Confirmed: NFL Losing Millions Of TV Viewers Because Of National Anthem Protests

August 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2016/10/05/confirmed-nfl-losing-millions-of-tv-viewers-because-of-national-anthem-protests/#1d89edd6226c

(Mike Ozanian, Forbes Magazine.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below)

A headline for a story in the Sporting News this morning: “Shock poll: A third of NFL TV viewers boycotting games because of Colin Kaepernick-led protests.”
Shock? Why?

 

JACKSONVILLE, FL – SEPTEMBER 25: Hayes Pullard #52 of the Jacksonville aJaguars nd Dante Fowler #56 raise their fists in protest during the singing of the national anthem before the game against the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Sporting News article says “Nearly one-third (32 percent) of adults say they’re less likely to watch NFL game telecasts because of the Kaepernick-led player protests against racial injustice, according to Rasmussen’s telephone/online survey of 1,000 American adults conducted Oct. 2-3. Only 13 percent said they were more likely to watch an NFL game because of continuing protests by Kaepernick and supporters such as Antonio Cromartie of the Colts (who was cut only two days after raising a fist during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in London on Sunday).”

This was very predictable.

Three weeks ago I wrote that “the national anthem protests that began with San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick and has since been copied by other players have angered many fans. And that anger may be one reason why the television ratings for the first week of NFL games were bad.” As my colleague, Brandon Katz wrote: “Both CBS’ Sunday afternoon game and NBC’s Sunday Night Football saw their lowest ratings in seven years. Throw in last night’s lackluster debut and the 2016 NFL season is off to its slowest start in recent memory in terms of TV ratings.”

Filed Under: Featured, Slider

50 Influencers of Rend Lake College: Walt Montgomery, Fulfillment through Education

August 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Reece Rutland, Rend Lake College Public Information

Walt Montgomery, who served as superintendent at Ewing-Northern, Christopher, and BCHS before taking a position at Rend Lake College after retirement. (RLC photo)

INA, IL – For more than a decade, Rend Lake College has been providing local high school students with the ability to take free high school courses at RLC campuses to help students who have fallen behind with their coursework an opportunity to catch back up.

Montgomery started his career at Rend Lake College in October 1996 following and already full career in education that had most recently capped with an early retirement from Benton Consolidated High School in 1995, where he had served as superintendent.

Shortly after his retirement, Montgomery was approached by then RLC President Mark Kern who told him about an initiative that he was trying to launch. Kern asked the former superintendent if he would be willing to discuss the potential program.

Kern was wanting to cultivate an initiative that identified in-district, high school students at risk of failing or dropping out and providing them with a support network and free high school classes to keep them on track while acclimating them to the college atmosphere.
Kern hoped that the program would help show these students that college wasn’t a place to be scared of or feel was out of reach.

“We talked for quite a while. I had to take a trip. Mark [Kern] said that’s fine, but you are starting the day you get back. So, we agreed, and when I got back we got the ball rolling,” Montgomery said.

His first order of business was approaching all the district high school to explain the program to administration, teachers and guidance counselors.

That first summer, Montgomery’s work paid off. The inaugural class launched with 62 students from around the district, thanks in large part to Montgomery’s history in education.
“In June (1997) we started with 62. And it just continued to grow and grow. I only meant to stay on for one year, but then fall we had another large class and again in the spring. By the next summer we were up to around 90 students,” Montgomery explained.

While the program had been envisioned to take place on RLC’s campus to help students get acclimated to the college atmosphere, the amount of students coming from Mt. Vernon High School required that a branch of the program to be opened at the RLC MarketPlace campus, facilitating the swell in demand.

Shortly thereafter, another expansion was launched in Pinckneyville.

“At one point, we had over 300 students taking part in the program. But then, Mt. Vernon had some changes in administration. In those early 2000s, we had hundreds of students taking part in the program at the MarketPlace. But, the high school decided they wanted to do their own version of the program, so they dropped out and started one up,” Montgomery explained.
“That brought our numbers back down a little, but we were still running over 100 students. It’s been a good program. I’ve really enjoyed my 20 years of it.”

