Changes could be coming to the state’s high school basketball tournaments.
Here’s a link to the story at the Illinois News Network.
House OKs measure to stiffen penalties for illegally passing school bus
April 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Democrats opposed to enhancing penalties for criminal violations weren’t successful in trying to stop representatives in the House from approving a measure to increase penalties for illegally passing a school bus.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
House passes measure to give tuition assistance to undocumented citizens, transgender students
April 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Noncitizen students and transgender individuals not eligible for federal student loan aid because they’ve failed to register for the selective service would be able to access tuition assistance in Illinois under a plan passed by the House.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Illinois homeowners pay nearly double the national average in property taxes
April 15, 2019 By Leave a Comment
For all of the outcry and political promises to help property taxes, Illinoisans still pay the second highest rates in the nation.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Freda Mae Webb – Ewing, IL
April 12, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Freda Mae webb, 89, of Ewing passed away Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2019 in Benton.
She was born in Spring Garden, IL on May 11, 1929, the daughter of Homer & Alma (Johnson) McCann.
She married Charles Harold Webb on Sept. 26, 1949, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1975.
Mrs. Webb was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother & sister. She worked for many years at Burton’s Café in Whittington.
Mrs. Webb is survived by her children, Charles R. Webb, and fiancé Debbie Antill, of Ewing, IL, Charlotte Brown, and husband Darrell, of Sesser, IL, Linda Holman, and husband Clay, of Ewing, Carolyn Zettler, and husband Rodney, of Sesser and Brenda Witcher, and husband Rick, of Sesser; 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Endsley, and husband Ed, of Benton; two brothers, Carl McCann, and wife Mary, of Christopher, Il and Jerry McCann, and wife Mary Ann, of Benton
Mrs. Webb was preceded in death by her parents, husband, by a brother, Junior Ray McCann & his wife Peggy and by a sister, Wastina Campbell and her husband Byford.
Funeral services will be 1 PM Monday, April 15, 2019 at Johnston Funeral Home in Ina, with Rev. Ed Endsley officiating. Burial will be in Williams Chapel Cemetery in Ewing. Visitation will be after 11 AM Monday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.johnstonfuneralhome.com
Joan Rush – Benton, IL
April 12, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Joan Rush, 80, of Benton, passed away at 7:10 p.m., on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital, Mt. Vernon, IL.
She was born on July 15, 1938, to Sanford and Opal (Rea) Cato in Grassy, MO. Joan retired as a CNA for Franklin Skilled Care Nursing Unit after over 25 years of service.
Joan was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. She loved playing Bingo, working word search puzzles and playing on her tablet. Her entire family knew she loved the color green! She enjoyed helping at the Thompsonville First Baptist Church Clothing Center.
Joan is survived by her son, Dennis Rush of Benton, IL; a son-in-law, Charles Overton of Benton, IL; a sister-in-law, Connie Cato of Tampico, IL; Seven Grandsons, J.R. (Maranda) Rush of Benton, IL, George (Tiffany) Rush of Benton, IL, Joey (Charity) Rush of Benton, IL, Brian (Brittany) Rush of Christopher, IL, Brandon (Amanda) Overton of Benton, IL, and Matthew Rush; several step-grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Elvie Rush; a daughter, Diana Overton; two brothers, Harrel Cato and Ronald Cato; a sister, Nettie Kinard; a grandson, Marcus Rush; a daughter-in-law, Sue Rush and brother-in-law, Jack Kinard.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, from 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., at the Pate Funeral Home, with Brother John Robinson, officiating.
Burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery following services.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
Stanley Eubanks-Sesser, IL
April 12, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Stanley Eubanks, 84, of Sesser passed away on April 11, 2019.
He was born on January 31, 1935 in Sesser to Clyde and Lola (Jones) Eubanks. He married Sarah Leora (Veach) Eubanks and she preceded him in death on August 31, 1997. He then married Violet Ann (Dunn) Eubanks on December 26, 2001 and she survives of Sesser.
He is also survived by his children Glena (Ronnie) McCrary of Carterville, Ed Eubanks of Sesser, Glenn Ray (Deanna) Eubanks of Sesser, Barbara (Rick) Linton of Benton; step-daughter Rhonda Sims of Rodgers, AR.; grandchildren Chad McCrary, Cortney McCrary, Chase McCrary, Tracy (John) Woodlawn, Bradley Eubanks, Gage Eubanks, Laura (Josh) Dawson, Teresa Eubanks, Shaun Linton, Ronald (Jennifer) Sims, and Charlotte Kirkpatrick; brothers Donald Ray (Loretta) Eubanks and Olen Ward (Vickie) Eubanks; sister Alcletha ‘Chick” Murray Furlow and many great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
He was retired from Old Ben #21 and was a member of the UMWA. He loved horses and dancing. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, one son Gregory Alan Eubanks, brothers and sisters Loletta (Murray) Friend, Edward Lee Murray, Haskel “Hack” Murray, Juanita (Murray) Dame, Marcella (Eubanks) Dunbar, Ethyl Lou (Eubanks) Bumpus, Wanda (Eubanks) Teel, Chesta Glasco, James Eubanks.
