Frances Lucille Tittle – Sesser

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Frances Lucille Tittle, age 86, of Sesser IL, died peacefully at her home with her son Lloyd and her daughter Lola by her side, at 11:15 p.m. Monday, August 14, 2017.

A Private Family Graveside Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 18, 2017 at the Zeigler Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Family and friends are to go directly to the cemetery. Funeral arrangements are with the Leffler Funeral Home of Benton.

Frances Lucille Tittle was born on September 18, 1930 in Chicago, the daughter of Samuel Walter Barr and Katherine (Powell) Barr. She married Vernon Tittle on February 21, 1949, and he preceded her in death on June 3, 2001.

She was a homemaker, and enjoyed cooking, eating out, watching the Food Channel, and playing slot machines.

She is survived by five children: Eileen (Walter) Perreault, Louisville, KY, Vernon Alex (Lenore) Tittle, Downers Grove, IL, Deloris Fisher, Sandwich, IL, Lola Hanson and partner Roger, Sesser, IL, Lloyd Wayne Tittle, Sesser, IL; nine grandchildren: Marcy Kearns and partner Robert, Rockland, MA, Jennette Fisher and partner Eddie, Chicago, Leo Levandowski and partner Ericka, Marion, IL, Lisa Steinmetz and partner Jeff, Johnston City, IL, Daniel Barbier, David Barbier, Louisville, KY, Russell (Kat) Tittle, JR, Paducah, KY, David Gushi and Donnie Gushi, both of Downers Grove, IL; twenty-one great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers: Samuel Earl Barr, Leonard Charles Barr, Sr.; four sisters: Pearl Barr, Gertrude Irene Speir, Beatrice “Bea” Canada, Genevive I. Conrad; three sons: James Allen “Jimmy” Tittle, Wesley Robert Tittle, Russell Lee “Russ” Tittle; and a great-grandson Eli Levandowski.

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

Filed Under: Obituaries

Geraldine Jovi – West Frankfort

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Geraldine Jovi, 84 of West Frankfort passed away on Tuesday August 15, 2017 at Parkway Manor in Marion.

She was born on March 23, 1933 in Logan, IL to Frank and Lexie (McFarland) McKown. She married Arthur Jovi and he preceded her in death.

She is survived by a son-in-law Danny Jerrells of Royalton; 2 grandchildren Aaron (Heather) Jerrells of Saint Johns, FL and Yalonda (Nate) McVicker of Columbia, IL; 5 great grandchildren Blake, Logan, Lexie, Tyler and Rilie.

She was preceded in by her parents, husband, one daughter Carolyn Jerrells and two brothers.
Her wishes were to be cremated with a family service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Alheimer’s Association and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is assisting the family with arrangements.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com  

Filed Under: Obituaries, Uncategorized

Barry Hinson announces Men’s Basketball staff promotions

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Tom Weber, Associate AD in Communications, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Justin Walker (left) and John Clancy on the sidelines last year at the SIU Arena. (SIU Media Services photo)

CARBONDALE, IL – Southern Illinois men’s basketball coach Barry Hinson announced the promotion of two members of his staff today. Director of operations Justin Walker was promoted to assistant coach, while director of player development John Clancy was elevated to director of operations. An opening on SIU’s staff was created when assistant coach Terrance McGee took a coaching position at the University of Milwaukee.

“First, I want to thank Terrance for his tremendous contributions to Saluki Basketball during the last five years,” Hinson said. “It’s bittersweet for me personally, because I coached Terrance at Missouri State, and he’s been with me since the start of the rebuilding process at SIU. At the same time, he and his wife are both Milwaukee natives, and I’m happy for them to get the opportunity to return home. He’ll be a great asset for Coach Baldwin’s staff.”

Walker enters his fourth season on Hinson’s staff, beginning as a graduate assistant in 2014, before assuming the administrative role of director of operations in 2015. He was responsible for team operations, including team travel, academic support, summer camps and fund-raisers. Those duties now go to Clancy.

“Behind the scenes, Justin has been doing the thankless jobs that no one but the head coach really appreciates,” Hinson said. “At the same time, he’s been involved in every aspect of our program and has earned this opportunity. We’re fortunate to have a coach of his caliber already in our system.”

Clancy joined the staff in 2015 as a graduate assistant before being elevated to director of player development last season. He was instrumental in the development of All-Conference forward Sean O’Brien last year and has helped the program post back-to-back winning seasons.

“As a successful high school coach before coming to Carbondale, John was willing to start over at the bottom of the ladder to achieve his dream of becoming a Division I coach,” Hinson said. “He has all of the qualities you look for in an ascending coach — high basketball IQ, strong organizational skills, and a team-first mentality. I believe he has a bright future in this business.”

