Cheap Seats: The St. Louis Cardinals should be ashamed of the way they played against the Chicago Cubs

http://www.bnd.com/sports/mlb/st-louis-cardinals/cheap-seats-blog/article154386209.html

(Scott Wuerz- Belleville News-Democrat – Please click on the link above to read the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The St. Louis Cardinals are moving out of “frustrating” territory and they’re headed quickly toward “embarrassing.”

It’s not a lot of fun to watch a team when there are two choices: It starts the game flat and never finds a way to get its rear in gear or else it gets ahead but you can never feel comfortable that the advantage is large enough that the club can’t blow it.

The Cardinals enjoyed early leads in all three games of their road trip to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs. And they blew those leads. Every. Single. Time. Disgusting.

It’s miserable watching this team because it makes you feel like the other shoe is just waiting to drop. I hear some Cardinals apologists complain that people who turn off the television to avoid the heartburn of the local team’s sloppy play aren’t “real fans.” Let me put it to them this way: I might be a fan of my mother, for example. And I like to spend time with her. But I’m not interested in sitting there and watching someone slap her around for three hours.

 

Illinois gas prices lowest in 12 years for start of summer road trip season

CHICAGO – (Ally Marotti, Chicago Tribune. Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt.)

Travelers in Illinois are starting summer road trip season with the lowest gas prices for this time of year
in more than a decade.
At $2.40 per gallon, the Illinois average for regular unleaded gas was about 2 cents higher than the national average Monday but about 13 cents lower than a year ago, according to AAA numbers.

Gas prices typically rise as the summer beats on, peaking around the Fourth of July, Mosher said, but prices this summer are expected to remain tame.

A concoction of low demand and generally more mild prices that have stuck around for a couple of years helped with that, Mosher said. Plus, springtime refinery issues that often hit Illinois and push up prices didn’t happen this year.

 

 

Police on the lookout for two armed and dangerous Harrisburg men

http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20170605/police-seeking-armed-and-dangerous-harrisburg-men

Law enforcement officials have gotten some leads, but the search for two Harrisburg men considered armed and dangerous goes on, Harrisburg Police Chief David Morris said Monday.

The men are Xzavier Burnell Gibbs, 19, of 612 S. Jackson St., and Jarred R. Crawford, 30, of 314 N. Land St. Both are wanted on no-bond warrants for aggravated battery.

Because both men are considered by law enforcement to be armed and dangerous, neither should be approached, Morris said.

Morris said anyone with information can also leave a confidential message with the Saline County Sheriff’s Department at (618) 252-8661.

Carl Andrews- Benton

Carl Andrews, age 83, of Benton, passed away at Herrin Hospital on Saturday, May 27th, 2017 

Carl, a Baptist by faith, was born in Benton on November 8, 1933, the son of the late Leo and Rose Andrews.

He is survived by son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Jennifer Andrews of Eldorado; two grandsons and their wives, Aaron and Natalie Andrews of Haubstadt, In. and Jonny and Katie Andrews of Newburgh, In; two great-grandsons, Kayden Cole (Aaron & Natalie), Porter Thomas (Jonny & Katie) and one great-granddaughter Kylee Jo (Aaron & Natalie) and brother-in-law, Herbert Burrell of St. Louis and Sister-in-law, Dixie Andrews of Benton.

Carl spent 43 years managing the F.S. grain elevator in Benton, first for Franklin Grain & Supply and then in the later years for Twin County Service Company.  Besides his work at the elevator he, along with his brother Henry and son Dennis, had a small farming operation south of Benton.  After winding down the farming operation in 2002 he found a new passion in competitive shooting and could be found as often as possible at the Rend Lake Shooting Complex shooting trap, skeet or his favorite sporting clays.

He was preceded in death in addition to his parents by his wife Betty and brother Henry Andrews.

Visitation is from 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home on Friday, June 9th with a memorial service conducted by Robert Jilek immediately following.  In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to The Southern Illinois Youth Sport Shooting Association (SIYSSA) C/O Larry Chinski, 2006 N Woods Place, Mt. Vernon, IL. 62864.  SIYSSA is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting Trapshooting and other shooting activities for the youth of Southern Illinois.

For more information or to sign the online guest register please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com

Two Sesser residents arrested for stealing from Consol

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35594451/two-sesser-residents-arrested-for-stealing-from-coal-mine

(From WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story above.  Here is an excerpt below.

SCHELLER, IL — After a lengthy investigation, two people are in jail for stealing from a local coal mine.

Robert and Jennifer Gifford, of Sesser, were arrested late last week for stealing from Consolidated Coal Company on Emerson City Road in Scheller.

Lack of budget hurting families relying on local food pantries

WSIL Photo

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35594832/lack-of-budget-hurting-families-relying-on-local-food-pantries

CHRISTOPHER, IL – (Sean Conway, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link above to read the full story and watch the video.  Here is an excerpt below.)

As we near closer to the summer season, many area food pantries find it harder to keep the shelves stocked each month.

Pantries like the Ministry For The Broken Hearted in Christopher have been struggling to make ends meet for the hungry lately.

A recent cut in funding by a local church has led the pantry to make cuts of their own, making it harder to feed the 300 families they serve each month.

 

Heads of police organizations view on SB 1839

9-1-1 is the backbone of public safety and Illinois’ back is breaking.

