For a pool play tournament, my friend Jack Bullock from
This picture is from the website hiddengyms@blogspot.com It is a great site for gym junkies.
Tom McLeod — Sesser, IL
December 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Tom McLeod, 68, passed away on Monday December 12, 2016 at 6:22 p.m. in Mercy Hospital in St Louis, MO.
He was born on January 27, 1948 to Edwin Thomas and Julia (Sutter) McLeod. He married Janiace (Muir) McLeod on August 23, 1975 and she survives of Sesser. He is survived by his children Tommy and Raylene McLeod, of Pekin, IL, Sherrie and Dave Roecker, of Marquette Heights, IL, and Dr. Bryan and Tanya McLeod, of Florence, SC. He is also survived by five grandchildren and four sisters, Kay Rybolt of Peoria Heights, Theresa and Rick Kelch of Peoria, Mary Kelch of Peoria, and Stacy McLeod of Peoria.
He was a painter in an auto body shop.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two granddaughters.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 17, 2016 at 3 p.m. at the Thompsonville Church of God with Brother Brian Mixon officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday December 17, 2016 from 2 p.m. until the time of the service at 3 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home to assist the family with funeral expenses.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
James “Jim” Broadway – Benton, IL
December 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
James “Jim” L. Broadway, 70, lifelong resident of Franklin County, passed away at 12:04 a.m., Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born on October 3, 1946, to Lester and Eleanor (Hartsock) Broadway in Benton. James was a self-employed truck driver for 46 years. He was a former police officer for many years in Christopher. He married Freda Crider and they were married for 28 years.
He was a life member of the Eagles, a life member of OOIDA, Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association and the Sons of the American Legion Post 1961 Orient. He enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Jim was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
Jim is survived by his loving spouse, Freda of Benton; three sons, Jimmy Broadway, Bill Crider and Brad Reynolds, Gary Crider and wife Becky; two daughters, Susan Broadway, Linda Sanders; two brothers, Ron Adams and wife Peggy of PA, Gene Dale Broadway of Benton, IL; two sisters, Beverly Irvin and husband Wayne of Orient, IL, Cathy Lamont and husband Joe of West Frankfort, IL; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, many nieces & nephews; and Jims loving pet companion, Sophie.
He was preceded in death by parents, Lester and Eleanor Broadway, three sons, Chester Broadway, Mike Crider and Chuck Garbo, four brothers, Carl Hartsock, Bill Hartsock, Stacy Broadway, Kenny Ray Broadway, four sisters, Linda Broadway Matheny Groves, Paula Broadway Vaughn, Cheryl Broadway Jones and Jan Hartsock.
Services had been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 16, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at 1:00 pm at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with American Legion Post 280 Chaplain Paul Lingle and Brother Howard Johnson, officiating. Burial will take place in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s honor to Hospice of Southern Illinois or the American Legion Post 280 and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
Redbirds draw Carmi-White County in the EHT
December 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Eldorado’s Duff-Kingston Gymnasium
NOTE: Bracket Below….Parings for the 52nd Eldorado Holiday Tournament were released today. The West Frankfort Redbirds drew fifth seed Carmi-White County in the first round. Game time is 11:30 am on December 26th. The Bulldogs are 6-1 on the season. They suffered their fist loss of the season at the hands of the Benton Rangers last night, 56-45. With several SIRR-Ohio teams and GEC teams in the field, I will be keeping close tabs on the tournament. Parings below.
