Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Illinois lawmakers are once again want to require the state’s public schools to teach students about the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of the nation and the state of Illinois.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker released a report Friday that blames predecessor Bruce Rauner for the state’s sorry financial condition and promises more state spending on schools, infrastructure and higher education.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
David Hilty Jr., 76, of Marion, formerly of Christopher, passed away on Friday February 8, 2019.
He was born on May 31, 1942 to David Ellsworth and Stella (Burns) Hilty. He married Reba Mae (Edmonds) Hilty and she survives of Marion. He is survived by his children Denise Slater and David Hilty; three grandchildren.
Graveside services will be on Tuesday February 12, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the Zeigler City Cemetery with Brother Ivan Ryan officiating. Burial will be at Zeigler City Cemetery. Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is handling arrangements.
Marilynn Kaye Phillips, 83, passed away February 8th at Helia Healthcare, in Benton, Illinois. She was born on Christmas Day, 1935 in Centralia, Illinois to Ross and Lois Wimberly, of Dix, Illinois.
She graduated from Centralia High School, in 1953. Marilynn married Bennie Campbell in 1954, and they had three children, Randy, Ricky and Christy Campbell. They divorced in 1968. Marilynn married Bob Garren in 1969, and they had one child, Joni Garren. After the death of her husband Bob, in 1999, Marilynn traveled around the country visiting her children and grandchildren. While visiting one of her sons in Texas, she received a phone call from her cousin, B. J. Thompson, about a widower from her church that she wanted her to meet. At that meeting, Marilynn met the love of her life, Richard Phillips, of Benton, Illinois. After dating a few months, Marilynn and Richard married in September, 2001. They both enjoyed spending the winters at their condominium in Mary Ester, Florida, walking the beaches, golfing and dancing. Their main residence was in Benton, Illinois, where they continued their passion for Immanuel Baptist Church, and for their dancing, which they enjoyed three to four times a week, until Marilynn could no longer dance.
Surviving, in addition to her husband Richard Phillips, are sons, Randy Campbell and wife Nita of Amarillo, TX, Rick Campbell and wife Denise of Midland, TX, daughters, Christy Myers and partner Dee Branscomb, of St. Louis, MO and Joni Garren of Mary Ester, FL. Marilynn also is survived by three bonus children, Ward Phillips and wife Kristine of Elkhorn, WI, Vickie Dean of Los Angeles, CA, and Brenda Phillips-Davies and husband Matthew of Buckingham, IL, 8 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, sister Peggy Bode and husband Dale, of Edwardsville, IL, brother Charles Wimberly and wife Brenda, of Mt. Vernon, Il.
A memorial service will be conducted by Morton & Johnston Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 12, at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Baptist Church, at 516 N. Main Street, in Benton, IL, with the service following at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be at Jordan Chapel Cemetery in Dix, Il. Memorials may be made to Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, Il.
For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com
Ms. Bryan Ann (Tedrow) Wilt, age 82, of Benton, passed away Friday, February 8, 2019 at her daughter’s home.
Celebration of Life Services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Monday, February 11, 2019 at the Whittington Church, with Rev. Mark Minor and Rev. Greg Shelton officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday at the Whittington Church.
Private family burial will be in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton.
The Leffler Funeral Home of Benton is in charge, of the arrangements.
Bryan was born on January 27, 1937 in Benton, the daughter of William Dean Tedrow and Virginia Dare (Knowles) Tedrow.
Ms. Wilt was a retired switchboard operator, having worked for St. John’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.
She was a member of the Whittington Church, and was a member of the Rend Lake Piece Makers Quilt Guild.
Bryan enjoyed quilting, art, painting, writing out the Bible (long hand), and playing dominoes and cards with her family.
Surviving are four children: Robert John Wilt and wife Robin of Arena, WI, Patricia “Patty” Shelton and husband Greg of Benton, Daniel James Wilt of Benton, and Cheryl Ann Wilt of Benton; four grandchildren: Jonathan Wilt, Jessica Wilt, David Shelton and wife Alicia, Patrick Shelton; five step-grandchildren Trish Allan, Sandy McCartney, James Hrobsky, Raeann McBride, Cara Lynn McBride; numerous great-grandchildren; a brother Steve Tedrow and wife Barbara of Troy, MI; a sister Margaret Carter of Benton; a sister-in-law April Tedrow; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant son William Dean Wilt; a brother David Tedrow; and a daughter-in-law Tina Rae Wilt; a brother-in-law Ed Carter.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Whittington Church building fund, and will be accepted at the church.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Ms. Bryan Ann Wilt, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
I once had a newspaper editor give me his rule of thumb for what is and what isn’t news. ‘Cats climb trees every day,’ he said, ‘and that’s not news. But if a cat climbs a tree and gets stuck and the fire department has to rescue it … that is news.’
