Second Annual “Stand Up For Blue” Night To Be Held August 10th

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

From the Southern Illinois Miners

The Southern Illinois Miners announce that they will hold their second annual “Stand Up For Blue” Law Enforcement Appreciation Night, sponsored by AmVets and WSIL-TV 3, at Rent One Park on Thursday, August 10th when they take on the Normal CornBelters at 7:05 p.m., honoring and recognizing the contributions made to the region by law enforcement officers.

“We are very excited to be bringing back Stand Up For Blue night again this year,” Miners manager and COO Mike Pinto said. “The Miners have a deep connection with law enforcement- eight of our former players are in law enforcement, including three from last season who joined police departments. Not to mention our first base coach and advance scout John Lakin, who is a career officer and now the Sheriff of Madison County. These heroes put their lives on the line each day and we are thrilled to be honoring them.”

More than 6,400 fans from our region came out to recognize local law enforcement last season for the first “Stand Up For Blue” Night in 2016. As part of the promotion this year, all law enforcement officers attending the game will receive free admission for themselves and a guest. All fans are also encouraged to wear blue that night, with the first 1,500 fans receiving a “Stand Up For Blue” t-shirt compliments of Midwest Office Supply and First Southern Bank at the front gate. ALL tickets for the evening will be $5, with half of the proceeds being donated to the James Brockmeyer Memorial Fund, named after officer James Brockmeyer of the Chester Police Department, who was killed in a crash in pursuit of a suspect last October.

Also, 1,000 “Back The Badge” bracelets, compliments of Fowler Heating & Air, will be distributed. Local heroes from the law enforcement community will also throw out ceremonial first pitches, including officers Chris Robinson and Cale Bastien from the Du Quoin Police Department, who saved the life of an infant who was not breathing on February 5th of this year, and officers Ryan Prather and Travis Morgan of the Carterville Police Department as well as officer Sean Dobbins of the Crainville Police Department, who rescued a man whose truck had fallen on top of him on February 8th. The current Miners players will don blue wristbands and blue socks as they play the game, along with caps from local police departments.

All fans in attendance will also be given a blank “Stand Up For Blue” placard, and they are encouraged to write the name of a friend or family member who works in law enforcement. This will be part of an on-field recognition in the fifth inning. For more information, contact the Miners’ box office at (618) 998-8499.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Miners Lead Wire-To-Wire, Take Down Boomers For Series Win

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

From the Southern Illinois Miners

MARION, IL – The Southern Illinois Miners vaulted out to an early lead on Thursday night against the Schaumburg Boomers at Rent One Park, and led the entire game while turning away two late pushes by the visitors in a 5-3 victory, taking the midweek series in Marion two games to one.

The Miners got started right away in the bottom of the first against Schaumburg starter Lars Liguori (5-3) after Matt Parish retired the Boomers in order in the top half of the inning. Brett Wiley and Romeo Cortina led off with singles and Craig Massey hit into a fielder’s choice with all runners being safe on the play to make it 1-0. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly by Ryan Lashley made the score 2-0, and Ben Moore followed up with a two-out RBI single for a 3-0 cushion.

Miners 3B Craig Massoni smacks a two run homer in last nights win over Schaumburg (SI Miners photo)

Parish (2-1) would dominate on the hill early in the contest, permitting just one baserunner in the first three innings while facing the minimum nine total batters. The right-hander would finish with a quality start, allowing two runs on six hits in six and one-third innings. In the bottom of the third inning, the Miners got him more run support- after Massey reached on an error by the shortstop Josh Gardiner, Craig Massoni smacked a two-run homer to right field into the visiting bullpen, his seventh of the season and second with the Miners, to push the lead out to 5-0.

That would go down as the game-winning hit for Southern Illinois, and the Boomers would score single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to make it a 5-2 ballgame. In the seventh, Parish departed after walking the leadoff man and hitting Gardiner with a pitch to bring the tying run to the plate, but Austin Dubsky got the Miners out of trouble with no runs allowed.

After a scoreless eighth inning by Kyle Grana, the Boomers would score an unearned run with a two-out rally in the ninth. After John Werner struck out the first two men he faced, an error by Massey extended the game, and the Boomers’ next three batters reached base, with Jack Parenty’s bases-loaded walk making the score 5-3. Werner, however, got Kyle Ruchim to pop out to right field to end the game and give the Miners the series victory.

Southern Illinois will look to make it three wins in a row when they continue their nine-game homestand on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against the Windy City ThunderBolts. Tyler Stubblefield will take the hill for the Miners in the series opener while Zac Westcott will pitch in the game for Windy City.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.

Filed Under: Slider, Sports

The Custard Stand in Sesser part of the Illinois Ice Cream Trail

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

This Mouthwatering Ice Cream Trail In Illinois Is All You’ve Ever Dreamed Of And More

 

Please click on the link above from the onlyinyourstate.com website, for the story by Elizabeth Crozier.  There are several pictures of the Illinois Ice Cream Trail.

There are several pictures.  All the places featured are from Southern Illinois.  The trail goes from Marion to Centralia.

 

Filed Under: Featured, Sesser News, Slider

Illinois Department of Labor responds to Ohio State Fair incident

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Illinois Department of Labor

SPRINGFIELD—July 27, 2017. In light of yesterday’s tragic incident at the Ohio State Fair, the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) is suspending the operation of all rides similar to KMG’s Fire Ball until further notice.   

