Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
http://mashable.com/2017/08/16/solar-eclipse-mixed-reality-simulation-weather-channel/#aqwpvhyWAiqg
NOTE: This three minute video has been shared on Social Media by several people the last several days. It is a simulation of what to expect on Monday. It is excellent and explains a lot of things. I hope you enjoy it. – Steve
http://www.kfvs12.com/story/36166801/heartland-eclipse-2017-expect-temperature-changes#
KFVS Meteorologists Brian Alowrth left, and Bryan McCormick right, sporting eclipse glasses in the First Alert Weather Center. (KFVS TV-Photo)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (From the KFVS =TV Meterologists. Please click on the link above for the full story. Here is an excerpt below.)
How much will temperatures fall during the eclipse?
When we give ‘temperatures’ during the weather forecast, we are talking about the temperature of the air.
During the daytime hours, the air is heated mainly by contact with the ground surface.
When the eclipse begins, incoming solar radiation will gradually be reduced to zero, and then will slowly increase again after the totality.
At some point, this will result in a cooling of the ground surface and a drop in air temperatures, but meteorologists are not certain just how much.
The consensus here among the KFVS weather team is that our temperatures will slowly drop somewhere between 5 and 10 degrees depending on where you are watching.
By Jim Muir
A few random thoughts about free speech, monuments and who’s next …
I worked in the news media for 25 years and during that time I wrote thousands of newspaper columns and op-ed pieces. I also hosted a weekly two-hour radio/call-in show that allowed listeners to voice their opinion about any topic. In both of these jobs I was used to readers and listeners voicing an opinion with me and many times against what I had said. I never took offense at those who disagree, because that’s the beauty of free speech. I can have my say … but you can have yours too.
I once got sideways with a listener when I said that, while I despise the vitriolic message of the Rev. Fred Phelps (I use the term ‘reverend’ very loosely here) and his hate-filled congregation … I still defend his right to say what he wants. You remember Phelps and his crew traveling the country hating on gays and protesting military funerals.
In the words of one caller, ‘I simply can’t believe that you would defend this group.’ It was a good question, so let me explain.
Again let me stress in the strongest terms possible, I despise, I loathe and I detest Phelps’ message, but if the politically-correct police tell Phelps to shut up and he is silenced, then who’s next? Is it me or you? Do the PC police soon say that they don’t like the comments of a small-town radio guy or an aging newspaper columnist and silence him? Or maybe that post you put on Facebook yesterday about the inept state government in Illinois or your dislike for Trump is deemed offensive and you’re silenced. In my thinking shutting down ANY free speech puts us all on a slippery slope of no return. So, while we hate the comments of some, in order to maintain the greatest freedom we have, we have to accept it. We don’t have to like it, but we must accept it, regardless! As Voltaire said: ‘I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’
I mention that today because in every way I believe this is exactly what is happening with the recent surge of monuments and statues that are being removed, vandalized, destroyed and torn down. Let me pose this question regarding what we’ve witnessed in the past week: where does the line stop for what type of monument, symbol or statue that ‘this’ person or ‘that’ group finds offensive?
At what point do those who are anti-Christian or atheist say that a cross that is attached to the steeple of a church is offensive? Or maybe even the steeple itself? What about the words ‘In God we trust’ that adorns our currency? Or a sign in front of a church? Or the words of a minister standing in the pulpit? The list of things that could be labeled as offensive to fringe groups all over the nation is endless. Again, tell me where the red line stops concerning what is and what isn’t offensive?
You might say that my comments are far-fetched and might even proclaim ‘that could never happen.’ To that line of thinking I would simply say – ‘don’t count on it.’ Take a good look around you – that red line is moving rapidly every day!
We’re already on the ‘slope’ I mentioned earlier and I believe it’s getting more slippery every day!
by Steve Dunford
As Franklin County falls in the four county corridor of areas that will have increased traffic flow from the eclipse, I talked with several emergency officials throughout the county yesterday to check their contingency plans.
Ryan Buckingham, of Franklin County Emergency management agency said the planning over the last several months consisted of four areas:
Buckingham states the Illinois State Police will monitor the situation here in Franklin, as well as the other three counties. Also the communications hub with the Franklin County Sheriffs office will be activated, as it is in severe weather events and other hazards.
