Christopher man charged in his wife’s shooting death has trial date set back again

February 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Franklin County Sheriff’s office

BENTON — After what was scheduled to be his final pretrial before a March trial, Brian Pheasant, the Christopher man accused of killing his wife on Halloween 2016, will be tried for the crime in May.

Pheasant, 43, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Beth Pheasant, 37.

Pheasant appeared in court Friday with defense attorney Paula Newcomb and Franklin County State’s Attorney Evan Owens to hash out any last-minute motions and details for his scheduled court date on March 6.

Please click on the link for the full story from Isaac Smith of the Southern Illinoisan.

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/christopher-man-charged-in-his-wife-s-shooting-death-has/article_27487aa8-440f-5bec-acd3-f757bed74aa5.html

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Missouri offers pair of educational trips to lifelong learners

February 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment

INA, Ill.  – Rend Lake College’s Institute of Lifelong Learning has a pair of day trip offerings this spring aimed at providing adventurers with fun and affordable trips to Missouri to take in some culture, history and, of course, food.

On April 19, travelers kick off their trip with a visit to historical Missouri with a visit to the “Old Courthouse” and a ranger-led tour.

The “Old Courthouse” was the site of the first two trials of the pivotal Dred Scott case in 1847 and 1850. It was also where Virginia Minor’s case for a woman’s right to vote came to trial in the 1870s. Visitors will tour this historic structure, and visit the restored courtrooms to learn more about 19th century judicial system, followed by lunch at The Lodge at Grant’s Trail.

In the afternoon, activities begin with a visit to the Missouri Civil War Museum, one of the largest Civil War museums and research libraries in the nation. Participants will be treated to the story behind Missouri’s role in the American Civil War.

The trip concludes with a drive through Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, which was established during the Civil War in 1863 and is the final resting place for some 16,000 Civil War Soldiers. (Note: To view Civil War tombstones, participants will have to de-board the coach and walk – this can be optional.)

The cost of the excursion is $130 and includes tour fees, lunch, gratuities and charter bus transportation. Anyone interested is asked to pre-register by March 12. The bus will depart from RLC’s Ina Campus at 7:30 a.m. and return by 6:30 p.m. The bus will depart from the Mt. Vernon MarketPlace Campus at 8 a.m. and return by 6 p.m.

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On May 11, travelers begin their day at Trinity Lutheran Church with a tour by Dennis Amman, sexton. He will show the beautiful sanctuary, their priceless communion chalice (if available) and speak of the fascinating history of this church, which was the birthplace of today’s Missouri Synod.

The next part of the trip ventures to the Shrine of St. Joseph, with its vast history. This beautiful old church had its beginnings in 1843. Founded by Jesuits to serve a residential German community, the church is the site of the only authenticated miracle in the Midwest.

Travelers will then enjoy lunch at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and take a tour of the church as well. After lunch, there will be a tour of the Cathedral Basilica, an amazing architecture structure home to 83,000 square feet of mosaics.

Rounding out the day will be a visit to Christ Church cathedral, an inspiring space for worship, prayer and advocacy for the neighborhood and city. The cathedral is an example of 14th century English Gothic architecture and is well-known for its stained glass windows, organ and its reredos, carved between 1909 and 1911 and shipped to the Cathedral in 230 cases. The reredos consist of 52 religious figures and biblical scenes in stone. (Please note, some churches may not be available due to funerals or other church functions that may arise. Organizers will do their best to schedule the churches listed above, but may need to substitute at the last minute due to funerals, weddings or special church ceremonies.)

The cost of the excursion is $110 and includes tour fees, lunch, gratuities, and charter bus transportation are included. Anyone interested must pre-register by April 11th. The bus will depart from RLC’s Ina Campus at 8 a.m. and retur

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Benton High School releases statement regarding school security

February 24, 2018 By Leave a Comment

From Dr. Aaron Mattox – Superintendent 

scirestream.com image

BENTON – As the Superintendent at Benton High School, I am writing this letter for the purpose of communicating the commitment that the Board of Education, administration, faculty and staff at Benton High School have to continue to make BCHS a safe place to work and learn.

