Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
It’s been nearly four years since Gov. Pat Quinn approved a series of tax hikes to pay for a $31 billion statewide construction program, but the condition of the state’s roadways has actually worsened.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan, written by Kurt Erickson.
Evan Sink, 57, of Mulkeytown, Illinois died June 20, 2013 at Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin, Illinois.
Evan was born January 16, 1956 in Du Quoin, the son of Albert “Cabe” Sink and Nettie (Spann) Sink. He was a graduate of Sesser-Valier High School and after retiring from the coal industry he was currently employed in traffic safety with the Illinois Department of Transportation. He was a member of the Greenwood United Methodist Church and the Sesser Masonic Lodge.
Evan enjoyed his family, gardening, hunting and fishing very much.
On January 2, 1977 Evan married Gayla (Jones) Sink and she survives. He is also survived by his children, Amy and Mike Johnson, West Frankfort, Vanessa Sink, Mulkeytown, David and Audra Bates,Sesser and Scott and Kim Bates, Benton. Also surviving are grandchildren Jade Bates, Travis Air Force Base, California, Peyton Bates, Sesser, Asher Bates, Sesser, Deryck Bates, Benton, Ryleigh Bates, Benton, Hunter Johnson, West Frankfort, C.J. Johnson, West Frankfort and Micah Johnson, West Frankfort.
In addition he is survived by one brother, Gilbert and Carol Sink, Sesser and three sisters, Joyce and Jim Thompson, Sesser, Betty Arflack, Eldorado, Illinois and Susan and Jim Mondino, Cleburne, Illinois; brothers-and-sisters-in-law Rita and Dwight Hitt, Mulkeytown, Illinois, Larry and Vicky Jones, West Frankfort and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in law, Gene and Elnora Jones, infant brother Dennis Sink and brothers-in-law Donald Arflack and Kent Batson.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 24 at 11 a.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home, in Sesser, Illinois with the Rev. Jean Webster officiating. Visitation will be on Sunday after 4 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser, Illinois. Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Heart Association and will be accepted at the :funeral home
For more information go to www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Marjorie A. Johnston, 88, of Benton passed away at 5:05 a.m. Wednesday, June 19 at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor.
She was born in Ashley, IL on October 17, 1024, the daughter of Burrel and Iva Jane (Martel) Ferguson.
She married Ewing Johnston on January 12, 1946 and he survives.
Mrs. Johnston was a member of the former Harmony Free Will Baptist Church in West City and attended the First Church of God in Benton.
Mrs. Johnston, first and foremost, loved the Lord. He was a great source of comfort to her throughout her life. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She led an inspiring life of faith and kindness toward others and has that legacy for all her family.
Mrs. Johnston is survived by her husband, Ewing Johnston of Benton and one daughter, Karen Wayman and husband John, of Mt. Vernon. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Kelly Oreskovic and husband Bob, of Washington, Missouri, Michelle Autry and husband Dan, of O’Fallon, Missouri, Michael Franklin and wife Heather, of O’Falon, Illinois and Millie Deadmond and husband Adam, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois. She is also survived by great-grandchildren Emma Kotowski, Chloe Clark, Kaylee Franklin, Katie Oreskovic, Drake Autry, Nathan Oreskovic, Jake Franklin, Dakota Autry and Kalissa Deadmond.
Mrs. Johnston was preceded in death by her parents, by a son, Benjamin Allen Johnston, by a daughter, Patricia Lynn Franklin, two brothers, Raymond and Albert Ferguson and by three sisters, Thelma Ferguson, Edith Clark and Della Boykin.
Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Pastor John Neace officiating. Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.
The number and value of college degrees produced in the U.S. will be a bone of contention for a long time and the marrow of that bone is that the cost of the degree is no longer borne solely by an individual but, increasingly, by taxpayers.
“A $50,000 degree in art history from Podunk State University is probably a lousy investment. A $50,000 degree in computer science from UC Berkeley is probably a sensible investment. If taxpayers are funding the degrees, they have every right to be concerned about whether those degrees are worth something. The litmus test is what employers are willing to pay.”
