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Severin Disapproves of the House Expanding Abortion
April 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Press Release by State Representative Dave Severin
SPRINGFIELD, IL – Yesterday, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 40 will allow taxpayer funds to cover abortions.
After the vote, Representative Dave Severin (R-Benton) expressed his disapproval with the bill both on fiscal and moral grounds.
“As a member of the House of Representatives this is a tough day, as many of my colleagues voted in favor of legislation to expand taxpayer funded access to abortion,” Rep. Severin said. “As the bill’s sponsor admitted, we do not know how much this expansion is going to cost us. Aside from that, HB 40 is a blatant attack on the most vulnerable in our society. It is a shame that we are still dealing with these attacks. As a taxpayer and a Christian, I am offended that Chicago Democrats would dump the unknown cost of this disgusting practice on the taxpayers in all corners of the state.”
Injuries reported in two Franklin County crashes yesterday
April 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Press Release by Franklin County Sheriff, Donald R. Jones
On April 25, 2017 at 3:23 p.m. Deputies responded to a traffic crash on Illinois Rt. 37 at Yellow Banks Road. A 2006 Dodge Caravan driven by Steven E. Lampley Age 43 of Benton was north bound on Rt. 37 and had stopped in traffic to make a left turn onto Yellow Banks Road (West).
A 2003 Ford Mustang, also north bound, failed to stop and struck the Caravan in the rear. The mustang was driven by Nilo A.R Korolenko Age 21 of West Frankfort. The driver of the Mustang suffered minor injuries but refused medical treatment. He was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Three passengers in the Mustang received major injuries. A 19 year old female and a 55 year old male were transported to an area hospital by West Frankfort Fire Ambulance and Abbott’s E.M.S. A 20 year old male was flown from the scene by Air Evac to a St. Louis Hospital. Steven Lampley received major injuries as did his two passengers, a 55 year old male and a 52 year old male. All three were transported to a local hospital by Abbott’s E.M.S. and the West Frankfort Fire Ambulance.
On April 25, 2017 at 4:37 p.m. Deputies responded to a traffic crash on the intersection of Ewing Road and Camp Hope road, east of the village of Ewing.
A 2011 Chevrolet Eqinox driven by Stacy Manning, 31 of Benton was southbound on Camp Hope Road and failed to stop at the intersection.
A 2002 F-250 pickup driven by Chad T. Fisher, 36 of Zanesville OH, was west bound on Ewing Road and struck the Equinox.
Both drivers received minor injuries and refused medical treatment. Manning was ticketed for disobeying a stop sign and for operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
Lawmakers: Congress close to deal on coal miners’ benefits
April 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 7 p.m.
April 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford
I am going to share several products. With a rainout already declared in St. Louis, it is guaranteed a lot rain is heading that way. Area athletic directors need to pay close attention.
There are Severe thunderstorm Warnings issued in Southeast Missouri already. Southern Illinois should be under the gun around first pitch time of High School baseball and softball (4:00 to 4:30 p.m.) if not before them.
I have been pretty concerned about Friday for a few days now. There is an enhanced (level 3 of five) risk of Severe Weather. The Storm Perdiction Center has everything from west of Interstate 57 and south of Interstate 64 with hatch marks which means the confidence is high.
Sunday is a day to keep your eye out on as well. We are going to experience several inches of rain during this period, so watch for flash flooding and if you are in a low lying area that is flood prone, keep aware of upcoming forecasts.
Here are several statements from the National Weather Service and storm prediction regarding the severe weather events now and in the future.
URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 163 NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1245 PM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017
The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of Southern Illinois Southeast Missouri * Effective this Wednesday afternoon and evening from 1245 PM until 700 PM CDT. * Primary threats include… Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2 inches in diameter possible Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible
SUMMARY…A line of thunderstorms over southeast MO will likely intensify and track northeastward across the watch area. Damaging winds and hail will be the main threats with these storms. The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 40 statute miles east and west of a line from 40 miles north northeast of Salem IL to 25 miles south of Poplar Bluff MO.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce tornadoes. &&
Hazardous Weather Outlook
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri. .DAY ONE…Today and Tonight The development of isolated thunderstorms cannot be ruled out over southeast Missouri and southwest Illinois through early this afternoon. Severe weather is not expected with this activity.
