Cook County Clerk David Orr, who’s not seeking re-election after seven terms in that office, is mulling a run for Chicago mayor, he said Wednesday.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago mayor’s race without Rahm Emanuel: Who’s in, who’s thinking about it and what it all means
September 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment
RLC Coach Jim “Hummer” Waugh dies at 81
September 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Rend Lake College lost a legend yesterday. James E. “Jim” Waugh of Terre Haute passed away Tuesday morning, September 4, 2018 at Cobblestone Crossings Health Campus. He was 81 years old.
Waugh was born July 26, 1937 in Vigo County to Max Waugh and Avis Grammer Waugh. He taught, directed athletics and coached at RLC from 1967-1995. While RLC has a long and storied athletic heritage, and many positive leaders have helmed various teams around campus, no one embodied the legacy of “coach” for Warrior athletics than the man they called “Hummer.” Retired RLC Coach Mike McClure gave him the nickname while coaching softball. Waugh would chatter to his pitchers from the dugout, “Hum, baby, hum.”
With nearly 50 combined athletic seasons under his belt, Waugh had a hand in almost every sport offered at RLC. From baseball to cheerleading sponsor, volleyball to hardwood — Hummer’s impact and legacy were far-reaching and his wins were many. But most importantly, the “gentle giant” is remembered for his positive impact on the lives of those around him. Hummer was blessed with a special kindness and character that encouraged his players to succeed for him, for their school, and for themselves.
James E. “Hummer” Waugh
Dr. Harry J. Braun, former RLC President, once commented, “Jim Waugh is one of my favorite people. He’s the kind of person with whom I would like to have my kids associate with.”
Another former president, Mark Kern, remarked, “Jim was a positive influence on every person he met and many former players are now involved in coaching.”
Waugh, a native of Terre Haute, Ind., and former three-sport star at his hometown Indiana State University, came to the area in 1966 as basketball and baseball coach at Mt. Vernon Community College. Rend Lake College became a reality the following year.
In total, Hummer won 501 basketball games, including the first seven seasons in the prep ranks, 15 seasons as coach of the Warrior men from 1966-81 and 14 with the Lady Warriors from 1981-95. As a result, he earned induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1995. He also spent 17 of those years at RLC as Athletic Director. His Lady Warriors averaged 18 wins per season and made him GRAC “Coach of the Year” in 1987; they posted 22-, 26- and 25-win campaigns from 1985-88.
The men won two Southern Illinois Collegiate Conference titles and were 20-6 in 1972-73 and 21-12 in 1979-80. Twelve softball seasons (216-150) produced a third-place NJCAA Region XXIV showing in 1991-92. He received the 1991 “Faculty Excellence Award” and was NJCAA Region XXIV Women’s Director when he retired. He was inducted into the RLC Sports Hall of Fame, Class of 2001/2002.
Hummer occupies three of the top-10 slots for longest-serving coach in RLC history — his stints leading men’s and women’s basketball and the RLC softball team. In total, Waugh coached for a combined 47 seasons with the various Warrior teams.
First RLC Warriors Baseball Team 1967-68
First RLC Warriors Basketball Team 1967-68
Coach Waugh’s Lady Warriors averaged 18 wins per season and made him GRAC “Coach of the Year” in 1987
Jim & Lila Waugh created the Jane Waugh Memorial Scholarship for their late daughter, Jane Ellen Waugh. The annual scholarship has generated thousands of dollars to help RLC students realize their dreams of higher education.
Outside of athletics, Hummer was a noteworthy educator as well, with 29 years of service to RLC.
In 1991, he was named recipient of the RLC Foundation “Faculty Excellence” Award. In addition, he co-chaired the RLC Foundation’s “Generations of Excellence” Family Capital Campaign.
Waugh’s letter of recommendation for the “Faculty Excellence Award” was signed by 14 peers. In part, it read: “Jim Waugh has stood for scholars/athletes, not the other way around … To know Rend Lake College is to know Coach Waugh. He is more than ‘Hummer,’ he is Heart. Just the other day, a student who has been in his classes and on his team commented, “His heart is as big as a house. You can always go to Hummer (for help).”
At one time or another, Waugh taught almost every course available through the Health and Physical Education Department. He is credited with developing the Basic First Aid course and the Substance Use and Abuse course, as well as many of the P.E. activity courses.
Hummer will always be part of the fabric of RLC and the area. In addition to more than 35 of his former scholars/athletes being in the coaching ranks today, the college’s gymnasium was dedicated to him in a naming ceremony on Nov. 3, 1995, officially becoming the James “Hummer” Waugh Gymnasium. His long-time friend and fellow RLC athletic staple Wayne Arnold summed up Waugh as “a gentleman on and off the court” who was devoted to his family.
A gathering at Waugh Gymnasium on Rend Lake College’s Ina Campus is scheduled for 1:00 PM Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. Read Hummer’s obituary online here. If friends should so desire, memorial contributions may be made to the “Coach Jim ‘Hummer’ Waugh Memorial” through the Rend Lake College Foundation, 468 N. Ken Gray Parkway, Ina, IL 62846 Attn: Foundation. Or give online at https://rlc.edu/foundation/give-now.
