A bit of pragmatism and a bit of hope — Franklin County officials talk 2018

February 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

WEST FRANKFORT — For Franklin County leaders moving into 2018, an obvious point of emphasis will be economic development. But officials also say a recognition of their limitations will be important.

2017 saw a lot of news come from Franklin County, some good, some not so good. There was West Frankfort sealing the deal with Dollar General and expanding the outlet mall’s portfolio of businesses. But there was also the investigation into Morthland College’s alleged mismanagement of Title IV money and former Zeigler treasurer Ryan Thorpe’s arrest and later federal indictment on embezzlement charges. There was the announcement that the theater in West City had been purchased and would at some point reopen.

Please click on the link from Isaac Smith of the Southern Illinoisan for the full story, as he talks to several elected officials in the county.

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/communities/a-bit-of-pragmatism-and-a-bit-of-hope-franklin/article_5d92747f-fb16-59eb-9d17-263ddb8520b5.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

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

Harry Dale Green – Benton

February 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Harry Dale Green, age 73, of Benton IL; passed away at 10:10 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018 at Herrin Hospital.

Mr. Green will be cremated.  A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2018 at the Logan Church of God, with Pastor Rick Fowler officiating.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Harry was born on August 2, 1944 in Christopher, IL, the son of Virgil Owen Green and Dolly (West) Green.

He formerly worked with his brother at Green’s Trading Post in Benton.

Harry loved his Lord and Savior, and his church. He was a member of the Logan Church of God.  He also would attend and visit other Church of God congregations and was a former door greeter at the Christopher Church of God.

He loved to go to auctions, where he loved to purchase, collect and trade watches and pocket knives, car memorabilia, and Cocoa-Cola collectibles.  He loved his family, especially his great-nieces and nephews.

He is survived by a sister-in-law Enola Green of Benton; nieces: Marissa Green of Benton, Gail Hefley of Texas; nephews: Steve Green and wife Karen and Scott Green and wife Karen, also of Texas; great-nieces and nephews: Ashton Green, Akya Green, Arista Easley, Shaunda Stoughton, Cassie Whatley, Cody Hefley, Robert Green and Brandon Green; cousins: Kevin and Myrna Adams of Chicago, and Sam Adams.

Harry is also survived by his dog: Princess Lucy Dale Green.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers Bob and Jim Green.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Harry Dale Green, in care of Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Harry, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Filed Under: Obituaries

Merrill “Wayne” Walden – Benton

February 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Merrill “Wayne” Walden, 80, of Benton, IL, passed away at 8:50 p.m., on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born on March 3, 1937, to Glen and Berdena (Brewer) Walden. Wayne attended West City Church of God. He loved talking to people, walking, and fishing as a young man.

Merrill is survived by three sisters, Janet (Walter) Trapper of Benton, IL, Betty Toms of Benton, IL, Linda (James) Beall of Benton, IL; one brother, Ronnie Walden of Benton, IL, several nieces and nephews, and a very special friend Debbie Gibbs.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorris Walden, parents, Glen Wayne and Berdena Lorene Walden, one sister Mary Washburn, and one brother Larry Walden.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Memorial Services will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018, at 1:00 p.m., at  Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with the Reverend Harold Whitlock officiating.

Memorial Contributions may be made out to Pate Funeral Home to assist the family with expenses and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Filed Under: Obituaries

Alberta Page – Sesser

February 11, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Alberta Page, 95, of Sesser IL,  passed away on Friday February 9, 2018 at the SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt Vernon.

She was born on October 4, 1922 in Waltonville to Dow and Ethel (Hall) Roberson.  She married Olen Page on February 15, 1949 and he survives of Sesser.

Other survivors include one daughter Signa (Roy) Miller of Sesser; two grandchildren Carrie (Chad Carnes) Miller and Lane (Joanna) Miller; three great grandchildren Jordan (Brandon) Evrard, Keaton Miller and Brantley Miller; one sister Hazel Page.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one grandson Russell Miller, and two brothers Clyde Roberson and Lloyd Roberson.

