Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Shannon Braden- Franklin County Sheriff’s office Image
A Franklin County man was arrested Friday afternoon on sex abuse charges.
Shannon L. Braden, 43, of Benton is facing 4 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and 1 count of indecent solicitation of a child.
The victim is a 15-year-old high school student.
Braden’s arrest is the latest in an ongoing criminal investigation. More arrests in connection with this case are possible.
He’s being held at the Franklin County Jail.
The Benton Street Department would like to alert motorists of a street closure beginning on Monday, June 5th. Joplin Street to Frisco Street will be closed to drivers other than local traffic due to street repairs. The closure will be in effect for two days.
BENTON, IL – (William McPherson – Benton Gazette. Please Click to read the full story. Here is an excerpt)
Public Safety Commissioner Don Storey had two purchase orders approved during his section of the council meeting. One was for two 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptors which were approved for purchase at $27,750 each for a total of $55,500 to be taken out of the capital improvements fund.
The other was for a fence around the generator at the new police department coming out of the new building fund. Labor for the project was donated by police and fire, leaving building materials the only cost which came to $957.77 from Stotlars in Benton.
Mayor Kondritz thanked Commissioners Story and Justin Wyant for working together for the recent improvements to the new Police Station, specifically improvements to the parking lot. They added that they plan to work on the alleys by the new Police Department later this Summer.
The council went into executive session to discuss a personal matter but took no action.
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35536855/benefit-held-in-support-of-young-girl-with-cancer
BENTON, IL (Sean Conway, WSIL-TV Please click to read the full story and watch the video. Here is an excerpt)
Hundreds gathered at the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in Benton on Sunday for a benefit in support of a young girl recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.
10 year old Makanda Williams, of Macedonia, had been experiencing severe headaches on and off for the past year.
“It’s kind of like a mini-brain freeze, just for like 5 to ten minutes,” she said. “Then it goes away.”
Makanda was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive and rare childhood brain cancer. She said she has kept up her spirits while beginning her treatments.
Local authorities are pursuing Alan Bennett, who left the scene after, a 40 year-old Benton resident obtained a gunshot wound. The suspect is pictured above.
The shooting took place in the 1200 block of Anna street.
He is described as a white male with a bald head, standing 6’1 and weighing 250 lbs.
Bennett is a relative of the victim, according to police.
Authorities consider Bennett to be armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him, call 911.
Anyone with information as to Bennett’s whereabouts can also call Benton Police at 618-435-8131, or your local law enforcement agency.
From the District #47 website.
BENTON, IL – (Holly Kee – Benton Evening News – Please click link to read the full story above. Here is an excerpt below.)
For the past six years, Jay Goble has led the Benton Grade School District 47, bringing it safely through the state’s financial crisis while upgrading both curriculum and facilities.
In just over 30 days, Goble will leave the district and school he’s called home to take the reigns at the North Mac School District.
“I’m a change agent,” Goble said in an interview on Monday. “I like to evaluate and organization and find areas to improve.”
Goble said the Board of Education is currently seeking candidates and hopes to hire a replacement by the end of June.
His last day on the job in Benton is June 30. He will begin his new duties at North Mac July 1.
http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35490548/seven-southern-illinois-towns-to-receive-grants
FRANKLIN COUNTY, IL (WSIL -TV Please click on the link for the full story. Here is an excerpt.
WSIL — Seven Southern Illinois towns will split nearly $3 million in grant money to help spruce up their communities.
The Department of Economic Opportunity grants will go to the following towns:
http://www.heartlandweekend.com/escape-room-historic-jail/
The former Franklin County Jail. (KFVS _TV photo)
BENTON, IL – (KFVS -TV Heartland News Weekend-Please click on the link for the full story and accompaying videos. Here is an excerpt below)
The running question at the Franklin County Historic Jail Museum: notorious southern Illinois gangster Charlie Birger couldn’t break out of this jail, can you?
That’s because the historic jail, which was built in 1905, now doubles as an escape room.
