U.S. launches missile strike on Syria

n this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departs Rota, Spain, on March 29, 2017. The United States fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria Thursday night in retaliation for this weeks gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians, the first direct American assault on the Syrian government and Donald Trumps most dramatic military order since becoming president. The Tomahawk missiles were fired from warships USS Porter and USS Ross in the Mediterranean Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/U.S. Navy via AP)

n this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ross (DDG 71) departs Rota, Spain, on March 29, 2017. The United States fired a barrage of cruise missiles into Syria Thursday night in retaliation for this weeks gruesome chemical weapons attack against civilians, the first direct American assault on the Syrian government and Donald Trumps most dramatic military order since becoming president. The Tomahawk missiles were fired from warships USS Porter and USS Ross in the Mediterranean Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert S. Price/U.S. Navy via AP)

(Carlos Munoz, the Washington Times please click on this link to follow this developing story. Here is an excerpt.) American warships stationed off the Syrian coastline fired a salvo of cruise missiles against a Syrian military base in the western part of the country, days after a regime chemical strike left nearly 100 civilians wounded or dead. Roughly 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired as part of the attack early Friday morning, U.S. officials said. The strikes were centered on the al Shayrat airfield near the western Syrian city of Homs, located in the Alawite-dominated region of the country. The airfield was one of the locations suspected of housing portions of the chemical weapons stockpiles used during Tuesday’s attack near Idlib province, a known stronghold for rebel forces battling to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad.

Coello man makes threats, arrested at Three Angels Broadcasting

WSIL TV photo

WSIL TV photo

THOMPSONVILLE, IL – (Brian Wilson WSIL-TV Please Click on link to read the full story. Here is an excerpt) A Franklin County man is behind bars on multiple charges after creating a chaotic scene at a local television station. On April 6 at around 11:22 a.m., Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the Three Angels Broadcasting Network offices in rural Thompsonville after getting a 911 call. The caller said a man had entered the building making threats and acting irrational.

Changes on the West Frankfort school board

There was a huge slate of candidates, and I must say very well qualified candidates, for the Frankfort Community District #168 school board.  Incumbents Mary Moreland, Geroge Karoski and Barbara Glodich were defeated in Tuesday’s school board election.

There was a head to head competition two fill the remainder of a two year term.  Keith Griffith defeated Amy Durfee with 1134 votes to 705.

There were nine running for the four remaining full terms that were open on the board.  Retired Special Education teacher and administrator Gayle Crawford received the most votes with 1,183.  Attorney Warren Campbell Brown was second with 1,013.  Jon Alexander received 992, and Amanda Tinsley was the last that was elected with 695.

The ones who where not elected had the following votes:  Karsoki 668, Sue Forgatch 649, Glodich 633, Moreland 446, and Shannone Steinberger 188.

In the Benton High School District 103 Board race; Whittington Church pastor Mark Minor was the top vote getter with 1,882, dentist Robin LaBuwi 1,636, newcomer to the board Mark Franklin was elected with 1,314 votes.  Ronald Slayton was defeated with 704 votes.

In the Benton Grade School District 47 Board race, former BCHS principal Gary Messersmith received the most votes with 991.  The other three elected were Brad Wilson 893, Lex Stewart 882, and Derek Stowers 792.  Norman Carlile with 728 votes, W. Scott Rice with 679, and Ron Winemiller with 647 votes rounded out the field.

Darren Fletcher (340 votes), Craig Zinzileta (322), Jacob Page (318), and Tommy G. Harmon (267) were elected to the Ewing-Northern grade school board.  Susan Shelton was not chosen with 231 votes.

In the Thompsonville Unit District 174 School Board race (Hamilton County Numbers included), Krista McFarland Shelby received the most votes with 193, Natalie Dixon 166, and  Michael Miller was also elected with 159.  John Bush was defeated with 113 votes.

In the Christopher Unit 99 School Board race, Charles Mazur (505 votes), Angela Basolo-Bond (493) and Susan Raben (387) were elected.  Steve Marlow received 335 votes and Angie Montegia 310.

The school board races in the Sesser-Vailer and Akin school districts were uncontested.  The final Zeigler-Royalton numbers will be posted at a later date.

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Kendall Marvel live on Anchorage, Alaska TV Station

Southern Illinoisan file photo

Southern Illinoisan file photo

ANCHORAGE, AK- Please click on this link to watch the video and read the blurb from Anchorage AK, CBS affiliate, KTLA. Kendell appears live with fellow singer songwriter Danny Myrick. Both are currently on an Alaskan tour. Marvel, a Thompsonville native, will be opening for Toby Keith at Black Diamond Harley Davidson in June.

Possible tornado rips roof off Williamson County home

WSIL TV photo

WSIL TV photo

CARTERVILLE, IL (WSIL-TV Please click on link to watch video and accompanying photos) Storms damaged a home near Crab Orchard Lake Wednesday. Mitchell Fleming was home when an apparent tornado ripped off their roof. “When the roof started coming off, I just curled up in bed, pulled the covers over me and kind of slipped between the wall and the bed,” said Fleming. “It lasted all of maybe three seconds. Then I got up and started moving stuff and making calls. It was a little surreal, that’s for sure.” No one inside the home was injured.

Chairman Bost Convenes Hearing on Veteran Benefits Legislation

George O’ Connor –  Communications Director for Congressman Bost 

U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, convened a hearing on Wednesday morning to receive feedback from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Veteran Services Organizations (VSO) on seven legislative measures affecting veterans benefits.

“At times, Republicans and Democrats may come down differently on the particulars of legislation, but today’s hearing was evidence that we all are dedicated to completing our shared mission to provide for our veterans,” said Bost.

Among the legislation receiving feedback were Chairman Bost’s two bills to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to veterans.

