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Franklin County Housing Authority hears good report on bedbug problem

March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Bruce A. Fasol

The Franklin County Housing Authority board met for its regular monthly meeting on Monday night.

The Board voted to abandon their natural gas lines at their Franklin County facilities. The responsibility for the natural gas feeds will be turned over to Ameren. Executive Director Monica Stewart said that the move “gets the Franklin County Housing Authority out of the utility business.”

Easements were granted to Ameren for work that will have to be done. According to Stewart, Ameren will run their own piping system to units instead of using the aging system currently part of the infrastructure. Individual meters will be installed.

Stewart had what she said was good news concerning bedbugs. The Franklin County Housing Authority has been fighting bed bugs for some time. Expensive heat treatments have helped eradicate the problem in units where bedbugs have been confirmed. And, a proactive educational effort among clients has also been effective in limiting spread.

Stewart reported that only one case was confirmed last month, at the Kuca Highrise. The Anna Gray Highrise reported no new cases. It had been Anna Gray building that had seen the bulk of the problems, previously. Stewart said, ” I hope we are getting a hold on this.”

The board accpeted a $1250 per month contract renewal with a St.Louis company for service on their aging elevators .Kone Elevators will be responsible for service, and routine maintenance and preventive service. The contract that the two sides had previously, expired in December.

The outdoor work contract for this summer season went to J-S Services, located in Desoto. The amount for the service was $34,000 per season. This marks the third season that the firm has performed such services for the FCHA. Board member Richard Glodich questioned how often the contract was let for bids, and if any local firms had actually bid. He then voted ‘no’ on the motion which carried with a majority vote.

Other work performed by the FCHA staff could also be affected this summer as two workers were out with injury, it was reported.

 

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles

Our Universities: Boards, Leadership, Politics

March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Public university boards, and the presidents or chancellors they appoint, have a delicate line to walk between the political realities of contemporary higher education and the academic realities of effective universities.  The nexus of politics and academics is not always tidy. But when politics win everyone loses.
“All politics are local.”
Tip O’Neil
________________________________________________________________

By Walter Wendler

University boards are made up of political appointees in most states. In some, they are elected and become politicians:  running campaigns, promising support for key issues in response to voter interest, maybe even providing scholarships for family members, arranging jobs for friends and carrying all of the other baggage of electoral politics – evidently necessary but patently detrimental to the cause – behaving exactly as too many elected officials.
The U.S. Congress, according to a recent Gallup poll, gets an approval rating from the general public of less than 1 in 10 people. Tough. Those identified by the electorate to lead are not highly regarded by the very population that put them to work. Odd.

Walter Wendler mug 2While politics may be local — Tip’s take — all good university education is global. A sound education is not created for a particular place.  The machinations of boards as political constructs and universities as academic constructs only work when everybody knows that a good education has a long reach.

I am listening to a discussion, in the region where I live, suggesting board members should come from the regions of the campuses represented to create “fairness.”   However, a good university is not place bound but exists in a globally aware and competitive marketplace.   Boards have fiduciary responsibility towards the public trust and educational excellence in response to need regardless of where members or students are born, live, or have studied, lest they become parochial.

The reputation, appeal, and authority of any university are determined by the global dispersion of successful graduates.  This does not mean an excellent university neglects the needs of its locale, but the opposite. Impactful universities produce positive results locally by being globally competitive in thought and action, creating an informed citizenry and strong local economies that support town and gown.

Well-functioning educational institutions produce intellectual capital.  Good ideas and hard work always produce prosperity and jobs. Politics and politicians may or may not.  Political infighting confounds educational purpose and mission thereby smothering both academic and economic growth.
The Board of Regents of the University of Texas is accused of reaching into the campus too much — micromanaging say the naysayers — rather than working through the constitutionally established chain of authority and responsibility, according to a story this month in The Texas Tribune. The Regents see the institution as a patronage machine greased by the quip of Tip.  Concern for academic integrity should be paramount.

