In today's Daily American: Inmate accused in death at Cahokia jail, School bus driver charged after hitting truck—Only available in our print and online E-editions!

WEST FRANKFORT --- Spring is synonymous with blooming flowers and garden-fresh veggies, both of which can be found every Tuesday afternoon at the West Frankfort Farmers' Market, held from 3-6 p.m. under the Frankfort Community Park shelter directly south of the aquatic center.

WEST FRANKFORT --- Longtime downtown West Frankfort business Hammers Tire will soon be leaving its home on East Main Street.  But don't fret, the tire specialist is staying in the community.

Hammers new home will soon be located at 601 North Logan Street, an address previously occupied by Shelton Motors.  If things go as planned, the new location will be open in early to mid-June. Another structure is going to be added to the existing one on the new property, which is comprised of two lots.

We are ready for grad photos for 2012 and we will display them in a gallery of their own. Take a grad photo, email to to grad2012@theeditor.com.

We will feature any Franklin County grad and sons, daughters and grandkids of Franklin County natives from anywhere. Tell us who is in the photo.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — During the recent National Day of Prayer, more than a half dozen speakers stood before the Saline County Courthouse praying for divine guidance, protection, discernment, wisdom and blessings. They stood solemnly with full faith in the power of prayer to heal and change lives.

The night before a woman in Arizona gave her own testimony to the power of prayer in how it changed her own father, a man whose surname once spread fear and loathing for a quarter century in southern Illinois.

WEST FRANKFORT—An argument could be made that all meetings of school boards are historic events. But some have more impact on a community than others. The upcoming May 21 evening meeting of the Frankfort Community Unit School District 168 board could result in a formal plan being adopted concerning the future of the Frankfort Community High School. Possibilities include renovation of the current ancient structure, rebuilding on that East Main Street site and keeping Max Morris Gymnasium, or building an entire new 40-plus acre complex with football, baseball and track facilities and other associated structures. Popular opinion seems to be that the current gym is a town treasure and should be saved. School officials say there has been no serious discussion about replacing Max Morris.

The top twelve FCHS seniors in terms of cumulative grade point average were recognized at this week's annual Bob Gower Banquet. Shown here are (front row, l-r) Emily McDaniel, Haley Stevens, Laura Dunning, Larissa Mercer, Kylie McDaniel, Darlene Wilson and Katie Smith.  (Back row, l-r) Dakota Reed, Mitesh Patel, Nathan Dodd, Joshua Tharp and Blake Rogers. More Bob Gower Banquet photos appear under the 'photos' tab on this page.

WEST FRANKFORT — Are you ready to be our next great blogger?

We are looking for bloggers of any age, from any of our covered cities.

WEST FRANKFORT—A Zeigler man is in custody on burglary charges after West Frankfort resident allegedly saw him in the process of trying to break into a neighbors home Wednesday night, according to West Frankfort Chief of Police Jeff Tharp.

Tharp said Chekoda Frick, 26, was arrested by WFPD officers at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday following a phone call from a concerned resident who stated that she saw a male subject trying to break into a home in the 600 block of South Adams Street in West Frankfort.  The caller said she verbally challenged the man when she saw him remove a screen and attempt to enter a neighboring residence.

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. — Producers for the Travel Channel were to have travelled to Holiday World and Splashin’ Safari this weekend to shoot an episode of their upcoming series, “Extreme Water Parks” and the event features the family of a West Frankfort native, Corey Julian.

“We’re told Mammoth — our new water coaster – was top on their list for this new  show,” said park president Dan Koch. “We held a video contest to search for featured riders for the ... shoot.”

The park’s “Super Fan Family” contest drew videos from dozens of families. Park officials submitted their five favorite videos to Travel Channel producers, who chose the Julian family of Paducah, Ky., as the winning entry.

The Julians and sons Caleb and Jacob won season passes, HoliCash, use of a Bahari River Cabana, overnights in one of the new Rudolph’s Christmas Cabins at Lake Rudolph Campground and RV Resort, plus the opportunity to be the featured Mammoth riders during the Travel Channel shoot.

Mammoth is a record-breaking one-third mile long, with seven hills, including a steep 45-degree drop.

Six- and eight-passenger boats are propelled uphill by linear induction motors.

The Mammoth episode of “Extreme Water Parks” will air on the Travel Channel later this summer.