West Frankfort high rise still fighting bed bugs

December 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

“I hate to bring this up …” Franklin County Housing Authority Director Monica Stewart sighed and said Monday night at the authority board’s final meeting of the year. Stewart had to report that the authority is still fighting bed bugs in the Anna Gray High Rise building in West Frankfort.

Last week, 17 units in the building were inspected, and six of them came back positive for the pests.

The theory for the continuing problems is that residents are violating instructions not to remove anything from their apartments, and are spreading the insects. Stewart told the board there is a prep list of things that an infected apartment’s inhabitants must do before the housing authority will come in to treat the bugs, but these things are not always done. And that makes the costly treatments less effective.

Each professional bedbug treatment costs the housing authority $1,800, and none of that amount can be passed on to the tenant. Some tenants have had as many as four bedbug treatments.

The Board has now adopted a policy that would allow it to evict tenants who do not comply with the bed bug prep list.

Stewart also outlined a new collections policy for past-due accounts. Currently, the Housing Authority utilizes the services of Merchants Credit, a local collection agency.

Beginning in  2013, the housing authority will participate in a state program that will allow it to garnish state income tax refunds to collect past-due funds. There is an appeals process, which Director Stewart said the Authority will be briefed on this week.

“We have about 350 accounts, and we want to start this process before income tax season,” she said.

In other Board actions:
  • Bids were accepted for purchase on 80 new electric ranges.
  • Bids were accepted for bathroom renovations at Kuca High Rise, replacing standard equipment dating back to 1968 in some cases.
  • Accepted a bid with Housing Authority insurance group for vehicle, property, and general liability insurance. This represents a change of carrier from previously used ARMA insurance. With the new insurer, a $23,000 savings is projected. And, property insurance jumps up from the current $25 million dollars insured to $68 million dollars, which is the appraised worth of the county property owned by FCHA.
  • The Board approved a total of $29,207 in “write offs” as uncollectable debts left by tenants. In 2012, 189 people moved from Housing Authority premises, and 89 left debts.
Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, West Frankfort News Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Redbirds at home tonight

December 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

The West Frankfort Redbird boys junior and varsity basketball teams are at home Tuesday night. The Redbirds play host to visiting Carmi-White County in a non-conference game.

The Redbirds are coming off a lopsided loss Friday at Herrin, 73-35.

The JV game begins at 6 p.m., and Varsity game approximately 7:45 p.m.

Both games can be heard online at www.wfschools.org

Filed Under: High School Sports, West Frankfort High School Sports Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Benton wrestlers finish 5th, Peyton Smith shines at Cumberland meet

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

The Benton Rangers wrestling team turned in a solid 5th place finish Saturday in the 17-team Cumberland High School “Skull & Crossbones Invitational Tournament.

Benton tallied 120 points in the prestigious event trailing Prairie Central (246.50), Shelbyville (179.50), Herrin (147.50) and Lawrenceville (124.00).

Individually the Rangers were led by freshman Peyton Smith who improved to 17-1 overall during the first year of his high school wrestling career.  Smith registered three wins on the day in the 132-pound class by pinning Jimmy Pearsley(Herrin) in 1:30, Zach Kocher(Lawrenceville) in 3.00 and Paul Garcia(Prairie Central) in 1:30.

Brothers Chris and Chase Worthey also had an outstanding day in Cumberland – Chris Worthey finished second and Chase Worthey finished third in the 126-pound and 120-pound classes respectively.

Benton coach Duane Bean said his young team “grew up a lot” during the tough competition.

“We wrestled well,” said the Benton coach. “It is a good tournament and we’re a better team after competing this weekend. Even some of our kids that didn’t win really improved.”

Bean pointed out that Benton was only four points out of fourth place and took only 10 wrestlers to the tournament that had 14 different weight classes.

He gave high marks to Chris and Chase Worthey and also to Smith.

“Chris and Chase wrestled very well and both were in a tough bracket,” said Bean. “And Peyton beat a kid who is ranked in the state, pinned him in 90 seconds. Peyton had a great day.”

