Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
House Speaker Michael Madigan doesn’t demand favors. Not overtly. Not loudly. You won’t hear Madigan gush, “I’ve got this thing and it’s (expletive) golden,” like a mouthy ex-governor of Illinois.
Here’s the link to the editorial in the Chicago Tribune.
CHICAGO, Ill. – Desmar Jackson dominated on both ends of the court on Wednesday night, scoring a career-high 31 points, while adding six assists and four steals to lift Southern Illinois past Loyola-Chicago, 71-67, as SIU won its first road game in six tries this season.
The Salukis (5-11, 1-2) trailed 67-65 with a minute remaining, but twice the Loyola defense converged to stop Jackson, and twice he found Jalen Pendleton slipping to the basket for easy layups. The game-winner came with 5.8 seconds remaining.
“He had a big-time, All-League performance,” said Loyola head coach Porter Moser. “He made the big shot and he made the big pass — just a tremendous performance by Desmar Jackson.”
The Ramblers (6-9, 1-2) shot 55 percent from the field but turned the ball over 17 times against SIU’s zone defense. Operating from the top of the 2-3 zone, the 6-foot-5 Jackson constantly harassed Loyola’s guards. The starting combo of Jeff White and Doyle combined to commit 12 turnovers.
“I thought he single-handedly disrupted so much on the zone tonight,” said SIU head coach Barry Hinson.
“The problem with those turnovers was they turned into dunks,” Moser agreed.
Southern led by one at halftime, but the game was a see-saw affair throughout with 12 ties and 14 lead changes. Jackson had 18 second-half points and seemed to deliver a critical bucket every time his team needed one.
“I’m literally, completely overjoyed for our players,” said Hinson, whose team snapped a three-game slide. “We’ve had a gamut of emotions here over the last few days.”
The Salukis spent 22 hours on the road on Sunday and Monday traveling through a snowstorm, and then made a nine-hour bus ride to Chicago on Tuesday. They showed no ill effects or road weariness, however.
“When’s the last time you guys slept on a bus or in a church on a pew? I slept in a car at Huck’s,” Hinson said. “I thought tonight we got a glimpse of what we possibly could be. We really played together tonight and unselfishly.”
Loyola forward Christian Thomas was a force inside with 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Doyle added 17 points, though he committed eight turnovers. Anthony Beane broke out of a recent slump with a 15-point outing for Southern, and Pendleton added 14.
The story of the night, though, was Jackson.
“Desmar and I had a heart-to-heart meeting two days ago, and I challenged him, and he responded extremely well,” Hinson said.
BY JASON KEYSER, The Associated Press
It’s not a financial calamity, but on Wednesday local authorities were already counting the costs — expecting to have to pinch from other areas of their budgets and put off projects ranging from new road work to the purchase of shiny new manhole covers. Businesses that had to close lost revenue and homeowners had to shell out money for higher heating costs, burst water pipes and other cold weather damage.
On the plus side, the past couple of mild winters offered Illinois a break. And some businesses actually thrived because people who were stranded close to home by the cold and snow shopped local.
But the arctic blast did grind some commerce to a halt. That was evident by the 18-wheelers stranded by snowdrifts on interstates in central Illinois on Monday and Tuesday.
And ice in the Peoria area drastically slowed shipping on the Illinois River, a key artery for moving corn and soybeans, farm supplies like fertilizer and other non-agricultural products, said Michael Toohey, president of the Waterways Council, a trade group made up of shipping firms, agricultural groups and others.
“We think this is short lived and navigation will resume, but we do have a real sensitivity to any navigational disruption this time of year,” he said.
If they lasted, some of the delays could be critical on a waterway used to ship things like plane deicing products to Chicago’s airports, Toohey said.
In a rural patch of north-central Illinois, the tiny city of Mendota was one of many communities feeling the strain on its local budget.
It already burned through its entire 600-ton state allotment of ice-melting salt three weeks ago and had to order another 200 tons on the open market at about four times the cost, or about $240 a ton. The extreme cold has blown open roughly 40 water mains in recent weeks.
“Costs like that, it’s really hard to ever put a figure on it because there’s just so much of it,” Mayor David Boelk said of the exploding water mains. One big one the other day could cost more than $25,000, he estimated.
That will eat up a big chunk of the water department’s $80,000 repair budget.
Boelk said city officials would find ways to amend the budget. He said it was frustrating, though, to see money going into things as unglamorous as road salt.
“I’d much rather spend that on a fixed asset so to speak than a puff of snow that’s going to melt away,” he said.
Around Illinois, the long-term financial effects probably won’t amount to much, University of Illinois economist Fred Giertz said. A blizzard just doesn’t do enough damage or last long enough to dent the economy, he said.
