8:00 p.m. weather update

by Steve Dunford

The approaching storm around the New Baden exit on I-64 around 6:45 p.m.. The very dark blue sky could indicate there is some hail within the storms. (Thank you Brent Snyder for allowing me to use the picture.)

I am still tracking a line of severe thunderstorms that will be approaching our area in the next few hours.  I am giving a 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. time frame for the activity to hit Franklin County.

There has been a very large Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued for Madison, St. Clair, Clinton and Bond Counties.  It was issued at 6:45 and will be in effect until 8:15.  If another warning is issued to the southeast, I will post it on the Facebook page.

There is no indication at this time, the Severe Thunderstorm Watch for the counties north of Route 50 will be extended into points southward.

There is a possibility the storms could lose their punch.  Since they are very slow moving, (25 mph.), even if they lose their punch, I am concerned with the possibility of flash flooding.

I will keep you updated as long as the severe threat continues.

 

Franklin County Sheriff’s Report 9/1/17

Press Release from Don Jones, Franklin County Sheriff

8-23-17 at 10:00 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton. The investigation led to the arrest of Donald A. Prusaczyk age 24 of Benton for domestic battery.

8-25-17 at 1:30 pm a traffic stop in West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Laura Kay Oliver Age 29 of West Frankfort for driving while license suspended.

8-25-17 at 1:36 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on II. Rt. 37 just north of Benton. A 2010 Chevrolet Impala driven by Dustin L. Johnson age 21 of Benton was north bound and read-ended a trash truck; a 2014 Autocar, driven by James M. McGee age 53 of Marion. The truck was also north bound, servicing trash cans. There were no injuries and Johnson was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

8-26-17 at 4:28 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Denise M. Johnson age 33 of West Frankfort for battery

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8-26-17 at 9:28 am a traffic stop in rural West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Tylena Kay Poe age 40 of West Frankfort for driving while license suspended.

8-26-17 at 7:39 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Mulkeytown. The incident resulted in the arrest of Nicole K. Sanders age 34 of Mulkeytown on an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear on possession of a controlled substance.

8-28-17 at 5:25 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on II. Rt. 148 just south of Renfro Lake Road. A 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Daniel A. Jolly age 43 of Christopher was north bound on Rt. 148 in traffic when it sideswiped a 1990 Dodge Dynasty stalled partially in the north bound lane. There were no injuries and the driver of the Dodge, Kevin A. Stangle age 27 of Christopher was ticketed for improper parking on roadway and improper use of registration.

8-29-17 at 1:52 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on II. State Hwy. Rt. 149 at intersection with II. Sate Hwy. 184. A 2011 GMC Terrain driven by Justin K. Howard Age 32 of West Frankfort was west bound on Rt. 149 and failed to negotiate the turn into a bean field. The driver received minor injuries but refused medical treatment. He was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

8-29-17 at 1:32 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on the south edge of Benton, Rt. 37 at Oddfellow Lane. A 2000 Chevrolet Taho driven by Chad A. Kramer age 45 of West Frankfort was north bound and suffered some type of medical episode. The driver lost control and struck several monuments after running off the road. The vehicle overturned and came to rest after striking a building at that location. The driver received major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S.

8-30-17 at 9:57 pm a traffic stop in Benton resulted in the arrest of Amanda D. Worley age 38 of Benton for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

8-31-17 Deputies arrested two 15 year old male juveniles for felony theft. This is part of an ongoing investigation of a residential burglary, firearm theft, credit card theft and unlawful use of credit cards. The crimes occurred in West Frankfort and Orient. Further arrests are anticipated.

WARRANTS

8-26-17 Devin A. Odaniell age 24 of Royalton. Failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia.

8-26-17 Kendra R. Marvel Age 27 of Logan. Failure to appear for retail theft. 8-26-17 Joy Griffith age 58 of Benton. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

8-31-17    Nathan T. Ellison age 34 of Pittsburg. Failure to appear for residential burglary.

