Samantha A. Seiler, 20, of Cambria was in Franklin County court Wednesday afternoon to hear the bill of indictment returned by a grand jury.
Seiler appeared in custody and was represented by public defender Eric J. Dirnbeck as circuit court judge Tom Tedeschi read the charges filed on Jan. 13 by state’s attorney Evan Owens.
Charges allege that Seiler committed the offense of aggravated driving under the influence of drugs, intoxicating compound or any combination thereof when she knowingly drove or was in actual physical control of a vehicle that crashed with a vehicle being driven by Delena S. Ramsey, 49, of Mulkeytown. Count 1 is considered a Class 2 felony that carries an enhanced sentence of between three and 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections should Seiler be convicted.
Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones said the cause of a two-vehicle crash remains under investigation after a driver failed to stop at the intersection of Park Street Road, formerly known as Valier Road, and Route 148 at 8:27 p.m. Thursday.
He said Samantha A. Seiler, 20, of Cambria was traveling west on Park Street Road when she failed to stop at the stop sign and drove into the path of a vehicle driven by Deleana S. Ramsey, 49, of Mulkeytown.
Both vehicles left the roadway and the vehicle being driven by Seiler overturned, Jones said.
Residents have one more thing to remember in preparation for the end of daylight saving time: Benton firemen urge citizens to change smoke detector batteries, too.
Benton Fire Chief Garrick Kasper said residents should use the extra hour to make sure that they have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
“Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 6,” he said. “As families change their clocks, it’s a good time, also, for families to review their home fire safety plans, starting with changing the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Black bows affixed to the windows of the Franklin County Courthouse signify a void left in the minds and hearts of all who knew former Sheriff Bill Wilson, who died Sunday, Oct. 30.
In the circuit clerk’s office, employees wore T-shirts that commemorate the last employee picnic Wilson hosted prior to his retirement in 2010.
Circuit Clerk Donna Sevenski said an employee of the Sheriff’s Office kept her apprised of Wilson’s condition while he was in Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.
A two-vehicle accident closed a portion of state Route 34 North near the Saline and Franklin county line Wednesday morning.
Saline County Central Dispatch received a transferred 911 call from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 11:15 a.m. reporting a tractor-trailer and truck had crashed.
Donald L. King, 68, Thompsonville, failed to yield at the intersection of Macedonia Road and state Route 34 and collided with a semi driven by Timothy Allen Melvin, 36, West Frankfort, according to a media release from Illinois State Police District 13 of Du Quoin.
The Benton Fire Department will complete testing fire hydrants east of McLeansboro Street and north of East Main Street through the month of November 2011.
Water may get discolored during this process, and the department asked that residents refrain from washing white clothes until their water runs clear.
Questions? Call the fire station at 439-2511.
Sheriff Don Jones reports that the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department is receiving complaints as the Halloween holiday approaches.
“People are reporting that their trees and residences are being covered with toilet paper and that lawn decorations are being damaged or removed,” Jones said. “Before you T.P. someone’s home, you had better know the people who live there. Use your own discretion because if you cause damage, criminal charges could be filed."
The U.S. Secret Service Southern Illinois Cyber-crime Unit announced the arrest of Michael A. Smith, 34, of West Frankfort.
The unit, acting on a tip received from authorities in New Jersey, executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence Thursday.
Smith was charged with aggravated child pornography and is being held in lieu of bail in the Franklin County Jail Facility.
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.
