Camping World CEO press release on the Gander Mountain acquisition

Even though the going out of business sign remains, the Marion Gander Mountain location will remain open as 70 stores nationwide are slated to remain open.  Regionally, the one in Evansville, IN will as well.  The other stores in the region's fate is not final as the list will expand daily.  (Southern Illinoisan photo)

Even though the going out of business sign remains, the Marion Gander Mountain location will remain open as 70 stores nationwide are slated to remain open. Regionally, the one in Evansville, IN will as well. The other stores in the region’s fate is not final as the list will expand daily. (Southern Illinoisan photo)

LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– On May 1, 2017, Camping World Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CWH) (“Camping World”), the nation’s largest network of RV-centric retail locations and only provider of a comprehensive portfolio of services, protection plans, products and resources for the outdoor enthusiast, announced the planned acquisition of certain assets of Gander Mountain Company(“Gander Mountain”) and its Overton’s, Inc. (“Overton’s”) boating business, following Camping World’s successful bid for certain assets of Gander Mountain and Overton’s in a bankruptcy auction on April 27, 2017 and April 28, 2017. On May 4, 2017, the transaction was approved by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota (the “Bankruptcy Court”).

On May 5, 2017, CWI, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Camping World, entered into an asset purchase agreement (the “Agreement”) with Gander Mountain. As part of the Agreement, Camping World obtained the right to designate any real estate leases for assignment to Camping World or other third parties and initially plans to operate stores that it believes have a clear path to profitability. Marcus Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of Camping World, stated “after reviewing the stores in more detail since our successel bid in the bankruptcy process, our current goal is operate seventy or more, locations subject to, among other things, our ability to negotiate lease terms with landlords on terms acceptable to us and approval of the Bankruptcy Court. The current liquidation of the existing Gander Mountain inventory will allow us to start with a clean slate of what we consider the appropriate mix and level of inventory, including the addition of Camping World and Overton’s offerings where appropriate.”

About Camping World Holdings, Inc.

Camping World Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CWH) is the only provider of a comprehensive portfolio of services, protection plans, products and resources for recreational vehicle (“RV”) enthusiasts. Through its two iconic brands, Camping World and Good Sam, the company offers new and used RVs for sale, vehicle service and maintenance along with more than 10,000 products and services through its retail locations and membership clubs. Good Sam branded offerings provide the industry’s broadest and deepest range of services, protection plans, products and resources while the Camping World brand operates the largest national network of RV-centric retail locations in the United States through over 125 retail locations in 36 states and an e-commerce platform. With both brands founded in 1966, product and service offerings are based on 50 years of experience and customer feedback from RV enthusiasts.

For more information, visit www.CampingWorld.com.

Benton/West City Fire Departments perform water rescue

Press release from the Benton Fire Department 

Benton FireOn Saturday May 6, 2017 at 3:50 pm The Benton Fire Dept. Dive-Rescue team was requested mutual aid to the West City Fire Dept. for a male subject on the roof of a vehicle submerged in water on Yellowbanks Rd.

Upon arrival of Benton Engine 801, Utility 809 and Boat, the decision was made to deploy the boat due to 5 ft. deep water over the roadway where the subjects vehicle had been swept off. The subject was subsequently rescued from the water and care transferred to Abbott EMS where he was treated for exposure to the elements and a previous medical condition. Franklin County Sheriff’s Dept. assisted.

2017 Old King Coal Festival kicks off Thursday night, May 11th

by Marcia Raubach, Publicity Director, Old King Coal Festival

Blue Suede Crew

Blue Suede Crew

Nostalgia comes to town as the  Old King Coal Festival officially kicks off their 2017 version with the theme “I Love Coal”. Thursday, May 11. A big hit with festival goers on Thursday  is “family night” on the midway with all rides one ticket.

Blue Suede Crew hits the main stage at 6 pm taking festival goers on a musical journey as they relive some of the greatest hits of Rock ‘n’ Roll. There will be dancing in the street with the Crew performs hits from Bill Haley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis

Former WPSD TV meteorologist Lew Jetton

Former WPSD TV meteorologist Lew Jetton

and the King himself, Elvis Presley. It only gets better when the Crew launches into a special tribute to the music of the Beatles, Beach Boys, Elton John, Rolling Stones and many more.

Blend Acapella Doo-Wop brings back the hits form the 50’s and 60’s Friday night beginning at 6:30 and Lew Jetton & 61 South bring  their critically acclaimed “Southern-Fried” Chicago Blues sound to the stage at 8:30.