“I had been doing this for a while. I was supposed to have been retired. My wife was asking why I didn’t quit and enjoy my retirement. But, we were out this one time, and there was this girl from Benton. We worked so hard with her. She had had a terrible home life. She was very bright, but she needed encouragement, and she needed help,” Montgomery said.

“One night I had technology classes going on. I would come check on the night classes to see if they needed anything. So, my wife said she wanted to come along. We started down the hallway and this young lady comes running up and just has the biggest grin on her face. She said she just graduated high school and was officially enrolled in college. She said that if it hadn’t been for the program and everyone involved that she wouldn’t be here now. She looked me in the eye with pride on her face and said ‘I’m going to amount to something.’ My wife said she would never ask me to quit again.”

Montgomery’s wife never did press him to leave the program again, but recent health issues forced him to take a step back. He retired from RLC after the 2016 fall semester.

“I loved my time with Rend Lake. It was such a great place to work. There’s nothing better to cap off my career than what I did at the college,” he expressed.

It was a final professional chapter that Montgomery could really be proud of. His own journey through education was far from the norm, and he has a passion for helping others work towards achieving their dream.

Montgomery and his wife married young, fresh out of high school. Right after graduation, he went into construction but decided he didn’t want to spend the rest of his life in that field. So, he went to SIU, not as a student, but a member of their Physical Plant staff as a painter.

Instead of the traditional route of a student working part time, Montgomery flipped it, working full-time at the college and squeezing in a class or two when the opportunity presented itself. It took him nine years on that pace to finish his undergraduate degree in agricultural economics.

After finally completing that bachelor’s degree, Montgomery changed positions at the college, allowing him more flexibility and letting him pursue his master’s degree. He jumped at the opportunity, finishing his graduate degree in a single year.

He wanted to keep the ball rolling, so he went on to a doctoral program at the University of Tennessee. But, due to an economic slowdown and a young program, Montgomery ran into several roadblocks and was forced to change directions yet again. He came back to Southern Illinois and began teaching high school mathematics.

He didn’t complete is doctorate until he was 50, after teaching for 15 years at Goreville.
After finally complete his latest degree, Montgomery took a superintendent position at Ewing before moving to Christopher and then finally taking the BCHS superintendent position, all of that before he even began his career at RLC.

“We have helped a lot of kids graduate high school and find something for them here at Rend Lake College, whether it was in our vocational programs or getting their generals take care of so they could continue on,” Montgomery said.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Featured

The Top 10 architectural wonders of Southern Illinois

August 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Top 10 architectural wonders of southern Illinois

The Muddy mine tipple in Saline County made the top ten list. (From the website, places and things.com)

Are you visiting southern Illinois? Or are you in need of a weekend outing? If so, you may want to add some architectural wonders to your list of places to visit.

Baysinger Architects put together a list of the top 10 landmarks in the region.

The list highlights the area’s history and includes a fairground grand stand, a coal tipple, and one of the only octagon one room school buildings in the United States.

Filed Under: Featured

If you grew up in Du Quoin, this fair is a big part of your life

August 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.duquoin.com/entertainment/20170825/if-you-grew-up-in-du-quoin-this-fair-is-a-big-part-of-your-life

DU QUOIN, IL – (Fred Huff – DuQuoin Call.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Unless you grew up in Du Quoin, you probably don’t fully understand how much the Du Quoin State Fair is part of the life of this city — and one of the most exciting happenings each year.

Those of us who have lived in Du Quoin for more than 80 years remember well how years ago the carnival arrived by rail, unloading at night while most of Du Quoin was asleep.

Tractors would pull the huge rides and wagons through Du Quoin’s Main Street, down Rt. 51 and onto the fairgrounds, which until 1945 were just inside the main gate and adjacent to the half-mile track.

The huge trucks still arrive at night, with a relatively small group of workers who assemble the rides. They must pass safety inspections prior to the fair’s opening, which this year is Friday, Aug. 25.

 

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News

Armed Barbers hit their mark

August 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/armed-barbers-hit-their-mark/article_2b338c94-8382-11e7-b6fe-8b70c0f6a1cc.html

Ray Minor and John Sweet in Minor’s new barbershop and shooting range

BENTON, IL – (William McPherson, Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Don’t dare call them stylists.

