New Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in the Senate conformation hearings
Thompsonville banker attends Trump innaguration
January 31, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford- franklincounty-news.com
Travis Clem, President of South Porte Bank in Marion attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington, on Friday, January 20. You might be familiar with him from the bank ads, as they advertise heavily on WPSD-TV.
Clem is a lifelong resident of Thompsonville. He also is the president of the Thompsonville CUSD #174 Board of Education.
Travis Clem at the inauguration, with the US Capitol building in the background.
The trip to Washington DC came about in an indirect, way from an invite from Paul Miller, who him and his wife Phyllis, were invited to be the guests of Congressman Mike Bost. Phyllis had to cancel at the last minute, so Travis had the opportunity.
The first question I asked was if this was a hoax. Yes I have seen the pictures online from that day, but Paul, Travis, and another one I can throw in there, Jody Kilburn and I have been known to play some pranks in the day. I had to make sure the pics from the inauguration wasn’t Photoshopped.
He said because it was a last minute arraignment, the only event they attended was the inauguration itself. The news media has tried to convince the American people the crowd was way down. He said it was packed on that rainy day in the nation’s capitol.
The story of the day were the protesters. I asked him about them. He said, There were lots of protesters the morning of the inauguration. They had pretty much clogged the entrances along the north side of the Mall area, thousands of them.
It was a thrill for him, as Clem has been in the Trump camp in the beginning. He helped covert this Never Trumpper shortly after the Illinois Primary.
It was an awesome opportunity and experience he had the privilege in participating. Honestly, as I was preparing this there was a little jealousy of the guy who was the best man in my wedding. Seriously, I think it is awesome he was able to be there for this once in a lifetime experience.
Rauner vetoes home-care overtime bill
January 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Zeigler-Royalton gets big win over Elverado Friday night.
January 25, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford – franklincountynews-com
ZEIGLER – For decades when you would look at the schedule and you would see Elverado on the schedule, you would think it was an automatic W.
The 2016-17 Zeigler-Royalton Tornadoes (Randall Risley photo)
The Falcons left the Black Diamond a couple years for greener pastures in the South Egyptian, to play schools closer to their enrollment. Last year was rough times as well, as Elverado was 0-26 in their new league.
With a couple of transfers from Carbondale, and everyone returning, good times have returned to Elkville, as the Falcons are sitting at 15-7 on the year.
All year I have been telling teams that Brendan Whiting will have a game where he explodes on someone He had 29 points in seven three pointers and going a perfect 7-7 from the free throw line as Z-R defeated Elverado 69-59 Steven Anderson added 14 on the night for the Tornadoes.
Here is what Coach Matt Morgan had to say about the victory; “It felt good for the simple fact that I feel like that was the first game where we’ve competed for all 32 minutes without any major mental lapses. There were points where we could’ve caved but they stuck through it and it paid of. I’m extremely happy for our all our kids at both levels!”
“Our crowd was unbelievable, especially the student section.”
“It was a total team effort. We had 36 rebounds for the game which is a season high. We controlled the glass and for the most part took quality shots and had quality possessions which allowed our transition defense to be much improved.”
“Jakob Baxter and Franky Rebolledo stepped up when we got into some foul trouble. Those two played some very important minutes for us and contributed in big ways.”
The Tornadoes are 2-13 on the season. They fell to Waltonville on the road last night 53-28. They have another tough road test, as they go on the road to face the Goreville Blackcats, Friday night. If you can not make the long road trip, the game will be streamed on blackcatsnewtork-com.
BOX SCORE:
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (69) Whiting 0 7 8-8 29; Anderson 4 0 6-9 14; Domenick 1 2 0-0 8; Rebebello 1 2 0-0 8; Bollinger 4 0 0-0 8; Baxter 0 0 0-0 0
ELVERADO (59) Johnson 8 1 8-11 27; Dunham 2 1 4-4 11; Penn 4 1 0-0 11; White 0 2 0-0 6; Savenson 1 0 2-2 4; Cavinder 0 0 0-0 0; Funk 0 0 0-0 0
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON 14 14 15 26 – 69
ELVERADO 9 15 16 19 – 59
The GEC tournament opens tonight
January 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The GEC tournament opens tonight at Southeastern Illinois College at Deaton Gym. The schools in the conference take turns being the host school. The tournament is hosted by Gallatin County.
If you want to see some great 1A basketball, make the trip to Harrisburg some time this week. On semi final week the house is packed.
