Barn Fire in rural West Frankfort

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WEST FRANKFORT-  West Frankfort Firefighters were called to a tractor fire on 9994 Carr Road around 11:00 a.m.

Before arriving on the scene, the tractor exploded, and the fire spread to a nearby barn full of hay.

Benton, Zeigler, Ewing-Northern, Carterville, Johnston City and Abbott EMS provided mutual aid.

When more information becomes available it will be shared.

Information from WSIL -TV, Southern Illinois Fire Incidents, and Southern Illinois Fire Dispatch contributed to the above story. 

Writer relives first haircut in West Frankfort

http://www.wfgazette.com/features/writer-relives-first-haircut-in-west-frankfort/article_d5908352-4315-11e7-b9b7-d7ac94f21211.html

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Tim Hastings, The West Frankfort Gazette.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Tim Philippart, 68, a writer and retired business owner from Holland, Michigan, relived his first haircut Friday at Lon Clutts’ Barber Shop on Main Street in West Frankfort.

“I was working on some stories along the Mississippi River this week and I decided to cut back through West Frankfort,” Philippart. “I saw the barber pole on Main Street and that drew me.”

Philippart said he clearly remembers receiving his first hair cut at about age three in Boatrights’ Barber Shop in West Frankfort.  The shop was in or near the building Clutts currently occupies. “I was about three,” Philippart said. “I remember it well because I was in the hands of a strange man and he was armed with a sharp instrument.

Philippart posts his writings at the web site www.imaginiscent.net. In the poem, “Balloon in two movements”, he artfully likens a balloon to a single red lung.

The writer said he could not disclose the nature of his research along the Mississippi. He described his prose as reality-based fiction. “Everything I write about really happened or happened in my head,” he said. “I might end up writing about visiting this barber shop.”

 

Marathon food drive aims to help local food banks

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35520310/marathon-food-drive-aims-to-help-local-food-banks

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WEST FRANKFORT, IL –(Sean Conway, WSIL-TV Please click on the link above to read the story and accompanying video.  Here is an excerpt below. )

Food pantries tend to thrive during the holiday season, but shelves tend to go bare as summer closes in. So a West Frankfort man decided to help with a “marathon food drive.”

Bill Cardin, of West Frankfort, just couldn’t let that happen. He became involved in the fight against hunger after learning just how many Americans struggle to eat.

“At least one in six people in this country go to bed hungry every night, and that’s just not okay with me” explained Cardin.

So he organized the first annual 5,000 Can Marathon food drive, using his contacts from several years of working with the Boy Scouts.

He says pantries thrive in the holiday season, but tend to suffer in the summer season.

“We found out when we brought the food to the food banks at that time, they were very happy to have it,” said Cardin. “And they said it was a great time for them up until about December people gave a lot of donations.”

 

 

West Frankfort mayor looks at pitfalls of workers’ comp

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35501360/west-frankfort-mayor-looks-at-pitfalls-of-workers-comp

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WEST FRANKFORT, IL (Roni Leforge, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt.)

The Illinois Senate could take a vote on some lingering problems related to workers’ compensation in the so-called “grand bargain” budget.

Illinois already has high workers’ compensation claims, prompting Governor Bruce Rauner to push for a change to how claims get evaluated and paid to lower costs on businesses and attract more jobs to the state.

The plan has support from several political leaders like West Frankfort Mayor Tom Jordan, who calls workers’ comp reform a must. Jordan says the city sees workers’ comp claims frequently, and each year the city puts aside $500,000 for those claims.

But rising health care costs and insurance premiums, could wipe that money out, quickly.

“This year, we have paid $310,377 in workers’ compensation claims,” said Mayor Jordan.

That’s only five months into the year, and why he wants to see costs go down.

 

 

Morthland College promises free tuition for returning students

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35490131/morthland-college-promises-free-tuition-for-returning-students

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WEST FRANKFORT, IL (Brandon Merano, WSIL-TV.  Please click image above for the full story and accompanying video.  Below is an excerpt.)

Morthland College said all students in good academic standing can return to class “free of charge.”

Last week, the college’s board of trustees cut all athletic programs at the school, leaving student athlete scholarships in limbo.

In an e-mail sent to Morthland College students on Friday, the school promised to:

 “ensure that any current Morthland College student in good academic standing returning to Morthland College will have 100 percent of tuition and fees covered through the generosity of the Morthland Foundation.”

Agenda for West Frankfort City Council meeting tonight

AGENDA
Regular Council Meeting
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
at 7:00 p.m.

PRAYER

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM THE MAY 9, 2017 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING.

2. APPROVAL TO PAY THE BILLS.

3. APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LATERAL HIRE OF A POLICE OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT.

4. APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT TO ENTER INTO A REAL ESTATE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH EDWARD AND TWILA KINCAID.

5. APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ENGINEERS, BROWN & ROBERTS, TO PREPARE PLANS TO REPAIR A SIDEWALK ON S. GRAND AND E. MAIN STREET.