Retired State Police Master Sergeant Ray Minor is looking to bring back the barbershops of yesteryear with a twist. The new barber shop had a soft opening on August 8, and has seen a steady trickle of customers come out to the new business. The barber shop is connected to Minor’s shooting park, Extreme Exigency, which he said will open up for business on September 4, and will host a ribbon cutting and open house on September 2.

The business is located in Rural Benton, southwest of West City, and the property was once the home of Minor’s grandfather Theodore Nunlist, who for many years ran a successful barbershop in Benton.

Filed Under: Benton News, Featured, Franklin Co. News

RLC again finds top spot on WalletHub ranking: 1st in Illinois, 11th in nation

August 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, Ill. (Aug. 24, 2017) – Rend Lake College has made a third straight appearance on WalletHub’s best community colleges ranking, topping all other Illinois colleges for a second year in a row and landing 11th in the nation. The ranking compared 728 colleges on a 100-point scale based on 14 performance metrics.

WalletHub, a personal financial website, published the scores earlier this week to help students focus on key factors, described as “attractive qualities,” when choosing their next educational step. These include aspects students look for most when choosing an institution, such as class size, cost of attendance, transfer rates, and more.

Overall, RLC landed 14th in the nation when it comes to career outcomes – up six places from the 2016 report. Career outcomes are based on student-loan default rate and return on educational investment, or the ratio of starting salary for graduates compared to the cost of education.

RLC also placed 52nd overall in educational outcomes, which includes first-year retention rate, graduation rate, transfer-out rate, student-faculty ratio, and credentials (degrees and certificates) awarded per 100 full-time equivalency students.

President Terry Wilkerson said he’s honored to represent RLC as the only community college from Illinois in the top 50.

“For the third consecutive year, Rend Lake College’s faculty and staff continue to show their commitment to students and the district by finding a spot on this national ranking,” said Wilkerson. “As a college, we’re constantly looking to make improvements for our students, and moving up six places in career outcomes is proof of what we are doing every day. It’s honoring to be recognized for doing the best we can and making the impact.”

The final category in the ranking – cost and financing – measured RLC on the cost of in-state tuition and fees, amount of state and local aid, total amount of federal aid, cost per student, school spending efficiency, and faculty staff salary. RLC was in the top 50 percent at 350.
According to WalletHub, the information and data included in the ranking was gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics, Council for Community and Economic Research, and College Measures.

To view the WalletHub ranking, visit www.wallethub.com. Start your journey at RLC by visiting www.rlc.edu.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News

Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban gives advice to lottery winners

August 24, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.businessinsider.com/powerball-tips-for-winner-jackpot-mark-cuban-2017-8

You don’t become a smart investor when you win the lottery, says Mark Cuban. Brian Snyder/Reuters

NOTE:  I heard about this list this morning.  I know there is one single winning Powerball ticket sold in  Massachusetts last night.

Sometimes Mark Cuban can be controversial.  I thought this list was very wise, no matter how much money you could accumulate.  I hope you enjoy reading it – Steve

Filed Under: Featured

The Perry’s at Thompsonville First Baptist Church Saturday Night at 6:00 p.m.

August 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

 

THOMPSONVILLE, IL –  For the last two years, the Thompsonville First Baptist church has been booking some of the major names in Southern Gospel Music, the last few have been Gold City, The Kingsmen, The Talleys and the Whisnants.

This Saturday night the Perrys will be in Concert at the Thompsonville First Baptist Church on State Route 34, two blocks from the school.  A love offering will be taken.

Here is the Groups Bio from their  website

Let’s talk about tradition

This year marks the 45th year that The Perrys have been traveling across the country, sharing The Gospel of Jesus Christ. During that time, God has proven faithful to provide everything needed to build a successful ministry. From moving lyrics of traditional songs, along with talented vocalists and musicians, to a genuine heart for people, The Perrys have proven they have what it takes to rise to the top of Southern Gospel music. What a journey it has been!