Strong to potentially severe thunderstorms are expected to form along and ahead of a cold front over southeast Missouri by mid to late afternoon. Initially, storms will be capable of producing large hail, damaging winds, and an isolated tornado. A line of thunderstorms should progress into southern Illinois and far western Kentucky by early evening. Damaging winds will be the primary concern. The severe threat will diminish quickly as the storms move east towards the Wabash River and the Land Between the Lakes by late evening. Lightning and locally heavy rain will also accompany thunderstorm activity. .
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are expected Friday through Sunday. Heavy rainfall is expected over portions of the region. Please refer to the Hydrologic Outlook for details. In addition, strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible through the period. At this time, the best chance of severe storms appears to be with a warm frontal passage Friday night, in addition to the cold frontal passage Sunday.
Hydrologic Outlook National Weather Service Paducah KY 230 AM CDT Wed Apr 26 2017 ...
Heavy rainfall possible Friday through Sunday… Several rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected to move across the area during this time period. The potential for heavy rain is highest starting Friday night and continuing through Sunday evening.
Rainfall amounts and locations are subject to change, but there has been a fairly consistent signal to focus the heaviest amounts over portions of southeast Missouri into southwest Illinois. This area could see 3 to 5 inches with some locally higher amounts possible. Amounts are expected to be lighter further east over western Kentucky and southwest Indiana.
There may be a break in the precipitation on Saturday at many locations as a warm front lifts north out of the region. However, heavy rainfall chances will increase again Saturday night into Sunday as a cold front approaches from the west. The heavy rainfall is expected to cause rises on some area rivers, particularly the smaller rivers in southeast Missouri such as the Saint Francis, Black, and Current. Minor to moderate river flooding is possible. Confidence is high that heavy rain will fall, but confidence is lower as to the exact location of the heaviest rainfall. Stay tuned for later updates or watches concerning this heavy rain event.
Lindell Moyers – Valier
April 26, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Lindell Eugene Moyers, of Valier IL, bid his earthly home goodbye on Sunday, April 23, at 6:45 A.M.
Known by most as Linnie, he was a husband, brother, uncle, father, friend, and dearly loved PawPaw.
A man of great faith and a native son of Southern Illinois, who grew up in Valier, Linnie worked for many years in the coal mining trades as a welder, mechanic, and later as an electrician. He worked in the mine construction of Burning Star #5 near DeSoto, Old Ben Central Shop in Benton, Joy Industries in Mt. Vernon, before retiring from Gateway Mine in Coulterville in 2015.
Despite the loss of a leg at age 11 in a hunting accident, Linnie was as hardworking as the day was long, and he made a pretty darn good blueberry banana pie. But he was happiest at home with his grandchildren, or on the lake, whether the fish were biting or not, and camping with his brothers and close friends.
He was a life long member of the Valier First Baptist Church, and a former member of the Valier Volunteer Fire Department. An avid fisherman, singer of ditties, and teller of tales, he kept his grandchildren amused and well-fed with wonderful antics and all the fried crappie they could eat.
He was a fine man. His legacy of kindness, hard work, and humility is intact. He left us too soon, but our memories and love for him are rich.
The wake of loved ones he leaves is substantial, to include his wife of 49 years, Suzanne Derrington Moyers, daughters Cheryl Moyers, and Shawna (Craig) Williams, grandchildren Tivoli Williams, Bronx Williams, Evan Williams, and Isabella ‘Izzie” Wilson; brothers Stan (Tina – deceased) Brown, Mike (Denise) Moyers, sisters Linda Moyers (Tom) Haywood, and Clara Brown (Rick) Avery.
He left several neices and nephews; Missie (Greg) DeFord, Jennifer (Jay) Hall, Brandy Derrington (Frank – deceased) Yasko, Melissa Kay Ramaker, Lexy (Jerry) Travelstead, Mandy (Tim) Leffler, Chris Avery, Phillip (Beth) Avery, James (Eric Doyle) Reed, Ryan (Sandra) Brown, Joseph (Meredith) Moyers, grandnieces Ambrielle (Brandon) Padget, Kaitlyn Hall, Kiera (Grady Dunihoo) DeFord, Abby Avery, Alaina Travelstead, Olivia Moyers, Addie Brown, Hadley Moyers, Lailey Leffler, and grandnephews Andrew Avery, Cameron Hall, Garrett Brown, Landon Travelstead, Jax Moyers, Jace Travelstead, Kaiden Leffler, Reis Leffler, and great nieces Adalyn Padget, Khloe DeFord, and great nephew Wesley Padget.
