One of the world’s most popular musicals, East Central College Theatre is proud to present LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman. This monster hit follows the story of Seymour, a meek floral assistant who finds a strange plant that propels him to glory. The problem is…the plant eats blood and it is hungry!
 
Directed by Grace Austin with music direction by Colin Healy and choreography by Chris Page, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS stars Jacob Schmidt as Seymour, Allison Franzen as Audrey, Lukus Demet as Mushnik, Chad Greife-Wetenhall as Orin the Dentist and Brittany Losh, Tara Steffens and Joy Schickler as Audrey II. Other performers include Kylie Martin, Fiona Martin, Victor Landon, Ethan Kleekamp, Isaac Corum, Xavier Gobble, Aidan Gildehaus, Angela Farson, Lucy McReynolds, Sean Condon, Ariana Stokes, Amy Jackson, Gabe Loazia, Anna Eastman, Caroline Heimos, Ethan Fields, Logan Head, Emily Borgerding, Sammy Sims, Briley Howell, Alan Peterson, Katherine Bolte, Andrew Klemme, Abbey Fury and Maddy Crews.
 
With technical direction by Chris Swanson, lighting design by Kevin Shaw and costume design by Marci Franklin, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS will be performed February 15-17 at 8pm and February 18 at 2pm. Tickets are available at ecctheatre.com or by calling 636 584 6693.

On 01/25/18 the Franklin County Sheriff's Office investigated an alleged Strong Armed Robbery. The incident was alleged to have occured in the 200 Block of Hill Dr. in the Gray Summit area of Franklin County during the early morning hours on 01/25/18. Two 16 year olds and an 18 year old male victim alleged they went to a residence in the 200 Block of Hill Dr to purchase narcotics from a resident in this area. When they contacted the suspect he entered their vehicle and proceeded to take their car keys from the vehicle ignition and threatened physical harm to the occupants if they did not give him their money. The victim's allege the suspect stole $850 from them and returned their car keys.  They were able to then flee the area in their vehicle to call 911. Deputies who were familiar with the suspect responded to his residence and took him into custody. Money taken in the crime was recovered at the residence. Application for warrants was applied for.  The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for Travis R. Green for Robbery 2nd Degree and Assault 4th Degree with a $40,000 cash only bond.  Travis Green is identified as a 19 year old white male from the Gray Summit area.
 
All persons are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
 
Steve Pelton
Franklin County Sheriff

On January 21, 2018 the Franklin County Sheriff's Office was notified of a potential kidnapping of an adult female that occurred in the St. Clair area. Jefferson County Sheriff's Office had responded to a call at the BP gas station at Hwy 30 and Hwy Y in their venue. A 42 year old female had fled from a male into the store and told a clerk to call 911. When deputies arrived she reported she was kidnapped from the Lake Thunderbird subdivision off Hwy 30 in Franklin County. Prior to law enforcement arrival the suspect had fled on foot. The victim identified the suspect as Russell E. Deshields, age 36 from Sullivan. The victim had a Franklin County Adult Protection Order against Deshields at the time of this incident. Jefferson County conducted an investigation and brought the victim back to St. Clair where Franklin County investigators made contact with her. She reported she met Deshields in the Lake Thunderbird subdivision for him to turn over her personal property to her. Once meeting in the subdivision Deshields reportedly took her car keys and broke her cell phone. He forced her into her car after making threats to kill her. He then drove her into Jefferson County where she convinced him to stop at the gas station. Inside the store she told a clerk to call 911 because she believed he was going to kill her. When he ordered her to leave the store, she fled into the office and Deshields fled the store on foot. On the morning of January 22, 2018 deputies responded to the Deshields residence in Sullivan after receiving a call that he was there. During a search of the home deputies located Deshields hiding under a bed. He was taken into custody and transported to the Franklin County Adult Detention Facility. A warrant application was forwarded to the Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney's Office and an arrest warrant was issued on Russell Deshields for Kidnapping 1st degree. Bond was set at $100,000 cash only.
 
All people are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The 2018 spring schedule of Community Education classes provides a variety of personal and professional enrichment opportunities for community members.

In addition to the always popular adult classes in dance and fitness; the schedule also includes courses in archery, French, photography, local history, sign language, food safety and Introduction to Windows.  

The complete class schedule is available at www.eastcentral.edu/ce or call 636.584.6528.