Flood Warning issued for the Big Muddy ….Severe Weather in the forecast for Saturday

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Flood Warning for the Big Muddy

…The flood warning continues for the following rivers in Illinois… Big Muddy River near Murphysboro and Plumfield .Rainfall that has already occurred…along with anticipated rain through the weekend…will continue to cause rises along the Big Muddy River. Murphysboro is expected to crest at 23.1 on Tuesday. Plumfield is expected to crest near 20.5 on Saturday.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… SAFETY MESSAGE… Never drive cars…trucks or sport utility vehicles through flooded areas. The water may be too deep to allow safe passage. Never allow children to play in or near flood waters. Stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio or your local media for further statements and possible updated forecasts.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight Another round of showers and scattered thunderstorms with moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast tonight, which may lead to the development of minor flooding issues. Please reference the Flood Watch for more information. .

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Friday through Wednesday Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall are forecast through Saturday night. Flooding issues are likely to develop. Please refer to the Flood Watch for details. The Storm Prediction Center currently has the entire region outlooked in a marginal to slight risk for severe thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and evening. Potential thunderstorm impacts will include damaging winds and flooding rains, with a smaller risk for isolated tornadoes.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT… Spotter activation cannot be ruled out Saturday afternoon and evening. In addition, reports of heavy rainfall and flooding would be very helpful.

Areal Flood Watch Still Continues

* Multiple rounds of rain, moderate to heavy at times, will increase the risk for areal flooding through the first half of the weekend.

* The main flooding concern will be along small streams and creeks that feed into already swollen rivers across the region, especially in areas that receive multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall. Elsewhere, elevated water levels in low lying and poor drainage areas may lead to standing water across some roads that typically flood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on current forecasts. You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Seven Day Forecast

Today
A 20 percent chance of showers before 9am. Cloudy, with a high near 50. East wind 5 to 7 mph.
Tonight
Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Temperature rising to around 53 by 5am. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 7 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Friday
Showers, mainly before noon. High near 57. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night
Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 48. Light and variable wind becoming east northeast 5 to 8 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 65. East wind 7 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 42. South wind 13 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 6 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 36. West northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 58. Light and variable wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 62. South southeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tuesday Night
Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. South southeast wind 7 to 9 mph.
Wednesday
Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. South wind 7 to 10 mph.

 

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Featured, Franklin Co. News

SOFTBALL NOTES AND LINKS: FGCU/FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON INVITATIONAL

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Tony McDaniel, siusalukis.com

Looking to 2018… 

  • The Salukis return six starters and two of their three pitchers from the 2017 MVC Championship team.
  • In total, 12 of Southern’s 18 players lettered in 2017.
  • Four Salukis, senior infielder Sydney Jones, junior pitcher Brianna Jones, sophomore second baseman Maddy Vermejanand sophomore outfielder Susie Baranski, were all Preseason All-MVC selections.Southern tied Illinois State for the most selections to the team in the Conference with four.
  • The Salukis were picked second in the Valley by the league’s Coaches.Illinois State was picked first and the Salukis were just one vote behind the Redbirds and one point ahead of Northern Iowa in third place.Southern and Northern Iowa are tied with the most first-place votes with three a piece.

So far… 

  • The Salukis are 4-4 on the season and are outscoring opponents 37-29.
  • The Salukis have 11 home runs through 8 games, the most through as many games since 2003.
  • Starting pitcher Brianna Joneshas struck out 35 batters in 31 innings.She’s 4-0 on the season and has allowed just 19 hits, 7 earned runs and 5 walks.
  • On Feb.17, Southern beat Georgetown 13-4.It was the biggest win and most runs scored in a five-inning game since March 14, 2017 when SIU defeated Southern Utah 14-2.

Milestone/Record watch… 

  • Southern’s long time head coach Kerri Blaylockis approaching several big career records and milestones.
  • As of 2/21 she is…
  • Two wins from 634 which would surpass Kay Brechtelsbauer for the all-time lead at Southern.
  • 15 games from the 1,000th of her career.She is projected to manage that game on March 14 at UT – Martin barring cancellations.
  • She is 8 wins from her 300th in MVC play.She will be the third coach in Conference history to win that many games.

More on Blaylock… 

  • Blaylock is the only coach to lead an MVC team to five-straight NCAA tournaments.She did so from 2003-07.
  • She has the second-best winning percentage (.645) of any coach in the MVC with more than 500 wins.
  • She is one of just two coaches in the program’s 51-year history.Kay Brechtelsbauer is the program’s only other coach.