9-1-17    Jordan A. Pennington age 31 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear for unlawful use of weapons.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Don Jones

Robert Key Sr. – Benton

Robert E. Key, Sr., 77, of Benton, passed away at 4:49 p.m., surrounded by his family on Saturday, September 2, 2017, at Memorial Hospital, Carbondale, IL.

He was born on June 14, 1940, to Crawford and Pearl (Stringfield) Key in Paris, TN. On February 22, 1961, he married the former Lois Lavern Uselton and she preceded him in death on March 20, 2016. On June 14, 2016, he married the former Sheila Wilson and she survives. Mr. Key was a United States Marines Veteran and a retired truck driver.

Robert was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He enjoyed driving, traveling, mechanically working on vehicles, boats, going fishing and camping.

Mr. Key is survived by his loving spouse, Sheila Key, children, Debra Kays and husband Marion of Benton, IL, Maria Hill and husband Donnie of Woodlawn, IL, Lisa Casey and husband Mike of Benton, IL, Clarence “Alan” Hammond and wife Glenda of Decatur, IL, Robert Key, Jr. and wife Gina of Benton, IL, Scott Key and wife Laura of Benton, IL, Michael Key and wife Carla of Sesser, IL, Ricky Key and wife Julie of Hudson, FL and Ted Payton and husband Randall of Arnold, MO; a sister and brother, JoAnn Douez and Earl Dean “Butch” Wallace; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Crawford and Pearl Key; his first wife of 55 years, Lois Lavern Key; a daughter, Charlotte Key; and a sister Suzie Wallace.

Funeral Services will be privately held and are under the direction of Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Memorial contributions may be made to Marion VA Medical Facility and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Local fire departments were busy Sunday evening

by Steve Dunford

 

Several area fire departments responded to a house fire last night at the corner of Horrell Ave. and St Louis St. in West Frankfort. (Zeigler Fire Department photo)

In a six hour stretch between 6:00 pm and around midnight, area fire departments were busy handling several calls.

Just right at 6:00 p.m. West Frankfort Firefighters were paged to the intersection of St. Louis Street and Horrell Avenue (Deering Road)  to a structure fire.  Departments from West City, Benton, Zeigler, Johnston City and Abbott EMS provided mutual aid.

Between 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Royalton firefighters were toned to a pole barn fire on Washington Street.  Zeigler firefighters were leaving West Frankfort when the were called for mutual aid.  The structure was a total loss.  Christopher provided station coverage for Zeigler.

At 10:55 p.m., Benton firefighters were called to a single vehicle accident  and fire on East Main Street in front of the new Dollar General with injuries.

At 11;45 p.m.. West City firefighters were called to a three vehicle accident with injuries at the intersection of Route 14 and Central Street (in front of Walmart.)

I might be mistaken, but I am nearly positive that  Benton and West City provided mutual aid for each other during the wrecks.  Buckner Fire and Rescue also provided station coverage for West City.

 

 

Update on the possible severe weather situation

by Steve Dunford

A line of thunderstorms is expected to continue to develop this evening along a strong cold front. Some of these storms will likely be strong to severe with large hail and damaging winds the primary threats. The front will push southeastward through the evening hours with drier and cooler weather coming in behind it (NWS St Louis)

Benton City Council Urged to Consider Allowing Sunday Liquor Sales

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/council-urged-to-consider-allowing-sunday-liquor-sales/article_ddf2a08c-900b-11e7-b87c-ff87e4c2fc89.html

BENTON, IL – (William McPherson, Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Local restaurateurs spoke up at the Monday Benton city council meeting urging the City Council to legalize the sale of liquor on Sundays.

Carlos Pacheco, owner of the local La Fiesta Mexican restaurants, and Christopher Betts of Joe’s Pizza spoke during audience comments in favor of allowing restaurants to sell liquor on Sundays.