She worked as a seamstress for many years and had a passion for quilting.  She dearly loved her family and would want us to remember the good times.

Graveside services will be on Monday February 12, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser with Brother Bert Mitchell officiating.  Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser.

For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com

Filed Under: Obituaries

State Senator Dale Fowler: Week in review

February 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

HARRISBURG – Illinois lawmakers spent the week leading up to the highly-anticipated Budget Address working in committees, beginning the process of moving legislation and gearing up for floor action, according to State Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg).

During committees, Sen. Fowler advanced legislation that would create a tax increment financing (TIF) extension for the City of Marion. Senate Bill 2303 would extend the life of the existing TIF for Williamson County for an additional 12 years, pushing for continued improvement and economic development in the area.

“We should be doing all we can to spur economic development in Southern Illinois. This legislation is simply extending a path forward for Williamson County to bring in investment, implement improvements and encourage economic growth in the region,” said Sen. Fowler.

The TIF extension unanimously passed out of the Senate Revenue Committee on Feb. 7 and will now advance to the Senate for floor action.

In other news from the Capitol, a joint hearing of the Senate Appropriations I and II Committees received an update from the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget on the state’s finances. Next week, lawmakers will return to the Capitol for a joint session of the General Assembly to hear the Governor deliver his annual Budget Address on his framework for Fiscal Year 2019 on Feb. 14.

Also heard in committee this week was legislation that would raise the legal smoking age to 21, a measure to expand the number of people eligible to use medical marijuana, and a joint Senate and House hearing on the state’s response to the Legionella outbreak at the Quincy Veterans’ Home.

News in the District

Before heading to Springfield for the week, Sen. Fowler made some stops around the District, beginning with a tour of the Laidlaw Building in Metropolis. Sen. Fowler visited the old factory facility, learning about the current steps being taken to demolish the abandoned property, sell the materials for scrap and use those funds for the expansion of Fort Massac State Park.

Sen. Fowler also stopped at the Shawnee National Forest to visit the new Outpost on Karbers Ridge Road by Garden of the Gods. Sen. Fowler is excited for the business development and is optimistic that the business is meeting a need within the area.

Finally, Sen. Fowler is sharing news from the Illinois Department of Transportation about an upcoming road closure in the area. Beginning Feb. 20, IL 34, approximately 1.75 miles east of Thompsonville, will be closed. Repairs are being made on a drainage structure and will require the road to be closed through March 2.

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

Cubs sign pitcher Yu Darvish to six-year, $126 million deal

February 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish throws during the first inning of Game 7 of the World Series against the Astros in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, 2017. (Matt Slocum / AP)

CHICAGO – It took nearly the entire offseason, but the Cubs have landed the biggest free agent Saturday.

They agreed to terms on a six-year contract with pitcher Yu Darvish that will guarantee the prized right-hander $126 million, a source confirmed.

The deal cannot be announced until Darvish, 31, passes a physical examination. But it apparently completes the team’s mission of fortifying their rotation with free agents Jake Arrieta and John Lackey departing.

Please read the rest of the story from Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-yu-darvish-20180210-story.html

 

Filed Under: Sports

Boys Basketball | Benton clinches share of SIRR Ohio

February 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

HARRISBURG — Benton clinched a share of the SIRR Ohio with a 58-51 win at Harrisburg Friday night behind 20 points from Gehrig Wynn.

Wynn, who knocked down six free throws in the final quarter, was one of four Rangers to score in double figures. Parker Williams added 13 points while Hamilton Page scored 12. Carson Lewis nailed three triples and finished with 11 points for Benton (23-3, 8-0 SIRR Ohio).

The Rangers, who won the league last winter, can earn an outright championship with a victory tonight in Metropolis.

“It feels good, but at the same time we talked to our guys in the locker room that this is nice, but this is just one step closer to the goal that we had. The goal that we had was to be a conference champion and we can accomplish that at Massac.”

