Franklin County Supports Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois

Franklin County Government is proud to support Severe Weather Preparedness Week, March 4th – 10th, 2018.

BENTON – Franklin County officials are teaming up with the State of Illinois and the National Weather Service to support Severe Weather Preparedness Week; a statewide effort designed to increase awareness of the severe weather that affects everyone and to encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to know their risk, take action, and be an example.

Being prepared to act quickly could be a matter of survival. This is especially evident during the threat of severe weather. On February 28th, 2017, a massive EF-4 Tornado scared the landscape of western Franklin County leaving behind a path of destruction that destroyed three homes. Director of Emergency Management Ryan M. Buckingham is encouraging residents to take three simple steps to be better prepared for severe weather:

Step 1: Know Your Risk: The first step to becoming storm ready is to understand the type of hazardous weather that can affect where you live and work, and how the weather could impact you and your family. Check the weather forecast regularly, obtain a NOAA All-Hazards Radio, and learn about Wireless Emergency Alerts. Severe weather comes in many forms and your shelter plan should include all types of local hazards.

Step 2: Take Action: Before storms strike, develop a family communication plan, create or purchase an emergency supplies kit and NOAA All-Hazards Radio. You can also sign up for free text alerts from Franklin County Emergency Management Agency by texting your zip code to the number 888777.

Step 3: Be an Example: Share your preparedness story with your friends and family on social media. Letting others know that you’re prepared will prompt them to prepare as well. Studies show that many people use social media in the event of a disaster to let relatives and friends know they are safe. Being weather ready is a collective effort. It takes the whole community to effectively prepare for, protect against, respond to, and recover from the damages caused by tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and other severe weather.

Contact:

Office of the Director of Emergency Management Ryan M. Buckingham 618-439-4362 information@franklincountyema.com
Office of the Director of Emergency Management Office: (618) 439-4EMA  24 Hour Emergency: (618) 438-4841 www.franklincountyema.cominformation@franklincountyema.com

“We are proud to support the goals of Severe Weather Preparedness Week” said Director of Emergency Management Ryan M. Buckingham. “We hope citizens and visitors will take advantage of the activities we have planned for the week and better prepare for severe weather”, added the Director.

Local events scheduled for this week include:

 Free NOAA All-Hazards Radio Programming – Have you purchased a NOAA Weather Radio but need help programming it? Let us help! Officials will be at the following locations to program radios throughout the week:

Monday, March 5th – Wal-Mart (West City) – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Tuesday, March 6th – Cowboy Up Auto (Christopher) – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Wednesday, March 7th – Kroger (West Frankfort) – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Thursday, March 8th – Cowboy Up Auto (Christopher) – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Friday, March 9th – Rural King (West City) – 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

 Monday, March 5th – SKYWARN Storm Spotter Training – Sponsored by Franklin County EMA, West City Fire Department and National Weather Service starting at 6:00 PM at the West City Community Center located at 201 S. Browning Street in West City. This event is free and open to the public. Come out and learn how to detect and report severe weather!

 Tuesday, March 6th – A Statewide Tornado Drill will commence at 10:00 AM. Local warning systems will be activated to allow residents and business owners the opportunity to practice their severe weather preparedness plans.

Share this information with your friends on social media using the hash tag #SWPW18! Join us on Twitter @FCEMA and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FCEMA. Learn more about Franklin County Emergency Management Agency at our website at www.franklincountyil.gov/FCEMA.

Wreck on I-57 in Mt. Vernon

MT. VERNON  –   Several media sources are reporting  there has been an accident,, involving a pedestrian and a semi on Route 57, just south of the North 57-64 split.

The website Getting Around Illinois is showing heavy congestion right at exit 95 both ways, and on Broadway in Mt. Vernon.

Please avoid this area as emergency crews are on the scene.  – Steve

Sunny and beautiful today….rain moving in after midnight

Departing High pressure will yield one more nice weather day today, before letting clouds increase tonight, as rain sets in to start the new work week. (NWS Paducah)

Seven Day Forecast

Today
Sunny, with a high near 57. East southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Showers likely after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. East southeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Monday
Showers. High near 52. East southeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Monday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 36. South southwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming west in the evening.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. West southwest wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
Tuesday Night
A slight chance of rain showers, mixing with snow after 11pm, then gradually ending. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. West wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
Wednesday Night
Widespread frost after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday
Widespread frost before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West northwest wind 7 to 11 mph.
Thursday Night
Widespread frost after 1am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 27. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable.
Friday
Widespread frost. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 49. South wind 5 to 9 mph.
Friday Night
A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. South wind 8 to 10 mph.
Saturday
A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 57. South wind around 9 mph.

