Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in “Star Wars”
Dense fog advisory in effect until 10 a.m.
December 24, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The National Weather service has issued a dense fog advisory in effect until 10 a.m., for the areas shaded in grey. The high today is supposed to be around 50 degrees. Periods of showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast through Monday. Highs will be in the sixties, with lows around 50. Merry Christmas to everyone.
Aleppo and American decline
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Evelyn Crowe – Benton
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Evelyn F. Crowe, nee Knaus, 89, of Benton, IL, formerly of Belleville, born Saturday, April 23, 1927, in East St. Louis, IL, passed away at 8:15 a.m., on Friday, December 23, 2016, at Stonebridge Senior Living Center in Benton, IL, surrounded by her family.
Evelyn worked as a Dispatcher for Ameritech Phone Company. She was a member of St. Matthews United Methodist Church, Belleville, IL, Rob Morris Chapter 98 Order Of The Eastern Star, Ainad Belles, Pride of High Green Lodge, Wednesday Club, Living Information of Today, Pioneers of America (Telephone Retirees Club).
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lee West Crowe; parents, Ernest W. and Frances M. nee Klaus, Knaus, Sr.; and brother, Ernest W. Knaus, Jr.
Evelyn is survived by her four sister-in-laws, Evelyn Guth, June Dublar, Ruby Crowe, Sue and husband Steve Pate, Sr; one brother-in-law, Richard Crowe; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Local Funeral Arrangements under the direction of Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main Street, Benton, IL.
Visitation: Friends may call from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Kurrus Funeral Home, 1773 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2016, at Kurrus Funeral Home, with the Rev. Larry Patton, officiating. Private family interment at Lake View Memorial Gardens in Fairview Heights, IL.
Memorials may be made in Evelyn’s honor to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com or at www.kurrusfh.com
Marion “Lynn” Shotts -Benton
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Marion “Lynn” K Shotts, 73 of Benton IL passed away on Thursday, 
December 22, 2016 at Herrin Hospital, surrounded by her family. Lynn was born December 10, 1943 in Benton to George and Virginia (Brown) Knapp.
She loved Swimming and was an instructor at Camp Cedar Point for the Girl Scouts and later for Macher Swim School in Columbia Missouri.
She attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a BS degree in Microbiology. She worked as a lab technician for the Health Department in Albuquerque New Mexico, returned to University of Oklahoma and received a masters Degree in Environmental Sanitation.
She met Jamie Shotts in Norman, OK., and they were married in Benton January 19, 1969. She worked as a Sanitarian for the Illinois Department of Health in Marion IL., until moving to Columbia, MO., where Allan and Julie were born. She lived in the country where she loved to have her favorite chickens; ducks and geese numerous other pets and a large garden while developing lifelong friendships in the area.
She worked at the Swim School until forming a product demonstration business “Presentations Limited” for the local Businesses. She moved back to Benton, worked as an Instructor at Rend Lake College and at Wal-Mart, became an ardent Saluki fan and lived out her life in the house that she had grown up in.
Lynn is survived by her husband Jamie, Son Allan (Kelly) Shotts, Daughter Julie Shotts and two grand children, Ally and Kolt.
She was preceded in death by her parents George and Virginia Knapp and Brother Don Knapp.
Funeral Arrangements under the direction of Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL. As per her wishes she will be cremated and a Celebration of Her life will be scheduled in the future.
Memorial contributions may be made in Lynn’s honor to The Benton Public Library Benton, IL., First Baptist Church of Benton, IL., or The Turtle Hospital Marathon, FL.
The Peace of Christmas
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford
One of the things that I love about Christmas the most is the peacefulness of it. My wife, son and I used to go to my grandparents and then my mom and dad’s on Christmas eve. Sometimes, we would go back on Christmas night.
We lived in Sesser at the time. The twenty mile trip to Thompsonville was one of the highlights of my Christmas.
Some might see it strange, but seeing every business closed, except a few convenience stores open going through Benton and West City, gave me a sense of peace. The world seemed like it was standing still.
The scene at any Walmart across the nation 364 days a year, a packed house. The empty parking lot was great to see, thinking of employees having a day with their friends and family.
The thoughts of how the town was bustling a few hours before, with people grabbing last minute gifts and goodies for their celebration, then all at once everything came to a screeching halt. People were at gatherings spending time with their loved ones.
After opening gifts on Christmas morning, there is always such a quietness and calm like no other day in the year. There is little traffic. You walk outside to go to gatherings, and there is a stillness that does not exist on the other 364 days of the year.
Christmas is a magical and special time. Nothing is more precious than seeing the face of a child light up on Christmas morning or the days leading up to it.
The reason Christmas is so special, is the birth of a savior who was born of a virgin, who died for a rotten sinner like me. He died for you as well. It is there for the asking.
The holidays are painful for some. Losing someone special in ones life lives a hole. A lot of people battle emptiness and loneliness. Here are a couple verses to cling to during this time, if you feel sadness. They will give you peace. (Phillipians 4:7) and (John 14:27)
If you heart is troubled reach out to him for the ultimate peace. Jesus is reaching out to you.
The awareness that we need peace on this earth comes up during this season. We all have the sin nature. There might be times of peace and prosperity, but until Jesus rules and reigns on this earth, there will be no world peace. He is the Prince of Peace. There are a lot of people who differ on theology, but the main thing he is returning. Are you ready for his coming?
Lastly, I have had this thought running though my head. This is during the days of shag carpet, and when I was the remote control back in the 1970’s This is during the days when there was just three, six, and twelve.
