Verlean (McDonnough) Henson – Christopher

July 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Verlean (McDonnough) Henson, 84, of Christopher, passed away July 19, 2014 at Pinckneyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, in Pinckneyville, IL.

Verlean was born April 18. 1930 in Pinckneyville to Bob McDonnough and Effie (Davis) McDonnough.

She was a retired garment worker and a member of First Baptist Church in Christopher.

Verlean married Donald Henson on Jan. 13, 1968 and he preceded her in death on February 1, 2006.

She is survived by one brother Pete (Wilma) McDonnough, Pinckneyville, IL; one sister Deloris (Jim) Getzie, Pinckneyville; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn Koenigstein, Florida and Phillis McDonnough, Tennessee.  She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, five brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 11 a.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, IL, with the Rev. Richard Lance officiating.  Visitation will be Monday, July 21, 2014 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.  Burial will be at Mueller Hill Cemetery, in Pinckneyville.

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimers Association and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is in charge of arrangements.  For more information go to gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Obituaries

Obituary – Alma “Betty” Elizabeth Riley – Christopher

July 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Alma “Betty” Elizabeth Riley, 76, of Mascoutah and formerly of Christopher, passed away July 8, 2014 at Terrace on the Park in Mascoutah.

Betty was born August 31, 1937 in Royalton, IL, the daughter of George Alexander Hargraves and Della Elizabeth (Thomason) Hargraves.

Betty was married to William Ronny Riley, who was killed in a mining accident on May 1, 1979.

She worked as a seamstress and had worked at Bridal Originals and also sewed boat seats at Crownline.  She also did in home care for the elderly.Church.  Betty was a member of First Christian Church in Christopher.  Betty was an avid reader, enjoying biographies and true crime stories, and “The Scandal” sheets. She was a seamstress and enjoyed making her children’s clothing and also making wedding dresses. She was a talented doll maker, she enjoyed making crafts and created many pieces of art and costumes throughout the years. She also loved taking care of her cats.

Betty is survived by two daughters, Tayna Riley and Chuck Berry, of Freeburg, IL and Toni and Randy Rataczyk, of Coulterville, IL.  Also surviving are grandchildren Derek and Trin Davison, of St. Charles, MO, Thad Riley and Cyndi Hankler, of Pinckneyville, Ryan and Grace Fico, Mehlville, MO; great-grandchildren, Blaine, Jade and Lua Riley, Olivia Davison, Grayson Fico and yet to be born, Riley Fico.

Betty is also survived by one brother, James Hargraves and wife Marla, of Fairfield, IL and Judy Hargraves, of Royalton.

Surviving Sisters & Brothers; James Hargraves and wife Marla of Fairfield

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant son William Ronnie who was stillborn in 1963, three sisters Linda Sue Hargraves, Ella Francis “Sodie” Jones, and Georgia Ann Moore and one brother Charles Hargraves.

Memorial Service will be on Saturday July 12, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home, in Christopher with Brother Dennis Jones, officiating.  Visitation will be on Saturday July 12, 2014 from 12 noon until the time of the service at 2 p.m.

Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser at a later date

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Perry County Humane Society

Gilbert Funeral Home Christopher IL is in charge of arrangements.

For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

Filed Under: Obituaries

Obituary – Nancy Ellen Bushong – Sesser

July 16, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Nancy Ellen Bushong, 63, of Sesser, passed away on July 14, 2014 at Helia Healthcare in Carbondale, IL.

Nancy was born September 8, 1950, in Du Quoin, to Pete Mikulonis and Ella Mae (Robinson) Mikulonis.

Nancy was a registered nurse at Franklin Hospital.  She was a member of Hazel Dell Freewill Baptist Church, in Sesser.

Nancy married Jerry Bushong on May 12, 1974 and he preceded her in death on April 23, 1999.

She is survived by her children, Charles Gale and Wendi Bushong, of Buckner, IL and one granddaughter, Emily Crews.  Also surviving is one brother Joe Robinson, of Sesser and sisters Denise Lewis, of Thompsonville, IL and Jamie Mikulonis, of Sesser.  Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at 1 p.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, in Sesser, with Pastor Eric Drake officiating.  Visitation will be at the funeral home from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at 1 p.m.  Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, in Sesser.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made tot he American Cancer Society and will be accepted at the funeral home.

For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Filed Under: Obituaries

Obituary – Don Akin – Benton

July 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment

BENTON — Don Akin, 100, passed away Sunday afternoon, July 13, 2014.

Don was born Nov. 19, 1913, near Akin, the son of Wallie and Lulu (Gaither) Akin. He and his family moved to Benton five years later when their home burned.

He married Viva Mae McAfoos on June 27, 1936. She preceded him in death in 2005, 20 days before their 69th wedding anniversary.

Survivors include his daughter, Ava Jackson of Indianapolis; daughter and son-in-law, Vicki and James Page of Benton; grandsons, Aaron Jackson of Norfolk, Virginia, and Jared Jackson of Summerville, South Carolina; granddaughters, Chelsea (Page) and Dusty Crisp, and Courtney (Page) and Josh Chady, both of Benton; and six great-grandchildren.

Don graduated from Benton Township High School (later renamed Benton Consolidated High School) in 1932. He graduated from Bradley Polytechnic Institute in Peoria with specialities in watch and jewelry repair.

He opened Akin Jewelry Store in 1934 and retired in 1988 after 54 years of business in the same location. Drake’s Jewelry is in that location today.

A World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy, Don was stationed in the Admiralty Islands in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged Dec. 14, 1945.

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Benton and American Legion Post 280 since 1946. He was a past member of the Rotary Club, Benton Chamber of Commerce, Elks, VFW, Benton Country Club and Lake Wales Country Club.

Don enjoyed playing golf (achieving three holes-in-one), working in his yard, Sudoku puzzles and remaking old clocks.

On his return to Benton in 2012, he relished being with his friends and family and enoyed going out to eat and reuniting with people he knew. He always surprised people when they learned his age, since he looked, thought and acted like someone much younger.

According to his wishes, private services will be at a later date.

Donations may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc., 204 Halfway Road, Marion, IL 62959-5058.

Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton is in charge of arrangements.

Filed Under: Obituaries

Lawmakers expected to finalize medical pot rules today

July 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment
By Robert McCoppin
Tribune reporterLawmakers are expected to finalize rules for medical marijuana in Illinois today, allowing people to start applying to be legal users as soon as September, officials said.

 

Here’s the story in the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Featured

Obituary – Betty K. Moschino – Benton

June 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Betty K. Moschino, 74, of Benton, passed away June, 17, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

Betty was born February 4, 1940 in Mulkeytown, IL, the daughter of Oliver Evan Rogers and Mary (Campbell) Rogers.

She was married to Frank Moschino and he survives in Benton.

Betty was a retired coal miner, last working at CONSOL Rend Lake Mine. Betty was a member of the First Christian Church in Christopher, IL and the UMWA.

She is survived by her children, Kathy Esposito, Mulkeytown, IL, Richard Johnston, Christopher, IL and Angela and Brent Gossett, Coello, IL.

Betty is also survived by her grandchildren, Chasity Shaffer, Nicole Washington, Rachael Johnston, Keenan Johnston, Lorrie Horton, Emily Gossett, Maddie Gossett and Grace Gossett; great-grandchildren, Wardell Williams, Jayla Williams, Brittany Washington, Zuri Swarthout-Yoop, Savannah Smith, Amber Smith, Grant Smith, Ashley Smith, Jude Crawford and Gabriel Horton.

Also surviving are her brothers and sisters, Maxine and Earl Giacomo, Mulkeytown, IL, Connie and Fred Samples, Benton, IL, Wanda and Dick McCreaken, Zeigler, IL, Val Gene Rogers, Crainville, IL and Richard and Sue Rogers, Texas.

She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, a daughter Lauri Johnston, granddaughter Ashley Biggs and sister-in-law Anita Rogers.

Funeral services will be Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 11 a.m. At First Christian Church in Christopher. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. on Friday at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher and 10 a.m. Saturday until the time of the service at the church.

Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery Mulkeytown IL

Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

For more information visit our web site at gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Obituaries

Our Universities: Stakeholders on Student Debt Plan Need to Put Skin in the Game

June 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

The basis for President Obama’s action to cap student loan responsibility at 10% of earned income for 20 years (10/20 plan) is that education is a public good and the public should pay for it. Parts of the public, employers and lenders, receive significant benefits from subsidized education:  an educated worker through which to build effectiveness and/or profit on the one hand, and interest payments on long-term debt on the other hand.  The student is left holding the bag with both hands.

“Much of today’s American workforce is engaged in roundabout production, which Böhm-Bawerk [Austrian economist] equated with capital. There is no longer a meaningful distinction between labor and capital. Labor is capital.”
— Arnold Kling —
____________________________________________

By Walter V. Wendler

Starbucks and Arizona State University (ASU) announced a deal on Sunday: Starbucks employees who are juniors or seniors would be provided reimbursement for online education at ASU. The agreement shows insightful, mutually beneficial, action to reduce long-term indebtedness of student borrowers.  It should be the tip of an iceberg of innovation.

Walter V. Wendler

Walter V. Wendler

Social and personal benefits accrue when an individual has critical thinking skills, insights and abilities that have value — and, in short, is educated. Students bear the brunt of educational costs with a lifelong encumbrance to pay for the four-year university experience. For better or worse the 10/20 plan predictably retires debt forever.  Remaining balances are picked up by the taxpayer.

The 10/20 concept has hidden costs. Students may take on debt that exceeds what the 10/20 plan will ever repay; select majors in which no jobs exist or pay scales are low; be underprepared or uncommitted; or attend slovenly universities bloated with excess and overhead.  Graduates, lenders, employers, and universities relieved of debt without accountability create an unhealthy dependence on taxpayers and teach poor citizenship, stewardship, leadership, and guardianship.

Responsive and interactive repayment responsibility could be individually negotiated at any time before debt retirement, based on market forces. Innovation, not strangulation, is required.  A form of market homeostasis follows.

Debt is a commodity: The debt required to attain an education should be available to be traded as a commodity. “Labor is capital.” As major beneficiaries of this capital, public and private sector employers could share some responsibility by taking on a share of an employee’s obligation as a benefit of employment.  Debt of a non-performing or transient employee might revert to the individual. A two-way warranty exists.  Incentives and permutations abound without limit in the triangle of interest created by graduate, employer, and lender.

For example, an elementary education graduate with significant indebtedness may never pay the full loan amount under the 10/20 plan.  The school system could assume all or part of a graduate’s obligation as a condition of employment: an after-the-fact scholarship when excellence has been demonstrated.  Some schools, public and private, already operate from this vantage point, creating interdependence between employee and employer, with opportunity for lenders to favorably restructure debt in response to the marketplace: need, skill, ability and obligation.
Individual negotiations: Likewise, corporations might hire graduates with market-responsive loan pay-offs negotiated between graduate, lender, and the employer to benefit all. The employer who gains most from the capital of labor accrues a direct benefit as employee effectiveness is increased.  Tax incentives should be legislatively reinforced into the equation.

Reduced time to payoff:  Additionally, employers could negotiate with graduates and lenders to purchase debt in a shorter timeframe as a “carrot” to the strongest graduates providing “earned” liberty to stay or go, debt-free, in response to the time-value of money.  Such negotiated payment puts the lenders in a role as a motivated partner in the loan liquidation process as risk is reduced.

Lower costs of college:  Thoughtful students and families might select more cost-efficient, reduced frill, academically focused universities, because graduates carry less debt to pay off and lower “buy-down” costs to employers. Effective schools create more lucrative commodities (sorry, graduates with lower debt) and thereby attract more, and potentially stronger, students.

Limiting federal government involvement to last ditch bailouts (21st century educational bankruptcy protection), the 10/20 plan could energize the market and entrepreneurial instincts of students, lenders, employers, and universities to create millions of “good deals.”
Simple immunity from debt’s burden is not a good deal but a treacherous seduction.

The pundits are correct. University education costs too much and students without motivation, interest or preparation for university work are a burden to themselves and society – now for 24 years. Bankrupt graduates floating from job to job contribute little to anything except statistical wins in the number of college graduates. Education with no gainful employment, or productive graduate study opportunity, is a lose-lose proposition.
Our universities must be imaginative in finding ways to curtail and align costs for higher education. Additionally, students, employers, and lenders in a triangle of shared responsibility present an appealingly powerful market based approach that shines in contrast to walk-away loan forgiveness.
Buyers — students, lenders, and employers — beware.

Filed Under: Columns, Opinion

Miners drop two at Florence

June 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

After dropping the series finale at home against Frontier, the Miners appeared to rebound with a win Friday over the Florence Freedom, but then fell in the last two games of the series.

Southern Illinois won 4-1 Friday in 11 innings, lost 3-2 Saturday and lost the rubber game Sunday 4-3.

 

 

Here’s the link to the story in the Marion Daily Republican.

Filed Under: Sports

Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn dies at age 54

June 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SAN DIEGO — Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn has died of cancer at 54.

Gwynn’s sweet left-handed swing made him one of San Diego’s best-loved athletes. He was nicknamed “Mr. Padre” during his 20-year major league career.

Filed Under: Sports

Quinn complains wealthy are trying to help Rauner buy election

June 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn criticized Republican opponent Bruce Rauner and Rauner’s allies today as “billionaires trying to buy their way into Illinois politics” after the GOP candidate received a $2.5 million campaign contribution from hedge-fund boss Kenneth Griffin.

 

Here’s a link to the story in the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Breaking News
« Previous Page
Next Page »
Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News