Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
President Donald Trump on Thursday pardoned a conservative commentator he claims “was treated very unfairly by our government!” and announced he’s thinking about clemency for Martha Stewart and former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, among “lots” of other people.
Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.
Cities across Illinois are shrinking because people are moving to other states, according to U.S. Census officials.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
By Jim Muir
Love, friendship, support and basketball will be on display at Rich Herrin Gymnasium in Benton on June 2 to honor and lend help to a former player and coach who has touched many lives.
As a high school and collegiate basketball standout back in the 1980s Curtis Smith was known for his work ethic, team play, tenacity and will to win. Later as a coach he was known as a ‘player’s coach’ who instilled a team-first attitude and developed a never-ending bond with his players.
Facing a different type of opponent these days, the 56-year-old Smith is using those same qualities in the fight of his life. Smith, a lifelong Benton resident, was diagnosed with colon cancer in October 2015 and has undergone extensive chemo and radiation treatment. He has recently experienced some setbacks and is currently a patient at Barnes Hospital, in St. Louis.
Curtis Smith and grandson Axton.
Former teammates and players have rallied around Smith to lend support to his cause. Leading that effort is Rex Roberts, who played for Smith at Ewing-Northern Grade School, located in northeast Franklin County. Roberts organized a three-on-three basketball tournament that will be held on June 2.
Roberts said his idea to start the fundraiser for Smith was simply a way to “give back” to a coach and person that has unselfishly given much time and energy to many.
“Coach Smith was always there for me and for his players,” Roberts said. “I moved to Ewing before my eighth grade year and he came to my house and invited me to open gym. He was always the same guy, through my high school years when I would see him and then years later he was always the same person. He is just a genuine good person.”
Roberts said the decision for what type of fundraiser was an easy one.
“Nobody loves basketball more than Coach Smith,” said Roberts. “It’s a great way to play or just enjoy a day of competitive basketball action and help raise money for a great family. It’s a way for the community to give back and help a person that helped many.”
Smith played for legendary coach Rich Herrin, who recalled him as a player who worked hard develop his skills. Herrin said Smith was a key cog on a very talented 1980 team that advanced to the Sweet 16.
Herrin said he fondly remembers those days when Smith was hitting long-range jumpers on a “special team” that advanced to the Carbondale Super Sectional where they lost to eventual state runner-up Okawville. Smith was a senior starter on that team with Jim Labuwi, Steve Shurtz, Kent Yancik and Jerry Corn.
“Curtis is what I would call a self-made player,” Herrin recalled. “He didn’t play basketball in junior high but when he started playing his freshmen year he fell in love with the game of basketball. He was the first one in the gym and the last one to leave. You had to run him off to get him out of the gym but he was a joy to coach.”
Smith went on play at Rend Lake College where he flourished and continued to improve his game. He ranks in the top five of all-time scorers at the Ina-based community college and was inducted into the RLC Sports Hall of Fame.
Herrin said he’s not surprised that Smith’s basketball success continued after high school.
“He was dedicated about improving his game and I was not surprised to see him continue to have success at the college level,” said Herrin. “I know that the young men at Ewing and Benton were fortunate to have Curtis as their coach.”
Linda Smith, Curtis’ wife, said her family has been “overwhelmed” by the show of support during a very difficult time.
“We’re all just amazed at the kindness that people have shown to our family,” she said. “Even though many of them are grown men now, Curtis still thinks of his former
Curtis Smith during his playing days at Rend Lake College.
players as his boys. They will always be his boys.”
Steve Shurtz, the starting point guard on the 1980 Benton team, said Smith was an exceptional teammate.
“He was just a good all-around player, he played hard, hustled all the time, was a team-player, very unselfish and he hated to lose,” said Shurtz. “He just loved to play basketball, he would play in the gym at lunch, pickup games at old Douglas School and open gym in the summer – he was always there. Curtis just worked hard to be the very best basketball player that he could be.”
Shurtz recalled that he and Smith played on the same team through high school, shared rides to Rend Lake College after high school and then while in college, worked together on their first part-time summer job and often fished and hunted together. Aside from all those connections, Shurtz said there is another part of Smith’s life that stood out the most.
Curtis and Linda Smith with grandson Axton.
“The thing I admire most about Curtis is that he is a great family man, a terrific husband and father and a tremendous role model for all the young men he coached,” said Shurtz. “He has a strong faith in God and family with a great support group. I have faith he can beat this terrible disease. I am proud to be a part of Team Smith.”
The daylong event will kick off at Rich Herrin Gym at 9 a.m. with a 3-on-3 Tournament where more than 30 teams will participate. Lunch, sponsored by Uncle Joe’s B-B-Q, will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost will be $7 for adults and $5 for children with all the proceeds going to help the Smith Family. A special ceremony will be held at 12:30 p.m. to recognize Curtis Smith, the teams involved and also to honor and recognize all the cancer fighters and survivors in attendance.
Roberts encouraged all cancer survivors and their families to attend the event.
“This is a really important part of the day and we want to get as many cancer survivors as possible in attendance,” Roberts said. “We are going to have some speakers and honor all those that have been impacted by cancer. I believe it will add the exclamation point to the day.”
Anybody needing more information on this special day of basketball and friendship can contact Rex Roberts at 618-218-3314.