You may have noticed that we have been working with local law enforcement to have an increased police presence in our school on a regular basis. In addition, I want to convey some of the safetyprotocols we have in place as well as those we are currently working to add to our overall plan:

  • Benton High School is actively working with the City of Benton to employ a School Resource Police Officer to be in the building and hallways on a daily basis. I would like to thank Chief Melvin, Mayor Kondritz, and the City Council, for their assistance in helping make this happen.
  • Safety and security glass is currently in place on the building’s primary exterior entrance. We will be installing additional safety film on both interior and exterior glass where students and teachers are routinely housed.
  •  Main entrance doors have security access and require visitors to be identified.
  • BCHS maintains an extensive video security network.
  • BCHS has a comprehensive safety plan. In addition, drills are conducted throughout the school year. We will continue to update and improve the plan as needed.
  • We are in the process of conducting a school safety assessment to identify areas we can improve the overall security of our building.

Finally, I am asking that students be forthcoming with any information they might run across that could potentially create a threat to our school. Students need to learn to utilize strong judgement and understand the importance of being responsible for the content they place on social media and through electronic communication. We no longer live in a society where threatening comments and jokes can be tolerated and overlooked. As a district, we will vigorously pursue and prosecute anyone who makes a threat for the purpose of creating fear and disrupting the educational process at Benton High School.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school.

Filed Under: Benton News, Breaking News, Featured, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Water nearly over the Norris City blacktop

February 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Hamilton County Sheriffs Office photo

MC LEANSBORO –  The above photograph is taken from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s office late Wednesday afternoon of the Norris City Blacktop between Broughton and Norris City. This area is very prone to flooding.

The road is still open at this time, but unsure if the water has receded.

I was unaware that several from Christopher take that way to NCOE.  I just wanted to make you aware.  An alternate route is to take Route 14 to Enfield and go south on US 45. -sd

Filed Under: Breaking News, Christopher News, Coello News, Franklin Co. News

FCHS Hosts Active Shooter Training

February 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Steve Webb speaks about situational awareness in the event of an active shooter scenario. (William McPherson – Gazette photo.)

WEST FRANKFORT – Following recent school shootings across the nation, many local institutions have made attempts to increase and promote situational awareness in the event of an active shooter situation.

Recently, FCHS Pashcedag Auditorium was host to a presentation from safety expert Steve Webb, a 25 year school administrator, who currently serves as the Goreville Superintendent. Webb has also served as a law enforcement officer since 2009. He is also the resource officer for his district and is the official A.L.I.C.E. Trainer and Raider Trainer.  (Raider refers to a special solo-engagement training for certain tactical situations.)

Webb’s presentation focused on the ALICE program. According to the program’s website, ALICE is the leading training solution that increases an organization’s and individual’s odds of survival during a violent intruder event. ALICE, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate, is a post-Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook strategy that goes beyond the conventional lockdown strategy.

Please click on the link for the full story, from William McPherson of the West Frankfort Gazette.

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/fchs-hosts-active-shooter-training/article_a0f4a452-17f4-11e8-880c-b32198210122.html

 

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, West Frankfort News

Construction ahead of schedule for new high school in Bluford

February 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment

WSIl-TV photo

BLUFORD — Construction of the new Webber Township High School in Bluford is ahead of schedule.

That’s according to superintendent John Ashby.

Officials broke ground on the new school in November.

Please click on the full story from Joe Ragusa of WSIL-TV.

Note:  Good luck to Webber as they face the Christopher Bearcats tonight in the championship of the Norris City Regional.