The University of Georgia just announced that the board will have more impact on intercollegiate athletics, according to a March 15, 2013, story in Inside Higher Ed. OK; at many universities athletics has undue influence. Imagine paying a football coach 75 times what the average faculty member earns.  Sounds crazy?  At the University of Alabama, Coach Nick Sabine: $6 million, average faculty: $80,000. Neighboring Georgia fears athletics may be driving the train.   In response, the Georgia Board thinks it will solve this problem by managing athletics, but that is the work of the executive. Here’s a tip:  It’s local, and it’s politics.  An academic executive, with academic values, insight and vision for university purpose should lead with fiduciary oversight from the board.  If not, fire the executive, or appoint a new board, and pray any damage is temporary.  Concern for academic integrity should be paramount.

The University of Virginia Board — dissatisfied with presidential leadership — sought to effect a change in presidential leadership. There was a public outcry and now a report from the American Association of University Professors suggests the board was wrong in its meddling. According to Bacon’s Rebellion, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Colleges, the accrediting body, also became engaged. And, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni wrote to Arne Duncan, a Chicago product and former chief of the city’s public schools — now U.S. Secretary of Education — to ask him to help mend the mess.  Mr. Duncan might ask the U.S. Congress — you know the politicians that 1 in 10 Americans believe are doing a good job — to weigh in.

Propelling politics from the local to the national stage hides internal inadequacies, executive inabilities, and shifts blame but provides no fix.  In the political arena, statesmen create progress, political hacks create messes. We see so little of the former that we forget what it looks like, and the hacking continues.  Concern for academic integrity should be paramount.

Henry Kissinger was not talking about partisan politics when he purportedly jibed  “University politics are so vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.” He was talking about the fine edges of various ideas and perspectives that are argued passionately on university campuses. That may seem like small potatoes but, for universities, sometimes it’s the main course.

The best universities are academic enterprises that need to be led and managed in a businesslike fashion, driven by academic insight and vision, not partisan politics, local or otherwise.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, Opinion

Whittington Church to present ‘Faithful Friend’ on March 22-23

March 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

For more than 20 years Whittington Church has been bringing the events of the Passion Week to life and they will continue that tradition March 22 -23 with the presentation of “Faithful Friend.”

whit 1Eric Haney serves as director of the play that is performed by the Drama Ministry at the church.  Haney said it takes three to four months preparation for the 75-minute program.

“As far as preparation we start right after Christmas getting ready for this event,” said Haney.  “It just depends when Easter is on a particular year – sometimes we get three months to prepare and sometimes we get four.”

The play was written by church member Eric Tindall and Haney said the two collaborated while putting the final draft together.

“I’m not a writer,” said Haney. “I’m more of a ‘tweaker’ … I can see it but I can’t write it, but Eric (Tindall) had the vision for this and wrote the rough draft and then we sat down and put it together.”

Haney said the format is based on the Apostle John as an old man living in Ephesus, the only remaining apostle, witnessing to a Roman soldier.

whit 2 “Through this one evening John is witnessing and telling stories about Jesus to this Roman soldier and of course when he goes to a particular story we portray that story in a live drama,” said Haney. “Throughout the night we tell the story of the betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus”

Haney said in all more than 100 people will be involved in the production of “Faithful Friend.”

“Most of the time there is 100-120 people on average involved,” said Haney. “When you factor in cast and crew, and those that donate their time to help in just any way they are needed, it takes that many.  We use live animals in the marketplace, period costumes and then the lighting and dramatic effects.  The play also incorporates acting, singing, choreography and special effects.”

Haney said several years back the play was moved to the week before Easter in hopes of drawing more people to Whittington for the annual event.  Haney said despite small changes and ‘tweaks’ that have been made through the years there is always a two-pronged goal each year when the Passion week play is presented. whit 3

“For a church production I think those attending will be pleasantly surprised at the quality, especially coming from this little church in Whittington.  We have always taken a lot of pride in this production,” said Haney.  “But, our main focus is to introduce those attending to Jesus and show that he is a faithful friend.”

