SHARE THE ROAD

October 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

DU QUOIN, IL –  As harvest seasons quickly approaches, the ISP wants to remind everyone to share the road. Because EVERYONE has a vested interst in roadway safety!

For Farmers – Make sure all slow moving vehicle emblems are visible and lights are activated; Take your combine’s head off to minimize width while traveling between fields; Be considerate while traveling – travel during lighter traffic times (for instance a roadway near a school at 8AM and 3PM Mon – Fri would be a high traffic time) and pull over often to let traffic congestion behind you ease up.

For Motorists – If it isn’t legal to pass a regular vehicle, it isn’t legal to pass a farm vehicle – no matter how slow they may be traveling; Allow extra room when passing and increase your following distance to get a better view around the extra width of machinery; Allow extra travel time during harvest season when near fields to reduce frustration levels – Be patient!; Put down your distractions!

Working TOGETHER, we can make this harvest season the safest ever.

From The Illinois State Police, District 13. DuQuoin

 

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

Familiar name in Jeff George Jr. taking over at QB

October 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.news-gazette.com/sports/illini-sports/football/2017-10-03/familiar-name-jeff-george-jr-taking-over-qb.html

CHAMPAIGN, IL (Scott Richey, Champaign News-Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette
Illinois’ quarterback Jeff George Jr. (3) in a Big Ten game at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017.

Lovie Smith was definitive in his statement early in Monday’s weekly press conference that Illinois was “making a change at the quarterback position.”

Just what that actually meant took a bit more parsing.

In this case, “making a change” has Jeff George Jr. at the top of the depth chart heading into Saturday’s game at Iowa, with true freshman Cam Thomas serving as his backup after serving a one-game suspension. And now demoted starter Chayce Crouch?

“We don’t predict the future an awful lot,” Smith said. “We have a starting rotation. Chayce is not at the top of the list. We’ll start working to see how he fits in from then on.”

 

 

Filed Under: College Sports, Sports

Local Genealogist Seeks to Clean Up Old Benton Cemetery

October 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/local-genealogist-seeks-to-clean-up-old-benton-cemetery/article_088333c2-a5f4-11e7-ba3a-3739b4f582ce.html

 

BENTON, IL –  (William McPherson, Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Pam Teague works as a genealogist at the Benton Public Library where she spends her days helping visitors from around the area reconnect to their past. For the past few weeks Pam has been researching the “Old Benton Cemetery” now known as Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, located behind the American Legion building just behind South Main Street. She says she was particularly distressed to find it referred to as an “abandoned cemetery” in some local records she dug up.

(William McPherson – Benton Gazette Photo

Many longtime Benton residents may remember when the cemetery, founded in 1831, and which holds Franklin County military veterans dating back to the Revolutionary War to the Civil War (both union and confederate) and beyond, was open to the public. However, back in the 90s, due to excessive vandalism a fence was constructed and the property has since been closed off except for special occasions such as the upcoming Veteran’s Day ceremonies that the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars arrange.

Filed Under: Benton News, Featured, Slider

Locals invited to “Shop n Sample” St Louis on Nov. 21 through RLC

October 3, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, IL – Explore one of St. Louis’ bustling neighborhoods next month during the Shop n Sample St. Louis Day Tour through Rend Lake College’s Community and Corporate Education Division.

During the tour of The Hill, known for its Italian heritage, participants will enjoy a tour of the Herbia Soap Factory, as well as stops at Chris’ Pancakes and J Viviano & Sons Grocer. Lunch will be served at Favazza’s Restaurant on The Hill. The afternoon will be spent exploring St. Louis’ newest chic place to shop: IKEA.

Lunch, tour fees, gratuity, and charter bus transportation are included in the $120 fee. Participants can get on the bus in Ina or Mt. Vernon, at 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. respectively, on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The bus will return to Mt. Vernon by 6 p.m. and to Ina by 6:30 p.m. Attendees must pre-register by Sunday, Oct. 29.

To learn more about this Day Tour or to pre-register, contact RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714 or commcorped@rlc.edu.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Criminal Justice Calls in the Dogs

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

INA, IL – United States Army Staff Sargent Brian Koester, right, and Private First Class Johnathan Sanchez, left, presented to several of Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Ron Meek’s classes throughout the day on Thursday. Criminal Justice students were able to ask a wide variety of questions about the training of canine units and the officers that handle them.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)

 

INA, Ill. – United States Army Staff Sargent Brian Koester, left, and Private First Class Johnathan Sanchez, background, supervise and coach RLC Criminal Justice Student Jon Zeman (McLeansboro) during a practical demonstration of their K9s training in subduing a suspect. The military personnel were on hand Thursday to talk to criminal justice students about the ins and outs of a military canine unit.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)

Filed Under: Photos/Videos

Corum Shares Legal Experience With RLC Students

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

INA, IL – Champaign County Public Defender Stephanie Corum, right, visits Rend Lake College Associate Professor of Business Mark Jornd’s Legal and Social Issues in Business class to offer students first-hand information from the front lines of legal proceedings. Corum talked about some of her most prolific cases, answered student questions and talked about her journey to become a public defender. (Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)

Filed Under: Photos/Videos

Tom Petty Passes at the Age of 66

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/tom-petty-rock-iconoclast-who-led-the-heartbreakers-dead-at-66-w506651

MALIBU, CA –  (Kory Grow and Andy Greene, Rolling Stone Magazine.  Please click on the link for the full story and other correlating stories. There is an excerpt below.)

