Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (Chicago Tribune photo)
Madigan re-elected Speaker; Senate adopts leader term limits
January 11, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Ice Cold Patriots Drop First Game of 2017
January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Morthland College Media Services
Morthand Women’s Basketball Team Photo
WEST FRANKFORT – The Morthland Patriots women’s basketball team came into their first game of 2017 seeking revenge, having blown a 19 point lead earlier in the season to the Saints of Central Christian. However, the Patriots never found their shooting rhythm, dropping the contest 63-46.
The first quarter saw a lot of back and forth action, though a short run in the last two minutes pushed the Saints out front 17-12. Brittney Goff and Bailey Holly had hot hands early, scoring four apiece during the frame.
Aside from Goff, the offense would stall in the second quarter. Goff coupled a three pointer and a driving layup together, but no other Patriots could get untracked. Balanced scoring from Central Christian propelled the Saints to a 31-21 halftime lead.
Maranda Chance from Vienna and Christopher’s Autumn Gunter, the Patriots’ two leading scorers, were held to just two points each in the first half.
Unfortunately for Morthland, the second half did not reverse the shooting woes of the first. Numerous missed opportunities at the rim, along with strong play from Saints’ guards Taylor Cunningham and Kate Frazier, stretched the lead to 47-31.
Despite a flurry of inside baskets and a few Gunter jumpers
Benton goes to Massac and gets a win
January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment
METROPOLIS- The Benton Rangers went down to Massac County and picked up a 53-40 win Friday night. Massac has been a buzzsaw and burial ground for teams in the SIRR Ohio With Joe Hosman on the sidelines, the veteran with over 700 wins will find a way to keep his team in the game.
I grabbed Coach Ron Winemiller’s comments off Saturday Morning Talking Sports on Q106. A lot of the comments are about the second half of the game. The Rangers went to the locker room tied with the Patriots. Here was his keys to the Ranger win:
- The press was much more effective
- They rebounded much better
- They tweaked how they guarded Isaiah Thompson. He was coach Winemiller’s biggest concern going in when I talked to him earlier in the week. When I watch at team, I always look how teams that are opponents of Franklin County schools will match up. I saw the potential of him giving the Rangers problems. He had 18 on the night, but the Rangers walked away with the win.
- The bench gave him some big minutes, especially Gehrig Wynn popping three home run balls in the second quarter.
I think it is noteworthy but whoever guarded Darius Roundtree did an awesome job holding him to five points.
One thing that will stick with me for a long time, he mentioned how his kids hate to lose and been in big situations. They have been in other situations. He mentioned how Derek Oxford a four year starter and Austin Wills a three year starter was faced with a big put. (You might as well call Timmy Henson a four year starter with his time at Thompsonville. When he was a freshman, the GEC tournament is full every night and the crowd is very loud.)
He mentioned how Hamilton Page and Blaine Pankey faced some big time situations on the gridiron. He also mentioned for the ones that played baseball has walked up to the plate facing situations with second and third, two outs in the bottom of the seventh, down a run.
The Rangers improved to 13-1 on the season and 4-0 in the SIRR Ohio. The Murphysboro Red Devils will be coming to Rich Herrin Gym on Friday. This is a game that can have huge implications on the SIRR ohio race.
Massac County stands 4-6 and 1-2 in the conference. They dropped a 57-48 decision at DuQuoin last night. They host the West Frankfort Redbirds Friday night in a girls/boys doubleheader.
BOX SCORE:
BENTON (53) Oxford 0 4 3-4 15; Wills 2 3 0-0 12; Wynn 0 3 0-0 9; Willams 3 0 2-2 8; Henson 0 1 3-3 5; Page 1 0 2-2 4
MASSAC COUNTY (40) Thompson 7 0 5-7 19; Brugess 2 0 2-2 6; Roundtree 2 0 1-2 5; Fortman 2 0 1-2 5; Miller 2 0 1-3 5
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
BENTON (13-1) 15 10 14 14 – 53
MASSAC COUNTY (4-6) 17 8 9 6 – 40
HS Boys Basketball Preview-1/6/17
January 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Steve Dunford
Every team in the county is in action tonight except Sesser-Valier, which they travel to Trico tomorrow night. I am sure the faithful from Pitchfork Nation will be a little sad making the trip over there as they took over an establishment in Willisville that is closed now.
I will have West Frankfort coverage from either the Southern Illinoisan or westfrankfortsports.com. I am going to Thompsonville tonight. I am also going to write something on the Christopher game. I am watching the video stream from FoxesFans.net in the archives sometime tomorrow. The other two games I will squeeze enough out to get a story out of.
Since the surprise icon comes up, you will have to look at my ugly mug for the pic for a while. Wherever you go tonight, sit back and enjoy a night of good high school basketball. There are some dandies on tap.
