Benton police arrested a Sesser couple, both wanted on outstanding warrants for burglary. Taken into custody was Danielle M. Clark, 20, and Carl J. Hendrix, 22. Clark and Hendrix were taken to the Franklin County Jail where they remain in custody.
Lee enters not guilty plea, jury trial set for September 10
June 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Jim Muir
Donald Lee, the 39-year-old Elkville man accused of murdering a 23-year-old Bonnie woman last month, entered a not guilty plea in Franklin County Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Brittany Andrews
Lee is charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in the death of Brittany Andrews.
Lee is charged with shooting Andrews in the head on an East Main Street parking lot, adjacent to a bar where they had reportedly just left.
Lee entered a plea of not guilty after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing during a brief appearance before Judge Thomas Tedeschi. A jury trial was set for Sept. 10 with a final pretrial conference slated for August 29. Lee remains in custody in Franklin County Jail in lieu of $2 million bond.
Franklin County issues road closures due to flooding
June 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The Franklin County Highway Department has issued road closures in the county due to flooding.
Roads that are impassable due to water as of Sunday, June 2 are: Deering Road, Park Street Road and Peach Orchard Road.
Emergency management officials remind drivers not to attempt to cross when water is over the roadway. The rule used is: Turn around, don’t drown.
Franklin County Farm Bureau News
May 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By J. Larry Miller
The warmer temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday were certainly welcome and I was beginning to lose my confidence in Al Gore and global warming. There is still some concern as cooler temperatures are forecast this weekend. Corn that was planted almost 2 weeks ago has sprouted and is possibly going to make it.
Larry Miller, executive director Franklin County Farm Bureau
April is the cruelest month,” the poet T.S. Eliott wrote in 1922, and it’s a judgment many nervous Illinois farmers might share in 2013.
The five-year average for corn planting is 40 percent. This year, with rain-saturated fields and cool soils, just 1 percent of the corn is in the ground, according to the weekly Illinois Weather and Crops report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As of April 24, the month already had been the fourth-wettest in Illinois history, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey. The state average rain was 6.58 inches and within striking distance of the record 7.40 in April 2011, Angel said. April’s average is 3.77.
Farmers are not looking forward to the forecast for the rest of this week with lost of rain possible. Looks like it will be at least next week before much else can be done in the fields. But as a farmer there are always many things that need attention around the farm so inside work will get caught up during this time.
The 2nd Annual Franklin County Farm Bureau Antique Tractor Drive Josh Odom Memorial will be held on May 11th in conjunction with the Rend Lake Water Festival. The Young Leaders have been working diligently in getting local implement dealers to come and set up equipment on the parking lot across from McDonald’s in West City at the Rend Lake Plaza.
The tractor drive will begin with registration at 10:00 a.m. and leave Rend Lake Plaza at 10:30 to drive around the lake and enjoy the day. Right now the weather says we will have a high of 79 degrees which will be perfect weather for the event.
We still have plenty of room for entries for the antique tractors to participate – with a $10 entry fee that will get you a t-shirt and a fish dinner this is quite reasonable. The television show “Small Town, Big Deal” will be here filming for this event so Franklin County will be on national television and get some major recognition for all that we do. Let’s get as many tractors to participate as possible for a good showing.
For more information call the Franklin County Farm Bureau at (618) 435-3616 to reserve your space today.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
Emergency management officials encourage local residents to prepare for severe weather
March 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Benton – Southern Illinois is no stranger to the devastating effects of severe weather. It was just over one year ago this past week that neighbors were helping neighbors, and communities were banding together to help those in need affected by the Leap Day 2012 Severe Weather outbreak.
Emergency management officials in Franklin County are encouraging the public to use this week to update severe weather plans, conduct drills, and learn more about severe weather in their community. Severe Weather Preparedness Week runs from March 3rd to March 9th, 2013 in Illinois. Activities scheduled for this week include a statewide tornado drill and a storm spotter training session. Franklin County’s
Director of Emergency Management is encouraging citizens to get serious about severe weather preparedness and ensure homes and businesses are equipped with a NOAA All-Hazards Alert Radio.
“Having a NOAA all-hazards alert radio in your home or business is just as important as having a working
smoke detector”, said Director Ryan M. Buckingham. Citizens are encouraged to have several ways to
receive warning information in case your primary method of receiving information is rendered
incapacitated.
A statewide tornado drill will be conducted on Tuesday, March 5th at 10:00 AM. The drill will give everyone
a chance to practice current severe weather plans and procedures.
“Practicing your plan will ensure that you know what to do when a warning is issued. Following a well-made and practiced plan will reduce
confusion and provide a basic level of safety should a real severe weather event occur.” added Buckingham.
Local warning systems will be activated during the drill and citizens are encouraged to practice their severe weather emergency plans at that time.