A major flood along the Mississippi River in 1993 was very disruptive, he said.
“It was like a really big deal, but after it was over no one could find almost any (major) impacts on the economy,” said Giertz, who works at the university’s Institute for Government and Public Affairs.
People may not eat out much during the storm, but they will likely head out as soon as they can and indulge, he said. And if someone skips car shopping this week, they’ll probably be shopping again when the weather is a little nicer.
“Certainly the last two or three days you’d expect a lot of things to have been down,” he said, “(but) it kind of goes away.”
In the northern Illinois industrial hub of Rochelle, some businesses had trouble keeping machinery functioning, and fuel gelled up on truck drivers not using winter fuel blends, said chamber of commerce director Peggy Friday. But she did not hear of any plant shutdowns.
Big companies with a presence in Rochelle include Sara Lee Corp. and Del Monte Corp., and Union Pacific Railroad has a large intermodal facility there.
(This story appeared in the Southern Illinoisan)
West Frankfort police are continuing to investigate a Wednesday afternoon armed robbery at Banterra Bank, in West Frankfort.
Employees said that a medium-built, white male entered the bank shortly before 4 p.m. and talked to a teller about opening an account. As she was explaining the details the man interrupted her and demanded money, threatening to detonate a devise and blow up the bank.
West Frankfort Police Chief Shawn Talluto said that the robber implied that he had a weapon. The man, who was wearing a sock hat, dark glasses and a black jacket, white turtleneck and blue jeans, was estimated to be 6-feet tall and in his 30s or 40s. He exited the building through the north exit and fled on foot with an undetermined amount of money.
Anyone with information about the robbery should contact West Frankfort police at 937-3502
Joseph L. Ainslie, 81, of Benton, passed away Sunday evening, Jan. 5, 2014 at Shawnee Christian Nursing Center, in Herrin.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2014 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Bill Perry officiating. Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, with military honors conducted by the Benton American Legion & VFW Posts and the Illinois National Guard Honor Squad.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois.
Everyone recognizes the problem of the increasing cost and diminishing returns on a college education. There are steps that anyone can take to reduce cost and increase effectiveness.
“We’ve got a crisis in terms of college affordability and student debt.”
— Barak Obama —
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For potential college students these resolutions have some merit.
Walter V. Wendler
Be it resolved: If my high school has dual enrollment opportunities with a community college or university, I will use them and attain high school credits and university credits simultaneously. This may seem like rushing things but many 16 year olds are capable of college work. Usually dual enrollment courses are free and if they articulate with a senior institution, in your chosen field of study, you can save $1,000 per course, maybe double if living costs are considered. An Orlando Sentinel story by Erica Rodriguez, chronicles the efforts of Max Rock dual graduation, from high school and community college concurrently. A 50% reduction in the cost a bachelor’s degree could be realized.
Be it resolved: Since I am a graduating senior it may be too late for the dual enrollment, or maybe it’s not available, I will check out community colleges that have 2 + 2 articulation agreements with senior institutions. But, don’t trust the published literature from the community college or the senior institution. If possible visit both institutions. Talk to advisors. Be sure your long-term aspirations are clear and everyone agrees the community college courses will fit into your chosen degree program.
Here’s the reality. Many institutions will honestly tell you that 60 hours of community college courses will transfer. However, they may not transfer into your chosen major. For example if you are interested in mathematics, and take 15 hours of introductory math courses at a community college it’s possible that none would transfer into the math major but all would transfer into the university. Challenge everyone for honesty and clarity.
Be it resolved: I will not take electives at a community college, an online education provider, or any institution that don’t fit directly into my chosen field of study. That sounds limiting. However, if you are interested in 16th century art, but want to study biology, engage the interest in art through the internet or library, where you can access a range of expertise and insight for free.
Intellectual growth is the purpose of education. But, on borrowed or scarce funds you must make economic decisions. You can become educated through personal study. Some of the world’s great thinkers never enrolled in a college course. They were autodidacts.
Be it resolved: Since graduation rates from online degree programs are very low, and tuition’s not, I will coldly review the cost/benefits. Be wary of online degrees unless you visit the campus and meet faculty members and students. Don’t even take individual online courses unless they are taught by a faculty expert, bear university credit, count in your degree plan, and they are free or nearly so. There are too many cost-effective alternatives.
Be it resolved: I will ruthlessly review job opportunities, and graduate school options, based on my career aspirations and my academic abilities. Make sure they are sensible for you. Believe no one except your own experience, family, teachers, counselors, and people you know and trust. Too many colleges market degrees with low value in the workplace and little intellectual substance to boot. You can make the choice to study anything but it must be your decision made on ice-cold economic analysis.