Please click on the link for the full story from Jeffrey Drake of the Southern Illinoisan.

http://thesouthern.com/sports/high-school/basketball/boys/boys-basketball-benton-clinches-share-of-sirr-ohio/article_8e79add5-7a9d-528d-b679-f2fe2b7106c7.html

 

Filed Under: Benton High School Sports, Featured, High School Sports, Sports

Explore the Colorado Rockies, New England through RLC’s Collette Vacations

February 10, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lakc College Public Information 

INA, Ill. – Explore the east or west coasts of the United States this year with two unique trips offered by Rend Lake College. Partnering again with Collette Vacations, RLC invites you to tour the “old west” through the Colorado Rocky Mountains in July or sightsee New England’s charm as the leaves change in October.

losapos.com image

Enjoy a scenic tour of Colorado and Utah with the Colorado Rockies trip, set for Friday, July 20, through Saturday, July 28. The tour begins in the “Mile High City” of Denver and consists of many stops on the nine-day journey, including four national parks.

Attendees will visit Rocky Mountain National Park and Colorado’s wine country, and will experience traditional cowboy entertainment and food. One highlight of the tour will be a visit to the historic Stanley Hotel, inspiration for Stephen King’s “The Shining.”

The Colorado Rockies trip costs $2,999 per person, double occupancy. The costs include nine days of stay and travel, and 12 meals.

From the UK Independent

Celebrate the year’s fall foliage and American tradition during the New England Fall Charm tour, set for Friday, Oct. 19 through Friday, Oct. 26. The tour begins in one of the country’s oldest towns of Boston and consists of visits to some of the city’s biggest landmarks: Beacon Hill, Boston Public Garden, the historic North End, the USS Constitution, and much more.

Participants will also travel through the Green Mountains to Vermont’s Billings Farm and Museum, and then again to Portsmouth, NH to finish the eight-day tour with a taste of New England on a local delicacy – lobster.

The New England’s Fall Charm trip costs $3,149 per person, double occupancy. The costs include eight days of stay and travel, plus 11 meals.

Early booking discounts may apply to both trips, and single and triple rates available upon request.

An informational meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at the RLC Historic Schoolhouse on the Ina campus to discuss the trips. Details on early booking discounts will also be available. To RSVP to the meeting, contact RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714.

 

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

Saluki Men’s Basketball hosts Bradley in pivotal conference battle on Sunday

February 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

From Tom Weber, SIU Sports Information 

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois hosts Bradley on Sunday at 3 p.m. in a key Missouri Valley Conference matchup as the season enters its final two weeks. With five regular-season games left, seven teams are separated by two games or less in the league standings. At 8-5, the Salukis are both two games out of first place and two games out of eighth place. Meanwhile, the Braves are 7-6 and hoping to sweep the season series and move into a tie with SIU for second place.

Team leader and hybrid guard/forward Armon Fletcher in the game at Carver Arena earlier in the year (SIU Sports Information photo)

SIU has dominated the series since 2002 by a 24-13 margin. The Salukis have won the last four meetings between the schools at SIU Arena — all by double figures and by an average of +13.5 points. Head coach Barry Hinson is 16-13 lifetime against the Braves, including 5-6 during his tenure at SIU.

Bradley won the first meeting between the schools, 68-62, on Jan. 9 in Peoria. The Salukis never led in the second half and trailed by as many as nine points, but four times they cut the deficit to one. Bradley closed the game on a 7-2 run in the final minute.

Four Salukis average double figures

The Saluki have four players averaging double figures in scoring this season — Armon Fletcher, Sean Lloyd, Kavion Pippen and Aaron Cook. The last season this happened was in 2002-03, when Kent Williams, Jermain Dearman, Darren Brooks and Stetson Hairston were all double-figure scorers. Since 1950, there have been 13 Saluki teams that have had four or more double figure scorers.

Kavion Pippen second in scoring among MVC newcomers

Juco transfer C Kavion Pippen (6-10, 240, Jr.) ranks second in scoring (12.3) among MVC newcomers, trailing only Illinois State’s Milik Yarbrough (16.4). Pippen leads the team in field goal percentage (.548) and blocked shots (33), and has scored in double figures in all but six games this season. The nephew of NBA legend Scottie Pippen is a three-time winner of the MVC Newcomer of the Week (Nov. 12, Dec. 4 and Feb. 5). He is 23-of-31 (.741) from the field in the last three games.