For Libbi Perry Stuffle, that journey began on Christmas Day in 1970, when her family gathered around a piano and began to sing after the death of their older brother, Johnny. After singing as a trio for several years, the group decided to expand into a quartet. With the addition of Tracy Stuffle, The Perrys not only gained a bass singer, but Libbi also gained a husband. Since then, Libbi and Tracy have been the foundation of The Perrys’ ministry, both managing the group and becoming some of the most recognized voices in Southern Gospel today.

January of 2013 presented The Perrys with a battle they had never before faced. Tracy, who just two years prior, had come through major open-heart surgery, suffered a massive stroke. Much of the next year would be spent in the hospital, waiting for a miracle. But God once again proved Himself faithful and Tracy survived this major ordeal and was able to return to the stage full time at the beginning of 2015. They watch daily as God continues to answer prayer in healing Tracy and bringing him even closer to full restoration.

Tracy and Libbi realize the importance of having gifted vocalists with a passion for music and a heart for the ministry on their team. At the young age of 25, The Perrys’ lead singer, Andrew Goldman, has already been recognized as one of the industry’s leading young talents. Gospel music veteran, Troy Peach, lends his rich baritone vocals to the group and also stands alongside Tracy in being the group’s spokesperson. Last but not least, Tracy & Libbi’s son, Jared, rounds out the Perry team by adding the low notes to the stage. Together, The Perrys produce a classic, yet unique blend that continues to inspire long-time fans while also appealing to the next generation.

In keeping with the tradition of quality music, The Perrys consistently present music that speaks to hearts and changes lives. 2014 the album Into His Presence brought a Dove Award nomination for the song, “I Can Trust Him”. In 2013, their album Through The Night was nominated for a Dove Award and held the 2013 Southern Gospel Song of the Year, “I Got Ahold of God This Morning.” Their previous album, Blue Skies contained three #1 songs and the Dove Award winning song “Celebrate Me Home.” It followed the Dove Award nominated, Almost Morning, which garnered two #1 songs, including 2010 Southern Gospel Song of the Year, “If You Knew Him.”

Both fans and peers alike have repeatedly recognized The Perrys for their talent and hard work by honoring Libbi Perry Stuffle as Favorite Female Vocalist in 2005 and 2013, as well as Favorite Alto Singer nine out of the past ten years. The entire group was distinguished as Mixed Group of the Year three years in a row at The Singing Fan Awards. With countless other honors, awards, and radio success, it is evident that The Perrys have been blessed, not only with musical abilities, but also the gift of communicating a message and touching lives. Now, after overcoming one of the biggest trials of their life, The Perrys have a renewed passion for encouraging others for Christ. As a dedicated team, The Perrys are excited to see what God has in store for the next 45 years.

AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • GMA Dove Award® for 2012 Southern Gospel Recorded Song of the Year – “Celebrate Me Home”
    Singing News Fan Awards 2004 – 2006 Mixed Quartet of the Year
  • 2005, 2013 Singing News Fan Awards – Female Vocalist – Libbi Stuffle
    2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Singing News Fan Awards – Alto Singer – Libbi Stuffle
  • 2006 Singing News Fan Awards – Favorite Album – Remembering The Goodmans
  • 2004 Harmony Awards – Song Of The Year – “I Wish I Could Have Been There”
  • 2006 Harmony Honors Awards – Album Of The Year – Come Thirsty
  • 2010 – “If You Knew Him” – Southern Gospel Song of the Year – Singing News Fan Awards
  • 2011 – Almost Morning – Nominated Southern Gospel Recording of the Year – Gospel Music Association Dove Awards®
  • 2013 –  “Through The Night” – Nominated Southern Gospel Album of the Year – Gospel Music Association Dove Awards®
  • 2013 – “I Got Ahold of God This Morning” – Southern Gospel Song of the Year – Singing News Fan Awards
  • 2014 – “I Can Trust Him” – Nominated Southern Gospel Song of the Year – Gospel Music Association Dove Awards®

Please join Pastor John Robinson,  Andrew Cooksey, a member of Thompsonville First Baptist Church who arranges booking the fine Southern Gospel groups in a night of worship in song.  If the Lord is willing, I plan to be there.

Filed Under: Featured, Thompsonville News

The Eclipse in Nature

August 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

I was curious yesterday how the eclipse would affect wildlife, animals and the temperature change in general.

