By Jim Muir

A May 9 pre-trial hearing has been set for Michael Romani, the 45-year-old Sesser man charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of John Franklin, also of Sesser.

During a preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon in Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Tom Tedeschi heard testimony from state police concerning the December 27, 2012 bar fight that left the left the the 56-year-old Franklin dead.

A state police investigator testified during the hearing that his investigation, which included interviews with four individuals in the bar who witnessed the incident, showed that there was a verbal exchange between the two men and that Romani left the area of the bar where he was at and struck Franklin in the face, knocking him backward off a bar stool where his head hit the floor.  Franklin never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead a short time later at Franklin Hospital from blunt force trauma to the head.  It was also reported during the preliminary hearing that Franklin suffered from a serious heart condition.

Tedeschi ruled from the evidence presented that probable cause exists that a felony was committed by Romani and set the May 9 pre-trial court date.

The involuntary manslaughter charge against Romani is a Class 3 felony that carries a maximum sentence of 2-5 years in prison.  The aggravated battery charge is also a Class 3 felony and carries the same maximum sentence.  Both charges also can result in probation on the minimum end of the sentencing guideline.

The fight took place at the Bank of Sesser Lounge, located on Sesser’s business district.  The bar was closed for more than a week but has since reopened after the fatal fight.

Romani turned himself into Franklin County authorities a short time after the incident and later posted $20,000 cash bail and was released.  Romani is being represented by Drew & Drew Attorneys in Benton.

By Jim Muir

Roger Orlandini, 60, of Royalton, has been identified as the driver of car that was involved in a fatal two-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning in Royalton.

Orlandini was identified through dental records and other medical procedures he had undergone previously according to Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler. Orlandini was a retired coal miner.

Authorities say that Orlandini was heading south when he struck a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Illinois 149 and 3rd Street.  Orlandini struck the trailer being pulled by the semi and his vehicle burst into flames, according to Leffler.

The accident happened at approximately 2:30 a.m. and local authorities spent several hours cleaning up the wreckage from the crash site.  Both drivers were wearing seat belts, police said. The driver of the tractor trailer, Leslie N. Fred, of Murphysboro, was not injured in the crash.

By Jim Muir

Teachers at Ewing-Northern Grade School on Friday morning approved a contract that was hashed out less than 12 hours earlier, moving both sides in the labor dispute one step closer to a final agreement.

The 15 certified teachers at the northeast Franklin County grade school that houses students in grades K-8 voted at 7:30 a.m. to approve the deal that was hammered out in an 11th hour negotiating session Thursday night with a federal mediator and school administration.

The contract will not be finalized and no details will be released until after the board meets on Jan. 28 in its regular monthly meeting.  However, Collinsville attorney Barney Mundorf who has served as spokesperson for the board, said board members are “pleased” with the agreement and he expected it to be approved.

Teachers at Ewing-Northern have worked without a contact since August 30 and filed an intent to strike notice with the state in November 30.  The 15 teachers at the school, located in northeast Franklin County, are represented by the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT).  The threatened strike would have stopped classes for 227 students in grades K-8.