Nationally Ranked Statistically 

(Top-50 only) 

  • Maddy Vermejanis second in the nation in hit by pitch per game.She’s been hit five times in eight games, an average on 0.63.
  • Kyleigh Deckerhas been hit four times in eight games and is 16th in the nation with an average of 0.50.
  • Vermejan is 28th in nation in on-base percentage at .621.
  • Katelyn Massais 15th in the nation in home runs with 4.
  • She is also 12th in the nation in home runs per game with an average of 0.50.
  • Massa is 44th in the nation in RBI per game.She has 11 in 8 games for an average of 1.38 per.
  • Her 1.000 slugging percentage is the 27th best in the nation.
  • Brianna Jonesis 38th in the nation in strikeouts with 35.
  • Jones has won four games this year; good for 21st in the nation.
  • As a team, the Salukis are 14th in the nation in home runs per game.SIU has hit 11 in eight games for an average of 1.38.
  • Southern is 32nd in the nation in team slugging percentage at .490.

MVC Leading Salukis… 

  • Vermejan is tops in the Valley in hit by pitch with 0.63 per game.Her .621 on base percentage is the MVC’s best.
  • Katelyn Massaleads the MVC in home runs and home runs per game.She’s hit 4 in 8 games for an average of 0.50.
  • Brianna Jonesleads the Conference in strikeouts with 35 and is tied for the lead in wins with 4.

Starting Fast… 

  • The Salukis are 3-0 this season when they score first, or score in the first inning, or when leading after one inning.Adversely, the team is 0-3 when trailing after the first inning.

Youth Movement… 

Of Southern’s starters in 2017, three of them were freshmen.They were; outfielder Susie Baranski, second baseman Maddy Vermejan and catcher/ DP Katelyn Massa.

On Baranski…

  • Baranski was one of only four players to start in all 57 games.
  • She led the team in at-bats (181), hits (53) and runs scored (39).
  • She was also second on the team in walks (31) and steals (9).
  • Baranski was a preseason All-MVC selection.

On Massa…

  • Massa unseated a senior catcher and started in 43 games behind the plate or as a DP.
  • She hit .297 with 5 home runs and 22 RBI and struck out only 14 times, the least of any starter last year.
  • She was perfect in the field posting a 1.000 fielding percentage while throwing out 11 of 17 potential base stealers.
  • She was an All-MVC second team selection in 2017.

On Vermejan…

  • Made 54 starts and hit .284 in her freshman season.
  • She led the team in batting average during the Conference season hitting at a .350 clip.
  • She was third on the team with 7 doubles.
  • Posted a .990 fielding percentage, the best of any non-catcher on the team.
  • Was selected to the 2017 All-MVC second team and the All-Defensive team and is a member of this year’s preseason All-MVC team.
  • Also, several more underclassmen are slated to start this season.Sophomore Kyleigh Deckeris projected to take the bulk of the starts at first and two true freshmen Jenny Jansen and Maris Boelens could see a lot of time in the outfield.

Scouting the Opponents… 

On Wright State..

  • Wright State is 0-5 this season and is coming off a week without any competitive softball.The team is being outscored 24-8.
  • Last year, the Raiders were 21-31 and 14-10 in the Horizon League.They were just 2-11 in neutral site games.
  • As a team, Wright State ranks in the top-100 nationally in only one category, steals.The team is 65th in stolen bases per game averaging 1.40 a game.
  • Mercer’s staff of three pitchers has a combined ERA of 7.41.Ashley Sharp’s 5.88 ERA is the best on the team.She’s struck out 12 and walked 9.She’s the only pitcher with more strike outs than walks.
  • The Salukis are 5-0 against Wright State all time and last beat the Raiders 8-6 in 2012 at the Coach B Classic.

On Connecticut…

  • The Huskies are 5-4 so far this season and are being outscored 25-20.Last year the Huskies were 17- 31 overall and 3-14 in the American.
  • UConn ranks in the top-100 nationally in one category.The Huskies are 38th in Earned Run Average at 1.71.
  • Chelsea Eckert leads the nation in ERA.She has not allowed an earned run yet in 10.2 innings pitched.She’s 1-0, has struck out 14 and walked 5 batters.
  • The Salukis are 3-0 all-time vs.UConn.The teams last met in 1998 when Southern won 3-0.The Salukis are outscoring the Huskies all-time 12-4.

