ZEIGLER — There were four people running for as many seats on the Zeigler City Council. It turns out one of them might not be eligible to serve.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Newly elected Zeigler councilman not eligible for office because of 20-year-old felony conviction
April 8, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Cubs fall to Brewers 4-2, conclude 2-7 road trip
April 8, 2019 By Leave a Comment
A nine-game trip that seemed like an eternity ended Sunday for the Cubs in a 4-2 loss to the rival Brewers at Miller Park.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Salukis’ softball run win streak to 10 with sweep of Purple Aces
April 8, 2019 By Leave a Comment
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Southern Illinois University softball team took two from the Evansville Purple Aces Saturday to complete the three-game sweep of the Aces and run their win streak to 10 games. It’s the longest win streak for the Salukis since 2011.
Southern’s defense and pitching were once again exceptional in SIU’s two wins Saturday. Brianna Jones, Claire Miller and Holly Marousek combined to allow just one run on nine hits in 14 innings. Miller won game one in the circle as she threw five and two third innings, allowed one run on six hits and struck out three. Jones picked her league-leading fourth save after she retired all four batters she faced.
In game two, Marousek got the start and lasted three innings and allowed just two hits while striking out two. Jones came on in relief of Marousek and went four innings, allowed just one hit and struck out four. In doing so, Jones improved to 15-6 in the circle this season and broke a tie with Cassidy Scoggins for second on SIU’s all-time wins list with her 82nd career victory.
SIU’s defense, which came into Saturday’s contests ranked No. 8 nationally in fielding percentage, extended its streak of innings without an error to 62 after it went error-free in both games Saturday.
“We were a little disappointed offensively but you have to give credit to Evansville’s pitching staff,” 20th-year head coach Kerri Blaylock said. “We were uncharacteristically undisciplined at the plate. But wow- amazing pitching and defense today. Holly, Claire and Bri all were outstanding and our defense was phenomenal.”
The Salukis won game one Saturday after they scratched across two runs in the sixth, highlighted by a go-ahead solo home run from Maddy Vermejan.
In the second game of the day, Megan Brown manufactured a run in the fourth and Katelyn Massa crushed a solo shot to the deepest part of Charlotte West Stadium in the sixth to give Jones all the run support she needed.
“Maddy and Katelyn’s home runs both were huge,” Blaylock said. “Maddy came up clutch in a big spot while Massa hit hers into the teeth of the wind when we didn’t think we would get one out.”
In game one, both teams put up zeros through the first four innings. Miller worked around traffic on the base paths, as Evansville stranded runners on third in four of the first five innings. After she got out of the fifth unscathed, SIU’s offense broke through in the bottom of the frame.
Maddy Vermejan belted an opposite field solo home run, her second of the season, to plate Southern’s first run. Ashley Wood then roped a two-out single, stole second and came in to score on a RBI-single by Katelyn Massa.
Evansville got a run back with a solo homer in the sixth and notched back-to-back, two-out singles to chase Miller. Jones came on in relief and needed just 16 pitches to shut down the Aces and complete the save.
In the series finale, Southern matched zeros with Evansville through the first three innings thanks in part to their defense. Jenny Jansen made back-to-back putouts in the third, including a diving grab in centerfield to steal a hit away from Evansville for the second out.
The Salukis broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth thanks to the base running of Megan Brown. Brown crushed a single, advanced to second on a grounder, stole third and came into score after the throw to third went into the outfield.
Southern added to its lead in the sixth after Massa hit a solo home run, her fifth of the season, to put the Salukis ahead 2-0. SIU loaded the bases with two outs in the frame but couldn’t scratch another run across.
The Aces got two on in the seventh and sent the winning run to the plate but Jones got Allison Daggett to tap out to second for the final out.
Southern will play its next 11 games on the road beginning Tuesday, April 9 at Missouri State. First pitch of game three in the Missouri Valley Conference series is slated for a 12 p.m. start time.
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Chicago’s police union is ‘the sworn enemy of black people,’ Rep. Bobby Rush says after protest of Jussie Smollett case
April 8, 2019 By Leave a Comment
After a week of heated protests and calls for her resignation, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and African-American leaders condemned Chicago’s police union and defended how the prosecutor’s office addressed an actor’s alleged hate crime hoax.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Pastor Rick Warren: We Love Because God Loves Us
April 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment
By Rick Warren
“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV).
One reason God wants us to love is because he is love, and he created us to be like him—to love. The only reason we’re able to love is because God loves us: “Love comes from God . . . because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8 NIV).
