Developmental screenings of newborn to 5-year-old children are currently going on in Franklin County.

The screenings are free to participating children and their families and will identify eligible children for enrollment into free local early childhood programs.

A Mulkeytown man suffered major injuries in a two-motorcycle crash at 1:32 p.m. Monday.

James Lee Carpenter, 46, was taken to the Herrin Hospital and later flown to a St. Louis hospital with injuries suffered in the accident.

Benton liquor license fees will go up 10 percent on May 1.

The city council unanimously approved the increase — Benton's first liquor license hike since 1998 — during Monday's regular meeting.

"I know times are tough," Mayor Gary Kraft said. "I think we need to get closer to what the state is doing."

Sesser-Valier Community District 196 Board of Education members made a difficult decision during Monday's meeting.

The result: The loss of six non-tenured and one tenured position, along with the elimination of several programs.

Superintendent Jason Henry said five of the six non-tenured positions affect the elementary classes.

A retirement ceremony for Benton Fire Chief Mickey Marshall is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, at the fire station.

The event is scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m.

Marshall stepped down earlier this year because of health issues. Since that time, David Moore has served as acting chief.

The Franklin Hospital Auxiliary will meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 15, in the board room of the Franklin Hospital in Benton.

A TB test will be given to auxiliary members at 9 a.m. that day.

All current and prospective members are encouraged to attend.

Sand, sun, Frisbees and young women in halter-tops made the perfect backdrop for Saturday's romp in the water.

Organizers said interest increases each year, along with an increase in the number of costumes worn. Area 15 director Jo Dodd and Area 14 director Rhonda Knight said more than $65,000 was raised this year.

A. Courtney Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced that on Wednesday, nine Centralia residents were charged in a multi-count federal superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Benton.

David N. Barnes, 22; Alphonso G. Lang, 21; Kass A. Barnes, 26; Kai A. Reeves, 22; Jason M. Wallace, 31; Ricky J. Norwood Jr., 18; Gerald W. Lee, 21; Terry O. Johnson, 27; and Carlos Scott Jr., 19, all of Centralia, were those charged.

Though the Winter Olympics held in Canada may have ended, residents competed to win the gold in Benton on Saturday evening.

Nervous chili chefs watched and waited as judges' taste-tested 10 pots of concoctions ranging from Most Original to Hottest to Best Overall.

Daryl J. Stearns, 46, formerly of Carbondale, was sentenced Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Benton.

Stearns was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment, was fined $500 and was placed on five years’ supervised release.

A Valier man died at 4 a.m. Saturday after being struck by a car on Interstate 57.

Troy A. Williams was pronounced dead by Franklin County Coroner Marty P. Leffler at the scene of the accident, the northbound lanes of I-57 at milepost 72.

During Thursday's regular noon meeting, Benton Lions Club president Joe Kaak said someone had contacted him about making a presentation.

"Dave Bauer of the Benton Community Park District asked if he could give an update about the park," Kaak said as he introduced Bauer and park superintendent Bill "Scooter" Nelms to the group.

Bauer wasted no time in extending appreciation to Lions Club members for their continued support of the park.

A federal grand jury sitting in Benton returned a 15-count superseding indictment Wednesday against Raymond M. Martin, 46, of Junction.

If there is any truth to the adage of strength in numbers, Critical Access Hospitals should be applauding their accomplishments.

Franklin Hospital was among the CAH facilities that stood in support of two bills that would bring more money to rural healthcare hospitals.

CEO Hervey Davis said 100 people from 10 Critical Access Hospitals listened during two hearings held in Springfield as legislators push for reimbursement for Medicaid costs.

Capt. Michael Irwin, District 13 commander, is reminding motorists that 80 percent of all crashes throughout the nation’s highways involve some kind of distraction.

As of Jan. 1, sending and receiving messages from an electronic device (texting) while driving has become an illegal act, punishable by fines starting at $75.