On Stony Brook…

  • The Seawolves open their season this weekend.Last year, they were 18-29 and 9-7 in the America East.
  • Sophomore Melissa Rahrich is a dual threat player for the Seawolves.She hit .363 with eight home runs and 32 RBI.She also posted a 3.47 ERA and a 12-12 record in 2017 striking out 54 batters and walking 43.
  • The Seawolves had five players start in at least 20 games and hit better than .300 in 2017. All five players are back this season.
  • This will be the first time SIU and Stony Brook have ever played each other.

On Florida Gulf Coast…

  • FGCU is 8-0 this season and have played all their games at home.Last year the Eagles were 30-30 and 8-9 in the Atlantic Sun.
  • As a team, the Eagles are top in the nation in team ERA at 0.25 and win/loss percentage.
  • Junior Natalie Lopez leads the nation in batting average at .769 and on-base percentage at .842.
  • Three Eagles pitchers lead the nation in pitching categories.Morgan White’s 0.00 ERA is the best in the nation.She’s struck out six and walked five in 18.1 innings.Taylor Bauman leads the nation in saves with 6 in 6 appearances.Riley Randolph leads the nation in walks per seven innings.She’s struck out 18 and walked 0.
  • Southern is 1-2 against FGCU all-time.The Eagles have won the last two meetings against the Salukis.Southern last won in 2011.
Filed Under: College Sports, Sports

Loyola rolls past Saluki Men’s Basketball, 75-56

February 22, 2018 By Leave a Comment

CARBONDALE, Ill. Loyola led from start to finish in a dominating 75-56 win over Southern Illinois on Wednesday night, securing its first-ever Missouri Valley Conference championship in front of a season-high crowd of 6,036 at SIU Arena.

Harrisburg’s Tyler Smithpeters in his last start in the SIU Arena, drives around league MVP candidate Clayton Custer in last nights loss to Loyola.

The Ramblers (24-5, 14-3) made 14 of their first 18 shots and never looked back in an impressive show of marksmanship and unselfish play. Junior guard Clayton Custer, the favorite to win Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year honors, had 16 points, five assists and five steals. Back-court mate Ben Richardson added nine points, eight assists and no turnovers. Loyola shot 60 percent from the field in the first half and 57 percent for the game.

“As a coach, you don’t want to lose ballgames, but you can certainly appreciate when you see good teams,” said SIU head coach Barry Hinson. “I’m comfortable enough in my own skin to tell people when they do well. I told Porter (Moser) and each one of those individuals when I shook their hands — congratulations on a championship. It’s a great feat.”

The game was a missed opportunity for Southern to pick up a Top 50 win and strengthen its resume for a potential at-large slot in the National Invitational Tournament, but the separation between the teams was clear.

“I’m disappointed and also shocked,” Hinson said. “We were extremely selfish tonight and it really affected how we played on defense. We were un-coachable tonight. They would not listen to me. They would not listen to the assistants. At the eight-minute mark, I turned and told my staff, ‘we’re done — they won’t listen.'”

Five different players made 3-point shots for the Ramblers in the first half as they sprinted to a 36-19 lead. SIU responded with a flurry of three-straight 3-point shots — two by Marcus Bartley and one by Sean Lloyd — to trim the deficit to 36-28, but Loyola countered with an 8-2 run.

“The worst thing we did was hit those threes back-to-back, then everybody started jacking threes,” Hinson said. The Salukis finished 6-of-19 from long range, including 1-of-8 in the second half.

Southern cut the deficit to eight again at halftime, but that only seemed to motivate Loyola’s defense, which held SIU to 30 percent shooting in the second half.

“Instead of celebrating that we had an eight-point lead at half, it was all about we’re not guarding,” said Loyola head coach Porter Moser, who won his first league title in his ninth year as an MVC head coach. “We didn’t want a tight game because they’ve done so well in them.”

After Armon Fletcher hit a three for Southern to make it 47-39 with 18:23 to go, the Ramblers answered in a big way, reeling off nine-straight points to make it 56-39. SIU never threatened thereafter.

The Salukis (19-11, 11-6) had out-scored their last seven opponents in Points in the Paint, but Loyola turned the tables with a 42-22 advantage inside. Loyola freshman center Cameron Krutwig had 14 points and was 6-of-7 from the field. It was an even battle down low versus SIU’s Kavion Pippen, who had 16 points and made 7-of-10 shots. Hinson would have liked to have seen his big man get even more attempts.

“We had times tonight where we wouldn’t even throw him the ball and we’re yelling at our guys to throw it to him,” Hinson said. “And when we tell them on the bench, they’re rolling their eyes at me.”