At my vantage point in West Frankfort, I noticed around 12:50 p.m. the cicadas and crickets began to holler and chirp.  The birds were going to their nests.  A few minutes the wind began to pick up, then there was a stillness like nightfall.

The Lake of Egypt before totality yesterday. (Photo from Bob Wilson, co-owner of Wilson McRenyolds Funeral Home in Marion, and Stone Funeral Home in West Frankfort)

I wrote a piece yesterday discussing some things that I thought would be really cool to experience during the event.  One of those was to be on a local lake.  At one time, I used to   I have read several accounts on social media that stated that fish began to feed and flop like they do in the evening before dark.  They began to jump close to and during totality, after the eclipse, the fish calmed down.

In the building that I live in, there are some people that have service dogs.  There is one that I pay close attention to is a black and white Shih Tzu.  At one time I had a dog like that.  I know they are very smart and sense things.

Around 1:00 p.m., I noticed that it was running in circles.  The other dogs seemed slightly agitated and a little nervous.  Close to totality they became very calm.

Jagger’s Doggie Day Care in Mt. Vernon is a sponsor of this page.  They committed to keep the dogs indoors during the eclipse.  I talked with Connie Olson, owner and operator with her husband Randy this afternoon.  She said on a normal day there are a lot of dogs that sleep in the afternoon because they play hard in the morning.  Yesterday, because they were thinking it was nightfall, 95% were asleep.

I mentioned that I would love to been on a farm, to see how the livestock acted.  Even though I grew up on Main Street in Thompsonville, our neighbor across the road that lived there until I was about 14, Gene Lager,  had cattle.

When there was a bad storm or other changes in nature, I always would remember they would act strange.  I would have liked to compare notes from my childhood or the times I have helped farmers out from time to time as a teenager in what I noticed.

The roosters did crow.  At first I said I was more interested in the things of nature.  However,  “God’s Light Show” was the greatest thing I ever experienced.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News, Slider

In the future Emergency Alert Days will be declared on the website

August 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

Yesterday we witnessed an unprecedented event.  Every north-south thoroughfare in the county was tied up with people heading home after the eclipse, from several locations across Southern Illinois that experienced totality.

The average post during the traffic was reaching between 1,500 and 2,000 people.  During the flood and other severe weather events, there have been posts that have reached over 10,000 people.

This morning I went through and cleaned out several posts dealing with traffic.  During that, I was thinking other media outlets use words to key people in on what is happening.  For instance, KFVS issues a First Alert storm day.

On my walk today, I came up with a criteria to issue Emergency Alerts on the website.

  • If there is a watch or warning issued by the Storm Prediction Center or National Weather Service in Paducah.  This goes for all products issued with watch or warning in the title.  This will not be issued for advisories.
  • If there is a slight risk of severe weather (level 2 of 5 on the day of the event, or any forecast by the Storm Prediction Center, that has the region under an Elevated (level three of 5) Moderate (level 4 of 5) or High (Level 5 of 5) risk of severe weather.
  • If there is a situation like yesterday, where roads are jammed or to avoid a stretch of highway in the county.
  • If there would be an area that will be without utility service for an extended period of time.
  • If there is a situation in the county that will affect a multiple number of people, for example, when the bomb threat was called in at Franklin Hospital.

I, or if staff is added someone else,  will make a post with this clipart to the left, explain the emergency why an alert is issued, and the main focus of coverage during the duration will focus around why the alert was issued.  There could be other news, sports, and weather posted during the duration.  Yesterday it was hard keeping up with the traffic alerts.

During severe weather events, Channel 3 Meteorologist Jim Rasor uses the phrase he is not trying to make anyone afraid but aware.  I know the words “Emergency Alert” sounds strong, but when I use them, it is not for drama, but awareness.

In events like this, I encourage you to have at least two ways to receive information.  One media outlet might have some information that I might not have or visa versa.

I keep either directly or indirectly with emergency officials in the county.  Thank you for the trust you shown in me yesterday, I hope I can continue to keep that trust, and earn more citizens of Franklin and surrounding counties in the future.

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News
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