to take control of the future of their court house by voting for the proposed penny tax on April 4. The county’s current facility has outlived its usefulness, posing numerous maintenance challenges and safety risks to the public, employees, and crime victims who must attend court daily.
Funds are needed to build a new facility. The Franklin County Board has identified a couple of potential sites for the facility, which would be built to new state requirements for a court house. The best way to fund this construction is through a penny sales tax, which would not be charged on the necessities of food and medicine, but would add $1 to a $100 purchase of goods bought by those with discretionary income. The sales tax would be paid by visitors to our county, spreading out the cost of our new court house — leveraging the power of the penny.
A series of Town Hall Meetings has been planned to answer your questions about the proposal. County officials will be on hand at the following dates and times:
CHRISTOPHER: 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 22 at the Christopher Civic Center
SESSER: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at the Goode Township Building
BENTON: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 at the Benton Civic Center
ROYALTON: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 at the Royalton Village Hall
WEST FRANKFORT: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 9 at the Aquatics and Activities Center
ZEIGLER: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 at the Six Mile Township Building
RLC crowns Hutchens, Pytlinski 2017 Homecoming King and Queen
February 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment
ReAnne Palmer- Rend Lake College Media Services
INA- IL Rend Lake College announced the 2017 Homecoming King and Queen last night during halftime of the Warriors basketball game tonight against Southeastern Illinois College. Wade Hutchens
Wade Hutchens, LEFT, and Grace Pytlinski, RIGHT, were crowned the Rend Lake College 2017 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of the Warriors Basketball game Wednesday night. The King and Queen are voted for by the RLC student body every spring. (ReAnne Palmer – RLC Media Services)
of Ewing and Grace Pytlinski of Waltonville, both representing the Collegiate FFA, were crowned King and Queen.
Hutchens is the son of Rob and Kathy Hutchens. The Benton Consolidated High School graduate is an Agriculture Business major at RLC. After graduating, Hutchens plans to attend Illinois State University and continue on to graduate school, pursuing a degree in Animal Science Nutrition.
Pytlinski is the daughter of Bruce and Annette Pytlinski. The Waltonville High School graduate is an Agriculture Business and Production Management major. She plants to transfer to Murray State University to continue her education in Plant and Soil Sciences. She hopes to one day become an agronomist, working for a large company like Monsanto or Syngenta.
Runners-up for the evening were Nick Marlo of Sesser and Cali Carney of Benton, both representing the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.
The RLC 2017 Homecoming Court is, FROM LEFT, Nick Marlo of Sesser; Cali Carney of Benton; Tanner Maskey of Springfield; Hannah Poynter of Louisville, Ky.; Conner Jackson of Bluford; Skylyn Simpson of Sesser; Damien Wilburn of Thompsonville; Taylor Aldridge of Eldorado; Lane Bradley of Steeleville; Beth Moats of Wayne City; Wade Hutchens of Ewing; and Grace Pytlinski of Waltonville. (ReAnne Palmer – RLC Media Services
Marlo is a Sesser-Valier High School graduate and son of David and Cathy Marlo. He is studying Business Finance and RLC with plans to transfer to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and continue his education there. In the future, he also plans to get an internship and job after completing a Master’s Degree.
Carney is the daughter of Chad and Liz Carney, and is a graduate of Benton Consolidated High School. She is a Nursing major at RLC. In the future, Carney hopes to become a registered nurse and coach.
Benton Police Blotter
February 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Below are the following arrests made by the Benton Police Department:
- On February 3rd, 2017 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Joplin and McLeansboro Street. Through investigation, police arrested Branden C. Eubanks, age 31, of Benton for driving while license suspended. Eubanks was transported to the Franklin County Jail.
- On February 4th, 2017 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of North McLeansboro Street.Through investigation, police arrested Nissa M. Upton, age 29, of
Benton for driving while license suspended.Upton was transported to the Franklin County Jail.
- On February 5th, 2017 Benton Police were dispatched to Franklin Hospital in reference to a domestic dispute. Through further investigation, police arrested Brandon E. Rodriguez, age 29, of Ellenboro NC, the suspect of a domestic disturbance that occurred in the 800 block of N. Eighth for aggravated domestic battery. Rodriguez was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
Benton Police make recent arrests
January 19, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Here is the latest police blotter from the Benton police department:
On January 16th, 2017 Benton Police arrested Craig Parrish, age 33, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear on possession of methamphetamine.
Parrish was taken to Franklin County Jail for processing.
On January 16th, 2017 Benton Police arrested Dennis C. Summers, age 22, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear on consumption of liquor by a minor.
Officers also located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on Summers at the time of the arrest.
Summer was taken to Franklin County Jail for processing.
Benton Police blotter….
January 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment
On 1/13/17 at approximately 10:00 p.m. Benton Police Officers reported to the 200 Block of S. Stotlar Street in reference to a narcotics investigation. As a result of the investigation, Benton Officers, to include assistance from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, searched the residence at which time Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia was located. 37 year old Lola Swan of Herrin, IL was charged with Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine and 41 year old Curtis R. Key was charged with Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both were transported to the Franklin County Jail.
On 1/15/17 at approximately 1:00 a.m. a Benton Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on E. Main Street. As a result of the traffic stop investigation, the driver, 22 year old Denni J. Durbin of Benton was placed under arrest for Driving While License Suspended. The officer also located Methamphetamine, Oxycodone, and hypodermic syringes in Durbin’s vehicle. Durbin received additional charges of Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance and Drug Paraphernalia. Durbin was transported to the Franklin County Jail.
On 1/15/17 at approximately 11:00 p.m. a Benton Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on W. Main Street. As a result of the traffic stop investigation, the driver, 28 year old Joshua P. Gray of Valier, IL was placed under arrest for Driving Under The Influence. The officer also located items of drug paraphernalia during the stop which prompted an additional charge of Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia for Gray along with the passenger of the vehicle, 30 year old Rebecca L. Mueller of DuQuoin, IL. Both were subsequently transported to the Franklin County Jail.
Closings and cancellations 1/13/17
January 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment
I will use media sources to get every closing from I -64 south, since people go to this website all over Southern Illinois. Please contact me with any closings by the following ways:
You can call or text me at 513-2516, call at 937-0253; PM me on Facebook (Steve Dunford), email me at sdunford1970@hotmail.com.
It will be nearly impossible to reply to individual requests if a school or business is closed. I will update frequently with times.
Updated 6:30 am 1/13/17
I will lump all closings categorized by county. Any type will be under the county listed.
SCHOOLS-The only schools that I do not have in Southern Illinois are the following: Century, The only Johnson County School I have is Lick Creek, Hardin County and Pope County.
COLLEGES- The only ones I have not heard anything about is Shawnee Community College and SIU, which never calls off. The key staff needs to report at Morthland COllege.
I am going to go to sporting events/business mode now.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Murphysboro at Benton Boys HS basketball/no make up date as of yet
Kids R My Business Day Care, Christopher
Girls Junior High Class L regional Benton/DuQuoin
JEFFERSON COUNTY
PERRY COUNTY
UNION COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Main Street in WF Closed at the tracks
January 11, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Union Pacific crews working on the railroad crossing on East Main Street in West Frankfort (Jeff Webb photo)
Union Pacific has completed the work on the crossing on South Main (Route 37) in Benton. It has been open to traffic since yesterday afternoon.
Main Street in West Frankfort (Route 149) is now closed for repair of the railroad crossing. It will be completed before 7:00 p.m. tomorrow evening, weather permitting.