HERRIN (8-3)(0-1) at WEST FRANKFORT (5-5)(0-2)
Both teams have been off since the Eldorado Holiday Tournament and went 3-1. The Redbirds took the consolation bracket by beating conference foe Massac County 46-33. The Tigers ended up losing the championship to the hosts, 57-47. It is noteworthy after winning the EHT that the Eagles cracked the class 2A AP poll at #10 in the state.
Here is what WF coach Kevin Toney had to say about this evening’s contest, “I think Herrin is a very talented and deep team. Their inside players of the Downen twins and DJ Spell are athletic and very skilled. Add to that, the perimeter shooting of Nessler and Bush, make them a formidable group.
Hartline and Ringel handle the ball well, too. If by chance, someone isn’t performing well for them, they have Holloway, McCormick, and others coming off the bench. All that being said, I like our players’ attitudes and their work ethic. Winning some games at the EHT also gives us some added confidence.”
Here is what Herrin coach Mike Mooneyham had to say about tonight, “Herrin is looking forward to getting back to regular season action. We had a good Eldorado Tournament but came up a little short. The atmosphere was great and I can’t fault their effort.but we just didn’t finish it off when we had the chances.”
“I a chance to watch West Frankfort three times during the tournament and they are improving each game. Winning the consolation championship, must have their confidence at a high level.”
“Of course Allen and Glodich have to be a focal point, but we will not overlook what Thrash and Sturgill do for this team. Coach Toney does a great job and will have them ready. The Herrin Tigers will be ready as well.”
Going into the EHT, I would have said that Herrin would beat the Redbirds by 15 points. I am picking the Tigers to come out on top in a five point win.
HAMILTON COUNTY (3-9) at CHRISTOPHER(8-4)
If Tom Wheeler does not go to Massac to do the game with Jim Muir, I am naming tonight the Wheels Classic.
The Bearcats blew out Trico Tuesday night. The Foxes won on a buzzer beater by Oakley Dial 55-52 over GEC opponent Carrier Mills. 
The three prong attack of Kaeleb Pedigo, Jared Curry and Bradley Young will cause the Foxes some match-up problems. If the Foxes play a zone, to stop Young and Curry’s dribble drive penetration Pedigo and Gabe Schimpf will shoot the lights out. Pratt has played well beyond his years as a freshman. I am curious who will guard Dial, my money is on Curry.
The Foxes are a veteran bunch along with Dial, Austin Potter, the Rapps (which gives them some size inside) Jake Whipple, and Matt Rubenacker seems like they have been in High School for seven or eight years now. Kyle VanAbba had a good tournament at Eldorado.
This is a pesky team that plays like the “McLeansboro Foxes.” (Not a typo). HamCo will give the Bearcats a good game. They have lost three barn burners in a row. I am going Chirstopher by eight.
HARDIN CO. (3-8)(2-2) at THOMPSONVILLE (1-3)(3-7)
Thompsonville had their best game in a while in a 47-44 loss at Galatia Tuesday night. Hardin County casts the Demons out at win less Dongola last night 81-25. Hardin County Coach Rodney lane says that is not a good measuring stick to see where they are at. The game before that they lost to Vienna 61-44 in which four or five Cougars fouled out. Coach Lane said they are going “to get off the bus and play” after their 75 mile trip coming from Elizabethtown.
“Thompsonville Coach Pete Gordon had this to say about tonight’s contest, “We just need to play to our potential relax and play. We have been so tight, and need to have fun. If we do that we will play well, and when we play well, we can compete with anyone.”I see the Cougars coming out in a zone, which the Tigers have struggled with. Hardin County has a very good back court in Cameron Shaw and 1,000 point scorer in his career, Tyler Winters.
Thompsonville’s back court of Cory Wilce, Tyson Kessler, and Jared Payne is a pretty good one too.
The biggest key is the battle down low tonight between Craig Hudson and Anthoney Darge. Hudson is much more physical and Darge has developed into quite the shot blocker.
Freshman Corbin Fitch plays like a house a fire and Reed Raubach can come in off the bench and help bust the zone. 
Both teams have a lot back from last year and battled. The Cougars came out on top in both but by one at E-town and in OT in the GEC tournament.
Hardin is about five points better on paper than the Tigers, but I smell an upset tonight. The Cougars record is deceiving because they played a brutal schedule.
I am looking forward to going to my Alma Mater and seeing a good ball game.
BENTON (12-1)(3-0) at MASSAC COUNTY (1-1)(4-4)
Benton lost a heart breaker to Pinckneyville in the Duster Thomas Hoops classic 59-53 in the championship game of the tourney. As mentioned earlier, WF beat the Patriots by 15 in at Eldorado in both teams last outing.