Erik Kengaard, Huffington Post web commenter
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By Walter Wendler
The June 12 headline in the New York Times sounds like a marketing pronouncement for higher education: “Data Reveal A Rise In College Degrees Among Americans,” opens a story posted by Catherine Rampell. This is not to suggest that the goal of President Obama, and the U.S. university infrastructure, to increase the number of students who hold bachelor’s degrees is a bad idea. It may be a great idea. Rampell points out that 33.5% of the Americans between 25 and 29 had a bachelor’s degree. The National Center for Education Statistics reports it was 24.7% in 1995.
The lack of answers to queries regarding the numbers offer less optimism than the headline implies.
For example, what were the unemployment levels of college graduates in the years of comparison? If people wave college degrees heavenward on the way to the unemployment office, what benefit is accrued?
If universities accept students who are less prepared and willing to pay any price for studying anything on taxpayer’s trough, of course, degree production, along with heavy borrowing increases. Simple degree production disconnected from national need is meaningless and has little to do with the end justifying the economic means.
Will college degrees fix a broken economy? This is the goal that drives the target and the answer is not obvious.
Are college degrees a means to equitably redistribute wealth in a free society? Does this really trumpet a desired condition where a created equality — everyone has a college degree — promotes a more egalitarian society or simply propagates unemployable hoards of degree holders with mountains of debt, owed to a nation hobbled by red-ink?
It is easy to kick the can down the road by heralding increases in college degree production. Many elected leaders, appointed university officials, and university boards will be long gone when the markers are called in on university degrees purchased with U.S. tax dollars with no cogent determination of economic or academic value.
A striking similarity exists between degree production and decades of perfunctory pension promises proffered by statehouses across the nation. College degrees won’t fix that. As a sad matter-of-fact, most of the people who have installed fly-by-night, fundamentally worthless, pension systems are/were “well educated.”
Is it possible that degree production is rising because universities around the nation are pushing people through, accepting students unprepared for college work and inflating grades so graduation becomes a reality while learning is the “shadow on the wall”?
In the Times piece, Sandy Baum, a senior fellow at the George Washington University graduate school of education, is quoted, “Think about jobs 15 years ago that didn’t need any college education.” It is a good point, but doesn’t nullify the fact that people with PhDs are driving cabs in New York and people with bachelor’s degrees are serving hamburgers. These are dignified occupations but do they require a university degree?
I wonder: How many people with bachelor’s degrees earned within the last five years now reside at home with their parents as compared to 1995?
What difference does any of this make if a person chooses to study something that has value, economic or academic, only to them if no subsidies exist? Following a twist on Mr. Kengaard’s line of thought, is a $50,000 degree in art history from UC Berkeley a good investment with tax dollars? How about a $50,000 degree in computer science from Podunk State University with Grandpa’s cash?
Does the source of funds color the problem differently?
No answers today, only questions.
Benton Public Library launches its Have Book, Will Travel! Summer Reading Program on June 13 with a family picnic in the library’s back yard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over the next two months, the library will host a range of free activities for children, teens, and adults that encourage and support a love of reading. Participants can also win prizes for reaching their reading goals.
“We’ve got a great program planned for kids to make the library their number one destination this summer,” said library director Erin Steinsultz. “We’ve tried to include something that will be of interest to every member of the family.”
Special events include a Story Time visit from the Benton Fire Department on June 26 at 10 a.m. and repeating at 2 p.m., musicians from the group Tales & Scales will perform on August 1 at 10 a.m., and the Southern Illinois Miners mascots will present an anti-bullying program on August 8.
“We have Story Time every Wednesday, special family programs on Thursdays, and activities on select Fridays,” said Steinsultz. “We have teen activities on every Tuesday, and some Mondays. There is something happening at the library nearly every day the entire summer.”
A returning favorite will be John Ham with Animal Tales of Mayfield, Kentucky. John will be presenting the program Animal Underground on animals from five continents that make their homes underground.
