Franklin County owed $1 million in reimbursements
West Frankfort Man Granted Patent for New Gate Design
Swofford, with his new patented gate design. (William McPherson – West Frankfort Gazette)
Changes on the West Frankfort school board
There was a huge slate of candidates, and I must say very well qualified candidates, for the Frankfort Community District #168 school board. Incumbents Mary Moreland, Geroge Karoski and Barbara Glodich were defeated in Tuesday’s school board election.
There was a head to head competition two fill the remainder of a two year term. Keith Griffith defeated Amy Durfee with 1134 votes to 705.
There were nine running for the four remaining full terms that were open on the board. Retired Special Education teacher and administrator Gayle Crawford received the most votes with 1,183. Attorney Warren Campbell Brown was second with 1,013. Jon Alexander received 992, and Amanda Tinsley was the last that was elected with 695.
The ones who where not elected had the following votes: Karsoki 668, Sue Forgatch 649, Glodich 633, Moreland 446, and Shannone Steinberger 188.
In the Benton High School District 103 Board race; Whittington Church pastor Mark Minor was the top vote getter with 1,882, dentist Robin LaBuwi 1,636, newcomer to the board Mark Franklin was elected with 1,314 votes. Ronald Slayton was defeated with 704 votes.
In the Benton Grade School District 47 Board race, former BCHS principal Gary Messersmith received the most votes with 991. The other three elected were Brad Wilson 893, Lex Stewart 882, and Derek Stowers 792. Norman Carlile with 728 votes, W. Scott Rice with 679, and Ron Winemiller with 647 votes rounded out the field.
Darren Fletcher (340 votes), Craig Zinzileta (322), Jacob Page (318), and Tommy G. Harmon (267) were elected to the Ewing-Northern grade school board. Susan Shelton was not chosen with 231 votes.
In the Thompsonville Unit District 174 School Board race (Hamilton County Numbers included), Krista McFarland Shelby received the most votes with 193, Natalie Dixon 166, and Michael Miller was also elected with 159. John Bush was defeated with 113 votes.
In the Christopher Unit 99 School Board race, Charles Mazur (505 votes), Angela Basolo-Bond (493) and Susan Raben (387) were elected. Steve Marlow received 335 votes and Angie Montegia 310.
The school board races in the Sesser-Vailer and Akin school districts were uncontested. The final Zeigler-Royalton numbers will be posted at a later date.
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Kendall Marvel live on Anchorage, Alaska TV Station
Chairman Bost Convenes Hearing on Veteran Benefits Legislation
George O’ Connor – Communications Director for Congressman Bost
U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, convened a hearing on Wednesday morning to receive feedback from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Veteran Services Organizations (VSO) on seven legislative measures affecting veterans benefits.
“At times, Republicans and Democrats may come down differently on the particulars of legislation, but today’s hearing was evidence that we all are dedicated to completing our shared mission to provide for our veterans,” said Bost.
Among the legislation receiving feedback were Chairman Bost’s two bills to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to veterans.
“I am proud to advocate for these bills to provide important cost-of-living adjustments to our nation’s veterans and their dependents,” said Bost. “These measures have received bipartisan support in the past, and I will continue to lead my colleagues to ensure the men and women who have served receive the benefits they have earned.”
The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 would provide a cost-of-living increase for wartime disability compensation; compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation in uniform. This increase would begin December 1. You can read the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 here.
Social Security beneficiaries’ COLAs are automatic and do not require Congressional authorization each year. The American Heroes COLA Act of 2017 would authorize the VA Secretary to provide automatic annual COLAs to wartime disability compensation; additional compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation without having to seek Congressional approval. You can read the American Heroes COLA Act of 2017 here.
Benton Police make recent arrests
Marginal risk for severe weather for most of Southern Illinois
NWS Paducah KY Graphic
Most of Southern Illinois is under a marginal risk for severe weather today. After this round of showers and thunderstorms that we are currently experiencing passes, there should be another round this afternoon. The threat of more severe weather is off to our immediate south and east. The counties along the Wabash-Ohio river corridor in Southeast Illinois is under a slight risk.
Here is the latest Hazzardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service in Paducah, KY.
.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight There is a risk of severe thunderstorms this afternoon in areas east of the Mississippi River. Higher chances will exist from the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky northward into adjacent portions of southwest Indiana and the Wash River Valley of southeast Illinois. Damaging wind gusts, hail and even an isolated tornado or two are all possible. .
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday There will be a chance for some scattered frost Friday night over many locations east of the Mississippi River if surface winds manage to go calm. Thunderstorm chances return Monday and especially next Tuesday. Some severe storms cannot be ruled, but lightning and heavy rainfall seem more likely at this time.
Please keep abreast of the current weather situation with your favorite media source today.
