http://www.bentongazette.com/news/state-issues-payments-for-franklin-county-detention-centers/article_26588ee6-72e2-11e7-9854-c7d39e1b4f3d.html

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

The State of Illinois has finally begun paying back Franklin County some of the money owed to the cash-strapped Franklin County Government.

Franklin County Treasurer Keith Jones reported at last Monday’s county committee meeting that the state has finally sent in a payment of $300,000 reimburse the county for its probation and detention employees. This lowers the previous debt to around $748,000. It had been over $1.3 million, and was still over $1 million before the state passed its’ first budget in over two years earlier this month.

Jones reported at the meeting that the county’s common account, following current claims of $140,000, will have the county’s general fund over $1 million for the first time in recent memory. Jones added that he continues to receive sales and income tax receipts from the state, but noted that the county will still likely fall approximately 10 percent or $130,000 short this fiscal year as far as what was budgeted for the state income tax. Jones reported that budget meetings for the 2017-18 fiscal year will begin on August 17.

Here are the links to stories, from the two traffic crashes that happened on Interstate 57 in the last 24 hours.

This is the story from WSIL-TV of the crash that happened this morning near West Frankfort.

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36010285/interstate-57-crash-sends-4-to-hospital

This is the story from KFVS-TV of the accident south of Marion yesterday.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/36008303/paducah-man-seriously-injured-in-motorcycle-crash-in-williamson-co-il

by Steve Dunford

BENTON, IL –  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources around 10 a.m. this morning, recovered the body of Jeremy Jelly, 37, of Geff, IL, which is located in Wayne County.

Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler, states that Jelly dove in to rescue two young girls Friday evening.  The recovery effort began a short time later.  His body was taken to the Williamson County Morgue, where an autopsy will be performed.

Jelly leaves behind three children.  Funeral arrangements will be made at the Johnson and Vaughn Funeral Home in Fairfield.  Please keep his family in your prayers during this time.

Detailed Forecast

Press Release from State Senator Dale Fowler – 59th District

SPRINGFIELD, IL –  The Illinois Senate returned to a special session on July 26 to deal with the education funding formula, but not much has happened thanks to the political gamesmanship by the Senate majority, according to State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg). 

The Senator expressed his frustration that some area schools are scheduled to begin the 2017-2018 educational year in less than three weeks. Despite this, Fowler said he’s seen an extreme lack of urgency from legislative majorities to advance a school funding bill to the Governor, which must become law before the state can release funds to schools. This uncertainty is causing undue pressure on some rural Southern Illinois school districts that have extremely low cash reserves. 

During a June superintendent meeting hosted by Senator Fowler with 22 area educational leaders, it became known that 80 percent of those in attendance had less than 120 days operating cash. Additionally, another four school districts across the 59th Senate District lacked the operating funds to even open their doors for the first day of classes. Other schools such as the Harrisburg Community Unit School District 3, indicated they would be in financial jeopardy as soon as Labor Day. 

 On July 27, Senator Fowler was joined by Vienna High School District 133 Superintendent Josh Stafford for a series of meetings with the Governor, State Secretary of Education Beth Purvis, and several other local superintendents from across Illinois. Superintendent Stafford was immensely concerned about the fact the Senate Bill 1 has lingered for nearly two months without being transferred to the Governor. The failure of the Senate majority to move the bill to the Governor’s desk so he can take action on the measure is causing a real issue for schools. 

Additionally, the situation is compounded even further by the fact that the Illinois checkbook has only $254 million in it, as of July 27. With the state being months behind in processing general state aid payments and other mandated categoricals, the Senate majority’s political games are clearly endangering the beginning of the 17-18 school year. schools.