“Live animals are always a huge hit with the kids,” said Steinsultz. “John is bringing a Paraguayan Screaming Hairy Armadillo, a Harris Hawk, an African Spurred Tortoise, an Egyptian Fruit Bat, and a Woma Python. That should make for a great show.”
The Summer Reading Program encourages families to view the library as a destination for great, family-friendly, free entertainment. However, there is a serious side to summer reading as well. Research has shown that reading over the summer prevents summer reading loss.
“Studies also indicate students who read recreationally out-performed those who don’t. Students read more when they can choose materials based on their own interests,” Steinsultz added. “Our libraries are committed to supporting lifelong learning and educational enrichment for all families.”
Registration for the Summer Reading Program continues through the end of the program on August 10. To learn more about summer programming at the library, please call 438-7511.
A full schedule of events follows:
June 10 – Registration Begins. Continues throughout the program.
June 12 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity.
June 13 – Family Picnic, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot dogs, chips and drinks provided. Potato sack races, duck pond, face-painting, and more in the library’s back yard! Featuring an obstacle course from Inflatable Fun! Please bring lawn chairs and blankets.
June 17 – Teen Summer Reading Program, SPAMALOT at the Muny in St. Louis! We’ll take a backstage tour and have a picnic on the grounds of Forest Park. Advanced registration and permission slips required. See Ms. Erin for more information!
June 18 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Activities & Games, 2 p.m. Kick off the Teen Summer Reading Program with a fun, casual get-together for all teens! Fun, games, and, of course, food!
June 19 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
June 19 – Book Discussion Club for Adults, Noon. Join us as we discuss Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck. All are welcome. Join us even if you haven’t read the book. Feel free to bring your lunch!
June 20 – Pet Show, 10 a.m. Join us in the backyard for this Benton Public Library tradition. Well-behaved pets on leashes or in carriers welcome. Winners receive ribbons.
June 21 – Family Game Time, 4 p.m. Children, families, and groups welcome to join library staffer Ms. Lynette for some games in the meeting room. Fun activities will vary and may include the BPL Summer Reading classic, BINGO!
June 25 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Book Discussion & Activity, 2 p.m. Teens and tweens welcome to join us as we discuss The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. Join us even if you haven’t read the book! There will be food!
June 26 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., with special guest readers from the Benton Fire Department! See a fire truck up close and learn about fire safety. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
June 27 – Science Guy Jason Lindsey, 10 a.m. Awesome science experiments! Last year, Jason made a watermelon blow up inside the library! What will he do this year???
June 28 – Family Crafting, 4 p.m. Children, families, and groups are welcome to join library staffer Ms. Lynette for crafting in the meeting room. We’ll make some fun, simple crafts with a travel theme that can be taken home.
July 2 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Make a Fishing Lure with Bob Hagerman, 2 p.m. Teens can join BCHS instructor Bob Hagerman to learn how to make a variety of fishing lures. This is a fun activity for all teens. The lures can be used for fishing, as key chains, and more. Supplies are provided.
July 3 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity. Guest readers will join us throughout the summer. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
July 4 – Library closed. Happy 4th!
July 9 – Blood Drive, 2 to 6 p.m., Visit the American Red Cross bus and save up to three lives in just one hour’s time! As many people travel this summer, the need for blood is great. Please donate.
July 9 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Teen Games & Activities, 2 p.m. All teens and tweens welcome to join Ms. Erin for games and activities with the Have Book…Will Travel theme! Guest presenter anticipated.
July 10 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity. Jennifer Newbury from the University of Illinois Home Extension joins us for a special program about nutrition. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
July 11 – Rick Rayburn, 10 a.m. Musical artist Rick Rayburn returns to the library to perform after a few years away! Rick is always a favorite! He’ll perform such great hits as Are We There Yet? and The Homework Blues! Not to be missed!
July 12 – Family Game Time, 2 p.m. Children, families, and groups welcome to join library staffer Ms. Lynette for some games in the meeting room. Fun activities will vary and may include the BPL Summer Reading classic, BINGO!
July 15 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Game Day, 2 p.m. Teens and tweens welcome for board games and snacks!
