Matthew A. Hoffsuemmer Benton, IL

February 16, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Matthew A, Hoffsuemmer, age 87, of Benton, passed away Monday, February 13, 2023, at his home.

Private Family Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2023, at the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery of Benton, with Father Urban Osuji officiating.

Leffler Funeral Home of Benton; is in charge of the services.
Mr. Hoffsuemmer was born on June 13, 1935, in Chicago, IL, the son of Mathew Hoffsuemmer and Elisabeth (Scheibel) Hoffsuemmer. He married the former Carol Brookman on February 12, 1956, and she preceded him in death on March 9, 2000.

Matt formerly worked in electronics, warehousing, and retail.

He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Benton.

Mr. Hoffsuemmer enjoyed woodworking and made several grandfather clocks. He even made his own casket, which he will be buried in. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family.

Surviving are his children: Patricia “Pat” Miller of Morgantown, KY, Michele Schweizer of Rochelle, IL, Barbara “Barbi” Dragoo of St. Louis, MO, Randy Hoffsuemmer of Brooksville, FL; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mathew and Elisabeth Hoffsuemmer; his wife Carol Hoffsuemmer; a son Russell Hoffsuemmer, and a granddaughter Debra.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St.Joseph Catholic Church, 506 West Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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

Filed Under: Obituaries

Bradley “Brad” W. Murphy – Thompsonville, IL

February 14, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Bradley “Brad” W. Murphy, 31, of Thompsonville, passed away at 8:45 p.m.,on Friday, February 10, 2023, at his home in Thompsonville.

He was born on August 9, 1991, to Karl Murphy and Ronda (Isaacs) Taskoski in Herrin, IL.

Brad was a loving father, son, brother and uncle. He enjoyed working on computers, phones and listening to music. He especially loved spending time with his son, Ashton.

Bradley is survived by his son, Ashton Paul Murphy of Benton; his father, Karl Murphy of Thomopsonville; his mother, Ronda Taskoski of Benton; his sister, Melinda (Jason) Martin of Thompsonville; five uncles, Justin Isaacs, Bennie Isaacs, Everette Isaacs, Aden (Mary) Isaacs and Fred (Cathy Wece) Isaacs; his aunt, Ruby Arview; three nieces and nephews, Keenan Martin, Jalyn Martin and Kendall Martin; his companion, Alicia Braggs; and many cousins and friends.

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

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 17, 2023, from11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL. Following the funeral service, burial will take place in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Thompsonville, IL.

Memorials may be made to Ronda Taskoski for care for Brad’s son, Ashton Murphy and will be accepted at the funeral home.

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

Filed Under: Obituaries

Elizabeth (Libby) Elaine Overbey – Benton, IL

February 13, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Elizabeth (Libby) Elaine Overbey passed away on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at 2:22 A.M. at the age of 89.

She was a longtime resident of Benton, IL and a member of the First Baptist Church in Benton.

She was preceded in death by her husband Charles Chapin Overbey, daughter Linda Sue Overbey-Chandler and 3 grandsons.

Mrs. Overbey is survived by four daughters, Joyce Ann Overbey-Cooper, Carol Arlene Overbey, Paula Gail Overbey and Diann Elaine Overbey-Brady, all of Benton. She is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Jim Jenkel, the Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Benton officiating. Burial will be in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 11 A.M. to 1 P.M. on Saturday at the funeral home.

She is loved by many and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Filed Under: Obituaries

Gene Merritt “Bird Dog” Philp – Sesser, IL

February 13, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Gene Merritt “Bird Dog” Philp, 82, of Sesser, Illinois, passed away at 6:05 am February 12, 2023 at Salem Township Hospital in Salem, Illinois. He was born April 10, 1940 in Mount Vernon, Illinois to the late Merritt and Ileeta (Walker) Philp.

Gene is survived by his daughter, Susan Philp Baier and husband, Eric of Fort Wayne, Indiana; siblings, Elizabeth Moore and husband, James of Mount Vernon, James Philp of Waltonville, Illinois, and Mary Susan Philp and husband, Orin Heend of Arlington, Virginia; longtime friend of 11 years, Joann Walker of Waltonville; and several nieces and nephews.

Gene served in the United States National Guard. He was a retired coal miner and active in the operation of the Philp Family Farm. He worked for Consolidated Coal at Burning Star #4 in Cutler, Illinois. Gene was a member of United Mine Workers of America Local 1825, Mount Vernon Elks 819, Moose Lodge of Mount Vernon, Waltonville AmVets #148, and American Legion Post 280 in Benton. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. Gene was a loving father, brother, and friend. He will be deeply missed.

A Greeting of Family and Friends will be held Saturday, February 18, 2023 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at Newell Funeral Home in Waltonville. A Memorial Service will begin at 12:00 pm with Mr. Marty Mills officiating. Inurnment will take place at Knob Prairie Cemetery in Waltonville at a later date. Memorials may be made in Gene’s honor to Knob Prairie Cemetery or the Waltonville Alumni Association.

Filed Under: Obituaries

“Night to Shine” — A celebration of God’s love for participants and volunteers

February 11, 2023 By Leave a Comment

By Jim Muir

Beaming smiles, off-the-charts excitement, a few tears of joy and a heaping-helping of love were proudly on display Friday night when Immanuel Baptist Church, in Benton, hosted the annual “Night to Shine” event.

