Bost comments on the State of the Union address

Washington, DC – U.S Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union address to a Joint Session of Congress on Tuesday.

“I appreciate President Trump using his address to highlight some of the work he and Congress are pursuing to empower America’s families and job creators.  Particularly important to Southern Illinois has been the new tax reform law that will give hardworking families more money in their pockets to spend on a child’s education, growing a small business, or saving for the years ahead. But we still have plenty of work to do, starting with fixing our broken immigration system and bringing our crumbling infrastructure into the 21st Century. I am committed to finding common ground with anyone, Republican or Democrat, to build a bright future for Southern Illinoisans.”

 

Congressman Mike Bost on train carrying legislators to retreat…he and is wife are unharmed

Statement from Congressman Mike Bost 

ABC News image

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) today issued the following statement after a train carrying Members of Congress collided with a garbage truck in West Virginia:

“Tracy and I were on a train with other members of Congress heading to the Republican strategy retreat in West Virginia. Late this morning, the train was involved in a collision with a garbage truck. Tracy and I are safe and unharmed. Of the truck’s three crewmembers, one was killed and another is being treated for serious injuries. Please keep them and their families in your prayers.”

 

 

Investigation into West City deaths complete

Press Release from Marty Leffler, Franklin County Coroner

 

 

 

Boil order for the village of West City

West City has issued a Boil Order for customers from the intersection of Washington Street and N. Central to S. Court Street, and everyone on the North side of Rt 14 in West City.

 

Franklin County CASA seeking advocates

There is a popular poem by Forest Witcraft that reads, “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove … but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of Franklin County is looking for just that kind of person — actually, about 40 of them.

Advocates are the heart of the CASA program,” said Mariah Hayes, executive director of Franklin County CASA.

Please click on the link for the full story from the Benton News

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/news/20180124/franklin-county–casa-seeking-advocates

Council Restricts Usage of Funds from City Hall Sale

BENTON –  At last Monday’s meeting, the Benton City Council approved a resolution restricting the funds from the recent sale of the former Benton City Hall property on West Main.

The council set aside $164,745 of the $176,000 for future capital improvements. Some of the money from the sale was to be used for things like a title insurance policy, an exam fee, recording the deed and payment of the auctioneer for services rendered.

Please click to read the full story from William McPherson of the Benton Gazette.

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/council-restricts-usage-of-funds-from-city-hall-sale/article_f30fc31c-0506-11e8-8159-2fda2b5d57d3.html

Residents remember historic business

Thank you Scott Clem for the photo

WEST FRANKFORT –  Fire Chief, Jody Allen, mayor Tom Jordan, and some of the afternoon gang at Dixie Cream discuss the loss of Barnett’s Automotive, formerly Yadro’s

Fire Chief Jody Allen tells WSIL-TV, “Our ambulance was coming through town and noticed smoke in that area, and sort of slowed down and started looking and they noticed that smoke was pouring out of the building.”   

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

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37377251/residents-remember-historic-business

Major winter storm predicted will be all rain

Wednesday’s weather map

 

This is from Luke Saeger, of The Storm Predictor.  “For the last few model runs, the “big snowstorm” is no more. New model data shows,system moving farther south and does not look to impact southern Illinois. If anything changes I will let you know.”

The high will be well above freezing at 42 degrees on Thursday.  There is a chance of precipitation on Saturday night, and a chance of snow showers Sunday.  -sd

Seven Day Forecast

Tonight
Clear, with a low around 19. North northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 38. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 30. South wind 7 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.
Wednesday Night
A 20 percent chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. South southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest after midnight.
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. North northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 16. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 31. North wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. South wind 3 to 7 mph.
Saturday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. South southwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
Saturday Night
A chance of rain and snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. South southwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. North wind around 9 mph.
Sunday Night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. North wind 6 to 8 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 30. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.

City increases its number of package liquor licenses

BENTON –  By the slimmest of margins, the city of Benton has increased its number of class B (package liquor) licenses.

City Attorney Tom Malkovich explained the city has reached the maximum number of licenses (six) allowed by the current ordinance.

“If you’re going to bring in other businesses … a lot of places want to sell package liquor.”  Malkovich said.

Please click on the link for the story from Rick Hayes of the Benton News.

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/news/20180124/city-increases-its-number–of-package–liquor-licenses

West Frankfort Hires Second Ever Female Police Officer

New West Frankfort Police Officer Amanda Marlow poses for a picture with West Frankfort Police Chief Mike Irwin at the January 8, City Council meeting at which Marlow was hired on as member of the WFPD. (William McPherson, WF Gazette photo)

WEST FRANKFORT – The West Frankfort City Council voted to hire a new officer at the January 9, 2018 meeting.

West Frankfort resident Amanda Marlow has worked with the City of West Frankfort as a telecommunicator for most of the last year, helping guide officers and firefighters to various emergency situations. Now she’s going to be making the transition from taking the calls in the office, to responding to them out in the field.

Please click on the link below to read the full story from William McPherson of the West Frankfort Gazette.

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/west-frankfort-hires-second-ever-female-police-officer/article_62e9f616-02a6-11e8-bdca-3367422cd0eb.html

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News