Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
HERRIN, IL The Waltonville-Sesser-Valier Spartans fall yesterday 4-2 against the Herrin Tigers.
Leading the Spartan offense was Hannah Garascia, who went 2-2 with a triple.
Jaylyn Haley went 2-3 and drove in a run.
Gretchen Whitter took the loss for W-S-V
WEST FRANKFORT, IL- Maddie Britton drives in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh as the Redbirds defeat the Salem Wildcats 13-12 yesterday. She went 4-5 on the afternoon.
West Frankfort pounds out 22 hits. Sydney Chamness has a perfect day at the plate going 5-5 with three doubles. Along with Britton Allie Herron goes 4-5 with a home run.
WF travels to Elkville this afternoon to face the Elverado Falcons.
BENTON, IL- Lindsey Sidel blasts a walk off three run homer in the bottom of the fifth as Benton wins 12-2 yesterday in girls softball action. It was one of her two hits on the afternoon.
Lacy Jerkins has a 2-3 day at the plate for the Rangerettes with a double. Christian Shaw goes 2-4 at the plate and drives in a run. Ally Gisher goes 2-4 also. Eb Casey 1-2 with a pair of RBI’s.
Kiley Carter picks up the win for Benton.
The Rangerettes have a double header this afternoon at Benton Community Park. They will host the Vienna Eagles at 4:30 p.m. and have a remach with Mundelin at 6:30 p.m. this evening.
ZEIGLER- The Z-R-C Tornadoes defeated the Webber Township Trojans 6-1 in girls softball action yesterday.
Savannah Sherman led the way for the Tornadoes offensively going 2-3 and driving in three runs. Trinity Noto went 2-3 drove in two and had a triple. Zoe Hudson went 2-3 with a triple and and an RBI.
Z-R-C will make the short trip to West Frankfort on Thursday to take on the Redbirds.
Laura Wibbemeyer-KFVS TV
There will be two rounds of severe weather that will be hitting Franklin County and the rest of Southern Illinois. One will be late tonight. The other one will be this afternoon and evening.
This is for the chance of wind damage in Southern Illinois tonight. This means there is a 5% chance of someone experiencing damaging thunderstorm winds in a 25 mile radius. The hail threat is similar. (SPC image)
The first round will be late tonight into the early morning hours. At this time the tornado threat will be minimal. Large Hail and damaging winds will be the greatest threat. Franklin County is in a marginal risk (level 1 of 5) for severe weather in this event.
Tomorrow is where things will get interesting. The tornado threat will be higher. Here in Franklin County we are under a marginal risk (level 3 of 5) for severe weather tomorrow.
Dr. Greg Forbes, The Weather Channel
For Southern Illinos, Dr. Greg Forbes of the weather channel has the TORCON level at four. This means there is a 40% change that there will be a tornadic event 50 miles from your location.
Here is the hazardous weather outlook issued by the National Weather Service in Paducah, KY.
.DAY ONE…Today and Tonight Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms will be possible late tonight, mainly after midnight across southeast Missouri, far western Kentucky and southern Illinois. Locally heavy rain is also possible. .
Laura Wibbemeyer-KFVS TV
DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday There is a good chance of severe thunderstorm activity Thursday across most of the area, from midday through late afternoon. The area of greatest concern is western Kentucky at this time. Large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes will be possible. Locally heavy rainfall is also possible. There is a chance of thunderstorms next Monday.
Franklin County and most of Southern Illinois have a 30 percent chance of experiencing some type of severe weather event in a 25 mile radius. SPC image
I will do my best to keep an eye on the radar through the severe weather event overnight and tomorrow afternoon. Any weather briefing videos or Facebook Live posts from local meteorologists will be posted on the franklincounty-news.com Facebook page. -sd
W. Frank Thurmond, 100, of Benton IL, passed away at 10:20 p.m., on Monday, March 27, 2017, at the Benton Rehab and Health Care Center.
He was born on January 19, 1917, to Claud and Clara (Overturf) Thurmond in Macedonia, IL. Frank retired as a coal miner for the Orient #1 mine. He married Norma “Pooter” Hennessy and she preceded him in death.
Mr. Thurmond served in the United States Navy and was a veteran of WWII. He was a member of the U.M.W.A. Local 2117 and the American Legion Post 280.
Frank is survived by his daughter, Jeanette DeGroot of Burlington, WI; special friend, Patricia O’Brien of Benton, IL; special niece, Missy Wilker; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Claud and Clara Thurmond, wife, Norma “Pooter” Thurmond, one son, William Thurmond; two sisters and one brother.
Per Frank’s wishes cremation will take place.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
Kevin David Fornear, 47, of Sesser, passed away on Sunday March 26, 2017 at 8:58 PM at the SSM Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL. Kevin was born on July 4, 1969 in Carbondale to Adam and Lynda (Ray) Fornear. He is survived by his parents Adam and Lynda Fornear of Sesser.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday March 29, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Maple Hill cemetery in Sesser with Bob White officiating.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brayfield-Gilbert funeral home in Sesser. For more information or to share a memory, please visit their website gilbertfuneralhomes.com
The scene of the wreck that killed three storm chasers near Lubbock, TX. (Lubbock Avalanche Journal)