Obama shrugs off Russian hacking — until Donald Trump elected president
December 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Foreign governments have launched numerous cyberattacks on the 
U.S. government and sensitive industrial sites, but Republicans say President Obama has not responded in a forceful way to years of Russian hacking. A more assertive response might have headed off the type of hacking Russia is accused of launching during the presidential election, they say. Russia, whose supposed cyberoffensive now is generating a Democratic Party movement that would delegitimize the incoming presidency of Donald Trump, has hacked Pentagon systems. In 2014 it penetrated computer networks at the White House and the State Department. Neither the White House nor the mainstream media reacted with any great alarm. Please click on the link to read the entire story from The Washington Times
Hamilton Electors’ ‘faithless’ are replaceable, Colorado judge rules
December 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
If Democratic electors in Colorado refuse to vote for Hillary Clinton, then they can be replaced by others who will follow the law, a judge ruled Tuesday. Denver District Court Judge Elizabeth Starrs
Protesters in NYC that are part of the Hamilton movement . (AP photo)
Randy Smithpeters, Daryl Murphy, Andy Palmer, and Wayne Harre-IBCA Inductees
December 14, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Harrisburg Coach Randy Smithpeters in the Class 2A State Championship Game in 2013. (Peoria Journal -Star file photo)
Mom Made Christmas Special
December 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Today would have been my Mom’s 69th birthday. She passed away on June 17, 2004 at the age of 56 of lung cancer. She was a non smoker. She never had an enemy. She had a love for people and an infectious smile, and everyone loved her. To this day, there has never been a week go by since her death from this life that no one has said what an impact she has had on her life. I might not have a lot of this worlds’ goods, but the success I want in this life is to be
Mom on Labor Day weekend after being diagnosed with Cancer. Left is my niece Sarah Dunford, who is a Junior at the University of Illinois. Center is my son Andrew who is a senior at Christopher high school, right is my Kaylee McClain, who is now in grad school in Ohio to become a PAC.
that type of impact person on others she was.
Mom lived eleven months after her diagnosis. She was weak, especially during chemo, but they were ten good months. When she talked to the family after that she said her goal was quality of life not quantity. She clung to the last part of the following verse:
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)
Every fall I participate in no shave November. Last fall I kept my beard into May. In fact, it was the last day of the 2015-16 school year. I substitute teach at Frankfort Intermediate school a lot. Then Principal Natalie Fry made me get a visitor’s pass. I had a lot of compliments. Everyone said it made me look ten years younger.
This fall I could not wait to get it shaved off. I was afraid kids would start sitting on my lap this Christmas season. The beard has become much whiter in a few months’ time. It was not Roberston quality but it was impressive.
When I shaved it off, I could hear mom saying Stephen Duane, I am glad you are shaving that nasty thing off. Even though No Shave November is for prostate cancer awareness, I participate in her honor anyway. It made me smile and brought at tear to my eye at the same time. When I was shaving off the beard was the inspiration to write this piece on her birthday.
I know I entitled this about Christmas, so I am getting to this part.
Mom in the 1980’s. Yes that is yours truly on the couch in the upper right hand corner. The sideways pic is my brother and I fishing in the john boat. Yes I was that skinny at one time in the back. I could not crop this for some reason. Bear with the scans.
Christmas was always special to her. She was an excellent cook. The counter tops in our laundry room and kitchen were full of homemade candy and cookies.
She made three roaster pans full of Chex Mix every Christmas. Mom was very frugal. She could squeeze the buffalo off a nickel. She bought the stuff on sale and always had a coupon with it. I have learned the frugality of grocery shopping from her. You can save a ton of money.
We never had the traditional Christmas dinner. We had barbecue smoked pork. Mom said a big meal hogged up a lot of everyones Christmas time and it was right. There were relatives coming and going. They could just pop a plate in the microwave.
When Dad pastored the Rescue Free Will Baptist church north of Whittington, instead of having a Wednesday night services right before Christmas, mom and dad would have the whole church over at our house for a party. Mom always fixed Chicken Monterrey and BBQ Chicken. There were forty plus people in a 900 square foot, two bedroom, one bath house. There were conversations talking place in every room. It always happened to be the night of the Illinois-Mizzou bragging rights game. That was always fun watching a college basketball game with several people.
The last Christmas she was here, you can see the wheels turning that it was going to be her last. She soaked up every gift my son Andrew opened. Her three grandkids were the apple of her eye. My nieces grew up in Champaign so she was around him more. He was maw maw’s little buddy.