TEAM SCORES

PRAIRIE CENTRAL         246.50
SHELBYVILLE        179.50
HERRIN            147.50
LAWRENCEVILLE        124.00
BENTON            120.00
CUMBERLAND        116.00
CARLYLE            112.00
OLNEY            111.00
MT. OLIVE               98.50
MT. CARMEL           88.00
OAKWOOD               80.00
CARMI-WHITE COUNTY       54.00
CARTERVILLE             46.00
HARRISBURG           42.50
DECATUR EISENHOWER    35.00
EFFINGHAM           33.00
EFFINGHAM ST. ANTHONY  9.00
CASEY-WESTFIELD         6.00

(Benton wrestlers listed in all CAPS)

132 LBS – PEYTON SMITH– Champion
Pinned Jimmy Pearsley(Herrin) in 1:30
Pinned Zach Kocher(Lawrenceville) in 3:00
Pinned Paul Garcia(Prairie Central) in 1:30

126 LBS—CHRIS WORTHEY finished in 2nd Place
Pinned Levi Baker(Effingham) in 1:16
Won by major decision 10-2 over Antonio Alvarez
Lost 6-2 to Eli Roberts(Herrin)

120 LBS—CHASE WORTHEY finished in 3rd Place
Pinned Jacob McKinstry(Lawrenceville) in 0:46
Lost 6-3 to eventual champion Zach Zvonar(Carlyle)
Beat Colton Carmody(Olney) 10-5 for 3rd Place

138 LBS—DANIEL KRUG finished in 5th Place
Pinned Hunter Welch(Carmi-WC) in 1:58
Lost to Wyatt Fox(Shelbyville) 4-1
Pinned James Kruep(Carlyle) in 3:30
Pinned Braden Dees(Carterville) in 3:20
Pinned Shon Calvert (Mt. Olive) in 5:20 for 5th Place

170 LBS—ZACH MOCABY finished in 6th Place
Pinned Cody Ayers(Oakwood) in 3:06
Lost 9-0 to eventual champion Josh Hicks(Shelbyville)
Won by major decision 10-0 over Tim Sturm(Olney)
Won 9-5 over Kane Garcia(Mt. Carmel)
Lost 6-2 to Tyler Godden(Cumberland)

106 LBS—Jarred Burnett finished in 6th Place
Lost by pin to AJ Dees(Carterville) in 0:46
Won by pin in :57 over Aaron Nettles(Carlyle)

152LBS—Jarron Bennett(did not place)
Pinned Tyler Flood(Carlyle) in 0:39
Lost by technical fall 15-0 to eventual champion Sam Schuler(Prairie C)
Pinned Jeff Klelel(Effingham) in 2:22
Lost by Pin in 5:39 to John Sandschafer(Eff. STA)

285 LBS—Tyler Wiliiams(did not place)
Lost 8-4 to Dillon Walters(DEC. Eisenhower)
Won by Pin in 0:16 over Trent Carll(Casey-Westfield)
Lost by pin in 1:14 to Brent Morgan(Mt. Carmel)

195 LBS—Devon Siveking(did not place)
Pinned David Nibbe(Oakwood) in 3:22
Lost by pin in 3:04 to Timmy Carll(Cumberland)
Pinned Scott Jones(DEC Eisenhower) in 1:03
Lost by pin to Dakota White(Mt. Olive) in 1:02

145 LBS—Luke Blackman(did not place)
Lost by pin to Zach Poe(Cumberland) in 1:22
Lost by pin to Zach Horatscki(Oakwood) in 2:25

BENTON PLACED 5TH PLACE AS TEAM IN THE 18 TEAM TOURNEY!!

BENTON TOOK 10 WRESTLERS TO CUMBERLAND AND 6 OF THEM PLACED IN THE TOP 6.

Benton will return to action TONIGHT when they travel to Anna-Jonesboro with the meet starting at 6:30pm.

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, High School Sports, Uncategorized

SV wins conference match up against Christopher

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Eric Stallman’s Christopher Bearcats had their five game winning streak stopped when they went north to Sesser-Valier and lost a hard fought Black Diamond Conference game 49-48 Friday night.

