Benton, IL – It is after Christmas and you need to take the tree out of the house. What can you do with it now?  How about helping out some fish with a new home for the holidays. .The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake are asking for your old Christmas trees to improve fish habitat.     Donated trees will be bundled together to create underwater fish structures. These structures serve a variety of purposes such as providing feeding areas for fish of all sizes, refuge for small fish, and excellent fishing spots for anglers.

Christmas trees can be dropped off at any of the following three Rend Lake boat ramps or parking lot locations: Sugar Creek parking lot, located at the intersection of Licata and Mine 21 roads; Dam West boat ramp, located on the west end of the main dam; or Jackie Branch boat ramp, located north of Rt. 154 across from the Barren Township building. Christmas trees will be accepted at these locations until January 16, 2018.  If you are closer to Mt. Vernon, Christmas trees may be recycled at the areas designated by signs at the Veterans Park women’s softball field; Forest Avenue; Optimist Park, 903 Pace Avenue; or Airport Park, 1101 Airport Road until January 5, 2018.

Two additional collection locations have been added through a partnership with the Marion Park District.  The first location will be in Ray Fosse Park, which is located just north of Route 13 on the east end of Marion.  The collection point will be located in the “Goofy Golf” parking lot, just behind the swimming pool, at 519 Parish Ave.  The second collection point will be located at the northernmost picnic

By ReAnne Palmer 

INA, Ill.– Join the most infamous “creepy and kooky, mysterious and spooky” American family this year by auditioning for the Rend Lake College Spring 2018 Musical “The Addams Family.” Auditions for the show will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16 with callbacks set for Thursday, Jan. 18. The musical will open in the RLC Theatre April 5-8.

Actors over the age of 16 are invited to audition in the RLC Theatre. This spring, all roles will have singing parts, said Sara Alstat, Musical Director and RLC Music Professor. Actors should dress professionally and bring an extra set of comfortable clothes to learn dance numbers.

Auditions will also include one minute, or 32 bars, of a song that best shows the actor’s personality and vocal ability, but should not be from the show “The Addams Family.”

Callbacks are also scheduled for 6 p.m. in the RLC Theatre where potential actors will be required to do a cold reading and perform portions of songs from “The Addams Family.” There may also be an additional dance callback.

After the cast announcement, rehearsals will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24 in the RLC Theatre and will be held at the same time and location Mondays through Thursdays, with some exceptions.

For more information about auditions, contact Alstat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1817 or alstats@rlc.edu.

“The Addams Family” is based on characters created by Charles Addams with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa. This original story, written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, focuses on Wednesday Addams who has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family – quite the opposite from the Addams family. The musical escalates to a dinner party where everything changes for both families.

“The Addams Family” will open on the RLC stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, with additional show times at 7 p.m. Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 7. A 2 p.m. showing is also scheduled for Sunday, April 8. Tickets will cost $12 and will be available for purchase on March 19. Contact the RLC Box Office for additional information at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1467.

BENTON –  The public is reminded that all the alleged are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

12-16-17 at 1:23 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on II. State Hwy. 14, ¾ mile east of Long Prairie Road. A 2003 Ford Explorer driven by Samantha A. Pauls age 28 of Macedonia was east bound on Rt. 14, first exited the roadway on the south side striking a mailbox, then it re-entered the roadway, crossing both lanes, then exited the road on the north side, striking a post and road sign, continuing into a field, overturning several times before coming to rest on its wheels. The driver and only occupant received major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott Ambulance. The driver has been ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and operating an uninsured vehicle. The crash is still under investigation as alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

12-16-17 at 2:13 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash in rural Benton on North DuQuoin Street at Licata Road. A 2006 Jeep driven by Katherine D. Valleroy age 28 of Benton was east bound on Licata Rd. and failed to negotiate the curve at DuQuoin St., traveling off the roadway and striking a tree. The driver and a passenger both left the scene and failed to report the crash. The passenger, Cory D. Payne age 28 received minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital. The driver was located and arrested for felony driving while license suspended, leaving the scene of an accident, illegal transportation of alcohol, operating an uninsured vehicle and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

12-16-17 at 12:49 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Log Cabin Rd. A 2017 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Zane A. Wilson age 19 of Mt. Vernon was south bound on Log Cabin Rd. traveling behind a United States Postal Service vehicle, a Grumman LLV-A driven by Kimberly L. Whitecotton age 48 of Zeigler. The driver of the postal vehicle slowed to negotiate a left turn onto Tucker Rd. The driver of the Chevrolet Cruze attempted to pass, striking the postal vehicle. There were no injuries and Zane A. Wilson was ticketed for improper passing at an intersection.

