Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
By Jim Muir
A federal mediator will meet Thursday night with school administration and teachers at Ewing-Northern Grade School in hopes of ending a labor impasse that threatens to stop classes for 227 students in grades K-8.
Teachers at Ewing-Northern have worked without a contact since August 30 and filed an intent to strike notice with the state in November. The 15 teachers at the school, located in northeast Franklin County, are represented by the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT).
Keith Griffith, field director for IFT, said he is in hopes that an agreement can be reached through mediation but declined to comment about specifics until after Thursday’s meeting.
Kristin Ing, superintendent of Ewing-Northern also declined comment and said the school board had designated Collinsville attorney Barney Mundorf, a partner in the firm of Guin, Martin and Mundorf as a spokesperson for the school district.
When reached by telephone Mundorf said the ongoing labor stalemate boils down to what the district can afford to pay, given the problems with decreased state funding and the difficult local economy. Mundorf said teachers have been offered a raise based on the ‘step process’ – a method school districts use to give annual pay increases based on years of service and advanced education.
Mundorf said based on the step process the lowest paid teacher at the school, who earns $32,100, would receive a 3.77 percent increase while the highest paid teacher, who earns $61,161 would receive a 1.25 percent increase. Mundorf said the sticking point that threatens to stop classes is over an additional 1.5 percent that the union is asking for in addition to the step increases.
“I want to emphasize that I believe teachers work hard,” Mundorf said. “But, I am surprised that they would threaten to strike over the amount of money involved here.”
Mundorf pointed out that Ewing-Northern is looking at declining state aid and in belt-tightening mode like many other Illinois school districts. Mundorf said Ewing-Northern ended the fiscal year with $400,000 surplus in its education fund but quickly added that the school district will receive $80,000 less in state aid this year and a projected $105,000 less in the 2013-14 school year.
“Right now the board is taking the approach that it is not going to spend the education fund down to zero and then address a budget problem,” said Mundorf. “I remain hopeful we can reach an agreement.”
The mediation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Ewing-Northern Grade School.
STAFF REPORT
Modern Woodmen of America Junior Club 2966-1 presented a matching fund check to Sesser Fire Fighters to purchase
Class A uniforms. The remaining balance needed to purchase uniforms was donated by Jason Ashmore, friend of the
Sesser Fire Department.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp has announced that one arrest has been made in a theft from an industrial business, and authorities are seeking a second suspect.
Ronald Pulliam
The thefts were reported in mid-December from Coal Age Industrial, located in the Industrial Park, west of the West Frankfort. At that time, police began surveillance of the business, and video evidence was collected at the scene from security cameras.
On Jan. 3, West Frankfort Police arrested 24-year-old Ronald R. Pulliam of Johnston City. He was charged with theft over $500.
Steven Pulliam
Pulliam is accused of stealing large fabricated pieces of metal, which investigators believe he resold. Coal Age Industrial told investigators that since the thefts began, they have lost $30,000 in metal products.
Tharp said an arrest warrant has been issued for Steven Pulliam, 22, of Johnston City, as well. He is the brother of Ronald Pulliam Jr. More arrests could be forthcoming, according to WFPD.
Zeigler Fire Department members participate in engine company training this week.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The first Wednesday of 2013 found 10 members of the Zeigler Fire Department doing what they normally do: training. Wednesday evenings are training sessions for Chief David Greer’s department. This training is for both veteran firefighters and those in training to become a firefighter. These are relatively new training rules implemented for that department.
A person undergoing training to become a member of the Zeigler Fire Department must complete a two-year training program to move from “firefighter candidate” to actual firefighter. This goes above and beyond the lack of mandatory state regulations covering training for certification.
The Zeigler Fire Department studies a different aspect of training each Wednesday evening. Some sessions may cover equipment, regulations, and of course procedural situations. The actual scene procedural training is done with full “bunker gear” worn by fire crews to more closely replicate real-life situations. Captain Ron Duigood handles the training tasks as the designated officer in that department.
The Zeigler Fire Dept. responded to more than 320 calls in calendar year 2012.
By JOHN D. HOMAN, Logan Media Services
The John A. Logan College Foundation will host its 37th Annual Italian Dinner fundraiser from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23 in the college cafeteria.
The dinner includes spaghetti, salad, garlic bread sticks, cookies and a soft drink at a cost of $8 for adults or $3 for children 10 and under. The price for JALC students is $5. Carryouts will be available. Advance tickets are also available at the Foundation office (B33) or by calling the college at 985-2828, X8355.
Monies raised from the dinner benefit the Foundation, which provides scholarships for students.
As an added bonus, the Logan women’s and men’s basketball teams will play host to Lewis & Clark College. As it is “Carterville Night,” the high school band, cheerleaders and poms are scheduled to perform.
“We are looking forward to this year’s dinner,” said JALC Foundation Executive Director Staci Bynum. “While it is a fundraiser for scholarships, it is also a great opportunity for our board of directors to meet with Foundation supporters. We really enjoy talking with people in the community who are as interested in seeing John A. Logan College students succeed.”
Bynum said about 400 meals are served each year at the fundraiser.
“And we hope to see that number grow,” she said. “We hope folks will dine in and then go upstairs to watch the games – make an evening of it.”
JALC President, Dr. Mike Dreith said he is looking forward to the dinner.
“I understand this is a wonderful tradition for the college,” he said. “My wife (Carol) will attest that I am a huge fan of Italian food and so can my waistline. The funds are important, but not as important as the camaraderie within the campus community and the communities we serve.”
Bynum said the fundraiser wouldn’t happen without the support of the college’s extended family, student ambassadors and Foundation board members.
“We really do have a great group of people supporting the Foundation and we are grateful for them all,” she said.
