Jackie Beavers

Press release from Franklin County Sheriff, Don Jones

The following are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

On Wednesday August 16th, at 7:30 a.m. a Franklin County Deputy responded to a reported burglary and theft from a residence in rural Benton.

Bethany Smith

The investigation led to the arrest of three individuals in the recovery of the stolen property, Jackie J. Beavers, 43 of Stiritz, Bethany Smith, 21, of Benton, and a 17 year old female juvenile of Benton.

All three were charged with residential burglary, felony theft, and possession of burglary tools.  The two adults are in the Franklin County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bail.  The juvenile was released into the custody of her mother.

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36162551/rend-lake-resort-sits-vacant-idnr-receives-zero-bids-to-operate

WHITTINGTON, IL – (Nick Hausen, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below.)

A first attempt to seek bids for a new concessionaire to operate the Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center turned up zero bids.

The resort has sat vacant since mid-December when the Illinois Department of Natural Resources terminated its contract with operator John Reilly. The termination was a result of delinquent rent payments of $205,000 and $14,000 owed in real estate taxes. The resort also owed back payments for utilities and hotel operator’s taxes. In addition to behind payments, mold and peeling paint posed a health hazard.

Summer is the busiest time on the lake, but at the resort, barricades sit in front of the entrances and rooms and boat docks sit empty.

Optimistic about the prospect of reopening, IDNR held a press conference in late June announcing it was starting the process of accepting bids from vendors interested in taking over and reopening the facility.

from George O’Connor – Communications Director, Congressman Mike Bost

SHILOH, IL – U.S Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) organized a panel of Southern Illinois small business owners, manufacturers, and job creators at the Shiloh Community and Senior Center to receive local input before Congress considers tax reform legislation later this year.

“Panels like this allow me the opportunity to directly listen to local concerns and get feedback as to what we can be doing better in Washington to help grow jobs and the economy in Southern Illinois,” said Bost.” What I’m hearing is that we need a simpler, fairer tax code that works for families, small businesses, and individuals throughout our community. If we’re serious about strengthening the economy and growing jobs, it’s time to enact a plan that will level the playing field for American businesses by encouraging investment and job creation. Piecemeal efforts and carve outs are what have led to the current 70,000 page tax code. We need comprehensive, permanent tax reform, and we need it now.”

“In this highly competitive business climate, it’s incredibly important to work towards simplifying the tax code,” said David Keen, Business Development Director at SKC Enterprises, Inc. “I appreciate Congressman Bost asking for feedback from the local community that he can take back to Washington.”

Background:

In 1986, President Reagan signed into law the single largest tax reform in our nation’s history. Now—over three decades later—our tax code has once again become an excessive burden on middle-class families, Main Street job creators, and America’s economy. In 2017, Congress has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact bold, pro-growth tax reform that will create jobs, grow paychecks, and unleash American competitiveness.

Read the blueprint for tax reform prepared by the House Ways & Means Committee HERE.

by ReAnne Palmer, Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, IL – It’s not too late for Rend Lake College students to register for private instrumental or vocal lessons for the Fall 2017 semester. Music students, or those interested in filling elective slots, can sign up for the 30-minute or one hour slots through Friday, Aug. 25.

The RLC Music program offers private lessons in brass, classical guitar, percussion, piano, strings, woodwinds, and voice. The lessons are open to all students, regardless of major or skill level, and do not require an audition to register. During the class, students work closely with instructors to develop a lesson plan that fits their need and skill level.

The one credit class consists of one half-hour lesson each week, and costs $250. The two credit class is a full hour of study, and costs $500. Some instruments are also available for rental with no fees attached. Instruments not returned, or returned in disrepair, will incur fees.
Students who register for lessons will be contacted by an instructor to schedule a lesson time. To obtain additional information about private music or voice lessons, contact Sara Alstat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1817, or alstats@rlc.edu.

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/business/20170816/southern-illinois-hotels-reap-benefits-of-eclipse

(John Homan, Gatehouse Media, Southern News Service.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The Hampton Inn in Carbondale, is charging $499 per night per room this weekend, with no vacancies. (Hotels.com photo)

Of the thousands of curiosity seekers who will be in southern Illinois this week for Monday’s total solar eclipse, many are out-of-towners, who booked hotel rooms months ago.

Full hotels translate to an influx of cash also spent at local restaurants and in stores, a dream event for local business.

There was a concern initially that SIU’s return to fall classes early next week would overlap the eclipse effect, meaning parents would be looking for rooms at the same time as eclipse chasers.