Franklin County EMA has an eclipse resource page on the county website. Here is the following link below:
http://franklincountyil.gov/Eclipse
Derek Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Franklin Hospital says they are fully staffed and supplied for the expected patient increase in the emergency room. He says with the increased traffic on Interstate 57, and the recent history of accidents on the interstate, there is the potential to have more patients in the emergency room than normal. There will be extra staff on call, and they will have multiple ways of communication in case the cell phone grid goes down.
With the hundreds of thousands of people ascending on Jackson and Williamson Counties, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Heartland Regional Medical Center of Marion, and Herrin Hospital might be overran with patients. He said there can be an increased number of traffic for people seeking care migrating north.
Johnson also said that the Walk-in clinic might be over ran with patients as well. He recommended you calling before coming in, as the wait could possibly be long. He stressed the ER is there, if you need them in the event of an emergency.
Shane Cockrum, Fire Chief of the Benton Fire Department, says his staff will be mobile during the event, in case there is a fire or other emergency, especially if there is an accident on Interstate 57,
He said the communities might have to take care of their own, instead of relying on mutual aid because of the traffic.
Bill Southerd, Christopher Police Chief, said they really don’t know what to expect. He said there would be extra officers on in Christopher, as well as Sesser and Zeigler.
With State Route 148 right in the middle of the interstate and US 51, there could be people migrating to 148, especially if Route 37 is backed up.
Starting Friday afternoon, I will closely monitor the traffic situation across the county. Other than possibly leaving for church on Sunday and watching the eclipse on Monday, I will be passing along emergency information. If I am overloaded, you might check the Facebook page first before the website.
http://www.bentongazette.com/news/remembering-benton-s-storied-capitol-theater/article_d0461388-7ee0-11e7-9183-230318e89ee9.html
Interior of the Capitol Theater in the 1920’s. (Gazette photo)
BENTON, IL – (Benton Gazette. Please click on the link for the full story. Here is an excerpt below.)
With the recently announced purchase of Toler Cinema in West City, many people have remarked about memories of another, sadly long gone, iconic piece of our community’s fabled past.
There’s few reminders left on the current site of the former Capitol Theater that once towered over the southeast corner of the Public Square in Benton. On its’ former lot now stands the Capitol Park Pavilion which was named in its’ honor and carries on its’ spiritual legacy as the host of live music and other entertainment during City festivals and happenings.
If you could time travel back nearly 100 years ago however, you would get a glimpse of the larger than life brick structure which was the hub of activity for Benton teenagers of the era. In the 20s, before the “talking pictures” had emerged, the theater served as the scene of many well-attended vaudeville acts, stage shows, and silent films—such as 1924’s “The Perfect Flapper” or D.W. Griffith’s “That Royle Girl” in 1925 which turned up in advertisements of the era.
Press Release from Kyle Bacon, Vice President of Helping Hands Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County
BENTON, IL – Kyle Bacon, Vice President of Helping Hands of Franklin County, HfH, the local chaper of Habitat for Humanity accepted a $2,000 check issued by Disney Worldwide Services, Inc. from Mark and Kristan Berning, employees of Walt Disney World.
Mark a lead database engineer, and Kristan a labor and staffing analyst for Disney, designated grant funds for Helping Hands when they were awarded the 2017 Disney VoluntEARS Family of the Year Award which they and their 10 year-old daughter Lauren, earned by volunteering over 330 hours while participating in Disney’s employee VoulntEARS program.
Annual volunteer awards are presented to Disney Cast Members who make a difference in Central Florida. As part of the recognition, VoulntEARS of the year honorees are presented with a $2000 charitable grant form the Walt Disney Company to go toward a non profit organization of their choice.
Kristan, who is originally from Benton, said, “It is my hope these funds will be able to provide your organization the opportunity to help people in the community who are deserving and in need. I selected Helping Hands of Franklin County because I can see each time we visited my grandmother, Susie Willis, during the summer there is clearly a need to provide for so many in need.”
Bacon thanked the Berings for selecting Helping Hands for the grant and for their many volunteer hours. He said, “This money will help us give a low income family the opportunity to purchase a newly constructed home. We have completed our 14th home in West Frankfort and will build our 15th home in Benton. As soon as we receive sufficient additional donations, we will begin construction.”
Frank Grounds, a Helping Hands Director who also attended the presentation said, “Habitat is an organization that gives people a hand up, not a hand out. Selected families are given the opportunity to purchase a home with a 20 year interest free loan and are responsible for paying the annual insurance premium and real estate taxes, which are prorated and added to their monthly payment.