He tried to bust his way out, but his attempt was unsuccessful.
Are you smarter than Birger?
ReAnne Palmer- RLC Public information
Rend Lake College officials want to congratulate the Class of 2017 for another successful year. The 50th Annual RLC Commencement was held Saturday, May 13 in James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium. A total of 633 graduates were conferred 681 Associate Degrees and 454 Occupational Certificates for a total of 1,135 degrees and certificates. Bob Carlock, retired vice president of finance and administration at RLC, was the keynote speaker.
BENTON – Gary Allan, Michael Allan, Alison Anthis, Ashley K. Atkins, Alissa Bain, Leigha Bain, Deryck Bates, Jonathon Carson Batts, Kelly L. Bishop, Brandtlee Abram Brown, Brandi Nicole Cairns, Cali M. Carney, Aubrionna Casey, Joseph James Clinton, Kaleigh Cole, Mariann R. Cook, Lindsey Marie Cox, Zoie Paige Crain, Bria Leigh Curry, Pari Morgan Davis, Mackenzi Dollins, Heather Crystal Drew, Chason Lee Dunford, Rachel Raquel Easton, Curtis Alan Eubanks, Emeri-Jean Allyce Farnam, Connor Foltz, Samantha Franklin, David Bradley Garrett Jr., Sadie Hall, Abbigail E. Hart, Kelsey Morgan Head, Nicholas Sebastian Hoffman, Katelyn J. Houghland, Sarah E. Hubbard, Laura Katherine Jamerson, Emmy-Leigh Jay, Robin Nicole Johnson, Caleb James Kearney, Christine Keppler-Clayton, Amy Kovarik, Molly LaRae McGuire, Matthew Krug, Dakotah Micheal Lampley, Leanne Ledbetter, Shelby Lewis, Alaina Lynch, Dionna Grace Martin, Jayme Martinez, Janie Marie McMurray, Mallorie Melvin, Darian O’Brien Menees, Brandon Meyer, Kenneth A. Miner, Lindell Ray Minor, Virginia Morgan, Devon Jean Morris, Lorie Jane Nalley, Ashley Odom, Samantha R. Orrill, Ben Pankey, Gabriel Price, Joshua Price, Tarron Pulliam, Presley Robbins, Naylin Ronchetto, Charles Schram, Jenna McKay Shadowens, Andrea Linda-Marie Shaw, Kerrie Smith, Dylan Snyder, Kassie N. Spencer, Whitney Summers, John David Sweet, Nathan Watkins, Allee Nicole Wellen, John R. Wilder IV, Jacob Young
BUCKNER – Alyx Michaela Starkweather
CHRISTOPHER – Andrew David Benard, Jacob Ross Burkitt, Michael Taylor Calloni, Julie Y. Faling, Austin Frey, Zoie Danielle Frey, Amanda Gant, Nicole D. Howell, Jacob Allen Jablonski, Trevor Johnson, Kailey Kerkemeyer, Brittany N. Lowery, Camryn Joan Maloney, Erica Lynn Maple, Micah Motsinger, Kayla Parrish, Adam Jay Porter, Annabelle Lea Shukites, Jacob W. Underwood
COELLO – Joseph N. Shaw
EWING – Jaylyn Cozart, Delta Dawn Hermann, Ike Hutchcraft, Wade M. Hutchens, Kacee Leann Roberts
LOGAN – Dakota Casey, Nicole Marie Mullins
MACEDONIA – Bailey Jo Hiestand, Terrence Anthony Richard Marshall, Anthony L. Page, Danielle Rena Richardson, Martin John Ward
MULKEYTOWN – Brianna Bowlin, Ryan Andrew Curry, Allanna C Garrison, Michael T. Hoffman, Cameron Jones, Tara Chantell Law, Loghan Danielle Matyi, John Rapp, Christopher Richard, Breanna Faye Whitley, Cindra F. Wroblewski
ORIENT – Brittany Segatto
ROYALTON – Meghan Marie Clark, Kassandra Jones, Brandon Stubblefield, Stephan Threewitt, Austin D. Walker
SESSER – Ashly Lynn Brown, Reginald Joseph Eubanks, Johnathon Leonard Galloway, Cody Hamm, Blaine Leslie, Nicholas David Marlo Caleb I. Mays, David Nelson, Brianna Joyce Risley, Kyle Andrew Robinson, Monica Lynn Scott, Skylyn DeVonne L. Simpson, Luke William Thompson, Matthew D. Wallinger, Kieran S. White
