A rural Franklin County man is recovering from serious injuries received in a weekend bar fight, and the man who administered the beating is in jail.
Sesser Police were called around 1:59 a.m. Sunday, April 18, to the 100 block of North Cockrum with a report that a man had been beaten in an altercation with a Sesser man.
Police arrived at the scene and found Justin Bennett, 28, had suffered major facial injuries in the fight, which started outside the Iron Horse Tavern.
Capt. Don Jones of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office report that three weekend traffic crashes sent residents to various hospitals.
The Benton City Council hired a new police chief Monday morning.
Lawrence "Lance" Charlson of Mattoon was approved 5-0 to replace Chief Mike O'Neill, who is retiring from his position with the Benton Police Department at the end of May.
Charlson, 57, is retired from the Illinois Secretary of State's office and owns a consulting firm that is involved with training new police hires.
A special Benton City Council meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 19, at the Benton Municipal Building.
On the agenda is discussion and/or approval of police chief appointment.
Brian J. Brown, 21, remains in the Franklin County Jail Facility in Benton following an attack that left four females with bite marks and other injuries.
Christopher Assistant Police Chief Bill Southerd said police officers received two calls on Thursday in reference to Brown.
Last week's field fire on Old Ben property has the West City Fire Department on alert.
"Right now, we are without any way to fight a field fire," administrative director Richard Dale told West City Village Board members during their regular meeting Monday night.
"The pump blew up on our brush truck, and we are short on rakes and pumps to fight a field fire," Dale said.
Keith Allen Dunagan, 29, of Benton pleaded guilty Tuesday to a one-count indictment charging him with escape and attempt to escape from a Marion facility of the Bureau of Prisons.
Dunagan was lawfully confined in prison by virtue of a sentence imposed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
He was serving a sentence after being convicted for violation of the terms and conditions of his supervised release, which were imposed pursuant to his previous convictions and sentences for a drug distribution and health care fraud conviction in the Southern District of Illinois.
Emotions ran the gamut during Tuesday's retirement reception and open house held in the Benton Fire Station.
Retiring fire Chief Mickey Marshall quipped about his two-year battle with prostate cancer, telling well-wishers, "I'm not dead."
Between laughter and tears, he recalled highlights of his 25-year career.
A driver and passenger found themselves behind bars after the vehicle being driven struck a parked car.
Jeffrey A. Maddox, 46, of rural Mulkeytown was taken into custody and charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and battery with a firearm after shooting Joe C. Tripp, 35, also of rural Mulkeytown.
Franklin County Sheriff's Office Capt. Don Jones said deputies were dispatched to Cleburne, located east of Zeigler-Royalton High School between Christopher and Zeigler at 3:19 a.m. Wednesday in response to a 911 call.
Firefighters in Zeigler were busy Tuesday battling a structure fire.
The house, located at 226 N. Main St., was deemed a total loss. The occupants were not home when the fire started, and no injuries to firefighters or civilians were reported.
A two-vehicle crash that occurred at 5:12 p.m. Wednesday resulted in one driver being ticketed and another driver being transported to a local hospital.
Attorney Michael Rowland entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of his client, Joseph E. Young, 47, of Benton, Wednesday afternoon in a Franklin County courtroom.
Young, who is still in custody, is one of two men arrested Feb. 16 on charges of unlawful production of cannabis.
A Christopher man turned himself in to authorities following a three-hour standoff Monday night.
Benard J. Flerage, 62, surrendered around 9:30 p.m. at his residence, located at 805 S. Snider St. — approximately two blocks south of Christopher Elementary School.
At 6:30 p.m., Central Dispatch in Christopher received a report that gunshots had been fired, said Capt. Michael Irwin, Illinois State Police District 13 commander. Christopher police responded to the scene.
Four residents found themselves behind bars following an incident that occurred at 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
Benton Police Chief Mike O'Neill reported that officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Railroad Street in Benton in response to a bar fight. The incident began between four females inside the bar and spilled out onto the street, O'Neill said.
Arrested were Candace L. Hernandez, 31, and Antoine A. Hernandez, 30, both of West City, Jose L. Tinaco, 27, of Benton, and Avalan M. Bennett, 18, of Lawrenceville.
The Illinois State Police has released enforcement figures from the Occupant Restraint Enforcement Patrols that were conducted throughout the month of February in District 13.
Capt. Michael Irwin, Illinois State Police District 13 Commander, said troopers working the patrols issued 95 citations and 52 written warnings to motorists. There were 73 citations issued for safety belt and child restraint violations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
