Mistrial declared in Bill Cosby sex assault case but retrial planned

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-cosby-idUSKBN1980B9

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby (C) reacts after a judge declared a mistrial in his sexual assault trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S., June 17, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

NORRISTOWN, PA (Joseph Ax – Reuters News Service.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

A Pennsylvania judge on Saturday declared a mistrial in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case after the jury said it could not reach a verdict, but prosecutors said they would retry Cosby and he still faces a slew of civil lawsuits.

The jurors, who spent 53 hours debating whether Cosby was guilty or innocent, told Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Steven O’Neill they could not reach unanimous verdicts on whether Cosby was guilty of three counts of aggressive indecent assault against college administrator Andrea Constand at his home near Philadelphia in 2004.

 

SPC Upgrades Franklin County to a slight risk of Severe Weather

by Steve Dunford

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman OK has upgraded an area into a Murrphysboro, to Marion, to Harrisburg, to Carmi and points Northward to a slight risk (level 2 0f 5) of severe weather.

The storms will be in front of an advancing cold front which should go through sometime tomorrow morning.

It should be a rough day weather-wise in Southeast Iowa, and Central Missouri and Illinois.  These storms are expected to weaken after dark.  Two factors will determine the intensity of them when they arrive to our region sometime after midnight.  First is the intensity of the storms in the area mentioned, and second the energy that is in the atmosphere left from a very hot an humid day in Southern Illinois.

Storm direction this evening should be southeast.

As long as there is a threat in the region, I will keep an eye, providing updates during the overnight hours.

 

WF School board combines assistant principal, athletic director job

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/school-board-combines-assistant-principal-athletic-director-job/article_a8bc2948-52b6-11e7-af64-bfc9f3872bc6.html

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Tim Hastings – West Frankfort Gazette.  Please Click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The Frankfort School District 168 Board voted unanimously on May 30 to combine Frankfort Community High School (FCHS) assistant principal and athletic director posts.

“Our main focus in doing this was to deal with a financial burden,” said board president Gayle Crawford. “We are currently advertising for someone to fill the new position.”

Crawford said athletic director was already a part time post. Richard Glodich, who recently retired from the position, also taught driver’s education.

 

Franklin County Sheriff’s office arrest report 6/16/17

6-8-17 at 6:54 p.m. Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Ewing that resulted in the arrest of Jamie E. Friar, 51, of Ina for aggravated assault.

6-9-17 at 5:11 pm Deputies took a complaint regarding the alleged violation of an order of protection. The investigation led to charges of unlawful violation of an order of protection being filed against Kevin M. Dillon Age 27 of Benton.

6-10-17 at 10:24 am a traffic stop in Benton led to the arrest of Merry M. Sinks Age 53 of Pittsburg for driving while license suspended.

6-11-17 at 12:07 am Deputies investigation of an illegally parked vehicle near Rend Lake led to the arrest of Kelsey A. Bate Age 23 of Valier for driving under the influence.

6-11-17 at 1:54 am a traffic stop near Rend Lake led to the arrest of William G. Murry Age 48 of Scheller for driving under the influence.

6-11-2017 at 7:47 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash in rural Sesser. A 2008 Dodge Avenger driven by Ethan L. Bowlin Age 39 of Sesser was southbound when it traveled off the roadway and struck an embankment. Bowlin was the sole occupant and was initially transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was charged with driving under the influence, driving while license revoked, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, illegal transportation of alcohol and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

6-13-17 at 9:32 am Deputies investigated a minor traffic crash in Thompsonville that led to charges of driving while license revoked against Roy D. Powell Age 68 of Thompsonville.

6-15-17 at 2:24 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton that resulted in the arrest of Casey A. Lampley Age 36 of Benton of theft.

6-15-17 at 3:03 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on ll. Rt. 14 just west of Rend City Road. A 2001 Chevrolet Pickup Truck driven by Michael A. Diuguid Age 21 of Zeigler was westbound on Rt. 14 when he lost control, ran off the roadway and overturned prior to striking a tree. Diuguid was the sole occupant and received major injuries. He was transported to a St. Louis area hospital. The investigation is ongoing and alcohol is believed to have been a factor. Several area Fire Departments also assisted at the scene along with Abbott’s EMS.

6-15-17 at 12:38 pm Deputies investigated a battery complaint that had occurred the previous day at a residence in Whittington. The investigation led to the arrest of David L. Woods Age 37 of Whittington for aggravated battery.

6-15-17 at 12:30 pm Deputies initiated an investigation of an alleged sexual assault in rural Benton. The investigation has led to the arrest of Lester R. Carter Age 49 of Benton. Carter is being held in the Franklin County Jail on aggravated criminal sexual assault (a class x felony) and unlawful production of 5-20 cannabis plants (a class 4 felony). These are tentative charges pending review by the States Attorney’s Office. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are possible.

WARRANTS

6-1-17 Christopher W. Lowery Age 37 of McLeansboro. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

6-10-17 Anthony J. Willis Age 49 of Centralia. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

6-12-17 Terry L. Griffin Age 37 of Salem. Failure to appear on D.U.I.

