Morthland drops intercollegiate athletics

Morthland PG Cody Schultz drives in for a layup over a Crowley’s Ridge Defender in one of the school’s mens basketball games last fall

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35457298/morthland-college-ends-athletic-program

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Caleb Martin – WSIL-TV  Please click the link above for the full story with video included.  Below is an excerpt of the story)

Morthland College trustees voted Wednesday to end the school’s athletic program. Former coaches and others say this could signal some very tough times for the college.

Former Morthland College athletic director Reid Cure once had great hope for the school.

“I thought we were growing and heading in a great direction. We were providing a lot of great kids, really good experiences and opportunities to play collegiate sports,” he said.

But he said recent developments at the private college brought him, and at least two others to resign.

“I saw a college going into a different direction that I preferred to see it go,” said Cure.

 

‘American Pickers’ is headed to Illinois. They need you to tell them where to go.

http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article150799882.html

(History Channel image)

BELLEVILLE, IL (Dana Rieck, Belleville News-Democrat.  Please click on the link above to read the full story.  Here is an excerpt below)

History Channel’s documentary series American Pickers will film several episodes in Illinois beginning in June — and they’re asking locals to send in information on large, private collections or accumulations of antiques in the state.

A release from the show stated that the series documents Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz exploring “the fascinating world of antique ‘picking.’”

The two men want to learn the history behind the collections and the people that own them.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Join into Partnership with the Jefferson and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices

BENTON, IL- The Commander of the St Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colonel Anthony P. Mitchell, will be making a Command visit to the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center on May 18, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding agreement. Colonel Mitchell, the Jefferson County Sheriff and the Franklin County Sheriff will each sign the MOU which will establish a general framework of cooperation between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at Rend Lake, and the Jefferson and Franklin County Sheriff’s Offices, for the purpose of establishing a framework of cooperation amongst the agencies. Both partners perform essential law enforcement and public safety operations and education on and off of Rend Lake lands and waters. This partnership enables each partner to carry out essential public safety operations, programs, and projects that benefit each partner as well as visitors to Rend Lake. All partners have pledged to work together to expand visitor services, increase public safety awareness, and coordinate efforts during emergency situations. Partnerships like these assist Rend Lake in being one of the highest performing recreation programs in the USACE system.

The Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake invites members of the public and the media to join in this important event. For more information contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by phone at 618-724-2493 or by email at RendInfo@usace.army.mil.

 

Rend Lake college graduates from Franklin County

ReAnne Palmer- RLC Public information 

 

Rend Lake College officials want to congratulate the Class of 2017 for another successful year. The 50th Annual RLC Commencement was held Saturday, May 13 in James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium. A total of 633 graduates were conferred 681 Associate Degrees and 454 Occupational Certificates for a total of 1,135 degrees and certificates. Bob Carlock, retired vice president of finance and administration at RLC, was the keynote speaker.

BENTON – Gary Allan, Michael Allan, Alison Anthis, Ashley K. Atkins, Alissa Bain, Leigha Bain, Deryck Bates, Jonathon Carson Batts, Kelly L. Bishop, Brandtlee Abram Brown, Brandi Nicole Cairns, Cali M. Carney, Aubrionna Casey, Joseph James Clinton, Kaleigh Cole, Mariann R. Cook, Lindsey Marie Cox, Zoie Paige Crain, Bria Leigh Curry, Pari Morgan Davis, Mackenzi Dollins, Heather Crystal Drew, Chason Lee Dunford, Rachel Raquel Easton, Curtis Alan Eubanks, Emeri-Jean Allyce Farnam, Connor Foltz, Samantha Franklin, David Bradley Garrett Jr., Sadie Hall, Abbigail E. Hart, Kelsey Morgan Head, Nicholas Sebastian Hoffman, Katelyn J. Houghland, Sarah E. Hubbard, Laura Katherine Jamerson, Emmy-Leigh Jay, Robin Nicole Johnson, Caleb James Kearney, Christine Keppler-Clayton, Amy Kovarik, Molly LaRae McGuire, Matthew Krug, Dakotah Micheal Lampley, Leanne Ledbetter, Shelby Lewis, Alaina Lynch, Dionna Grace Martin, Jayme Martinez, Janie Marie McMurray, Mallorie Melvin, Darian O’Brien Menees, Brandon Meyer, Kenneth A. Miner, Lindell Ray Minor, Virginia Morgan, Devon Jean Morris, Lorie Jane Nalley, Ashley Odom, Samantha R. Orrill, Ben Pankey, Gabriel Price, Joshua Price, Tarron Pulliam, Presley Robbins, Naylin Ronchetto, Charles Schram, Jenna McKay Shadowens, Andrea Linda-Marie Shaw, Kerrie Smith, Dylan Snyder, Kassie N. Spencer, Whitney Summers, John David Sweet, Nathan Watkins, Allee Nicole Wellen, John R. Wilder IV, Jacob Young

