Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Last week the Illinois state treasurer’s race between Tom Cross and Mike Frerichs was too close to call when Cross led by 21,000 votes. Today an unofficial count has the difference under 1,000 votes. Unbelievable. And the counting continues.
Tom Cross, left, and Michael Frerichs are locked in a record setting race for Illinois state treasurer.
Here’s the link at Franklin County County News Online.
By Jim Muir
During his grueling campaign for governor, Bruce Rauner traveled the state for months talking to groups small and large – sometimes taking his plans for Illinois to six and eight people at a time.
Newly elected governor Bruce Rauner, flanked by his wife Diana (in back) and Lt. Governor-elect Evelyn Sanguinetti was greeted by a large crowd at the Vault Cafe in Marion on Friday morning.
Those small quiet settings are not the case anymore.
After a resounding victory on Tuesday over Gov. Pat Quinn — taking away a 12-year stranglehold of the governor’s office by Democrats — Rauner designated Friday his “Thank You Tour” with a whirlwind blitz of the state that included at least half a dozen stops. Marion, located in Williamson County in Southern Illinois, was the first stop of the day and it was a loud and boisterous crowd that greeted Governor-elect Rauner at the Vault Cafe, located on Tower Square. The large and energetic crowd crammed in the cafe was obviously still savoring, 72 hours later, Rauner’s stunning victory over Quinn.
Accompanied by his wife Diana and newly-elected Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, Rauner seemed to still be in campaign-mode with a short but energetic speech.
“It’s a new day in Illinois,” Rauner said. “We intend to make Illinois the most compassionate state and the most competitive state. We have got to transform government in Illinois, take the waste out, take the bureaucracy out, take the cronyism and patronage out and make the lean and effective and drive results for taxpayers and get our economy booming. ”
Rauner also introduced newly-elected state representative Teri Bryant, who will represent the 115th Legislative District when the Illinois General Assembly convenes in January 2015. Bryant, a Republican, defeated Democrat Bill Kilquist for the seat that Mike Bost, a Murphysboro Republican held for two decades.
“I love Southern Illinois,” Rauner said. “I was here more than a dozen times during the campaign and I plan to visit often as governor. I plan on being a very unusual governor, I actually plan on living in Springfield and living in the Governor’s Mansion. Nobody has done that for a long time and it will be an honor for me to live there, it’s the people’s house. This is going to be a lot of hard work, this is not tiddlywinks, there’s a lot of rough, tough stuff in front of us.”
Rauner also started reaching across party lines during his Marion stop.
“I want to be a governor for all of Illinois,” said Rauner. “I don’t care if you are a Democrat or an Independent, we want to represent all of Illinois and bring a sense of pride back to Illinois.”
Along with the stop in Marion, the tour was also scheduled to make stops in O’Fallon, Springfield, Moline, Peoria and Rockford.
Event: Retail Stop
Time: 9:30AM
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Location: The Vault Cafe on the Square, 504 Tower Square Plaza, Marion, IL 62959
Event: Retail Stop
Time: 11:00AM
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Location: Egg & I, 455-D Regency Park Drive, O’Fallon, IL 62269
Event: Retail Stop
Time: 12:30PM
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Location: Cafe Moxo, 411 East Adams Street, Springfield, IL 62701
Event: Retail Stop
Time: 2:15PM
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Location: River House Bar & Grill: 1510 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265
Event: Retail Stop
Time: 3:45PM
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Location: Barrack’s Banquet Center, 1224 West Pioneer Parkway, Peoria, IL 61615
Event: Retail Stop
Time: 5:15PM
Date: Friday, November 7, 2014
Location: Giovanni’s Restaurant: 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford, IL 61107
CHICAGO — Thousands of Illinois residents have started their paperwork to use medical marijuana, but only 1,500 have so far submitted all the supporting documents.
Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said Thursday about 8,000 people started the process online. The department has approved about 230 patient applications.
The state’s new program requires patients to have a qualifying condition such as cancer. Patients must submit fingerprints for a criminal background check using a state-approved fingerprint vendor.
Most patients also must get their doctor’s permission to use medical marijuana. Only military veterans getting Veterans Affairs care won’t need a doctor’s signature. That’s because VA doctors, as federal employees, aren’t permitted to recommend controlled substances.
More information is available at the program’s website.
CHICAGO – Governor-elect Bruce Rauner today announced additional key members of the transition committee.
The transition committee consists of a broad range of community, business, faith and political leaders whose expertise will help make Illinois the most compassionate and competitive state in the union.
“I am committed to assembling a diverse and talented team to drive results for our state and bring back Illinois,” Bruce Rauner said. “Today, I am pleased to announce key members of the transition committee who I have selected to work alongside Evelyn Sanguinetti and our senior transition staff as we prepare to take office. It is an honor to have such a talented group of individuals working with me to get our state working for the people again.”