All games on the tournament will be broadcast on WEBQ-FM 102.3
The schedule is the following
- Game 1: (4) Carrier Mills vs (5) NCOE in progress
- Game 2: (1) Gallatin County vs (8) THOMPSONVILLE, Monday, 8:00 p.m.
- Game 3: (3) Hardin County vs (6) Galatia, Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
- Game 4 (2) Crab Orchard vs (7) Pope County, Tuesday, 8 p.m.
- Game 5: Loser game 3 vs Loser game 4, Thursday, 6:30, p.m.
- Game 6: Loser game 1 vs Loser game 2, Thursday, 8:00 p.m.
- Game 7: 7th place game Loser game 5, vs loser game 6, Friday at 5:30 p.m.
- Game 8: Semi final: winner game 3 vs winner game 4 6:30
- Game 9: Semi final: winner game 1 vs winner game 2 8:00
- Game 10: Consolation championship: winner game 5 vs winner game 6
- Game 11: Third place game loser game 8 vs loser game 9
- Game 12: Championship winner game 8 vs winner game 9
sd
JERUSALEM MAYOR IN TALKS WITH US OFFICIALS OVER POSSIBLE EMBASSY MOVE
January 23, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Jersalem Mayor…Nir Barkat
JERUSALEM -(Please click on link to read the story from the Jerusalem post) I will share things from the events in the Middle East from the Jerusalem post. In my opinion, the United States relationship with Israel, who has a biblical world view. He made a promise to Abraham, I will bless thee and I will curse them that curseth thee (Gen 12:3 KJV). I believe how we treat that little strip country in the middle east, that is not even the size of Southern Illinois, will determine the blessings for the US. Here is an excerpt from \the article. I am holding talks with government officials in the US and I know that they are serious about their intention,” he said. “They have various properties in Jerusalem that could serve as a solution.” While Barkat, who is friendly with Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, conceded that such a major move will take time to organize, he nonetheless asserted that he is confident it will be carried out…..
Bearcats finish the MWC 0-4 – Fall to AJ 53-48
January 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford – franklincounty-news.com
WEST FRANKFORT IL – The Christopher Bearcats dropped the seventh place game of the West Frankfort Mid Winter Classic, to the Anna Jonesboro Wildcats 53-48.
The Bearcats roared out to an 11-6 lead at the 3:30 mark of the first quarter before Anna-Jonesboro coach Mike Chamness calls a time out. The Wildcats change from going to playing a 2-3 zone from playing man to man. A-J began to kill Christopher on the boards, and out rebounded them for the game 29-18. The differential was 13-5 at half-time.
Anna-Jonesboro scores the last five points of the quarter and both teams were tied at 11. The Wildcats came out and Logan Sawyer hit a 15 foot Jumper out of the huddle to go up 13-11 and they never relinquished the lead. Sawyer had twelve points and seven rebounds on the afternoon.
Jake Parr dominated the game on both ends of the floor in the second quarter as he had a game high 19 points and tied for the game high lead of nine rebounds. The Wildcats had the lead at halftime 29-25.
The teams trade baskets for a while and Jordan Zimmerman hits a big three to put Anna-Jonesboro up 38-27 to cap off a big rally by them just over the four minute mark.
Christopher coach Eric Stallman calls a time out and goes to a 3/4 court press. A-J struggles with it. Zack Snell buries a 22 foot baseline jumper at the close of the quarter to cut the Bearcat deficit to six, 40-34 after three.
Jared Curry has three big coast to coast drives in the fourth and the Bearcats keep hanging around. Curry had a game high 14 points on the afternoon, eight in the fourth quarter. He also had nine rebounds. He found Gabe Schimpf twice as well, on a couple run outs. Schimpf led the way with four assists and had 11 points. Kaeleb Pedigo was the third Bearcat in double figures with 10 points.
The Bearcats cut it to a one possession game on a few occasions down the stretch. A-J hit their free throws down the stretch, to ice the victory away.
The Bearcats (11-8) have two tough BDC West road tests in front of them this week, as they go to Chester on Tuesday and down to the Eagles Nest in Vienna on Friday.
Anna Jonesboro (7-13) makes the long trip up Route 127 Friday night to play the Nashville Hornets, and will make the return trip to Max Morris Gym on Saturday night to face the Redbirds.