Several streaks ended tonight for SIU. Hinson lost on Senior Night for the first time in his career as a head coach in 17 tries. Southern also had its seven-game home-winning streak snapped. The Salukis can still secure the No. 2 seed at next week’s MVC Tournament with a win at Evansville on Saturday or an Illinois State loss at Loyola.

Hinson was asked afterward if he thought Loyola could earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament if it fails to win the conference tournament next week.

“You’re talking to the wrong guy — 21, 34 and 36 — those are the three RPIs I had as a coach (and did not get in),” he said. “But I will campaign my ass off for them, hopefully after we beat them in the championship game.”

Box Score

http://siusalukis.com/boxscore.aspx?id=8041&path=mbball

Filed Under: College Sports, Sports

Summer Employment Available at Rend Lake

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

BENTON –  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake is looking for qualified candidates to fill student vacancies for the 2018 summer recreation season. Rend Lake offers a great work experience opportunity for students pursuing a career in the field of biology, outdoor recreation, or law enforcement.

Student Trainee positions are available at the GS-02 level for graduating high school seniors and college students. Job openings are available for positions in the areas of Interpretive Services, Visitor Assistance, Facilities/Grounds Maintenance, and Environmental Stewardship at an hourly rate of approximately $11.68. During the summer term employees will work a 40-hour schedule. Candidates may be required to work a combination of days, nights, weekends, and holiday shifts.

The vacancy is available online at www.usajobs.gov under the job announcement number. Applicants must create a USAJOBS account, build a profile, and create a resume. The job announcement can be located by entering the announcement number into the “keyword” search query on the homepage. Applicants are strongly encouraged to call the Rend Lake Project Office at (618) 724-2493 for any questions or assistance in applying for these positions. This announcement closes on March 8th and complete application packages must be received on or before this date to be considered. The announcement number is SWGI186073391554PI .

Basic Requirements and Qualifications are:

• Must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a technical or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, graduate or professional school, at a qualifying educational institution on a half-time or full-time basis pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate.
• Minimum education requirement of high school diploma or GED.
• Good academic standing with a cumulative 2.0 grade point average.
• Transcripts and proof of enrollment/acceptance letter.
• Detailed resume showing eligibility for this position.
• Required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.
• Must be at least 18 years old

Direct link to the announcement: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/491509100

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Uncategorized

Parr breaks Redbirds heart …..gives A-J last second win

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

JOHNSTON CITY-  The Redbirds stormed back from a ten point deficit to take the lead late in the game.  Anna-Jonesboro’s Jake Parr converts on a conventional three point play as, A-J advances the Championship game of the Johnston City regional with  a 59-57 win.

C.J. Johnson led the Redbirds with 20 and Lucas Wolfe added 12.  Please click on the link for the full story from Jack Bullock of A Baseline View.

http://abaselineview.com/abvajwf.html

Filed Under: High School Sports, Sports

Saluki Men’s Basketball hosts first-place Loyola on Senior Night

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Tom Weber, siusalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois hosts Loyola on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a key Missouri Valley Conference showdown at SIU Arena. The Ramblers have already clinched at least a share of their first-ever MVC regular-season title. The Salukis, though, could still earn a piece of the title if they win their last two regular-season games and Loyola loses their last two games. SIU has not won a conference title since 2007.

Southern Illinois is 7-3 versus Loyola since the Ramblers joined the league in 2014, including a 3-1 mark at SIU Arena. Loyola head coach Porter Moser is 3-15 lifetime against SIU between his stops at Loyola and Illinois State. SIU G Armon Fletcher is a career 54 percent shooter in six games against Loyola, including 7-of-14 from 3-point.

In the first meeting this season between the teams on Jan. 17 in Chicago, Loyola shot 56 percent from the field, never trailed, and led by double digits the entire second half in a 79-65 win over SIU. Sean Lloyd led Southern with 21 points, but SIU made just 2-of-13 from 3-point range and turned the ball over 20 times. Donte Ingram led Loyola with 25 points.

Harrisburg seinoir Tyler Spmithpeters appearing in his final game at SIU arena.

SIU has won seven-straight home games, its longest home streak since winning nine-straight in 2014. SIU can finish anywhere from 1st to 3rd in the MVC standings. The highest SIU has finished in the last 10 years is 3rd (2008 and 2017). The last time SIU won 11 games in conference play was 2016. The last time it won more than 11 was in 2007 (15).

