Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Declaring the moment ripe to address “failure in Springfield,” Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner unveiled a proposal Tuesday to impose eight-year term limits on Illinois lawmakers while also shrinking the size of the state Senate and giving the governor more power to override legislators’ vetoes.
Staff Report
The body of a Carmi teenager was recovered Tuesday afternoon from Rend Lake, approximately 28 hours after she was reported missing by friends.
Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler said the woman has been identified as 18-year-old Emilie Jo Turrentine, from Carmi, located in White County. Turrentine was with four other people enjoying a holiday at Rend Lake when she went under and did not resurface. The group was swimming off a boat in an area north of Route 154 near Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park.
A 911 call was placed at 11:14 a.m. Monday notifying authorities of the possible drowning. Search and rescue teams from Benton and Sesser along with law enforcement officials from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources took part in the recovery of the body.
Leffler said preliminary autopsy results are consistent with drowning and added that there were no signs of foul play and drugs or alcohol are not suspected to have been a contributing factor.
Affectionately known as “Bugs,” Buggy” and “Uncle Bugs,” Gary Lee Howell passed away at 2:40 am on August 30, 2013 at Stone Bridge Senior Living Center in Benton with family members by his side.
Mr. Howell was born July 6, 1946 in Herrin Hospital to Irene (Stomberski) and Dale Howell. Mr. Howell grew up in Freeman Spur, Illinois and graduated from Herrin High School in 1964. From 1966 to 1969, Mr. Howell served in the United States Navy. Mr. Howell worked as a top laborer at Old Ben Mine No. 21 from 1970 to 1991 and at the Zeigler NO.11 Mine in Coulterville from 1994 to 1997. Mr. Howell was a member of UMWA Local #1124. Mr. Howell also drove for Star Trucking and Dorris Trucking until 2006.
Mr. Howell married Linda Geraldine (Muir) VanZandt on August 22, 1970 in Freeman Spur, and she survives in Sesser, along with great niece Cassyln Pedigo who lives with Gary and Linda. Mr. Howell is also survived by son Jamey VanZandt of Mount Vernon, Illinois.
Other survivors include Mr. Howell’s mother, Irene Howell of Marion, an uncle, Harry Stomberski and wife Delores of Herrin, Illinois, a brother, Randy Howell and wife Marian of Herrin, Illinois, and a sister, Cathy Thomas and husband Joel of Lake of Egypt, Illinois. Mr. Howell is also survived by a beloved sister-in-law, Mary Ann Baker of Morris, Alabama, and brothers-in-law Billy Muir and wife Roberta of Nashville, Illinois, and Jim Muir and wife Lisa Kay of Sesser, Illinois. Other survivors include several nieces ‘and nephews, including Brigadier General H. Brent Baker and wife Roblye of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, Bruce Baker of Morris, Alabama, Lyndsay Muir and fiance Ryan Lampert of Trenton, Illinois, Mackenzie Broyles and husband Justin of Collinsville, Illinois, Caleb Muir of Benton, Illinois, Bailey Muir of Benton, Illinois, Joey Burton of Chicago, Josh Burton and wife Lindsey of Carbondale, Heather Burkhalter and husband James of Marble Hill, Missouri, and Patti Howell also of Marble Hill, and several beloved great-nieces and great-nephews. Mr. Howell was preceded in death by a brother, David Howell, and his father, Dale Howell.
Mr. Howell was a friend to all – he never met a stranger. He loved all of his family, his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, sharp cars and trucks, especially Chevrolets, music by Elvis, and Sylvester Stallone and Rocky films. “Uncle Buggy” was a decent, humble, and caring person to all, and was loved and admired beyond measure.
Visitation for Gary Lee Howell will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 pm on Sunday, September 1, 2013 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 pm on Monday, September 2, 2013, with Bro. Larry Cook officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, IL.
Illinois House Republicans are gathering to consider electing a new leader following a summer of internal squabbling while the current caucus chief debated his political future.
BENTON – William P. McKinney, the former Buckner police officer facing charges in the death of Roy D. Barnhart, has entered a plea of not guilty to all charges. Barnhart was also a Buckner resident.
During a court appearance on Wednesday, the 60-yer-old McKinney was also appointed a new attorney — his third attorney since the charges were filed six weeks ago — after newly-appointed attorney David Garavalia withdrew due to a conflict of interest. Garavalia was appointed only last week to replace Eric Dirnbeck who also cited a conflict in representing McKinney. Veteran Benton attorney Brian Drew was appointed by Judge Paul Lamar to represent McKinney.