July 16 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Book Discussion & Activity, 2 p.m. Teens and tweens welcome to join us as we discuss The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Join us even if you haven’t read the book! There will be food!
July 17 – Book Discussion Club for Adults, Noon. Join us as we discuss The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. All are welcome. Join us even if you haven’t read the book. Feel free to bring your lunch!
July 18 – Family Movie – Curious George, 6:30 p.m. The Man in the Yellow Hat travels to Africa where he accidentally adopts an adorable, and always funny, chimpanzee named George. Rated G.
July 19 – Family Crafting, 4 p.m. Children, families, and groups are welcome to join library staffer Ms. Lynette for crafting in the meeting room. We’ll make some fun, simple crafts with a travel theme that can be taken home.
July 20 – Animal Undergound, 10 a.m. Join the staff of Animal Tales, to learn about five animals from across the globe that makes their homes underground. Featured animals are the Paraguayan Screaming Hairy Armadillo, Harris Hawk, African Spurred Tortoise, Egyptian Fruit Bat, and a Woma Python. We’ll get to meet those animals in person, too!
July 23 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Movies ‘til Midnight!, 6:00 p.m. to Midnight. We’ll show movies with a travel (or time travel) theme. Movies may be rated PG-13 or above, and you will be staying late at the library, so parental permission will be required. This is a TEEN event. See Ms. Erin for more information.
July 24 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity. Jennifer Newbury from the University of Illinois Home Extension joins us for a special program about nutrition. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
July 25 – Talent Show! 6:30 p.m. Are you a fantastic singer or secretly a magician? Show off your talents at our BPL Talent Show! A variety of acts are encouraged. More information will be available closer to the Talent Show date.
July 27 – International Children’s Films with WSIU, 10 a.m. Join us for some short films from other countries. All films will be easily understood and enjoyed! There will be special activities to match the films and a special guest from a featured country! All who attend will receive a free book!
July 30 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Book Discussion & Activity, 2 p.m. Teens and tweens welcome to join us as we discuss Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. Join us even if you haven’t read the book! There will be food!
July 31 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity. Guest readers will join us throughout the summer. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
August 1 – Tales and Scales, 10 a.m. This is highly interactive, jazz-infused telling of the story MICE! Hear and see the story of three mice and their quest to rid themselves of a frightening problem – the farmer’s new pet cat – through a blend of music, story, theater and creative movement calling musictelling.
August 6 – Teen Summer Reading Program, Backyard Water War & Twister, 2 p.m. Water balloons against opposing teams! Plus play a game of outdoor twister on the lawn and other outdoor games. Teens and Tweens only! Loads of fun – you don’t want to miss it!!!!
August 7 – Children’s Story Time, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Read books, have a snack, and do a simple activity. Jennifer Newbury from the U of I Home Extension joins us for a special program about nutrition. The same program will be offered at both 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us at either time!
August 8 – Grounder’s Bully-Free Zone! with the Southern Illinois Miners Mascots, 10 a.m. Just in time for back-to-school, meet the mascots at this anti-bullying program. Learn how Grounder handles being bullied on his first day of school and what to do if it happens to you.
MT. VERNON – A new Nail Technology program will kick off this August at Rend Lake College’s cosmetology school, Studio RLC.
Nail Technology is a program designed to teach students the skills of manicures, pedicures, nail tips and wraps, gel nails, acrylics and nail art. The program begins Monday, Aug. 19, and results in an occupational certificate. Successful graduates are then eligible to sit for the Illinois Nail Technician Examination.
“Nail Technology is a growing field,” said Daphne Mitchell, Director of Studio RLC. “As more nail salons open and as more cosmetology businesses expand their services to include nails, we dedicated ourselves to creating a quality training program to fill that need.”
The program will be available in both full-time and part-time formats. The full-time program lasts 16 weeks, and students will attend class from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every other Saturday. The part-time option runs two semesters, and students will attend 5:30-8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The Nail Technology program consists of four courses, Nail Technology Theory I and II and Nail Technology Clinical I and II. Classes are held at Studio RLC at the Rend Lake College MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon, which also houses the college’s Cosmetology program. The Nail Technology program can serve as a stackable credential for cosmetologists looking to add to their skills.