12-17-17 at 3:02 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on Deering Road 500 feet south of Ruembler Crossing. A 2013 GMC Terrain had apparently been traveling south bound and had been driven off the east side of the roadway into the creek. The driver, Jeffery J. Jones age 37 of Carterville, had left the scene and did not report the crash. He was later located at a residence in Logan. He was arrested for felony theft (the vehicle), felony driving while license revoked, leaving the scene of a crash and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

12-18-17 at 1:00 pm Deputies initiated an investigation into the actual living arrangements of a registered sexual predator, Al W. Goodman age 58. Goodman was registered as living in West City. Deputies had developed information that Goodman had actually been living in West Frankfort for some time. The investigation revealed that Goodman had been living with a family in West Frankfort for more than a month and had failed to report his actual address. Goodman was arrested and charged with violating the sexual offender statue by unlawfully failing to register.

12-19-17 at 7:48 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Akin Blacktop at Rt. 34. A 2003 Chevrolet Astrovan driven by Carlos E. Perez age 22 of Hamilton Ohio, was east bound on Rt. 34 behind a 2004 Ford Freestar, driven by Marsha D. Wyant age 67 of Benton. The Ford slowed in traffic to negotiate a left turn and was rear-ended by the Astrovan. There were no injuries and Carlos Perez was ticketed for no valid driver’s license and failure to reduce sped to avoid a traffic crash.

12-19-17 at 1:57 pm Deputies responded to a one vehicle traffic crash on Deering Road just south of Burton Drive. A 2003 Mazda truck driven by Deborah Z. Richardson age 64 of Thompsonville was north bound and failed to negotiate a curve, running off the road, overturning in a steep ditch. The driver was not injured, but had to be extracted by West Frankfort Fire Fighters who also responded.

12-20-17 at 12:52 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on II. Rt. 149 at Cardinal Road. A United States Mail Service vehicle driven by Angela M. Irvin age 44 of Orient was east bound on Rt. 149 was stopped in traffic attempting to negotiate a left turn onto Cardinal Road. A 2013 Dodge Pick-Up driven by Robert C. Fuller age 70 of Carterville was behind the mail vehicle and struck the vehicle in a rear-end type collision. Both drivers received non-life threatening injuries and both were transported to a local hospital by West Frankfort Fire EMS. Robert Fuller was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

WARRANTS 

12-11-17 Devin A. Odaniel age 24 of Logan. Failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia.

12-12-17 Cameron A. Curry age 29 of Marion. Failure to appear for possession of cannabis.

12-13-17 Stephanie M. Doxie age 25 of Benton. Failure to appear for retail theft.

12-14-17 Darren M. Johnson age 27 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear for residential burglary.

12-14-17 Samantha J. George age 25 of Sesser. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

12-14-17 John R. Majdich age 36 of Benton. Failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia.

12-14-17 Kasey M. Claycamp age 21 of West Frankfort. Possession of methamphetamine.

12-16-17 Michael R. Bean age 40 of Florissant Missouri. Theft and forgery

12-16-17 Mark A. Eaton age 25 of DuQuoin. Failure to appear for retail theft.

12-19-17 Ryan L. Akin age 24 of Benton. Failure to appear for possession of cannabis.

12-20-17 Jonathan S. Stanley age 25 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

12-20-17 Jeannie A. Franklin age 36 of Carbondale. Failure to appear for possession of a controlled substance.

12-21-17 Eli C. Childers age 20 of Cibola Texas. Unlawful violation of an order of protection and failure to appear on traffic charges.

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/37104430/the-unintended-victims-of-meth

ZEIGLER –  Meth use in our area keeps rising, as a flood of the drug flows from Mexico into southern Illinois neighborhoods.

DW.com

Use and addiction to the drugs, often hurts the user’s family as much as the user themselves.

Ziegler police chief Ben Burkhamer is on the front lines of fighting methamphetamine in Southern Illinois.

“Of course this is a nationwide epidemic, it’s not unique to our particular area, although some of these smaller towns it seems like we notice it a lot more,” he said.

Please click on the link below to read the full story from Andrew Feather of WSIL=TV