Former Logan Grade School Students Donate Bench in Honor of Beloved Third Grade Teacher

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/former-logan-grade-school-students-donate-bench-in-honor-of/article_edd1ca6e-7a21-11e7-9026-4f43eb1e8692.html

William McPherson, WF Gazette photo.

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (William McPherson, West Frankfort Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Students of the late Zella Boner Spani presented a memorial bench to the Frankfort Historical Museum in her honor last Wednesday.

Donors to the memorial bench included Theresa Julian, Marla Julian Boyer, David Lawrence, Janice Hill Adkins, Andy Brown, Rusty McClain, Gayla Rogers Mondino, and Marian Rotramel Smith.

Museum director and fellow teacher Sylvia Tharp, who worked with Spani, were also on hand for the dedication along with several other friends of the museum.

West Frankfort Student Represents Rural Electric Co-Ops in Washington D.C

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/west-frankfort-student-represents-rural-electric-co-ops-in-washington/article_e10cdbfe-7a1f-11e7-8f8a-3bab1f55d562.html

Olivia Weeks of West Frankfort and Miranda Miller of Galatia, pose for a picture with State Representative Dave Severin and State Senator Dale Fowler during a special Youth Day event in Spring Field prior to their week-long trip to Washington D.C. sponsored by the SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative. (Gazette photo)

WEST FRANKFORT, IL (William McPherson, West Frankfort Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

FCHS student Olivia Weeks was selected for a big honor earlier this year as she and a select group of students were chosen to represent our state’s rural communities in our nation’s capital.

Weeks, along with Galatia’s Miranda Miller represented SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Washington, D.C., during the annual “Youth to Washington” Tour this past June. This annual event has been sponsored by the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois since the late 1950s, and serves as an introduction for rural youth to the democratic government and the cooperative business model.

During the trip, Weeks and 65 other students from rural Illinois met with Congressman Mike Bost. The Illinois students joined more than 1,660 of their peers from across the country from 44 additional states. Besides the Capitol, they also visited Gettysburg, Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington National Cathedral, several Smithsonian Museums, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the World War II Memorial, memorials to Presidents Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington and Roosevelt, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, the Newseum and a number of other historical sites. Prior to the D.C. trip they also met with State Representative Dave Severin and Senator Dale Folwer in Springfield as part of a special Youth Day event.

West Frankfort native waited 40 years to enter Israel

http://www.wfgazette.com/features/west-frankfort-native-waited-years-to-enter-israel/article_decf1942-7a29-11e7-ae96-1315e8669a3c.html

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Tim Hastings, West Frankfort Gazette.  Please click the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Nathan Lewis – WF Gazette Photo

An 83-year-old West Frankfort native, who has lived in Israel for more than 40 years, said he knew from age eight his life’s purpose had something to do with the nation many consider to be the Promised Land.

“When I was a child I heard my mother and my aunt talk about our possible Jewish ancestry,” Lewis said. “I wasn’t paying particular attention and I have no proof that it is true.” Lewis told his story last week seated in a comfortable chair in the living room of his childhood home on South Day Street in West Frankfort. He has been in the U.S. for several months for medical treatments and hopes to return to Jerusalem in September.

“As a child anything that pertained to Israel—books, magazine, or speakers—tugged at me,”Lewis said.  “I knew from eight-years-old I had a call to Israel. I just knew that God’s presence was in me somehow. I knew that somehow my destiny was connected with Israel.”

Volunteers paint a West Frankfort children’s shelter

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36070764/volunteers-paint-a-west-frankfort-childrens-shelter

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Andrew Feather, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below.)

WSIL-TV photo

Dozens of people spent their Saturday decorating a children’s shelter in West Frankfort to make it a more welcoming place.

A group of volunteers painted walls of the Night’s Shield Children’s Center, which houses about 25 abused and neglected children, in an effort to bring a little bit of brightness into the lives of its residents.

Organizers said they hope paintings and bright colors will help take their minds off of what’s going on in the outside world.

