Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
CHICAGO — Like your cousin who doesn’t pay his bills on time and squanders money he doesn’t have, Illinois is paying the price — in both cash and reputation — for years of ignored warnings about its pension crisis, the worst in the nation.
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.
Staff Report
Dozens of people from all over the world will converge at Rend Lake College later this month to officially become American citizens.
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois will host a Naturalization Ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, June 28, 2013, at the Rend Lake College Theatre.
United States Bankruptcy Judge Kenneth J. Meyers will preside at the ceremony where the United States Custom and Immigration Services will welcome approximately 50 new citizens.
The Southern District of Illinois is one of three federal judicial districts in Illinois and is comprised of the 38 southernmost counties. Although the ceremony is an official court proceeding, the Court elects to host Naturalization ceremonies at locations throughout the district several times each year in order to provide students and the public an opportunity to witness the Naturalization process and learn more about how immigrants to the United States become citizens.
For more information, see the court’s website, www.ilsd.uscourts.gov, or contact the Clerk of Court, Nancy Rosenstengel, at 618-482-9172.
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.
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.
By Jim Muir
Donald Lee, the 39-year-old Elkville man accused of murdering a 23-year-old Bonnie woman last month, entered a not guilty plea in Franklin County Circuit Court on Wednesday.
Brittany Andrews
Lee is charged with two counts of first degree murder and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in the death of Brittany Andrews.
Lee is charged with shooting Andrews in the head on an East Main Street parking lot, adjacent to a bar where they had reportedly just left.
Lee entered a plea of not guilty after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing during a brief appearance before Judge Thomas Tedeschi. A jury trial was set for Sept. 10 with a final pretrial conference slated for August 29. Lee remains in custody in Franklin County Jail in lieu of $2 million bond.
Benton police blotter:
On May 30, 2013 Benton Police arrested Cheryl Strickler, age 43, of Benton for driving while license suspended. Strickler was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On May 31, 2013 Benton Police arrested Jonathan E. Goddard on an active Franklin County warrant for petition to revoke probation. Goddard was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 1, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Espy Street in reference to criminal trespass to a residence. Upon arrival and through investigation, police arrested John R. Jessie, age 56, of Benton for criminal trespass to a residence and battery. Jessie was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 1, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 1000 block of Hunters Circle in reference to criminal trespass. Through investigation, police arrested Michael S. Ligon, age 39, of Benton for criminal trespass to real property. Ligon was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 1, 2013 Benton Police arrested James E. Twombly, age 42, of Benton for endangering the life of a child. Twombly was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 2, 2013 Benton Police arrested Crystal E. Summers, age 33, of Benton for domestic battery. Summers was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
The Franklin County Highway Department has issued road closures in the county due to flooding.
Roads that are impassable due to water as of Sunday, June 2 are: Deering Road, Park Street Road and Peach Orchard Road.
Emergency management officials remind drivers not to attempt to cross when water is over the roadway. The rule used is: Turn around, don’t drown.
By J. Larry Miller
The warmer temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday were certainly welcome and I was beginning to lose my confidence in Al Gore and global warming. There is still some concern as cooler temperatures are forecast this weekend. Corn that was planted almost 2 weeks ago has sprouted and is possibly going to make it.
Larry Miller, executive director Franklin County Farm Bureau
April is the cruelest month,” the poet T.S. Eliott wrote in 1922, and it’s a judgment many nervous Illinois farmers might share in 2013.
The five-year average for corn planting is 40 percent. This year, with rain-saturated fields and cool soils, just 1 percent of the corn is in the ground, according to the weekly Illinois Weather and Crops report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As of April 24, the month already had been the fourth-wettest in Illinois history, according to Jim Angel, state climatologist with the Illinois State Water Survey. The state average rain was 6.58 inches and within striking distance of the record 7.40 in April 2011, Angel said. April’s average is 3.77.
Farmers are not looking forward to the forecast for the rest of this week with lost of rain possible. Looks like it will be at least next week before much else can be done in the fields. But as a farmer there are always many things that need attention around the farm so inside work will get caught up during this time.
The 2nd Annual Franklin County Farm Bureau Antique Tractor Drive Josh Odom Memorial will be held on May 11th in conjunction with the Rend Lake Water Festival. The Young Leaders have been working diligently in getting local implement dealers to come and set up equipment on the parking lot across from McDonald’s in West City at the Rend Lake Plaza.
The tractor drive will begin with registration at 10:00 a.m. and leave Rend Lake Plaza at 10:30 to drive around the lake and enjoy the day. Right now the weather says we will have a high of 79 degrees which will be perfect weather for the event.
We still have plenty of room for entries for the antique tractors to participate – with a $10 entry fee that will get you a t-shirt and a fish dinner this is quite reasonable. The television show “Small Town, Big Deal” will be here filming for this event so Franklin County will be on national television and get some major recognition for all that we do. Let’s get as many tractors to participate as possible for a good showing.
For more information call the Franklin County Farm Bureau at (618) 435-3616 to reserve your space today.
Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.