“I am proud to advocate for these bills to provide important cost-of-living adjustments to our nation’s veterans and their dependents,” said Bost. “These measures have received bipartisan support in the past, and I will continue to lead my colleagues to ensure the men and women who have served receive the benefits they have earned.”

The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 would provide a cost-of-living increase for wartime disability compensation; compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation in uniform. This increase would begin December 1. You can read the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 here.

Social Security beneficiaries’ COLAs are automatic and do not require Congressional authorization each year. The American Heroes COLA Act of 2017 would authorize the VA Secretary to provide automatic annual COLAs to wartime disability compensation; additional compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation without having to seek Congressional approval. You can read the American Heroes COLA Act of 2017 here.

Benton Police make recent arrests

On April 4th, 2017 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Joplin and Frisco Street.
Through investigation, police arrested Alonzo C. Williams, age 29, of Benton for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Williams was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On April 5th, 2017 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop in the 100 block of West Washington Street.
Through investigation, police arrested Stephanie K. Twitty, age 31, of Mulkeytown for driving under the influence.
Twitty also had an active Hamilton County warrant for failure to appear. Twitty was transported to the Franklin County Jail.

Ashmore, Buchanan re-elected mayors of Sesser and Valier yesterday

In the results of the Franklin County Consolidated Election yesterday,  incumbent Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore was elected to serve another four years in a landslide over his challenger Glen Gulley.  Ashmore of the Citizens Welfare Party had 559 votes to the challenger Glenn Gulley who had 121 votes.

The Citizens Welfare Party also won all the Ward races in the city  In Ward 1 Dana Laur defeated Barry Ramey 88 to 49,  In Ward 2, Richard Lee Miller defeated Jeff Harmon 172 to 97, and in Ward 3, Alan Wayne Shannon defeated Edie Hawk 172 to 64.

Martin Buchanan has been elected to another term as village president of Valier.  Buchanan has held the post since the 1960’s.  He is the longest standing mayor in the state other than to Marion mayor Robert Butler.  Buchanan received 180 votes to his challenger Joe Canup 131.  Gale Burzynski, Michael Moyers and Bruce McMurray were elected to the Valier village board.  Burzynski was the top vote getter with 193 votes, Moyers 171, McMurray 152,  In defeat Harl Ray Lewis received 147 votes and Clarence Gulley 127.

Ron House was elected West City Villiage President, as he received 124 votes to Mike Reed’s 76.  Bruce Watkins was elected to full an unexpired term on the town board as he was elected over Steve Mumbower 113-85.

Angela Kay McDowell was elected mayor of the village of Ewing over Eric Haney 42-36.

Donald Storey was elected Benton City Commissioner defeating Melvin Dixon 654-383.

In the City of Christopher, Katrina Claxton defeated Michael Deaton 278-178 for treasurer, and in Ward 3, Brian Hargis defeated Marshall Johnson.

In the Village of Buckner, there were two ties that happened on the village trustee racevilli.  Ray Rozhon and Rick Hefner finished in the top slot with 47 votes.  Robert Klingel and Herbert Krumrey had 23 for the third spot on the board.  I will keep you updated on the tie breaking procedures.

For the North City “Coello”  village board Louis Thery, Mark Moschiono and James Allen will be seated on the next board.  Thery was the top vote getter with 102 votes, Moschino 87, Allen 82, and Mark Parke 63.

Numbers from the races in Royalton and any other Six-Mile township race will be posted when they become available.

Marginal risk for severe weather for most of Southern Illinois

NWS Paducah KY Graphic

NWS Paducah KY Graphic

Most of Southern Illinois is under a marginal risk for severe weather today.  After this round of showers and thunderstorms that we are currently experiencing passes, there should be another round this afternoon.  The threat of more severe weather is off to our immediate south and east. The counties along the Wabash-Ohio river corridor in Southeast Illinois is under a slight risk.

Here is the latest Hazzardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service in Paducah, KY.

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight There is a risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon in areas east of the Mississippi River. Higher chances will exist from the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky northward into adjacent portions of southwest Indiana and the Wash River Valley of southeast Illinois. Damaging wind gusts, hail and even an isolated tornado or two are all possible. .

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday There will be a chance for some scattered frost Friday night over many locations east of the Mississippi River if surface winds manage to go calm. Thunderstorm chances return Monday and especially next Tuesday. Some severe storms cannot be ruled, but lightning and heavy rainfall seem more likely at this time.

Please keep abreast of the current weather situation with your favorite media source today.

 

Special elections tomorrow

Tomorrow voters will go to the polls here in Franklin County to vote for a penny sales tax referendum whether to build a new courthouse.  Groceries, over the counter medications and titled vehicles are exempt from the tax.  Here is how the ballot will be worded:

To pay for public facility purposes, the construction of a new Franklin County Courthouse, shall the County of Franklin be authorized to impose an increase on its share of local sales taxes by one percent (1%) for a period not to exceed 20 years?

This would mean that a consumer would pay an additional one dollar ($1.00) in sales tax for every one hundred dollars ($100) of tangible personal property bought at retail. If imposed, the additional tax would cease being collected at the end of the 20 years, if not terminated earlier by a vote of the county board.

When the courthouse gets paid off, the tax will sunset if it is well before the twenty years.

In other special elections tomorrow, Kathy Storey, Stephanie Hart, Kelli Whittington and Debra Clark are running for three six-year terms on the Benton Library Board.

Sharon Pinkerton, Sunshine McClintock, and Melissa Peebles are running for two six year terms on the Royalton Library board.

For the Akin Water district James Sullivan, C.L. Carlile, Gaylen Jackson, Jason Bennett, Derek Johnson, Dennis Summers, and Dennis Clark will be running for four seats on the board.

Please exercise your right tomorrow.

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Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News