Emergency management officials encourage local residents to prepare for severe weather

March 6, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Benton – Southern Illinois is no stranger to the devastating effects of severe weather. It was just over one year ago this past week that neighbors were helping neighbors, and communities were banding together to help those in need affected by the Leap Day 2012 Severe Weather outbreak.

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Emergency management officials in Franklin County are encouraging the public to use this week to update severe weather plans, conduct drills, and learn more about severe weather in their community. Severe Weather Preparedness Week runs from March 3rd to March 9th, 2013 in Illinois. Activities scheduled for this week include a statewide tornado drill and a storm spotter training session. Franklin County’s

Director of Emergency Management is encouraging citizens to get serious about severe weather preparedness and ensure homes and businesses are equipped with a NOAA All-Hazards Alert Radio.

“Having a NOAA all-hazards alert radio in your home or business is just as important as having a working

smoke detector”, said Director Ryan M. Buckingham. Citizens are encouraged to have several ways to

receive warning information in case your primary method of receiving information is rendered

incapacitated.

A statewide tornado drill will be conducted on Tuesday, March 5th at 10:00 AM. The drill will give everyone

a chance to practice current severe weather plans and procedures.

“Practicing your plan will ensure that you know what to do when a warning is issued. Following a well-made and practiced plan will reduce

confusion and provide a basic level of safety should a real severe weather event occur.” added Buckingham.

Local warning systems will be activated during the drill and citizens are encouraged to practice their severe weather emergency plans at that time.

Emergency Management officials will be hosting a public storm spotter training session on Thursday, March 7th at 6:00 PM at the Christopher Civic Center located at 208 N. Thomas Street in Christopher. In partnership with the National Weather Service, officials will train attendees on how to detect and report severe weather in their community. Attendees will also have a chance at winning one of two NOAA All-Hazards alert radios that will be given away during the event. The training is free of charge and is open to anyone who would like to attend.

For more information on severe weather preparedness visit www.ready.illinois.gov. Additional information on local events scheduled for severe weather preparedness week can be obtained by contacting Franklin County Emergency Management Agency at (618) 439-4EMA.

Filed Under: Benton News, Christopher News, Coello News, Featured, Franklin Co. News, Royalton News, Sesser News, Thompsonville News, Uncategorized, Valier News, West Frankfort News, Zeigler News

Zeigler authorizes share of roofing cost at Central Dispatch

March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Bruce A. Fasol
The Zeigler City Council has authorized an additional share of the cost to be paid for a new roof at the Central Dispatch building. That building is located in Christopher.  Zeigler is one of the participating members of the West Franklin Central Dispatch which dispatches first responders to portions of the western part of Franklin County.
The roof of the dispatch building was replaced by Beibel Roofing, of Benton.  Zeigler, Christopher, Valier and the Sesser Fire Protection District have all had to pay their share of the cost of the new roof. However, with the recent non-participation of the city of Sesser and the village of Royalton, the other members have also had to pay those shares of the cost as well.
The city of Christopher recently authorized $ 2,447.06 as their additional share.  This week the city of Zeigler approved payment of $1,601.71 to cover their share of the needed money.  Valier is expected to pay $143.45, with the Sesser Fire Protection District chipping in $766.45 as their total.  The money to cover the two member non-payments is based on the populations of their residents just like monthly participation is based.
Conflict has arisen within the group recently.  There is a lawsuit being considered by the board of West Franklin Central Dispatch against the city of Sesser.  That lawsuit is based on on the board’s belief that Sesser should have to pay their share of money owed to the IRS and other creditors after mismanagement in the agency.  Sesser denies that they owe the money.
Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized

Gov. Quinn, AFSCME announce tentative contract agreement

February 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Negotiators send proposed three-year agreement to AFSCME members for ratification

The Quinn Administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 have reached a tentative agreement on a new union contract covering some 35,000 state employees. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than 15 months.