Rolling stone photo

Tom Petty, the dynamic and iconoclastic front man who led the band the Heartbreakers, went into full cardiac arrest at his Malibu home Sunday night, with conflicting reports on whether the Hall of Fame musician died on Monday. Petty was found unconscious, not breathing and in full cardiac arrest at his home, according to TMZ, and rushed to the hospital and placed on life support. EMTs were able to find a pulse when they found him, but TMZ reported that the hospital found no brain activity when he arrived. A decision was made to pull life support. CBS originally confirmed Petty’s death per the Los Angeles Police Department, but TMZ claims the musician is still on life support.

A rep for Petty did not immediately return a request for clarification. A rep for the LAPD declined to comment on Petty’s situation to Rolling Stone, though a spokesperson tweeted that “the LAPD has no information about the passing of singer Tom Petty. Initial information was inadvertently provided to some media sources. However, the LAPD has no investigative role in this matter. We apologize for any inconvenience in this reporting.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Benton Police Recently Arrest Two Men

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

BENTON. IL On 9/28/17 at approximately 3:30 p.m. Benton Police Officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of N. Main Street in reference to a disturbance. Upon investigating the complaint, officers arrested 21 year old Christopher W. Worthey of Benton on an arrest warrant out of Franklin County for Failure to Appear. Worthey was transported to the Franklin County Jail.

On 10/1/17 at approximately 2:20 p.m. Benton Police Officers were dispatched to the 1400 block of Franklin Drive in reference to a 911 report of a domestic disturbance. Upon investigating the complaint, officers arrested 37 year old David P. Gosnell of Benton for Domestic Battery. Gosnell was transported to the Franklin County Jail.

from the Benton Police Department

 

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

Arena Gaming Center Under New Management

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

BENTON, IL –  There have been social media posts and I overheard a conversation in a local store over the weekend of not having anything to do in Southern Illinois.

Chuck Dunford has recently acquired Arena Gaming Center on East Main in Benton, next to Joes Pizza.

The business is a LAN arcade.  There are several computer monitors, a digital jukebox that works with a cell phone or tablet and a pool table.

I went and checked the business out last week, as my cousin fed me, and we watched the Cardinals that night.   The lights in the place enhance the atmosphere.  This 47 year old would not mind going up and playing some games one day.

Rates are set by the hour.  There are special events, as well as they will host birthday parties.

Outside food and drink is not allowed, but snacks is at a reasonable price.  Chuck says “They are cheaper than a baby sitter. ”

He also told me this is a regional business, and he would like to reach people beyond Benton.  “There is not a place like this in Southern Illinois,” he said. 

For further information please call 200-4263 to book parties and for prices.  Here is a link to the Facebook page with more information, rates, and special events will be posted.   https://www.facebook.com/Arenalangaming/

Filed Under: Benton News, Featured, Slider

UNI tops SIU in MVFC opener, 24-17

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

From John Lock siusalukis.com

CARBONDALE, IL. – The Southern Illinois football program fought back from a 17-3 halftime deficit, but Northern Iowa hung on for a 24-17 win at Saluki Stadium on Saturday night. The Salukis twice had the ball with a chance to tie in the game’s final minutes, but interceptions ended both drives.

“That’s a tough one to lose at home,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “I felt like we had the opportunities to win that football game. We were battling uphill the entire night and didn’t execute a high enough level to win the football game. You have to execute consistently on a high basis, and we didn’t do that in the areas that we needed to.”

The Salukis (2-2, 0-1 MVFC) flew into UNI territory on the opening drive, but a penalty pushed SIU to the brink of field goal range. Matt Sotiropoulos’s 45-yard attempt hit the crossbar and bounced back onto the field. UNI (2-2, 1-0 MVFC) took the momentum and ran off 10 points before the Salukis gained another yard.

SIU kicked a field goal to get within a touchdown, but the Panthers immediately responded with a touchdown to take a 17-3 lead into halftime. Southern’s defense opened the third quarter strong, and the Salukis got within a touchdown after a 29-yard touchdown from Sam Straub to Darrell James on fourth-and-10. But UNI again answered with an immediate touchdown to push its lead out to two scores. That touchdown was the only second-half score Southern’s defense allowed.

“We’re four games in, so we have to take a honest evaluation and get better collectively,” Hill said. “I do think we have a good football team, and we showed that our defense is a lot better. That’s the first time we’ve held UNI under 40 points in four seasons. Our defense battled.”

Kyron Watson forced and recovered a fumble early in the fourth quarter, and the Salukis marked 54 yards in four plays to get back within seven, 24-17. After that, the defense forced three-straight punts, but the offense committed three-straight turnovers with a chance to tie the game–twice deep in Panther territory.

Jacob Varble fumbled after landing awkwardly inside the UNI 15-yard line. The Salukis got the ball back with 3:43 to play at its own 18, and SIU drove inside the UNI 10 with less than two minutes to go. Straub’s pass to Daquan Isom hit off his chest, and UNI’s Jake Hartford caught the deflection to end the threat. The Salukis got the ball back with 38 seconds and no timeouts, but Malcolm Washington ended the game with an interception on the second play of the drive.

“I was proud that we were able to make it close and have the opportunities to win the game; but to take that next step, you have to be able to go win that game,” Hill said. “That’s what the Missouri Valley is going to be like. We have to figure out how to get better from this game because it doesn’t get any easier.”

SIU fell to UNI for the fourth-straight year, the longest losing streak for either team in the series since the mid-1990s. The Salukis travel to South Dakota State for a matchup against the nationally ranked Jackrabbits next Saturday.

NOTES

The game was the annual Black Out Cancer game … This year, the jersey bidding raised more than $28,000 for the Southern Illinois Healthcare Cancer Institute … The Salukis fell to 5-2 in the seven years of the Black Out Cancer game … Darrell James surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards … Daquan Isom recorded his fourth career 100-yard rushing game … The Salukis did not allow a sack for the third-straight game and have allowed just one sack all season.

 

Filed Under: College Sports, Sports
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