Funeral services will be on Monday April 15, 2019 at 1:00 PM at the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home of Sesser with Brother Harl Ray Lewis and Brother Mark Miller officiating. Visitation will be on Monday from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. Burial will be at Mitchell Cemetery in Sesser. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Mitchell Cemetery and will be accepted at the funeral home.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Tom “Puffy” Overton-Sesser, IL
April 10, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Tom “Puffy” Overton, 65, of Sesser, passed away on April 8, 2019.
He was born on July 7, 1953 to Thomas Howard and Betty Jane (Cameron) Overton.
He is survived by his children Robin (Geo) Ramsey of Christopher, Tiffany Emery of Sesser, Patrick Overton of Paragould, AR, Rhonda (Roger) Overton of Morganfield, KY, Tara Taylor of Christopher, Wayne (Kim) Overton of Paragould, AR; five brothers, Ernest Overton of Mt Vernon, Howard Overton of Coello, Curtis Overton of Coello, Jim Overton of Pfafftown, NC, Douglas Overton of Sesser; five sisters, Elizabeth Bassett of Sesser, Aileen Grieser of Prescott, AZ, Lydia Brust of Bowling Green, KY, Jean Keith of Zeigler, Mary Conley of Bowling Green, KY.
He retired from the Goode Township Road District and was a Captain for the Sesser Fire Protection District.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Roger Alan Overton, and three brothers Alva Overton, Michael Dean Overton, and Carl “Mule” Overton.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday April 13, 2019 at 1:00 PM at the Coello Municipal Building. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, IL.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Your Daily Prayer: A Prayer to Renew Your Mind
April 10, 2019 By Leave a Comment
A Prayer to Renew Your Mind – Your Daily Prayer – April 9
A Prayer to Renew Your Mind
By Remi Roy
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2
What changes when we surrender our hearts to Jesus? Certainly, not our outward appearance, our income or the people in our families or at work. On the outside, we look the same. So, what changes?
The more we give in to the flesh the more our lives stay the same. The more we yield to the Spirit the more we begin to look like Christ. It is important to note that we cannot and do not change our ways first before we come to Christ. Hard as we try we do not have the power to do that and if God required that no one would be saved.
Paul, however, instructs us to renew our minds.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2
Paul knew that it takes a sincere desire to want to obey God to resist the lure of the world, hence his admonition to not copy the ways of the world. The same temptations we experienced in the past will come our way as new creations in Jesus Christ. We will face the same hardships, deal with the same emotions and circumstances. What makes the difference is our sincere desire to please God. Our desire, fueled by God’s grace and love makes real change possible.
Philippians 2:13 says, ‘For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.’
But how do we carry out Paul’s instruction to renew our minds in the practical sense?
It’s all in the Word. God’s Word empowers us and enables us to go all the way in our pursuit of Him.
Our job is to study and apply the Word. It is our weapon against everything that comes against us; whether sickness, fear or evil thoughts. God’s Word is the standard by which we measure our lives and conform to His will.
Lord, help us to study and apply your Word to our lives each day. Help us make this a discipline of the mind and heart, empowered by Your Spirit, transforming us each day more and more into your likeness. Help us have self-awareness of when we’re falling into temptation and turn quickly back to you. Thank you for your tender mercy and love, ever leading us onward. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!
Pastor Rick Warren: Love People from the Heart
April 10, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Love People from the Heart
by Rick Warren — April 10, 2019
“It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart” (Philippians 1:7 NIV).
I’ve discovered that if people are not on my heart, they’re on my nerves. If you don’t have your kids in your heart, they get on your nerves. If you don’t have your spouse in your heart, guess who gets on your nerves?
The reason so many marriages struggle is that mates are reacting to each other from their mind rather than their heart. When your wife says, “I feel depressed,” listen to her; it’s legitimate. When your husband says, “I don’t feel this is the right thing to do; we ought to do it this other way,” listen to him.
Heart love begins with understanding why someone feels the way they do. Ask questions and then listen. Hear the hurt, look for the problems, know what makes your mate tick. You need to understand the moods of the people closest to you, why they act the way they do. If you care, you’ll be aware.
How do you love people that you find unlovable, even when you do understand them and their moods? “God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:8 NIV). In Greek, the word affection is the word for intestines. In Greek society, the Greeks thought that the seat of the emotions was in your stomach, your liver, your internal organs.
Paul was saying, “I’ve got a gut feeling of love for you.” That is not a natural kind of love. It is a supernatural kind of love. That’s why Paul said it’s not from himself, but it’s the affection of Christ Jesus. Human love wears out and dries up and dies on the vine. The only kind of love that lasts in spite of heartache and difficulty in tough circumstances is God’s love—the affection of Jesus Christ.
So how do you get this kind of gut love? “God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us” (Romans 5:5 GNT). God’s love is not something you work up. It is something that is poured into you by the Holy Spirit as you let him live in you day by day.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over
What does loving the unlovable look like? When have you seen that kind of love displayed?
What are ways you can listen better to hear the hurt, understand problems, or know what makes your spouse (or close family members) tick?
What are ways you can listen better to hear the hurt and understand problems other people in your life may be experiencing?
Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.