Persons wanting to make a tax deductible donation may make their check payable to Helping Hands of Franklin County, and mail it to PO box 34, Benton IL, 62812.
Jace Burzynski at Busch Stadium (KSDK Photo(
ST. LOUIS, MO. (Please click on the link above for the full story. Here is an excerpt below.)
Jace Burzynski is fighting to regain his form on the baseball field. Now, the cancer survivor can thank a St. Louis Cardinals outfielder for giving him another dose of inspiration.
Jace, 13, was diagnosed nearly three years ago with medulloblastoma, a rare, cancerous brain tumor that is most commonly found exclusively in children. After nine months of chemo and radiation, along with a mixture of cancer-fighting drugs, the Carmi, Illinois, native is now in full remission. However, several side-effects from his battle remain, including fatigue and partial double vision in his right eye.
“You get this diagnosis and you basically have a hard time eating, walking, doing anything and it takes years to come back to even be able to throw a baseball,” said Jamie Burzynski, Jace’s father.
Jace said he currently feels about 60 percent. However, he’s already back on his middle school baseball team, contributing to the best of his ability.
“It kind of takes my mind off everything,” said the eighth grader. “It just feels good to get a good hit.”
https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/iso-certification
(From the American Astronomical Society. Please click on the link above for the full answer. Here is the introduction what they call the short answer below.)
We used to say that you should look for evidence that they comply with the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun. But now the marketplace is being flooded by counterfeit eclipse glasses that are labeled as if they’re ISO-compliant when in fact they are not. So now we suggest that you make sure you get (or got) your eclipse viewers from one of the suppliers listed on our Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers page.
by Steve Dunford
Several emergency officials has labeled the Interstate 57. US 51, Illinois 13 corridor in Jackson, Williamson, Perry, and Franklin Counties, for having heavy traffic and an influx of tourists coming to see the total eclipse, which the path will cut right through Southern Illinois on Monday. Estimated totals will say hundreds of thousands will ascend on Little Egypt.
Carbondale McDonalds at University Place Shopping Center, that has was purchased by Moreland/Bishop enterprises. Their corporate office is in West Frankfort (File photo)
Moreland-Bishop enterprises, based out of West Frankfort, owns a chain of McDonald’s restaurants across Southern Illinois, including two that the company recently required in Carbondale in February. They also own stores in, Benton-West City, West Frankfort, Johnston City, Herrin, Carterville and two in Marion, in the four county area that will experience the extra tourists.
Late last week, I spoke with John Moreland, who with his wife Mary, and daughter Stephanie who has been long time owners of the franchises. In the conversation he told me that coupled with the eclipse, SIU students will be allowed to move in the dorms on Thursday, as classes start next Tuesday.
He said this is unprecedented, but they are going to have extra staff, shuffled from other stores. Management has been meeting for months to prepare for this weekend. Their suppliers are prepared to make extra runs to the stores if necessary.
Moreland was concerned about the weather, and people might go elsewhere At the time, The Weather Channel, predicted showers and thunderstorms for Southern Illinois on Monday in their 15 day forecast. The storm system forecasters had their eye on will hit the region on Saturday.
He said, “No matter what, there will be people here,” citing that most hotels in Jackson and Williamson counties were requiring at least a three night stay.
To deal with communication issues, he said all of the company cars are General Motors vehicles, and they will rely on OnStar if local cell services go down.
Moreland told me their family will be guests to several friends and relatives during that time, coming from as far away as Texas.
Moreland gave me a story suggestion, follow up with businesses and officials to see what went right, and what went wrong.
“We are preparing for a typical fourth of July Weekend.” says Bob Brothers, Store Manager of Benton-West City Walmart. He says the reason being with the campgrounds are full at Rend Lake during that time and he expects a similar bump in sales.
Brothers said the store will be well stocked, and nearly every register will be going for the weekend. They put emphasis on extra camping supplies and emergency management supplies, such as batteries and generators, in case the power grid would be overloaded.
He says some sales will be determined by how heavy the traffic is on Interstate 57, barring whether people will exit to avoid the congestion.
Brothers also said they are sold out of eclipse glasses, and do not expect to get any more in.
Karen Freeman of Benton KOA says there are no vacancies for camping spots. It has been that way over a year now. “Several are staying five and six days and making a vacation out of it, Freeman said.”
