Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass to access the White House was suspended “until further notice” Wednesday, hours after he engaged in a contentious back-and-forth with President Trump.
Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.
Authorities in Thousand Oaks, Calif., responded Wednesday to reports of a mass shooting just before midnight at a nightclub hosting a college night.
Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.
| Southern Illinois (2-7, 1-5 MVFC) vs. #6/#6 South Dakota State (6-2, 4-2 MVFC) | |
| Tickets | Buy Tickets |
| Date & Time | Nov. 10, 2018 | 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | Carbondale, Illinois • Saluki Stadium (15,000) |
| TV/Video Stream | ESPN+ Darren Kinnard, Mike Trude, Connor Onion |
| Live Stats | Provided by SIU |
| Radio | Saluki Radio Network Mike Reis, Gene Green, Connor James |
| Radio Stream | TuneIn (free) |
| Southern Illinois | Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide (PDF) |
| SDSU | Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide |
| MVFC | Weekly Notes | Stats |
| All-Time Series | Salukis trail, 3-5 (H: 1-3, A: 2-2) |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
Game Promotions
Series versus South Dakota State
The teams have met eight times since the series began in 2008. After winning the first two meetings, the Salukis have lost five of the last six to the Jackrabbits. They are 1-3 at home against South Dakota State, winning in 2008, 38-35, on a Kyle Dougherty 28-yard field goal with 2:59 to play, followed by an interception by James Wheeler that helped seal the victory.
Five Saluki losses by an average of four points
The Salukis have lost five games by an average margin of four points. They held second-half leads of a touchdown or more in four of those losses. Last week versus Western Illinois, SIU led by 17 points heading into the fourth quarter before losing by three points on a field goal with 12 seconds remaining.
Salukis on record pace for first downs
SIU’s offense averages 25.2 first downs per game, which is on pace to break the school record of 24.8 first downs set by the 2015 team. Southern recorded 70 first downs in Weeks 3-4. The 37 versus SEMO was a school record and the 33 versus South Dakota ranked fourth all-time.
WR Raphael Leonard — MVFC Receptions leader
WR Raphael Leonard (6-2, 193, Sr.) leads the MVFC with 52 receptions, which ranks eighth all-time in school history and is the most by a Saluki wide receiver since Billy Reed caught 56 passes in 2015. He has caught at least one pass in all 20 games he has played at Southern. Prior to SIU, Leonard played at East Mississippi Community College in 2016, where he was part of Season 2 of the popular Netflix documentary Last Chance U.
QB Matt DeSomer takes over at QB
QB Matt DeSomer (6-0, 215, Sr.) took over the starting spot for the Salukis during Weeks 7-8 (He also started Week 5 at Youngstown State when Sam Straub was injured). He is 1-4 as a starting quarterback. In the last two weeks, DeSomer has completed 33-of-49 passes for 414 yards, setting new career passing highs in both games. He rallied SIU with four-unanswered touchdowns in a 49-35 win over Missouri State and also ran the ball 14 times for 92 yards. DeSomer has played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and special teams during his 39-game career at SIU. His career stats include 892 rushing yards, 1,004 passing yards, 110 receiving yards, eight rushing touchdowns, nine passing touchdowns and seven tackles.
S Jeremy Chinn steps in at cornerback
Due to injuries in the secondary, S Jeremy Chinn (6-2, 211, Jr.) has started the last two games at cornerback, as the Salukis have played without their top four corners. In the last 21 games, Chinn has seven interceptions and six forced fumbles. A preseason All-MVFC pick, he is tied for second all-time at Southern in forced fumbles (6), trailing only Tyler Williamson (8, 2012-14).
RB D.J. Davis — second in MVFC All-Purpose Yardage
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 168, Jr.) is a prolific rusher, receiver and return man, who is second in the league in All-Purpose yardage per game (136.3). He is fifth all-time at SIU with 3,828 career all-purpose yards (1,419 rushing, 709 receiving, 1,683 return). He opened the season with four-straight 100-yard rushing games and has five on the season. The last Saluki with five 100-yard games in a season was Malcolm Agnew in 2014.
Dawg Bites
DE Anthony Knighton — team sacks leader
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 253, So.) leads the team in sacks (6.5) and is the active team leader in career sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (21.0). He has started all 20 games in his career and also has two forced fumbles, six pass breakups and one blocked kick. In 2017, he was runner-up for MVFC Freshman of the Year after recording 6.5 sacks.
TE Nigel Kilby second in the MVFC in Receiving TDs
TE Nigel Kilby (6-8, 250, Jr.) is second in the MVFC in receiving touchdowns with six, trailing only South Dakota State’s Cade Johnson (11). Kilby also missed two games with a hamstring injury. For the season, he has 15 catches for 214 yards (14.3 average). Kilby transferred from Garden City Community College and was ranked the No. 3 juco tight end prospect in the nation. He originally played for Eastern Michigan.
WR Landon Lenoir with breakout season
Entering the year with nine catches, slot receiver Landon Lenoir (5-11, 190, So.) has already caught 39 passes this season, is second on the team in catches and has caught at least two balls in every game. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 23), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 23) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
Dawg Bites II
INA, Ill. – Reserve your seat today for Rend Lake College’s third Glo Bingo event. Locals are invited to play at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the RLC Rec, located on the Ina campus, to raise funds for the campus’ Learning Resource Center (LRC).
When doors open at 5:30 p.m., Glo Bingo tickets will cost $25, which includes six bingo cards, a glow hat, and a glow dabber. Additional bingo cards are available for purchase for $5 per six cards. Attendees who purchase tickets early can do so for a discounted rate of $20. Discounted tickets are on sale until 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15.
