House Speaker pro tem Gray outlines bold presiding role
U S Rep Ken Gray of West Frankfort has served as speaker pro tem eight times this session. He led the House for two hours on a drug trafficking bill and notes his record includes ten bills passed in under an hour. Gray says the role honors knowledgeable lawmakers and highlights parliamentary procedure. He cites seniority, experience, and an auctioneer’s cadence as helpful traits for the post.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tim Landis
Gray
U.S
United States
National Institute of Health
Courthouse flood swamps Marion area offices
Williamson County Clerk Barney Boren directed response as heavy rain caused water to seep into the Marion courthouse. One inch puddles covered parts of the first floor including the treasurer, supervisor of assessments, coroner, and public defender offices while surrounding streets and intersections flooded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Williamson County
Barney Boren
Marion
Boren
Jackson County near fix for sheriff liability insurance
Jackson County moves closer to restoring sheriff's office liability coverage but faces a Tuesday policy cancellation. Chairman Larry Lipe says several options were reviewed including a police professional policy. more carriers will be considered over the weekend. Imperial Insurance of New Jersey will still defend the county in a $2.5 million jail death suit, while other similar claims remain in federal court.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jackson County
Larry Lipe
Jackson County Board
Lipe
Benton Middle School to ban shorts this fall
The Benton board approved a new middle school handbook prohibiting shorts and outlining policy on other matters. Principal Hart Lewis noted increased improper dress among fifth through eighth graders over the past year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Benton Middle School
Hart Lewis
West Frankfort school district to lease buses for year
The West Frankfort School District voted 5-0 in a special session to lease buses for the upcoming school year. R. W. Harmon of Kelton, Missouri, offered the low bid for a three year contract totaling $294,885 plus an estimated $10,000 to $15,000 for extracurricular trips. The deal covers drivers, fuel, maintenance, and vehicles with an inflation escalator for years two and three. The district will sell its fleet to Harmon for $101,000, placing the money in the bank to fund the first payment early, Superintendent Terry Warren said.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Frankfort
Sesson
R.W. Harmon
Kelton
Harmon
Terry Warren
Franklin Williamson Workshop opens in West Frankfort
Sue Suter of the Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services spoke at the open house for the Franklin Williamson Workshop now housing all operations of Mental Health Services of Franklin and Williamson Counties. The facility combines the workshop Youth Services Bureau Family Counseling and Mental Health Center Early On Child Development Program and the agency’s offices to streamline access to services and create more job opportunities for the disabled.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Franklin-Williamson
West Frankfort
Sue Suter
Illinois Department of Rehabilitation Services
Franklin and Williamson Counties, Inc
Youth Services Bureau
Benton Grade School Students Excel In Science Tests
School board members heard reports on an SRA science test taken by 1,163 Benton district students last spring. Joette Poole noted the district surpassed the national average in most areas, with the test assessing students' science skills and how well they perform in school tasks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Benton
Joette Poole
Science Research Associates
SRA
Prisoner rights advocate criticizes Marion lockdown as danger grows
A lawyer told a House subcommittee that the near two year lockdown at the U S Penitentiary Marion raises danger inside the facility known as a modern day Alcatraz. Bureau of Prisons officials defend extraordinary measures to maintain order at the nation s top security prison. Marion, post Alcatraz, holds the most violent federal inmates.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
House
U.S
Marion
Alcatraz
Bureau of Prisons
Alcatraz Island
Jan Susler
Carbondale funds boost seniors bid for grant
Carbondale plans a renewed state grant application to rehabilitate the Senior Citizens Center with a CDAP grant. A community drive has raised about $50,000 of the $75,000 goal to fund roof repairs and coal-heat system fixes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dave DeWitte
Southern Illinoisan
Carbondale
Don Monty
Council On Problems of the Aging
Springmore
Monty
Senior Citizens Center
Uly-Pak Inc. of
Small Business Administration
Open Meetings probe targets Marion City Council and airport board
Williamson County State's Attorney Charles Garnall launched an inquiry into possible Open Meetings Act violations by Marion City Council members and Williamson County Airport Authority board member Leroy Linck. The probe, sparked by a Monday night restaurant gathering, may extend to other sessions. officials say no business was discussed or decisions made. Garnall notes the act is poorly written for small boards and says the investigation is not political.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Larry Davis
Southern Illinoisan
Williamson County
Charles Garnall
Marion City Council
Williamson County Airport Authority Board
Leroy Linck
Garnall
Marion Truck Plaza
Linck
Marion
Robert Butler
Robert ‘‘Dog
Connell
Henry Burress
David Hancock
Butler
E.E
Doc
Jeter
Airport Authority
Garnati
Airport Authority Board
Ira Gross
Herrin
Ed Quaglia
Robert Browning
Harry Crompton
Firefighters Battle Lightning Fire in Cambria House
Thunderstorms struck Cambria at about 3 p.m. when lightning hit the southwest corner of a house on Elm and Hall streets owned by Don Fisher. Fire Chief Roy Adams said the blaze was controlled in about 30 minutes with Carterville and Cambria firefighters led by Roy Wade. No one was home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elm
Hall Streets
Cambria
Carterville
Roy Wade
Roy Adams
Don Fisher
Prison Lockdown Affects Federal Prisons Deterrence
Carlson and WIlliford told the House Judiciary Subcommittee that Marion lockdown may deter inmate violence elsewhere as transfers fear rises. The Southern Illinois facility houses 335 inmates and is moving toward normal conditions while legal action and inmate complaints over beatings continue. The consultants urged easing confinement, ending rectal searches, and exploring alternatives like X rays.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Subcommittee
Marion
Carlson
Williford
Also Mentioned on This Page
Pete Rosenbery
Jackson
By Tony Stevens
The
Carbondale Funds
Dwight Nase
Mother Nature
Norman Carlson
Bureau
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