6. DISCUSSION, WITH POSSIBLE ACTION, REGARDING REPAIRS TO THE BOAT DOCK AT THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT NEW LAKE.

7. DISCUSSION, WITH POSSIBLE ACTION, REGARDING A REQUEST FOR A NEW STOP SIGN AT THE CORNER OF GRAND AND POPLAR.

8. DISCUSSION, WITH POSSIBLE ACTION, REGARDING THE PURCHASE OF A MOWER FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF MAINTAINING CITY PROPERTIES.

9. APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT OF A CONTRACTOR’S PARTIAL PAY ESTIMATE #13 TO MIDWEST PETROLEUM & EXCAVATING, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $197,483.79 REGARDING THE SEWER TREATMENT PLANT RETROFIT PROJECT.

10. APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT OF A CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING BILL #13 FOR BROWN & ROBERTS, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $19,590.83 REGARDING THE SEWER TREATMENT PLANT RETROFIT PROJECT.

11. APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT OF AN INVOICE FROM SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,000.00 FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
12. APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT OF AN INVOICE FROM BRENNTAG IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,549.00 FOR THE SEWER DEPARTMENT.

13. APPROVAL FOR TLC THERAPY CENTER TO HOLD A ROADBLOCK ON JUNE 3, 2017 FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 4:00P.M. AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 149 AND HIGHWAY 37.

14. APPROVAL FOR THE LION’S CLUB TO HOLD A ROADBLOCK ON JUNE 9, 2017 FROM 4:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M. AND JUNE 10, 2017 FROM 8:00 A.M. TO 2:00P.M. AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 149 AND HIGHWAY 37.

15. BUILDING AND SIGN PERMITS.

16. MAYOR’S REPORT.

17. COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS.

18. AUDIENCE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

19. APPROVAL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, PERSONNEL, AND/OR PENDING LITIGATION, WITH POSSIBLE ACTION.

20. APPROVAL OF A MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION.

21. MAYOR TO ADJOURN MEETING.

Court documents reveal possible financial crisis at Morthland College

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35474372/court-documents-reveal-possible-financial-crisis-at-morthland-college

 

 

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WEST FRANKFORT, IL (Brandon Merano, WSIL-TV Please click on the link above to read the full story and accompanying video. Here is an excerpt below. )

Court documents filed through the Franklin County clerk show Morthland College owes the IRS more than $700,000, but the college’s founder and president Tim Morthland owes money to others as well.

Morthland also hasn’t paid his contracting company more than $80,000 for nearly half a year’s work.

News 3 uncovered the documents after Morthland claimed on Thursday the school was “financially sound.”

“We know that we are financially sound, whether we have 20, 40, 60 or 100 students given our current funding base,” explained Morthland.

That statement from Morthland came just a day after the college’s board of trustees decided to cut all athletic programs at the school made up almost entirely of student athletes.

 

Morthland drops intercollegiate athletics

Morthland PG Cody Schultz drives in for a layup over a Crowley’s Ridge Defender in one of the school’s mens basketball games last fall

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35457298/morthland-college-ends-athletic-program

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Caleb Martin – WSIL-TV  Please click the link above for the full story with video included.  Below is an excerpt of the story)

Morthland College trustees voted Wednesday to end the school’s athletic program. Former coaches and others say this could signal some very tough times for the college.

Former Morthland College athletic director Reid Cure once had great hope for the school.

“I thought we were growing and heading in a great direction. We were providing a lot of great kids, really good experiences and opportunities to play collegiate sports,” he said.

But he said recent developments at the private college brought him, and at least two others to resign.

“I saw a college going into a different direction that I preferred to see it go,” said Cure.

 

Rend Lake college graduates from Franklin County

ReAnne Palmer- RLC Public information 

 

Rend Lake College officials want to congratulate the Class of 2017 for another successful year. The 50th Annual RLC Commencement was held Saturday, May 13 in James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium. A total of 633 graduates were conferred 681 Associate Degrees and 454 Occupational Certificates for a total of 1,135 degrees and certificates. Bob Carlock, retired vice president of finance and administration at RLC, was the keynote speaker.