“We’re losing taxable dollars from liquor on Sundays. And I don’t mean the $2.25 beer that you guys are thinking, which isn’t a big deal, but the fact that if there’s two families getting together and the two dads want to go grab a beer with their dinner, that’s a total of $4.50 worth of alcohol, but those two families together are going to bring $80 of taxable money to Benton, but instead they’re going to go to Applebees [in West City] to grab a steak and a beer, because they can do so on Sundays,” Betts said.

Around the BDC: Fairfield pulls away in second half, sends Yellow Jackets to 0-2

http://www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/sports/20170902/fairfield-pulls-away-in-second-half-sends-yellow-jackets-to-0-2

CHESTER, IL –  (Randolph County Herald-Tribune.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Quarterback Nick Meyer threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns, but Fairfield pulled away in the second half of a 56-22 win over Chester in the Yellow Jackets’ home opener on Friday

They’re good at what they do,” said Chester coach Billy Belton of Fairfield. “They run that super power real well and that counter and I thought they had 20 more offensive plays than we did and they just wore us down.”

Up next for Chester is a road trip to McLeansboro next Friday, where the Yellow Jackets will face another 0-2 team in Hamilton County. The Foxes were shut out by Johnston City, 14-0, on Friday.

“What I’ve seen is they’re a pistol, veer-option type team,” Belton said of Hamilton County. “Kind of like what we do.”

Around the SIRR: Du Quoin uses big second half to down Bulldogs

http://www.dailyregister.com/sports/20170902/du-quoin-uses-big-second-half-to-down-bulldogs

HARRISBURG, IL (Harrisburg Register. –  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Du Quoin fumbled five times, Harrisburg threw two interceptions, and the clubs combined for 21 penalties, but it was still an exciting Friday night at Taylor Field when the Indians were able to hang on for a 33-27 win over the Bulldogs in Week 2 prep action.

HHS (1-1) jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter and led 20-14 at intermission before Du Quoin (2-0) started a second half rally which was led by its defense.

The positives that we can take from this are that we found a way to win,” said Du Quoin coach AJ Hill. “A lot of things didn’t go our way, we didn’t play very well. We had a lot of penalties and put ourselves in a lot of bad situations right off the bat, but I’m just proud of the way our guys fought back and didn’t let the momentum shifts keep us down.”

“We put ourselves in a position to win, and we were pretty close,” said Harrisburg coach Gabe Angelly. “We told our defense all week long that if we focused on making them have long drives, that they were going to turn the ball over. They didn’t have to do that in Week One. So our gameplan worked out there, but when we stalled out a few different times in a row, and they had the ball in our territory in the second half, especially. We just didn’t execute coming out of halftime.”

Redbirds improve to .500 with a win over Pinckneyville

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/sports/20170903/panthers-come-up-short-against-redbirds

WEST FRANKFORT, IL (Amanda Jarzynski, DuQuoin Call.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Panthers’ senior Tyler Rice came up big in his team’s 36-14 loss Friday night to the West Frankfort Redbirds. The wide receiver, who also plays linebacker for the Pinckneyville squad, stripped the football from the Redbirds’ quarterback Connor Eaton, scooped up the loose ball and sprinted 90 yards for the touchdown.

This put the Panthers on the board in the second quarter, but West Frankfort still led 12-7.

The Redbirds clicked for 469 rushing yards as Madison Allen led the way with 213 and three touchdowns. Eaton followed with 168 rushing yards.

Rangers roll past Sparta with big 2nd quarter; improve to 1-1 on season

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/sports/20170902/rangers-roll-past-sparta-with-big-2nd-quarter-improve-to-1-1-on-season

SPARTA, IL – ( Rick Hayes, Benton News.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

A scoreless second half resulted in the Rangers’ first win of the season.

Benton, now 1-1, will host Pinckneyville on Friday.

Five different players found the end zone for Benton in its first road test of the season.
The Rangers had three rushing touchdowns of four yards each from Hamilton Page, Blane Pankey and Andrew Dunn. Benton rushed for 188 yards while the defense held Sparta to 157 yards, and no single rusher getting more than 55 yards.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News