WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen former campaign 2016 rival Ben Carson to become secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In a statement, 
Trump says he’s “thrilled to nominate” Carson, saying he “has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities.” Carson has been coy about joining the new administration, saying shortly after Trump’s election victory that he wasn’t certain he’d fit into a Cabinet-style role. The discussion at that time centered on speculation that Carson might be selected to head the sprawling Department of Health and Human Services. Please click on the link to read the Associated Press story…
Donald Trump picks Ben Carson, former campaign rival, as housing secretary
December 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Gone over 30 years, the spirit of Times Beach lives on social media
December 5, 2016 By Leave a Comment
ST. LOUIS COUNTY • Toxic waste forced the town’s evacuation more than 30 years ago, but the spirit of Times Beach lives on through dedicated social media sites, occasional reunions and the 
efforts of Marilyn Leistner, forever the mayor of a town that no longer exists. Leistner still questions whether she and 2,500 fellow residents made the right decision in 1983 by leaving behind homes, belongings and a way of life. “If someone said, ‘Let’s rebuild in the same place,’ there would be a line of Times Beach people ready to go back,” Leistner said. Please click on this to read the story from Steve Giegerich of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Note: Times beach was located about five miles west of Six Flags along Interstate 44.
Holliday moves on, signs deal with Yankees
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. • As the Cardinals intensify their pursuit of the next outfielder they hope can update the look of their future lineups, three outfielders who they’ve turned to for that in the past already have found new homes. On the eve of baseball’s annual 
winter meetings, Matt Holliday agreed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the New York Yankees. He follows former Cardinals outfielders Jon Jay and Carlos Beltran out of the market even before the richest — and riskiest — moves of the offseason are made. Two sources confirmed Holliday’s agreement Sunday with the Yankees, suggesting it will be finalized once the All-Star and Cardinals’ longtime left fielder completes a physical. Click on the link to read the story for Derek Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch
Thompsonville beats NCOE for first GEC win
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford-Franklin County Hoops and Gridiron
THOMPSONVILLE- The high octane offense of Norris City-Omaha Enfield lowest point output of the season was 73 on opening night against the Christopher. The Bearcats put up 100 with Bradley Young in foul trouble all night.
I understand the Tigers played stellar defense and was patient on the offensive end. This resulted in a 71-55 win Friday night at Doc Harvey gym on homecoming night. T’ville is the only team to hold sharp shooting guard Matt Long to under 30. He was held by to 26 by Thompsonville twice this seaon. The other time was at the Christopher Turkey Tournament.
When Tiger Coach Pete Gordon sent me an e-mail with the stats, he said they killed them on the boards. They pulled down 55 rebounds to NCOE’s 37. Tiger Center Anthoney Darge had a game high 13 boards.
The Diaper Dandies came up big for T’ville again. Sophomore point guard Tyson Kessler led the Tigers with 20 points on the night. Coach Pete Gordon said he was “outstanding.” Freshman Corbin Fitch added 15; and Sophmore Reed Raubach added 12; Darge came close to a double double with eight, as Coach Gordon has as a positive for being a very balanced attack.
Jared Payne was the fourth Tiger in double figures with 11.
The curse at the Free Throw line came back for the Tigers, as the shot 6-18 (33%) from the charity stripe. This is a relapse in what was the Achilles heel for Thompsonville last year. They were outstanding in their last two games in a win against Z-R (83%) and in a loss to Pope County (72%)
The Tigers improve to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in the conference. The Fighting Cardinals fall to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in the GEC.
T’ville has two very tough road games this week. Tuesday night they have a Greater Egyptian conference game against Coach Keil Peebles’ Carrier Mills Wildcats. NCOE plays cross county rival the Carmi-White County Bulldogs, who is fresh off winning the DuQuoin Tip-off classic.
BOX SCORE:
THOMPSONVILLE: (71) Kessler 10 0 0-1 20; Fitch 7 0 1-9 15; Raubach 3 2 0-0 12; Payne 4 0 3-4 11; Darge 4 0 0-2 8; Wilce 1 1 2-2 5; Cardwell 0 0 0-0 0; Woodring 0 0 0-0 0; Kirkman 0 0 0-0 0 Jones 0 0 0-0 0; Bybee 0 0 0-0 0; Summers 0 0 0-0 0
NORRIS CITY-OMAHA-ENFIELD(55) Long 8 2 3-8 26; Wells 2 0 3-4 7; Skaggs 2 1 0-1 7; Healy 1 1 2-2 5; Verble 0 1 0-2 3; Bumgarte 2 0 0-0 4; O’ Neal 0 0 4-6 4; Bumgarte 2 0 0-0 4; Taylor 0 0 0-0 0 Simmons 0 0 0-0 0 Barton 0 0 0-0 0 Travelstead 0 0 0-0 0
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
THOMPSONVILLE (3-2)(1-1) 18 13 20 20 -71
NORRIS CITY-OMAHA-ENFIELD (1-4)(0-2) 13 10 11 21- 55
Police investigation in Sesser
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
SESSER — An investigation underway in Sesser Saturday night, at one point, involved more than one unit of the Illinois State Police Homicide Squad. Witnesses tell us it happened on Locust Street, 
though city officials could not confirm that. Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore could only say police officers needed assistance “checking something out” and that Sesser had “NO MURDER” take place. Stay with News Three on air, and on-line, as this story continues to develop, we’ll update you with any details we uncover. Franklincounty-news.com will monitior local media sources to keep everyone updated. Link taken from WSIL website.
Statehouse Insider: No budget deal; see you in January
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Speaker of the House Mike Madigan
Fire officials recover more bodies from Oakland warehouse
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Authorities on Sunday continued the “heartbreaking” search amid the aftermath of a warehouse blaze that killed at least 24 people late Friday night in Oakland. Just 20 percent of the building had been 
searched as of 8 a.m. Sunday, and an Alameda sheriff’s official said more bodies are expected to be found as the search continues. Please click on this link for this and other stories about this tragedy from the San Francisco Examiner.