The incident that led to McKinney’s arrest took place on July 7 when the former Buckner officer responded, along with other law enforcement officers, to a report of a fight in progress. Barnhart and McKinney engaged in a heated argument before Barnhart was placed under arrest. Several witnesses told authorities that McKinney continued to beat Barnhart after he was handcuffed and on the ground. Barnhart died four days later in a St. Louis hospital. McKinney is charged with involuntary manslaughter, aggravated battery of a senior citizen and official misconduct in connection with the death of Barnhart.
A jury trial was set for Nov. 5. McKinney remains in custody at Franklin County Jail.
Staff Report
Benton attorney David Garavalia has been appointed as legal counsel for former Buckner police officer William P. McKinney, who is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of 62-year-old Roy D. Barnhart, of Buckner.
The appointment of Garavalia to replace Eric Dirnbeck, who had previously filed a motion to withdraw as McKinney’s attorney due to a conflict of interest, took place during a Wednesday court hearing in Franklin County Circuit.
The incident that led to McKinney’s arrest took place on July 7 when the former Buckner officer responded, along with other law enforcement officers, to a report of a fight in progress. Barnhart and McKinney engaged in a heated argument before Barnhart was placed under arrest. Several witnesses told authorities that McKinney continued to beat Barnhart after he was handcuffed and on the ground. Barnhart died four days later in a St. Louis hospital.
McKinney is also charged with aggravated battery of a senior citizen and official misconduct in connection with the death of Barnhart.
McKinney is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, August 28 in Franklin County Court.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, with the Rev. Gary West officiating. Friends are asked to meet at the cemetery.
Leffler-Poulson Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of arrangements.
ST. LOUIS — Coal producer Peabody Energy Corp. remains obligated to continue health-care benefits for some 3,100 retirees of one of the company’s former holdings, an appeals court ruled Wednesday in reversing a bankruptcy judge’s absolving Peabody of that tab.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
By Jim Muir
A Franklin County Grand Jury has handed down indictments against four people who are accused of possessing and delivering illegal drugs from their Benton business.
Daniel Schmechel, 46, and Cindy Schmechel, 44, both of Mount Vernon, are owners of The Smoke Break, located at 601 West Main St. are both facing a 13-count indictment charging them with unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
Dorothy Williams, 62, of Valier, and Erin Williams, 30, of Mount Vernon are also accused of unlawfully delivering and possessing controlled substances or controlled substance analogs.
The indictments came as a result of a joint investigation between Benton, West City and state police, Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
The alleged offenses took place within 1,000 feet of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, making the charges each a Class 2 felony.
Law enforcement officers from Illinois State Police, Benton Police Department, West City Police Department and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department converged on The Smoke Break last week armed with a search warrant. The search warrant was obtained based on information conducted by state police and the Benton Police Department.
The Smoke Break has been the scene of police raids in the past. Last year law enforcement officers searched the business as part of an investigation centered around allegations into the alleged delivery of a controlled substance analog or synthetic drug. Bath salts, spice and incense are oftentimes sold as a synthetic drug, which is illegal in the state of Illinois.
Sales of the drugs are illegal in the state.
The Schmechels each posted $15,000 bond and have a first court appearance set for Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Franklin County Courthouse.
Dorothy Williams and Erin Williams each posted a $2,000 cash bond. Dorothy Williams is also set for a first appearance at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 3, and Erin Williams will appear Aug. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Franklin County authorities are continuing to investigate a fatal single-vehicle accident Tuesday evening south of Benton.
Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler identified the victim as 50-year-old Philip Adams, of Benton. The accident occurred on South Hill City Road, one-fourth mile south of Forest Baptist Church Road.
According to Leffler, a passerby saw a vehicle in a corn field and stopped to investigate and found the body of Adams inside. A 911 call was placed to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department at 6:01 p.m. and deputes, Illinois State Police and personnel from Abbott’s Ambulance responded to the accident scene. Leffler was notified at 6:10 p.m. about the fatal accident.
Leffler said no foul play is suspected and said alcohol is “a suspected factor in the fatal accident.”
Leffler said an autopsy is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at Franklin Hospital in Benton.