BUCKNER – Alyx Michaela Starkweather

CHRISTOPHER – Andrew David Benard, Jacob Ross Burkitt, Michael Taylor Calloni, Julie Y. Faling, Austin Frey, Zoie Danielle Frey, Amanda Gant, Nicole D. Howell, Jacob Allen Jablonski, Trevor Johnson, Kailey Kerkemeyer, Brittany N. Lowery, Camryn Joan Maloney, Erica Lynn Maple, Micah Motsinger, Kayla Parrish, Adam Jay Porter, Annabelle Lea Shukites, Jacob W. Underwood

COELLO – Joseph N. Shaw

EWING – Jaylyn Cozart, Delta Dawn Hermann, Ike Hutchcraft, Wade M. Hutchens, Kacee Leann Roberts

LOGAN – Dakota Casey, Nicole Marie Mullins

MACEDONIA – Bailey Jo Hiestand, Terrence Anthony Richard Marshall, Anthony L. Page, Danielle Rena Richardson, Martin John Ward

MULKEYTOWN – Brianna Bowlin, Ryan Andrew Curry, Allanna C Garrison, Michael T. Hoffman, Cameron Jones, Tara Chantell Law, Loghan Danielle Matyi, John Rapp, Christopher Richard, Breanna Faye Whitley, Cindra F. Wroblewski

ORIENT – Brittany Segatto

ROYALTON – Meghan Marie Clark, Kassandra Jones, Brandon Stubblefield, Stephan Threewitt, Austin D. Walker

SESSER – Ashly Lynn Brown, Reginald Joseph Eubanks, Johnathon Leonard Galloway, Cody Hamm, Blaine Leslie, Nicholas David Marlo  Caleb I. Mays, David Nelson, Brianna Joyce Risley, Kyle Andrew Robinson, Monica Lynn Scott, Skylyn DeVonne L. Simpson, Luke William Thompson, Matthew D. Wallinger, Kieran S. White

THOMPSONVILLE – Maleissa Anne Baney, Charlene Boyd, Chelsey Lynn Bundy, Kayla Follmer, Brady German, Cecily Ann Heusner, Austin Kerley, Austin Michael Kessler, David K. Payne, Kenzie Nichole Rizor, Kyle J. Shimkus, Kenise Rashelle Smith, Damien Sky Wilburn

VALIER – Sophi Rai Johnson, Bailee Lynn Jones, Jamie Jones, Courtney D. Smith

WEST CITY – Amanda Frankart

WEST FRANKFORT – Alexa L. Beavers, John Fenton Bowers, Shannon Browning, Jared Lee Eastwood, Garrett Karoski, Makenzie Kondoudis, Brittany Nicole Long, Alexis Rae Newell, Charles Saunders, Amber Marie Sloan, Kailee Spears, Adam Wiggins, Bryce Timothy Wiley, Kathryn Nichole Wise

WHITTINGTON – Dakota J. Head, Tabitha Hopkins, Noah Jones, Nathan Scott MacDonald, Jennifer Young

ZEIGLER – Breanna Renee Davis, Bailey Schimpf

 

Lane reduction on 149 at I-57 overpass

The Illinois Department of Transportation is alerting drivers of a lane reduction on Route 149 near Interstate 57 in West Frankfort

Construction begins Wednesday, May 17.

Route 149 will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Ken Gray Boulevard and S. Joiner Street in West Frankfort for pavement patching.

The work is expected to last one week, weather permitting.

Motorists are asked to pay attention and reduce speed in the work zone.

To avoid delays motorists should seek alternative routes.

