Franklin County Sheriff’s Report, 9/22/2017

September 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Press Release From Don Jones, Franklin County Sheriff

NOTE:  The alleged individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

9-15-17 at 5:49 pm a traffic stop in West Frankfort resulted in the arrest of Michael A. Sawn age 36 of West Frankfort for driving while license suspended.

9-16-17 at 11:27 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle crash on ll. Rt. 37 near Forest Baptist Church Road. A 2004 Honda Motorcycle driven by Gary L. Piercy age 61 of Benton was south bound on Rt. 37 when a 2010 Nissan driven by Vicki A. Winemiller age 62 of Benton pulled out of a private driveway north bound into the path of the motorcycle. Both Gary Piercy and a passenger, Dianna L. Piercy age 57 of Benton received major injuries and were transported to a local hospital by Abbott EMS. Vicki Winemiller was not injured and was ticketed for failure to yield right of way.

9-17-17 at 1:18 am Deputies investigated a traffic incident that occurred north of the Valier Patch. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Christopher A. Phillips age 23 of Christopher for driving under the influence.

9-21-17 at 12:08 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in Logan. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Kendra R. Marvel age 27 of Logan for unlawful violation of an order of protection.

9-21-17 Deputies have arrested and charged James W. Duff age 34 of Benton with unlawful violation of an order of protection and three counts of forgery. Duff is being held without bond as a parole violator.

9-21-17 at 9:36 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in Whittington that resulted in the arrest of Steven W. Coulom age 41 of Whittington for domestic battery.

WARRANTS

9-15-17 Joshua R. Parker age 28 of Zeigler. Failure to appear for burglary.

9-15-17 Cody M. Lampley age 23 of Sesser. Failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia.

9-18-17 Kreg B. Reed age 47 of West Frankfort. Failure to appear on D.U.I.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

West Frankfort VFW post focusing on the future

September 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36425264/local-vfw-post-focusing-on-future

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Brandon Merano, WSIL-TV.  Please click for the link above for the full story and video .  Here is the excerpt below.)

Veterans of Foreign Wars organizations across the country have seen a decline in membership as veterans from WWII,  Vietnam and Korea grow older.

The West Frankfort VFW has broken the mold when it comes to finding new members and community support.

Iraq veteran Kyle Webb, doesn’t look like your average VFW member.

“My grandfather is 93 years old, a WWII veteran and I’ve been coming here since I was a baby,” said Webb.

Webb now serves as post 5467’s commander, and want’s to see the organization he and his grandfather love so much, stick around for a long time.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Saline County Sheriff’s Office investigating overnight shooting

September 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Saline County Sheriff’s Office investigating overnight shooting

ELDORADO, IL – (Krystle Callis, WPSD-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that happened late Wednesday night outside Eldorado, Illinois.

Around 11:00 p.m. dispatch received a call that a man had showed up at a home on Dewey Road with a gunshot wound.

An investigation is ongoing.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Son pleaded not guilty in murder of Murphysboro, IL couple’s death

September 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/36129252/son-pleaded-not-guilty-in-murder-of-murphysboro-il-couples-death

MURPHYSBORO, IL (Alicia Dombrick, KFVS-TV.  Please click on the link above for the full story and accompanying videos.  Here is an excerpt below.)

On Thursday, September 21, Keith Ritcheson pleaded not guilty on all four murder counts in connection with the murder of his parents.

A Grand Jury in Jackson County, Illinois indicted a Murphysboro man on four counts of First Degree Murder in connection to the shooting deaths of his parents.

Keith R. Ritcheson, 40, is being held at the Jackson County Jail on $1 million bond.

 

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

CNA’s invited to free conference Oct. 13 at RLC

September 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public Information

CNA Dawn Reese, THIRD FROM LEFT, was named the 2016 Outstanding CNA of the Year during last year’s annual conference. Also pictured is, FROM LEFT, Margo Wagner, Director of Community and Corporate Education; Bria Robinson, Allied Health Division Coordinator; and Betty Jo Herbert, Director of Nursing. At the time, Reese served as a CNA at Coulterville Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

INA, IL – Local Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) have the chance to earn free continuing education credits next month during the fifth CNA Conference at Rend Lake College.

Attendees earn 0.5 college credits for attending the conference, set from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in the RLC Theatre. This year, the conference will feature keynote speaker Darla Wexstten and three breakout sessions in feeding, lab collection, and sensory education.

In between breakout sessions and lunch, attendees can take advantage of vendors and networking opportunities. The conference will conclude with one attendee named the 2017 Outstanding CNA Award from a list of nominees from area long-term care facilities.

CNAs in attendance will have the chance to win door prizes, sponsored by RLC, the Certified Nursing Assistant Educator Association, and the Illinois Nurse Assistant / Aide Training Competency Evaluation Program of Southern Illinois University.

Each participant of the conference will receive a certificate of completion. The conference is free and open to anyone interested. To register or for more information, contact RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714 or commcorped@rlc.edu. Registration must be done by Tuesday, Oct. 10.

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

WSIL Report: Thousands would be injured or killed if monster quake hit Southern Illinois

September 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36416231/report-thousands-would-be-injured-or-killed-if-monster-quake-hit-southern-illinois

(Brandon Richard, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below)

Researchers say thousands of people would likely be injured or killed in Southern Illinois, along with thousands of others across an eight-state region, if a major earthquake, like the one in Mexico City, struck along the New Madrid fault

A comprehensive 2009 report from the Mid-America Earthquake Center said a 7.7 magnitude earthquake, which scientists believe would probably be the strongest that could occur along the New Madrid, would damage or destroy 65,000 buildings, including more than 40,000 homes, in Southern Illinois.