Filed Under: College Sports, Sports

Junior High baseball/softball scores from Monday and Tuesday

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

Monday

BOYS BASEBALL

SESSER-VALIER 16  Johnston City 2

WEST FRANKFORT  16  Carbondale 3

BENTON 9 DuQuoin 0

GIRLS SOFTBALL

Goreville 6  ZEIGLER-ROYALTON 5  Skylar Hudson 2-3, Bella Bates and Lainey Morris 1-3 at the plate for Z-R

WEST FRANKFORT 17  Carbondale 7

Tuesday

BOYS BASEBALL

BENTON 8  WEST FRANKFORT 0

Adams (Creal Springs)  14  THOMPSONVILLE 11

GIRLS SOFTBALL

ZEIGLER ROYALTON 4  Desoto  2

BENTON 12  WEST FRANKFORT  11

Please pass along any scores to me by calling 937-0253 or 513-1274.  You can also get ahold of me by emailing me at sdunford1970.com or messaging me on Facebook.  Any information that you pass along that would be more than three sentences, I will write a short story on your team.

 

Filed Under: Benton Junior High Sports, Junior High Sports, Sesser-Valier Junior High Sports, Sports, Thompsonville Junior High Sports, West Frankfort Junior High Sports, Zeigler Royalton Junior High Sports

Former Miss America wants to unseat Lisa Madigan as attorney general

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

https://www.ilnews.org/news/state_politics/former-miss-america-wants-to-unseat-lisa-madigan-as-attorney/article_f9f7d6f8-81c9-11e7-bb0b-cfb41527d415.html

(Illinois News Network.  Please click on the link for the full article and campaign commercial.  Here is an excerpt below.)

 

From Erika Harold’s twitter page.

Former Miss America Erika Harold announced Tuesday that she plans to seek the GOP nomination for Illinois attorney general with hopes of taking on Lisa Madigan next fall.

An attorney from Urbana, Harold in 2012 and 2014 unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress in Illinois’ 13th District

Harold is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She says she entered the Miss America pageant to help fund her graduate education at Harvard Law School. She won the Miss Illinois pageant in 2002 and was crowned Miss America in 2003.

“Today in Illinois, it’s nearly impossible to find opportunity and live out your dreams,” Harold says in an online campaign announcement launched Tuesday. “Instead, career politicians have made it a nightmare for too many families in our state.”

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, State News

Benton sewer plant more than half completed

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/news/20170814/benton-sewer-plant-more-than-half-completed

BENTON, IL – (Rick Hayes, Benton News. Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Benton’s new wastewater treatment plant has reached the halfway point of construction and is expected to be operational by spring 2018.

Officials from River City Construction, the general contractor, and HMG (Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende) Engineers say that while most of the construction will be complete by the end of 2017, it will take a few more months to install the equipment and check the system. An April 1, 2018, date has been set for the plant to become fully operational.

“We’re at 56 percent completion money-wise and work-wise too. All of their equipment is beginning to show up since we started in January,” said Harry Borrenpohl, senior project manager for HMG.

 

Filed Under: Benton News, Breaking News

Remembering Benton’s Storied Capitol Theater

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/remembering-benton-s-storied-capitol-theater/article_d0461388-7ee0-11e7-9183-230318e89ee9.html

Interior of the Capitol Theater in the 1920’s. (Gazette photo)

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

With the recently announced purchase of Toler Cinema in West City, many people have remarked about memories of another, sadly long gone, iconic piece of our community’s fabled past.

There’s few reminders left on the current site of the former Capitol Theater that once towered over the southeast corner of the Public Square in Benton. On its’ former lot now stands the Capitol Park Pavilion which was named in its’ honor and carries on its’ spiritual legacy as the host of live music and other entertainment during City festivals and happenings.

If you could time travel back nearly 100 years ago however, you would get a glimpse of the larger than life brick structure which was the hub of activity for Benton teenagers of the era. In the 20s, before the “talking pictures” had emerged, the theater served as the scene of many well-attended vaudeville acts, stage shows, and silent films—such as 1924’s “The Perfect Flapper” or D.W. Griffith’s “That Royle Girl” in 1925 which turned up in advertisements of the era.

Filed Under: Benton News, Breaking News, Featured, Slider

Gov. Rauner signs series of agriculture bills during State Fair’s Ag Day

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Press release from the office of Governor Bruce Rauner

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed a series of agriculture bills, including House Bill 470, which designates corn as the official state grain of Illinois and is supported by the Illinois Farm Bureau.

Primary bill sponsor state Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said HB 470 is inspired by the Pittsfield High School agriculture development class, which did extensive research on the impact corn has on the state.