BENTON – Gary Allan, Michael Allan, Alison Anthis, Ashley K. Atkins, Alissa Bain, Leigha Bain, Deryck Bates, Jonathon Carson Batts, Kelly L. Bishop, Brandtlee Abram Brown, Brandi Nicole Cairns, Cali M. Carney, Aubrionna Casey, Joseph James Clinton, Kaleigh Cole, Mariann R. Cook, Lindsey Marie Cox, Zoie Paige Crain, Bria Leigh Curry, Pari Morgan Davis, Mackenzi Dollins, Heather Crystal Drew, Chason Lee Dunford, Rachel Raquel Easton, Curtis Alan Eubanks, Emeri-Jean Allyce Farnam, Connor Foltz, Samantha Franklin, David Bradley Garrett Jr., Sadie Hall, Abbigail E. Hart, Kelsey Morgan Head, Nicholas Sebastian Hoffman, Katelyn J. Houghland, Sarah E. Hubbard, Laura Katherine Jamerson, Emmy-Leigh Jay, Robin Nicole Johnson, Caleb James Kearney, Christine Keppler-Clayton, Amy Kovarik, Molly LaRae McGuire, Matthew Krug, Dakotah Micheal Lampley, Leanne Ledbetter, Shelby Lewis, Alaina Lynch, Dionna Grace Martin, Jayme Martinez, Janie Marie McMurray, Mallorie Melvin, Darian O’Brien Menees, Brandon Meyer, Kenneth A. Miner, Lindell Ray Minor, Virginia Morgan, Devon Jean Morris, Lorie Jane Nalley, Ashley Odom, Samantha R. Orrill, Ben Pankey, Gabriel Price, Joshua Price, Tarron Pulliam, Presley Robbins, Naylin Ronchetto, Charles Schram, Jenna McKay Shadowens, Andrea Linda-Marie Shaw, Kerrie Smith, Dylan Snyder, Kassie N. Spencer, Whitney Summers, John David Sweet, Nathan Watkins, Allee Nicole Wellen, John R. Wilder IV, Jacob Young

BUCKNER – Alyx Michaela Starkweather

CHRISTOPHER – Andrew David Benard, Jacob Ross Burkitt, Michael Taylor Calloni, Julie Y. Faling, Austin Frey, Zoie Danielle Frey, Amanda Gant, Nicole D. Howell, Jacob Allen Jablonski, Trevor Johnson, Kailey Kerkemeyer, Brittany N. Lowery, Camryn Joan Maloney, Erica Lynn Maple, Micah Motsinger, Kayla Parrish, Adam Jay Porter, Annabelle Lea Shukites, Jacob W. Underwood

COELLO – Joseph N. Shaw

EWING – Jaylyn Cozart, Delta Dawn Hermann, Ike Hutchcraft, Wade M. Hutchens, Kacee Leann Roberts

LOGAN – Dakota Casey, Nicole Marie Mullins

MACEDONIA – Bailey Jo Hiestand, Terrence Anthony Richard Marshall, Anthony L. Page, Danielle Rena Richardson, Martin John Ward

MULKEYTOWN – Brianna Bowlin, Ryan Andrew Curry, Allanna C Garrison, Michael T. Hoffman, Cameron Jones, Tara Chantell Law, Loghan Danielle Matyi, John Rapp, Christopher Richard, Breanna Faye Whitley, Cindra F. Wroblewski

ORIENT – Brittany Segatto

ROYALTON – Meghan Marie Clark, Kassandra Jones, Brandon Stubblefield, Stephan Threewitt, Austin D. Walker

SESSER – Ashly Lynn Brown, Reginald Joseph Eubanks, Johnathon Leonard Galloway, Cody Hamm, Blaine Leslie, Nicholas David Marlo  Caleb I. Mays, David Nelson, Brianna Joyce Risley, Kyle Andrew Robinson, Monica Lynn Scott, Skylyn DeVonne L. Simpson, Luke William Thompson, Matthew D. Wallinger, Kieran S. White

THOMPSONVILLE – Maleissa Anne Baney, Charlene Boyd, Chelsey Lynn Bundy, Kayla Follmer, Brady German, Cecily Ann Heusner, Austin Kerley, Austin Michael Kessler, David K. Payne, Kenzie Nichole Rizor, Kyle J. Shimkus, Kenise Rashelle Smith, Damien Sky Wilburn

VALIER – Sophi Rai Johnson, Bailee Lynn Jones, Jamie Jones, Courtney D. Smith

WEST CITY – Amanda Frankart

WEST FRANKFORT – Alexa L. Beavers, John Fenton Bowers, Shannon Browning, Jared Lee Eastwood, Garrett Karoski, Makenzie Kondoudis, Brittany Nicole Long, Alexis Rae Newell, Charles Saunders, Amber Marie Sloan, Kailee Spears, Adam Wiggins, Bryce Timothy Wiley, Kathryn Nichole Wise

WHITTINGTON – Dakota J. Head, Tabitha Hopkins, Noah Jones, Nathan Scott MacDonald, Jennifer Young

ZEIGLER – Breanna Renee Davis, Bailey Schimpf

 

Lane reduction on 149 at I-57 overpass

The Illinois Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of a lane reduction on Route 149 near Interstate 57 in West Frankfort

Construction begins Wednesday, May 17.

Route 149 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Ken Gray Boulevard and S. Joiner Street in West Frankfort for pavement patching.

The work is expected to last one week, weather permitting.

Motorists are asked to pay attention and reduce speed in the work zone.

To avoid delays motorists should seek alternative routes.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News