The team will recognize three senior players during pregame ceremonies — guard Tyler Smithpeters, forward Jonathan Wiley and forward John Gardner. Barry Hinson has never lost on Senior Day as a college head coach (16-0).

Head coach Barry Hinson met with the media on Tuesday.

Preview tomorrow’s matchup vs. Loyola.
I think there’s a lot of hot teams in the league right now. We’re certainly one of them, but the hottest team without question is Loyola. They’ve won 12 of their last 13. There’s 13 statistical categories I look at before I go into a game, and they lead nine of those 13 statistical categories against us. What I’m looking for, we’re going to have to really play well, we know that. To be honest, what a great position to be in. We could be in a lot different positions. Our basketball team has put us in a position to possibly share a conference championship, and that was our goal to start the season, regardless of what’s happened to this team, regardless of the adversity we’ve gone through. Until they ship that trophy to Chicago, we’re going to continue to play for it.

How much closer are you to getting to playing your best ball?
I was disappointed — I think we have some individuals who can play much better than what they’re playing. We’ve battled some sickness. I think Kavion (Pippen) will be much healthier going into this game. He’s our leading rebounder and he has one rebound in the last two games. We’ve got to get through that. I am convinced and I know Marcus Bartley can play better than what he played at Indiana State. He’s been in foul trouble the past few games. People are attacking him to get him out of the game. I think when I say our best basketball is ahead of us, I believe that. It’s not coach-speak, it’s not media talk. I don’t think we’ve played our best basketball yet and I believe in what these guys can do.

Pippen has to have a great game to be the offset for what (Cameron) Krutwig can do.
I think he’ll respond well. He always has responded to most of his challenges. I think the reason we haven’t seen the real Kavion is because he had the flu. I’m sorry, it’s a 7-to-14 day period. I had the flu and felt bad for 17 days. Kids are more resilient than we are as adults. I think that has a lot to do with it. I think there’s five key matchups. Can we stop Krutwig and can we stop four guys on the perimeter? That’s going to be a challenge for us. When you have five guys averaging double figures, there’s a chance you’re going to win a lot of ballgames and they’ve won 23 of them.

Is there anything you’ll say to motivate them tomorrow before the game or are they just motivated by themselves?
There won’t be any Knute Rockne speeches tomorrow. This group is a low-key group, they’re not a rah-rah group. No, this is what we’ve come here to do. We’re not going to change anything we do. We’re certainly going to stay the course of what we’ve done all year long. Our goal yesterday was to get better, our goal today is to get better, our goal tomorrow night is to win the ballgame. These guys, I just don’t think they’re going to respond to rah-rah.

What’s it like to see Jonathan Wiley and Tyler Smithpeters go through Senior Night?
I’ve never hidden my emotions on Senior Night. I’ve always told you guys the two most important games of the year you play are the conference championship tournament game and Senior Night. That’s how I’ve always felt. It will be a very emotional night for a lot of people, especially the head coach and his seniors. Tyler Smithpeters has meant so much to this university, to our athletic program and to our region. He comes from a basketball tradition-rich family. This is going to be the last Smithpeters to have an impact for quite some time until I coach Tyler’s sons.

How much do you look back at the last game vs. Loyola versus the recent games?
We do both. These guys beat us worse than anybody in the league. It’s our worst loss in the league. It was a bad game at Loyola, we didn’t play well, and they had a lot to do with it. I go back, when you put us head-up against Loyola, we can’t just have an average game because we’re at home and win, we’re going to have to play our best basketball of the year to beat these guys. This is a team that won at Florida and Florida is a top 20 team. We refer to the past but we focus on the present.

Filed Under: Christopher High School Sports, High School Sports, Sports

Bost Applauds Administration Decision on Bump Stocks

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-Murphysboro) released the following statement after President Trump announced he has directed the Department of Justice to propose regulations that would ban bump stocks, devices that allow semi-automatic to be modified to shoot hundreds of rounds per minute:

“The president is correct in moving to regulate bump stocks,” said Bost. “That’s why I joined with other Members of Congress last year in requesting the Trump Administration look into these devices. Bump stocks were specifically designed to get around federal law—in place since the 1930s—that prohibits fully automatic weapons. It’s possible to find commonsense solutions to reduce the likelihood of tragedies while also preserving the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans.”

