Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Put down the phone while driving.
The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Police are promoting Distracted Driving Awareness Week in Illinois.
That means drivers will see a lot more police officers out on the roads, looking to make sure that they are paying attention behind the wheel.
Here’s the link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Gov. Rauner advocates innovative apprenticeship models
NEUSTADT – Gov. Bruce Rauner, in a push for stronger apprenticeship programs in Illinois, met with company leaders, apprentices and students at the BBZ Neustadt am Rübenberge. The world-renowned vocational school and professional training center located in the Hannover region has been preparing students for the workforce for 150 years.
“I firmly believe that to strengthen Illinois’ economy we need to attract and retain skilled labor,” Rauner said. “In order to do that, we need to invest more in training and invest in our young people. Illinois has the talent and the innovative ideas that if cultivated have the potential to produce great things.”
Nearly half a million Germans enter the workforce through apprenticeship programs each year which many have noted is a major component in the country’s success in the manufacturing industry.
Rauner toured the school and learned about several of their models, including the Smart Factory Concept and strategic automotive innovation, which he hopes to incorporate into Illinois’ growing programs. To coincide with the governor’s meeting, Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti visited one of those programs: YouthBuild McLean County, an apprenticeship effort in Normal, IL that provides 85 young people with training in construction, healthcare and information technology.
“Apprenticeship programs like YouthBuild create a supportive environment for students to succeed in Illinois and become leaders,” Sanguinetti said. “It’s a great program that gives young people hands on training while they are giving back to their communities.”
For every four people who leave the trades, due to retirement, health or other reasons, only one new person is supplied by apprenticeship programs to enter the trades. The governor hopes by strengthening our apprenticeship programs we can reduce turnover, improve recruitment and create a pipeline of skilled employees.
Middle skill jobs make up the largest part of Illinois’ labor market. The demand is strong for middle skill jobs and they make up the largest part of Illinois’ labor market. By 2024, 50% of all job openings are expected to be middle-skill jobs. And community college graduates are a key component of a strong competitive workforce.
“I think there is no substitute for the real world experience and hands on application that apprenticeships provide,” said President Terry Wilkerson of Rend Lake College. “This experience reinforces the skill sets provided by the college in the classroom.”
“The relevance of apprenticeships is embodied in the contextualization of the classroom experience in the real world context of working, so what has been the theoretically becomes much more relevant,” said President Kenneth Ender of Harper College.
From Illinois News Network
A new report paints a dismal financial picture for Illinois’ public pension systems.
The Pew Charitable Trusts analyzed the pension funding gap for each state as of fiscal year 2016, the most recent year for which comprehensive data were available. The study indicates Illinois is 36 percent funded for future obligations, putting the state near the bottom of the rankings.
“Only Kentucky and New Jersey are worse,” said David Draine, senior researcher with Pew Charitable Trusts. “This is going to be a major budget challenge, not only in the near term but in years ahead. States like Illinois have long had substantial unfunded liabilities from past decisions to treat these benefits on a pay-as-you go basis.
“Illinois has failed to make its full pension payments for many, many years,” Biggs said. “They’ve used various actuarial and accounting tricks to make it seem like they were contributing more than they actually were. The less you fund in the past, the higher the contributions become going forward, and they’re in a position where often they can’t afford to pay them.”
According to the Pew report, Illinois’ public pension systems had about $78 billion in assets against $219 billion in liabilities.
“Illinois passed a constitutional amendment making it unconstitutional to cut pension benefits,” Biggs said. “Now they’re trying to fix their pensions and they discover they can’t make these changes because the courts won’t allow them. There is a long history of bad policy and bad decisions when it comes to public sector pensions.”
That leaves some key questions in front of lawmakers.
If the state can’t find a solution in Springfield, Biggs said the state shouldn’t expect any help from Washington to fill the gap.
“I think it’s very unlikely the federal government is going to bail out a state like Illinois,” Biggs said, “because it’s been known for decades Illinois has been a bad steward of its pensions. The interpretation in Washington D.C. will be: If anyone deserves to be hurt by the pensions, it’s Illinois, because they’ve refused to do the things they need to do.”
