SESSER — An investigation underway in Sesser Saturday night, at one point, involved more than one unit of the Illinois State Police Homicide Squad. Witnesses tell us it happened on Locust Street, 
though city officials could not confirm that. Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore could only say police officers needed assistance “checking something out” and that Sesser had “NO MURDER” take place. Stay with News Three on air, and on-line, as this story continues to develop, we’ll update you with any details we uncover. Franklincounty-news.com will monitior local media sources to keep everyone updated. Link taken from WSIL website.
Police investigation in Sesser
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Three-week speech class returning to RLC for Summer 2017
December 3, 2016 By Leave a Comment
INA, Ill. (Dec. 1, 2016) – Rend Lake College students and other students home for the summer break can knock out a required speech class next summer in only three weeks. RLC is again offering the intersession class between the Spring and Summer 2017 semesters.
The class – Principles of Effective Speaking (COMM 1101) – will meet from 8 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday beginning May 15, excluding Memorial Day, in the Academic Building, Room 209, on the Ina campus. The last day of class will be June 1, just in time to start regular summer classes the following week.
RLC Professor Elizabeth Bailey-Smith said this is the second time she’s taught the class during the summer, and students last year found the layout helped to keep them on their toes.
“One student stated, ‘I am usually somewhat of a procrastinator, but I didn’t have time to procrastinate with this class.’ It offers the opportunity for students to complete a three-credit hour class in less than three weeks. It’s intense, but only 11 times,” said Bailey-Smith.
In addition to the shorter-than-normal schedule, students enrolled in the intersession class have added benefits. Bailey-Smith explained, “Students can focus on one course and receive more one-on-one attention because of the small class size and longer sessions.”
Principles of Effective Speaking is a requirement for many programs and degrees at RLC and other institutions to which the class can transfer. To register for the course, contact RLC’s Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266 or advising@rlc.edu.
Obituary – Jason Dewayne Johnson – Mt. Vernon (formerly of Sesser)
October 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Jason Dewayne Johnson, 43, of Mt. Vernon, formerly of Sesser, died October 15, 2013 in rural Jefferson County.
Jason was born March 17, 1970 in West Frankfort, IL to Bob Johnson, Sr. and Betty (Cockrum) Johnson, and they both survive.
He taught automotive classes at Rend Lake College, worked at Ford Square in Mt. Vernon for 12 years and was presently employed by ILMO Gas in Mt. Vernon.
Jason was a member of the First Baptist Church in Sesser, IL and was also a member of Quail & Turkey Unlimited. He was an avid hunter and loved to do mechanical work.
He was married to Jane (Abell) Johnson, of Mt. Vernon.
Jason is survived by two sons, Christopher Reide Johnson and Cody Ryan Johnson, both at home. He is also survived by a brother, Bobby and Suzanne Johnson, of Valier and a sister, Cheryl and Jim Matye, of Valier. Also surviving are nieces and nephews Rachel Matyi, Justin Matyi, Kirsten and Ryan Goodisky and Sophi Johnson. He is also survived by a special family friend, Angela McNail.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 19 at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Mark Miller officiating. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery, in Sesser.
In lieu of flowers memorial should be made to the Christopher and Cody Johnson Educational fund and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Obituary – Jo Ann Brown – Sesser
October 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
SESSER — Jo Ann “MeMe” Brown, 70, died at 11:55 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, in Pinckneyville Community Hospital after an almost five-year battle with leukemia.
Jo Ann worked for Techna-Color in Pinckneyville and she was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Jo Ann was born July 15, 1943, in Du Quoin to Albert and Anna (Szczeblewski) Gerstenschlager.
She married Kenneth Brown on May 15, 1965, and he preceded her in death Nov. 12, 2005.
Jo Ann is survived by her children, Kenneth L. and Kelly Brown of Benton, Rhonda Lynn and Todd Hawkins of Mulkeytown and Gregg L. and Michelle Brown of Dix. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Andrew Brown, Mallory Brown, Taylor Hawkins, Gage Hawkins, Gunner Hawkins, Dylan Brown and Kaitlyn Brown and two sisters, Judy Hoffman of Du Bois and Jean and Robert Zoeckler of Du Bois.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, in Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery in Sesser. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is in charge of arrangements. For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Peabody, UMWA settle dispute over retiree health benefits
October 10, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The United Mine Workers of America has agreed to a $400 million agreement with Peabody Energy Corp. and Patriot Coal Corp. that settles a bitter dispute over healthcare benefits for retirees in the wake of Patriot’s bankruptcy.
Here’s the link to the story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Cast revealed for RLC fall play “Treasure Island”
October 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment
“Treasure Island” will feature several returning actors to the RLC theater stage, including a duo who have performed together five times.
Aaron Dawson, a 15-year-old from Benton, will be playing the role of Captain Flint, a parrot puppet. “Treasure Island” will be Dawson’s ninth show with Webb and 11th show of his acting career, making him one of the more experienced of the actors and also the youngest.