I would like to give a shout out to a couple people from Anna. Coach Mike Chamness has always been very accessible and just a good guy to talk HS basketball with. Moury Bass, owner of WIBH-AM 1440. of Anna, always has kind and encouraging words to pass along to me. One of my highlights of the Midwinter Classic is being around these two men.
BOX SCORE:
ANNA-JONESBORO (53) Parr 7 0 5-7 19; Sawyer 6 0 0-0 12; Zimmerman 6 0 0-0 12; McGrath 0 0 4-6 4; Renyolds 0 1 0-1 3; Pinnon 0 0 2-2 2; Pena 0 0 1-2 1; Gillis 0 0 0-0 0; McFarland 0 0 0-0 0
CHRISTOHPER (49) Curry 5 0 4-4 14; Schimpf 3 1 2-2 11; Pedigo 2 2 0-2 10; Young 4 0 0-0 8; Snell 1 0 0-0 3; Pratt 1 0 0-0 2; Motsinger 0 0 0-0 0
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
ANNA-JONESBORO 11 18 11 13 – 53
CHRISTOPHER 11 18 9 14 – 48
Redbirds 2-0 in the MWC and .500 on the season-upset Carterville
January 20, 2017 By Leave a Comment
WEST FRANKFORT- (Steve Dunford-franklincounty-news.com) I have a nose for games going OT. I was smelling it about the four minute mark. I was smelling double overtime down the stretch.
Kyle Hammers (23) slashes through the lane, as Andrew Sturgill (33) gets ready to set a pic, Keegan Thrash (35) has the ball at the top of the key for WF
Teams need a signature win to go on a roll. It happened Wednesday night at Max Morris Gym as the West Frankfort Redbirds picked up that win, as they pulled out a 52-50 win over the Carterville Lions Wednesday night.
The Redbirds handled Carterville’s full court press in the first half. Like against Christopher, Austin Glodich was on fire in the first half as he had 12 of his 18 points in the first half. The Redbird went to the locker room with a 27-21 lead.
Carterville came out of the locker room in a full court man to man and played it in the entire second half. The Redbirds had immediate trouble with it. The Lions took the lead around the five minute mark of the third quarter and it was a see saw battle the rest of the night.
The only coach in Southern Illinois that compares to coaching with the intensity that Carterville Coach Shane Hawkins does, is Cobden Coach Rhett Barke, who is a Carbondale attorney. I would want him as my lawyer. I love that style of coaching
Shane Hawkins coaches like he played in high school at Pinckneville, in college at SIU, and now as a coach. I asked him about going to the full court man to man in the second half he said “We just could not keep the intensity we had coming out the second half.” We had a couple tough losses this week.” The Lions fell to now 20-1 and state ranked in class 2A Eldorado 60-53 Monday night in a game that was closer than the final score. The rest of the conversation was about Christoper tomorrow night.
The Redbirds played more zone that I have ever witnessed a Kevin Toney coached team play. It was effective as big man Luke Ford, who coach Toney called a “full grown man” last night had only four points and was limited to three rebounds on the night.
The Redbirds shared the basketball very well on the night. I had them with fourteen assists with Andrew Sturgill and Kyle Hammers had four each.
Scotty Clinton came in and gave the Redbirds some key minutes in late in the third quarter when the Redbirds were in foul trouble.
The other beast in the post for Carterville Taylor Heil. I watched him play in junior high during my time living in Sesser. He tied Gloodich leading all scorers for 18. Brendan Beasley had 14 on the night. Both will be on my all tournament team ballot.
Along with Glodich’s 18, Noah Allen was Noah Allen on both ends off the floor had 16 on the night for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds improve to 8-8 on the year and will play either Marion or have a rematch in the with the Herrin Tigers. If they pull the task and upset Eldorado tonight they will play in the championship against whoever wins the Marion/Herrin game.
Carterville falls to 0-2 in the tournament and 10-8 on the season. They play another Franklin county team, the Christopher Bearcats at 5:30 p.m. tonight.