We were created in God’s image to do two things on Earth: Learn to love God and learn to love other people. Life is all about love.
But love all started with God. He loved us first, and that gives us the ability to love others (1 John 4:19). The only reason you can love God or love anybody else is because God first loved you. He showed that love by creating you. He showed that love by everything you have in life; it’s all a gift of God’s love. And he showed that love by sending Jesus Christ to Earth to die for you.
In order to love others well, we first need to understand and experience how much God loves us. We don’t want to just talk about love, read about love, or discuss love; we need to encounter the love of God.
We need to reach a place when we truly understand how God loves us completely and unconditionally. We need to become secure in the truth that we cannot make God stop loving us.
Once we’re secure inside God’s unconditional love, we’ll start cutting people a lot more slack. We won’t be as angry as we’ve been. We’ll be more patient. We’ll be more forgiving. We’ll be more merciful. We’ll give others grace.
But you cannot give others something you haven’t received yourself. I hope that as you learn how much God loves you, you’ll also let him heal your heart so that his love can flow freely through you. It’s impossible to love others until you really feel loved yourself.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Talk It Over
When you feel “empty” and unable to give or show love to others, how might God want you to “refuel”?
Do you find it easy or difficult to believe that God loves you completely and unconditionally? Why?
Take time today to make sure your heart is right with the Lord, that you have received his grace, forgiveness, and love so that you can show it to other people.
Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.
Obama is right — Dems’ circular firing squad is set to give Trump a 2020 landslide
April 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Former President Obama declared concern Saturday that Democrats are creating ”a circular firing squad” by embracing progressive socialists. He is right. Democrats are setting up a 2020 landslide — for President Trump.
Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.
As cold weather breaks, violence returns: 24 shot in 30 hours over warmest weekend this year
April 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment
In a period of a little over 24 hours this weekend, 24 people were shot in Chicago, including three children under 13 — and three of the adults shot died from their injuries, according to police
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Pritzker signs Tobacco 21 measure into law
April 7, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Illinois will become the eight state to raise the legal age to 21 to buy or use tobacco products after Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed new legislation into law Sunday afternoon.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Debbie Wilson – Benton, IL
April 1, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Debbie Wilson, 62, of Benton, IL passed away Sunday evening, March 31, 2019 in Benton.
She was born in Chicago, IL on January 18, 1957, the daughter of Bobby & Kathryn (Marvel) Wilson.
She married Danny Wilson on November 16, 2000, and he survives.
Debbie loved reading her Bible.
She is survived by her husband, Danny Wilson, of Benton; mother Kathryn Wilson, of Benton; sisters Karen Dancer, of Haleyville, AL and Linda Hiney, and husband Randy, of Delray Beach, FL; brother-in-law, Junior Wilson, and wife Pam, of Benton.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 3rd at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor Harol Whitlock officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be after 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
Lavina Lucille Rotolo – formerly of Benton, IL
April 1, 2019 By Leave a Comment
Lavina Lucille Rotolo, 90, of Louisville, KY, formerly of Benton, IL, passed away at 6:00 p.m., on Friday, March 29, 2019, at the Nazareth Home in Louisville, KY.
She was born on September 2, 1928, to Roy and Clara (Clemens) Phelps of Robbs, IL. In 1950, she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. Lavina worked as a Home Advisor in Perry County for one year, then in Franklin County for one year, before staying home to raise her family.
Lavina was a proud member of North Benton Baptist Church, Benton, IL. She was a loving and prideful mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. For many years, she led the singing at Vacation Bible School and played the organ at church. She loved being with her girls and spending time with her grandson. She spent countless hours working on her family history, loved to take on a craft project, and was one of the first members of the Rend Lake Fitness Center where she was faithful to exercise.
She is survived by her daughter Kay Grimes of Sarasota, FL; her daughter Carol Bean of Louisville, KY, and her husband, Michael Goad; one grandson, Jacob Grimes of North Port, FL and wife Tiffany and son Shane; and her three beloved nieces, the Phelps girls, and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Clara Phelps; her husband, Pete Rotolo; and her brother, Roy Everett Phelps, and her sister-in-law, Barbara Phelps.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home.
Funeral services will follow visitation on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at 1:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home. Burial will follow services at the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery, Benton, IL.
Memorials contributions may be made to North Benton Baptist Church and will be accepted at the funeral home.
The family would like to express their deep gratitude to the staff and caregivers on Charity Court at Nazareth Home for the excellent care she received the time she was there.