Linnie will be dearly missed by his family, his church, his community, and the countless friends he made in his nearly seventy trips around the sun. Plans for a church memorial and a separate celebration of Linnie’s life, to be held at Rend Lake, are currently being made.
Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is assisting the family with arrangements.
Officials encouraged campus to be aware of symptoms after SIU student diagnosed with bacterial meningitis
April 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Update on yesterday’s house fire in Benton
April 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
BENTON, IL (Sean Conway, WSIL TV- Please click for the full story and accompanying video. Here is an excerpt.) A Benton man is credited with saving his neighbor’s life during a morning house fire. The man pulled a woman from her burning home shortly before fire crews arrived. Benton fire crews responded to a neighbor’s report of a fire on the 500 block North McLeansboro St. on Monday morning. A neighbor walking by said he noticed the smoke coming from the house and sprang to action to save the woman trapped inside. House Bill 40 passes Illinois House
April 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
House bill 40, which expands abortion coverage to state employees and Medicaid recipients, in all cases, passed the Illinois House of Representatives today 62-55.
All three Southern Illinois Leguslatiors; Dave Severin (R-Benton), Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro, and Brandon Phelps (D-Norris City), held to their pro-life convictions and voted against the bill.
Governor Bruce Rauner has vowed to veto the bill, which the house does not have the 3/5th majority to override the veto.
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RLC Sports Hall of Fame adds three plaques
April 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Reece Rutland RLC Public Information
It was a night full of laughs and tears as three more plaques were placed on the wall of the Rend Lake College Aquatics Center lobby following the 18th Annual induction ceremony for the RLC Sports Hall of Fame. This year’s batch joins the ranks of 45 individual athletes and 14 teams to receive the honor.
In total, 20 were enshrined during last Saturday’s event. Those honored included RLC golf standout Danielle Kaufman of the 2003-05 women’s golf team, prolific baseball coach Rich Campbell (1992-2001) and the iconic 1983-84 Warrior men’s basketball team.
Kaufman was the first to receive the nod, as her former coach and friend Cindy Corn took the podium to honor an athlete that battled tremendous pain on her way to becoming one of the most successful golfers in RLC’s history.
Former RLC golfer and hall of famer Danielle “Ace” Kaufman (All photos by Reece Rutland, RLC pubic information)
“I’ve never worked so hard to recruit someone,” Corn joked to those gathered. “Danielle is my best friend. She is a tremendous athlete. We are very fortunate that she decided to come here. She has the most beautiful smile and the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Goose” as she was known to her teammates and coach, Kaufman’s links success was almost cut short when it was discovered that she suffered from compartment syndrome in her legs, making it extremely painful to compete. Corn had to write a letter on her player’s behalf to request that Kaufman be allowed to utilize a cart to finish up her freshman season of play.
Kaufman’s accomplishments include recording just the second hole-in-one in the history of the National Junior College Athletic Association Women’s Golf Championships en route to Second-Team All-American honors as a freshmen. She also claimed Region XXIV Medalist distinction during the 03-04 season while battling her leg pain.
After off-season surgery, she was Region runner-up by two strokes as a sophomore behind an All-American teammate and helped Coach Corn’s more balanced entry to a No. 4 showing in the Nationals, an improvement by one position and the best showing ever for a program with a dozen Top Ten performances. Kaufman was 20th in the nation. Her 2004-05 Lady Warriors earned induction into the RLC Sports Hall in 2014.
She also holds the honor of setting the Rend Lake Golf Course’s Women’s records with a 68 from the Gold Tees (5,922).
Following her career at RLC, Kaufman signed with SIUE, later playing for SIUC. Professionally, she returned to RLC. Kaufman now serves as the RLC softball assistant coach and held a stint as the women’s golf team’s assistant coach (2009-12). She also manages the RLC Golf Outlet at the MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon.
For her part, Kaufman was quick to turn the attention back to her coach.
“I’m sorry, I want to take a moment to recognize Cindy. She’s retiring this year. She deserves so much credit. She has always been there for me. I couldn’t ask for a better friend or a better coach. Playing here was amazing,” Kaufman expressed.
She also took the time to highlight the importance her family held, thanking her family and giving them the credit for her start in the sport.