Bob Pankey, associate pastor at Whittington Church, noted that this is the 23rd year the Easter play has been presented and emphasized that the focus has steadfastly remained the same.

“The goal has always been to present the events of the Passion week in a way that is professional, touches lives, and is true to the Bible,” said Pankey.  “But the main focus, as always, is on Jesus and the events surrounding his death on the cross, his burial and his victory over death. It’s always an emotional and soul stirring journey.”

The play last 75 minutes and incorporates acting, singing, choreography, and special effects. The play begins at 7 p.m. both nights.  There is no charge  and reserved seating is available for groups by calling the church office at 629-2423. You can view a trailer video for the production at www.whittington.org.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News

IHSA: ‘No firm timeline for completion of Harrisburg-Seton investigation’

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

A spokesperson with the IHSA said on Monday that there is not a specific time frame to conclude its investigation into the Class 2A state championship game between Harrisburg and Seton Academy.

The Harrisburg Bulldogs won the game 50-44 completing a record-setting season and finishing the year with a record of 33-1.  The game was marred by three technical fouls and the ejection of Seton Academy’s Mark Weems, Jr., who received two technical fouls and was ejected with 2:05 remaining in the first half.  Weems, Jr. received the second technical foul for making contact with the official.  The other technical foul was called on Harrisburg’s Dakota Upchurch.

The Seton Academy team refused to accept the second place trophy following the game and Coach Brandon Thomas and several players refused to allow the second place medals to be placed around their neck and Thomas threw his medal in the direction of a assistant coach after he exited the podium.  Two days after the championship game the Seton Academy leveled charges that players had been subjected to racial slurs throughout the game, a charge that Harrisburg officials vehemently deny.

Matt Troha, who serves as assistant executive director for the IHSA, issued a two-sentence answer on Monday when he was contacted by email about the ongoing investigation and the time schedule for completion.

“We are still awaiting some requested materials as a part of our investigation and expect to receive them later this week,” said Troha. “There is no firm timeline for completion of the investigation, although it remains a top priority.”

Only hours after the championship game was completed the IHSA issued a statement taking both teams to task.

The statement read:

“The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) is disappointed with and embarrassed by the actions of both Harrisburg High School and South Holland (Seton Academy) during Saturday’s IHSA Class 2A Boys Basketball State Championship game.

While passion and intensity are an integral part of athletic competition, especially at the highest levels, the behaviors of both teams crossed the lines of acceptable sportsmanship.  The IHSA is in the process of reviewing the events associated with tonight’s contest. Both schools will be contacted Monday.

“I am embarrassed by what took place here tonight,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “Interscholastic athletics are designed to teach young people important lessons about life. The lessons on display tonight were that respect and sportsmanship are not important, and that is simply not acceptable.”

The IHSA staff will be reaching out to the schools participating in next week’s Class 3A and Class 4A Super-Sectionals and State Finals tournament to reinforce the expectations of sportsmanship and appropriate behavior in interscholastic contests.

Filed Under: High School Sports

Obituary – Robert J. “Bob” Slayton – Christopher

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Robert J. “Bob” Slayton, 66, of Christopher, passed away at 1:10 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2013 at the VA Medical Center in Marion.

Bob was born in Evansville, IN on August 9, 1946, the son of Freeman William and Viola Rita (Stricker) Slayton.

Bob served in the Navy for six years, from 1963 to 1969.  He is a lifetime member of the Zeigler Eagles and Benton Eagles.

He is survived by a son, Mathew Moore and wife Amy of Nashville, TN; two sisters, Patricia Kash, of Christopher and Laura Young and husband Michael of Benton; one brother John Slayton, of Morristown, IN; nephew John Mohr and wife Deserae of Benton; two nieces, Amy Shelton and husband Donnie Jr. of Herrin and Shelby Lynn McCoy, of Benton.

Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Rita Slayton, of Peoria, Arizona and four great nieces and two great nephews.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Freeman William “Bill” Slayton, Jr. and Donald R. Slayton and by a nephew, Donnie Ray Slayton.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 21 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Father Joseph Trapp officiating.  Burial with military rites by the Benton American Legion and Benton VFW Post will be conducted at Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be after 11 a.m. on Thursday until the funeral service at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, Obituaries

Lady Redbirds softball improves to 2-0 with win over Trico

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Bruce A. Fasol

The West Frankfort Lady Redbirds won their second straight softbal game Friday afternoon. The Lady Redbirds were on the road playing Trico High School. The ‘Birds and Lady Pioneers were tied with a run apiece after the first inning on a warm afternoon in Campbell Hill.

The Lady Redbirds grabbed the lead in third inning plating another run. That lead was never surrendered. Trico scored their only other run in the 6rh inning to make the final score 6-2. as the redbirds scored one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth inning.

Kiarha Wilce was the winning pitcher for West Frankfort. Hirtting for the Lady Redbirds: calvert,Aldridge, Wyatt and Thompson were all 2 of 4 from the plate.

The Redbirds are now 2-1 for the season.

Filed Under: High School Sports

ZRC baseball knocks off Cobden behind Gabe Jelley one-hitter

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Bruce A. Fasol

Opening Day for the Zeigler-Royalton-Christopher baseball team belonged to pitcher Gabe Jelley who allowed just one hit in a masterful 7-0 win over the visiting Cobden Appleknockers. In addititon to giving up just a single base hit, Jelley fanned 12 of the Cobden hitters while flirting with a no-hitter.

Hitting for the Tornadoes were: Nick McPhale 2-3, Boris Moskoff the catcher was 1-2 with 2 RBI’s, Bailey Schimpf 1-4 with an RBI, and Trevor Fitch 1-4.

Filed Under: High School Sports

Lady Warriors softball wins fourth straight, back to .500

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

PENSACOLA, Fla. (March 15, 2013) – Rend Lake College softball wrapped up its spring break trip to Florida today with a shutout sweep of Carl Sandburg College, 3-0 and 5-0. The Lady Warriors finished 5-3 in the Sunshine State’s University of West Florida Spring Fling in Pensacola.

It improved to 5-5 with the sweep today – its fourth straight win. RLC lost two to Lincoln

It improved to 5-5 with the sweep today – its fourth straight win. RLC lost two to Lincoln University (Mo.), 2-1 and 7-2, on Tuesday; split with Black Hawk College, 1-0 and 8-2, on Wednesday; and swept Southeastern Illinois College, 6-3 and 7-3, yesterday. The 1-0 win over Black Hawk was in walk-off fashion and was the highlight of the trip, according to Head Coach Dave Ellingsworth. Taylor Cheek (Pinckneyville, Ill.) hit a two-out single to score Molly Whaley (Benton, Ill.) who had walked earlier in the inning.

Fellow Benton native Amanda Holloway threw the first shutout against Carl Sandburg today. Holloway threw all seven innings – striking out three, walking three, and giving up five hits. She finished 3-1 at the Spring Fling.

In the second game, it was Erica Wilson (O’Fallon, Ill.) getting the shutout win. She also went all seven innings. Wilson struck out one, walked three and gave up three hits.

Hitting was spread around the lineup in both games today, according to Ellingsworth. Besides freshman Fallon Clayton (Anna, Ill.) at the lead-off spot, Ellingsworth has been experimenting with his lineup. Three players have hit cleanup so far – Breanne Pelker (Nashville, Ill.), Whaley and Taylor Thomas (Arcola, Ill.).

“That’s one thing good about this whole trip. Everybody contributed,” said Ellingsworth.

Thomas strained a quad against Black Hawk. Ellingsworth is hoping she will be out for only about a week.

“She was walking on it pretty good today, but walking on it and playing on it are two different things,” he said.

In three of its last four wins, Rend Lake has scored all or most of its runs in one inning.

“We would have runners on base but we just couldn’t drive them in. I don’t really like that, but we are scoring a lot of runs, so you kind of have to like it. I told them, you have to have that killer instinct where you just jump on them.”

