A dispute over whether a New York Times writer should get tenure at the University of North Carolina would seem to be of little national importance.
Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.
Michael Goodwin: UNC clash over NY Times writer shows us what’s at stake for journalism’s future
June 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment
11-year-old girl among 60 shot over weekend in Chicago
June 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment
An 11-year-old girl was shot in the lower back Sunday night in the West Pullman neighborhood on Chicago’s Far South Side, police said, among at least 60 people shot over the weekend in Chicago, six of them fatally.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Shirley Jane Katz – Sesser, IL
June 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Shirley Jane Katz, 89, passed away on June 4, 2021 at GreenTree at Mt Vernon, IL.
She was born on November 29, 1931 in Springfield, IL to Edward and Frieda (Kornack) Courtwright. She married Alan Katz in 1973 and he preceded her in death on October 27, 1988.
She moved to Sesser in 2002. She retired from Memorial Hospital Medical Center in Springfield. She is survived by her son Rodney (Janice) Reynolds of Sesser, twelve grandchildren and many great grandchildren and one sister Clarice Jean Livingston of Springfield, IL. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son David Reynolds and one brother Floyd Courtwright.
Graveside services will be on Friday June 11, 2021 at 12:00 PM at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, IL with Brother Chris Hottensen officiating.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
We have found the promised land … and there’s pie!
June 7, 2021 By Leave a Comment
SESSER, Ill. — Rend Lake College Culinary Arts alumna Hannah Hill has set up her own shop, the Milk & Honey Bakehouse in Sesser, where she runs a one-woman dessert operation that is satisfying sweet-tooth cravings throughout southern Illinois.
Hill graduated with an Occupational Certificate of Baking and Pastry Arts in 2017. She said her time at the college was her first in a professional kitchen. The small class size with Chefs Robert Wilson and Jeff Fairbanks was the perfect recipe for success. It was an opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“I’ve loved baking and cooking my whole life,” Hill said. “It’s what I have enjoyed. I got to just drink in all the information that I could. It was one of the most fun years of my life.”
Hill knew she wanted to own her own business, and she knew she wanted to give back to the southern Illinois community that helped shape who she is today. The opportunity to open her own bake shop came six months ago, after the kitchen job she had was put on hold because of COVID. A couple of weeks later, Hill was able to find an available kitchen to rent and start up her dream business.
Hannah Hill bakes an assortment of pies and other desserts at her business, the Milk and Honey Bakehouse, located in Sesser.
The Milk & Honey Bakehouse has an array of made-from-scratch treats, but pie is the specialty. Customers can pre-order their desserts 24 hours in advance through her website [LINK “her website”] so that she is able to serve as many as possible.
Hill said her signature pie is the Honey Pie, a salted pretzel crust custard creation that includes a dollop of the sweet stuff that she tries to put in every one of her recipes.
The Sesser community has been very welcoming, and the buzz about her business has been spreading.
“I couldn’t have asked for more,” she said.
Hill said pie is the kind of dessert that brings up joy and also conjures up their own memories.
“I’ve always liked pie,” Hill said. “People around here love pie, and everyone around here has eaten pie at some point. And everyone thinks about their grandma’s pie. They know what they expect a pie to be, and I try to make that standard but everyone’s a little bit different.”
On the weekends, Hill has busied herself, setting up shop at various events and growing her clientele. Her booths have been set up at the Route 51 Farmhouse Market in DuQuoin, the Locust Street Historical Fair in Centralia, and the Magpie Market Days in Marion. Her future plans are to increase her business-to-business sales, and summer events like these help her make those connections.
“Events are my favorite part about doing this,” she said. “I get to meet other business owners, broaden my outreach and meet new customers. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone, for sure, but they are always fun.”
Hannah Hill sets up her booth for her business, Milk and Honey Bakehoue, during a recent event.
Hill, who grew up in DuQuoin, said southern Illinois has a unique food culture and she feels honored to be a part of it.
“I think the food culture here is vastly underrated,” she said. “That is something they taught us in culinary school, how much of a diversity in food there is around here, but it is also high quality. So I think you could find some really great stuff here and I wanted to be a part of that food culture.”
Hill said hard work is important in the restaurant business, and those who are willing to put in the time will be rewarded.
“That’s where you have to start,” she said. “If you are willing to put in the work, be dedicated and be reliable. If you are good under pressure, you are not going to have any problem. You are going to be valuable.”
Check out all of Hill’s sweet specialties online at milk-honey-bakehouse.myshopify.com.
Hundreds gather as Street Machine Nationals return to Du Quoin
June 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment
DU QUOIN – There’s no place like home.
That’s the feeling hundreds of automotive enthusiasts had as they gathered for the Continental Tire Street Machine Nationals this weekend at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, the event’s home turf.
Here’s the link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
James Sneddon – Buckner, IL
June 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment
James Sneddon, 79, of Buckner, passed away on June 5, 2021 at his home.