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37571907/construction-ahead-of-schedule-for-new-high-school-in-bluford

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Federal and State Agencies Partner to Save Sinking Illinois School

February 23, 2018 By Leave a Comment

SWANSEA, IL – The U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has approved a nearly $1.9 million Abandoned Mine Land (AML) project to protect more than 450 middle school children in Swansea.

The award comes five months after the ground beneath Wolf Branch Middle School dropped nearly 25 inches when the old underground mine workings collapsed, resulting in extensive structural damage to the school building.  The building is temporarily shut down and the 450 children have been moved to a nearby school until the situation can be mitigated.

Federal and state mining officials and the Wolf Branch School District have combined their resources and are working together to stabilize the hollow ground beneath the school and to restore it so the site can once again provide a safe environment for the community’s children to learn and grow. Work will be managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) AML Emergency Program.

Project Background
Built in 2002 at a cost of $16 million, the Wolf Branch Middle School has a current enrollment of 450 students.

While the Wolf Branch Middle School building has been closed for safety reasons, the IDNR AML Emergency Program, with assistance from OSMRE’s Alton Field Division, has been conducting a drilling program to determine subsurface mine conditions in order to develop stabilization plans. The AML Phase I Emergency drilling project was completed earlier this year at a cost of $288,374.  Structural engineers were also called upon to inspect the structure and identify additional safety concerns to the contorted building.

AML Backfill Project and School Rebuilding
Historical data and research on the area shows that the Wolf Branch Middle School property overlies the abandoned Summit Coal Mine, which operated from 1894 to 1940.  The depth to the coal seam is 185 feet, and the mined-out thickness is 6 feet. The AML Phase II Emergency backfilling project to be conducted on the school site will protect the undamaged portion of the building by preventing the mine beneath it from collapsing.  In addition, it will stop the active ground movements that are continuing to cause damage to the east half of the school.

It is anticipated that the pumping of grouting material into the abandoned mine will start in mid-April and be completed early this summer at a cost of $1.9 million. Once the IDNR AML Emergency Program can stop the subsidence through grouting, the site can be used safely.
The Wolf Branch School District plans to rebuild the damaged portions of the building using school district funds. The heavily damaged portion of the building will be removed in a cost sharing venture between the IDNR AML Program and school district and addressed as a mine land reclamation project.

“The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is proud to be working with our federal partners at the OSMRE and the Wolf Branch School District on this important public safety project,” said Tom Benner, director of the IDNR Office of Mines and Minerals.  “The effective coordination among state, federal and the local authorities is paramount to the success of this project. The efficient leveraging of available funds will allow the school building to reopen and, most importantly, to ensure a safe place for the children to learn.”

“The school district is extremely appreciative of the resources provided by the IDNR and the OSMRE,” said Wolf Branch School District superintendent Scott Harres.  “The onsite expertise and funding assistance made possible through the AML Program have been vital in allowing the district to take the necessary steps to safely house our grades 5 through 8 students at the Wolf Branch Middle School as soon as possible.”

The Impacts Caused by AML Subsidence in Illinois
The AML Program was created by the U.S. Congress in 1977 as part of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) in order to both protect the public and to restore environmentally damaged lands associated with legacy coal mining activities. Of particular importance in Illinois are the abandoned underground coal mines that cause subsidence. In the 53 coal-producing counties of Illinois, there are 252 public schools that are undermined and at risk of subsidence. To date, at least 16 Illinois schools have been damaged by unplanned coal mine subsidence events over abandoned room and pillar mines.

In addition to schools, the IDNR AML program has documented subsidence related damages to more than 2,000 homes, as well as numerous commercial buildings and bridges, since the creation of the AML Program under SMCRA.  Many of the subsidence cases have caused life-threatening damages requiring extensive structural shoring and adjustable bracing systems – projects which had to be implemented swiftly to keep portions of the structures safe for occupancy.

The AML Program is funded by fees levied on current coal mine operations that are used to keep the public and environment safe from past coal mining activities. OSMRE approves each AML Emergency Project and its funding. Funding for the AML program is scheduled to end in 2021, unless extended by the U.S. Congress.