Emergency Management officials will be hosting a public storm spotter training session on Thursday, March 7th at 6:00 PM at the Christopher Civic Center located at 208 N. Thomas Street in Christopher. In partnership with the National Weather Service, officials will train attendees on how to detect and report severe weather in their community. Attendees will also have a chance at winning one of two NOAA All-Hazards alert radios that will be given away during the event. The training is free of charge and is open to anyone who would like to attend.
For more information on severe weather preparedness visit www.ready.illinois.gov. Additional information on local events scheduled for severe weather preparedness week can be obtained by contacting Franklin County Emergency Management Agency at (618) 439-4EMA.
West Frankfort woman arrested for DUI
March 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A 39-year-old West Frankfort woman was arrested Sunday by Benton police on an alcohol-related driving offense.
According to the police report April L. Williams was stopped during a routine traffic stop on Wastena Street, in Benton. During the investigation it was determined that Williams was under the influence of alcohol. Williams was cited for DUI, speeding, illegal transportation of alcohol, expired registration and operating an uninsured vehicle.
Williams was taken to the Franklin County Jail.
Risley enters not guilty plea during arraingment hearing
February 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Jim Muir
Norman Dwayne Risley, the 59-year-old Sesser man facing charges that include making bombs, possession of explosive devices and solicitation of a child pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Franklin County Circuit Court.
Norman Dwayne Risley
Risley appeared for an arraignment hearing before Judge Tom Tedeschi where he entered the plea. Risley is being represented by the Benton law firm Drew & Drew.
Risley remains free on $75,000 cash bond which represents 10 percent of the $750,000 bond that was set after Risley was arrested on Dec. 21, 2012 and charged with three felony counts and one misdemeanor that includes one count of unlawful possession of explosives, one count of unlawful use of weapons, one count of indecent solicitation of a child and an additional single count of sexual exploitation of a child.
A Franklin County Grand Jury also returned a true bill of indictment against Risley when it met earlier this month.
Risley was arrested after Sesser police, working on a tip, began investigating allegations that he had solicited the minor child. When law enforcement authorities gained entry through a search warrant to Risley’s residence and uncovered the cache of explosives that included 11 separate explosive devices, explosive compounds and 16 blasting caps. The charges allege that Risley “intended to use the explosive devices to commit a felony.”
The charge of indecent solicitation of a child alleges that Risley approached a child under the age of 17 and “discussed and solicited the child to perform an an act of sexual penetration.”
Along with local law enforcement, state police, ATF agents and other federal authorities also participated in the investigation and arrest.
Risley will next return to court for a pre-trial hearing on May 9.
Friends, former coaches remember Tim Chamness and that ever-present smile
February 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Jim Muir
During the high school sports season teams from Zeigler-Royalton and Christopher join together to form one of the longest running and most successful co-ops in the state.
On Friday and Saturday those two schools and communities will join together to mourn the loss of a young man that left an indelible mark on both communities and schools.
Tim Chamness, 28, died Wednesday, February 13, in a mining accident at Prairie Eagle South Mine, near Culter. Chamness was a 2002 graduate of Zeigler-Royalton High School where he was an outstanding student-athlete.
Tim Chamness
“He was just genuine, just a wonderful person,” said Randall Risley, long time Z-R sports supporter and statistician. “Tim had a wonderful sense of humor and was just a delight to be around. It’s just a very sad day for all of us who knew him, this is just a real tragedy.”
Chamness was killed after being pinned between the tail of a continuous mining machine he was operating and a coal rib, according to federal mining officials investigating the accident. Chamness was using a remote control device to operate the continuous miner at the time.
Risley illustrated and laughed about an incident that took place in a basketball game, an incident that he says illustrates Chamness’ sense of humor. Risley said Chamness was an outstanding athlete but had a ‘forgettable’ basketball game one night when he fouled out in less than a quarter of play while guarding the opposition’s best player.
“I made him a certificate that he had set a school record for fouling out in the shortest time span ever,” Risley recalled. “Tim played along with it and even had it framed and hung it on his wall. I have kidded him since and told him his record is still standing. He was just the type of person that you truly enjoyed being around.”
Former Christopher basketball and track coach Tom Wheeler recalled that he first met Chamness when he attended his “Little Wheels” basketball camp as a third grader.
“The thing I remember most that he was always up, always in a good mood and there was always excitement in his eyes,” said Wheeler. “And then Tim ran track for me in high school and it was the same, he always showed up in a good mood, there was never any drama with him, he just came in every day excited about what we were going to do that day.”
During the past decade Wheeler said he has ran into Chamness several times and that ever-present smile was still very visible.
“Tim was the type of person you looked forward to seeing,” said Wheeler. “He was always up, always positive and he always had a smile. This is just very hard … he will really be missed.”
Longtime Christopher coach John Kretz coached Chamness in football – a sport where Christopher and Zeigler-Royalton have enjoyed a successful co-op for more than two decades. Kretz recalled moving Chamness up to the varsity level during his sophomore year to return kickoffs and punts.