Overall, state plans across the country disclosed assets of $2.6 trillion to cover total pension liabilities of $4 trillion. Congress recently passed a law to allow Puerto Rico to restructure its debt and pension obligations, but Biggs warns against such a similar option for states.
“I’m involved right now with the restructuring of debt and pensions in Puerto Rico,” Biggs said. “It is a very difficult, very complicated, and very disruptive process. Illinois would be very, very wise to try to fix its pensions and not go anywhere near bankruptcy.”
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s current trip to Germany and Poland could result in economic development for Southern Illinois, the governor said Monday morning.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
House Speaker Michael Madigan was re-elected Monday to his position as head of Illinois’ Democratic Party, as expected.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
4-13-18 at 1:48pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on North Thompsonville Road at Carlyle Road. A 2018 Dodge driven by Dalton W. James age 28 of DuQuoin was south bound and swerved into the north bound lane in traffic. A north bound 2011 Chevrolet Impala driven by Timothy L. Neal age 27 of Galatia was north bound, was forced off the roadway, striking a mailbox. There were no injuries and Dalton James was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash.
4-13-18 at 2:04 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on Il. State Hwy. 148 near the Zeigler-Royalton Schools. A 2017 Harley Davidson Sportster driven by Alex K. Stewart age 21 of Christopher was north bound on Rt. 148 when the motorcycle went out of control, went down on its side. Alex Stewart received major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S. He was also ticketed for violation of driver’s license classification and for operating an uninsured vehicle.
4-14-18 at 10:18 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Highway Rt. 149 at Antioch Road. A 2014 Dodge Avenger driven by Collin D. Batts age 23 of West Frankfort was apparently east bound and lost control running off the roadway into a ditch. The driver had left the scene. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Collin Batts for leaving the scene of a property damage traffic crash, failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash and operating an uninsured vehicle.
4-15-18 at 4:12 Deputies responded to a trespassing complaint on private property in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrest of James D. Muck Jr. age 24 of Marion for criminal trespass to property and Jessica M. McPherson age 24 of Thompsonville for criminal trespass to property and unlawful possession of methamphetamine.
4-17-18 at 12:27 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash in rural Sesser. The incident turned out not to be a crash, but a 1999 Pontiac was located in a ditch at the intersection of Bear Point Road and Evergreen Road. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Robert L. Gibson age 35 of Dowell for driving under the influence of alcohol.
4-18-18 at 11:00 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Christina A. Robinson age 48 of Benton for domestic battery.4-19-18 at 3:00 pm a traffic stop in West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Zachary M. Baize age 24 of West Frankfort for unlawful display of registration, a class A misdemeanor.
WARRANT ARRESTS
4-14-18 James A. Besson age 43 of Herrin. Failure to appear for battery.
4-19-18 Jolene R. Stanley age 42 of West Frankfort. Unlawful delivery of a controlled substance.
4-19-18 Elisha D. Johnson age 37 of Elkville. Failure to appear on methamphetamine charges.
The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Sheriff Don Jones
At $30 a ticket, the Illinois Lottery’s World Class Millions instant game was not only one of its priciest offerings — it was also potentially one of the most lucrative for players
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Illinois is receiving a $16 million federal grant to fight opioid abuse.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
The following list of arrests were made by Franklin County Sheriff Dept. deputies.
April 6
• A traffic stop at 1:53 p.m. in West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Bryan D. McClintock, 31, of Christopher on a charge of driving while license suspended.
April 7
• At 3:45 a.m., a Franklin County correctional officer discovered a glass pipe containing methamphetamine in the possession of a female inmate during the booking procedure. The female recently had been transferred from another county jail. Jenna N. Moore, 31, of Wood River was charged with unlawful possession of contraband in a penal institution, a class 1 felony.
• A traffic stop at 9:54 a.m. in Benton resulted in the arrest of Bradley A. Roeder, 35, of Benton on a charge of driving while license suspended.
• Deputies responded at 4:21 p.m. to a single-vehicle traffic crash on Akin Blacktop just east of Rt. 34. The investigation concluded that a 2008 Pontiac driven by Aaron J. Jackson, 20, of Whittington was west bound and negotiating a curve when the driver stated he swerved to avoid striking a dog, lost control, ran off the roadway and struck a culvert. The driver received minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital by EMS.
