Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
Illinois finished the fiscal year on Sunday $6.1 billion in the red. But Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka said Monday that the backlog of unpaid bills to schools, agencies, hospitals and businesses is expected to grow another $1.4 billion by next month.
MULKEYTOWN – Eco Christine Edmonds, 26, passed away Friday morning, June 28, 2013, in Franklin Hospital Benton.
Eco was born March 18, 1987, in Carbondale, to Bryan and Mary (Wade) Edmonds.
Eco graduated from Christopher High School in 2005 and studied at Rend Lake College. She was employed at American Legion Post 280 in Benton. She will be remembered by family and friends for her bubbly personality that would instantly put a smile on your face.
Eco is survived by a daughter, 7-year-old Julienne Christine Laurent; parents, Mary and Wade Chaplin of Benton and Bryan Edmonds of Mulkeytown; grandparents, Peggy and Dennis Caldwell, Bob and Kim Edmonds and Mary Rogers; great-grandparents, Abe Chestnut and Donald Wade; twin sisters, Whitley and Amber Ticer; brother, Kodiak Frye; uncles, Rob Edmonds and Marty Wade and wife, Tabitha; aunt, Missy Wade; and several other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Annis Chestnut, Ruth and Robert Edmonds and Ida and Charles Jelly.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, in Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, with Brother Cody Christianson officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Mulkeytown Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to an educational fund for Eco’s daughter, Julienne Christine Laurent and will be accepted at the funeral home.
BENTON – William Henry Warfel, 89, formerly of Christopher, died Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in Franklin Hospital emergency room in Benton.
Henry was a truck driver by occupation and was a member of Orient Church of Christ, and was an elder and Sunday school teacher.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran during World War II and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
Henry loved to dance and tell stories and he was a friend to everybody he met.
Henry was born April 26, 1924, in Zeigler, to Henry and Anna (Gilson) Warfel.
Henry married Connie (Cockrum) Warfel and she preceded him in death. He was first married to Ruth (Gipson) Warfel and she also preceded him in death.
He is survived by a daughter-in-law, Laura (Wasson) Warfel of Park Forest; grandchildren, Elizabeth Suzanne and Jeremy Brown of Lubbock, Texas, William Thomas and Alana Warfel of Dallas, Scott Eugene and Meggan Warfel of Tulsa, Okla.; and four great-grandchildren.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents; one son, William Eugene Warfel; first wife, Cindy(Lazzeri) Warfel; four sisters, Frieda Blackard, Hallie Worthing, Nellie Reeves and Lois Lowery; and one brother, Edward Warfel.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 2, in Gilbert Funeral Home in Christopher, with the Rev. Ed Pool officiating. Interment will be in Masonic and IOOF Cemetery in Benton. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, July 1, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Orient Church of Christ, P.O. Box 105, Orient, IL 62874.
For more information, visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.
By Jim Muir
This Sunday, June 30 will be a day of patriotism and recognition as Whittington Church hosts its annual Freedom Day Celebration.
This will mark the 17th year that Whittington Church has honored all military veterans (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) along with law enforcement and fire fighters. All those in attendance will be recognized during the 10:30 a.m. service for their contribution and sacrifice.
Pastor Mark Minor said this year’s Freedom Celebration will include a special recognition of World War II veterans.
“World War II was the most critical and pivotal conflict of the 20th Century,” Minor said. “Every day, according to statistics from Department of Veterans Affairs, we lose 670 WW II veterans, with estimates of less than 10,000 veterans still alive. For those WW II veterans in attendance, there will be individual recognition and awards.”
Minor emphasized that the annual event is open to all military veterans or active/reserved duty, not just those who attend Whittington Church on a regular basis.
The longtime pastor said Freedom Day Celebration is something he and the entire congregation look forward to and embrace each year.
“For me, this is the most moving and meaningful service we do each year,” Minor said. “To see these men and women honored, to consider their service to our country, to recognize their sacrifice … they are God’s gift to America and the front line of Freedom.”
Minor said the yearly day of recognition for veterans and first responders is “well-deserved.”