RLC’s next opportunity is Tuesday, at home, against Kaskaskia College. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. For all things athletic at The Lake, visit RLC online at www.rlc.edu.

Filed Under: College Sports

Rangerettes compete at Gene Armer Indoor Meet at U of I

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

The Benton girl’s track team competed in the Gene Armer Indoor Meet at the University of Illinois on Saturday and finished 29th in the 47-team field with five points.

After the 2011 realignment by the IHSA Benton, with 563 students, was bumped up to Class 2A that includes schools from 546 to 1486.  The top five scoring teams in the meet were: Lincoln Way East 81.5, Danville 43, Edwardsville 41.5, Belleville West 40.5, Bloom Township 36.5

This is Coach Andy Sloan’s assessment of his team in the tough field at Champaign:

“I thought we had a pretty good day and improved in about half of the events we entered.  We have to continue to get better because right now we are a little behind where we need to be.  Kaitlyn Schutt led us with our only top 5 finish in the 800 as she continues to be one of the better half milers in the state in Class AA.  Her best indoor time has qualified her for the Class AA state meet this weekend.  Christy Hayden had another big personal record in the shot put and is right at the 35-feet mark.  We are happy with her progress from week to week.  Both of our relays ran pretty well as we continue to juggle about six girls in those four spots, just looking for the right combination.  Cassidy Neal moved to No. 2 all-time in the pole vault at 8’0” and has been consistent for us there.  She had a good attempt at 8-feet-6-inches and with some more work will be over that height before long.  Jenna Johnston doubled in the mile and two mile which is not an easy task.  Her times are a little higher than where we would like but Jenna works hard and I know she will put in the work to get better.  We will run at Illinois State Indoor this weekend.  Schutt will run at Illinois Wesleyan in the 800 run.”

Results from U of I Gene Armer Indoor

Individual Results
60 Dash
Erin McDaniel         28th     8.94        *PR
200 Dash
Kryslyn Fowler        27th     29.16
400 Dash
Valarie Repp        26th    67.53        *season best
800 Run
Kaitlyn Schutt        4th     2:28.49
1600 Run
Jenna Johnston        19th     5:54.34
3200 Run
Jenna Johnston        13th     12:43.55    *season best
60 Hurdles
Bayley Eubanks        22nd     10.86
4×200 Relay        27th    1:56.71    *BCHS #10 Indoor
SPLITS    Schutt 28.5, McDaniel 29.3, Hagerman 29.9, Fowler 28.6
4×400 Relay        17th     4:31.76
SPLITS    Schutt 64.3, Fowler 69.5, Neal 68.3, Repp 70.1
4×800 Relay        NO ENTRY
High Jump
Olivia Hagerman    –    NH
Pole Vault
Cassidy Neal        9th     8’0”    *PR,     #2 BCHS Indoor All-Time
Long Jump
Kryslyn Fowler        26th     13’4 ¼”
Triple Jump
Erin McDaniel        28th     25’7”
Shot Put
Christy Hayden        10th     34’11 ½”    *PR

Filed Under: High School Sports

Benton police make multiple arrests

March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Benton Police blotter:

On March 14, 2013 Benton Police arrested Aaron Mandrell, age 32, of West Frankfort on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear. Mandrell was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing with bond being set at $5000.

On March 16, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to 109 E. Main St. also known as Sandy’s Bar in reference to a fight in progress. Through investigation, police arrested Amanda L. Duncan, age 33, of Missouri for aggravated battery. Police also arrested Jason R. Burnett, age 39, of Benton for aggravated battery. Both were transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On March 16, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 500 block of East Main Street in reference to an altercation. Through investigation, police arrested Michael B. Swink, age 24, of Elgin for aggravated assault and resisting a peace officer. Swink was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On March 17, 2013 Benton Police arrested Jeffery L. Cain, age 35, of Benton for criminal damage to property, aggravated domestic battery, resisting a peace officer, criminal damage to motor vehicle, unlawful restraint and was also cited for driving while license suspended and an expired registration. Cain was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News
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