“I have a lot of fun at the theater and I get to meet all sorts of new people,” said Dawson. “When I was younger, my parents asked me if I was interested in acting, so I tried it and I really liked it. Tracey invited me to do a show at Rend Lake after seeing me with Pyramid Players [a theater company out of Benton], and it went very well.”
TWO DAYS OF DANCING
Cast members of Rend Lake College’s fall play “Treasure Island” spent two days last week learning a dance number for the musical piece in RLC’s Theatre. The play will open at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 and will run through Sunday, Nov. 10. Tickets are on sale, starting Oct. 7.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
Dawson said he plans to attend Rend Lake College in a few years as a general studies and theater major before graduating and attending ministerial school.
Another actor from Benton, John Nalley, will be joining Dawson on stage for his fifth show as the notorious Long John Silver. Nalley has had several starring roles on the RLC theater stage, including the father in Father of the Bride, Mr. Banks.
“My friend and I auditioned on a whim back in 2009, and we ended up playing the villain and villainess in the show,” said Nalley. “I began to think of the theater as my home away from home. I’ll take any role, big or small, as long as I get to perform.”
In addition to Dawson and Nalley, there are 33 actors, all of which are expected to help build the set in addition to learning lines and dances:
- Tara Bell Janowick (Johnston City) as Meg Trueblood
- Phillip Borcherding (Mt. Vernon) as Banjo Brody (banjo)
- Bethaney Brown (Mt. Vernon) as Nightingale Nell
- Shawna Cardwell (Benton) as Whipstitch Winnie
- Phillip Catt (Tamaroa) as Newport Ned
- Nick Conner (Sesser) as Nathaniel Crisp
- Elecia Crider (Woodlawn) as Shoreditch Sal
- Cortne Fletcher (Benton) as Canterbury Kate
- Curtis Galloway (Benton) as Israel Hands
- Donald T. Graham-Barnett (Du Quoin) as Peatbog Pat
- Sierra Harrell (Mt. Vernon) as Miss Lucinda Livesey
- John Hunsell (Mt. Vernon) as Old Joe
- Brandon Isom (Christopher) as Gentleman Jack
- Robin Johnson (Benton) as Greystoke Gertie
- Clay Lewis (Mt. Vernon) as Hardy
- Chris Milburn (Mt. Vernon) as Captain Obadiah Smollett
- Thomas Miller (Pinckneyville) as Tenderloin Ted (guitar)
- George Motsinger (Christopher) as Barnacle Billy
- Cheyenne Needham (Benton) as Cornwall Kelly
- Josh Nelson (Mt. Vernon) as Ben Gunn
- Quentin Overturf (McLeansboro) as Blind Pugh
- Vonnie Palmer (Johnston City) as Mad Mary Maguire
- Shelby Patterson (Waltonville) as Piccadilly Poll
- Eric Price (Benton) as Jim Hawkins
- Danielle Roberts (Mt. Vernon) as Dizzy Delores (recorder)
- Devin Riley (Dix) as Harry Flash
- Trevor Skidmore (Mt. Vernon) as Lionheart Lenny
- Christina South (Enfield) as Lady Jacqueline Trelawney
- Caleb Staples (Mt. Vernon) as Black Dog
- Troy Stickey (Benton) as George Merry and Billy Bones
- Lauryn Strom (Sesser) as Liverpool Lee (percussion)
- Shannon Twitty (Bluford) as Sherwood Sheila (tambourine)
- Yuting Zhang (Dahlgren) as Cheng I Sao
There are also several crew members and volunteers helping with the play, including Skyler Alldredge (Benton), Josh Dawson (Benton), Nicole Foskey (Johnston City), Timothy Learned (Mulkeytown), Anthony Mitchell (Benton), Josh Moyer (Mt. Vernon), Shelby Patterson (Waltonville), Jessa Poninski (Mt. Vernon), Aaron Ramsey (Mt. Vernon), Matthew Rush (Benton), Krystal Schuh (Newton) and Shannon Webb (Ewing).
Tickets for the play will go on sale today (Oct. 7) for $12 a ticket. Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7 through Saturday, Nov. 9; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10. To purchase tickets, contact Cathy Cross at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1263. Tickets will be available at the Theatre on show night if they are not sold out.
RLC awarded up to $2.25 million from U.S. Department of Education
October 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
INA, Ill. – Big changes lie ahead for students looking into healthcare at Rend Lake College as updated curricula, student support services and new programs will be taking shape over the next five years with the help of federal grant money.
The Title III Pathways to Success in Health Careers Grants were announced last week by the U. S. Department of Education (USDE), which added that a total of approximately $20.1 million in grants to 39 colleges and universities across the nation will be awarded under the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP).
RLC will receive the first grant payment this fiscal year in the amount of $449,960 to begin making big changes in the Allied Health Division. Kim Robert, Dean of Allied Health and Project Director, said the grant money will help increase educational prospects for RLC students.
Annually, per approval by the USDE, RLC will receive approximately $449,000 annually, for a total of $2,249,833 over five years. By the end of the grant period, RLC expects to see an increase in the number of Health Studies degrees and certificates awarded, as well as an increase in overall enrollment and enrollment-based revenue.