He was born on August 7, 1941 in West Frankfort, IL to Josiah and Uneeda (Barbieu) Sneddon. He married Mikkell (Brockovich) Sneddon on September 16, 1964 and she preceded him in death on December 7, 2016.
He is survived by his children Amy Sneddon of Buckner and Andrew Sneddon of Centralia; grandchildren Douglas Sneddon of Lafayette, IN, Bryce Sneddon and Misty Upton of Benton, IL and Trevor Sneddon of Johnston City, IL and special family members Charles Newell and Haylee Bates; great grandchildren Wyatt Upton, Cheyenne Upton, Ava Sneddon and Cassius Sneddon and one sister Jane (Lyman) Benns of Benton.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday June 13, 2021 at 4:00 PM at the Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher with Brother Larry Cook officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday from 2:00 PM until the time of the service at 4:00 PM.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
GOP message: Pritzker has a trust problem
June 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs into law new maps for Illinois legislature, state Supreme Court
June 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Wanda Dreon-Zinzilieta – Benton, IL
June 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Wanda Dreon-Zinzilieta, 74, of Benton, IL passed away Friday, June 4, 2021 at 5:45 a.m. in the comfort of her home surrounded by her family.
Mrs. Zinzilieta was born September 7, 1946 in Benton, Illinois. The daughter of Della and Mario Dreon. She married Dr. Joseph Zinzilieta in 1971.
Mrs. Zinzilieta worked along side her husband, Dr. Joseph Zinzilieta, of Zinzilieta Chiropractic for more than 40 years. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Benton. Wanda had great passion for life and lived to take care of others; including her two spoiled house dogs Lulu and Abbie. Wanda enjoyed reading, cooking, and traveling.
Mrs. Zinzilieta is survived by her children: Scott (Neva) Zinzilieta of Benton, Erin Zinzilieta-Pennington of Carmi, John (Shanon) Zinzilieta of Benton. Grandchildren include: David (Melissa) Zinzilieta of Great Falls, Montana, Bethany Zinzilieta of Benton, Ashley Zinzilieta of Benton, Nicholas Zinzilieta of Benton, Taylor (Andrew) Jones of Carmi. Great-Grandchildren include: Zeppelin and Cannon Jones of Carmi, Evalyn Zinzilieta of Benton, Isabelle Zinzilieta of Montana, Aurora Zinzilieta of Montana, Gracie Hakes of Indiana.
Mrs. Zinzilieta was preceded in death by her parents, sister-Sylvia Summers and husband Joseph Zinzilieta.
The family would like to recognize special caregivers: nieces Angela Summers-Nicholson, Gina Summers-Spiller and sister-in-law-Marie Monteggia and close friends David and Cathy Garavalia.
Per Mrs. Zinzilieta’s wishes, no formal services will be held.
Donations in her memory can be made to the Benton Ministerial Alliance, 302 South Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
Winifred Louise Van Horn – Benton, IL
June 4, 2021 By Leave a Comment
Winifred Louise (Atchison) Van Horn, better known as Mom Winnie, Winnie Lou, Winnie Woo, Winifred LouBellous, Mom, and Mother, passed away at the age of 88 on Wednesday morning, June 2, 2021, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Winnie was born in Whittington, Illinois, October 15, 1932, the daughter of William (Willie) and Louise (House) Atchison.
Winnie was a devoted daughter, a loving wife, a patient mother, and a movie star glam “ma”. She was known by others to be genuine, gracious, classy, stylish and could out-shop the best of them. Family was everything to her. On any given day, you could find her sitting with family and friends at what the family would call “the round table” with a cup of coffee and enjoying life.
She and her husband, Wilbur Van Horn, owned and operated Biebel Roofing Company in Benton, Illinois, for more than 43 years where Winnie managed the office and the “Biebel Boys”. When not at work, Winnie and Wilbur spent time enjoying their farm in Vienna, Illinois, with family and friends.
Winnie was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi, a community service organization, and the Rinky Dinks Club. She and her husband, Wilbur, were avid supporters of Benton Rangers basketball and rarely missed a game throughout the years.
Winnie was preceded in death by her parents, William and Louise Atchison; and her brother, Jim Atchison.
Winnie is survived by her husband Wilbur Van Horn of 69 years and three children; daughter, Lynette (Van Horn) Ing, and husband Weldon, daughter, Alecia (Van Horn) Moore and husband Hugh, and son, Brian Van Horn and wife Nina; six grandchildren Wesley Ing and wife Kristin, Lyndsey Moore, Whitney (Ing) Swift and husband Rob, Lauren (Moore) Johnson and husband Brent, Will Van Horn, and Ella Van Horn; seven great grandchildren, Westin Ing, Lyric Johnson, Grant Swift, Wynnstin Ing, Winnie Swift, Karaline Ing, and Landry Johnson.
Visitation and funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Morton & Johnston Funeral Home at 410 South Main Street Benton, Illinois.
Visitation will be held on Monday, June 7, 2021, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 7, 2021, at 1:00PM. Burial services will immediately follow funeral services at Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington, Illinois.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
