MARION — Isabelle Hanson, a news anchor and reporter for KFVS-TV, is Miss Illinois 2021.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Cairo Port project continues forward after big investment last year
June 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment
After last year’s $40 million line item in the state’s capital bill, state Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, said, the train is still moving on the Cairo Port Project.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Supreme Court sides with student athletes, rules NCAA improperly capped education-related benefits
June 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment
The Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision Monday that the NCAA has illegally restricted education-based benefits that could be used as compensation to student athletes.
Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.
Four Salukis to compete at U.S. Olympic Trials
June 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment
CARBONDALE, Ill. – Four former and current Salukis, including 2016 Olympians DeAnna Price and Gwen Berry, will look to punch their tickets to Tokyo and secure their spot on Team USA for the 2020 Olympic Games continuing tomorrow, June 24 at Hayward Field as part of the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials. The Trials, which began on June 18, resume tomorrow following back-to-back off days.
Price (hammer throw), Berry (hammer throw), Shauniece O’Neal (hammer throw) and Bri’Anna Branch (200-meter dash) are the four Salukis who will vie for spots on Team USA.
The hammer throw will take center stage Thursday at 1:25 p.m. Three Salukis both past and present will compete Thursday, with the top-12 advancing to the final, which is slated for Saturday, June 26 at 4:05 p.m.
Price will look to make Team USA for the second time in her career to further punctuate her rise up the hammer throw ranks. In 2019, she successfully defended her USATF title with an American record toss of 256′-8″ (78.24m). She followed that up with a World Championship in the event in Doha, Qatar on Sept. 28, 2019 to become the first medalist for Team USA in the event, men or women, on the world championships stage. On April 9 in her home state of Missouri, Price threw 257′-10″ (78.60m) to shatter her American record and move up to third on the all-time hammer throw rankings.
Berry took second at the 2016 Olympic Trials and won gold at the 2019 Pan American Games with a toss of 244′-9″ (74.62m). At the 2021 USATF Throws Festival in Tuscon, Ariz. on May 22, the Ferguson, Mo. native threw a personal-best 251′-11″ (76.79m) to win the event and qualify for the Olympic Trials.
O’Neal, a three-time All-American, most recently placed 15th in the hammer throw at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn All-America Second Team honors. The Florissant, Mo. native qualified for the trials after she threw 218′-2″ (66.51m) to win her second career MVC title at the 2021 MVC Outdoor Championships.
A five-time MVC Champion and 10-time All-MVC performer in her three seasons as a Saluki, Branch clocked a personal-best 22.74 in the prelims at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships to qualify for the trials. She went on to earn All-America Honorable Mention honors in the event. She will run at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday with the hopes of advancing through to Friday’s semifinal race.
Happy Campers!
June 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Summer camps and happy campers are taking center stage at Rend Lake College this week.
Here’s the link to the story.
Marion Cultural & Civic Center charts post-COVID reopening
June 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Driving around the Marion Tower Square during the COVID-19 pandemic was especially depressing for a music fan.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Benton police make arrests
June 24, 2021 By Leave a Comment
On June 21st, 2021 Benton Police arrested Kendra Fox, age 30, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear. Fox was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 21st, 2021 Benton Police were dispatched to the 800 block of South McLeansboro Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon investigation, police arrested Gavin Wyant, age 18, of Benton for domestic battery. Wyant was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
April Nicole Sims – formerly of Sesser, IL
June 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment
April Nicole Sims, 43, formerly of Sesser, passed away June 19, 2021.
She was born on April 4, 1978 in Mt Vernon.
She is survived by her parents Rick and Debi (Cockrum) Sims of Sesser; three children David Lee Sims of Sesser, Thomas Alva Overton of Desoto and Debra Faye Overton of DuQuoin; one brother Ricky (Natasha) Sims West Frankfort; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and one grandmother Donna Cockrum and a very special fur baby “Miss Kitty”.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Guy Sims Sr. (Pappy Sims), Joyce Sims, great grandparents Richard and Mildred Williams, maternal grandparents Robert Cockrum and Eva Horn, great grandparents Ray Bob Cockrum, Lessie Cockrum, Norman and George Spencer, two uncles Robbie Cockrum and Spencer Gilbert and one cousin Justin Markle.
She will be cremated with a Memorial Service on Friday June 25, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. Visitation will be on Friday from 11:30 AM until 12:00 PM for immediate family only and from 12:00 PM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM for the public.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Pauline Regis – Christopher, IL
June 23, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Pauline Regis, 99, of Christopher, passed away on Monday June 21, 2021 at Delmar Gardens South in St Louis, MO.
She was born on April 13, 1922 in Royalton to Andrew and Anna (Adamisin) Varga. She married Batiste John Regis on November 15, 1947 and he preceded her in death on November 19, 2016.
She is survived by her two daughters Paula Ann (Ron) Ryan of Mt Olive, IL and Janet Regis (Kerry) Sprimont of St Louis, MO; grandchildren Kristin (Carl) Crawford, Eric (Nicky) Ryan and Megan Regis Sprimont; great grandchildren Catherine, Corinna, Alyssa, Ethan, Addison, Kyrsten, Julia and Jeremy and one sister Clara Varga of Benton, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and nine brothers and sisters Andrew Varga, Emrick Varga, Dorothy Rentfro, Anna Zazzara, Michael Varga, Joseph Varga, Julia Varga, Margaret Varga and Irene Varga.
Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday June 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the St Andrews Catholic Church in Christopher, IL with Father Eusebius Mbidoaka officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM at the Church. Burial will be at St Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Royalton, IL.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the St Aloysius Catholic Cemetery or to Brightfocus Foundation, a foundation for Alzheimer’s disease and Macular Degeneration at www.brightfocus.org.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Brian Howard Lewis – Sesser, IL
June 22, 2021 By Leave a Comment
SESSER – Brian Howard Lewis, 45, of Sesser, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 20, 2021.
Surviving is his loving wife of 21 years, Alyssa Lewis of Sesser, IL; one daughter: Sydney Lewis of Sesser, IL; one brother Terry Lewis of Ina, IL; parents Tim and Phyllis (Blackwell) Lewis of Ina, IL; father-in-law and mother-in-law David and Karen Harrison of Sesser, IL.
Brian was a devoted husband, father, and friend and was a faithful member of Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser, where he served as a Trustee and Sunday School Superintendent.
He was preceded in death by his infant sister Kelly Michelle Lewis and his grandparents Howard and Betty Lewis and Marlin and Pearl Blackwell.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, June 23 at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 24 Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser with Bro. Curtis Smith officiating. Burial will be at Paradise Cemetery in Tamaroa, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hazel Dell Free Will Baptist Church for International and North American Missions and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website at www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