Armon Fletcher increases output after move to “hybrid forward”

Since the Salukis switched to a four-guard offense on Dec. 13, and moved G Armon Fletcher (6-5, 207, Jr.) to the “hybrid forward” position, the team is 12-6 and his offensive numbers have shot up.
Position GP PPG RPG FG% 3FG%
Guard 8 11.9 4.7 .460 .296
Hyrbrid 18 15.2 5.3 .516 .355
Fletcher had a career night at Valparaiso on Jan. 6 with 32 points and 14 rebounds. He made the game-winning basket at Missouri State with six seconds left, and the go-ahead 3-pointer versus Valparaiso with less than a minute left on Feb. 3.

Aaron Cook sparks win streak

During SIU’s recent five-game winning streak, G Aaron Cook (6-2, 185, So.) led the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game. Cook has made significant improvement in his offensive game as a sophomore.
2016-17 2017-18
Scoring 3.0 PPG 10.0 PPG
FG Percentage .333 .464
3FG Percentage .185 .395

Tyler Smithpeters from deep

A 24-year-old senior who took a medical redshirt last season, G Tyler Smithpeters (6-4, 203, Sr.) ranks No. 10 all-time at SIU in 3-pointers with 136. The Salukis are 26-17 when Smithpeters makes multiple 3-pointers in a game, including 9-5 this season. Averaging 7.5 points and starting only four games, he is a top candidate for the Sixth Man award.

Dawg Bites

•Ten of SIU’s 13 conference games have been “one-possession games” (three points or less) during the final three minutes of regulation.
•In MVC games, SIU has scored 897 points and allowed 895 points.
•The Salukis are 6-2 in games decided by five points or less this season.
•SIU has shot better than 50 percent during the second half in seven of its last eight games.
•Armon Fletcher has scored double figures in 12-straight games. He’s averaging 15.4 points in MVC games, compared to 8.9 a year ago.
•The Salukis are 13-1 when they hold an opponent under 70 points and 3-9 when an opponent scores 70 or more.
•SIU has gone 109-consecutive games with at least one 3-point field goal.

Filed Under: College Sports, Sports

Thomas Ortner, Jr – Benton

February 9, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Thomas Winston Sheridan Ortner, Jr., age 55, of Benton; passed away at 7:44 a.m. Tuesday, February 6, 2018 at the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room of Benton.

Mr. Ortner’s wishes were to be cremated.

A Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Franklin County Farm Bureau Building, 1210 Illinois 14 West, in Benton.

Arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Thomas was born on August 10, 1962 in Aurora, IL, the son of Thomas Winston Sheridan Ortner and Donna Mae (Johnson) Ortner.

He formerly worked as a chef at the Holiday Inn of Mt. Vernon, IL. He last worked at West City Shell.

Thomas loved his family and especially enjoyed spending time with them. He loved to cook, and he used to love to fish.

Thomas attended the Immanuel Baptist Church of Benton.

He is survived by his Life Partner, Samantha Lynn Willis of Benton; his children: Angelena Ortner, Sherri Lukasik and Allie Ortner, all three of Mt. Vernon, IL, Sheridan James Ortner and Ava Marie Ortner both of Benton; four grandchildren: Layla Wasik, Blaine Wasik, Adam J. Wasik, and Frank Lukasik; four sisters: Kathy Pendergrass of Menden, MI, Sherry Ortner of Madeira Beach, FL, Robin Rogers Kirby of Peoria, IL, Valerie Ortner of Whittington, IL; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by His father, Thomas Winston Sheridan Ortner, SR; his mother Donna Mae (Johnson) Ortner; and a son Thomas Franklin Ortner.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Thomas Ortner, in care of Leffler Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

To leave online condolences to the family, or to share memories of Thomas, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com

Filed Under: Obituaries
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