Gov. Bruce Rauner wants to spend more than $11 billion over the next six years on infrastructure.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers is pushing a standalone bill to bring back the death penalty for some crimes.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
State lawmakers say they are on track to have a balanced full-year budget before the Thursday deadline, but one remaining question is whether it will get the governor’s support.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
A 38-year-old West Frankfort man is in custody charged with felony theft.
Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Daniel R. Wallace on felony theft charges Thursday while he was at a residence in Benton.
An aide to Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday that the governor would sign a standalone bill to extend the required wait time before buying firearms in Illinois.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.
5-18-18 at 12:59 pm Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on Mine 25 Road just west of Logan Road. A 2001 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Larry W. Carter age 53 of Thompsonville was west bound and lost control, traveling off the north side of the road and going into a ditch. The driver suffered undetermined injuries and was transported to a local hospital by West Frankfort E.M.S.
5-19-18 at 10:08 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on Lincoln Road near Grammer Hill Road. A 2015 Honda CBR driven by Eric M. Young age 21 of Christopher was northbound when he lost control of his motorcycle and went into a ditch. The driver was wearing a helmet, but suffered major injuries. He was transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S. Sesser Fire First Responders also responded to the scene.
5-20-18 at 10:39 am Deputies responded to a disturbance at a residence in Macedonia. The investigation led to the arrest of Terry L. Norris age 56 of Benton for criminal trespass, criminal damage to property and obstructing a peace officer.
5-20-18 at 1:46 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Benton. The investigation led to the arrest of Nicolas R.J. Korolenko age 24 of West Frankfort for domestic battery.
5-21-18 at 4:29 am Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in Coello. The investigation resulted in the arrest of Kendra L. Key age 47 of Coello for domestic battery.
5-21-18 at 8:28 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on East Main St. and Goldheimer St. in Benton. A 2010 Hyundai Sonata driven by Linda L. Joplin age 70 of Benton, was eastbound on Main St., when a 2003 Ford Escort, driven by Donna L. Berendt age 52 of Benton, failed to stop at the stop sign on Goldheimer St. and East Main, pulling out onto East Main St. into the path of the Hyundai. Both drivers received major injuries and were transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S. Donna Berendt was ticketed for disobeying a stop sign, failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash and operating an uninsured motor vehicle.
5-22-18 at 11:54 am Deputies responded to a hit and run crash that occurred on Il. Rt. 37 south of the Yellow Banks Road. A 2012 Nissan Altima driven by Van E. Quick age 63 of Benton was southbound on Rt. 37 when a northbound 2008 Mini-Cooper, driven by Steven A. Burberry age 62 of Benton, was northbound, crossed into the southbound lane sideswiping the Nissan. The Mini-Cooper continued northbound and was stopped by responding Deputies on west Main St. in Benton. There were no injuries and Steven A. Burberry was arrested for leaving the scene of a property damage crash and for driving under the influence of alcohol.
5-23-18 at 6:47 pm Deputies responded to a domestic dispute in rural Mulkeytown. The investigation led to the arrest of Seth A. Phillips age 27 of Mulkeytown for domestic battery.
5-24-18 at 8:49 am Deputies responded to a single vehicle traffic crash on Coal St. in Freeman Spur. A 2015 Chevrolet Malibu driven by Stephen T. Vaughn age 25 of Freeman Spur stated he served to miss a dog, ran off the roadway and struck a tree. There were no injuries and the driver was arrested for driving while license suspended.
5-24-18 Deputies arrested Daniel R. Wallace Jr. age 38 of West Frankfort for residential burglary and felony theft. The burglary had been reported on 5-21-18 from a residence in rural Benton. The investigation first led to a residence in Coello where some of the stolen items were recovered and some other items were recovered from the suspect’s pick-up truck. Wallace was arrested at a residence in Benton. He is being held in the County Jail without bond pending review by the State’s Attorney’s Office and the sitting of bond by the Circuit Court.
Warrant Arrests
5-1-18 Michelle Palmer age 33 of Johnston City. Failure to appear on traffic charges
5-8-18 Joshua B. Steely age 32 of Mulkeytown. Failure to appear for burglary
5-8-18 Kayin C. Jeter age 18 of Herrin. Failure to appear for theft
5-8-18 Jacob R. Diefenbach age 30 of Pittsburg. Delivery of methamphetamine
5-10-18 Tara L. Motsinger age 58 of Mulkeytown. Failure to appear for aggravated assault
5-11-18 Aspin M. Walta age 22 of O’Fallon. Violation of probation
5-17-18 Jessica K. Evans age 20 of Marion. Unlawful delivery of methamphetamine
5-20-18 Jaryan D. Brock-Brantley age 29 of Marion. Warrant to revoke probation
5-20-18 Tony W. Fricke age 49 of Campbell Hill. Failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine
5-21-18 John A.B. Sutton age 29 of Christopher. Failure to appear for theft
5-21-18 Donald L. Singleton age 41 of Logan. Failure to appear for criminal trespass to property
5-22-18 Christopher K. Martin age 21 of Zeigler. Failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine
5-22-18 Samuel L. Lusby age 60 of Woodlawn. Failure to appear for theft
5-25-18 Ronelle Kondoudis age 47 of Florida. Failure to appear for possession of a controlled substance.
5-24-18 Matthew J. Harris age 40 of Mulkeytown. Failure to appear for possession of cannabis
The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Is it justice or revenge or politics? Opponents and proponents of bringing back the death penalty in Illinois for cop killers and mass murderers said their piece Monday in committee.
Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network
