Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
CHICAGO (AP) — Supporters of high-volume oil and gas extraction said Wednesday that they’ll seek dozens of changes in proposed rules governing the practice in Illinois that they believe violate a hard-won compromise between industry and environmentalists.
Here’s a link to the story in the Bloomington Pantagraph.
PEORIA, Ill. (AP) — Flags were flying at half-staff Thursday in Illinois to commemorate the thirteenth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, and ceremonies were held across the state.
The University of Illinois board of trustees today formally voted against the appointment of controversial professor Steven Salaita.
Here’s the story in the Chicago Tribune.
BENTON — Last year, Andrew Mitchell claimed the Benton Gold Cup title on his home course of Benton Country Club for the first time in emotional fashion after erasing a six-shot deficit on the final nine holes and winning a playoff.
Benton’s Andrew Mitchell, right, is pictured receiving the trophy for winning this year’s Benton Gold Cup. Pictured with Mitchell is Mark Dyel, tournament director.
Family among alleged victims of West Frankfort accountant
By Gina Blankenship
Family members are among the victims of a West Frankfort accountant accused of stealing money from her clients.
An 86-year-old man who attempted to help police foil an armed robbery at a Crestwood phone store by firing at the fleeing suspect may not have broken the law, but firearms trainers say he ignored a basic rule of carrying a gun in public: Don’t try to be a hero.
Here’s the link in the Chicago Tribune.
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn criticized Republican opponent Bruce Rauner and Rauner’s allies today as “billionaires trying to buy their way into Illinois politics” after the GOP candidate received a $2.5 million campaign contribution from hedge-fund boss Kenneth Griffin.
A 46-year-old Benton woman is free on bond, accused of stealing thousands of dollars while she was an employee of the Franklin County Circuit Clerk’s office.
Charges were filed Monday against Kindra Eickelman, of Benton, alleging that she took more than $10,000 but not more than $100,000 while she was employed at the Franklin County Circuit Clerk’s Office.
Eickelman is facing charges of theft and official misconduct in an information filed by Franklin County State’s Attorney Evan Owens’ office Monday.
Eickelman was arrested Friday after an investigation that began the day before when she quit her job and reportedly told another employee that she had taken money from the clerk’s office.
Bond was set at $100,000. Eickelman posted $10,000 bail (10 percent) and was released from jail during the weekend. Eickelman was employed in the circuit clerk’s office for approximately three years.
State Rep. Derrick Smith was found guilty Tuesday of bribery and attempted extortion by a federal jury.
The West Side Democrat became the latest in a depressingly long line of Chicago politicians to be convicted of public corruption.
Here’s a link to the story in the Chicago Sun-Times.
WEST FRANKFORT — A West Frankfort man will spend 9 years in prison for causing a deadly crash in the Metro East.
Here’s the link to the story at WSIL.
This is the vehicle driven my Michael Jeter who was under the influence of a sleep aid when he crashed into a group of highway workers along I-64 in St. Clair County in May 2012.