A couple of news items this week brought that analogy back to mind.
Let me explain.
One story involved a young Armenian mother who turned her back on her newborn baby who was born with Down Syndrome and told hospital personnel to institutionalize the infant. The cat got stuck in the tree and the story made international news after the woman’s husband refused to give the child up and the couple is now divorcing.
The second story involved far less fanfare and was found on the obituary page of this newspaper. I was saddened to learn about the death of Carmen Lampley, 81, of Benton. I had met Carmen and her husband Kenny some 30 years ago through Benton Little League baseball. The Lampleys are the parents of eight children and their youngest son Rusty has Down Syndrome.
Rusty Lampley at last year’s Immanuel Baptist Church’s “Night to Shine.”
I spent 20 years coaching baseball in the Mustang League – 9 and 10-year-old boys. One spring I was approached about a youngster with Down Syndrome being on my team. Certainly, I had some concerns about his safety, how he would react with the other boys and me … and on and on. Finally, I said let’s give it a try and I met the Lampleys and their son Rusty, who was 10 years old. The first day I met Rusty I walked up to him and he stuck out his hand and said ‘give me five.’ When I started to slap his hand he pulled it back, quickly raised his hand and ran his fingers through his hair and, with a twinkle in his eyes said, ‘gotcha.’ Every practice, every game the rest of that summer Rusty and I played the ‘gotcha-game.’
The highlight of that season came one game when Rusty scored the winning run with me running beside him from third base trying to coax him to home plate. Coaching Rusty was a great memory, still vivid after 30 years.
I went by the funeral home last Saturday morning to pay my respects and it was a conversation I had with Carmen’s daughter Kerrie that’s prompts today’s offering. Standing beside the casket Kerrie told me about her mother’s reaction when she learned at age 40 that her newborn son had Down Syndrome. She said doctors approached her mother after the birth about institutionalizing Rusty.
“She listened to what they had to say,” she told me. “Then she told them without any hesitation: ‘he will be going home with me.’”
After listening to her comments I immediately thought of the contrast with the story trending worldwide about the young couple splitting up over the same question.
Kerrie went on to say that her mother also handed out a somewhat stern set of instructions to her large family concerning Rusty.
“I can still see her pointing her finger and telling us, ‘he will be treated just like everybody else in this family and none of you will make fun of him and you won’t allow anybody else to make fun of him.’”
And for 41 years that’s been the rules that the Lampley family has lived by concerning Rusty.
Obituaries are adequate and purposeful when describing the highlights of a person’s life but most often they fail to reveal the real fabric of that person. That thought crossed my mind when I read about the death of Carmen Lampley.
For those of us who knew the story between those lines, we knew of a woman who loved God, her children and her church. And equally important we knew about a woman who, at age 40, bravely, selflessly and without hesitation said seven words – He. Is. Going. Home. With. Me. – and signed on to love, protect and care for a special needs child. It was a commitment she had to know would last the rest of her life. And it did.
As a footnote, I saw Rusty at the visitation. I hadn’t seen him in many years. I walked up to him and started to ask him if he remembered me when he said, ‘Jim.’ Then, just like clockwork, he stuck out his hand and said, ‘give me five.’ Knowing what was coming I laughed when he pulled his hand back, ran his fingers through his hair and with that same twinkle in his eye, said ‘gotcha.’
Sometimes the best, most honest and heartwarming stories are when the cat doesn’t get stuck in the tree.
A 31-year-old West Frankfort man is in custody in connection with an early-morning shooting Wednesday in West Frankfort.
Kyle C. Huetsch
Brianne L. Deason
According to a press release from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Kyle C. Huetsch was arrested and facing charges of aggravated battery, a Class X felony, and is currently being held without bond in the Franklin County Jail pending formal charges by the States Attorney’s office.
Also arrested was Brianne L Deason, 32 also of West Frankfort for possession of methamphetamine less than 5 grams, a Class 3 felony, possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class A misdemeanor. Deason is also being held without bail in the Franklin County Jail pending formal charges.
The victim who is not being identified at this time is out of surgery and recovering in an area hospital.
Eva June Garrison, 96, long time resident of Benton died at 12:15 a.m., on Monday, February 4, 2019, at her home in Benton. Beloved daughter of Pauline and Joseph Myers, Eva was born on June 1,1922, in Benton, IL.
After high school she moved to Detroit, MI, living and working with her Aunt Maude. After less than a year and missing her home town and family, Eva returned to Benton. There she met a high school classmate, now handsome Army Air Corp Pilot, Robert Garrison, and married him on December 16, 1945, in Benton, IL.
