From the National Weather Service- Paducah KY, for all or Southern Illinois

A cold front poised to make passage tonight will ultimately clear clouds and fog out of the area. But prior to its passage, it is
possible that there will be areas of fog, dense at times, that may persist, mainly during these late evening hours. Be advised and
slow your travel down, use your low beam headlights, and be cautious if you encounter this fog.

I apologize for the resolution of this.  SD

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36844208/local-schools-still-struggling-to-find-enough-teachers

MURPHYSBORO, IL –  (Roni LeForge, WSIL-TV Please click on the link for the full video and accompanying story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The struggle to attract qualified teachers to Illinois schools has gotten worse. After years of dealing with teacher shortages, local districts say they’ve had to find alternative ways to get the job done.

When a position for a science, special education or P.E teacher opens, Murphysboro High School Principal Tony Wilson says he gets a little nervous. Those positions, in particular, have become increasingly more difficult to fill.

“We just posted a P.E. job last year and I got one applicant and that applicant didn’t work out and we were unable to fill the position,” said Wilson.

Scattered rain showers along with a few isolated storms will continue moving east across the area this morning. The rain will begin coming to an end by late morning across parts of southeast MO/southwest IL. (NWS Paducah)

Hazardous Weather Outlook

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

An isolated thunderstorm is possible this morning mainly over
parts of southeast MO and southern IL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday

The chance of thunderstorms returns late Friday night into Saturday.
A couple strong thunderstorms cannot be ruled out. Damaging wind
gusts and lightning would be the main thunderstorm hazards.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.

Seven Day Forecast

By ReAnne Palmer 

INA, IL – One final Inexperienced Miner training for surface and underground miners in 2017 is coming to Rend Lake College next month. The five-day class will meet from 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 through Thursday, Dec. 14, and from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15.

The cost of the class is $165, and attendees must pre-pay and pre-register. All training courses will be held in the Coal Mine Training Center on the Ina campus. For more information or to register, contact Sally Heathcoat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 2373.

Congressman Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) presenting the Bronze Star to Corporal Michael Mann, U.S. Army Retired in February.

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) today joined a bipartisan majority in the House of Representatives in passing the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The compromise legislation between the House and Senate, known as a conference report, sets military policy priorities and determines what types of equipment and weaponry can be purchased. The NDAA is expected to be passed by the Senate shortly and sent to the President’s desk for his signature.

“I’ve long said that government’s first obligation is to protect the safety and security of the American people,” said Bost. “This legislation is vitally important because it strengthens our military, provides our troops a pay raise, bolsters missile defense, and drives innovation in military technology to secure our global advantage. Also, it continues our bipartisan tradition of supporting the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.”

Among the bill’s key provisions, NDAA:

• Increases base military pay by 2.4 percent;
• Increases the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard;
• Modernizes our nuclear weapons stockpile, missile defense, and military vehicles;
• Supports a defensive and offensive cyberspace strategy;
• Improves the military health care system; and
• Continues funding and support for U.S. military and intelligence operations abroad, including combatting Russia and defeating ISIS.

###

From Gay Bowlin, Franklin County Farm Bureau Manager 

BENTON, IL – Hopefully most of the crops are out of the fields by now but I do know that there are still some farmers who are fighting the weather. So this is just a reminder that Governor Rauner signed the HSE into effect to allow farmers to haul grain and/or livestock due to crop conditions. All three common forms of weight restriction – gross, axle and registered – are addressed. In each case, the permit can allow up to a maximum of 10 percent over the standard weight restriction.

There is no cost for the HSE permit. However, you will need to have documents in EACH truck from IDOT during this time. The HSE ruling also indicates that a permit is needed for county routes, district roads and municipal streets – I have called Franklin County and talked to Matt Barnett and Mike Rolla has indicated that Franklin County is not requiring a county permit at this time for emergency harvest. I also spoke with Hamilton County and Jackson County and they are not requiring permits either.

The most important part of this is that YOU CANNOT RUN ON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHILE OVERWEIGHT. YOU MUST ALWAYS OBAY THE POSTED BRIDGE LIMITS!

To get the IDOT permit it is necessary to go to their website and go to the oversize and overweight site and create a log in. A permit will then be issued to you – remember that each truck/plate must have a written permit at least from IDOT. This includes any truck that is hauling grain – not just a farm plate.

Each truck will be required to have three documents:

1. The permit (printed or electronic)
2. A copy of form OPER 993*; and (*special vehicle movement permit provisions)
3. A copy of the Governor’s declaration.

We are getting ready for our County Annual Meeting on November 27. If you are a Farm Bureau member please call by Tuesday the 21^st to make your reservations. For more information call the office at 435-3616.

