Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
A 38-year-old Thompsonville man died early Thursday morning in a motorcycle crash in rural Thompsonville in eastern Franklin County.
David Steiner was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle accident that happened on Illinois Route 149 near Sharp Lane.
A passerby spotted a person lying beside the road and notified authorities at 3:35 a.m., according to authorities. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
CHICAGO — Chicago’s top civic leaders launched an aggressive push Tuesday for legislation that will increase gun crime penalties, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel vowing to lobby lawmakers on the measure that he said will help combat and prevent persistent street violence. But the bill — which could come up next week when state lawmakers return to the Capitol — has already been met with opposition from prison groups and the National Rifle Association.
Benton police are continuing to investigate a fatal single-vehicle accident Monday night that claimed the life of 76-year-old Cecil Bennett, of Benton.
According to authorities, Bennett was northbound on Grand Street shortly after 6 p.m. when he failed to stop his pickup truck at the intersection of Route 14 and Grand. His vehicle crossed Route 14 (Bailey Lane), jumped a ditch and hit a car in the parking lot of Fred’s a local retail store. The truck then continued and came to rest in a ditch on the northeast side of the store.
Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler said that Bennett was pronounced dead at Franklin County Hospital at 6:48 p.m. His wife, Helen, 71, was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of major injuries. Her condition was listed as critical on Tuesday morning.
Witnesses to the crash said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed on Grand Street and never attempted to stop at the intersection. Leffler said the cause of Bennett’s death will be determined after radiology and toxicology tests are completed. The crash is under investigation by Benton police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner’s office.
MARION — Gov. Pat Quinn joined various local and area officials to announce the release of $5.3 million from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program Sunday at Illinois 13 and Walton Way in Marion, funding which will go toward the repairs of municipal, township and county roads and streets in Southern Illinois.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
SESSER — Sesser-Valier science students will soon conduct experiments using the latest technology thanks to a $10,000 grant.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
BONNIE — A 42-year-old Jefferson County man arrested during the weekend in Missouri will be extradited to Illinois in connection with last week’s death of Rita Newell, of Bonnie.
Timothy S. Newell, 42, was arrested in Sweet Springs, Mo. on Saturday on a warrant charging him with unlawful possession of a stolen vehicle. Timothy Newell lived with Rita Newell, 84, whose body was discovered Thursday afternoon after police were called to conduct a well-being check on her residence at 225 West Helkin Drive in Bonnie.
Timothy Newell lived with Rita E. Newell, whose body was found Thursday afternoon after police forced their way into the home while conducting a well-being check at the residence, at 225 W. Helkin Drive in Bonnie.
Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch said foul play is suspected in the death but cautioned that authorities are awaiting the results of an autopsy before discussing details about the cause of death.
Authorities say that Timothy Newell is the adopted grandson of Rita Newell.
INA, Ill. – Big changes lie ahead for students looking into healthcare at Rend Lake College as updated curricula, student support services and new programs will be taking shape over the next five years with the help of federal grant money.
The Title III Pathways to Success in Health Careers Grants were announced last week by the U. S. Department of Education (USDE), which added that a total of approximately $20.1 million in grants to 39 colleges and universities across the nation will be awarded under the Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP).
RLC will receive the first grant payment this fiscal year in the amount of $449,960 to begin making big changes in the Allied Health Division. Kim Robert, Dean of Allied Health and Project Director, said the grant money will help increase educational prospects for RLC students.
Annually, per approval by the USDE, RLC will receive approximately $449,000 annually, for a total of $2,249,833 over five years. By the end of the grant period, RLC expects to see an increase in the number of Health Studies degrees and certificates awarded, as well as an increase in overall enrollment and enrollment-based revenue.
“The Allied Health Division is extremely excited to be awarded such a grant from the U. S. Department of Education, and we look forward to utilizing it to help our students in a number of ways,” said Robert. “We are looking into starting some new programs, purchasing equipment and starting an Allied Health Student Success Center to help our students be successful in their field of choice. Personally, I’m looking forward to working with the Rend Lake College staff to prepare our students for life after graduation in a number of healthcare occupations.”
