Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
The Bears beat the Vikings 21-19 on Sunday afternoon, a ho-hum victory that ended with a game-winning 22-yard field goal by Eddy Pineiro in the closing seconds. That pushed Matt Nagy’s team across the finish line of a disappointing season at 8-8.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
A man pulled out a shotgun at a Texas church service and killed two people Sunday before he was fatally shot by congregants who quickly returned fire, police said
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Chris Olave sat at his locker, dazed. As his Ohio State teammates showered and changed, he remained motionless in his No. 17 jersey.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Your Timing Is Everything
by Rick Warren
“There is a right time and a right way to do everything, but we know so little” (Ecclesiastes 8:6 GNT).
As you look ahead to the start of a new year, take some time to reflect on your life. What needs to stay the same? What needs to change?
One of the most important things to consider is how you can stay tuned in to God’s timing. Every great accomplishment involves timing. A successful football catch requires incredible timing between quarterback and receiver. In business, good timing in the market—particularly decisions about hiring and expanding—can mean everything. If you sing, you know how important it is to keep time with the other musicians.
Many years ago I wrote a book called The Purpose Driven Church. In the first chapter I compare leadership to surfing. No surfer says, “Let’s go make some waves today.” Surfers can’t create waves in the ocean. Only God can do that. Surfers wait for the waves that God creates.
That means surfers spend a lot of time waiting. Sometimes they might see a wave and let it go, knowing it’s not the right time. Then the surfer sees just the right wave, starts paddling faster and faster, catches the wave, rides the wave, and gets off the wave without wiping out. Surfing looks easy, but in reality it requires a lot of skill.
The same is true in life. You have to develop the skill of timing. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 8:6, “There is a right time and there is a right way to do everything, but we know so little” (GNT).
There’s a rhythm to life. Learning to do the right thing at the right time takes skill. Christians often call that skill “walking in the Spirit.” The more you grow as a follower of Christ, the better you get at walking in the Spirit. Sometimes God’s Spirit leads you to run fast. Sometimes he leads you to walk slowly.
For the next several days we’re going to look at when God usually wants you to speed up and when he might want you to slow down. You can enter the new year trying to make your own waves. Or you can learn to see and catch the waves God is making all around you.
Corruption investigations involving state lawmakers, elected officials, business executives, lobbyists disrupted business as usual in Springfield and Chicago in 2019.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Starting Jan. 1, it will be legal for adults to possess and use recreational marijuana in Illinois, but new law includes limits on how much residents can have and where they can use it.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Several new and updated driving laws go into effect in Illinois on New Year’s Day.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Brenda Kay (Cook) Asher, age 76, of Benton, passed away at 10:20 p.m. Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Stonebridge Nursing and Rehab of Benton.
Funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, January 2, 2020 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton with Pastor Perry Musgrave officiating. Burial will be at a future date in Knob Prairie Cemetery near Akin. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thursday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.
Brenda was born on November 3, 1943 in Portland, Oregon, the daughter of Andrew John Cook and Evelyn Christina (Harriss) Cook. She would first marry Joe Cook, and later she married Jackie Asher, and he preceded her in death in 2001.
She formerly worked as a housekeeper at the Franklin Hospital of Benton and would later work in the laundry department with Benton Healthcare and Rehab.
Brenda enjoyed Gospel Music, especially anything Gaither; she enjoyed working crossword puzzles, watching the Andy Griffith show, cooking, and she was an avid Cubs fan.
She was of the Church of God faith.
Survivors include a son David Cook and wife Betty of Benton; a daughter Janet Cook Budnick and husband Norm of Mahomet, IL; six grandchildren: Ashley Cairel of Urbana, IL, Dylan Stewart of Mahomet, IL, Brandon Cook of Benton, Joseph Cook of Benton, Jacob Cook of Benton, and Caitlyn Cook of Benton; two step-grandchildren: Lauren Budnick of Grand Rapids, MI, and Lindsey Budnick of Seattle, WA; two sisters: Nancy Johnson and husband Jim of El Paso, IL, Joy Cook Loeffler of Colorado Springs, CO; a step-sister Brenda Armour and husband Tim of Odell, IL; and several nieces and nephews.
Brenda was preceded in death by her parents; husband Jackie Asher; a granddaughter Jessica Stewart; and a brother Andrew John Cook.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Brenda Kay Asher, to assist with funeral expenses, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Brenda Kay (Cook) Asher, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
Norma Marie McAtee, age 92, of Sesser, passed away at 4:13 p.m. Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, with sons Rob, Mike, and Jon, granddaughter Lisa, great-granddaughter Madison, and close friends Kristy Scott, Joy Robinson, Janet and Richard Bush by her bedside.
Funeral services will be held at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 2020 at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Chapel with Rev. Alan Newman officiating. Burial will follow at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery of St. Louis. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.
Norma was born on January 20, 1927 in East St. Louis, Illinois, the daughter of George W. Sanders and Katie Vivian (Hiller) Sanders. She would marry Elmer Harold McAtee on May 21, 1948, and he preceded her in death on February 14, 2004.
Her working career included being a Medical Marketing Distaff of New Jersey, EMT, and lastly working as an Administrative Assistant with the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency.
She was a member of Second Act, Thursday Pinochle group of Zeigler, and the Wit and Wisdom of West Frankfort.
Norma enjoyed fishing; teaching the Bible; loved to travel in the mountains of Colorado looking at the scenery, especially enjoyed looking at the snow covered trees; loved visiting with family, especially during the holidays. One thing she despised was airplanes.
She was a member of the Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Christopher.
Mrs. McAtee is survived by three sons: Robert Edward McAtee and wife Alyssa of Montrose, CO, Michael David McAtee and wife Sue of St. Louis, MO, Jonathan Mark McAtee of Marion, IL; fifteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous great-great-grandchildren.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters: Georgetta Wilma Lamkins and Marion Worthen.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Faith Missionary Baptist Church of Christopher and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Norma, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