Flood Warning Continues for the Big Muddy

…The flood warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois… Big Muddy River near Plumfield and Murphysboro .

The Big Muddy River at Plumfield and Murphysboro will continue to fall into next week. Minor flooding is ongoing at Plumfield and is forecast to fall below flood stage by midday tomorrow. Moderate flooding is ongoing at Murphysboro and is forecast to fall below flood stage by Thursday night.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… SAFETY MESSAGE… Never drive cars…trucks or sport utility vehicles through flooded areas. The water may be too deep to allow safe passage. Never allow children to play in or near flood waters. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for further statements and possible updated forecasts.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .
DAY ONE…Today and Tonight Flood warnings continue. Reference the warnings and statements for details.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Monday through Saturday Continuing flooding and details thereof may be referenced via the latest warnings and statements.

Frost is expected Wednesday night and Thursday night, when Lows are forecast in the 20s.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT… Spotter activation is not anticipated at this time.

An Insight into the Illinois State Police Meth Response Team

From The Illinois State Police – District 13

DU QUOIN – As we continue our special series examining the positions a Trooper can hold in the Illinois State Police, we are taking a look at these jobs for a twofold purpose:

  • To make the ISP more transparent as an agency. It gives the public a view into what we do to make their communities safer.
  • As a recruiting tool. If you’re thinking about a career in law enforcement the ISP has a ton of opportunity for you in positions you may not have even considered. So if you are pondering the job of a police officer, or know someone who is, check out the last 5 Saturday’s posts and stay tuned each Saturday

As with all specialty positions in the ISP, this group of individuals have received specialized training making them subject experts. Their training includes DEA certifications on safely dismantling labs, rolling or stationary, with yearly recertification to remain active.

The MRT provides the ISP, County Sheriff’s Departments and City Police Departments with the resources to handle these dangerous criminal activities. MRT also serves as it own Crime Scene Investigator due to the hazardous nature of the substances they work with.

They document for prosecution, photograph, weigh and dispose of the precursors typically found in meth labs. They provide expert testimony in court regarding meth related activity and serve the community through their contributions of locking drug abusers and manufacturers behind bars. They are also subject to 24/7/365 call out to handle these duties. They also provide resources to educators in the community concerning drug abuse trends and detection.

College Signing Days celebrate students who choose Rend Lake College

By ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public Information 

RLC’s College Signing Days begin later this month at Hamilton County Senior High School. Last year, Hamilton County sent 51 seniors to RLC – one of the biggest classes of the year.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

INA  – Rend Lake College is continuing to celebrate local high school seniors who choose to further their education with College Signing Days. The event, back for a third year, invites high schoolers to take pride in their choice to attend college.

During College Signing Days, Academic Advisors travel to each of the 13 high schools in RLC’s district to speak one-on-one with students and help them prepare for their first semester of college life. This includes addressing concerns, answering questions, and registering students for summer and fall 2018 classes.

The high school students will also receive a one-of-a-kind T-Shirt celebrating their first step into higher education, followed by the signing of a banner and photo.

College Signing Days kick off on this month with visits to Hamilton County Senior, Norris City-Omaha-Enfield, and Sesser-Valier high schools. The month of April will highlight seniors at Christopher, Mt. Vernon Township, Pinckneyville Community, Waltonville, Wayne City, and Woodlawn high schools. RLC will wrap up College Signing Days in May at Benton Consolidated, Thompsonville, and Webber Township high schools.

According to the U. S. Department of Education, college graduates typically earn more and are less likely to face unemployment than those with a high school diploma.

Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a postsecondary degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. In fact, by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require college education or training.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 is going on now. Classes start the week of June 4-8 for the summer semester and during the week of August 20-24 for the fall semester. Contact RLC’s Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266 to schedule an appointment for summer or fall registration. 

RLC is a comprehensive community college located in Ina in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degree and occupational certificate programs, preparing students for transfer to a four-year university or direct entry into the workforce. To learn more about RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/journey.

Senator Paul Schimpf Week in Review: February 26 – March 2, 2018

From State Senator Paul Schimpf (R-Waterloo)

Earlier in the week Sen. Schimpf was lucky to be in the company of Trico Senior High Schoolers Haleigh Turner, (left), Jade Kranawetter, and Juhle Prange in Springfield. The three seniors had a jam-packed day of learning on Tuesday, Feb. 27, as his Honorary Pages. (From State Senator Paul Schimpf)

Higher Education Working Group

Senator Paul Schimpf’s week in Springfield began with a meeting of the Higher Education Working Group. This bipartisan group of legislators from the Illinois House and Senate has been meeting since December to identify ways the Illinois legislature can support our state universities and community colleges.