“At a time when the state is facing unprecedented financial challenges, this agreement is fair to both hard-working state employees and all taxpayers of Illinois,” Governor Pat Quinn said. “I want to thank the women and men who have stayed at the table for more than a year for their commitment to reaching an agreement.”

“AFSCME is very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that protects our members’ standard of living, and is fair to them and all Illinois citizens, even in these very challenging economic times,” AFSCME Council 31 executive director Henry Bayer said.

AFSCME members must ratify any contract negotiated by their elected bargaining representatives. The ratification process will get underway at worksites statewide during the week of March 4.

Details of the tentative agreement will be released after the union’s membership has had the opportunity to review it.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Featured

Zeigler council meets, discusses Central Dispatch lawsuit

February 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment
 By Bruce A. Fasol
A routine meeting of the Zeigler City Council was held Tuesday night.  This included an executive session to discuss pending litigation.
From the discussion preceding the vote to go behind closed doors, it appeared that the discussion may include Zeigler’s participation in a possible lawsuit against the city of Sesser.  Zeigler is part of the West Franklin County Central Dispatch unit, which is contemplating a lawsuit against Sesser. That suit has been discussed but not filed.
In open session the council paid bills including an add on, last minute bill of $377.45 for the fire department Also, treasurer Ryan Thorpe received approval to drop former treasurer Jeniffer Menz, and former Police Officer Dennis Estes from the health insurance package provided by the city. Both had tendered previous resignations. These policies were to end at the end of February. The council also approved a $50 donation to CASA of Franklin County for an advertisement in the program of their upcoming gala. The fire department is spending $608 dollars to purchase folding chairs to be used for events. The city agreed to purchase $360 in tables for those events.
There was no news to report regarding the possible sale of land for a commercial venture. The land in question is the former high school football field at the northern edge of the city. It is believed, as discussed in the council meetings, that a business rumored to be Dollar General Stores is looking to purchase the site for a new store. City clerk Pam Perry told the council she had spoken to a person in the developer’s office, but that produced no new word of progress. The developer had submitted a proposed sale price, previously. The City of Zeigler then countered with an offer, and that is where the situation currently stands.
The council also approved a payment toward the total cost of the new roof at the Central Dispatch center, in Christopher.  Zeigler is a member of the multi-community organization.
Filed Under: Featured

West Frankfort to place dumpsters out for Annual Clean Up Day

February 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WEST FRANKFORT – The City of West Frankfort is once again teaming up with the No Name Group to get dumpsters out in coordination with the volunteer group’s annual City-Wide Cleanup.

Street Commissioner Tara Fasol-Chambers said the council is always pleased be able to participate by coordinating efforts with the city’s trash provider, Midwest Waste in Marion, to supplement the great efforts of hundreds of volunteers in cleaning up the town by providing six dumpsters to placed for residential dumping, one week after the scheduled clean-up day, which is set for April 20.

“I can’t say enough about this group that puts on the clean up,” said Fasol-Chambers. “What they do is so much bigger than most can imagine, unless you have come out and taken part. The amount of planning it takes, the kids that they reach and teach about keeping our community clean, the volunteers that they pull to do such an enormous amount of cleaning up and then the giving back that they do with those volunteers through food and prizes and t-shirts is simply amazing. West Frankfort is lucky to have such dedicated citizens who don’t just come up with big ideas but get their hands dirty, literally, trying to get out and make a visible difference in the place we all call home. I think I can speak for our entire council when I say we are blessed to just be able to help anyway we can and what we do is very small.”

The commissioner said the city’s contact allows for six dumpsters to be placed out for clean-up day and she has arranged for those to be located and rotated out from two locations, the parking lot south of the police station on Poplar Street and the parking lot of the city’s water shed, located east of Charles off Lincoln Street.

“We will have one placed at each location starting the day of the clean up on April 20 and when they get full, another will be brought to replace it, until we reach our six,” Fasol-Chambers said. “We typically have them out for about one week after the clean-up day.”