In 2014, the Tim Tebow Foundation launched “Night to Shine” – a complimentary event for people with special needs hosted by local churches around the world. The vision was simple…the foundation would work with churches around the country to provide an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. The Night to Shine event at Immanuel on Friday night was one of more than 500 such events held around the world on February 10.

Ryan Mulvaney, who serves as youth pastor at Immanuel said the intricate planning and ironing out of every single detail for the well-organized annual event has gone on for weeks and included more than 200 special needs individuals and an additional 150 volunteers. From the smiles of all attending, it was virtually impossible to determine who was enjoying the event more – those with special needs or the caring volunteers who were there with a singular purpose — to make the night perfect.

The event is designed so that participants are given a warm welcome when they arrive, and then they are ushered to several stations set up throughout the church where they can receive a shoeshine, boutonnières and corsages, makeup and lip gloss and even get their hair fixed if they want. Once they are all “spruced-up” and “spiffed-up” each special participant is escorted to the south side of the large Immanuel Church complex where waiting limousines drive them around the church to the north side of the building where a red carpet entrance awaits.

At the entrance to the red carpet, participants walk through a large floor-to-ceiling star and are then introduced individually to a large crowd of volunteers who are lining the walkway ready to cheer-on, high-five and fist-bump the guests of honor as they make their special entrance.

From there a meal (or snacks) is provided, followed by karaoke and then the main event, a dance where each participant is given a crown or a tiara. In a single sentence, Night to Shine is a celebration of God’s love where everybody truly is a King or Queen!

Following is a pictorial start-to-finish of the remarkable night of activity at Immanuel Baptist Church.

Immanuel Youth Pastor Ryan Mulvaney (on riser) goes over final details with the more than 150 volunteers moments prior to the start of “Night to Shine.”

Kaden Lingafelder, of Carmi, IL, was the first one in the door at Night to Shine. Kaden attends Brownsville School, a special needs facility. He attended with his grandmother, Patty Hodgson.

Immanuel youth pastor Ryan Mulvaney, points to a map showing the various stations where participants and volunteers could navigate throughout the church complex.

Don Cruz, right, of Benton and a member at Immanuel, was busy shining shoes throughout the evening. Here is putting the finishing touches on a shoeshine for Hasten Vanhorn, of West Frankfort, who was attending his first Night to Shine.

Kinzi Loyd was all smiles and pretty in pink as she waited with her chaperone, Terra Clements (directly behind her) for the event to get started.

Mauretta Holman, from Herrin’s Our Directions, assisted living facility, is not certain she likes the corage on her wrist. The corsage/boutonniere station was a busy place throughout the evening.

Stephanie Dalton, (right) was busy throughout the evening. She is pictured here applying lip gloss for Sylvia Collins, from Our Directions, assisted living in Herrin.

Volunteer Shay Richey, left, is pictured putting the finishing touches on a “new-do” for Amelia Fox, of Our Directions, assisted living in Herrin.

After making their way through the various stations, participants are given a limousine ride around the building in preparation for the red carpet entrance.

While enthusiasm and excitement was in the air throughout Immanuel Church, the red carpet entrance, where each participant is recognized and introduced to loud cheers, high-fives and fist-bumping, provided the exclamation point on the evening!

Filed Under: Featured

Ann Coulter: State of the Union Highlights Reel

February 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Despite MSNBC treating Biden’s State of the Union address like the royal wedding, you probably didn’t watch it. But it doesn’t matter because … I’ve got the highlights reel!

Here’s a link to the column.

Filed Under: Columns

Bill O’Reilly: The Truth About Freedom

February 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Nope. Old Kris is wrong. Freedom is only acquired when you have options and when you are able to live mostly without interference or dependence on others. Many folks who think they are free are not.

Here’s a link to the column.

Filed Under: Columns

Sarah Sanders’ slam dunk. Choice now is between ‘normal or crazy’ and parents must stand up

February 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is right: The division in our nation is not between Democrats and Republicans, but it is a war to save our nation’s values. It is a choice between ‘normal and crazy.’

Here’s a link to the editorial.

Filed Under: Columns

Disney World was our destination. What I found could be the end for a beloved American company

February 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment

I hold grudges against companies. We don’t wear Nike, because the company embraced America-hating former quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and for a family with two immigrant parents, blessed to be Americans, we cannot abide this.

Here’s a link to the editorial.

Filed Under: Columns

Benton Police make arrests

February 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment

On February 4th, 2023 at approximately 9:45 p.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Joplin and Grand Street. Through investigation, police arrested Devin L. Eubanks, age 26, of Sesser for driving while license suspended. Eubanks was provided a copy of his citation and was later released from the scene.

On February 4th, 2023 at approximately 11p.m. Benton Police conducted a traffic stop in the 700 block of West Main Street. Through investigation, police arrested Audrey C. Shadowens, age 21, of Herrin for driving while license suspended. Shadowens was provided a copy of her citation and was later released from the scene.

On February 7th, 2023 at approximately 1:30 a.m., Benton Police arrested Michael S. Newberry, age 38, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear for retail theft. Newberry was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On February 7th, 2023 at approximately 9:15 p.m., Benton Police were dispatched to the 700 block of North Ninth Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Through investigation, police arrested Samantha D. Thebeau, age 31, of Benton for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Thebeau also had an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear for theft. Thebeau was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Filed Under: Breaking News
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