Johnny Cash Tribute Band

Johnny Cash Tribute Band

Bill Forness and the Johnny Cash Tribute Band have mastered the essence of a real Johnny Cash performance and will thrill the audience with favorites like “Ring of Fire”, “Folsom Prison Blues”, “I Walk the Line,” and “Jackson” when they come on stage at 6 on Saturday evening followed by the Brat Pack bringing back the 80’s starting at 8:30.

Music continues at 1 Sunday afternoon with the country based  Cadillac Jones Band, who bring the sounds of all your favorite country artists from Garth, Jennings, Jones, and Haggard to Eric Church, Dierks Bentley and many more. All concerts are free. Festival goers are urged to bring lawnchairs for the concerts.The Brat Pack

Old King Coal, Charles A. Bartoni Jr and Princess Flame, Lexie Tourville will reign over the festival which runs May 11th thru the 14th  in downtown West Frankfort. The festival features  Luehrs’, one of the top midways in the country.

Coal Miners Memorial Service at 10 am on Saturday at Coal Miners Memorial Park downtown West Frankfort, Grand Parade at 1 pm and lots of Cadillac Jones Band1food and crafts. Cash prizes will be awarded on the main stage immediately following the parade for Best of Show, Best Church, Best Business, Best Club/Organization and Best Coal Theme.

Family Day returns on Sunday afternoon with all rides taking one ticket. For a complete schedule of the Old King Coal Festival go to www.oldkingcoalfestival.org.

 

Franklin County Sheriff’s office recent arrests

Press Release by Franklin County Sheriff’s Office 

Sesser Resident Michael Hobbs, was arrested Thursday on multiple sex charges.  See the full list of charges below.

Sesser Resident Michael Hobbs, was arrested Thursday on multiple sex charges.

See full list of his charges below.

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Flooded Big Muddy leads near record-setting catfish into family’s yard

Glidwell -catfishMURPHYSBORO, IL (Zach Robinson, KFVS-TV Please Click by reading the full story here is an excerpt) Flooded farmland in Murphysboro turned into a perfect place to make a huge catch on Friday. Louis Glidewell and his son Charles were fishing from on an old railroad bed when they reeled in a monster flathead catfish. To see just how big it was, check out the full story on Heartland Weekend.

Twenty-six Sesser-Valier seniors attend RLC College Signing Day

ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public Information 

Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Ashley Laskowski, Sadie Payne, Mallory Newbury, Kendra Green-Shurtz, Cheyenne Smith, and Mady Senior; MIDDLE ROW, Lexi Nutt, Heidi Carroll, Abbi Hall, Taylor Frank, Hannah Garascia, Chelsea Krominga, Kennedy Cloe, Tanner Bailey, and Logan Petro; BACK ROW, Dakota Bowen, Alexa Joiner, Morgan Stagner, Josh Vaughan, Parker Robbins, Mariah Eader, Tara Brown, Dakota Miller, Charles Farmer, Kenny Eubanks, and Aaron Summers. (ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Ashley Laskowski, Sadie Payne, Mallory Newbury, Kendra Green-Shurtz, Cheyenne Smith, and Mady Senior; MIDDLE ROW, Lexi Nutt, Heidi Carroll, Abbi Hall, Taylor Frank, Hannah Garascia, Chelsea Krominga, Kennedy Cloe, Tanner Bailey, and Logan Petro; BACK ROW, Dakota Bowen, Alexa Joiner, Morgan Stagner, Josh Vaughan, Parker Robbins, Mariah Eader, Tara Brown, Dakota Miller, Charles Farmer, Kenny Eubanks, and Aaron Summers.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Registration for Summer 2017 is going on now for all students with classes starting the week of June 5-9. Fall 2017 registration for sophomores began Monday, April 3 by appointment. For incoming students, Fall 2017 enrollment appointments began Monday, April 17. The Fall semester begins the week of August 14-18. To get an appointment, contact Academic Advising at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266.

According to the U. S. Department of Education, college graduates typically earn more and are less likely to face unemployment than those with a high school diploma. Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a postsecondary degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. In fact, by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require postsecondary education or training.

RLC is a comprehensive community college located in Ina in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degree and occupational certificate programs, preparing students for transfer to a four-year university or direct entry into the workforce. In addition, RLC offers personal interest classes, continuing education, business & industry training, computer workshops and much more. To learn more about RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/journey.

Dale Fowler encouraged by Rauner/Madigan budget talks

Press release from Senator Dale Fowler’s (R-Harrisburg) Office 

HARRISBURG, IL – A meeting between the Governor and House of Representative Speaker Michael Madigan was considered a step in the right direction towards ending the two-year long budgetary impasse, according to State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg).