Competitors will have the chance to win over $1,000 in cash prizes. Additionally, there will be a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and early bird and middle bird raffle game cards available at the door. Concessions will also be sold throughout the evening.
Seats for the event are limited. Glo Bingo participants must be over the age of 18. No outside food or beverages are allowed. The LRC will also be selling 2019 St. Louis Cardinals calendars as presale items.
For more information or to purchase advance tickets, contact the LRC at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1308. For groups interested in participating, tables can be reserved by calling ahead for advance ticket purchases. The event is sponsored by the RLC Foundation.
Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds visitors that the following recreation areas will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic during the first firearm deer season.
Dates for the closures are November 16-18, 2018. Areas affected by the closure include the North Sandusky picnic area and campground; South Sandusky picnic area, campground, beach and boat ramp; South Marcum picnic area and campground; North Marcum picnic area and old campground; and the Blackberry Nature Trail. These areas will be utilized by persons involved in the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will remain closed as a safety precaution.
In addition, the Corps of Engineers will temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail, which are under the management of the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting during all state firearm deer hunting seasons. These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to the North Marcum day use area, and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky day use area and continuing to the South Marcum campground.
All persons not involved in the sport of deer hunting are prohibited from utilizing these trails during the periods of November 16-18, November 29-30, December 1-2, and December 7-9. Persons wishing to access hunting spots should remember that Federal law prohibits the use of motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), on all government-managed properties.
For more information on these temporary area closings, feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office by phone at 618-724-2493. For updates, follow us on Facebook@Rend Lake Project Office / Visitor Center.
CARLSBAD, Calif. • Once he had snapped off a few opening one-liners about Toronto’s “blue flu,” Minnesota fans going to games where “only one of the Twins show up,” and Marlins crowds putting “the MIA to Miami,” superagent Scott Boras got to the point in his program when, with a ringmaster’s grin, he introduced the main attraction.
Here’s a link to the story at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
A north suburban statehouse race where one vote separates the two candidates might not be decided for two weeks.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
House Speaker Michael Madigan, with an open spigot of resources from billionaire Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker, regained his 71-seat supermajority in the Illinois House and might increase that number once final election results from Tuesday are determined. At least two suburban seats were too close to call Wednesday morning but could be Democratic pickups.
Here’s a link to the editorial at the Chicago Tribune.
A Prayer for Clarity about Your God-Given Purpose
By Heather Caliri
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” – Psalm 138:8
My old friend Pedro leaned against my kitchen counter, drink in hand, and asked me a question I knew I should be able to answer.
“How is God using you these days, Heather?”
At the time, I didn’t give myself credit for how I already served God. I couldn’t recognize God’s purpose in my ordinary life because I didn’t really understand what purpose was. I couldn’t see it, even though it was right under my feet.
Here’s what I got wrong about finding my purpose.
1. I thought “purpose” was a fancy destination, not a long, dusty journey.
For most of my Christian life, I assumed finding my purpose was like a cosmic job search. I should put together a mental resume and seek out job openings (ministry or service opportunities) that fit my profile. When I landed a “purpose,” I should keep it for life.
In truth, our purpose is an ever-evolving, multifaceted apprenticeship to Jesus, not a single, clearly defined role that lasts forever.
I’ve found great comfort in realizing that the ebbs and flows of my life are both modeled in Scripture (wandering the desert, anyone?) and reflected in nature (the cycles of tides, moons, and even my own body.) I’m on a long journey towards God’s kingdom, not parked ‘til retirement in a cosmic cubicle.
2. I thought “purpose” would be prestigious, but I’ve often found it in the mundane.
Your mundane, purpose-driven but less-than-loved tasks might look different than mine—making peace with singleness, caring for an elderly parent, or enduring financial hardship. We all live ordinary lives with ordinary, necessary, but not-fun challenges.
3. I thought ‘purpose’ was deadly serious, but it’s brought me deep joy.
Serving God is ultimately pleasurable. Seeking his purpose should bring us deep joy.
That does not mean it’s a walk in the park; we will endure hardship, work humbly at thankless tasks, and be braver than we prefer. But if our purpose doesn’t, on the whole, make us alive, something is terribly wrong.
4. I thought finding “my purpose” was up to me, but God brings purpose to our lives.
God creates in us every gift and ability that allows us to be useful. His Spirit gives us bravery, wisdom, and fortitude. He shepherds and guides us. We can do nothing apart from His power.
Let’s Pray:
Lord, thank you for helping me find clarity about my purpose. Help me remember that I ultimately can find satisfying purpose when I seek after you. Lord, as I work to understand my purpose more fully, I pray that your joy would be present. I pray for grace and wisdom. Help me long to serve you above myself, even above others. Help me walk daily in dependence of you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
By Rick Warren
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6 CSB).
Not knowing who you are—and letting everyone else mold you into their image—is a leading cause of stress for people today.
Jesus gives us another model. He shows us the principle of identification, which is the first principle of stress management from the life of Jesus.
Jesus had no doubt as to his identity. In fact, he defines himself with “I am” statements 18 times in the Bible. He does this every time he says “I am . . .” and then declares key truths.
Jesus says: “I am the truth. I am the way. I am the life. I am the Son of God. I am sent from my Father above. I am the door. I am the bread of life. I am the living water.”
Jesus knew exactly who he was.
And we need to know exactly who we are, who God created us to be.
If you don’t know your identity, you’ll depend too much on what other people say about you.
Stress happens when you try to be something you’re not. We all start off as originals, but too often we end up as carbon copies of somebody else—because we don’t know who we are.
When you learn who you are, you’re less dependent upon the approval of others and you’re more stress-resistant.
In John 14:6, we read this: “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (CSB). Jesus didn’t need anyone else’s opinions to prop him up. Neither do you.
