Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Another methamphetamine lab was discovered and quickly shut down in West Frankfort on Monday after the West Frankfort Police Department responded to a call about traffic in and out of an abandoned home.
Jeremy Breckenridge and Amie D. Wilson
Here’s the link to the story at the West Frankfort Daily American.
Dolores M. Ames, 83, of Christopher passed away at her home on Tuesday November 18, 2014 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
A life-long resident of Franklin County, Dolores was born on May 2, 1931, the daughter of Charles “Arthur” Koenig and Edith Gilliam Koenig. Her maternal grandparents were Albert and Elizabeth Gilliam.
Dolores married Everett “Boogie” Ames on May 23, 1969 and he preceded her in death on February 17, 2001.
Dolores worked for Blue Bell Packing Company, the Office of the Franklin County Superintendent of schools, Inland Steel Coal Company, and was retired from Consolidation Coal Company. She was a member of The First Christian Church in Christopher.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m.. to 1 p.m. on Saturday November 22, 2014 at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. also at the funeral home, with Reverend Daniel Ison officiating.
Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser.
In lieu of flowers, Dolores suggested that memorials be made to The First Christian Church in Christopher.
Brian Dean Morris, 40, Christopher, IL passed away Nov. 18, 2014 at Franklin Hospital emergency room.
Brian was born Nov. 23, 1973 in Chicago, IL, the son of Herbie Lee Morris and Sharon (Young) Morris of Christopher.
He worked as a professional over-the-road truckdriver.
Brian is survived by his fiancee Brittney Irvin, Christopher, IL; children Jesse Phipps, Cambria, Deacon Brian Morris, Benton, Preston Dale Morris, Benton, Noah Summers, Benton, IL; brother Kevin Morris, of Christopher.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher, IL with Brother Mark Miller officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.
Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of arrangements.
For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.
Charles Richardson, age 75, of Benton, passed away at 4:27 p.m. Monday, November 17, 2014 at the Franklin Hospital emergency room.
Funeral services will be held at 1p.m. Friday, November 21, 2014 at the Leffler-Poulson Funeral Home, with Rev. Gary West officiating. Burial with Military Rites by the Benton American Legion Post 280, Benton V.F.W. Post 2671 and the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard will be accorded at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday evening and from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday at the Leffler – Poulson Funeral Home of Benton.
Charles was born on November 20, 1938 in Frisco, IL, the son of Roy Richardson and Martha Florence (Beaty) Richardson. He married the former Brenda Thomas on December 3, 1960 in Crown Point, IN, and she survives.
He was proud to be a retired coal miner having worked at Old Ben 24, and he was a member of the UMWA., and he was proud to having served in the United States Marine Corps from Aug. 8, 1956 to Aug. 15, 1958.
Charles was a man of many talents, which included being a farmer, truck driver, bus driver, car wash manager, referee, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He loved to garden, and according to his family, he grew the best sweet corn in Southern Illinois.
Charles especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and could be found at any event that the grandchildren were involved in.
Charles and his wife Brenda are members of the North Benton Missionary Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife Brenda Richardson of Benton, four daughters: Mary and husband David Baburnich of Benton, Rebecca Klein of Naperville, IL, Sandra and husband Jim Nolen of West Frankfort, Christy and husband Brian Cheatham of Zeigler, seven grandchildren: Jennifer and husband Jade Rash, John Nolen, Sarah Nolen and Bruce Zaragoza, Elizabeth Klein, Emily Baburnich, Alison Cheatham, Jacob Cheatham; three great-grandchildren: Aiden Rash, Katelyne Rash, Brody Zaragoza; four brothers: Donald Richardson of Ewing, Kenneth Richardson and wife Marleen of Benton, James Richardson and wife Jamie of Marion, Dale Richardson and wife Janice of Ewing, brother-in-law Bill Baker and Jennifer of Benton and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Richardson was preceded in death by his parents, a sister: Lois June Greenwood, mother-in-law: Marie and husband Bob Baker, father-in-law John Thomas; two brothers-in-law: Dale Greenwood and John Thomas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
BENTON —Christopher Rollins, the 30-year-old West Frankfort man that was found guilty of aggravated battery that left his then-girlfriend Tessa Akin with severe burns over nearly 60 percent of her body, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Christopher Rollins
Rollins was found guilty on September 6, 2014 during a one-day bench trial in Franklin County Court. The aggravated battery charge, a Class X felony, carries a mandatory jail sentence with a range of six to 45 years. Under truth-in-sentencing laws Rollins will be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence, meaning that he will serve approximately 26 years and will not be eligible for parole until 2040. The sentence, handed down Tuesday, will be followed by a period of three years of mandatory supervised release. Rollins was also ordered to pay $95,757 in restitution to Akin, who was recently married and went by Tessa Leech, during the trial.