Senator Fowler began his week by cohosting a coal forum with fellow Southern Illinois Senator Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo) and Congressmen Mike Bost and John Shimkus. The two Senators and Congressmen heard testimony from Southern Illinois coal producers and coal generation stations.

Coal stakeholders expressed their disappointment that Illinois permitting processes are slower than surrounding states and the complicated Midwestern electric grid makes generation difficult.

Senator Fowler welcomed groups from Alexander, Franklin, Saline, and Williamson Counties to the Capitol this week. The constituents were in town for legislative lobby days affecting local elected officials and community health care.

Fowler passes first bills

Senator Fowler was successful in getting a pair of bills passed by the Illinois Senate this week. Senate Bill 1876 repeals an outdated and unused part of the Illinois agricultural statutes. The bill is part of Senator Fowler’s effort to repeal and scale back Illinois’ unwieldy laws that make life more difficult for the average citizen and business.

The Senator also passed Senate Bill 2023 which helps fix technical issues with the Illinois Enterprise Zone Act in counties with populations that are less than 300,000. The incentives provided to businesses in enterprise zones would assist with future job retention and creation. It arguably creates revenue in the form of taxes to the state.

Illinois Senate passes 2nd Amendment infringement legislation

Over the objections of Senator Fowler and several other of his Senate Republican colleagues, a bad piece of anti-gun legislation passed the Illinois Senate on April 27. The measure Senate Bill 1657 would allow for a second licensure of nearly all Illinois firearm dealers.

Currently, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) handles the licensure of all federal firearm license holders. Traditionally, this federal process was universally-accepted by local firearms dealers. A new Illinois license would likely force many small firearms businesses to close.

 

Cleaning your home after the storm

Press Release from Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health 

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Flooding information at 7:30 a.m., May 4th

by Steve Dunford

Weather story May the fouthSo far this system has behaved itself, and not aggravating the flood situation.  In last report both lanes of 148 south of Zeigler are now open.

In the graphic above from the National Weather Service the heaviest precipitation is to our immediate west, from Perry County to points westward.

The Overland Flood warning still exists for Franklin County until 11:45, and will probably be out for the Big Muddy River for the next several days and a Flash Flood Watch still exists for Franklin County until Friday morning.  The watch and warning text has not changed over the last several days, so I will not be posting this morning.

The water level at Rend Lake is holding steady at 411.48″, and the Big Muddy at Plumfield is at 28.2′ dropping four tenths of an inch.  The Big Muddy will be at least in minor flood stage until the immediate future.

The road closure situation in the county still is the same.  We will post it as soon as we notice an update

The Disaster Resource Center will be open today and tomorrow from  9:00 a.m. until 6:00 at the West Frankfort Fire and Police station.  There will be representatives form Franklin County Emergency Management, Franklin Williamson Bi-County Health,  Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, and the American Red Cross.

Regionally, Pope, Hardin and Massac Counties have been dropped from the Flash Flood Watch.  However, there is a Flood Warning along the Ohio River for Massac County.

The Missouri Department of Transportation will be closing the Chester Bridge today. MODOT opened I 55 between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau this morning.  River stages and forecasts remain unchanged.

The brunt of the precipitation over the next 36 hours will be along the Meremac River.  We need to hold the people in that region in our prayers, as they are in the midst of a catastrophic event.

There is hope ahead.  After this system gets out of here around mid day Friday. There is no precipitation in the forecast for the foreseeable future.

 

The road closure situation in Franklin County and regionally

By Steve Dunford 

I was going to include this in the forecast but I decided I would share some things about the flooding situation.  The list of road closures by Franklin County Emergency Management is getting smaller.  This is the last update at 3:00 p.m.

Valier Lake Road – East of 148 (Wash out)
Andy’s Road near 15th Street
Yellowbanks Road at Big Muddy Bridge
Horseshoe Rd / Freeman Spur Rd
Franklin Ave off Orient Road
Also, State Route 148 is down to one lane between Zeigler and Herrin.  Illinois Department of Transportation and other emergency officials are monitoring the situation.
Here are some things that are regionally to pass on from the Missouri Department of Transportation.  Interstate 55 is closed in several places between St. Louis and Cape Girardeau.  The only way to get between the two is cut through Illinois.  This might lead to more traffic on Illinois 127 and Interstates 57 and 64.
Please follow franklincounty-news.com as the next round of heavy rains is approaching, for the latest updates in the flooding situation.

 

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