Seven Day Forecast

This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind around 11 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 50. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 72. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 49. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming west northwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning.
Thursday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 53. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 80. Calm wind becoming west southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Light and variable wind.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 6 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55. East wind 3 to 5 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 78. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 55. East northeast wind around 5 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

Press Release from Don Jones, Franklin County Sheriff

8-23-17 at 10:00 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton. The investigation led to the arrest of Donald A. Prusaczyk age 24 of Benton for domestic battery.

8-25-17 at 1:30 pm a traffic stop in West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Laura Kay Oliver Age 29 of West Frankfort for driving while license suspended.

8-25-17 at 1:36 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on II. Rt. 37 just north of Benton. A 2010 Chevrolet Impala driven by Dustin L. Johnson age 21 of Benton was north bound and read-ended a trash truck; a 2014 Autocar, driven by James M. McGee age 53 of Marion. The truck was also north bound, servicing trash cans. There were no injuries and Johnson was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

8-26-17 at 4:28 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural West Frankfort. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Denise M. Johnson age 33 of West Frankfort for battery

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8-26-17 at 9:28 am a traffic stop in rural West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Tylena Kay Poe age 40 of West Frankfort for driving while license suspended.

8-26-17 at 7:39 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Mulkeytown. The incident resulted in the arrest of Nicole K. Sanders age 34 of Mulkeytown on an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear on possession of a controlled substance.

8-28-17 at 5:25 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on II. Rt. 148 just south of Renfro Lake Road. A 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Daniel A. Jolly age 43 of Christopher was north bound on Rt. 148 in traffic when it sideswiped a 1990 Dodge Dynasty stalled partially in the north bound lane. There were no injuries and the driver of the Dodge, Kevin A. Stangle age 27 of Christopher was ticketed for improper parking on roadway and improper use of registration.

8-29-17 at 1:52 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on II. State Hwy. Rt. 149 at intersection with II. Sate Hwy. 184. A 2011 GMC Terrain driven by Justin K. Howard Age 32 of West Frankfort was west bound on Rt. 149 and failed to negotiate the turn into a bean field. The driver received minor injuries but refused medical treatment. He was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

8-29-17 at 1:32 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle crash on the south edge of Benton, Rt. 37 at Oddfellow Lane. A 2000 Chevrolet Taho driven by Chad A. Kramer age 45 of West Frankfort was north bound and suffered some type of medical episode. The driver lost control and struck several monuments after running off the road. The vehicle overturned and came to rest after striking a building at that location. The driver received major injuries and was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S.

8-30-17 at 9:57 pm a traffic stop in Benton resulted in the arrest of Amanda D. Worley age 38 of Benton for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

8-31-17 Deputies arrested two 15 year old male juveniles for felony theft. This is part of an ongoing investigation of a residential burglary, firearm theft, credit card theft and unlawful use of credit cards. The crimes occurred in West Frankfort and Orient. Further arrests are anticipated.

WARRANTS

8-26-17 Devin A. Odaniell age 24 of Royalton. Failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia.

8-26-17 Kendra R. Marvel Age 27 of Logan. Failure to appear for retail theft. 8-26-17 Joy Griffith age 58 of Benton. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

8-31-17    Nathan T. Ellison age 34 of Pittsburg. Failure to appear for residential burglary.

9-1-17    Jordan A. Pennington age 31 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear for unlawful use of weapons.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Don Jones

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/council-urged-to-consider-allowing-sunday-liquor-sales/article_ddf2a08c-900b-11e7-b87c-ff87e4c2fc89.html

BENTON, IL – (William McPherson, Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Local restaurateurs spoke up at the Monday Benton city council meeting urging the City Council to legalize the sale of liquor on Sundays.

Carlos Pacheco, owner of the local La Fiesta Mexican restaurants, and Christopher Betts of Joe’s Pizza spoke during audience comments in favor of allowing restaurants to sell liquor on Sundays.

“We’re losing taxable dollars from liquor on Sundays. And I don’t mean the $2.25 beer that you guys are thinking, which isn’t a big deal, but the fact that if there’s two families getting together and the two dads want to go grab a beer with their dinner, that’s a total of $4.50 worth of alcohol, but those two families together are going to bring $80 of taxable money to Benton, but instead they’re going to go to Applebees [in West City] to grab a steak and a beer, because they can do so on Sundays,” Betts said.

Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Friday Sept. 8 South Central Transit will be collecting goods on their transit buses to use for Texas flood relief.

“Your donated items will cover Public Demand (inside City Limits), City or County Shuttle fare,” a news release from SCT reads. SCT says the transit fee for anyone riding an SCT bus will be waved as long as they provide an approved item for donation.

For more information, call 800-660-7433 or visit southcentraltransit.org.