“Today, we designated corn as the official state grain to show the great impact it and all of agriculture has on Illinois’ economy,” Rep. Davidsmeyer said. “More importantly, we helped Pittsfield ag students work to see their bill become law, from start to finish. What a great way to learn how the process is supposed to work!”

Gov. Rauner also signed several other bills that were initiatives of the Department of Agriculture. These bills, many of which seek to cut red tape, will reduce regulations and agency costs within the department.

“Agriculture is the backbone of Illinois’ economy, and it’s critical to future prosperity in the state,” Gov. Rauner said. “We need to continue to support our state’s farmers and the Department of Agriculture in every way we can.”

One of the bills is specifically designed to advance agriculture in Illinois. Senate Bill 1991, which passed unanimously out of the General Assembly, creates an Agriculture Education Shortage Task Force to examine the status of agriculture education in the state. The task force also will make recommendations for how to expand recruitment and retention of agriculture educators. The task force will disband once the final report is completed.

A full list of the bills signed by the governor is below.

Bill No.: HB 470
An Act Concerning Government
Action: Signed
Effective: Jan. 1, 2018
Bill No.: HB 2995
An Act Concerning State Government
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 2998
An Act Concerning Animals
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 3058
An Act Concerning Agriculture
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 3081
An Act Concerning Regulation
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 3090
An Act Concerning Animals
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 3130
An Act Concerning Safety
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 3188
An Act Concerning State Government
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: HB 3189
An Act Concerning Regulation
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately
Bill No.: SB 1991
An Act Concerning Education
Action: Signed
Effective: Immediately

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Chance of storms today and tomorrow….mostly sunny for the day of the eclipse

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

The line of storms that are moving though the area are exiting quickly.  There is a marginal risk of severe weather for tomorrow.

The forecast for the eclipse is mostly sunny with a high of 91.

Hazardous Weather Outlook
National Weather Service Paducah KY

.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight

There is a chance for a few thunderstorms today through tonight.

Afternoon heat index values may reach near 100 degrees in a few
locations.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday

There is a chance of thunderstorms Thursday through Thursday
evening, as a weak frontal boundary moves through the area. A few
strong storms cannot be ruled out.

Thunderstorms are possible off and on from the weekend into early
next week, especially during the daylight hours.

Heat index values Thursday afternoon may reach near 100 degrees in
a few locations.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT…

Spotter activation is not anticipated.

Seven day forecast

Wednesday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7am and 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 87. Light south southeast wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 5 to 8 mph.
Thursday
A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Thursday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 67. West wind 3 to 7 mph.
Friday
Sunny, with a high near 87. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Friday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Light and variable wind.
Saturday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Light and variable wind.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 89. Light southeast wind.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 69. Light and variable wind.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. South wind 3 to 6 mph.
Monday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
Tuesday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. West southwest wind around 6 mph.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider

Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. awards grant to Helping Hands of Franklin County, Habitat for Humanity

August 16, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Press Release from Kyle Bacon, Vice President of  Helping Hands Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County

BENTON, IL  – Kyle Bacon, Vice President of Helping Hands of Franklin County, HfH, the local chaper of Habitat for Humanity accepted a $2,000 check issued by Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. from Mark and Kristan Berning, employees of Walt Disney World.

Mark a lead database engineer, and Kristan a labor and staffing analyst for Disney, designated grant funds for Helping Hands when they were awarded the 2017 Disney VoluntEARS Family of the Year Award which they and their 10 year-old daughter Lauren, earned by volunteering over 330 hours while participating in Disney’s employee VoulntEARS program.

Annual volunteer awards are presented to Disney Cast Members who make a difference in Central Florida.  As part of the recognition, VoulntEARS of the year honorees are presented with a $2000 charitable grant form the Walt Disney Company to go toward a non profit organization of their choice.

Kristan, who is originally from Benton, said, “It is my hope these funds will be able to provide your organization the opportunity to help people in the community who are deserving and in need.  I selected Helping Hands of Franklin County because I can see each time we visited my grandmother, Susie Willis, during the summer there is clearly a need to provide for so many in need.”

Bacon thanked the Berings for selecting Helping Hands for the grant and for their many volunteer hours.  He said, “This money will help us give a low income family the opportunity to purchase a newly constructed home.  We have completed our 14th home in West Frankfort and will build our 15th home in Benton.  As soon as we receive sufficient additional donations, we will begin construction.”

Frank Grounds, a Helping Hands Director who also attended the presentation said, “Habitat is an organization that gives people a hand up, not a hand out.  Selected families are given the opportunity to purchase a home with a 20 year interest free loan and are responsible for paying the annual insurance premium and real estate taxes, which are prorated and added to their monthly payment.

Persons wanting to make a tax deductible donation may make their check payable to Helping Hands of Franklin County, and mail it to PO box 34, Benton IL, 62812.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News
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