• A traffic stop at 6:36 p.m. in Benton resulted in the arrest of Byron E. Olson Jr., 24, of Benton on a charge of driving while license suspended.
• Deputies responded at 8:51 p.m. to a disturbance at Pearson’s Skating Rink on Rt. 37 south of Benton. The incident resulted in the arrest of a 14-year-old female on charges of battery and resisting a peace officer. The juvenile was released to the custody of her mother.
April 8
• Charges have been filed and an arrest made as the result of a car crash that occurred at 12:10 a.m. July 2, 2016, on Peach Orchard Lake Road 1/4 mile east of the Sesser Lake Road. The crash seriously injured three young men and was handled by the Franklin County Sherriff’s reconstruction team. The crash investigation was lengthy as the result of the need to await DNA lab results to close the investigation. Charged as a result is Travis L. Reginato, 23, of Buckner. Reginato is being held in the Franklin County Jail on a charge of aggravated reckless driving, a class 4 felony. His bond has been set at $50,000 or 10 percent.
• Deputies responded at 6:04 p.m. to a two-vehicle traffic crash on Rt. 148 just south of Three-Bill Road. The investigation concluded that a 2004 Toyota Tacoma driven by Thomas J. Bryant, 55, of Sesser was southbound and preparing to turn east into a private drive when the Toyota was rear-ended by a 2008 Saturn driven by Cheyenne N. Conner, 24, of Mulkeytown, who failed to stop. Bryant sustained major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott EMS. Sesser Fire first responders also responded to the scene. Conner was not injured but has been cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. The crash is under further investigation, and further charges are possible.
• Deputies arrested Michael S. Ligon, 44, of Marion for revocation of probation on a charge of domestic battery.
April 9
• Deputies responded at 7:11 p.m. to a disturbance in Thompsonville. The investigation resulted in the arrest of a 15-year-old male on a charge of aggravated assault. The juvenile was released to the custody of his parents.
• Deputies arrested Brianna L. Deason, 31, of West Frankfort on a warrant for failure to appear for theft.
• Deputies arrested Erika L. Grimes, 29, of Benton on a warrant for failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine.
• Deputies responded at 10:23 a.m. to a single-vehicle traffic crash on Old Marion Road just north of the county line. The investigation concluded that a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Richard L. Thompson, 70, of West Frankfort was southbound and apparently suffered some type of medical episode, causing him to lose consciousness. The vehicle left the roadway and struck a Southeastern electrical power pole, trapping the driver until the lines were de-energized. The driver was uninjured due to the crash, but was transported to a local hospital by West Frankfort Fire EMS due to the previous medical episode.
• Deputies responded at 8:08 p.m. to a domestic dispute in rural Thompsonville. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Charles S. Hargett, 57, of Thompsonville on a charge of domestic battery.
April 11
• Deputies responded at 1:50 a.m. to a domestic dispute in rural Thompsonville. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Dylan L. Morris, 24, of Thompsonville on a charge of interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.
• Deputies arrested Mark A. Vreeland, 26, of Zeigler on a warrant for failure to appear on a probation revocation.
April 12
• Deputies responded at 1:59 p.m. to a two-vehicle traffic crash just east of Buckner. The investigation concluded that a 2017 Chevrolet Equinox driven by David E. Valette, 50, of Mulkeytown was eastbound on Rt. 14 and was attempting to make a left turn into a private drive when it was struck in a rear-end type crash by a 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Katherine E. Monari, 28, of Christopher. Valette sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment. Monari was not injured, but was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
• Deputies responded at 3:45 p.m. to a domestic dispute in Whittington. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Justin S. Forsythe, 30, of Whittington on a charge of domestic battery.
April 13
• Deputies arrested Rickey W. Ledbetter, 51, of Mt. Vernon on a warrant for failure to appear for aggravated assault.
Illinois state Sen. Sam McCann, R-Plainview, announced Thursday that he plans run as a third-party candidate for governor – a move that likely would siphon votes from incumbent Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