SONS OF THE FATHER RETIRE AFTER 28 YEARS ON THE ROAD

by Steve Dunford

Chris left, Les Middle, and Brent Snyder on the right, Sons of the Father. (from the group’s website)

WEST FRANKFORT IL –  In the last few months that I have branched out from being a sportswriter only, I struggled with a title to this more than any story that I have written.  Over the years Les Snyder, and his two sons Chris and Brent did more than put on a concert, they shared the gospel in music, and at the end of each service,  in a sermonette.  Quitting or leaving the ministry would not be fitting as well either, because all three will be involved one way or the other until they are called home or the return of Christ.

Last Sunday night, at their home church, Grace Baptist Church between Benton and West Frankfort, the group came together for one final time. There was an estimated crowd between 150-175 people.  There were people there from nine states.    That morning, they ministered in a church in Sacramento, KY.

Going back to the late 1980’s, my home church. Thompsonville First Baptist Church did not have a pastor at the time.  Les would come from time to time and sing a few songs and share the Gospel at the end.  One song that had an impact that he would sing during that era, was the Talley’s song Thinking About Home. 

A few months later, I remember having a conversation with Brent, at Lon’s Barber Shop.  He told me that his dad and his brother Chris were getting ready to enter full time ministry on the road.  Brent was the youth minister at Third Baptist Church in West Frankfort, and a recent graduate of Frankfort Community High School.

Chris, at the time was the youth minister at First Baptist Church in Christopher,  Here is something that is noteworthy, Chris was a post player on the 1986 West Frankfort Redbird team that finished fourth in the Class A State Tournament.

Les had already spent over 20 years in the ministry, most as a intenerate evangelistic music director.   There are two local individuals that I know Les worked with, Roy Hughes who was the pastor of Galatia and Harco Baptist Churches between stints in full time evangelism, and Leon Kilbreath, besides being an evangelist, was also a well known IHSA official.

Sons of the Father stepped out on pure faith.  They always came to churches on a love offering basis.  They sang at the Southern Baptist Convention in the Superdome in New Orleans to several thousand people.   They sang to a congregation of seven people at one time.  They came to the last church I pastored in Mt. Vernon, the East Side Baptist Church, in which we had 20 on a good Sunday.  On average they would have 150 bookings in a year.

Over the years I have heard them in several settings; crusades, Bible conferences,  revivals, and  regular Sunday morning worship services.  The Holy Spirit was always there when they sang.  Most of all, the trio was great examples what Christian men should be.

Sons of the Father, for the final time, at their home church Grace Baptist Fellowship, Sunday night.

Sunday night, they took requests their whole concert.  They told stories about their time on the road, the good times, the bad times, and the funny ones.  Two of the songs they sang were Wrap Me in your Arms, which was on the Singing News charts.  They closed the service with the classic, Oh What a Savior.

I mentioned earlier, they would go anywhere, stepping out on faith  on a love offering basis.  They told of several times that when they would think they were at the end of the rope, and God would always provide.

Their bus has over one million miles on it.  They thanked Robbie Lindhorst, a Thompsonville native and a diesel mechanic, for keeping them on the road, and for the countless phone calls when the bus would give them trouble over the years, and the instructions how to fix it over the phone.

Robbie jokingly offered Brent a job as a mechanic, because he “trained him well”, working on the bus by cell phone over the years.  Chris has accepted an IT position with Banterra Bank.

They thanked their pastor, Roger Teal and his wife Diana (who is a teacher at FCHS) and the whole church family at Grace for their support.

The boys thanked their wives for keeping things together at home, when they were on the road.  They stated  \one regret they had, was their wives and children could not always see the impact they had on people’s souls.  Les’ wife and the boys mother. went home to be with the Lord a few years ago.

Back in March, Sons of the Father were at a crossroads, whether to continue or not.  Three days later Les had a stroke.  The group continued their dates for a while with Don Kragness, who was a music teacher in some local schools across Southern Illinois, as well as a music director in some churches until Les was able to return.