Decisions about what to study have fiscal consequences. The Daily Californian posted this in a recent story on college graduates: “According to the General Social Survey, which monitors social change in the United States, the percentage of college-educated Americans who identify as “lower class” increased to 3 percent in 2012, up from 1.7 percent in 2002 and the highest rate since the survey was first taken in 1972. The percentage of college-educated Americans who say their standard of living has gotten worse over the last few years increased 57 percent between 2006 and 2012.”
These five resolutions could decrease cost and increase effectiveness of your education decisions. Our universities should be open and truthful with you as a potential student — your ability to succeed in college, the real costs, and the ultimate benefits. Honesty in both directions is essential.
INA, Ill. – To be the biggest winner, you have to be the biggest loser during the 2014 Lose to Win Challenge, co-hosted by Rend Lake College and the YMCA of Jefferson County.
The weight-loss competition will award cash prizes for teams and individuals who lose the highest percentage of weight during the program. The challenge begins on Jan. 11 with the first weigh in and will conclude on March 8 during a final weigh in.
Participants will have free access to the local YMCA gym facilities, the RLC Fitness Center and Aquatic Center in Ina, the RLC MarketPlace Fitness Center in Mt. Vernon, and all fitness classes during the challenge. Registration is $25 per person, or $100 per team.
Lose to Win contestants must be at least 18-years-old. To register, contact the YMCA of Jefferson County at 618-242-7500.
By Larry Miller
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that this article finds everyone happy and in good health to begin the New Year.
Larry Miller, executive director Franklin County Farm Bureau
The year 2013 was a good year for farmers – great weather meant great crops. With the draught of 2012 almost anything would have been better but 2013 brought a fantastic crop to the Franklin County farmers.
Please be aware of new laws taking effect in Illinois after January 1st – here are just a few of the new laws.
No cell phones while driving unless they’re completely hands free.
Starting in 2014, drivers caught holding cell phones up to their ears could be subject to a $75 fine. Using a BlueTooth headset or speakerphone are both still acceptable as long as they can be activated by a voice command or single-button touch. Please remember that no texting and driving is already a law.
If you’ll be 18 by the General Election, you can vote in the primary.
The idea is that if you’re going to be able to vote in the General Election, you should be able to help select the candidates you will be voting for.
Tired of going 65 on Illinois interstates?
Lawmakers are too, so now you can go 70. Counties in Chicagoland and suburban St. Louis have the ability to opt out.
Littering Fines
Littering will net you a $50 fine. Cigarette butts now count as litter.
Lower penalties when worksite is empty.
Now there are higher penalties for speeding by workers and lower penalties when the worksite is empty.
School bus cameras
Buses will have cameras to record if anyone passes them. These tapes will be shared with the police.
Veterans Designation
Requires the Secretary of State’s office to ask whether a person applying for a driver’s license is a veteran; if the applicant is a veteran, a veteran’s designation may be added to the license.
The new Conceal & Carry Law went into effect on January 1 as well. If you have any questions you can go the Illinois State Police website and down the left side click on the link for firearms. There is a lot of information listed there. If you need a FOID card be sure and come out the Franklin County Farm Bureau office to apply. For a $5.00 fee we will take your picture and fill out your application and it will be ready to mail.
We also have pecans and chocolate covered pecans left in the office for sale – pecans – $9.00 for a pound bag and chocolate covered pecans – $8.00 for a 12 ozs bag.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
When House Speaker Michael Madigan accidentally triggered a patronage scandal at the Metra commuter rail agency, it was the result of two extraordinary events.
The Chicago Tribune goes after House Speaker Michael Madigan. Here’s a link to the story.
Frank Krajnik, 90, of Benton, passed away at 8:55 p.m. Friday, January 3, 2014 at Helia Health Care in Benton.
He was born in Benton, IL, on May 8, 1923, the son of Frank and Josephine (Jedlicka) Krajnik.
Mr. Krajnik was a Korean War veteran, serving in the U.S. Army.
He is survived by two nephews, Ron Burlison and wife Patti, of Benton, IL and Dr. John Burlison and wife Christy, of Lake Havasu City, AZ.
Also surviving are two great nephews, Raymie Burlison and wife Vanessa and their children Raymie Jr. and Major, of Benton, IL and Jared Burlison, of Albuquerque, NM.
Mr. Krajnik was preceded in death by his paretns, two sisters, Mary Krajnik and Martha Burlison.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Friday, January 10 at the Buck Road Cemetery in Collinsville. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery. There will be no visitation.
Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, is in charge of arrangements.