Smith out as MVTHS Superintendent

Press Release by Mt. Vernon Township High School #201 Board of Education

 

 

One injured from Garden of the Gods fall

http://www.dailyregister.com/news/20170515/one-injured-from-garden-of-the-gods-fall

EQUALITY, IL – (Travis DeNeal – Harrisburg Daily Register.  Please click on the link above to read the full story.  Here is an excerpt below)

An Evansville woman received major injures from a fall at Garden of the Gods late Sunday afternoon.

The Saline County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that Brandi E. Beck, 32, fell about 40 feet near Devil’s Smokestack — a well-known rock formation — at the popular outdoor destination in the very southeast corner of Saline County.

 

Pre-K Graduation sends off one dozen RLCF Children’s Center students

by ReAnne Palmer:  Rend Lake College Pubic Information 

The RLCFCC Class of 2017 is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Gia McPhearson (Benton), Layla Thompson (Sesser), Cloe Allen (Bonnie), Lennon Shively (Mt. Vernon), and Brystol Bilderbeck (McLeansboro); MIDDLE ROW, Branson Rankin (Ina), Cole Carpenter (Waltonville), Gabriel Hays (Ina), Jansen Suhling (Ina), Breckin Suhling (Ina), Crosby Cox (Benton), and Aydyn Skidmore (Mt. Vernon).
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

The Rend Lake College Foundation Children’s Center (RLCFCC) graduated 12 students from the Pre-K class last Friday in the RLC Theatre. In addition to receiving their diplomas, the dozen students also sang the alphabet song and watched a slideshow from their last year at the RLCFCC.

Opening the ceremony, RLCFCC Director Brooke May welcomed family and friends, and thanked them for their support over the last year. She said, “Once you come to the RLC Foundation Children’s Center, you are always family. Our doors are always open, and we invite you to come back for a visit.”

Pre-K Teacher Rene Crouse also thanked those in attendance and provided encouraging words for her students entering kindergarten next year. She said, “It’s been my pleasure to watch these 12 amazing little people grow and learn over the past year. They’ve worked very hard to prepare for kindergarten and I know they’re going to do great next year.”

Former student and speaker Mackenzie Smith

Mackenzie Smith of Goreville, a 2004 RLCFCC Pre-K graduate and former resident of Benton, also addressed the audience and spoke of her five years at the center. In fact, Smith’s impression of the RLCFCC has lasted throughout her life and is one reason she will attend Murray State University this fall to major in Early Childhood Education.

“In my years here, I had some of the richest learning experiences of my life. The Rend Lake College Foundation Children’s Center is the brightest example of expanding educational horizons and portraying excellence in action,” said Smith. “There is no better educational foundation than right here. Not only did my teachers care and help make me smarter, but they made my heart bigger. This center is so important to me because, at this early age, brains are like sponges, ready to soak up all you have to offer, and are ready to foster a love for school like I did early on.”

Graduates and their families alongside RLC faculty and staff enjoyed a reception following the graduation ceremony in the RLCFCC’s new addition, the Skill Development Room.

More photos can be found on RLC’s Flickr page.

Taco Bell in West Frankfort now open

 

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35422367/taco-bell-opens-in-west-frankfort

 

WEST FRANKFORT, IL (Evie Allen, WSIL TV Please Click on link above for the full story.  Below, is an excerpt)

Taco Bell is now open in West Frankfort.

The restaurant held a grand opening Friday and drew a crowd.

Mayor Tom Jordan said this is just one part of a bigger plan to expand development around the outlet mall.

Old King Coal Festival honors coal miners during memorial service

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35422509/old-king-coal-festival-honors-coal-miners-during-memorial-service

Larry Morris sings Amazing Grace at the ceremony. He spent years in the mines, and was a Federal Mine Inspector as well. In his retirement, he teaches retraining courses at several community colleges.

WEST FRANKFORT, IL (Evie Allen, WSIL-TV  Please click on the link above for the link to the full story and the accompanying video.  Below is an excerpt.)

Saturday, the beautiful weather brought a lot of people and excitement in West Frankfort.

The Old King Coal Festival kicked off Thursday, but on Saturday morning, the community came together to honor coal miners past and present.

Every year, the Old King Coal Festival brings thousands to celebrate West Frankfort’s coal mining legacy, a tradition that started in 1941 with a grand parade downtown.

“The whole reason that West Frankfort had a coal festival was because Franklin County and the city of West Frankfort actually had many coal mines working in the early 1940’s,” said Festival Publicity Director Marcia Raubach.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News