BOX SCORE:
WEST FRANKFORT (52) Glodich 8 0 2-4 18; Allen 5 1 3-4 16; Thrash 3 0 0-0 6; Hammers 1 1 0-0 5; Wolfe 3 0 1-5 4; Clinton 1 0 0-0 2 Sturgill 0 0 1-2 1; Clark 0 0 0-0 0
CARTERVILLE (50) Heil 8 0 2-3 18; Beasley 3 2 2-2 14; Jackson 1 1 0-0 5; Johnson 2 0 0-0 4 Ford 2 0 0-2 4; Moore 0 0 3-4 3; Valerius 1 0 0-0 2
SCORE BY QUARTERS
WEST FRANKFORT 15 12 12 6 7 – 52
CARTERVILLE 10 11 14 10 5 – 50
Rangers beat the Foxes on Monday Night in the BIT
January 18, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford
Action from Monday night’s game. (Taken from Foxes-Fans.net video)
I included this in my preview Monday night but I am going to cover the Foxes from now on. Hamco is well covered with Danny Anslement of FoxesFans.net, and Tom Mauding on WMCL.
I found out the Foxes have little print coverage. With Danny broadcasting every game on video. I can watch them in the archives and make a full story. This story is coming from the video.
I have a good friend that has covered the Foxes for years, Charlie Pendell (Super Fox). I know his health is failing and he is continually in my prayers. I hope I can even come close to his excellent coverage.
Now on to the game. The Foxes came out and was very patient. They hung around with the Rangers for twelve minutes. At the end of the first quarter they were only down 14-11 They were playing well on both ends of the floor.
Austin Wills was unreal in the closing minutes of the second quarter, hitting four threes. Gehrig Wynn and Derek Oxford had one each as the Rangers outscored the Foxes 25-9 to take a 39-20 lead.
Both coaches subbed freely in the second half as they have four more games ahead of them as the Rangers won 68-39.
The Rangers improve to 14-1 on the season and 1-0 in the BIT. The Foxes fall to 4-13 and 0-1 in the tournament.
Hamco has the opener against the Meridan Bobcats at 5:30. Benton plays Carlyle at 8:30.
Austin Wills led the Rangers on the night with 18 points. Derek Oxford added 17.
Oakley Dial led the Foxes with 15 points. Jake Whipple added 11.
BOX SCORE:
Benton (68) Wills 3 4 0-0 18; Oxford 3 3 2-2 17; Willams 4 0 1-2 9; Henson 3 0 1-1 7; Wynn 2 1 0-0 7; Thomas 1 1 0-0 5; Page 0 1 0-0 3; Pankey 1 0 0-0 2; Tillman 0 0 0-0 0; Morris 0 0 0-0 0; Mosley 0 0 0-0 0; Mosley 0 0 0-0 0; Lutz 0 0 0-0 0; Avery 0 0 0-0 0
Hamilton County (39) Dial 4 1 4-5 15; Whipple 1 0 1-2 11; N. Rapp 1 0 3-3 5 E. Rapp 2 0 0-0 4; Rubenacker 2 0 0-0 4; Potter 0 0 0-0 0 Pike 0 0 0-0 0; VanAbba 0 0 0-0 0; Neal 0 0 0-0 0; Miller 0 0 0-0 0; Gray 0 0 0-0 0; Downen 0 0 0-0 0
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Benton 14 25 21 8 – 68
Hamilton County 11 9 12 7 – 39
Boys high school basketball preview for 1/14/17
January 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Steve Dunford
When you start flipping over the schedule, familiarity starts to set in. Both Games on today’s docket has been rescheduled from last night.
ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (1-9)(0-4) at SESSER-VALIER (2-3)(6-9) 2:30 p.m. start
Both teams know each other well. If Whiting gets hot and the Devils are cold, Z-R could hang around.
With the addition of Austin Bollinger on the inside, the Tornadoes have a way to neutralize Jamie Lance in the paint. Before, that would have been an area that S-V would
have dominated.
I am going with the Devils by 12 this afternoon.
I was thinking this week about the situation at Z-R. They play their guts out and just overmanned. They basically are a school the size of a GEC or an SEC school and playing in what is a 2A schedule now. One of these nights, they will surprise someone and knock them off.
CARRIER MILLS (6-10) at THOMPSONVILLE (3-8) 6p.m. start
Even though they are in the same conference this is a non conference game. The first conference game that is played is the only one that counts in the conference standings.
The Tigers come into this one banged up. Out of the thirteen on
The two teams in the first matchup at DeWitt gymnasium back in December
their roster, nine are only healthy. He mentioned that going into the GEC tournament week after next, that Carrier Mills is playing the second best in the conference.
Gibbs, Hill, Jackson and the rest of Keil Peebles crew are on the upswing. What looked to be a promising year for T’ville at the first is deteriorating in a hurry.
I won’t be there but Coach Peebles will come out in a 2-1-2 zone. I am going with the Wildcats by 15.