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Thompsonville’s Reed Raubach sinks half court shot in Warrior Superfan Challenge

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public information 

Reed Raubach won the final round of the Warrior Superfan Challenge during the Feb. 17 RLC Men’s Basketball game against Kaskaskia College. He is pictured with Lisa Price, RLC Vice President of Student Services.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

INA, – Thompsonville High School junior Reed Raubach needed only one shot Saturday afternoon to take the grand prize for the first Warrior Superfan Challenge. To win, Raubach needed to sink a half-court shot during halftime of an RLC Men’s Basketball game to take home an Academic Award for 12 free credit hours at RLC – valued at $1,500. The baseball and basketball player passed the first round of the competition in January by making a lay-up, free throw, and 3-point shot in 30 seconds.

The link to the video is below.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

The Rev. Billy Graham, prominent Christian evangelist, passes at 99

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

 

U.S. evangelist Billy Graham spoke in the East Berlin Gethsemane Church in 1990. (Reuters)

MONTREAT, NC – The Rev. Billy Graham , the Christian evangelist whose worldwide crusades and role as adviser to decades of U.S. presidents made him one of the best known religious figures of his time, died Wednesday at age 99 at his home in Montreat, N.C, Todd Shearer of DeMoss Associates told Fox News.

Graham, who had been in ill health for a number of years, was regularly listed in polls as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World.”
Shearer told Fox News that Graham died from “natural causes.”

His Christian crusades took him from the frenzy of Manhattan to isolated African villages and according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website, he preached to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history,  ‘

Please click on the link for the full story from Fox News.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/02/21/rev-billy-graham-prominent-christian-evangelist-dead-at-99-fox-news-confirms.html

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Flood watch in effect for all of Southern Illinois until late Satruday night

February 21, 2018 By Leave a Comment

A Flood Watch is in effect through Saturday night. A very wet pattern will continue with multiple rounds of showers and some thunderstorms with heavy rain through the remainder of the week. Total rainfall of 4 to 7 inches is generally forecast through Saturday night. This may lead to flooding of creeks and streams that feed into already swollen rivers. Standing water may make some roads impassable by the weekend. Remember, if you encounter a water covered road, turn around and find an alternate route. (NWS Paducah)

..FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT…

The Flood Watch is now in effect for

* All of southeast Missouri, southern Illinois, southwest Indiana
and western Kentucky.

* Through late Saturday night.

* Multiple rounds of rain, moderate to heavy at times will
increase the risk for areal flooding through the end of the
week, primarily from Thursday night through Saturday night.
Isolated low land and poor drainage areal flooding cannot be
ruled out before then.

* The main flooding concern will be along small streams and creeks
that feed into already swollen rivers across the region.
especially in areas that receive multiple rounds of moderate to
heavy rainfall. Elsewhere, elevated water levels in low lying
and poor drainage areas may lead to standing water across some
roads that typically flood.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flood Watch means there is a potential for flooding based on
current forecasts.

You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible
Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be
prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Hazardous Weather Outlook

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern
Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast
Missouri.

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

Rain will continue off and on today through tonight. The highest
rainfall totals today through tonight will be across west
Kentucky. Will monitor this area for isolated standing water
issues.

Temperatures will drop to near 32 degrees today from around Marble
Hill Missouri to Pinckneyville Illinois. This may result in some
light freezing rain mainly on elevated surfaces. Confidence is low
with respect to potential impacts on road surfaces. We will
monitor conditions through the day.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday

Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms will bring periods of
heavy rain to the entire region Thursday night through Saturday
night. The flooding concern will increase with each round of heavy
rainfall, culminating with the cold frontal passage Saturday night.
Please refer to the Flood Watch for more details.

The potential for strong thunderstorms late Saturday afternoon into
Saturday night will also need to be monitored closely. The greatest
limiting factor may be the availability of surface based instability
with the amount of cloud cover and rain forecast.

Continue to monitor the latest river flood warnings for impact
messaging and forecast stage information.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

We request spotters report rainfall totals along with any
observed area flooding over the next several days.

Seven Day Forecast

Today Rain. High near 38. North wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tonight Rain, mainly before 5am. Temperature rising to around 39 by 4am. Northeast wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Thursday A 20 percent chance of rain before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 50. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph.
Thursday Night Showers likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 46. East northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Friday Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before noon, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 57. West northwest wind around 6 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 50. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 64. East southeast wind 7 to 13 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday Night Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind 13 to 15 mph becoming west after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.
Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. West wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east after midnight.
Monday Sunny, with a high near 56. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming north in the afternoon.
Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 57. East wind 6 to 8 mph becoming south southeast in the morning.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Featured, Franklin Co. News
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Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News