“With many festivals and county fairs occurring across the State, including the upcoming Illinois State Fair, we are committed to ensuring the safety of all carnival rides,” said IDOL Acting Director Joe Beyer.

IDOL’s Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division inspectors are notifying operators to suspend operation of the Fire Ball and other similar rides. That includes three Fire Ball rides, eight Freak Out rides, and one Extreme ride that are in Illinois.

IDOL’s Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division inspects and permits every ride that is open to the public and determines whether they are safe to operate. No ride is permitted to run if it does not pass inspection. 

Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Division inspectors conduct nearly 4,000 ride inspections at stationary parks, traveling carnivals, and fairs throughout the State each year.  

For more information about the Illinois Department of Labor, visit the website at http://labor.illinois.gov. IDOL can also be found on Facebook @ILDeptofLabor or on Twitter @ILDeptofLabor.

Filed Under: Breaking News, State News

Weekend Expressway Closures Upcoming in Metro East

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

COLLINSVILLE, IL – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that four routine maintenance projects in Metro East will be done on condensed schedules over select weekends in the coming weeks to accelerate the repairs and minimize the impact to the traveling public. The projects will require some expressway closures starting on Friday evenings and reopening no later than the following Monday morning.

The projects are:

Bridge joint replacement at Interstate 55/70 west of Illinois 203.
Pavement patching on eastbound I-55/70 just west of Interstate 255.
Bridge painting on I-55/70 under I-255 ramps.
Microsurfacing on I-270 from east of Illinois 3 to east of I-55/70.

Starting with the I-55/70 work west of Illinois 203 the weekend of Aug. 4, the projects will take place over multiple weekends until they are completed by Oct. 15, weather permitting. Schedule information will be provided and shared with the public several days before closures are to occur.

Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes during construction weekends and anticipate some longer travel times.

All of the work will be weather dependent and coordinated to not conflict with major sporting events. No closures will take place over Labor Day weekend.

By utilizing full expressway closures and keeping construction restricted to the weekends when traffic volumes are down, IDOT aims to reduce the length of time work zones are needed during heavier travel periods during the week.

Real-time traffic updates are available at www.gettingaroundillinois.com.

Filed Under: State News

WJPF’s Tom Miller, interviews new WF superintendent Matt Donkin

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Newsradio WJPF interview with Matt Donkin

Click on the link above to listen to the nine minute clip of the interview from the Morning News watch.

Filed Under: Franklin Co. News, Slider, West Frankfort News

Showers will be out of here soon….Sunny and cooler for several days

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Relief from the humidity coming soon! (NWS Paducah)

Detailed Forecast

weather.gov |

Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 63. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 82. North northeast wind 6 to 9 mph.
Saturday Night
Clear, with a low around 60. North northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 3 to 8 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 62. Northeast wind 3 to 6 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 85. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming east northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Light east northeast wind.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 68. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Eclipse preparations for local residents

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

If estimates are accurate, prepare for inconveniences form Friday, August 17th, until Tuesday, August 22nd.

From Rick Linton, Executive Director, Rend Lake Area Tourism

  • Have all your vehicles filled up with fuel, to avoid shortages and long lines.
  • Stock up on basic grocery items, such as food and water.
  • Have extra cash on hand, ATM’s could be overloaded or offline.
  • Check your medication supply in advance.
  • Plan to limit driving as much as possible during this timeframe.
  • Avoid interstate 57 and other state highways, as they may become congested.
  • If you must travel, have drinking water in your vehicle.
  • Have viewing appropriate eyewear from a reputable source.
  • Be sure everyone knows how to view the eclipse, even with protective glasses.
  • Have a backup communication plan for family members and work associates in case cell phone service becomes overloaded.
  • Internet service can also be very slow.
  • Check on the elderly to make sure they have all their needs.
  • During the eclipse, supervise children and those who may become frightened.
  • Take care of animals and pets, as they may become frightened during the eclipse.
  • If you plan to view the eclipse, turn off any automatic lights, as they may spoil the view.

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

City of West Frankfort donates $5,000 to the Park District

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

From the City of West Frankfort

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – There are a couple of items that the City of West Frankfort has put on their Social Media page.  First, the city council approved donating $5,000 to the West Frankfort Park District to refurbish the basketball courts. There have been ongoing fund raisers in the city for this.  The estimated cost will be around $30.000.

Second, there are no solicitor permits issued at this time.  If someone would approach you at your residence, ask for their credentials and a permit.  If they do not have one, contact the WFPD.

 

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, West Frankfort News

Korean War vet’s remains identified; to be returned to Harrisburg

July 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20170725/korean-war-vets-remains-identified-to-be-returned-to-harrisburg

HARRISBURG, IL  – (Travis DeNeal, Harrisburg Register.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Edward L. Borders was a U.S. Army Reserve corporal and a member of the 2nd Infantry Division fighting in the Korean War when he disappeared in February of 1951.  He was 20.

According to information from his family, he was a member of Army Battery D 82nd Anti-Aircraft Artiller Automatic Weapons Battalion in the 2nd Infantry.

Though the North Korean government confirmed Borders had died in a prisoner of war camp later that same year, his remains were not positively identified until recently.

Filed Under: Southern Illinois News, State News
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