BENTON, IL – On 10/23/17 at approximately 8:00 a.m. the Benton Police Department responded to a 911 report of a male outside Legence Bank on West Main Street striking the windows with his hands while making threats toward the bank personnel inside. Officers apprehended the suspect upon arrival. The man, 63 year old Danny H. McCormick of Benton was charged with Aggravated Assault and Disorderly Conduct. McCormick is currently incarcerated in the Franklin County Jail.
Benton man arrested for making threats at Legence Bank employees
October 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Warmer tomorrow, rain Friday with a cooler weekend
October 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Fall means changing weather and that is what is headed our way. Sunshine Thursday will be replaced by showers on Friday with clearing conditions Saturday. Highs in the 60s and 70s on Thursday will cool by about 10 degrees for Friday, then hang around 50 on Saturday. (NWS-Paducah, KY)
Hazardous Weather Outlook
.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight
There will some scattered frost tonight.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday
Scattered frost will also be possible late Friday night into
Saturday morning.
In addition, we could encounter our first light freeze of the
season late Saturday night into early Sunday morning.
Seven Day Forecast
Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 59. South southwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 38. Light and variable wind.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 68. Light east southeast wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 48. South southeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west southwest after midnight.
Friday
Showers likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. West northwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday Night
Showers likely before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. West northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday
Patchy frost before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 7 to 11 mph.
Saturday Night
Widespread frost, mainly after 4am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind 6 to 8 mph.
Sunday
Widespread frost, mainly before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 50. West wind 6 to 10 mph.
Sunday Night
Widespread frost, mainly after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 32. West southwest wind around 7 mph.
Monday
Widespread frost. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West southwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. West southwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Former IHSA Executive Director David Fry Passes Away at Age 77
October 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
BLOOMINGTON, IL – The IHSA family is saddened to announce the passing of H. David Fry, former executive director of the Association, at his home in Chatham on the morning of October 23rd.
Mr. Fry took an unusual route to his position on the IHSA staff. He grew up in Conrad, Montana, where he was a three-sport athlete while also participating in band, orchestra, and chorus. He came to Chicago to study at Moody Bible Institute and ended up with teaching jobs at North Chicago High School and Niles West High School. During this time he became deeply involved in state and national speech and debate programs. IHSA executive secretary Harry Fitzhugh took notice of his dynamic personality, and when an opening occurred on the association staff, he hired Mr. Fry, then just 26 years old and the youngest person at that time to serve as an IHSA administrator. His original responsibilities included music and speech, as well as cross country, tennis, swimming, and gymnastics.
Mr. Fry was appointed associate executive director in 1978 and then executive director in 1991 after the retirement of Lavere Astroth. During his 11 years in charge of the IHSA, he oversaw the introduction of state tournaments in boys volleyball and boys and girls water polo, the move of the boys basketball tournament from Champaign to Peoria, the creation of the IHSA TV Network, the introduction of the Add A. Tude sportsmanship mascot, and the vigorous promotion of the IHSA’s “March Madness” trademark that included the March Madness Experience in Peoria.
As head of the IHSA, Mr. Fry also served on the national council of the National Federation of State High School Associations and was the president of the Federation during the 1995-96 school year.
Mr. Fry retired in 2002 after 35 years at the IHSA, making him the longest-serving administrator in the Association’s history. A few years ago he moved from Bloomington to Chatham to be closer to his family. Mr. Fry is survived by his wife, Adrienne; daughters Kim, Karen, and Katie and son David, and several grandchildren.
Mr. Fry will be missed by his many friends in the interscholastic community throughout Illinois and the rest of the country. Information about services and memorials will be posted as it becomes available.
Fire in Sen. Oberweis’ office clears Capitol ahead of fall session
October 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment
SPRINGFIELD, IL- (Monique Garcia, Chicago Tribune. Please click on the link for the full story. Here is an excerpt below.
State lawmakers returning to the Capitol for the start of a veto session were briefly turned away after a small fire broke out in a Senate office Tuesday morning.
Springfield Fire Marshal Chris Richmond said his department was called around 11 a.m. after a steam heating unit caught fire in an office used by Sen. Jim Oberweis, a Republican from Sugar Grove.
Calling it a “quirky mechanical failure,” Richmond said damage was minimal and contained to the heating unit and surrounding woodwork.
After people were allowed back into the building, senators in nearby suites could be seen propping open doors in an attempt to air out their offices.
Rauner announces bid for second term
October 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment
SPRINGFIELD- (Greg Bishop, Illinois News Network. Please click on the link above for the full story. Here is an excerpt below.)
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced in a new campaign ad released Monday morning that he is running again.
Narrating the two-minute online video, Rauner said he’s accomplished a lot for education and criminal justice, but there’s still big things that remain unfinished.
“Illinois still needs property tax relief, real term limits and a budget that won’t bankrupt or break us,” Rauner said.