The commissioner said she wanted to give the community a heads up on the week of the dumpster availability in advance but promises to have more details of what can be dumped and other dumping locations available for items that aren’t going to be allowed in West Frankfort, closer to the time of the event.

“I’m getting all that together now so the council can give as much information to help people get their stuff to where it needs to go as possible,” she said. “We are still a few months out but hopefully, this will give people some time to prepare for cleaning out garages and attics or whatever they need and we will just keep getting the details out as they become available to us.”

The No Name Group handles the actual Clean-Up Day event, which not only schedules and coordinates the volunteering of hundreds of people to clean up the town but also incorporates school children by educating them about litter and keeping the community clean. This year, the group has also begun a logo contest that will give local kids a stab at getting their design on t-shirts and other promotions for this year’s event.

 

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized

Jefferson County couple arrested in connection with residential burglary near Sesser

February 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

A Jefferson County couple is in the Franklin County Jail accused of a variety of charges related to a residential burglary in rural Sesser.

Jamie Hughey, 35, of Mt. Vernon, and April N. Fisher, 31, of Opdyke, are facing charges of residential burglary, felony criminal theft and felony criminal damage to property.

Jamie Hughey

Jamie Hughey

Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones said a residence west of Sesser was burglarized on February 17 where a long list of items were reported stolen including guns, jewelry and money.  Jones said the door where the couple allegedly gained entrance was extensively damaged during the break-in.

April N. Fisher

April N. Fisher

Jones said law enforcement officers working the investigation  developed leads that led to Hughey and Fisher and the pair was arrested on February 22.

Jones said the investigation is ongoing.

Hughey and Fisher remain in custody at Franklin County Jail.  Hughey is being held on $75,000 bond and Fisher on $50,000 bond.

Filed Under: Featured

Risley enters not guilty plea during arraingment hearing

February 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

Norman Dwayne Risley, the 59-year-old Sesser man facing charges that include making bombs, possession of explosive devices and solicitation of a child pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Franklin County Circuit Court.

Norman Dwayne Risley

Norman Dwayne Risley

Risley appeared for an arraignment hearing before Judge Tom Tedeschi where he entered the plea.  Risley is being represented by the Benton law firm Drew & Drew.

Risley remains free on $75,000 cash bond which represents 10 percent of the $750,000 bond that was set after Risley was arrested on Dec. 21, 2012 and charged with three felony counts and one misdemeanor that includes one count of unlawful possession of explosives, one count of unlawful use of weapons, one count of indecent solicitation of a child and an additional single count of sexual exploitation of a child.

A Franklin County Grand Jury also returned a true bill of indictment against Risley when it met earlier this month.

Risley was arrested after Sesser police, working on a tip, began investigating allegations that he had solicited the minor child.  When law enforcement authorities gained entry through a search warrant to Risley’s residence and uncovered the cache of explosives that included 11 separate explosive devices, explosive compounds and 16 blasting caps. The charges allege that Risley “intended to use the explosive devices to commit a felony.”

The charge of indecent solicitation of a child alleges that Risley approached a child under the age of 17 and “discussed and solicited the child to perform an an act of sexual penetration.”

Along with local law enforcement, state police, ATF agents and other federal authorities also participated in the investigation and arrest.

Risley will next return to court for a pre-trial hearing on May 9.