THOMPSONVILLE – Maleissa Anne Baney, Charlene Boyd, Chelsey
Lynn Bundy, Kayla Follmer, Brady German, Cecily Ann Heusner, Austin Kerley, Austin Michael Kessler, David K. Payne, Kenzie Nichole Rizor, Kyle J. Shimkus, Kenise Rashelle Smith, Damien Sky Wilburn
VALIER – Sophi Rai Johnson, Bailee Lynn Jones, Jamie Jones, Courtney D. Smith
WEST CITY – Amanda Frankart
WEST FRANKFORT – Alexa L. Beavers, John Fenton Bowers, Shannon Browning, Jared Lee Eastwood, Garrett Karoski, Makenzie Kondoudis, Brittany Nicole Long, Alexis Rae Newell, Charles Saunders, Amber Marie Sloan, Kailee Spears, Adam Wiggins, Bryce Timothy Wiley, Kathryn Nichole Wise
WHITTINGTON – Dakota J. Head, Tabitha Hopkins, Noah Jones, Nathan Scott MacDonald, Jennifer Young
ZEIGLER – Breanna Renee Davis, Bailey Schimpf
by ReAnne Palmer: Rend Lake College Pubic Information
The RLCFCC Class of 2017 is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Gia McPhearson (Benton), Layla Thompson (Sesser), Cloe Allen (Bonnie), Lennon Shively (Mt. Vernon), and Brystol Bilderbeck (McLeansboro); MIDDLE ROW, Branson Rankin (Ina), Cole Carpenter (Waltonville), Gabriel Hays (Ina), Jansen Suhling (Ina), Breckin Suhling (Ina), Crosby Cox (Benton), and Aydyn Skidmore (Mt. Vernon).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
The Rend Lake College Foundation Children’s Center (RLCFCC) graduated 12 students from the Pre-K class last Friday in the RLC Theatre. In addition to receiving their diplomas, the dozen students also sang the alphabet song and watched a slideshow from their last year at the RLCFCC.
Opening the ceremony, RLCFCC Director Brooke May welcomed family and friends, and thanked them for their support over the last year. She said, “Once you come to the RLC Foundation Children’s Center, you are always family. Our doors are always open, and we invite you to come back for a visit.”
Pre-K Teacher Rene Crouse also thanked those in attendance and provided encouraging words for her students entering kindergarten next year. She said, “It’s been my pleasure to watch these 12 amazing little people grow and learn over the past year. They’ve worked very hard to prepare for kindergarten and I know they’re going to do great next year.”
Former student and speaker Mackenzie Smith
Mackenzie Smith of Goreville, a 2004 RLCFCC Pre-K graduate and former resident of Benton, also addressed the audience and spoke of her five years at the center. In fact, Smith’s impression of the RLCFCC has lasted throughout her life and is one reason she will attend Murray State University this fall to major in Early Childhood Education.
“In my years here, I had some of the richest learning experiences of my life. The Rend Lake College Foundation Children’s Center is the brightest example of expanding educational horizons and portraying excellence in action,” said Smith. “There is no better educational foundation than right here. Not only did my teachers care and help make me smarter, but they made my heart bigger. This center is so important to me because, at this early age, brains are like sponges, ready to soak up all you have to offer, and are ready to foster a love for school like I did early on.”
Graduates and their families alongside RLC faculty and staff enjoyed a reception following the graduation ceremony in the RLCFCC’s new addition, the Skill Development Room.
More photos can be found on RLC’s Flickr page.
