Town Hall Meetings planned to discuss proposed penny sales tax increase
Franklin County Board press release
Franklin County voters have the opportunity to take control of the future of their court house by voting for the proposed penny tax on April 4. The county’s current facility has outlived its usefulness, posing numerous maintenance challenges and safety risks to the public, employees, and crime victims who must attend court daily.
Funds are needed to build a new facility. The Franklin County Board has identified a couple of potential sites for the facility, which would be built to new state requirements for a court house. The best way to fund this construction is through a penny sales tax, which would not be charged on the necessities of food and medicine, but would add $1 to a $100 purchase of goods bought by those with discretionary income. The sales tax would be paid by visitors to our county, spreading out the cost of our new court house — leveraging the power of the penny.
A series of Town Hall Meetings has been planned to answer your questions about the proposal. County officials will be on hand at the following dates and times:
CHRISTOPHER: 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 22 at the Christopher Civic Center
SESSER: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 2 at the Goode Township Building
BENTON: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 at the Benton Civic Center
ROYALTON: 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 at the Royalton Village Hall
WEST FRANKFORT: 6 p.m. Thursday, March 9 at the Aquatics and Activities Center
ZEIGLER: 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14 at the Six Mile Township Building
RLC crowns Hutchens, Pytlinski 2017 Homecoming King and Queen
ReAnne Palmer- Rend Lake College Media Services
INA- IL Rend Lake College announced the 2017 Homecoming King and Queen last night during halftime of the Warriors basketball game tonight against Southeastern Illinois College. Wade Hutchens
Wade Hutchens, LEFT, and Grace Pytlinski, RIGHT, were crowned the Rend Lake College 2017 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime of the Warriors Basketball game Wednesday night. The King and Queen are voted for by the RLC student body every spring. (ReAnne Palmer – RLC Media Services)
of Ewing and Grace Pytlinski of Waltonville, both representing the Collegiate FFA, were crowned King and Queen.
Hutchens is the son of Rob and Kathy Hutchens. The Benton Consolidated High School graduate is an Agriculture Business major at RLC. After graduating, Hutchens plans to attend Illinois State University and continue on to graduate school, pursuing a degree in Animal Science Nutrition.
Pytlinski is the daughter of Bruce and Annette Pytlinski. The Waltonville High School graduate is an Agriculture Business and Production Management major. She plants to transfer to Murray State University to continue her education in Plant and Soil Sciences. She hopes to one day become an agronomist, working for a large company like Monsanto or Syngenta.
Runners-up for the evening were Nick Marlo of Sesser and Cali Carney of Benton, both representing the Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams.
The RLC 2017 Homecoming Court is, FROM LEFT, Nick Marlo of Sesser; Cali Carney of Benton; Tanner Maskey of Springfield; Hannah Poynter of Louisville, Ky.; Conner Jackson of Bluford; Skylyn Simpson of Sesser; Damien Wilburn of Thompsonville; Taylor Aldridge of Eldorado; Lane Bradley of Steeleville; Beth Moats of Wayne City; Wade Hutchens of Ewing; and Grace Pytlinski of Waltonville. (ReAnne Palmer – RLC Media Services
Marlo is a Sesser-Valier High School graduate and son of David and Cathy Marlo. He is studying Business Finance and RLC with plans to transfer to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and continue his education there. In the future, he also plans to get an internship and job after completing a Master’s Degree.
Carney is the daughter of Chad and Liz Carney, and is a graduate of Benton Consolidated High School. She is a Nursing major at RLC. In the future, Carney hopes to become a registered nurse and coach.
Authorities investigating threat to Sesser-Valier School
Closings and cancellations 1/13/17
I will use media sources to get every closing from I -64 south, since people go to this website all over Southern Illinois. Please contact me with any closings by the following ways:
You can call or text me at 513-2516, call at 937-0253; PM me on Facebook (Steve Dunford), email me at sdunford1970@hotmail.com.