Filed Under: Benton News, Christopher News, Coello News, Featured, Franklin Co. News, Royalton News, Sesser News, Thompsonville News, Uncategorized, Valier News, West Frankfort News, Zeigler News

County board continues to look at renovation of Campbell Furniture building

February 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Bruce A. Fasol
With as many steps forward as backward, you may have thought that the Franklin County Board was auditioning for Dancing With the Stars when the board met in regular session Tuesday night.
A protracted discussion on construction dominated the meeting.  Approval was granted for re-carpeting Court Room No. 2, a hallway, and the board meeting room. A third floor rest room will also be re-tiled and a commode replaced.   Also, upgrades to handicap accessible facilities was also approved. The measure was approved despite a “no” vote from Jim McPhail, of West Frankfort.
A major discussion regarding the replacement of the roof on the county building that once housed Campbell Furniture saw differing views as well.   Even when the question was voted on, not a great deal had been decided. The board voted to advertise for bids to tear off the old roof and replace it. What was not decided was whether the replacement roof would be metal or rubberized.  And, who would tear off the old roof was also left open.
One suggestion was to utilize help from prisoners who tore off the facade of the building recently. That would cost the county no money. However, board chairman Randall Crocker noted that there would be union opposition.  Board member Alan Price had been a vocal critic of architect Brian Edmondson’s work with the county during the meeting. And, he seemed to have some support for that opinion. In the end, bids will be advertised and the specifications will presumably come from those meetings of the three persons delegated. The board will not have the chance to go back and approve the specs. However, the board does have the right to reject all bids when the process moves to that point. A previous bid for a metal roof was rejected as being too extravagant.
The County approved borrowing $225,000 for the jail project and $70,000 for courthouse upgrades. They combined the vote, which also did not please all board members. Board member Jim McPhail said prior to the vote, “You know that by combining the measures you’ll lose my vote.” And, indeed when the vote was taken, McPhail again voted “no”.
Another changing of path comes as the board rescinded their contract with F & W Electric for the heating and air-conditioning work at Franklin County Jail.  They then approved a contract with Honeywell for the project.
Approval was granted for the new Franklin County logo as created by the Arthur Agency. A diagram of Illinois is used along with the bold type “Franklin” and a large red star. Board members approved after good-naturedly debating the star’s color. The most concern expressed was over the fact that the star itself on the logo made Franklin County look like it was located just south of Chicago. The county’s website is behind in its construction it was reported. Arthur Agency is also handling that for the county and is behind in their plans.
Good news came with the acceptance of the 2010 and 2011 audit. Board member Ken Hungate summed it up: ” At one time we had a good little book of things we needed to correct. Now, we have a couple of pages only and are working on them.”
Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized

Christopher man arrested on domestic battery and drug charges

February 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

A 37-year-old Christopher man is in custody on a variety of charges following a domestic incident in Benton.

According to Benton police Eric L. Davis was taken into custody on Feb. 17 at an apartment complex north of Franklin Hospital.  Police were called with the report of a disturbance and arrived on the scene. Davis became combative with law enforcement and had to be restrained.

Davis was charge with domestic battery, resisting a peace officer, criminal damage to property, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Davis was taken to Franklin County Jail where he remains in custody.

 

 

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized

Firefighters gather in Benton for training

February 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
By Bruce A. Fasol
Sixty-five firefighters from across the region gathered in Benton last week for training. Training Officer Jeff Coleman, of the Benton Fire department, told franklincounty-news.com that the training was called “Fire Cause and Origin.”   The class offered firefighters training on preserving the fire scene for example, said Coleman.
Firefighters from throughout the state were in Benton recently for a training session.

Firefighters from throughout the state were in Benton recently for a training session.

Also included was instruction on detecting the cause of a fire through investigative methods.
“We have to be able to say where the fire initially started,” said Coleman in describing the basic seminar points.
This is done, in part, for insurance purposes according to the Training officer.
The guest speaker for the conference was Eddie Bain, from Champaign,Illinois. Bain is a retired Fire Chief. he currently is Director of Investigative Programs for the Illinois Fire Service Institute.
A dozen different fire departments sent representatives to the conference. The department traveling the farthest distance was the Marissa Fire Department. This training was a classroom training only, with no laboratory. There will also be other trainings on various aspects of firefighting throughout the year, according to Coleman. Such training is mandatory in various aspects of the work, in Illinois.
Filed Under: Benton News, Featured, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized
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