“The Allied Health Division is extremely excited to be awarded such a grant from the U. S. Department of Education, and we look forward to utilizing it to help our students in a number of ways,” said Robert. “We are looking into starting some new programs, purchasing equipment and starting an Allied Health Student Success Center to help our students be successful in their field of choice. Personally, I’m looking forward to working with the Rend Lake College staff to prepare our students for life after graduation in a number of healthcare occupations.”
Other plans include the establishment of a new Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) lab and revision of A&P I and II curricula, revisions to the Practical Nursing program curricula to incorporate educational simulation and web-based interactive instructional modules, development a new Health Studies advising and tutoring systems, and the establishment of a new Health Studies Success Center.
“Rend Lake College is one of only 39 schools across the nation to receive a part of the $20.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and the only one in Illinois,” said RLC President Terry Wilkerson. “The grant will help us improve on our health studies programs, including the addition of two programs, and the support our staff can give to our students. On behalf of the college, faculty and staff, I want to thank the Department of Education for believing in Rend Lake College and our students by helping us expand our educational options and become one of the best higher education institutions in healthcare.”
Information from the USDE states that the healthcare and social assistance sector will create 149,000 new jobs in Illinois alone by 2018, effectively ranking Illinois as one of the top five states in the nation with the greatest shortage of healthcare professionals. More than a third of RLC students, or 35 percent, identify completion of health studies as an educational goal, and enrollment in these programs has increased 22 percent since the 2009-10 academic year.
U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stateddue to these job increases, both in Illinois and across the country, grants such as the Pathways to Success in Health Careers will allow students more options for careers post-graduation.
“Everyone deserves access to high-quality learning opportunities, from preschool to middle school and all the way through college,” said Duncan. “In order to achieve President Obama’s goal to lead the world in college graduates by 2020, we must work to ensure that everyone has a chance to enroll and complete postsecondary education. These grants will boost the capacity and quality of programs offered by higher education institutions that serve low-income students as they work to increase completion rates and better prepare their students for success in college, careers and lifetime aspirations.”
SIP helps postsecondary schools expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen their academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability, as well as build a framework to help students complete college.
For more information, contact Kim Robert at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1251.
Benton police make multiple weekend arrests
October 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Benton police reported a busy weekend with multiple arrests.
On October 5, 2013 Benton Police arrested Koltyn Irvin, age 24, of Christopher for public indecency and resisting a peace officer. Irvin was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On October 5, 2013 Benton Police arrested David J. Marks, age 42, of Carbondale for driving while suspended. Marks was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On October 5, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 100 block of East Main Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Through investigation, police arrested Angela K. Behringer, age 42, of Benton for aggravated battery and vehicular invasion. Behringer was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On October 6, 2013 Benton Police arrested Nichole R. Maynor, age 32, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear. Maynor was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On October 6, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 200 block of West Sixth Street in reference to criminal trespass. Through investigation, police arrested Randy A. Joy, age 30, of Ina for criminal trespass to property. Joy was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On October 6, 2013 Benton Police arrested Anthony D. Cano, age 22, of Herrin for violation of order of protection. Cano was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
Obituary – Jay Douglas Webb – Ewing
October 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
EWING – Jay Douglas Webb, 72, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013, while farming near Wilson Road in Benton.
Per his wishes, Mr. Webb will be cremated. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the home of Jay and Judy Webb at 13381 Webb Hill Road in Ewing with Larry Miller officiating.
Leffler-Poulson Funeral Home of Benton is in charge of arrangements.
Jay was born May 6, 1941, in Ewing, the son of Roy Webb and Mickey (McKee) Webb.
He married the former Judy McKinnon on Oct. 17, 1964, and she survives.
Jay, along with his wife, Judy, and their son, Shannon, owned and operated Webb Farms of Ewing. He was a member of Farm Bureau, FFA Alumni and a former Ewing School Board member. He also enjoyed auctioneering.
Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Judy Webb of Ewing; a son, Shannon Webb and wife, Tracey, of Ewing and a granddaughter, Josie Lee Webb of Ewing. Also surviving is a sister, Kay and husband, Rick Boundy, of Metamora; two aunts, Billie J. and husband, Herb Winemiller, and Judy McKee; two sisters-in-law, Donna Ellis of West Frankfort, and Mary McKinnon of Burlington, Wis.; and several nephews, nieces and cousins.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents; and grandparents.
Memorials in memory of Jay Webb, may be made to the organization of the donor’s choice.
Lee set to go to trial next week in shooting death of Brittany Andrews
October 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Staff Report
Donald Lee, the 39-year-old Elkville man accused in the shooting death of Brittany Andrews, of Bonnie, will go on trial next week in Franklin County Court.
The trial is slated to begin October 9 with a final status hearing scheduled for October 3.
Andrews died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head on May 17, 2013, according to Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler. Benton police were called to an East Main Street parking lot where they discovered Andrews. She was taken to Franklin Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Lee was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was later charged with two counts of first degree murder and he remains in Franklin County Jail in lieu of $2 million bond.
Lee is being represented by Brian Drew of Benton and T.J. Parrish, of Mt. Vernon.