NY Daily News file photo
There was a Coke commercial during that time that ran during that era. It was a take from the folk song I’d like to teach the world to sing. I shared world peace was not inevitable, but keep in mind personal peace is through Jesus Christ.
As we go into the new year, I am going to put more focus on changing the world around me. One thing the Lord has done a mighty work in me, is to have a positive outlook on things. We are all a work in progress, and it is a lifetime of molding us into what we need to be.
If someone is grumpy, depressed, sad or lonely. Give them a helping hand. Smiles and kind words go along way.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas. It is a blessing to be able to sit behind this keyboard. Thank you all for the positive words. God bless you all.
Holiday Tournament Previews released on Christmas night
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Steve’s Ramblings
Steve Dunford – franklincounty-news.com
First of all let me explain my reasoning for releasing the previews on Christmas night. I am doing this in honor of the late voice of the West Frankfort Redbrids, Bruce A. Fasol. He used to have his tournament preview on WFRX at 7 P.M. on Christmas night. I recorded a lot of audio tape of it back in the day. I will have Sesser-Valier, and Eldorado completed. Since Pinckneyville does not start until the 27th. I might need some extra time. If not on Christmas I will have that completed on the 26th.
The late long time Redbird broadcaster Bruce Fasol with his long time color man Rick Westemeyer, in Bruce’s “Bird Perch. Westemeyer is now the voice of the Redbirds.
If anyone has any info about any teams from the DTHC, please let me know. I want to keep every fan informed.
I will not be able to attend any holiday tournament this year. I am going to rely on different media sources to keep everyone informed.
The IHSA released sites and parings this week for the postseason. I will be posting them and breaking them down after the first of the year.
I had it all laid out for the county teams on this post. I looked at the meter and it was 600 words. I could not access the site for a while. It did not auto save. I guess it was the Lord’s way of saying I was one winded.
I love talking to coaches. I talked to Marissa-Coulterville coach Scott Wine on the phone for about an hour. He filled me in on the teams in the Cahokia conference. I have had several conversations with coaches this week. I love it…
Speaking of talking basketball, I love taking to Rich Herrin over the years. I have had a lot of good conversations with him after Morthland games. I sit behind the bench so I can watch him coach and soak every minute of it.
Since it is Christmas, I have a story to tell about coach Herrin. I was talking to Norman “Doc” Melvin at Christmastime last year. He told me that Coach Herrin received his first cell phone as a Christmas gift several years ago.
There were all the numbers loaded in it. Doc receives a call from Coach Herrin after 11 P.M. on Christmas night wanting to talk basketball. He was going through his contacts calling everyone. You “gotta” love it.
I think you see why I call it ramblings. I just say random things. I have had my highest compliments on this time of post since I started writing. They used to be one long paragraph and punctuation optional. You will see more. By the way I have hit the over 400 mark again.
I want to wish everyone reading a Merry Christmas. Remember the reason for the season. A baby was born of a virgin and went to the cross, so that a rotten sinner like me could have eternal life. He died for you too. That is what the season is all about.
Flora tops Bearcats in OT-Wolves rally late, edge Christopher for second win
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
CHRISTOPHER – The Flora Wolves came into Thursday night’s make up game with Christopher desperately needing a victory. Coach Phil Leib’s club have suffered through some tough times in 
2016-17, going 1-7 in its first eight games. But an hour and a half trip south to 1A Christopher was just what this club needed. It wasn’t an easy task and it took four extra minutes to get the job done, but the Wolves headed home Thursday night with a 46-45 overtime win over the Bearcats. Coach Eric Stallman saw his team play perhaps the best quarter of the season in the third, outscoring Flora 18-5 to erase a halftime deficit to take a 31-24 lead heading into the final stanza. Six-foot-five junior forward Jared Curry and 5-foot-9 senior Kaeleb Pedigo each scored 16-points in the game, with Curry scoring 11 of his in the second half…….. The link to the story is from my good friend Jack Bullock of abaselineview.com. He is the most in-depth writer in Southern Illinois covering HS boys basketball. Please frequent his page. Note. click on the first few lines of the story to open. I could not get the whole blurb to link.
Lloyd breaks the ice in 78-70 Saluki victory
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Saluki guard Jonathan Wiley drives around a UT Martin Defender (Byron Heltzer-Southern Illinoisan photo.)
West Frankfort gets big road win at Goreville last night
December 23, 2016 By Leave a Comment
The FCHS Redbirds boys JV and Varsity basketball teams both picked up big wins on the road at Goreville Thursday. In the varsity game, Lucas Wolfe (4) and Austin Glodich (2) hit six straight free 
throws in the final :30 as West Frankfort held on for a hard fought 70-68 victory. The game was very close for the first three quarters as West Frankfort led at every break 12-11, 30-29 and 44-42. The Redbirds came out on fire at the start of the 4th quarter and led by 11 points with 5:00 on the game. West Frankfort had a very balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures. Noah Allen led the way with 17 points. Kyle Hammers was close behind with 14, while Glodich scored 11 points. With most of their starters in foul trouble, West Frankfort got huge contributions off the bench from 6’3” senior Scott Clinton and the the 5”8” junior Wolfe. Clinton finished with 10 points and played good interior defense to help shut down Goreville’s talented 6’6” center Brent Glidewell who scored 8 points. Wolfe scored 8 points, including 6 huge free throws in the final quarter. HIs quickness on defense was also a big factor in the win. Keagan Thrash scored 4 points, while Brendan Russell and Andrew Sturghill added 3 and 2 points respectively. Johnson rounded out the scoring with one free throw. ….Please click to read the rest of the story from westfrankfortsports.com
