Before her mother went to prison, Olivia Weeks was a competent student but certainly not an outstanding one — certainly not one on track for an Ivy League education.
Decatur prison program aids West Frankfort students’ Harvard acceptance
April 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Benton police make arrests
April 17, 2018 By Leave a Comment
On April 14, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of East Webster Street in reference to a hit and run. Upon investigating, police arrested Carl G. Gunter, age 41, of West Frankfort for leaving the scene of an accident. Gunter was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On April 15, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of North Maple Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon investigating, police arrested Zachary A. Wilson, age 25 and Dakota W. Wilson, age 19, both of Benton for domestic battery. Both were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
Blagojevich likely down to last legal hope as U.S. Supreme Court decides whether to take up his appeal
April 16, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Nearly a decade after his predawn arrest on sweeping corruption charges, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich is likely down to his last legal hope Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce whether it will take up his appeal.
Proposed legislation would separate SIU campuses after failed funding split
April 16, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Shortly after the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted down a proposal to shift $5.1 million in state appropriation funding from Carbondale to Edwardsville on Thursday, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook sent out a message to his campus community.
Here’s the link at the Southern Illinoisan.
Proposal at Illinois Capitol would guarantee Illinois teacher pay starts at $40,000 a year
April 16, 2018 By Leave a Comment
A new plan at the Illinois Capitol could require local school districts to give some teachers a raise, but doesn’t provide any additional funding to do so.
Illinois will send national guard troops to border if requested
April 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Count Illinois National Guard troops in for guarding the nation’s southern border, if an official request is made by the Trump administration. President Donald Trump announced using guard troops to assist border patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexico border to stem the flow of illegal immigration.
Here’s a link to the story.
Governor Rauner requests federal assistance to help people recover from February floods
April 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Request includes Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion Counties
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Bruce Rauner today asked President Donald Trump to approve federal assistance to help people in Iroquois, Kankakee and Vermilion counties recover from severe storms and flooding in February.
“Many people affected by this flood event face a difficult road to recovery,” Rauner said. “Federal assistance is needed to help them repair their homes and replace personal property that was destroyed.”
Rauner noted that for many residents of Watseka, the February flood marked the third significant flood event they’ve experienced in the last three years, and the fourth in the past 10 years.
Joint assessment teams from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) reviewed damage in the three counties in March. Nearly 1,100 residences were impacted during this event, including 157 homes found to have sustained major damage and one home that was destroyed.
If Governor Rauner’s request for Individual Assistance is approved, people in the approved counties would be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest SBA loans. In addition, affected businesses would be able to apply for low-interest SBA loans.
Legislative leaders talk revenue, budget process
April 13, 2018 By Leave a Comment
A cuts budget, or a no-cuts budget? Either way, whatever Illinois lawmakers pass before the May 31 deadline is likely to include all of the $5 billion income tax increase passed over the governor’s veto last summer.
Here’s the link at Illinois News Network.
Joshu makes first court appearance, bond set at $1 million
April 12, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Bond has been set at $1 million for Phillip Joshu, a 37-year-old Decatur man, accused of having a large amount of illegal drugs in his possession and leading local law enforcement authorities on a high-speed chase on April 5.
Joshu made his initial court appearance Wednesday morning in Franklin County Circuit Court where he is facing eight felony charges stemming from the dangerous pursuit that reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. When Joshu was finally apprehended the following morning on the southeast side of Benton he still had in his possession a large cache of illegal drugs that included two pounds of “crystal” meth, 100 “hits” of LSD, 30 grams of mushrooms and a half pound of marijuana. Police also found one handgun in his possession and another that he threw from his vehicle while police were in pursuit. The methamphetamine had a street value of $80,000.
Franklin County Public Defender Kevin Popit was appointed to represent Joshu and during a brief court appearance asked Judge Eric Dirnbeck to reduce bond. Troy Wise, assistant state’s attorney, argued that the bond should remain at $1 million, citing Joshu’s lengthy criminal history that includes a conviction for second-degree homicide in Macon County in 1999 and two other weapons charges. Wise also pointed out that Joshu was a “serious flight risk” noting that he drove his vehicle on railroad tracks before fleeing on foot and that he had to be tasered before he could be taken into custody. Judge Dirnbeck denied the motion to reduce bond.
Joshu was stopped on a routine traffic stop for speeding on April 5 in West Frankfort while he was traveling northbound on Route 37. When the officer approached the vehicle he noticed a handgun in the floorboard and told Joshu to exit the car. Instead, Joshu sped off with the officer in pursuit and speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour during the six mile distance to Benton, where authorizes there were asked to assist. Joshu turned off Route 37 on to Hudelson street toward Benton Community Park.
Near the point where Hudelson Street intersects with South Du Quoin Street Joshu turned his vehicle on to railroad tracks and drove a short distance before the car became stalled. He then fled on foot into a wooded area near the Benton Park. Officers from West Frankfort, West City, Franklin County Sheriffs Office, Illinois State Police, Christopher and Benton responded, conducting searches and investigating leads throughout the night.
At approximately 7:45 a.m. the following morning (April 6) an officer from the West City Police Department spotted Joshu on Greenwood Street, on the southeast side of Benton. Officers from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, West City and Benton ultimately located Joshu near the 1000 block of South McLeansboro where he was taken into custody. The 6-feet-3, 240 pound Joshu resisted arrest and had to be tasered before he was finally subdued and arrested. The same morning as the arrest was made, an Ameren employee reported finding a handgun just off Route 37 south of Benton. The gun was a .45 caliber pistol later determined to be stolen out of Christian County, IL.
Joshu is facing eight felony counts including two Class X felonies, four Class 3 felonies and two Class 4 felonies. A conviction on a Class X felony carries a penalty of mandatory prison time with a sentencing range of six years minimum and 30 years maximum. One of the Class X felonies Joshu is facing is enhanced and carries a penalty of mandatory prison time with a sentencing range of a minimum of 12 years and a maximum of 60 years.
Joshu is scheduled to be in court again on April 25 for a preliminary hearing.
Rend Lake Dam Road Closed for Repaving April 16 through April 23
April 12, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Rend Lake – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is announcing that the Rend Lake Dam Road will be closed to all through traffic from April 16 through mid-morning on April 23, 2018 so that contractors may safely repave and restripe the road.
The area affected begins at the intersection of the Dam Road and Rend City Road and ends on the east side of the Spillway Bridge, including River Road. Access to the South Marcum Boat Ramp, Spillway Recreation Area, Spillway Dedication Lot, and the Rend Lake Bike Trail will remain open during the closure. Watch for closure signs at Sugar Creek parking lot and the west entrance to the Rend Lake Dam Road. The staff of the Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds you to exercise caution when near these areas as construction will be taking place.
Updated information on this project will be posted on the Rend Lake Project Office/Visitor Center Facebook page. For further information, contact the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center at 618-724-2493.