After listening to universities discuss their strategies for recruitment and retention of applicants, the working group reached tentative agreement on reforms to increase the likelihood that Illinois students will stay in state for higher education.

Ideas included:

  • Changes to a common application
  • Reforms to merit scholarships
  • Reforms to tax credits

The working group will turn next to the structure of higher education governance in Illinois.

“No” votes on gun bills

This week Sen. Schimpf voted against the two pieces of gun control legislation that came before him in the Illinois Senate.

“In my opinion, these bills are more concerned with scoring political points than ensuring the safety of our students,” said Schimpf. “They both significantly limit our Second Amendment rights.”

Senator Schimpf voted against HB 772 which would set up a process where an individual’s immediate and extended family can petition a judge to order the confiscation of their firearms without notice to the individual in question. This is a problem because the process sets the lowest possible burden of proof for the judge to grant the request. In essence, the law would be setting up on-demand weapon confiscation with no legal safeguards for the firearm owner.

“This bill is unnecessary,” said Schimpf. “Illinois law already provides that a person who is subject to an existing order of protection may not lawfully possess weapons under the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.”

Sen. Schimpf also voted against legislation to implement SB 1657.  The bill would create a new gun dealer licensing bureaucracy within Illinois government.

“I have concerns that this proposal doesn’t treat big box stores, like Walmart, the same as the local ‘mom and pop’ stores in our communities,” said Schimpf. “This proposal will make doing business much more difficult for Southern Illinois gun stores. This is another example of politicians placing Chicago solutions on the rest of the state.”

Despite the Senator’s “No” vote – both bills passed, SB 1657 is awaiting further action by the Governor. HB 772 had to return to the House because the Senate amended the bill. The House has to concur on that amendment before it can receive final approval and be sent to the Governor.

Hospital Assessment Vote

Changes are coming to Illinois’ Hospital Assessment Program following the overwhelming passage of bipartisan legislation to authorize the continuation of the Hospital Assessment Program. The program will enhance Medicaid managed care transparency and oversight.

The program brings in $3.5 billion annually to support access to healthcare for over three million Illinoisans who are insured by Medicaid. The program is fully financed by hospitals and the federal government—there is no cost to the state. The goal of all lawmakers from the very beginning was to direct limited dollars to those individuals who need it, in the fairest possible way.

The final package will preserve access to healthcare for all Illinoisans, especially vulnerable populations in rural and urban communities, including those served by Safety Net and Critical Access Hospitals.

Veterans’ Affairs Committee to Meet

The Illinois Veterans’ Home at Quincy will likely make headlines again next week as the fourth Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing is slated for Monday, March 5, in Chicago. The outbreaks at the facility have turned into a wicked problem, confounding elected officials, medical professionals, and healthcare administrators, alike.

Despite efforts by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to eliminate the bacteria through heating, chemical treatment, and filtration, four residents have recently tested positive for Legionnaires’ disease—the most recent being the week of Feb. 19.

“Since December 2017, I have visited the site and participated in several legislative hearings, conference calls, and meetings,” Schimpf said. “Despite this information gathering, I cannot fathom why the home still tests positive for Legionella.  I will continue holding our Veterans’ Affairs and Public Health leaders accountable until we can identify why our veterans are at risk.”

Life Skills Re-Entry Center Soon to Re-open

On Friday, March 2, Sen. Schimpf spoke at a ceremony at the Pinckneyville Correctional Center where more than 60 cadets graduated from the training academy. The new correctional officers are bound for new roles at the Life Skills Re-Entry Center in Murphysboro.

“Without question, this is a positive day for these people, our new cadets, the City of Murphysboro, and the State of Illinois,” said Schimpf. “I’m proud to be a part of it all, witnessing the changes we need to see in our region unfold. I commend Governor Bruce Rauner, Representative Terri Bryant, and the Department of Corrections for their hard work in reopening this facility.”

Honorary Pages for a Day

Earlier in the week Sen. Schimpf was lucky to be in the company of Trico Senior High Schoolers Haleigh Turner, (left), Jade Kranawetter, and Juhle Prange in Springfield. The three seniors had a jam-packed day of learning on Tuesday, Feb. 27, as his Honorary Pages.

Valliant comeback by Sesser-Valier falls short in Sectional Final game against Goreville

 

The Goreville Blackcats became the Southern Illinois Blackcats last night as the cut down the nets in Oxford Gym last night in the win over Sesser-Valier. (Goreville Community Unit 1 photo) 

ELIZABETHTOWN –  The Sesser-Valier Red Devils fall short to the Goreville Blackcats, 48-44 in the sectional final game at Hardin County last night.