Trudy Phillips, Store Manager of Sesser Casey’s, says at this time they will not have any extra staffing. The store just received more eclipse glasses in stock though.
by Reece Rutland, Rend Lake College Public Information/Sports Information Director
INA, IL – The color green is in Carroll Turner’s blood. He was one of the founding fathers of Rend Lake College’s Agriculture Department and one of the driving forces behind the 280-acre farm lab that acts as RLC’s front yard, and in retirement he traded teaching for sinking putts.
Carroll Turner teaching an Agriculture class at the old Bonnie Grade School in 1971
Turner spent 26 years at the college, helping build one of the flagship departments from the old three-roomed Bonnie Grade School to what it is today. Hired in 1968, alongside Mark Kern and Ardell Kimmel, the team established a program that “structurally has stayed about the same since it was started,” because you don’t fix something that isn’t broken.
While the program wasn’t broken, its first home was. In 1973 a tornado ravaged the old school house, which was already on the decline. That brought everyone home to Ina and set that particular course of history in motion.
Kern, of course, went on to be president of the college for nearly 17 years.
Turner elevated to his own leadership role, becoming the AAA Department Chair for two years before leaving RLC to work for Riverside Farms in Zeigler for a year and at Franklin Grain and Supply one year.
The hiatus didn’t last long though; he returned to take up the mantle of Deal of Vocational-Technical Education in 1979 at the age of 38. He was one of 61 applicants.
During his tenure as Dean, Turner witnessed a major conversion in one area, with the Mining Department emerging into a more diversified Industrial Technology Department due to a changing industry locally.
He was responsible for providing direction for numerous grant programs over the years, including JTPA and its forerunner, Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA); Child Care Resource and Referral (Project CHILD); Early School Leaver; Sex Equity; Teen Parent and Correctional Education programs.
Perhaps one of his biggest, or at least most noticeable accomplishments, is helping to spearhead a proposal to the Board of Trustees for utilization of college land for educational and demonstration purposes on a 280-acre plot in 1976.
At the time, Turner explained that the lab’s operation would allow students to gain practical experiences in the field of agriculture. RLC students, to this day, are involved in all aspects of decision-making at every level, from crop selection to marketing the harvest. Students will recommend crop varieties grown, planting rates, and fertilizer and tillage practices.
During that inaugural year, 126 acres of corn, 126 acres of soybeans and 40 acres of wheat were planted, and 90 students were able to take part in the lab’s operation.
While not as noticeable as a massive, working farm lab, one of Tuner’s most prolific legacies at RLC was his assistance in establishing the first “2+2” agreements with area high school feeder systems and the Mt. Vernon Area Vocational Center.
The program allowed for the coordination of efforts between RLC and the high schools to provide an easy, effective and efficient transition from the high schools’ vocational programs into the college’s related program.
“Our plan is to implement programs in all areas of vocational education that will allow a high school sophomore to select an occupational program and have a course of study outlined for four years,” Turner explained at the time.
It’s a concept that has grown in the subsequent years to cover more programs and curriculum agreements between RLC and the feeder schools, benefiting hundreds of students.
“Carroll is an outstanding citizen of Southern Illinois who always strives for the betterment of the people of the area, often times with little or no recognition,” said Rend Lake Conservancy District Chief Larry Foster when he presented Turner with the Foster Award for Public Service in 1990 on behalf of Gov. James Thompson.
Turner was a force for positive change at the college. It was no wonder that leadership was sad to see him go.
His resignation was accepted “with deep regret” at the March 19, 1996, board meeting. The trustees expressed their “appreciation for Turner’s 26 years of exemplary service to Rend Lake College.”
For his part, Turner made no qualms about his feelings for the college or his willingness to continue to be an asset.
“I have always been proud to be associated with Rend Lake College. It has been a real privilege to have worked with so many great people,” Turner stated at the meeting.
“If I can be of assistance in the future, don’t hesitate to call. Better yet, leave a message at the pro shop,” the aspiring senior golf tour pro said in closing.
Turner received both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degrees from the University of Illinois. He taught four years at Hillsboro High School before coming to the college.
Both of Turner’s daughters are graduates of Rend Lake College. Debbie was a Student Representative on the RLC Board of Trustees for a year before graduating in the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing programs; Beckie received her Associate in Arts Degree three years later, in 1988.
Turner and his wife, Jerilyn, have lived in Zeigler since 1977. For about half the time he has been with the college, Turner also has farmed on a part-time basis.