Protest brings arrests, doesn’t shut down Chicago expressway
September 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
CHICAGO — Police arrested a dozen participants of an anti-violence protest on Labor Day that tried and ultimately failed to shut down an expressway that leads to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Franklin County Sheriff’s Department reports multiple arrests
September 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
8-17-18 at 11:23 pm Deputies responded to an incident in Orient in which a 1998 Dodge Ram Pick-Up Truck struck a fire hydrant on Jackson St. and left the scene. The investigation led to the arrest of Michael E. Humerickhouse age 58 of West Frankfort for leaving the scene of a property damage traffic crash.
8-18-18 at 3:05 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. 14 just west of Fairview Rd. A 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by Anthony M. Beaty age 16 of DuQuoin was west bound on Rt. 14 and swerved into the path of an east bound 2012 Nissan Altima driven by Van E. Quick age 64 of Benton, sideswiping the Nissan. Van Quick and a passenger, Lou Ann Quick age 65 of Benton received incapacitating injuries and were both transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S. Beaty was not injured and was ticketed for improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash.
8-21-18 at 11:29 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. Rt. 149 at Orient Road. A 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by Kristen L. Eldridge age 30 of West Frankfort had been south bound on Orient Road and turned into the Rt. 149 intersection in front of an east bound 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Samantha S. Vachata age 34 of Zeigler. Eldridge and a passenger, Cheryl R. Mifflin age 56 of West Frankfort received major injuries as did Samantha Vachata. All were transported to a local hospital by West Frankfort Fire E.M.S. Eldridge was ticketed for failure to yield right of way.
8-22-18 AT 3:33 am a traffic stop in West City led to the arrest of Chad A. Kramer age 46 of West Frankfort for possession of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle recovered was a 2003 green Dodge Durango, reported stolen from Centralia.
8-22-18 at 5:52 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. Rt. 14 at Il. State Hwy. Rt. 184. A 2001 Pontiac Grand am driven by Daniel T. Adams age 31 of Benton was west bound on Rt. 14 and stopped in traffic to complete a left turn south onto Rt. 184. A 2003 Buick, driven by Joshua P. Webb age 31 of Mt. Vernon was also west bound directly behind the Pontiac, failed to stop and struck the Pontiac in a rear-end type crash. There were no injuries and Webb was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.
8-22-18 at 6:10 am Deputies responded to a reported disturbance at the north bound rest area on I-57. The incident led to the arrest of Tristan D. Duong age 35 of Marion for unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Duong also was wanted on an outstanding Williamson County warrant for failure to appear on traffic charges.
8-23-18 at 2:38 pm a Deputy assisted Franklin County Probation with a home visit in West Frankfort. The investigation led to the arrest of Chad H. Barnett age 42 of West Frankfort for possession of methamphetamine.
8-23-18 at 3:05 pm a traffic stop in Akin led to the arrest of Jason L. Kelley age 40 of Macedonia for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on felony theft.
WARRANT ARRESTS
8-19-18 John A. B. Sutton age 29 of Christopher. Failed to appear on civil and traffic cases.
8-19-18 Carrie A. Ellis age 36 of Sesser. Failure to appear for criminal trespass.
8-19-18 Janelle A. Canon Age 33 of Benton. Failure to appear for theft.
8-20-18 Kevin L. Morris age 43 of Christopher. Failure to appear on traffic charges.
8-20-18 Northen W. Dimuke age 47 of Harrisburg. Failure to appear on traffic charges.
8-20-18 Kalyn A. Hayes age 22 of Christopher. Failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine.
8-22-18 Brandon J. Finke age 37 of Effingham. Failure to appear for obstructing a peace officer.
Work requirement for food stamps in farm bill now in hands of Congress
September 4, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Talks are now under way between U.S. House members who supported a farm bill with a work requirement for food stamp recipients and a handful of senators who passed a version of the bill without a work requirement.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Civil rights groups pressure Illinois towns to back off panhandlers
August 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Civil rights groups are going after more than a dozen cities in Illinois for violating the First Amendment rights of panhandlers.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
State child services ‘missed opportunities’ to help family before fire that killed 10 children: Inspector general
August 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment
The inspector general for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is investigating whether caseworkers “missed opportunities” to ensure better supervision at a home in Little Village where 10 children died in a fire this weekend after they apparently were left alone during a family sleepover.
Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.
Illinois reports 1st human West Nile virus death of 2018
August 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment
A LaSalle County resident has died of West Nile virus, becoming the state’s first death from the virus in 2018.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Advocates, Illinois Senate President vow to try again with Tobacco 21 law
August 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
Supporters of the idea to raise the age to buy a pack of cigarettes or tin of chewing tobacco to 21 are vowing to try again next year.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
Rauner signs multi-year vehicle registration bill into law
August 30, 2018 By Leave a Comment
In just a few years, drivers in Illinois will be able to pay for two years worth of registration on their car at once.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