Blue Ridge Tractor will sell and service Dressta North America construction equipment.
STAFF REPORT
Blue Ridge Tractor has bought seven acres of property from the Benton West City Economic Development Corporation to build a dealership that will sell and service Dressta North American construction equipment.
Retiring EDC Director Steve Woodfin, new Director Dave Cooper and Board Chairman John Huffman announced the deal this week.
Blue Ridge Tractor is the new Dressta dealer fro the southern half of Illinois and western Kentucky.
The seven acres bought by the dealership are part of a 34-acre tract of land owned by the EDC. EDC officials say the tract will give Blue Ridge Tractor interstate visibility, and hopefully will be the start of other commercial and retail development along I-57 and the airport.
Blue Ridge Tractor will build a storefront to display new machines, as well as provide machinery sales, parts sales and light service work at the site.
Benton Mayor Gary Kraft called news of the new business “very encouraging.”
“It is a great opportunity for more growth and development,” said West City Mayor Charles Cockrum. “Glad to see it happen.”
Blue Ridge Tractor General Manager Alex Gibbs said the company is eager to begin construction at the site.
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Image from Flickr user heydrienne used under Creative Commons license.
STAFF REPORT
As the third front bringing snow into the area this holiday week moves in, holiday basketball tournament action – most delayed by the blizzard on Christmas night – resumes for the most part after a Sunday break.
Here’s an updated look on how local teams are faring:
BENTON RANGERS (Boys)
The Rangers finished 11th in a 12-team field at the Duster Thomas Hoops Classic in Pinckneyville. The Jerseyville Panthers took the tourney’s title.
CHRISTOPHER BEARCATS (Boys)
Christopher advanced to the Semi-Finals in the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament with wins over Vienna and Waltonville. The Bearcats dropped their semi-final game Saturday to Goreville.
SESSER-VALIER RED DEVILS (Boys)
Sesser-Valier dropped the first game of their hosted tournament to New Athens and entered the consolation bracket. Now, after wins over Elverado and Cobden, the Red Devils face Zeigler-Royalton for the consolation bracket title at 9 a.m. on Monday.
WEST FRANKFORT REDBIRDS (Boys)
At the Eldorado Holiday Tournament, the Redbirds beat the Fairfield Mules on Friday and then were beaten Saturday by the top-seeded Harrisburg Bulldogs. West Frankfort plays Union County, Kentucky, in the consolation bracket of the tourney at 8:30 a.m. on Monday.
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON TORNADOES (Boys)
Zeigler-Royalton lost to Waltonville in the first round of the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament. After consolation-bracket wins over Vienna and Century, the Tornadoes face tournament host Sesser-Valier Monday morning at 9 a.m. for the consolation bracket title.
BENTON RANGERETTES (Girls)
The Rangerettes won four of their five match-ups in the Benton Rangerettes Classic, dropping their last game to Goreville, who went unbeaten in the six-team round robin. Rangerettes Cali Carney, Makala Carney and Morgan Corn were named to the all-tournament team.
By LEIGH M. CALDWELL
Benton city commissioners let their silence speak for them Thursday night when it came time to decide whether or not to grant the Benton Bowl a license to sell beer and wine. No commissioner chose to make the motion to bring the issue up for a vote, so it died.
Benton Bowl owners say the death of the issue will mean the death of their business.
The council’s final regular meeting of the year was the third meeting at which the liquor license had been discussed. Benton Bowl co-owner Mike Fitzpatrick asked the council to consider the license last month, saying that the bowling alley’s business was down, and the owners would like to sell beer from a cooler at the snack bar. Fitzpatrick further noted that his real reason for wanting the license was to get video gambling machines. State law requires that businesses have a liquor license before they apply for the machines.
At a council meeting earlier this month, Benton Mayor Gary Kraft presented the commissioners with some information gathered on other bowling alleys in the area. Other area bowling alleys do serve beer, Kraft said, and have not reported problems with their liquor licenses.
At Thursday’s meeting, Kraft, who is also the city’s Liquor Commissioner, brought the issue back before the council. He asked for a motion that would create a new liquor license for the Benton Bowl. After some discussion, he proposed that the license be restricted to beer sales between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Fitzpatrick attended the meeting, as did Benton Bowl co-owner Dennis Odle.
Odle told commissioners that the goal of the liquor license is to attract a bar league and get more patrons in the door, and that the bowling alley may not ever get video gambling machines. This perceived change in the reason behind the need for the liquor license prompted some questions from commissioners.
Odle said he and Fitzpatrick and their wives bought the bowling alley 16 years ago.
“Our business is down 50 percent in 16 years,” Fitzpatrick told commissioners.
“We’re down to grasping at straws,” Odle added. “If we don’t get something in there, we’re gonna have to shut down.”
Kraft told commissioners the fact that other area bowling alleys had liquor licenses was a deciding factor for him.
“I think if it’s regulated, I wouldn’t mind giving it a shot,” he said. “If all the rest were dry, it would be a different story.”
Commissioner Ron Baumgarte then told the Benton Bowl’s owners that he wanted to congratulate them for running a business that his family had enjoyed, and that he understood how tough times were.
“I understand business being down 50 percent,” Baumgarte said. “I run a small business myself, and mine is off 60 percent.”
But, Baumgarte said, he would be voting no on the liquor license. “I want you to know it has nothing to do with you guys, it’s what’s inside of me.”
A vote would first require a motion and second from commissioners, though, and when Kraft called for that, the commissioners sat silent, and no motion ever came.
Fitzpatrick and Odle walked out of the meeting, with Odle telling commissioners the lack of action would kill the business.
“After May, don’t bother coming to the bowling alley,” Odle said. “It won’t be there.”
In other action, the Benton City Council:
