Two arrested on meth charges in Sesser

Two people are in custody on drug charges following an early morning raid at a Sesser residence Wednesday.

meth arrestsDeputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, along with Sesser police, arrested Christal L. Tucker, 28, of Sesser and Brandon M. Rasch, 24, of Centralia.  Tucker and Rasch were both charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine (100-400 grams), which is a Class X felony.  Tucker was also charged with possession of an unsterilized dog by a convicted felon.

Franklin County Sheriff Don Jones said the investigation began after several complaints from neighbors concerning two large pit bulls at the residence.  Jones said a bus stop in the residential area added more concern to the complaints.

“This investigation is ongoing,” Jones said. “We anticipate there there could be more arrests as we continue to investigate.”

If convicted the Class X felony charge carries a mandatory prison sentence of 6-30 years in prison.

Tucker and Rasch are being held in the Franklin County Jail pending review by the state’s attorney.

 

Obituary – Roger Alan Overton – Sesser

Roger Alan Overton, 32, of Sesser, passed away March 16, 2014 at Franklin County Hospital Emergency Room in Benton.

overton picRoger was born February 25, 1982 in Benton, the son of Thomas “Tom” Overton and Lanna (Bradley) Williams.

He was employed at Sesser Monument Company and was also a former member of the Sesser Fire Protection District.

Roger is survived by his life companion, Jill Hensley, of Sesser and four children, Kylie Overton, Kailyn Overton, Mara Hensley and Dakota Hensley.

He is also survived by brothers and sisters, Wayne Overton, of Centralia, Robin and Geo Ramsey, of Christopher, Tiffany Emery, of Sesser, Rhonda Overton, Carbondale, Tara Taylor, of Yorkville, IL and Patrick Overton, of Sesser.  Roger is also survived by his father, Tom Overton, of Sesser and by his mother and stepfather, Lanna (Bradley) Williams and Robert Williams, of Sesser.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, in Sesser.  There will be no funeral service.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the family and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser is in charge of arrangements.

For more information visit www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

Obituary – Sean Eugene Baker – Benton

Sean Eugene Baker, 45, of Benton, passed away Sunday afternoon March 9, 2014 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating.  Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to Hospice of the Good Samaritan.

 

Obituary – Donald Eugene Baker – Benton

Donald Eugene Baker, 78, of Benton, passed away at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Stonebridge Senior Living Center.

Memorial services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to Hospice of the Good Samaritan.

Our Universities: The Blame Game

Too often we lose touch with the concept of locus of control, personal responsibility and accountability, and the power of individuals to effect positive change.   As educators, when we transfer this mentality of helplessness to students we do disservice.
“The dream doesn’t lie in victimization or blame; it lies in hard work, determination and a good education.”

— Alphonso Jackson —

________________________________________________
By Walter V. Wendler

In any organization, when times are tough, there is a natural tendency for people to find someone, or something, to blame.  I used to work with a fellow who taught juniors.  He complained constantly about the quality of the work of his students, and claimed that the students were not prepared for what he was asking them to do.

Walter V. Wendler

Walter V. Wendler

He blamed the faculty who taught in the freshman and sophomore years as well as the students themselves.

There is an old story about a high school teacher who blamed a student’s poor performance on the junior high school teachers, who blamed it on the grade school teachers, who blamed it on the boy’s parents. The principal went to talk to the student’s mother.  She blamed the father.  When the principal visited the father he claimed he was not sure it was his child, so it couldn’t be his fault.

Blame, like water, is welded to the first law of plumbing.

And it goes the other way.  The professor may blame his department chair for a lack of support to be able to accomplish desired ends.  The department chair may blame the dean, the dean the provost, the provost the president, the president, if she is smart and wants to keep her job, skips the board and goes straight to the state, the state blames the party for a lack of bipartisanship or the federal government, and they in turn blame circumstances, previous administrations and the world economy.

Blame, like dross and slag, rises to the top.

Current events make it easy for universities to blame the states that are supposed to support them.  The University leaders ask, “Why do you forsake us?” And it is true; states are not supporting universities the way that they used to.  Maybe universities are not educating the way they used to.
Leadership cannot necessarily change circumstances but can change an organization in response to them.

This is not to suggest that parents are not responsible for their children’s education, or that faculty are not correct in identifying a lack of support from above as problematic. But, circumstances are circumstances and the positive response to any and all will make the institution stronger and better, no matter how dire they appear.

Leadership deals with a challenging environment at two levels.

First, leadership must take immediate action to deal with the difficulty faced, as serious problems don’t disappear over time, they fester and worsen.  Secondly, and of greater importance, leadership must deal with the long term implication of the current crisis with a responsive plan for the future. For example, if the university is too dependent on state funding, find alternatives.

The public bucket is completely empty in a dozen states and, even more troubling, without a bottom in nearly again that many.  Hank Williams Jr. memorialized the problem, “My bucket’s got a hole in it, and I can’t buy no beer.”

Blame the old pots and pails or find some new ones: leadership chooses.

Correct choices will make things happen and the university will be master of its own fate, no matter how challenging the times are.  Or the university will be a victim of circumstance.  It is like no other state agency or public entity; its mission and purpose are absolutely unique.

Can you imagine a warden writing to ex-convicts and asking them to send money to help build a new library, or a gym?  Or, can you expect elected officials to applaud an organization with an athletics coach who makes 10 or 20 times the annual salary of a faculty member or an elected official?
One of the jobs of our universities should be to find, in abundance and adversity, opportunity for excellence through deliberate action in response to mission.  And let our students see it.

SIH will host Dinner & Trivia Night to benefit Arthritis Foundation

It is time to put your heads together for a good cause. The Arthritis Walk Team from Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) will host its sixth annual trivia night on Friday, March 21, at the Carterville Community Center. All proceeds will benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

The cost per table is $200 in advance for up to eight people. There will be cash team prizes, a best decorated table award and a silent auction. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and play will begin at 7 p.m. A full dinner provided by Martin’s Catering will be served. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks and beverages.

Advance registration is preferred. To make a reservation or for more information please call The Second Act at SIH, toll free, at 1-877-480-4040.

 

FCA Devotion – Obedience

Ephesians 6:6

Here’s a heart check – do you do what pleases your coaches all the time or only when they are watching?  Do you do the right thing just to win their favor or because it’s right?  Today’s scripture continues the heart check.

fca logoAt chapter 6 and verse 6 of the book of Ephesians we read, “Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.”  Paul is rather direct with these people about their work ethic.

I often watch teams closely during practice and as they warm up prior to competitions.  I always see players who give a great effort when the coach is watching, but as soon as the coach’s head is turned, some of those players immediately start cutting corners and cheating on drills.  Their hearts are not fully with their coaches or their teammates.  They fail the heart check.

My challenge to you is to give the same effort when no one is watching as you do when the head coach is right beside you.  That is called integrity.  A whole heart will lead you to do the right thing whether anyone is watching or not.

As you prepare to compete today, give a whole-hearted effort to the pursuit of a great team victory.  When you compete with integrity you don’t waste any time looking over your shoulder.

Obituary – Donald “Kenny” Earnheart – Mulkeytown

Donald” Kenny” Earnheart, 58, of Mulkeytown, passed away March 4, 2014 at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born Jan. 17, 1956 in Christopher, the son of William Koonce and Ruby (Furlow) Koonce.

He married the love of his life, Laura (Mezo) Furlow on Nov. 18, 1976 and she survives.  Kenny was a very loving and caring husband and father.

Kenny was a truck driver for Southern Illinois Motor Express for the past 14 years.

He is survived by a daughter, Chasity Earnheart and friend Martin Meir, of Mulkeytown.  He is also survived by grandchildren Kenneth Charles Menard and Andrew Menard, of Mulkeytown.

Also surviving are brothers and sisters Debbie and Frank Green, of Du Quoin, Kevin Earnheart, of Du Quoin, Sherry and Bill Stroud, of Du Quoin, Billy Koonce, of Du Quoin, Nancy and Virgil Mathis, of Du Quoin, Brent Koonce, Indiana, Lisa and John Hill, of Willisville, Tara and Keith Pyron, of Du Quoin, Gary Earnheart, of Michigan. and Tracy Koonce of Du Quoin.  He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, granddaughter Kahlie Menard, grandparents and several in-laws.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on March 7, 2014 at Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, IL. Visitation will be after 5 p.m. at Gilbert Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Mulkeytown Cemetery, Mulkeytown, IL.

Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

For more information go to gilbertfuneralhomes.com.

 

Obituary – Cara Mae Shepard – Sesser

Cara Mae Shepard, 87, of Sesser, IL passed away Tuesday March 4, 2014 at Fair Acres Nursing Home in Du Quoin, IL.

Cara Mae Shepard Picture 001She was born May 30, 1926 to Elmer and LaVern (Page) Witcher.  She married Jake R. Shepard on June 13, 1959 and he preceded her in death on November 16, 1993.

Cara was a member of First Christian Church in Sesser, where she was the church treasurer for ten years.

Services will be on Sunday March 9, 2014 at 2:30 P.M. at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Brother Shannon Bopp officiating.

Visitation will be on Sunday from 12:30 P.M. until the time of the service at 2:30 P.M..

She is survived by five nephews Farrell D. Page and his wife Linda, Lecil E. Witcher Jr, Terry Witcher and his wife Mary Jane, Richard Witcher and his wife Brenda, David Witcher and his wife Dahlia.  Four nieces Jan Kelly and her husband Jim, Kay Styve, Carol Folden and her husband Charles Ray, Debi Spotanski and her husband Donald.  Also survived by several Great Nephews, Great Nieces, Great Great nephews, great great nieces, and great great great nieces.

She was preceded in death by five brothers Farrel Page, Woodrow Witcher, Charles Witcher, Lecil Witcher, Bob Witcher, and one sister Bertha Mann, one nephew Charles “Spike” Witcher, and one Nephew-in-law Bob Styve.

Having no children of her own she loved and enjoyed her nieces and nephews.

For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com .

Obituary – Yvonne Webster – formerly of Christopher

Yvonne Webster, 94, a former Christopher resident, passed away Monday, March 3, 2014 in Arlington, TX.

She was born in Christopher, IL on November 8, 1919, the daughter of Jules and Georgette (Challet) DeVaux.

She married Sydney W. Webster on Dec. 27, 1941 and he preceded her in death on September 26, 1983.

Mrs. Webster was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for more than 50 years and was a founding member of the Christopher Senior Citizens Club.

Mrs. Webster is survived by her son Scott E. Webster, of Round Rock, TX.  She is also survived by two grandchildren, Justin Webster and Aaron Webster and two grandchildren, Jasper and Lux.

Mrs. Webster was preceded in death by her parents, husband and by a son, David D. Webster.

Funeral services wil be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 10 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.  Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery.  Visitation will be after 9 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News