Preston Launius led the Devils with 17 points last night, Tyler Winchester added 13, and Lukas Gunter added seven.

Braden Webb led the way for the Blackcats with 13 points, Tanner Dunn added 11, and, Cole Tosh added nine.

Goreville is in uncharted territory for their program.  They advance to the Elite Eight facing Mowequa Central A & M in the Class 1A Super Sectional at the SIU arena. They were 69-56 winners over Nokoms last night, on A & M’s home floor.

Two teams in the Sweet 16 (it will never be Super 16 in my book) shows the strength of the BDC West.  Christopher and Chester playing in regional championship games, speaks volumes how tough this conference is night in and night out.

Link from Jack Bullock of A Baseline View

http://abaselineview.com/abvsvgoreville.html

Link from Les Winkeler of the Southern Illinoisan

http://thesouthern.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/boys-basketball-goreville-gets-past-sesser-valier-to-win-sectional/article_9f129a59-5cd2-5507-ab28-95304ff7a7ba.html

Learn to love your brain during Brain Awareness Month

From Southern Illinois University News Service 

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Your brain is essential to everything you do, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Cognitive Sciences Graduate Organization wants you to take better care of it. To help, the registered student organization has events lined up throughout March designed highlight the many facets of brain health.

“The brain really is the powerhouse of everything you do,” said Jennica Young, a doctoral candidate in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences Program, who is helping organize the event. “We want more people thinking about ways to protect your brain, and keep it safer. Because it helps you with all your function.”

Image from bebrainfit.com

Events cover many aspects of brain health

Brain Awareness Month, an extension of a week-long event held over Spring Break in previous years, will include events focused on different aspects of brain health. All the events are free and open to the public.

Other sponsors for the events include Sigma Xi, Health and Wellness, the SIU Psychology Program and the Graduate and Professional Student Council.

“Brain awareness encompasses a lot of things,” Young said, including mental health, injury, conditions such as epilepsy and diseases such as Alzheimer’s. SIU’s events will focus on substance abuse, traumatic brain injury and mental health.

Resilience and Coping with Stress Workshop, March 6

The first event will be a workshop designed to help students better manage stress and difficult events. Attendees will learn coping methods such as meditation, relaxation exercises and mindfulness techniques.

Workshop leaders will also provide guidance for breaking cycles of negative thinking and developing a more positive outlook. Young said people should walk away with research-based tools for managing and coping with both every day stressors and more intense situations.

“They should also know that it’s not just them,” Young said. “I’m really hoping they just take away a good message about how to better themselves and move forward.”

The workshop will be at 2:30 p.m., March 6 in Morris Library rooms 752 and 754.

Mental health and substance abuse lecture, March 23

Dr. Jonathan Hammersley, an assistant professor at Western Illinois University, will discuss his research on the correlations between mental health and substance abuse in college students at 3 p.m., March 23 in the Life Sciences III Auditorium.

Hammersley has investigated how domestic abuse and sexual assault relate to suicidal thoughts in college students; how nicotine and smoking affect cognition and mental health; and how students’ estimates of their friends’ drug use affected mental health.

“It’s kind of an open secret,” Young said. “We know students are using, but we don’t talk about it or address it.”

‘Crash Reel’ viewing and panel discussion, March 29

“Crash Reel” follows Kevin Pearce, a U.S. champion snowboarder who suffered a brain injury while training for the 2010 Olympics. The film shows Pearce’s recovery and the lasting impacts of traumatic brain injury.

The film will play at 1 p.m., March 29 at the Guyon Auditorium, followed by a panel discussion about traumatic brain injury, treatments, and recovery.

Traumatic brain injury takes a personal toll

Young said she is especially passionate about the effects of traumatic brain injury after watching her sister recover from an accident 12 years ago, when she fell into a metal pole and has since struggled with cognitive impairments, vision problems, seizures and other effects.

“She progressed through high school, but it took a lot of work,” Young said, adding that her sister’s teachers would come to their house to provide extra help with her school work. Her sister has gone on to graduate college, but still has seizures and often has to change prescriptions for eye glasses.

“Your neurons start to slowly regenerate,” Young said. “It’s not like a cut, where it heals in a couple of weeks. It’s a really slow process.”

Wear a helmet and take your vitamins

That is one reason Young said she thinks it is so important to educate people about brain health. The effects of traumatic brain injury can be mitigated with a healthy lifestyle and taking simple steps to reduce risk.