Kevin Merck’s scored at the 6:13 mark for a Cats 2-0 lead as the Bearcats didn’t score again for four minutes until junior Eric Young made a steal to tie the game at 4.  Tyler Atchison hit a three and Jake Towers scored on a great pass from Josh Calloni as the Cats took a 9-6 first quarter lead.

The Bearcats went on another four minute drought and didn’t score until the 3:53 mark when Atchison hit another three. The next time down the floor a loose ball caused a giant pile up and Christopher’s R.J. Kuh came up with a bloody face, after the game he was seen by a nurse who butter flied the cut closed. Jr. Ethan Conner hit a free throw at the 3:06 mark and a minute later Calloni knocked down two free tosses. Fellow freshman Hunter Wheeler grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled going back up and hit one of his charity tosses and then the Cats went in at half leading 19-17 in a defensive battle

Young started the second half with a steal and a lay-up, Merck’s followed with two free throws for a 25-18 Bearcat lead. Merck hit two free throws before  a S-V technical foul but the Cats missed both of these free throws and turned the ball over throwing it in. Young stepped up big again with his third steal and basket of the game to put CCHS up 29-20. The Cats lead then went to 31-22 and Young’s defense again got him another layup for a 33-22 lead, the biggest of the night.

Someone forgot to tell Coach Chip Basso’s crew that they were out of the game. The Cats evened the score when one of their players was called for a technical after fouling.  S-V’s Derek Hood hits both free throws and the Red Devils clawed back to being down only 33-25. The home team’s Jacob Vanwey scored and Jordan Gunter fired in a long range three. With the Red Devils down 33-30 the Cats fell asleep on a missed Red Devil free throw as 6-feet-6-inch Justin Kulich gets the rebound and scored his only field goal of the night as the Cats 11 point  lead was trimmed to 33-32 at the end of the third stanza.

The fourth quarter started with Mercks hitting one of two charity tosses for Christopher, followed by a rebound basket on the next possession giving the visitors a 36-34 advantage. The lead increased to four when Young scored on a nifty pass from Towers. Kulich hits one of two free throws when a foul was called on Christopher and where Cat fans were initially excited when they thought the call was a charging foul on SV’s all conference tight end. Young scored for a 40-35 lead but after a SV basket Coach Basso called a time out at the 3:12 mark and his team down 40-37.Reggie Eubanks is fouled at the 2; 32 mark and makes the first freebie but misses the second. The Cats then made a mistake that will later haunt them as no one screened Kulich out and he hit a bucket to tie the score at 40-40. Young scored the last basket of the night for him and the Cats are up 42-40 but Gunter answered with a basket and again it’s a tie game.

SV’s Hood hits another big basket and tied the score at 42 and there is under a minute to play.

To say the last 50seconds were wild would be an understatement — SV’s Kulich hits a free throw, Hood follows with a basket for a 47-42 SV lead. The Cats Atchison scores with 27.1 seconds left in the game to get close at 47-44. Then sophomore Nick Marlow hits one free throw at the 27 second mark  and after a Bearcat miss, Eubanks hits another freebie for a 49-45 SV lead with 25 seconds left in the game. Atchison hits his fourth trey of the game at the buzzer as the Red Devils win a hard fought contest 49-48.

Scoring for Sesser-Valier was Gunter 11, Hood, 10, Vanwey 8,Marlo 7, Tyler Baxter 7,Kulich 4 and Eubanks 4.

Young led the Cats with 15 ,followed by Atchison with 14, Mercks 9,Towers 4,Calloni and Kuh 2 and Conner and Wheeler a free throw.

Coach Jeremy Varner’s Bearcat JV squad remained undefeated with a 62-39 victory in the preliminary game to raise their record to 5-0.

Filed Under: High School Sports, Uncategorized

Sex offender arrested at event for area children

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

West Frankfort Police confirm that a man was arrested at 11:40 a.m. Saturday at an annual Christmas charity event. Police Chief Jeff Tharp said that an anonymous tip summoned officers to the annual West Frankfort Elks Club Christmas party for local children.

Taken into custody was convicted sexual predator Roger Walters Jr. According to witnesses, Walters was quietly removed from the gathering, and handcuffed away from the party and out of view of the children attending.