This is what Benton Coach Ron Winemiller had to say about tonights outing, “It is a very tough place to go play. The number one reason it is a tough place to play is that the Patriots are always good and well coached. Roundtree can really catch and shoot and is as capableof having a huge game as any guard we have played this year.”
“Thompson will create us some match up problems with his size and athleticism. There other guys do a great job of filling their rolls and making it difficult to help into the post because they can catch and shoot. It will be another tough road trip on a Friday night in the River.”
Massac has some holes because Noah Farmer and J.T Webber elected not to play because they signed letters of intents to play baseball for SIU. Joe Hosman has been saying that he loves these kids but the team is not very deep. He says he will play more zone this year than he has ever played in his coaching career. I have heard Coach Hosman sing the blues before and win 20. He is a class act that I love talking to.
In my notes, I had Isaiah Thompson giving the Rangers some problems. Parker Williams has played very well down low. I look for Timmy Henson or Austin Wills to do a very good job on Darius Roundtree.
I think Derek Oxford will have a good night. Whether Coach Winemiller throws in Hamilton Page, Gehrig Winn, Blaine Pankey, or Cade Thomas into the mix, the depth of the Rangers will hurt Massac.
I am going with the Rangers by 12 tonight.
VIENNA (10-3)(3-0) at ZEIGLER-ROYALTON (0-2)(1-7)
The Eagles beat the Tornadoes 64-40 at home on their last time out.
This is what Vienna Coach Cory Waters had to say about tonight’s game. “Last time we played ZR it was on Homecoming night and we had a lot of energy. We need to make sure we bring that same energy and work on being more disciplined on defense. They have some kids that can score and we need to make sure they don’t get in a rhythm.”Zeigler-Royalton coach Matt Morgan gave me the following comments about tonight, “Vienna is an extremely deep team that brings a lot of athleticism to the game at every position. They guard
extremely well and use their athleticism on the offensive end to attack. It will be key for us to contain their dribble drive and force them to take contested shots. The key for us offensively will be moving the ball and valuing possessions. When we limit our turnovers we usually have good results.”
extremely well and use their athleticism on the offensive end to attack. It will be key for us to contain their dribble drive and force them to take contested shots. The key for us offensively will be moving the ball and valuing possessions. When we limit our turnovers we usually have good results.”The Eagles have a good back court in Brandon Casey in Lucas Strickland. So does Z-R in Steven Anderson and Brendan Whiting. Vienna beat Sesser-Valier by 13 Tuesday night. I see them making a run for the BDC west title. I am going with the Eagles by 15 but the Tornadoes will show up ready to play and play hard.
John Kerry, Benjamin Netanyahu clash angrily about peace
December 29, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Ross Saul – Christopher IL
December 26, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Ross Thomas Saul, 87, of Christopher IL, passed away December 24, 2016 in Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
He was a retired coal miner. He is survived by his wife Sondra (Izzo) Saul of Christopher, one daughter Cheri Saul (Doug Behm) of Christopher, one son Tom (Krystal) Saul of Christopher, Granddaughter Sophia Saul, step-daughters Jolee Baker of Benton, Tatia (Kevin) Trover of Herrin, step-grandchildren Brooke (Nate) Butcher of Benton, Kelsey Baker of St Petersburg, FL, Landon Trover of Herrin, one step great grandson Zayden Butcher of Benton.
His wishes were to be cremated with no services.
Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher is entrusted with the arrangements.
Illinois medical marijuana sales reach $4.4M in November
December 13, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Retired Miners need more than four months
December 11, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
Money isn’t everything: Clinton spends twice as much as Trump in losing presidential bid
December 10, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Hillary Clinton at a UNICEF event on November 29, introducing Katy Perry (AP photo)
Barbara B. Huffine, 72-Macedonia
December 10, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Barbara B. Huffine, 72, of Macedonia, passed away at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 8, 2016, at her residence.
She was born on May 20, 1944, to Vern and Beth (Lewis) Billings in Mendota, IL. Barb worked in the mail room for Unocal Corp. She married Thomas Huffine in 1962 and he survives.
She was enjoyed quilting, knitting, crocheting, horseback riding and reading. She also enjoyed playing and working on the computer.
Barb was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband, Thomas Huffine, Sr., of Macedonia, IL; two sons, Thomas Huffine, Jr. and wife Holly, of Burlington, WI, Anthony R. Huffine of Rosco, IL; one daughter, Pamela Huffine of Macedonia, IL; one granddaughter, Amber Huffine and two sisters, Patricia Phillips of Champaign, IL and Jaquline Abbott of Champaign, IL.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Vern and Beth Billings.
Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home.
Visitation will be held Saturday, December 10, 2016, from 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m., at Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 10 2016, at 3:00 p.m. at Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army and will be accepted at the funeral home..
Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.