On behalf of the Sheriffs, the Chiefs of Police, and all the men and women of public safety in Illinois, we encourage Governor Rauner to approve SB 1839.  Without that approval, the system will be unfunded at the close of business June 30th, 2017.  It’s unthinkable that someone in Illinois might dial 9-1-1 after June 30th and nobody would be there to take the emergency call.

Legislation passed in 2015 requires the consolidation of 9-1-1 SYSTEMS, and upgrading technology to help our telecommunicators deliver the most professional and expedited service to our communities.  Our emergency dispatch centers are required to implement location services, receive text messages and automatic crash alerts within the next three years.  None of this comes without a cost and that cost spread across all users is the fairest and most efficient model for delivery.

The goal is to develop a fully-functional 9-1-1 system that meets the demands of ever-changing telecommunications technology in a digital world, while being accessible anytime, anywhere, from any device in Illinois. Providing 9-1-1 services for all members of our community simply cannot be done by keeping old, costly and failing technology in place.

We firmly believe the proposed revenue provided in SB1839 for 9-1-1 allows for much-needed upgrades to outdated, flawed and ineffective technology – including landline phone services using copper wire – in 9-1-1 centers statewide. The surcharge increase also addresses the rising cost of salaries, technology and resources required to effectively deliver 9-1-1 services across Illinois.

The time is now for Illinois to move forward, not backward, in protecting the citizens we all serve.

Sheriff Doug Maier, White County, president of the Illinois Sheriffs’ association,   Chief James R. Kruger, Jr., Oak Brook P.D,. President,  Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police.

Benton praises first responders, community for quick action Sunday

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/news/20170605/benton-praises-first-responders-community-for-quick-action-sunday–

BENTON, IL-   (Holly Kee- Benton News.  Please Click on the link above to read the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

An organized reaction by first responders, community members and local organizations helped to smooth the evacuation of nearly 90 patients and staff after Sunday’s bomb threats to Franklin Hospital in Benton, but the cost to taxpayers and businesses is still being tallied.

As hospital patients and elderly people living at Helia Healthcare were evacuated and a special team was combing the hospital for explosives, police blocked off the general area. Three businesses had no choice but to close: Huck’s Convenience Store; the Dairy Queen and Fred’s.

“When something like this happens,” Benton Fire Chief Shane Cockrum said Monday, “you find out how great our community is and how they come together.”

Benton Mayor Fred Kondritz, who spent the evening at St. Joseph Catholic Church, where patients and seniors were temporarily housed, said everybody did an outstanding job.

“I’m very proud of our first responders,” he said.

Rend Lake Fishing Report

From the US Army Corps of Engineers – Rend Lake Project Office

LARGEMOUTH BASS – Good Minnows spinner baits, worms, and black and blue jigs.  Reports of fish being caught around Jackie Branch, Sandusky Cove, and below the dam. Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around bridges and along the rocks 14” minimum length limit, 6 daily creel limit. 1 fish daily creel limit in PONDS 14” minimum length.

CRAPPIE – Excellent Meal worms. Small & medium minnows. Quarter-ounce pink and white tub jigs. Shallow water!  Fish attractors!  From shore, fish near structures, hot spots are Jackie Branch, Sandusky, Sailboat Harbor, Marcum coves, and Ina Boat Ramp. Try the Jackie Branch Breakwater and along Mine 21 Road. Fish the main lake drop off areas.  25 fish daily creel limit with no more than 10 fish 10 inches or longer

BLUEGILL – Good Small jigs, worms, meal worms, wax worms, crickets.  From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Try fishing shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. Fish in the back of necks and on flat shallow banks and on the rocks.  10 fish daily creel limit in PONDS.

CHANNEL CATFISH – Excellent Large minnows, leeches, Hoss’s Hawg Bait, night crawlers, and Sonny’s stink bait.  Try leeches in moving water.  Drift fish the flats. Set line 3-4’ from the shore over rocks. Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, Jackie Branch, and North Sandusky Day Use Area.  6 fish daily creel limit in PONDS. Jugs must be attended at all times while fishing.

WHITE BASS –  Good In-line spinners, jig and curly tail grubs.    Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish around along the rocks and drop-offs Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. 20 fish creel limit. No more than 3 fish 17” or longer daily.

LAKE LEVEL: 408.88      AVERAGE POOL FOR THIS DATE: 408.09     WATER TEMP:  77°F

IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals Rescheduled for June 14-15 at Carlyle Lake

From Matt Troha of the Illinois High School Association

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced today the 2017 IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals will be rescheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, June 14-15 on Carlyle Lake.

The tournament finals were originally scheduled for May 19-20, but the IHSA announced on May 10 that the event would be postponed due to high water levels caused by excessive rain throughout the spring. On May 26, the IHSA announced a new state final date of June 23-24, but was forced to rescind that date today (June 5) due to concerns by the Army Corp. Engineers who run Carlyle Lake.

“Carlyle Lake is a busy lake that gets significant use during the summer months, especially on weekends,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We worked together with the Army Corp. of Engineers to reschedule the tournament for June 23-24, but given more time to reflect, they had concerns about their ability to safely and efficiently facilitate the event, both on and off the water, on June 23-24. While a mid-week state final isn’t an ideal circumstance, if we didn’t proceed, we feared that cancelling the state finals may be the only recourse. Our high school anglers have earned the opportunity to fish for a state championship, and we wanted to make sure that happened.”

Boat safety checks will be conducted on the morning of June 14, which will alter the fishing competition schedule from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fishing on June 15 will occur from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as scheduled.

 

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News