Akin was found gravely injured in the backyard of the West Frankfort residence where Rollins was staying in August 2012. During the trial Rollins admitted to throwing a flammable liquid on Leech, an admission backed up by testimony during the trial, but how the substance ignited was in dispute. Rollins claimed Akin lit a cigarette lighter and that ignited the flammable liquid while Akin maintained that her then-boyfriend intentionally set her clothing on fire. Testimony during the trial showed that Rollins fled the scene before police and medical personnel arrived.
Akin has undergone almost 20 surgeries since she suffered the burns.
CHRISTOPHER — Avery “Bill” Lee Miller, 69, of Christopher, died November 16, 2014 at his home.
He was born October 14, 1945 in Pemiscot County, MO the son of Avery Frederick Miller and Inez Ola (Shelton) Miller.
Bill worked in retail management and was a member of First Presbyterian Church, in Du Qoin, IL.
He married Janet (Davison) Miller, on December, 12, 1984 and she survives of Christopher.
Survivors include his children, Jason and Beverly Miller, of Hornersville, MO and Renee and David Howard, of Maceo, KY; step-children Tracy and Tim Morris, Oak Hill, VA and Tom and Lynn Bowlin, Metropolis, IL; grandchildren Lauren Miller, Elijah Howard, Reagan Miller, Abbey Miller, Luke Miller, Emily Morris, Morgan Morris, Sam Morris, Maddie Bowlin and Ben Bowlin; great-granddaughter Kaydence Miller.
Also surviving are sisters and brothers, Dorothy Adams, of Wappapella Lake, MO, Hazel and Tom Morgan, Bernie, MO, Margurette Ward, Wappapella Lake, MO and Roberta Skaggs, Gibsono, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers James Miller and Thomas Miller.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Du Quoin with Pastor Tim Scroggins officiating. Visitation will be Saturday November 29, 2014 from 10 a.m.. until the time of the service at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of DuQuion
In lieu of flowers donations can be to the First Presbyterian Church of DuQuoin or to Hospice of Southern Illinois
Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, IL is in charge of arrangements. For more information visit our web site at gilbertfuneralhomes.com
(Seventh and final in the IMTE series)
By Walter V. Wendler
A reflection on October 6, “I’m Mad, too, Eddie,” (IMTE) claimed that minority points of view are swept under the rug and labeled as intolerant. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking at Harvard’s commencement, was correct when he said U.S. higher education is becoming dangerously narrow-minded. Contravening perspective relative to the status quo is frowned upon. This reflection is not about “political correctness,” an overused, misunderstood, and meaningless phrase that is bantered about to demean any view with which an individual or group disagrees.
Walter V. Wendler
Jonathan Last writes thoughtfully in The Weekly Standard on the changing nature of virtues in our nation and the impact these changes have on how we see the world, or at least how we say we see the world. Last makes a compelling example regarding smoking and sex. While it is acceptable — according to “modern” virtue — to treat smokers as lepers, the idea of suggesting that indiscriminate sex likewise has a negative impact on human physical and emotional health is relegated to citizens of the Cretaceous epoch. On the one hand the individual who detests smoking is current, proper, and virtuous. On the other hand, if that same person rejects casual one night sexual “hookups,” fueled by instantaneous gratification, and too frequently alcohol and/or recreational drugs, or sexual relations outside the bond of marriage, they would be branded as stupid, uncaring, and Neanderthal. On a good day.
