Lawmakers passed a bill that would mandate local public schools set minimum pay for teachers at $40,000 annually by the 2022-2023 school year.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Illinois lawmakers pass $40,000 minimum wage requirement for teachers
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Rauner to sign $38.5 billion budget
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Less than 24 hours after the Senate overwhelmingly approved a fiscal 2019 spending plan, the House followed suit Thursday and Gov. Bruce Rauner said he would sign it.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Trump says he’s considering commuting Blagojevich’s sentence
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
President Donald Trump on Thursday pardoned a conservative commentator he claims “was treated very unfairly by our government!” and announced he’s thinking about clemency for Martha Stewart and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, among “lots” of other people.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
A Word for Today
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
NEVER TOO FAR GONE
READ 2 CHRONICLES 14:1 THROUGH 16:14; JOHN 9:1-23
During times of failure and weakness, we can convince ourselves that God could never forgive us. We imagine that our sins, addictions, and shortcomings have created an unbridgeable distance between us and God.
Can we ever be too far gone for God to save us? Can we sin so terribly that God will forsake us forever? Of course not.
After a period of idol worship, King Asa of Judah feared God’s judgment. The prophet Azariah came to King Asa and gave him good news.
“The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2).
These are beautiful words of comfort and hope. They are words that can give us courage to stand up to seek God when we fail. They gave Asa courage to go out into his lands and destroy the idols that led his people astray. Let us take courage in this promise as well.
Thought for Today: God is never far from us—He is always ready to save us where we are.
Pastor Rick Warren: God Makes You New
June 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment
God Makes You New
“Your name will no longer be Jacob …. From now on you will be called Israel” (Genesis 32:28 NLT).
Notice that three things happen:
God gives Jacob a brand new identity (Genesis 32:28). Essentially, God says, “I know you’ve blown it. I know you’re conniving, but I see in you a prince. Beneath all your emotional hang-ups, all your insecurities, all the stuff you don’t want anybody else to know, I see a prince.” God is saying that today to you: “Beneath all of your sins and hang-ups, I see a princess/prince. You can be something great. You can be what I made you to be.”
God blesses Jacob/Israel (Genesis 32:29). Deep down, we desperately want God’s blessing. If we want God’s blessing, we have to take the steps God requires of us.
God gave Jacob/Israel a limp (Genesis 32:31). Remember, when they wrestled, God dislocated Jacob’s hip. Jacob walked away with a limp, and it served as a daily reminder to depend upon God.
God does his deepest work in your life when he deals with your identity — who you are and the way you see yourself. You will always tend to act according to the way you think about yourself. So God does his deepest changes in your life by changing the way you see yourself.
He says, “Let me show you how I see you.” When you see yourself the way God sees you, it’s going to change your life.
Loren Ray Toms – West City, IL
May 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Loren Ray Toms, age 43, of West City, IL went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, May 28, 2018.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, 2018 in the Leffler Funeral Home with Rev. Sammy Simmons officiating. Burial will be in the Logan Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday evening, and from 10 a.m. to the funeral hour on Friday at the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.
Loren was born on September 3, 1974 in West Frankfort, Illinois, the son of James Kenneth Toms, Jr. and Connie Sue (Roach) Toms.
He was a former Tow Truck Driver with Abbott’s Towing of West City; and he was a former body man with Marshall’s Body Shop of Benton.
Loren loved his Lord and Savior, and was a member of the Logan Baptist Church.
He enjoyed going to drag races and street machine nationals, watching St. Louis Cardinals Baseball, participating each year in fantasy baseball, fishing with his dad, singing, and most of all he loved his son Cameron and getting to spend time with him.
Loren is survived by his son Cameron Michael Toms of McLeansboro; his mother Connie Sue Ruffino and husband Ed of Benton; his father James Kenneth Toms, Jr. and wife Jane of Logan; his paternal grandmother Lula Mae Toms of Benton; a brother Jim Toms and wife Gina of West Frankfort; a niece Allison Toms of West Frankfort; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather; and maternal grandparents.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Responders including Abbott’s Ambulance, Benton Fire Department, West City and Benton Police Departments, and will be accepted at the funeral home.
To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Loren, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
Don Gasaway: Try a dropshot rig for sunfish this summer
May 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
TRY A DROPSHOT RIG FOR SUNFISH THIS SUMMER
Dropshotting is a basic yet effective technique for those days when the sun is high and the fish have lockjaw.
Fishermen who like to pursue lunker panfish during the warm summer months can find them in the many ponds and lakes of the Midwest. Where there is water there are panfish.
Dropshotting is a light-line finesse presentation also known as controlled depth fishing.
It is particularly effective with light line regardless the type of rod and reel combination. For flooded brush fishing a long rod with four to 6-pound line is recommended. In jigging situations from boats stationed over a brush pile shorter rods can be used.
In rigging the line, you tie a Palomar knot in the line about 18inches from the end with a very long tag end.
To the end of line (on the tag end) attach a sinker. This can be a split shot sinker. Tie a small overhand knot to the very end. It helps to keep the sinker from slipping off the end when caught in brush or rocks.
A piece of nightcrawler is threaded onto the hook. When the line is dropped into the water the worm and hook float above the sinker. Thus, as the rod tip is moved, the action is applied to the bait not the sinker.
This rig can be cast, jigged or drifted. The key is to not move quickly. Wiggle the bait rather than jerk it. Cast out and let the bait sink. Watch the line float, twitch it and the watch it float. Give it a shake occasionally which will cause the worm to twitch.
Bluegills relate to vertical structure such as sticks, trees and other vegetation in the water. Sunfish tend to relate to horizontal structure in the water. On hot, sunny days they will seek out areas shaded from overhead light. This can be under docks or a tree hanging over the water.
Fishing for these members of the sunfish family is a great way to introduce children to the sport as well as provide some tasty eating for the family table.
The bluegill and sunfish action is usually great all summer. One can get up to date site specific information by calling the fishing hotlines and checking the fishing reports of various newspapers in the area you plan to fish.
For more information on lodging accommodations as well as outdoor activities in Williamson County, or to receive a free color Fishing Guide, contact VisitSI at 1602 Sioux Drive, Marion, IL 62959. Call 800-GEESE-99 or email info@VisitSI.com. Current information is also available online at www.VisitSI.com
Gun dealer licensing gets House OK again, returns to Senate
May 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
The Illinois House has approved another plan for state licensing of gun dealers after an earlier version was vetoed by the governor.
The vote Tuesday was 65-49 in favor of requiring firearms dealers to pay a fee for a five-year state license. It would require training for gun shop employees to spot illegal purchasers and videotaping of key areas of the business.
The bill is SB337.
State bill that would allow a casino at Walker’s Bluff still in limbo
May 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
A gambling expansion bill the Illinois General Assembly fell one vote shy Monday to get out of the executive committee.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Plan to raise smoking age stalls in Illinois House
May 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois House has voted against increasing the smoking age from 18 to 21.
The plan fell four votes short Tuesday despite passing the Senate in April. It would have banned under-21 sales of tobacco or related products including e-cigarettes or vaping materials.
Rep. Camille Lilly is the sponsor. The Chicago Democrat says the plan would reduce teen addiction and saves the state millions of dollars in long-term health care costs.
Five states and 14 Illinois cities and counties, including Chicago, have already adopted local ordinances setting the age at 21.
The bill is SB2332.