The cancer went to her brain and the last month was painful to watch. It was more painful than her passing. The ultimate healing is when you pass from death unto life. She is in a place now that is far more than imaginable.
I have a guarantee I will see her again. I am just an old rotten sinner saved by the grace of God. Because of a baby born of a virgin in a manger, that went to the cross to die for our sins, we all can have that promise one day by accepting the ultimate gift.
Steve Dunford is a guest columnist for FranklinCounty-news.com
Franklin County boys basketball preview 12/13/16
December 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford-Franklin County Hoops and Gridiron
There are three boys’ games on tap this evening for the county teams. The Benton Rangers host the Carmi-White County Bulldogs; (both teams are undefeated) the Christopher Bearcats host the Waltonville Spartans; and the Sesser-Valier Red Devils travel to Johnston City. It is safe to say this is the best docket of games for the regular season.
Carmi-White County (6-0 ) at Benton (6-0)
The Bulldogs have been survivors in most of their games. Benton had their first barn burner down at Herrin Friday night. It has been well documented the heroics of Timmy Henson at the end of the game.
I see a little match-up problems possibly inside for the Rangers tonight. However, the Rangers are what everyone expected coming into this year. This is the first of three games this week for the Rangers in the newly renovated Rich Herrin gym.
After being road warriors, the Rangers will be pumped to be home in their new digs. I am going Rangers by seven.
Waltonville (3-2) at Christopher (2-2)
The Spartans were expected by most to cut
down the nets in the Christopher Turkey Tournament. Instead they were defeated by Wayne City and Webber Township to take home fourth place.
Bradley Young is long overdue for the Bearcats. I feel for the opponent when he lights it up for 30+ one night. Jared Curry has been playing exceptionally well. I wonder if Kaleab Pedigo and his running mate from last year, Isaac McPhail will guard each other.
This was penciled in by most prognosticators (I don’t know if I qualify for that or not) to be the championship game of the Turkey Tournament. The Bearcats would have come in the underdogs into the championship game. I have to go with Christopher by three in a dandy tonight.
Sesser-Valier (2-4) at Johnston City (3-4)
The Indians has fallen off the face of the 
earth. When they were off to a 3-0 start I was seeing a possible number one seed at the Sesser-Valier Holiday Tournament. They now have a number eight seed.
I can see SIU football bound Max Edwards causing problems on the board for the Devils. When I watched some video from Goreville, it seemed like JC lived and died by the three. I don’t know what happened in their two blowout losses, but it seems like the home run ball is gone.
After S-V defeated Chester at home, their stock is on the rise. It is a bearish market for the Indians. I am going with Red Devils by five.
Mass killing reported in Aleppo as Syria troops near victory
December 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment
BEIRUT (AP) — Pro-government forces reportedly killed 82
civilians “on the spot” as they closed in on the last rebel enclave in Syria’s Aleppo Tuesday, the U.N. human rights office said, while world leaders and aid agencies issued dramatic appeals on behalf of trapped residents.
Photo by: Uncredited
This image released by the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) shows Syrians who were displaced with their families from eastern Aleppo gather at the collective shelter, in the village of Jibreen south of Aleppo, Syria, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Syria’s military said Monday it has regained control of 98 percent of eastern Aleppo, as government forces close in the last remaining sliver of a rebel enclave packed with fighters as well as tens of thousands of civilians. (ICRC via AP)
That and other reports of mass killings, which could not be independently confirmed, reinforce fears of atrocities in eastern Aleppo in the final hours of the battle for the city, which has been split between rebel and government control since 2012.
Several residents and opposition activists have told The Associated Press that government forces carried out summary killings of rebels in the streets in neighborhoods captured on Monday, but the Syrian military flatly denied the claims, saying such allegations were “a desperate attempt” to try gain international sympathy.
None of the residents reached by AP witnessed the alleged killings. Their statements reflected the deepening chaos in the remaining rebel-held areas. Mohammed Abu Rajab, the administrator of the last remaining clinic in rebel-held parts of the city, said people who were killed or wounded are being left in the streets.