“The Bible encourages us to ‘give honor to whom honor is due,” Minor said. “If we do not honor those who put their lives on the line for Freedom, we don’t truly understand how precious and rare our Freedom is.”
Minor said the Freedom Day Celebration has provided many unforgettable moments and noted that the concept behind the event is simply to say ‘thanks.’
“One of the most memorable services was a few years ago when a Vietnam vet, who had been invited by a friend, was visibly moved by the standing ovation he received for his military service,” Minor said. “‘This is the first time’, he said, ‘that anyone has ever applauded or said ‘thank you’ to me for serving.’” To say ‘thank you’ is what this service is all about.”
The Freedom Day Celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. and anybody needing more information can contact Whittington Church at 618-629-2423 or go to the church’s website at www.whittington.org.
These students are in the final days of completing Rend Lake College’s Practical Nursing program, which prepares them for the state licensure exam. They will attend their pinning ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27, in the RLC Theatre. FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Randee Kurtz (Tamaroa), Marlo Smith (Mt. Vernon), Khristi Spurlock (Bluford), Ashlee Summers (Benton), April Emery (Scheller), Emmalee Jones (Mt. Vernon) and Amanda Miller (Benton). SECOND ROW, FROM LEFT: Kaitlyn Catron (Ina), Sarah Carter (Bonnie), Taylor Belmont (Dahlgren), Cory Capps (Belle Rive), Josh Owens (Mt. Vernon), Erica Maple (Christopher), Aaron Dunn (Mt. Vernon), Katie Blagg (Thompsonville) and Rachel Flood (Buckner). THIRD ROW, FROM LEFT: Penny Huff (Benton), Stephanie Moore (Dix), Heather Zuber (Mt. Vernon), Alicia Barnes (Woodlawn), Cameron Yosanovich (Christopher), Amber Labrie (Bluford) and Sarah Anderson (Mulkeytown). FOURTH ROW, FROM LEFT: Barton Shurtz (Valier), Jenni Vosburgh (Mt. Vernon), Trisha McPheeters (Mt. Vernon), McKenzie Haeuber (Woodlawn), Tiffany Moore (Thompsonville), Misty Martin (Mt. Vernon) and Susan Dismore (Mt. Vernon). FIFTH ROW, FROM LEFT: Theresa Hewlett (Thompsonville), Jamie Carney (Benton), Brenna Choisser (West Frankfort), Jordan Young (Mulkeytown), Bryce Hamburger (DuQuoin) and Casey Wininger (Mt. Vernon). BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: Connie Owens (Mt. Vernon), Tomi Heil (McLeansboro), Alisha Capps (Mt. Vernon), Amy Lampley (Thompsonville), Mackenzie Kerley (Logan) and Whitney Winstead (Benton). (Photo by Nathan Wheeler / RLC Public Information)
Christina Marie Bradley, 19, of Valier; died as the result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident that occurred on Tuesday evening at the intersection of State Route 154 and Larry Foster Parkway near Whittington.
Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Leffler – Poulson Funeral Home of Benton, with Pastor Alan Kornacki officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour on Friday at the Leffler – Poulson Funeral Home. Per Christina’s wishes, she will be cremated.
Ms. Bradley was born February 18, 1994 in DuQuoin the daughter of John Bradley and Lisa (Klingel) Bradley. She was living with David B. Couture and he too died as the result of injuries sustained in the same motor vehicle accident as Christina.
Christina is survived by her mother Lisa Bradley of Benton, her father John Bradley of Christopher, maternal grandmother Beverly Klingel of Christopher, paternal grandmother Ruth Bradley of Christopher, several aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather William Klingel and her paternal grandfather Elbert Bradley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Leffler – Poulson Funeral Home, 401 East Main Street, Benton, IL 62812, to help the family with the funeral expenses.
To view the obituary and sign the online guest memorial register book, visit www.lpfuneralhome.com
By Jim Muir
Two Franklin County residents were killed in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Route 154 and Larry Foster Parkway, located only as short distance west of the Whittington/Sesser exit on Interstate 57.
Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler said that David B. Couture, 23 of Valier and 19-year-old Christina Marie Bradley, of Christopher, died in the accident that took place shortly before 5 p.m.