“I see a lot of students on campus riding bikes without helmets,” Young said. “Unfortunately, they also ride in the road. That’s not a good combination.”

She added that students who do wear helmets, whether to ride bicycles or play in a sport, do not often understand how to care for the equipment.

“Once a helmet gets hit, you have to get a new helmet,” she said. “Because it’s not as effective the second time it gets hit.”

Young said in addition to taking protective measures like wearing a helmet and walking cautiously on icy days, lifestyle choices can have a big impact on brain health.

Regular exercise has been shown to protect memory and cognition as people age, as has an improved diet which includes more fruits and vegetables. Continued education, like taking an occasional college class, also helps prevent dementia and mental decline.

“Take your vitamins,” Young said, quoting research showing that traumatic brain injury depletes a number of nutrients, including B-vitamins and magnesium. She said a daily multivitamin can help keep those stores high in case something should happen.

Other events and fundraisers

Young said event organizers are planning several other events throughout March to help raise awareness and money.

The Cognitive Sciences Student Organization is selling T-shirts featuring the Alzheimer’s Association’s “10 Ways to Love Your Brain” logo throughout the month, and Pagliai’s Pizza will donate a portion of its proceeds on March 29 to the Alzheimer’s Association.

In addition, Brain and Cognitive Science students are planning outreach at the Prairie Living at Chautauqua assisted living community on March 15.

Illinois Statehood Forever Stamp Dedicated Today

From the U.S. Postal Service, St. Louis Region 

SPRINGFIELD, IL — Illinois, our nation’s 21st state, will celebrate its bicentennial Dec. 3, 2018. To celebrate this milestone, the U.S. Postal Service dedicated the Illinois Statehood Forever stamp today at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield.

“We are thrilled to honor Illinois as a state that has been instrumental to American ingenuity and the American spirit,” said U.S. Postal Service Acting Customer and Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Jacqueline Krage Strako in dedicating the stamp. “The truth is: Illinois defies simple definition. It’s cosmopolitan and quaint, tough and nurturing — all at the same time. It’s a state with broad shoulders, a caring heart and Midwestern grit and values. Illinois is where the heartland calls home.”

Joining Krage Strako in the dedication were Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner (via video), Deputy Governor Leslie Munger, Springfield Mayor James Langfelder, Illinois Bicentennial Commission Co-Chair Randy Dunn and Illinois State Historian Sam Wheeler.

“The U.S. Postal Service has designed a remarkable stamp to commemorate our Bicentennial,” said Rauner. “This Statehood Stamp reminds us of the many great contributions Illinois has made to the country and society over the past 200 years. We’re grateful to stamp designer and Illinois artist Michael Konetzka for his creativity.”

“We thank the United States Postal Service for The Illinois Statehood Stamp, an important and exciting piece of our Bicentennial celebration,” said Munger.” This national recognition of our state’s 200th birthday is a tribute to Illinois’ rich history and makes us all Illinois proud.”

Stamp ideas welcome
The public is encouraged to submit stamp suggestions. Visit the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee website for details on the stamp selection process and instructions for submitting suggestions in writing. Due to the time required for research and approval, ideas for stamp subjects should be received at least three years prior to the proposed release. Each submission should include pertinent historical information and important dates associated with the subject.

 Ordering First-Day-of-Issue Postmarks

Customers have 60 days to obtain first-day-of-issue postmarks by mail. They may purchase new stamps at Post Office locations, at the Postal Store usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers must affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others and place them in larger envelopes addressed to:

FDOI –Illinois Statehood Stamp
USPS Stamp Fulfillment Services

8300 NE Underground Drive, Suite 300
Kansas City, MO  64144-9900

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for postmarks up to a quantity of 50. For more than 50, customers are charged 5 cents each. All orders must be postmarked by July 5, 2018.

Thompsonville man arrested on attempted first degree murder charges

From the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office 

 

THOMPSONVILLE -On Thursday, March 1st, 2018 at 4:38 pm Deputies responded to a reported domestic violence incident involving a shooting victim and armed suspect in rural Thompsonville.

The investigation is ongoing and has resulted in the arrest of Jeffrey R. Herrell age 32 of Thompsonville with aggravated battery with a firearm and attempted first degree murder charges. These are tentative charges pending review by the Franklin County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The victim is the suspect’s mother, age 52 of Thompsonville. The victim received life threatening gunshot and stab wounds and was initially treated
by Abbott E.M.S. and Thompsonville Fire First Responders.

The victim was flown to an out of state hospital and her condition is unknown at this time. There are no other suspects.

The alleged is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News