“This is going to be a fun program for our students,” said Mitchell. “We know from watching our Cosmetology students at Studio RLC. They work hard but they’re always having a good time while they’re at it.”
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics website reports that job opportunities for manicurists and pedicurists “should be very good overall. The growing number of nail salons and the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations will result in many job openings.”
For more information or to register, contact Mitchell at 618-242-8459, or at mitchelld@rlc.edu.
INA, Ill. (June 14, 2013) – Rend Lake College Community & Corporate Education has openings available in its Chefs of Tomorrow kids camp.
These one-day camps are designed for students in Grades 4-6 and feature a different theme each Friday. Camps are offered from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays – June 21, June 28, July 19 and July 26. Campers can choose to attend all four sessions or pick and choose specific dates.
Each Friday session focuses on a different meal – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Dessert. Taught by RLC Culinary Arts Chef Instructor Robert Wilson, participants will learn the basics to begin cooking safely. By taking all four sessions, campers can learn to cook a complete family meal.
The cost is $35 per session. Samples will be taken home. For more information, or to register, contact RLC Community & Corporate Education at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1267 or 1714.
Ella Stewart Chullen, 92, of Benton, Illinois, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the home of her daughter, Cinda Chullen Riccio, in Houston, Texas.
Ella was born on January 27, 1921, in Weeksbury, Kentucky, the daughter of the late Robert Lee and Lucinda (Hall) Stewart. IN addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, John Chullen and eleven siblings: Robert L. Stewart, James H. “Bud” Stewart, Mike Stewart, Josie McCown Tackett, Ada Rowe, Ellie Moore, Babe Hamilton, Myrtle Evens, Dee Stewart, Essie Gerhart and Ralph D. Stewart.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton, Illinois. Burial will be in Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton, immediately following the service. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 14 at the funeral home.
Ella is survived by three children: John Lee Chullen and wife Susan of Benton, Illinois, Claris Ann “CC” Chullen, of Thompsonville, Illinois and Cinda Chullen Riccio and husband Joseph, of Houston, Texas. Also surviving are eleven grandchildren; Dr. Kelly Dawn Chullen-Hoppers, Dr. Cody Logan Chullen, Armstrong, Ansel, Austin and Amelia Chullen Riccio, Clarice Michele Moroni, Bryson Wayne, Braxton James, Barretta Calisa and Jolene Janea Maria Chullen; two great-grandchildren: Cooper David Hoppers and James Paul Moroni; several nieces and nephews and her companion Rat Terrier dog, “Lucy.”
Ella was a vivacious woman with a huge and loving heart. She was a great cook and loved to dance. She was bountifully blessed with many skills. She starter her work life as a “Rosie the Riveter” building aircraft during World War II. She served as a midwife delivering 33 babies in Eastern Kentucky and spent many years as a postmaster and social worker. She adamantly supported education and later in her life graduated alongside her daughter Cinda with an Associate of Arts from Rend Lake College. Afterwards she completed a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University leading to a career as an institutional food service manager. After retirement she managed a child care business from her home until her husband’s declining health required her full attention. She was a member of the Eastern Star and was baptized late in life at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Ella’s honor may do so to Gloria Dei Early Childhood Ministries, 18220 Upper Bay Road, Houston, Texas 77058.
(NOTE: The Sesser Homecoming Rend Lake Days will kick off this week and of course as the ‘Carnies’ rolled into town Sunday night that brought back memories of “The Great Sesser Homecoming Ticket Heist.” Here’s a column I wrote a few years back detailing my brief and ill-fated life of crime. I hope you enjoy!)
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Certainly, there is a great history of the Sesser Homecoming Rend Lake Days that has continued for nearly 60 years in the small Franklin County community. This offering – which I will refer to as “The Great Sesser Homecoming Ticket Heist” will not be found in that illustrious history.
Let me explain.