Over the years, I appreciate the friendship these three men has shown me, through the good times and the bad times of my life.  Les has a great dry sense of humor as well.  He can come up with the one liners in a hurry.  He will be on a roll and post several wise cracks on social media.  They have brought an additional smile to my face on several days.

Most of all, Sons of the Father answered the call that God had on their lives, fulfilling the Great Commission.   Souls were saved, and lives were changed because of their ministry.

My life is one of them.  Thank you for giving to the Lord.

The vendors of the West Frankfort Farmers Market

by Steve Dunford

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – Most Tuesdays.  I will go to the West Frankfort Farmers Market.  There is nothing like home grown fresh vegetables. I also get some home made baked goodies, which I really don’t need.

I did a story last week on Jim and Carleen Roberts of Sesser.  While I was there I went around and talked to each vendor as well.   The Market is from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each Tuesday at the West Frankfort Park, at the shelter behind the Aquatics Center.

Debbie Hedges of Orient (left) is buying some produce from Larry Leitner of Waltonville (right)

The Benton Farmers Market is from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Thursdays, at the Benton Civic Center.  A lot of the same vendors that come to West Frankfort, go to Benton as well.

One that has been a mainstay in WF,  is Larry Leitner of Terra Fare Farms of Waltonville.  He has a variety of home grown vegetables.  He goes to Benton as well.

Cathy Grant, of Grant’s Orchard in Johnston City has peaches in season.  You can catch her in Benton as well.

Richard Bochantian of Dubois, is another vendor that goes to Benton as well too.  He sells home grown garden items as well.

Another vendor you can catch at Benton, is Helen Brocky, and her son Dean.  They sell homemade baked good at a very reasonable price.  They have homemade cookies, pies, and mini bread loaves.

Lorene Smith of Royalton, sells honey, sweet corn, and berries in season.  She also will have plants from time to time.  You can give her a call at (618) 521-0926, or e-mail her at lorees@mchsi.com

Janet Thornton of Primitive Creations, sells homemade bath and body products.  She has a home based business out of Marion and you can give her a call at (618) 993-0668 to inquire about her products.

Kendra Humphreys, of Dr. Grammy’s Garden, LLC in Elkville, selles veggies, baked goods, jellies, jams, and homemade bug spray.  You can give her a call at (618) 534-7742, email her at drgrammysgarden@gmail.com or follower on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/DrGrammysGardenil/

 

 

West Frankfort Fire Department Report

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/west-frankfort-fire-department-report/article_fde17184-6ef0-11e7-97c0-7b83ed1790f8.html

WEST FRANKFORT, IL  (West Frankfort Gazette.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Below is the monthly West Frankfort Fire Department report presented by West Frankfort Fire Chief Jody Allen for the month of June, 2017 at last week’s City Council meeting.

The Fire Department’s incident activities for the month of June included 158 ambulance calls, three smoke scares, no reported rubbish or illegal fires, four brush/field fires, five motor vehicle fires, no reported extrications, two fire alarms, two vehicle fires, seven emergencies, (gas leaks, power lines down, etc.) three structure fires, and three mutual aid calls.

West Frankfort Police Department Report

http://www.wfgazette.com/news/west-frankfort-police-department-report/article_54bd1030-6ef1-11e7-b62b-5397bd9546ba.

WEST FRANKFORT, IL –  Please click on the link above from the West Frankfort Gazette for the monthly police report for June by WPFD chief, Mike Irwin.

WJPF’s Tom Miller, interviews new WF superintendent Matt Donkin

Newsradio WJPF interview with Matt Donkin

Click on the link above to listen to the nine minute clip of the interview from the Morning News watch.

City of West Frankfort donates $5,000 to the Park District

From the City of West Frankfort

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – There are a couple of items that the City of West Frankfort has put on their Social Media page.  First, the city council approved donating $5,000 to the West Frankfort Park District to refurbish the basketball courts. There have been ongoing fund raisers in the city for this.  The estimated cost will be around $30.000.

Second, there are no solicitor permits issued at this time.  If someone would approach you at your residence, ask for their credentials and a permit.  If they do not have one, contact the WFPD.

 

 

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