We are taking donations for Harvest of Help – this is our 10^th year and we have raised over $62,000 to be able to donate food to all 9 are food pantries. Any amount of money is helpful and it is a tax deductible donation to the Franklin County Farm Bureau Foundation. If you would like more information call the office.

It is time again to order oranges and grapefruit.  We currently have pecans in the office so you can call or stop by and pick them up. Supplies are limited so don’t wait.

  Pecans will be $10.00 for a jumbo 1 lb bag of  ½ shelled and $7.00 for a 12 oz bag of choc covered pecans.

     Oranges – a 40 lb box is $35.00 and 20 lb box is $25.00

     Grapefruit – 40 lb box is $30.00 and 20 lb box is $20.00

     (we will not have Tangelos this year at all – sorry for the inconvenience.) 

   Orders must be received by November 22 for fruit and it will be in before Christmas.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

From Franklin County Farm Bureau Manager, Kay Bowlin 

Gay Bowlin

Hopefully most of the crops are out of the fields by now but I do know that there are still some farmers who are fighting the weather. So this is just a reminder that Governor Rauner signed the HSE into effect to allow farmers to haul grain and/or livestock due to crop conditions. All three common forms of weight restriction – gross, axle and registered – are addressed. In each case, the permit can allow up to a maximum of 10 percent over the standard weight restriction.

There is no cost for the HSE permit. However, you will need to have documents in EACH truck from IDOT during this time. The HSE ruling also indicates that a permit is needed for county routes, district roads and municipal streets – I have called Franklin County and talked to Matt Barnett and Mike Rolla has indicated that Franklin County is not requiring a county permit at this time for emergency harvest. I also spoke with Hamilton County and Jackson County and they are not requiring permits either.

The most important part of this is that YOU CANNOT RUN ON ANY INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHILE OVERWEIGHT. YOU MUST ALWAYS OBAY THE POSTED BRIDGE LIMITS!

To get the IDOT permit it is necessary to go to their website and go to the oversize and overweight site and create a log in. A permit will then be issued to you – remember that each truck/plate must have a written permit at least from IDOT. This includes any truck that is hauling grain – not just a farm plate.

Each truck will be required to have three documents:

1. The permit (printed or electronic)
2. A copy of form OPER 993*; and (*special vehicle movement permit provisions)
3. A copy of the Governor’s declaration.

We are getting ready for our County Annual Meeting on November 27. If you are a Farm Bureau member please call by Tuesday the 21^st to make your reservations. For more information call the office at 435-3616.

We are taking donations for Harvest of Help – this is our 10^th year and we have raised over $62,000 to be able to donate food to all 9 are food pantries. Any amount of money is helpful and it is a tax deductible donation to the Franklin County Farm Bureau Foundation. If you would like more information call the office.

It is time again to order oranges and grapefruit.  We currently have pecans in the office so you can call or stop by and pick them up. Supplies are limited so don’t wait.

  Pecans will be $10.00 for a jumbo 1 lb bag of  ½ shelled and $7.00 for a 12 oz bag of choc covered pecans.

     Oranges – a 40 lb box is $35.00 and 20 lb box is $25.00

     Grapefruit – 40 lb box is $30.00 and 20 lb box is $20.00

     (we will not have Tangelos this year at all – sorry for the inconvenience.) 

   Orders must be received by November 22 for fruit and it will be in before Christmas.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.

http://www.dailyrepublicannews.com/news/20171114/former-williamson-county-states-attorney-garnati-dies

WSIU-TV Photo

MARION, IL – (Marion Republican-  Please click on the link above for the story and further updates.  Here is an excerpt below.)

– One of the longest-serving Williamson County State’s Attorneys in Illinois history died early Tuesday morning.

Charles “Chuck” Garnati succumbed to health complications at University Hospital in St. Louis at approximately 2 a.m.

He was 65.

Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds visitors that the following recreation areas will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic during the first weekend of the 2017 firearm deer season.   Dates for the closures are November 17-19, 2017.  Areas affected by the closure include the North Sandusky picnic area and campground; South Sandusky picnic area, campground, beach and boat ramp; South Marcum picnic area and campground; North Marcum picnic area and old campground; and the Blackberry Nature Trail.  These areas will be utilized by persons involved in the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will remain closed as a safety precaution.

In addition, the Corps of Engineers will temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail, which are under the management of the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting during all state firearm deer hunting seasons.  These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to North Marcum day use area, and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky day use area and continue to the South Marcum campground. All persons not involved in the sport of deer hunting are prohibited from utilizing these trails during the periods of November 17-19, November 30, December 1-3, and December 8-10. Persons wishing to access hunting spots should remember that Federal law prohibits the use of motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), on all government-managed properties.

For more information on these temporary area closings, feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office, by phone at 618-724-2493 or by email at rendinfo@usace.army.mil.