As a kid growing up in Sesser the annual homecoming, held annually in the third week of June, was always the highlight of the summer. My main goal through the months of April and May was to save as much money as I could mowing yards so I’d have a pocket full of cash when the James Jackson Shows and Rides rolled into town.
Actually, back then a ‘pocket full of cash’ might have amounted to $15 or $20 bucks but in those days it was a windfall. And knowing my enthusiasm my mom would always hand me three or four Eagle Stamp books a few days before the Homecoming – books that she now doubt had been saving for weeks. I would happily go redeem them – I think they were worth $1.50 apiece – and add the proceeds to my stash.
Also, every year when the ‘carnies’ rolled into town I would head to the Sesser City Park on my trusty bicycle where I was joined by an assortment of other knuckleheads. There, we would spend the entire day watching the workers assemble the assortment of rides while counting the minutes until the homecoming became alive with excitement.
One year, when I was 11 years old, we were at the park and we were all straddling our bicycles very near one of the small booths where ride tickets are sold. Noticing that no one was around one of my friends reached into the booth and grabbed an entire roll of carnival ride tickets. Looking back, there must have been 5,000 tickets on that roll.
As he headed out of the park with the stash shoved up under his shirt, for a reason to this day that I don’t understand, I tagged right along behind him. Much like the cowboys in the movies who rob a bank and then head to a safe house to divide the loot, we decided to ride our bikes to Sesser Lake, located a couple of miles southeast of town, to divvy up the cache of yellow ride tickets. To say that I had visions of endless Ferris wheel and tilt-a-whirl rides on my mind would have been an understatement. As a carnival junkie I had just hit the mother lode.
We realized quickly that we had far more tickets than we could use so we played like Robin Hood – steal from the rich and give to the poor — and began dispersing yellow ride tickets all over town. Soon the word spread in the kid community throughout Sesser and we had guys looking for us hoping to ‘score’ some of the hot (in more ways than one) tickets.
Everything was going along without a hitch until the day that the homecoming was scheduled to start. I headed to town that morning and was soon met by my accomplice who was frantic and talking a mile a minute. During times in the conversation when he was coherent he related that he overheard his parents talking about some ‘stolen ride tickets.’ He said the police had been notified and that the color of ride tickets had been changed to blue. According to his story, anybody with a yellow ticket would be arrested.
As I listened to him talk, and my 11-year-old mind surmised the situation, I realized that was my last day of freedom on earth. I was certain that I would be sent to prison and celled up with a guy with tattoos, body odor and no teeth. It goes without saying that his name would be Bubba. Life as I knew it and enjoyed it would be over.
Actually, the thought of being arrested, sent to prison and branded as a thief paled in comparison to what I knew would happen if my dad found out. The thought of the police and sharing a cell with Bubba was one thing, but the thought of Bill Muir planting a boot in the seat of my pants was something else. For those of you who consider that child abuse, my dad would quickly tell you it was the most successful way he found to deal with a heathen child.
After a few minutes of remorse followed quickly by panic we decided that we still had time to try and round up the stolen tickets. We must have ridden our bikes 50 miles that day trying to recover those blasted yellow tickets and were successful finding everybody but one person. Only minutes before the rides were scheduled to start we found out that the one person we were looking for was already at the homecoming, so we made a frantic run for the park. We found him happily standing in line at the Ferris wheel with a yellow ticket clinched in his hand. We managed to get to him before he got to the ticket-taker, and in the process spared ourselves a lengthy prison sentence.
I’ve attended the Sesser Homecoming virtually every year since that fateful summer in 1964, always enjoying one of those delicious barbeques and some roasted corn. While I have many wonderful memories from the Homecoming I still vividly recall that harrowing June day nearly 50 years ago when “The Great Sesser Homecoming Ticket Heist” scared me straight and quickly ended my life of crime.
Benton police arrested a Sesser couple, both wanted on outstanding warrants for burglary. Taken into custody was Danielle M. Clark, 20, and Carl J. Hendrix, 22. Clark and Hendrix were taken to the Franklin County Jail where they remain in custody.