Tharp says that Walters will be charged with Violation of the Child Sex Offender Registry Act.  Among the provisions of the law is one that prohibits a registered sex offender from knowingly being present at a facility providing services exclusively directed at children under age 18. Tharp said officers spoke with Elks officials who said the party was advertised for and specifically catered to children.

Walters was taken to the Franklin County Jail.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles, West Frankfort News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Central Dispatch board meeting today

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
By BRUCE A. FASOL
A meeting is planned for noon today of the West Franklin County Central Dispatch Board. Sources to FranklinCounty-News.com say that the meeting will be held in Executive Session.
One explanation for the closed door meeting could be to review the details of a tentative lawsuit that the Board has already authorized. The suit could be formally filed against the city of Sesser. The board is considering suing that member city in an effort to recoup funds already spent by other entities to correct the financial problems of Central Dispatch.
Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles Tagged With: , ,

Eldorado Holiday Tournament draw set

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

The West Frankfort Redbirds have been assigned their 2012 opening opponent in the Eldorado Holiday Tournament. The Redbirds will play the Fairfield Mules in their first round game.

Fairfield was seeded No. 8, and will play West Frankfort in the 11:30 a.m. game, on the tournament’s first day, Dec. 27. If the ‘Birds win that game, they advance to play the winner of top seeded Harrisburg/Hardin County. Should the Redbirds drop the contest they play the breakfast game at 8:30 a.m. the following morning.

The tournament grid begins at 8:30a.m., when No. 4 Union County, Kentucky, tips off with Carrier Mills. The next game is set to begin at 10 a,m. when No. 5 Massac County plays Hamilton County. The Redbird game follows this one. Then, at 1:45 p.m., the Harrisburg Bulldogs take on Hardin County.

The Herrin Tigers return to the EHT field for a 3:15 p.m. game vs. Carmi-White County. Herrin is seeded No. 6. The tournament’s third seed, the Meridian Bobcats, play the 4:45 p.m. game against NCOE.

The evening session begins with a match-up between No. 2 seed Gallatin County and Galatia. The evening session concludes with host Eldorado, a surprising 7 seed, meeting Anna-Jonesboro.

The tournament concludes Saturday night with the title game starting at approximately 9 p.m. Harrisburg, top seeded and state rated with an unbeaten mark, is a heavy favorite to win the tournament.

Filed Under: High School Sports, West Frankfort Junior High Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Fire destroys abandoned home in West Frankfort

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By BRUCE A. FASOL

A home in the 600 block of North Jefferson Street in West Frankfort was destroyed by fire Sunday evening.

Firefighters were called to the scene about 5:30 p.m., after a passerby saw flames shooting out of the roof of the building.

Officials said the house was abandoned, with no one living there and utilities turned off.

Fire fighters were challenged in protecting neighboring structures, including a garage just a few feet away. No other structures were damaged in the blaze.

20121217-092627.jpg

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles, West Frankfort News Tagged With: , , , , ,

New tenant expected at West Frankfort business incubator

December 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

By LEIGH M. CALDWELL

City officials say they have a verbal commitment from a business expected to occupy 75,000 square feet at West Frankfort’s Business Incubator.

West Frankfort Mayor Tom Jordan announced at the Dec. 11 city council meeting that Irwin Industries had toured the portion of the facility once occupied by Raytech Machining and are interested in moving into the space.

The energy industry construction conglomerate is based in Long Beach, California. West Frankfort’s central location near Illinois Basin coal mines is attractive to Irwin’s division that sells, repairs and maintains long wall jacks, Jordan said.

Though specific numbers are not available yet, Jordan said that Irwin’s move into the facility would create jobs.

Irwin Industries makes the third new tenant at the business incubator in as many months. The council also voted to spend $2,150 for office construction expenses for J&J Gaming, another of the incubator’s new tenants.