“The potential of a major earthquake is the disaster I feel would be the most catastrophic,” said Ryan Buckingham, director of the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency. “If you have a catastrophic earthquake it’s definitely going to be a regional disaster.”

“In a situation like a hurricane or earthquake, recovery is not going to be a matter of months , it’s going to be years,” said Buckingham.

WSIL-TV

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News

Zeigler Finance Commissioner accused of using “strong and threatening language

September 21, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36416221/zeigler-finance-commissioner-accused-of-using-strong-and-threatening-language

ZEIGLER, IL – (Andrew Feather, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link to watch the video and read the full story here is an excerpt below.)

Ryan Thorpe was fired Tuesday night after an auditor’s report showed more than 200 thousand dollars missing from city accounts over the last 27 months, but he wasn’t the only city council member named in the audit.

As citizens demanded answers from Finance Commissioner Jim Flood, Tuesday’s special council meeting turned into a full-fledged shouting match.

This comes after an auditor’s report shows Flood would use “strong and threatening language” against female staff in city hall to pressure them into signing blank checks.

Some staff also say Flood would threaten people’s jobs if he didn’t get his way.

City attorney Rebecca Whittington calls it “bullying”.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Zeigler News

Dowsing: Is It Fact or Fake?

September 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Dowsing: Is It Fact or Fake?

(Amber Kanuckel, farmersalmanac.com.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Man dowsing wirh dividing rod to locate ground water under surface or currents of earth radiation to check home for safe zones.

Some call it “the gift.” Others refer to it as “twitching,” “doodlebugging,” or “water witching,” the practice of locating water underground using a forked stick. Sounds simple, but does it work?

According to the American Society of Dowsers, divining the location of water dates back many millennia. In the Tassili Caves of northern Africa, an 8,000-year-old cave painting depicts a man holding a forked stick, apparently using it to search for water. In fact, historical images that appear to represent dowsing appear all over the world – in the temples of Egyptian pharaohs, in ancient Chinese etchings and more.

Although most would say that dowsing is nothing more than a myth, there are quite a few people today who believe in this practice. In fact, many drought-stricken Californians have been turning to local dowsers to uncover hidden sources of water. And, despite the skepticism, there are even a few scientists that think there’s more here than meets the eye.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News

Durbin to keynote Simon Institute’s 20th anniversary fall schedule

September 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Pete Rosenbury – SIU Media Services

CARBONDALE, Ill. – U.S. Sen. Richard J. “Dick” Durbin next month will provide his unique perspective on the late U.S. Sen. Paul Simon and the Southern Illinois University Carbondale public policy institute that honors the longtime legislator.

Durbin’s presentation, “Paul Simon Public Policy Institute: A Lasting Legacy,”  is the keynote speech of the institute’s fall 2017 schedule and a part of the 20th anniversary of the institute’s founding in 1997. The event is at 5:30 p.m., Oct. 10, in the SIU School of Law Hiram H. Lesar Law Building Auditorium. Durbin’s presentation is free and open to the public.

“We are delighted that Sen. Durbin has agreed to deliver the fall keynote speech to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, interim institute director Jak Tichenor, said.  “His speech will be the perfect capstone for a year’s worth of events and activities commemorating the institute’s founding in 1997.”

Durbin, D-Illinois, the state’s senior senator and Democratic Whip – the second highest-ranking position among senate Democrats – succeeded Simon following his retirement. Since 2005, Democratic colleagues have selected Durbin for the senate leadership post. Durbin won re-election in 2002, 2008 and 2014 and is a member of the senate’s judiciary, appropriations and rules committees. He is the ranking member on the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and the Appropriations Committee’s Defense Subcommittee.

Simon first met Durbin when Durbin, who is originally from East St. Louis, was a student helping U.S. Sen. Paul Douglas, D-Illinois. Durbin served as then-Lt. Gov. Simon’s legal counsel from 1969 to 1972 and campaigned door-to-door for Simon during his mentor’s first successful run for Congress in 1974, Tichenor said. Durbin also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1983 to 1997.

“I can’t imagine anyone better prepared to discuss how Paul’s legacy lives on as a force for change in today’s world than Senator Durbin,” Tichenor said.

Durbin, who lives in Springfield, makes approximately 50 round trips a year between Washington, D.C., and Illinois.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, State News

Zeigler fires treasurer amid FBI investigation

September 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36407343/zeigler-fires-treasurer-amid-fbi-investigation

The FBI removing items from the home of Zeigler Treasurer, Ryan Thorpe at the onset of the investigation. (William McPherson, WF Gazette photo)

ZEIGLER, IL – (Andrew Feather, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

City leaders voted to fire treasurer Ryan Thorpe over money missing from city accounts.

An audit of city finances showed Thorpe stole more than $225,000 from the city over the last two and a half years.

After an executive session lasting about 15 minutes Tuesday night, the city council voted unanimously to remove Thorpe from the position.

Thorpe did not attend the meeting.

The audit showed that for years, Thorpe wrote several hundred checks to himself, and then altered copies of those checks in city records to show the names of approved vendors.

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News
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