Trump announces 35 percent punishment tax on companies that offshore jobs
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Devils drop two at Tip-Off Classic….girls win at Chester
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
DuQUOIN- The Sesser-Valier Red Devils dropped two contests yesterday at the DuQuoin Tip-Off classic yesterday. In a ball game they were in the thick of things till late, they fell to the Carmi-White County Bulldogs 56-44. In the night cap, they fell to the host DuQuoin Indians 63-51.
Against Carmi, All Tornament Team selection Tyler Winchester led the Devils with 16 points. In the evening session Charles Farmer led S-V with 12 points. Lukas Gunter added 10, which he was also on the All Tournament Team.
The Devils might be sitting with a 1-3 record, but they played with two very good class 2A teams, as well as one of the top 1A teams in Southern Illinois. This weekend will go along way in helping them in late February.
Carmi-White County 56 Sesser Valier 54
BOX SCORE:
Carmi White County (56) Rice 4 5-6 14; Stubblefield 2 1-1 5; Northcott 4 0-0 10; Black 4 2-3 10, Simon 4 4-4 12; Lamp 1 1-2 4; Yates 0 1-2 1
Three point field goals: Northcott 2, Rice, Lamp; Fouled out: Simon
Sesser Valier (44) Gunter (?) 4 0-0 9; Smith 0 2-2 2; Winchester 6 2-2 16; Farmer 2 4-7 8; Launius 2 2-2 6; Page 1 1-3 3
Three point field goals: Winchester 2; Gunter; Fouled out: none
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Carmi-White County(3-0) 15 6 16 19-56
Sesser-Valier (1-2) 5 12 16 11-44
DuQuoin 63 Sesser-Valier 51
BOX SCORE:
DuQuoin (63) Vogel 9 4-4 25; Daugerty 4 6-8 14; Heape 1 0-0 2; Smith 3 1-1 7; McBride 1 0-0 2; Woodside 3 4-5 11; Adams 0 2-4 2
Three point field goals: Vogel 3, Woodside Fouled Out: None
Sesser-Valier (51) J. Gunter 2 2-4 6; L. Gunter 4 1-2 10; Smith 0 0-4 0; Winchester 2 0-0 5; Farmer 4 3-3 12; E. Gunter 0 1-2 1; Baxter 1 0-0 2; Launius 4 1-2 9; Lance 3 0-0 6; Page 0 0-1 0
Three Point Field Goals: L. Gunter; Winchester; Farmer
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
DuQuoin (3-1) 15 10 15 22-63
Sesser-Valier (1-3) 17 5 11 18- 51
Sesser-Valier-Waltonville 64 Chester 38
S-V-W girls after winning their sixth straight Sparta Invitational two weeks ago
CHESTER- Coach Rick Metcalf’s S-V-W Lady Devils went on the road to pick up a big BDC-West win against the Chester Yellow Jackets. Jaylyn Hayley led the Devils with 22 and Hannah Garascia chipped in 20 for the win.
S-V-W BOX SCORE (64):
Haley 8 5-5 22; Garascia 8 4-5 20; Frank 3 1-2 7; McCowen 1 0-1 2; Tucker 2 1-1 5; Wilderman; Breeze 0 0-2 0; Marlo 0 1-2 1; Frederike 1 0-0 2
Three Point Field Goals: Haley Fouled Out: none
UP NEXT:
BOYS: The Red Devils have a really tough week ahead of them, playing two undefeated teams and tournament champs. Tuesday night, they go on the road to face Noah Fredriking and the Okawville Rockets, who were winners of the Carlyle Kaskaskian Classic. They defeated the Pinckneyville Panthers 54-45 last night in the Championship Game.
Friday night they will face the Chester Yellow Jackets in their home and conference opener. Chester won the Trico Tournament last night with a win over the hosts to go 5-0 for the tourney title.
GIRLS: S-V-W will be at home this week for a BDC crossover game with the Johnston City Lady Indians on Monday.
Thursday night they will face their rival just to the south, the Christopher Lady Bearcats.
Charles F. Baumgarte – Benton, IL
December 4, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Charles F. Baumgarte, 93, of Benton, IL, passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 at StoneBridge Living Center in Benton.
Charles was born on May 3, 1923, in Nason, IL, the son of Henry and Clara (Hawthorne) Baumgarte.
He was married to Frances Baumgarte and she preceded him in death on January 12, 2010.
Charles was an Army veteran, serving during World War II as an ambulance driver in London, England.
He was a truck driver and hauled dirt for the Franklin Hospital when it was built. He worked 35-plus years at Newhouse Lumber Co. in Benton.
He is survived by his daughter Judy Tatum, of Benton, grandson Don Overturf and wife Cheryl, of NinetySix, South Carolina; great-grandson Joshua Overturf and wife Andrea of Orange City, FL; nieces and nephews Loretta Franklin and husband Denzil, Stella M. Gulley and husband Gene, Ronnie Baumgarte and wife Linda, Marilyn Conner, Betty Miles and husband Allen, Paula Williams and husband Kirby, Debbie Kays and husband Mark and Mike Webb and wife Cindy. He is also survived by several nieces and great nephews.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, by his wife Frances, by brothers and sisters Bob Baumgarte, Paul Baumgarte, Ruth Hall, Geraldine Hutchcraft, Charlene Webb, son-in-law Walter Lee Tatum, niece Brenda Young and nephew Danny Hall.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton, with the Rev. Bert Mitchell and the Rev. Steven Flach officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Benton American Legion and VFW Posts will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home, in Benton.