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

State senator calls into question Madigan’s dual role as speaker and Democratic party chair

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

SPRINGFIELD – A couple of measures filed in the Illinois House are meant to address the lack of policies in place for allegations of harassment within political organizations to get heard. And a state senator is raising issue with the two hats the one man at the center of the most recent controversy wears.

In the wake of alleged wrongdoing by at least two political operatives in Speaker Michael Madigan’s political organization, state Sen. Heather Steans, D-Chicago, is calling into question Madigan’s dual role as Democratic Party chairman and speaker of the Illinois House.

With the exception of a few years in the 1990s, Madigan has been speaker since 1983. He’s been the chairman of the state Democratic party since 1998. Steans said it’s best practice to separate the two roles.

Please click on the link to read the full story from Greg Bishop of Illinois News Network.

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/state-senator-calls-into-question-madigan-s-dual-role-as/article_5a29879a-174f-11e8-8bd3-db97fe9e2178.html

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Sen. Fowler sponsors legislation to spur economic development in the region

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

SPRINGFIELD – Working to pave the way for economic growth in the City of Marion, State Sen. Dale Fowler is sponsoring legislation that would implement an extension to an existing Tax Increment Financial (TIF) District for the area.

“TIFs were created for the purpose of boosting economic development in a region and bringing opportunities for growth, investment and expansion. These are key components needed to allow a community to thrive,” said Sen. Fowler. “I’m sponsoring this extension because the original TIF enabled companies to get a foot in the door, develop their operations and bring economic opportunities to the area.”

Senate Bill 2303 extends the life of the existing TIF for Williamson County for an additional 12 years, giving businesses such as Crisp Container the opportunity to expand and grow in the future. Crips Container is a manufacturing outfit based out of Marion, producing bottles for businesses like Pepsi MidAmerica.

“Crisp Container has grown and developed in our region in part because of the opportunity created by the original TIF for Williamson County. Now, after all these years, we have yet another chance to bring more growth to our community, giving Crisp Containers and other businesses the ability to further grow and develop,” said Sen. Fowler. “Through this TIF extension, Crisp Container plans to expand their operation further, increasing their manufacturing abilities to create, internally, the base materials needed to make their products.”

Currently, Crisp Container imports the performs needed to manufacture the finished bottle supplies. Through the TIF extension, Crisp Container will be able to create two new manufacturing lines and increase employment within the factory, including new opportunities in transportation and manufacturing.

“Seeing the direct impact that a TIF will have on one of our major Southern Illinois manufacturers is encouraging, but the great thing about economic development is that it doesn’t just impact that one industry,” said Fowler. “This extension will not only allow Crisp to expand, but by doing so, will create additional economic opportunities for rail expansion in Southern Illinois, including increased shipping, delivery and development with our local railroad.”

Senate Bill 2303 passed out of the Senate on Feb. 21 by a vote of 42 to 1, and will now be sent to the House of Representative for further consideration.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, State News

Late pastor Billy Graham to lie in honor in US Capitol

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Former US presidents, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, pose with evangelist Billy Graham (center) and his son, Franklin Graham in 2007.PHOTO:   REUTERS

WASHINGTON, DC   – The body of Reverend Billy Graham, a spiritual adviser to several presidents, will lie in the US Capitol Rotunda next week so Americans can pay their respects to the globally influential preacher, lawmakers said on Thursday (Feb 22).

The rare honour of placing an American’s remains in the Capitol is usually reserved for US presidents, military officials and politicians.

Graham, who died Wednesday at age 99, would be only the fourth private citizen so honoured, and the first person since US senator Daniel Inouye in 2012.

Please click on the link for the full story from The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/late-pastor-billy-graham-to-lie-in-honor-in-us-capitol

Filed Under: Breaking News, Featured, National News
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