He also said he will work to reverse the recent $5 billion income tax increase that lawmakers imposed on the state when they overrode his veto.
IL Department on Aging Assists Seniors for Medicare Open Enrollment
October 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Free help available via Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
Springfield, IL – The Illinois Department on Aging’s (IDoA) Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) is reminding seniors of the free counseling assistance available to Medicare-eligible individuals and their caregivers during Medicare Open Enrollment occurring October 15th through December 7th.
With over 300 SHIP offices across Illinois, the agency stands ready to refer clients to their closest site, which can schedule an appointment to assist them with open enrollment. Take advantage of the caring, expert counselors ready to help you make sense of the complicated Medicare system to make the best choices for your healthcare. “We’d urge seniors to make an appointment at their earliest convenience, because as during every open enrollment season, we anticipate it’ll be very busy with people seeking help,” said Sandy Leith, the SHIP program’s director.
During open enrollment, eligible adults can adjust Medicare Advantage or Medicare prescription drug coverage, move from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan – or vice versa – switch between Medicare Advantage plans, join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or switch or drop existing drug plans; all of it can be overwhelming and confusing.
SHIP counselors work through the Medicare.gov system to help seniors and people with disabilities make the best choices for their individual situation. Contact SHIP, by calling 1-800-252-8966, weekdays 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For more information about SHIP, including a list of SHIP locations, visit the website, at: http://www.illinois.gov/aging/ship/Pages/default.aspx.
To compare 2018 drug and health plans on your own and to find out more about Medicare options, including preventive services now covered, visit the federal website, at: www.medicare.gov. or call Medicare, at: 1-800-633-4227. Medicare phone lines are open 24/7.
SHIP is not affiliated with any insurance company, and counselors do not sell or solicit any type of insurance. SHIP counselors in the field ensure that seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare understand all of the options available to them, and which choices can save them money. Counselors educate and answer questions about all Medicare plans and options.
Gloria Hanner, Hendersonville, TN
October 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Gloria J. Hanner, 65, of Hendersonville, TN, passed away on Wednesday, October 18, 2017, at her residence.
She was born on February 7, 1952, to Orion Theodore “Teddy” and Betty (Simpson) Lingo in Christopher.
Gloria is survived by her loving children, Timothy S. Hammond, Jr., and wife Christy and Daniel Hammond and wife Angela; nine grandchildren, Jessica La, Jaclyn Hammond, Timothy Hammond, III, Daniel Hammond, Jr., Tyler Hammond, Kirsten Hammond, Jacob Hammond, Kayleigh Hammond and Adrianna Hammond; one great-grandchild, Maylee La; and a sister, Betty Jo Hammond, and nephews Billy Hammond II, and Tommy Hammond, and great nephew Billy Hammond III.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Orion Theodore “Teddy” and Betty Lingo; and her husband, Timothy Hammond, Sr.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2017, 12:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
Fowler appointed to Agriculture Education Shortage Task Force
October 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
HARRISBURG, IL – State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg), a longtime proponent of agricultural education, has been appointed to the newly created Agriculture Education Shortage Task Force which aims to address the ongoing teacher shortages in agriculture education.
“In 2016, high schools in Illinois had 85 openings for agriculture teachers, but universities in Illinois graduated only 21 agriculture education majors. Of those, only 14 went on to teach,” said Fowler. “Agriculture is a vital industry in Illinois. We have to do what we can to encourage students to go into this field.”
The Agriculture Education Shortage Task Force has been charged with studying various aspects of this shortage including the current number of licensed agriculture teachers and the number of graduates from an agriculture education program in recent years. The members have also been asked to come up with recommendations for teacher recruitment and reforming licensure barriers, as well as participation in federal programs aimed at recruitment and retention.
The Task Force will be composed of legislators, current secondary and higher education agriculture educators, as well as various other agricultural stakeholders. A report of the Task Force’s findings is due to the General Assembly by January 1, 2019.
“I want to thank Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady for appointing me to this Task Force so we can get to the root of the problem,” said Fowler. “I look forward to digging further into this issue to ensure that agriculture education in Illinois continues to be available to future generations.”
Rend Lake College enrollee Josh Pickus receives academic award
October 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
INA, IL – Josh Pickus (left) of Millstadt was the winner of the $500 Rend Lake College Preview Day Academic Award drawing. Pickus, a student at Belleville High School-West, plans to attend RLC for either Agricultural Mechanics, Diesel Technology or Heavy Equipment Technology. Pickus was entered into the academic award drawing for simply attending last month’s RLC Preview Day event. He was presented the award by RLC President Terry Wilkerson.
Two car accident on the east edge of Benton
October 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford
There has been a two car accident on the edge of the city limits of Benton.
It is unsure whether there is any road blockage or not. There are not any major injuries.
Information is given for traffic only. I request there not be any comments on social media, especially pictures of the scene until released from law enforcement agencies.
UPDATE 5:45 p.m. Officers have cleared the scene.