In 1946, after Robert’s discharge from the Air Corp, the young couple with their daughter moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL., where Robert returned to playing professional baseball, while Eva created the first of many homes for her family.
In 1949, with Eva pregnant with their second daughter, the young family returned to Benton. The next two years Robert worked in the coal mines and built Eva their first real home where Eva nurtured her family.
Robert was recalled to the Air Force in 1951. For the next 18 years Eva would create homes for her family in Selma, Alabama, Las Vegas, Nevada, Youngstown, Ohio, and Bunker Hill, Indiana where their son was born.
The family was then stationed in Bitburg and Wurzburg Germany. After three years overseas their final assignment was in Kansas City, KS.
In 1971, Eva and Robert with their son, retired to Benton where both were able to support their aging parents and also started the Garrison Christmas Tree Farm.
Eva enjoyed being a housewife, a loving daughter, niece, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Family was always her first priority.
She was a charter member of the Benton Library and was an avid reader her whole life. She was a Girl Scout Leader for her daughters’ troops and was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Eva was a gentle, positive person who loved life, her family and her friends. She had a terrific sense of humor, which only improved with age and an ironclad memory that amazed everyone.
Eva was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years and her parents. She is survived by her three children; Rosemari Davis and husband Bill of McMinnville Oregon, Roberta “Bobbi” Garrison Smith and husband Richard of Seattle Wash, and Robert “Mike” Garrison of St. Louis Mo., four granddaughters Kris Simmons, Kim Kayfes, Ashley and Reilly Smith, and seven great-grandchildren and beloved dog Jack.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Richard Rethorst and staff (Margaret), and dear friends Marguerite Matyi, Tom Saxe, Keith and Jeanne Bragg, John Rhone and David Linn for their support throughout the years.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, March 2, 2019, at Pate Funeral Home. The Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow services at Masonic & Odd Fellow Cemetery, Benton, IL. Immediately following graveside services a luncheon will be hosted at the Benton Elks Lodge.
Eva loved her pets and would be honored by memorials to the Second Chance Rescue of Franklin County or to her second love the Benton Public Library, memorial contributions will be accepted at the funeral home.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
From Illinois Review —
Illinois considers joining California, New York with $15 minimum wage
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers are preparing to introduce legislation nearly doubling the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 per hour. While anyone in Illinois would be delighted with a nearly 100 percent pay raise, there are negatives that experts warn could happen if such a dramatic hike were to take place – even spread out over ten years.
Illinois Food Retailers Association issued a statement Monday saying they opposed the minimum wage hike, if it does not include different rates for different regions within the state.
The IFRA asked their members to contact their state lawmakers and “urge them to vote no on any proposal that does not consider regional differences in the final starting wage proposal.”
If supporters are successful, Illinois will be the fourth state to enforce such a wage hike, after California and Massachusetts, whose $15 per hour rate will go into effect in 2022 and 2023. New York’s minimum wage of $12.50 will go into effect in two years, and will incrementally rise to $15,00 five years later.
Opponents of an increase argue that raising the minimum wage would likely result in wages and salaries increasing across the board. Such a hike would increase operating expenses for companies that would then increase the prices of products and services to cover their increased labor costs.
Many economists and business executives say labor is a major cost of doing business, and will be force businesses to cut jobs to maintain profitability. The 2013 CBO report estimates that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would result in the loss of approximately 500,000 jobs.
Higher minimum wage could result in increased labor market competition for minimum wage jobs, forcing the very people off the workforce that are making progress from the minimum wage level.
The measure is being discussed currently at the Illinois State Capitol. The new governor JB Pritzker has already said he would sign the bill into law. Former Governor Bruce Rauner vetoed a $12 per hour minimum wage last year.
INA, Ill. — Local woodworker Jason Michael recently donated this custom military flag to Rend Lake College. Michael, with EJ Woodwork, made the flag at the request of Kacie Hunter, a Financial Aid Specialist and Veterans Coordinator at RLC.
Hunter wanted to buy the piece to hang in her office. “I’m one of the first stops for our current military and veteran students,” she said. “Having that hanging in my office is just a little thank you to those students.” Michael had other plans though. “Jason didn’t even hesitate and just said that he would be honored to donate the flag,” she added.
“I try to donate at least one flag a year and with RLC being where I went to school, it just made sense to donate to them,” Michael said. “It’s just a small token of appreciation for everything veterans and active military do for us.”
More custom pieces by Michael can be found on the EJ Woodwork Facebook page @E-J-Woodwork.