Universities, to the diminishment of their effectiveness as reflective social forces, have become institutions prone to eye-rolling responses to diverse points of view. Harvey C. Mansfield of the Heritage Foundation provides thoughtful discussion on the issue and encourages caution of quick-draw, shoot-from-the-hip responses to complex issues. And apart from proclamations from the Ivory Tower, the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers know that no educational opportunity is “value-free.” Some within the ivy covered walls believe freedom from values is the benchmark of university life. They are wrong.
Some points of view are just not welcome. And these unwelcome perspectives come from different locations on the spectrums of insight, knowledge, culture and morality. But, because virtuousness is determined by committees, standards are in flux. Committees take votes and the view that rises to acceptability is the one that causes the least grief. This falls short and transforms public morality into thresholds of acceptability. Different targets I fear.
The newest approaches to dealing with sensitive issues are “trigger warnings” to presage potential offenses to unwary audiences, like MPAA ratings for movies. While dean at a major college of architecture I issued a “trigger warning” regarding a gallery exhibit over 20 years ago. The show exhibited pencil drawings of acts of homosexual acts that many people found frightening for the content, but beyond that for the darkness and intensity of the presentations. A custodial worker asked me if she could be freed from cleaning the gallery as the images were so intense and disconcerting (she said “disgusting”) she did not want to see them. Said she, “I am having nightmares.” I told custodial service not to ask anyone offended by the exhibit to clean the gallery. They could find no one willing to do it.
I wanted to remove the exhibit. It was offensive to many beyond the janitorial staff. The Office of General Counsel said I could close the exhibit, but I would likely have to reopen it after a protracted public discussion. The attorneys suggested I post a “trigger warning” (they did not call it that) outside the exhibit hall. I acquiesced, fueled by fear of standing up for a value system that would be wantonly misconstrued by many. Even the faculty whose protégés produced the exhibited work were concerned and believed fair warning was appropriate.
It is possible to walk on the knife’s edge of personally held values and free public expression, but it is, nonetheless, a knife’s edge. What made the knife’s edge navigable was not a bureaucracy or a set of rules but thoughtful people trying to understand how to solve a difficult problem in a complex and changing world. In the end, I expressed my thoughts, representing many others, and the artists expressed their views through the work. A set of rules or a committee would not have achieved a desirable outcome. The commentary about “trigger warnings” suggests every work of fiction ever written would need a caveat, most especially so if the work had any value: Any idea worth its salt is offensive to some. Pick the offender: Auclert, Tolstoy, King, Dickens, Laozi, Shakespeare, and Christ are a few examples.
Jonathan Last points out seven “modern” cardinal virtues: freedom, convenience, progress, equality, authenticity, health, and the grandparent of them all, nonjudgmentalism. By comparison, and in contrast, Christianity’s traditional virtues: chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility seem antiquated. The primary difference between the two sets is simply summed up in Hindu philosophy: Virtue cannot be imposed or external, but is attained and lived up to by each individual, as an internal commitment. Interestingly, this is the foundation of Christian practice.
Universities are masters of their own fate and would do well to espouse and act on the fact that people are too. No two the same. Hide-and-seek with committees, rules, and processes obfuscate moral responsibility and diminish rather than define it.
SPRINGFIELD — The race for state treasurer remains undecided nearly two weeks after Election Day, with both campaigns agreeing fewer than 400 votes now separate the candidates in what could be the closest statewide race in Illinois in at least a century. It also may lead to the first recount request in three decades.
Here’s a link to the story.
A 46-year-old Benton man was arrested after failing to appear in Franklin County court.
Thomas Wright was arrested Monday on an active Franklin County warrant after he missed a court date.
Wright was taken to the Franklin County Jail for processing.
The campaign is over but remnants of the fight between Gov. Pat Quinn and Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner remain as lawmakers return to Springfield this week, with the Democrat looking to score a final victory by raising the state’s minimum wage while the Republican pleads with legislators to hold off on major votes.
Here’s the link at the Chicago Tribune.
