Press Release by Matt Donkin, District 168 Superintendent 

WEST FRANKFORT – As part of their regular services, the Illinois State Police, working with the West Frankfort Police Department, offer Drug dog sweeps as part their prevention programs.

These visits are unannounced to school officials as to better preserve their effectiveness. One of those surprise visits is happening this morning at FCHS.

This is part of our continued cooperative work to keep our kids and our schools safe. There is no threat that we are aware of today. We also hope to have a clean sweep and then go about our regular day.

Superintendent Donkin thanks  everyone in advance for their cooperation as we work through the tough and challenging issues that we are facing.

Makanda Williams -WSIL-TV photo

BENTON – On May 11th, 2017 Makanda Williams was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic poline glioma, or DIPG, a rare malignant brain tumor found in children with no effective treatment in the U.S.

“In Mexico they’re using 8-10 different chemo therapy drugs that are all FDA approved. Every three to four weeks right now we travel, we’re gone three to four days at a time, without travel expenses, the treatment itself is 16-thousand dollars.” Carlton said.

Makanda’s mom plans to hold one of their biggest fundraisers on February 25th at the Benton Eagles. Dozens of local businesses have donated services and goods to the event.

Please click on the link for the full story from Taylor Vessel of WSIL-TV

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37540950/makandastrong-fundraiser

WHITTINGTON – Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler has confirmed that a 27-year-old male died in a single car accident on Sunday, February 18, 2018. A 9-1-1 call went out after 5:15 a.m. by a passerby who said there was a single vehicle overturned off of the roadway on Route 37 North, near Whittington, just South of the Franklin-Jefferson County line road. It appears the vehicle was traveling Northbound on Route 37 and failed to negotiate a curve, striking a driveway culvert and overturning. The 27-year-old male was found ejected from the vehicle. He was transported by ambulance to the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room where he was pronounced deceased.

The Franklin County Sheriff Department is investigating the accident. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday.

This is the second single car motor vehicle accident, with a fatality in the past 26 hours.

No further information is available at this time.

All Franklin County Government offices will be closed in honor of President’s Day,

State and Federal offices, as well as schools and banks will be too.

There will not be any postal service as well.

Illinois residents looking to vote in the March 20 primary election need to be registered by Feb. 20, which is the end of the regular registration period. This deadline also applies to those people who need to change their names or addresses.

If residents miss the deadline, it’s not their last opportunity to register. Illinois now offers a grace period. Although the traditional voter registration period closes 28 days prior to the election, grace period registration extends that deadline up to Election Day. However, grace period registration is only available in-person at designated sites and requires individuals to vote at the same time they register.

The State Board of Elections encourages individuals to check with their local election authorities to determine locations and hours available for grace period registration/voting.

For more information on how to vote in the upcoming election, click here.