“I remember when I told him I was moving him up he looked at me sort of surprised,” said Kretz. “And the very first kickoff that he returned he ran it back for a touchdown. And the very first thing he did when he came back to the sideline was come straight to me and say, ‘thanks for giving me a chance.’ I will always remember that.”
Kretz said Chamness was the type of person that ‘never had an enemy.’
“Tim was just well-liked by everybody and I mean everybody in both communities,” said Kretz. “He was very popular at Zeigler-Royalton High School but he was just as popular in Christopher – everybody liked Tim … he was just that type of person.”
Kretz said he has dealt with a “a flood of emotions” since learning of the mining accident that claimed Chamness’ life.
“I coached him and knew what type of a person he was, he comes from a great family and he was friends with my kids. I’ve known him since he was a little boy, we even have a video of him playing basketball with my son Joe when they were in daycare together,” said Kretz. “He was just a good, good person and this is a tremendous loss.”
Funeral services for Chamness will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in Royalton Church of the Nazarene, 412 W. 3rd St., S. Royalton, with Pastor David Sorensen officiating. Burial will be in Miners Cemetery east of Royalton. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. today and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Chamness are suggested to the Timothy Keith Chamness Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Herrin Security Bank, 204 S. Main St., Royalton, IL 62983.
Five people seriously injured in head-on collision near Christopher
February 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Jim Muir
Five people received major injuries Tuesday night in an alcohol-related head-on collision on Route 14 west of Christopher.
According to the police report a vehicle driven by John C. Meinert, 63, of Christopher, was traveling east on Route 14 when it crossed the center line and struck a westbound car being driven by Joseph Wall, 54, of Du Quoin.
Meinert was airlifted from the crash scene to St. Louis with what was reported as major injuries. Wall was transported by ambulance to Herrin Hospital, also with major injuries.
Three passengers in the Wall vehicle, Deborah Wall, 54, Ashley M. Wall, 24 and Daniel Wall, all of Du Quoin, were also transported by ambulance to Herrin Hospital with major injuries.
Meinert, who had to be extricated from his vehicle, will be charged with aggravated DUI, illegal transportation of alcohol and improper lane usage.
Obituary – Robert Monroe Rentfro – Mulkeytown
February 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Robert “Bob” Monroe Rentfro, 85, of Mulkeytown, passed away on January 30, 2013 at Avonlea Cottage, in Milan, IL.
Bob was born on January 13, 1928, in Mulkeytown, the son of Barney Alva Rentfro and Sylvia (Kirkpatrick) Rentfro.
He married Anna L. (Nieukirk) in 1950 and she preceded in death in 1975. He later married Fern (Moberly) Ione (Geick) and she preceded in death in December 2001, he then married Billie (Chambers) Rentfro and she preceded in death in May 2011
He moved to the Peoria area to work for Caterpillar Inc. and retired in 1982 after 32 years of service
Bob enjoyed his retirement years at the Rentfro Lake property in Mulkeytown, IL.
He resided at Heritage Woods Assisted Living in Aledo, IL from the fall of 2011 until November of 2012. He then moved to Avonlea Cottage in Milan, IL.
He was past worshipful master and member of Taylor Lodge #98 in Washington, IL for 50 years. He was also a member of the Mohammed Shrine Hillbilly Clan, Fun Maker unit in Peoria, IL and was a lifetime member of the Izaak Walton League in Metamora, IL
He was a Charter member of the Germantown Hills Christian Church and a member of the Christopher Christian Church in Christopher, IL.
Bpb served in the United States Army where he received an honorable Discharge in 1948. He was a WWII veteran.
Surviving children include Roberta (Frank) Wiese of Washington, IL, Roger Rentfro of Washington, IL, Daniel (Susan) Rentfro of East Peoria, IL, Donna Fargher of Washington, IL, Patrick (Tracy) Rentfro of Aledo, IL, Patricia Rentfro of Washington, IL and David (Lyn) Rentfro of Mulkeytown, IL.
He is also survived by grandchildren Heather Corrior, David (Sarah) Wiese, Rachel Rentfro, Melissa (Jade) Miller, Jillanna Rentfro, Chad (Shea) Fargher, Bill Fargher, Josh McWilliams, Alana (Dan) Colcord, Curtis (Heather) Rentfro, Amanda Rentfro, Jessica Rentfro and by 16 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and by a sister, Eileen Baer.
A memorial Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday February 7, 2013 at the Highview Christian Church 403 James Parkway in Washington, IL 61571, Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until the time of the service at 7 p.m. at the church
A second memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 1o a.m.. at the Mulkeytown Christian Church in Mulkeytown, IL. Visitation will be from 9 a.m.. until the time of the service at 10 a.m. at the church.
Interment will be at the Mulkeytown Cemetery in Mulkeytown.
Gilbert Funeral Home Christopher IL is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial Donations may be made to Mulkeytown Cemetery Association or to Avonlea Cottage where he recently lived and was lovingly cared for by the staff for the past two months.
For more information visit our web site at gilbertfuneralhomes.com.