It will be nearly impossible to reply to individual requests if a school or business is closed. I will update frequently with times.
Updated 6:30 am 1/13/17
I will lump all closings categorized by county. Any type will be under the county listed.
SCHOOLS-The only schools that I do not have in Southern Illinois are the following: Century, The only Johnson County School I have is Lick Creek, Hardin County and Pope County.
COLLEGES- The only ones I have not heard anything about is Shawnee Community College and SIU, which never calls off. The key staff needs to report at Morthland COllege.
I am going to go to sporting events/business mode now.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Murphysboro at Benton Boys HS basketball/no make up date as of yet
Kids R My Business Day Care, Christopher
Girls Junior High Class L regional Benton/DuQuoin
JEFFERSON COUNTY
PERRY COUNTY
UNION COUNTY
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Law enforcement agencies put out APB
Franklin County Sheriff’s office has reported there is an erratic driver on Route 14 at the Franklin-Hamilton county line. They sent out an APB to the State Police and all local authorities.
Mug shot of this man
He is a jolly fat man in a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer. He is weaving rooftop to rooftop and going down chimneys with homes that have them. He is carrying a bag that is suspected to be full of toys for children.
Direction of travel is unknown. He is suspected to either head to Ewing and Whittington, maybe head to Benton, or go down North Thompsonville road and hit Akin and T’ville next.
It is guaranteed that he will hit all houses in West Frankfort, Logan, Zeigler, Freeman Spur, Orient, Pulmfield, Royalton, Cleburne, Mulkeytown, Christopher, Coello, Valier, Sesser, Buckner, West City and all rural areas in between.
He prefers milk and cookies at every stop. He will visit every house in the county.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Road conditions deteriorating across the county
The Franklin County Emergency Management Agency issued the following statement: Road conditions will continue to deteriorate through late tonight. Motor vehicle accidents have been reported. Travel only when necessary.
Winter weather update with cancellations
Updated at 5:30 pm
SPORTING EVENTS CANCELLED
HS BOYS BASKETBALL
Flora at CHRISTOPHER rescheduled for Thursday, 12/22
Nashville at BENTON no make up date yet.
THOMPSONVILLE at Elverado no make up date yet
WEST FRANKFORT at Goreville rescheduled for Thursday, 12/22
Sparta at Murphysboro no make up date yet.
Herrin at Pinckneyville no make up date yet.
Hamilton County at Eldorado rescheduled for Thursday 12/22
DuQuoin at Harrisburg no make up date yet.
WARMING CENTERS
City Hall-Sesser…
CHURCH SERVICES
East Side Baptist Church-Mt Vernon No Sunday Services
The forecast has not changed. Franklincounty-news.com will keep this page updated with cancellations and changing weather conditions.
Winter weather heading to Franklin County over the weekend
FIRST ALERT: I expect light accumulations of ice and snow to cause some travel headaches this weekend. It all starts Saturday with scattered rain and a high forecast of 60°F…but the mercury will fall so quickly at night that the roads may not have time to dry. Rain will change over to a light wintry mix after sunset and taper off early Sunday morning. Mind your bridges, overpasses, as well as untreated sidewalks. Immediately following Saturday night’s wintry weather, dangerously cold & windy weather for Sunday and Monday. The wind chill could approach zero. Help spread the word–like and SHARE! This is from KFVS 12 Meteorologist Bryan McCormick. Follow franklincounty-news.com for the latest cancellations throughout this winter season and updates during severe weather events.
Model shared by KFVS 12 Meterologist Bryan McCormick
Power Outage in Sesser
There is a power outage on the very north part of town and in the country. Ameren has been notified. More info to come. If you need a place to be City Hall is open and a warming center. If you need assistance at home contact 7242424 hit 0. Emergency call 911. Statement according to mayor Jason Ashmore as well as the Sesser Police Department.