Selected Member Biographies of the Transition Team
*Titles and Associations are for Identification Purposes Only*
Governor Jim Edgar
Bill Daley – Managing Partner and head of U.S. operations, Argentiere Capital LP, former White House Chief of Staff
Glenn Poshard – Former President, Southern Illinois University; former U.S. Congressman
Rev. James Meeks – Founder and Senior Pastor, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago; former Illinois State Senator
Manny Sanchez – Founder and Managing Partner, Sanchez Daniels & Hoffman LLP; Co-Chair, Latinos for Obama
Doug Oberhelman – CEO and Chairman, Caterpillar Inc.
State Representative Jill Tracy – 94th District, Illinois House of Representatives
Ron Huberman – Operating Executive, Prairie Capital; former Superintendent and CEO, Chicago Public Schools
Phyllis Wise – Chancellor, University of Illinois
Jim Alexander – President, Illinois State Police Command Officer’s Association (ISPCOA)
Congressman Aaron Schock – Representative, 18th Congressional District of Illinois
Arabel Alva Rosales – President, AAR & Assocs., LTD.Ron Gidwitz – Partner, GCG Partners
John Gates – Chairman and CEO, PortaeCo, LLC.
Pastor Corey Brooks – Founder, New Beginnings Church of Chicago
Rob Funderburg – Chairman and owner, Alpine Bank
Mark Cozzi- Managing Partner, Lincoln Park Capital Group
Tony Anderson – Retired Vice Chairman and Midwest Managing, Partner Ernst & Young
Sarah Frey-Talley – President, CEO Frey Farms
Gloria Cardenas Cudia – President and Founder, Salsa Business Network
Jim Schultz – Founder of Open Prairie and Managing Director of Open Prairie Ventures I and II
Dr. Willie Wilson – Chairman, Chicago Baptist Institute International (CBII)
Eleni Bousis – Board Chair for the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre, Entrepreneur of Frontida (CARE) Institution supporting and assisting women and families in need and Board Member for Leadership 100 and the Little City Foundation.
Ryan Ruskin- President and COO, Ruskin Group
Beth Christie – Founder and CEO, Avent America
Ed McMillan – Principal and CEO, McMillan L.L.C
Andrea Brown – Member of the Illinois State Board of Education, former Regional Superintendent, teacher and administrator
Labor and community leaders on Wednesday pledged to push lawmakers to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to $10 per hour after two thirds of voters supported an increase in a non-binding referendum Tuesday.
Here’s the link to the story in the Chicago Tribune.
An obscure arm of state government cleared the way Thursday for oil and gas drillers to apply for permits to begin fracking in Illinois.
Here’s the link to the story in the Chicago Tribune.
CHICAGO — Republican Bruce Rauner is preparing to take over as Illinois governor.
The Winnetka businessman on Wednesday named the leaders of his transition team. He says his running mate, Wheaton City Council member Evelyn Sanguinetti, will serve as chairwoman. The team also includes several senior campaign staff.
Rauner defeated Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday.
In an emailed statement Rauner said he’s “committed to assembling a diverse and talented team to drive results” for Illinois.
Rauner spent Wednesday in meetings and didn’t have any public appearances planned.
Spokesman Mike Schrimpf says the lack of a public schedule was out of respect for Quinn and because Rauner wants to take “a methodical, thoughtful approach.”
The two candidates for Illinois governor have given voters a lot to think about as they head to the polls Tuesday.
The winner faces an immense, complicated job.
Here’s the link in the Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
On October 27, 2014 Benton Police arrested Donovan H. Weidig, age 21, of Benton for theft. Weidig was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On October 30, 2014 The Benton Police Department arrested John J. Wallace for Disorderly Conduct, a Class 4 Felony, after an investigation showed that Wallace filed a false police report with the police department for residential burglary.
Wallace, a Benton resident, reported a residential burglary to the Benton Police Department on 10/19/14. At that time Wallace reported to officers that cash and other items were stolen from the residence.
An investigation into the matter revealed that Wallace staged the burglary scene at his residence and that he had in fact moved the reported stolen items to another location to make the report.
Wallace is currently incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail.
On November 1, 2014 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Industrial Park Rd. and Illinois Ave. Through investigation, Benton Police arrested Brian S. Glenn, age 26, of Dahlgren, Jackie Moody, age 20, of Sesser, Justin Milner, age 19, of McLeansboro, Michael Milner, age 20, of Benton, and Caleb Forby, age 21, of Benton. All were charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On November 1, 2014 Benton Police arrested Victoria Stark, age 29, of Benton for domestic battery. Stark was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
A new poll conducted just days before Tuesday’s election shows the race between Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner is “too close to call.”
Here’s a link to the story in the Chicago Sun-Times.