Authorities say that Couture was northbound on Larry Foster Parkway and pulled into the path of a semi-truck being driven by Kevin Simpson, of West Frankfort, who was eastbound on Route 154. Simpson’s truck T-boned the Couture van killing the young couple on impact according to Leffler. The force of the collision pushed the van east of the intersection and off the north side of Route 154.
State police handled the accident and the investigation.
By Jim Muir
Two people are confirmed dead in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Route 154 and Larry Foster Parkway, located only as short distance west of the Whittington/Sesser exit on Interstate 57.
Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler, who was en route to the scene of the fatal crash when contacted, said preliminary reports indicate that a semi-trailer truck was traveling east on Route 154 and collided broadside with a mini-van that was traveling north on Larry Foster Parkway.
Leffler said it is unclear at this time if the mini-van failed to stop at the intersection or pulled in front of the semi-truck. Leffler said the semi-truck “T-boned” the mini-van resulting in the death of two people in the van.
Leffler said it would be several hours until the named of the victims are released. He said the victims have not been removed from the scene and that first responders are working to try and get the two vehicles separated.
The accident took place shortly after 5 p.m. This story will be updated later this evening.
Sam M. Yosanovich, 76, of Christopher, died on Tuesday, June 24, 2013 at Franklin Hospital, in Benton.
Mr. Yosanovich was born in Du Quoin, Illinois, the son of Sam M. Yosanovich and Theresa (Kapello) Yosanovich. He was an Army veteran.
He is survived by one brother, John and Sue Yosanovich and nieces Linda and Terry Norman, Sarah and Alan Mathisen and Jeanette and Greg Garduno and one nephew, Dr. George Zehak. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Mary Zehak and Brothers Julius, Joseph and Steve Hornyak and a nephew, Mark Yosanovich.
Funeral services will be held at Gilbert Funeral Home on Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 3 p.m. with Brother Mark Miller officiating. Visitation will be: from 1:00 P.M. till service time at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday. Burial will be Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.
Gilbert Funeral Home Christopher, Illinois is in charge of arrangements. For more information visit gilbertfuneralhomes.com.
By Jim Muir
This Sunday, June 30 will be a day of patriotism and recognition as Whittington Church hosts its annual Freedom Day Celebration.
This will mark the 17th year that Whittington Church has honored all military veterans (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard) along with law enforcement and fire fighters. All those in attendance will be recognized during the 10:30 a.m. service for their contribution and sacrifice.
Pastor Mark Minor said this year’s Freedom Celebration will include a special recognition of World War II veterans.
“World War II was the most critical and pivotal conflict of the 20th Century,” Minor said. “Every day, according to statistics from Department of Veterans Affairs, we lose 670 WW II veterans, with estimates of less than 10,000 veterans still alive. For those WW II veterans in attendance, there will be individual recognition and awards.”
Minor emphasized that the annual event is open to all military veterans or active/reserved duty, not just those who attend Whittington Church on a regular basis.
The longtime pastor said Freedom Day Celebration is something he and the entire congregation look forward to and embrace each year.
“For me, this is the most moving and meaningful service we do each year,” Minor said. “To see these men and women honored, to consider their service to our country, to recognize their sacrifice … they are God’s gift to America and the front line of Freedom.”
Minor said the yearly day of recognition for veterans and first responders is “well-deserved.”
“The Bible encourages us to ‘give honor to whom honor is due,” Minor said. “If we do not honor those who put their lives on the line for Freedom, we don’t truly understand how precious and rare our Freedom is.”
Minor said the Freedom Day Celebration has provided many unforgettable moments and noted that the concept behind the event is simply to say ‘thanks.’
“One of the most memorable services was a few years ago when a Vietnam vet, who had been invited by a friend, was visibly moved by the standing ovation he received for his military service,” Minor said. “‘This is the first time’, he said, ‘that anyone has ever applauded or said ‘thank you’ to me for serving.’” To say ‘thank you’ is what this service is all about.”
The Freedom Day Celebration begins at 10:30 a.m. and anybody needing more information can contact Whittington Church at 618-629-2423 or go to the church’s website at www.whittington.org.