Other plans include the establishment of a new Anatomy & Physiology (A&P) lab and revision of A&P I and II curricula, revisions to the Practical Nursing program curricula to incorporate educational simulation and web-based interactive instructional modules, development a new Health Studies advising and tutoring systems, and the establishment of a new Health Studies Success Center.
“Rend Lake College is one of only 39 schools across the nation to receive a part of the $20.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education, and the only one in Illinois,” said RLC President Terry Wilkerson. “The grant will help us improve on our health studies programs, including the addition of two programs, and the support our staff can give to our students. On behalf of the college, faculty and staff, I want to thank the Department of Education for believing in Rend Lake College and our students by helping us expand our educational options and become one of the best higher education institutions in healthcare.”
Information from the USDE states that the healthcare and social assistance sector will create 149,000 new jobs in Illinois alone by 2018, effectively ranking Illinois as one of the top five states in the nation with the greatest shortage of healthcare professionals. More than a third of RLC students, or 35 percent, identify completion of health studies as an educational goal, and enrollment in these programs has increased 22 percent since the 2009-10 academic year.
U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan stateddue to these job increases, both in Illinois and across the country, grants such as the Pathways to Success in Health Careers will allow students more options for careers post-graduation.
“Everyone deserves access to high-quality learning opportunities, from preschool to middle school and all the way through college,” said Duncan. “In order to achieve President Obama’s goal to lead the world in college graduates by 2020, we must work to ensure that everyone has a chance to enroll and complete postsecondary education. These grants will boost the capacity and quality of programs offered by higher education institutions that serve low-income students as they work to increase completion rates and better prepare their students for success in college, careers and lifetime aspirations.”
SIP helps postsecondary schools expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen their academic quality, institutional management and fiscal stability, as well as build a framework to help students complete college.
For more information, contact Kim Robert at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1251.
A longtime federal judge will retire from regular active service next year.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
Staff Report
Donald Lee, the 39-year-old Elkville man accused in the shooting death of Brittany Andrews, of Bonnie, will go on trial next week in Franklin County Court.
The trial is slated to begin October 9 with a final status hearing scheduled for October 3.
Andrews died as the result of a gunshot wound to the head on May 17, 2013, according to Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler. Benton police were called to an East Main Street parking lot where they discovered Andrews. She was taken to Franklin Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Lee was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. He was later charged with two counts of first degree murder and he remains in Franklin County Jail in lieu of $2 million bond.
Lee is being represented by Brian Drew of Benton and T.J. Parrish, of Mt. Vernon.
Staff Report
A Christopher High School teacher is in custody at the Franklin County Jail after being charged with aggravated DUI early Sunday morning following a traffic stop in northern rural Franklin County.
Gary Gischer, 45, of Benton, was stopped by Ewing Police for a lane violation and subsequently charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Gischer was processed at the county jail at 2:39 a.m. and according to Sheriff Don Jones was still in custody at midday Tuesday. Gischer, a former boy’s basketball coach at Christopher High School, is being held on $10,000 bond, which would require $1,000 cash bail for release.
Franklin County State’s Attorney Evan Owens would not comment on the arrest but did say the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges are possible. Owens said that Gischer was cited for the enhanced charge of aggravated DUI because this is his third arrest for driving under the influence. Under Illinois statute a third DUI offense is a Class 2 felony which carries a sentencing range upon conviction of three to seven years in prison to probation.
Christopher Unit School District Superintendent Richard Towers issued a prepared statement regarding the arrest.
“The administration is aware that Gary Gischer has been arrested and is currently in jail. Once Mr. Gischer is released from jail, the district will review available information and will proceed in accordance with applicable policies and laws. District policy calls for a notification of an employee prior to any district-administered disciplinary action. We are continuing to follow and review this situation.”