6-12-17 Mikalean H. D. Barr Age 23 of Carbondale. Unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.

6-12-17 Andrew C. Roberson Age 28 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

6-13-17 Aaron A. Hargett Age 18 of Benton. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

6-14-17 Brittani S. Anderson Age 30 of Herrin. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

One dead, two ‘armed and dangerous’ men at large in fatal Harrisburg shooting

http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20170616/one-dead-two-armed-and-dangerous-men-at-large-in-fatal-harrisburg-shooting

HARRISBURG, IL – (Travis DeNeal – Harrisburg Register.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

A Harrisburg man is dead and Harrisburg police are looking for two “armed and dangerous” suspects, after a Friday morning shooting in the 1400 block of South Granger Street.

According to sources close to the investigation, the dead man has been identified as Aaron Gregory. As word spread Friday morning, friends posted their condolences on his Facebook page.

The two men wanted in connection with the shooting have been identified by the same source as Xzavier Burnell Gibbs, 19, of 612 S. Jackson St. and Jarred R. Crawford, 30, of 314 N. Land St. – who already were the subject of a manhunt for more than a week, over a aggravated battery warrant.

Full day of activites at Rend Lake Days

First of all, the Masonic Lodge will have their annual pancake and sausage breakfast until 10:00 a.m. this morning.  It is well worth attending.

The car show starts at 9:30 a.m.  Registration  ends at 1:30.

The parade starts at 4:00 down Franklin Ave. (St. Route 154).

Ronnie McDowell, will be the classic country star performing tonight at 8:00 p.m.  I have saw him a few times in concert and he puts on a good show.

Bring you lawn chairs,  and your appetite, and spend the day in Sesser. -sd

FOWLER WEEK IN REVIEW JUNE 12 – 16

HARRISBURG, IL – Two weeks after the scheduled adjournment of the regular spring session, State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) said that lawmakers are preparing to return to the State Capitol on June 21.

Lawmakers are cautiously optimistic that a Fiscal Year 2017 budget deal will be able to be worked out with a 10-day special session on the horizon. Senator Fowler is prepared to stay in Springfield until the matter is resolved.

Fear and uncertainty have ground school districts, human service providers, and the average citizens to a halt when thinking about entering a third consecutive year without a budget. Any legislative measures that seek a solution to the budget impasse will now require a supermajority vote in both legislative chambers, due to the majority leader’s failure in adjourning without a budget being passed or any meaningful reforms.

Rend Lake Announcement


As part of Senator Fowler’s ongoing economic development efforts, he was joined by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other Southern Illinois legislators for a June 14 announcement about the future of the now-shuttered Rend Lake Resort at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. The facility was closed down in Dec. 2016 after serious concerns about mold and a backlog of local taxes and rent payments to the DNR. A request for proposal was put out by the Department seeking a new connoisseur to run the facility which features a grand lodge/hotel, several botels, and a series of cabins.

The RFP application can be found by visiting www.purchase.state.il.us and clicking on the “IllinoisBID” link to find the Rend Lake RFP.

Marion Senior Fair Reminder

Williamson County area senior citizens are invited to a 6/27 FREE senior health fair to be held at the Marion HUB Rec Center located at 917 W. Main. Nearly 30 vendors will be in attendance and several are offering various screenings including: mental health, blood pressure, oral exams, grip strength testing and some limited immunizations. The event will run from 9:00 – 11:00 A.M. For more information visit www.senatorfowler.com

Powerball, Mega Millions may be victims of Illinois budget impasse, lottery officials say

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-illinois-lottery-powerball-megamillions-met-20170615-story.html

CHICAGO, IL – (Matthew Walberg and Angie Leventus Logus, Chicago Tribune.  Click the link above to read the full story and accompanying video.  Here is an excerpt below.

Lottery players will not be able to purchase Powerball or Mega Millions tickets in Illinois after the end of this month unless the ongoing state budget impasse is resolved, lottery officials said Thursday.

Lottery spokesman Jason Schaumburg said Powerball would be suspended after the June 28 drawing, and Mega Millions would be suspended after the June 30 drawing if a budget deal isn’t reached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Benton Police adds K-9 dog

From the Benton Police website

BENTON, IL – About 8 months ago the Benton Police Department and community it serves joined efforts to start a Police K9 Unit for the City of Benton. Since that time an outpouring of support has come about through donations from all over the Southern Illinois Region.

Through those donations along with the public’s support of fundraisers we’ve conducted, we are proud to announce the addition of “Ranger”, Benton Police Department’s first police canine.

Ranger is a 2 year old Malinois purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels. Ranger and his handler will soon be patrolling the streets after completing a 10 week K9 Academy in Charleston, IL.

Phone lines down at Rea Clinic

CHRISTOPHER, IL – Employees of the Rea Clinic in Christopher, have been sharing by way of social media, their phone lines are down.

The clinic is still open.  For any need that arises, please walk in.

Further information will be as along as it is received.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News