RLC hall of fame baseball coach Rich “Soup” Campbell
Saturday night’s second inductee was a man tasked with keeping RLC’s history of stellar baseball play on track, and Rich “Soup” Campbell did not disappoint.
Campbell set himself apart from a cavalcade of successful Warrior coaches by being the only head coach to guide the baseball team to a pair of Region XXIV Championships and three Sectional titles. He boasts a 302-225 (.573) overall record covering nine seasons (1992-01).
Campbell was named Louisville Slugger Region XXIV “Coach of the Year” following championship seasons in spring 1997 and 1999 and an American Baseball Coaches Association / Diamond Sports Company NJCAA D-I Regional “Coach of the Year” in 1999.
During his stay, he recruited and coached at least 64 players who continued their careers at the four-year level, and signed 11 professional contracts.
RLC Athletic Director Tim Wills recalled starting in 1992 alongside Campbell. “We were both newbies that year. He was a great friend and a great coach,” Wills said. “The thing that always stuck out to me about Soup was the work ethic. He did everything he could all the time to get the program where he wanted it. He took care of the details. That baseball field was always pristine. You could count on it, and he knew down to the penny what his budget was for the season.”
With a program that ran like clockwork and a distinctive leadership style, Campbell did more than fill the shoes of Warrior coaches past. In fact, retired RLC Director of Marketing and Public Information and Sports Information Director Bob Kelley couldn’t help but remind Soup that he would have been the winningest coach in college history if he had just stuck around one more year.
As an example of that coaching style, Campbell shared a story with those gathered about a standout player for him arriving to practice a minute and a half late. It didn’t matter that this particular player was a star and an excellent student, his coach made him run sprints for 30 minutes.
“I lived for moments like that,” Campbell expressed. “It was such a great chance to teach a variety of lessons. I got to show that no one was above the rules. It proved to my other players that everyone was held to the same standard. I wasn’t always loved in the moment, but I get calls from guys now saying ‘I didn’t see it back then, but thanks for being tough.’”
He also thanked those close to him and said the baseball teams of 1997 and 1999 will always hold a special place in his heart.
“I will be forever grateful to my teams and this institution. These memories are embedded in my soul permanently.”
The final inductee of the night was known just as much for their comradery as their success.
Members of the 1983-84 RLC Warrior Basketball team possessed a chemistry that was still evident in 2017.
Nine team records were theirs when they left town. A 10th belonged to nine of those same players as freshmen.
Members of the 1983-84 Warrior Basektball Team. FROM LEFT: Jeff Cochren, Todd Stoermer, Dean Merder, Myron Hawkins, Jamie Raley, Coach Mitch Haskins, Travis Helm, Robby Jones, Jeff Wilkinson, Tim Wills, Kevin Riggan, Derrick Leonard and Mark Kerley.
Mitch Haskins coached a team-record 22 wins out of this close-knit group their first campaign and a 25-7 mark the next, his third at the helm. Eight of their 20 losses in two seasons were to teams which advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Finals in Hutchinson, Kan. Their three conference setbacks in 1983-84 were by a total of five points.
In addition to the standard for wins and winning percentage (.781), the 1983-84 Hall-of-Fame Gang established new marks for consecutive wins (nine); free throws made (587), attempted (790) and percentage (.743); greatest average point differential per game (16.0); greatest margin of victory (74 vs. Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center, 108-34), and greatest margin of victory over community college opponent (57 vs. Oakton, 97-40).
An equally impressive average defensive yield of 63.3 points per game was just 1.0 higher than the record set by their 1982-83 predecessors.
All nine sophomores who grew close together for two years on the Ina campus, plus one late addition, accepted offers to continue their playing careers following their departure from the Juco (Junior College) ranks, the most from one class in 50 seasons of Warrior basketball.
“Talk about a team that stood together, played together and had each other’s backs,” said Haskins as he reminisced about the team. “I had never seen a tighter-knit group. It was a very balanced team. We had a lot of players make contributions. I’ve said it before, but a team is like a pyramid. It has to have a solid base. We had guys step up in practice to push our starters and lots of depth.”
The RLC Sports Hall of Fame is located in the Aquatics Center lobby and is open to the public. For more information on Kaufman, Campbell, the 1983-84 Basketball team, the 2017 Sports Hall of Fame Induction, and all things athletic at The Lake, visit www.rlc.edu/athletics.