In other action, the West Frankfort City Council:

  • Approved the city’s annual tax levy ordinance, effective May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013. The ordinance includes a 5 percent increase in the tax levy. Mayor Tom Jordan said the city’s tax levy, which is largely used to pay for police and fire pensions, represents about 10 percent of the city’s $12.7 million total annual budget.
  • Designated three street parking spaces on the east side of Emma Street, south of Oak Street and north of the alley, for the exclusive use of Morthland College. Street Commissioner Tara Fasol-Chambers explained that because of tight parking in the area, the college, which has recently moved into the old First Christian Church / Grace Baptist Fellowship building, had requested some designated spaces for a few staff members with health issues, and for loading and unloading. Signs will be erected denoting the restricted spaces.
  • Approved no parking signs for the block of Mulberry Street between Oak and Elm streets. Fasol-Chambers said that because the street is narrow, residents have trouble accessing their driveways when street parking is allowed.
  • Added Sam E. Ward and Christian M. Whittington to West Frankfort’s auxiliary police force, at the request of Police Chief Jeff Tharp.
  • Approved the transfer of Lake Lot Lease No. 84 from James and Jean Reeder to Glenn and Kay Bridewell.
  • Proclaimed December as Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month in West Frankfort, as part of a national campaign sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
  • Approved a calendar of city council meetings for 2013. The council will continue to meet at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, with the exception of the second meeting in December. It has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Dec. 23 to avoid conflicts with Christmas Eve.
  • Approved a payment of $11,713.29 to Brown & Roberts Inc. for 2012 motor fuel tax program engineering.
  • Approved change order No. 4 for the Route 37 water main relocation as part of the road construction project there. This change actually decreased the contract amount by $32,867.09.
  • Approved the final payment of $5,000 to KPS, Inc. for the Route 37 water main relocation.
  • Approved a payment of $2,302 to Frank Tresso for repairs of two pieces of Street Department equipment – the jet truck and the 580 backhoe.
  • Approved a new sign for Pup’s 212 Tavern.

The next regular meeting of the West Frankfort City Council will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 27 at City Hall.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, More Featured Articles, West Frankfort News Tagged With: , , ,

Silent night, heartbroken night

December 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I suppose that I may have started this- another Christmas column- with contrasts anyway, this week.  Warm southern Illinois temps, melting our preconceived ideals of a white Christmas. a calmness of a true silent Night as contrasted with the hassle and bustle of any major department store. We try so hard to close our eyes and hear the distant, traditional Christmas bells, in a cell phone world. But, I never planned to contrast the fervent holiday hope for Peace on Earth with the shattering headlines of mass murder in school. I may have mentioned Mideast turmoil, our troops in the field still, or some such more general reference. But, never did I plan on having to address funerals of precious innocents gunned down in cold blood so near the birthday of the Prince of Peace.

If you are expecting a logical, general, or moving explanation of how something like the Sandy Hook masscre can occur in a universe governed by a loving God, I am destined to disappoint you. I do not have a clue. I do not mean to be skeptical, irreverent, or seem anti-God in any way. But, the smallness of my mind can not fathom how a God who parted the Red Sea could not jam a gun, divert airplanes from Twin Towers, or strike down mass murders in their tracks.
Maybe some day I will be able to ask Him in person- quietly and with tears- how this could be. I am versed enough to expect some of these tears will be His when he explains it all to me. All I have to accept now is the always offered; “God had a purpose”. and, I don’t doubt that this is true. That about sums up what great theologians with all their books, and the neighborhood barber both can concur  for an explanation. in short- we just didn’t know why these things are allowed by the God of supreme Love to make us endure supreme heartbreak.
I come from a town that buried its dead at Black Christmas. The 1951 Mine Disaster saw funerals all through the Christmas holidays. Wreaths hung from doors..but they were black. A life is a life is a life- young or older.
But, the comparison becomes all the more heartbreaking when it is twisted little bodies with no hope of a future.
Methane caused our Mine Disaster. Evil from a place we dare not imagine in our own human hearts took the lives of young children and their teachers that horrible Friday morning. I can not answer why. I can only add in some small way, our town understands.
As citizens of the world, we all grieve. Newtown, you have the prayers of a West Frankfort resident. We will grieve with you each of your Black Christmas’ and seek an end to any other community having to share our mutual grief. Until then, we hold each other, we cry together, and we look to the Heavens together for a reasonable explanation that never comes.
Filed Under: Columns, Featured, Opinion Tagged With: , ,
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