The most hotly contested school board race in which I expect the biggest turnout in is the Frankfort Community Unit District 168 race. There are two candidates vying for one two year spot. They are Amy Dufree and Keith Griffith.
There is a nine candidate slate that are running for four positions. In the incorporated areas of the district (West Frankfort and Orient) Warren Campbell Brown, George Karoski, Mary Moreland, Schannone Steinberger, and Barbara Glodich are on the ballot. In the unincorporated areas Gayle Crawford, Amanda Tinsley, Sue Forgatch and John Alexander are running.
Dufree and Griffith are both in the incorporated areas so one of them will be elected. There can not be no more than three other candidates incorporated areas, so two from the unincorporated areas will be elected to the school board.
At the last school board meeting there was some controversy over the possible hiring of a new superintendent. There was a huge public turnout. The previous board tabled the vote until the new board is seated. One of the major issues is whether the new superintendent resides or will reside in the school district.
In Christopher Unit District # 99, Steve Marlow, Angela Basolo-Bond, Susan Raben, Amie Montegyia, and Charles Mazur are on the ballot for three open seats.
In the Ewing -Northern Grade School School District #115, Susan Shelton, Tommy Harmon, Craig Zinzilieta, Jacob Page and Darren Fletcher are running for four vacancies.
In Benton Grade School District #47, Norman Carlile, Brad Wilson, Gary Messersmith, Derek Stowers, W. Scott Rice, Ron Winemiller, and Lex Stewart, will be chosen to fill four positions.
In Benton High School District #103, Robin LaBuwi and Mark Minor are running from Ewing Township. Ronald Slayton and Mark Franklin from Benton Township.
If I am understanding the legal jargon right, only one person between Slayton and Franklin can be seated on the board.
For the Thompsonville Unit District #174 board, Natalie Dixon, Michael Miller, Krista McFarland Shelby and John Bush are running for three open seats.
In the Zeigler-Royalton Unit District #188 Jeffery Olkoski, Kathie Keown, Gary Vaughn, Jamie Kirkpatrick, and Joseph Dover are running for three open spots on the school board.
For John A. Logan College Board, Bob Ellis, William Orill, Mandy Little and Becky Borgsmiller are running for two open six-year term seats.
In the race for the Rend Lake College board, Randall Rubenacker, Brain Dorris, John Kabat, and Kent Sickmeyer are running for three open seats.
There is no opposition in the Sesser-Valier and Akin school board races.
Please exercise your right tomorrow.

MUNSTER, IN- (Associated Press. Click to read the entire story. Here is an expert) Experts say the number of Illinois residents pulling up stakes and moving to Indiana likely will grow in the coming years because of factors including a lower cost of living and lower taxes. The U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey shows more than 34,220 Illinois residents moved to Indiana in 2015, the most recent year for which data was available. Northwest Indiana Forum Economic Development Director Joe Rurode tells The (Northwest Indiana) Times people also are migrating to the region because they recognize significant quality of life improvements that are occurring.he entire story. Here is an excerpt (




