Coach Joe’s New Role

Zeigler-Royalton has a brand new golf coach, and he’s a familiar face at ZR. Joe Hargraves has made himself a permanent part of the Zeigler-Royalton school district. He went to high school here during his senior year and has been working here as a janitor for the past nineteen years. This year he became Coach Joe Hargraves and the newest Golf coach at ZRHS.

Coach Joe is a busy man at the school. Not only does he drive the bus in the morning and work around the district all school day, he now has taken on his duty as coach. He has never had time for extra jobs, such as coaching. This year when the job as the ZRC Golf coach came open, he decided to share his love for the game with the kids and applied for the job. Coach Joe has been golfing since 1997, which gives him fifteen years under his belt, and now he is “on the verge of excellence.” Coach Joe’s favorite golf course is Franklin County Country Club. He likes the course because it is well-kept and hard to play. The green is nice, the people are friendly, and the golf team plays there almost free. “It’s the nicest course in Southern Illinois.”

Coach Joe was an athlete while he was in high school. Although there wasn’t golf, he still participated in other school sports, basketball, track, and baseball. Coach Joe didn’t come to Z-R until his senior year because he went to Wayne City High School the other three years. During his freshman year at Wayne City, he played baseball, basketball, and track. He never got around to playing sports his sophomore through senior years because he found himself enjoying his favorite past time, fishing.

When Coach Joe was asked if he was a good student he said, “No, if I was I wouldn’t be a janitor.” Other than being a janitor, Coach Joe has held down other jobs too. He worked in construction and in the oil fields in Fairfield. He worked for Allen Industries and then came to Z-R. When Coach Joe is not working, he enjoys golfing, fishing, and carpenter work. His favorite part of his job is being around the kids at school. “There’s not a bad side to my job.”

Z-R Student Is a Leader On and Off the Court

Marrisa Battaglia is a senior at Zeigler-Royalton High school who is known as a leader on and off the court. Marrisa enjoys being a part of everything going on at Z-R. She is on the Zeigler-Royalton Volleyball team for the fourth time this year. She has been the setter, right hitter, and now the middle hitter. Volleyball is a sport where Marrisa says that she can “just have fun and not get too stressed.” She loves her volleyball team. Even though she is the lone senior on the team, Marrisa is welcoming the leadership role. “It’s lonely being the only senior, but I love being looked up to by the rest of the team.”

Marrisa is also a part of the Drama Club. She says, “Drama Club is fun because I enjoy acting crazy.” This would explain the ease in which she executed last year’s role as a delusional person who thought she was a superhero. “The most challenging part was trying to keep a straight face because of how funny the play actually was.” She has been a part of Drama Club for her all four years of being in high school but has acted for two of those years. Her plans to are act again this year.

Marrisa is one of the seniors who are a part of the basketball team. Even though it is not her favorite sport, she says, “Basketball takes a lot of time and effort, but keeps me in shape.” However, she doesn’t mind spending so much time with her teammates. Marrisa enjoys the dinners her team has because it makes her team more like a family. Marrisa’s favorite sport is softball. Because it is her and her father’s favorite sport, it puts a lot of stress on her. Her dad shows her that he really wants her to try her best, and try hard to make few mistakes. Since it is so important to her as well, she feels the same way about her mistakes.

Marrisa never really has any free time. “I’m usually always doing something with my time, even my free time.” When she does find the time to be free, she enjoys going out to eat with her family because it is a great way to bond and catch up on things. Marrisa has a yearly family vacation to Mexico that she enjoys as well. She finds herself going to the movies quite a bit with her best friend when she has the time.

In the classroom, Marrisa is an exceptional student, she is a high honor student at ZR.  In fact, she is in the running for this year’s valedictorian. Marrisa’s favorite subject is science. Even though she is not sure what she is going to major in after high school, she is considering on going to a junior college before moving on to a four year university. She understands that she has the opportunity to try out many things in college. That way, when she does tell her major, she will know that is what she wants to do for the rest of her life.

FCA Daily Devotion – Character Tests

I Peter 1:6
What do you find to be a trial while competing in your sport?  What parts of your character are tried in that process?  Does it test your will, your body, your attitudes, your emotions, maybe all the above?  How deeply are you affected by those trials?
In Peter’s first letter to his friends in what is now Turkey, at chapter 1 and verse 6 we read, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials.”
While we all find great enjoyment and fulfillment through playing the game, while many of us seemingly live for competition, the trying parts of the process often wear us down.  The grief that comes with sore muscles, painful joints, disappointing losses and strained relationships are all trials for all of us.
We greatly rejoice in the best parts of our game, but we also, for a little while, may have to undergo plenty of grief through the more difficult parts of competition, practice, travel and study.
As you approach this day’s competition, focus your mind on your favorite part of this game.  Put the grief and the trying parts of it behind you.  Keep clearly in view your team’s goals and press on toward a great finish and a tremendous victory.
Bible Reading Plan:
Ecclesiastes 11
Jeremiah 39-43

Diabetes Awareness Day set for November 15


(CARBONDALE, IL) Southern Illinois Healthcare, in conjunction with World Diabetes Day, will host Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Day on Thursday, November 15, from 9:00 AM until 1:30 PM at the Food Court at University Mall in Carbondale.

Approximately seven million people in the United States unknowingly have diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that has several co-morbidities, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, dental problems and diseases of the nervous system.

Our goal is to educate, engage and empower people who do and do not have diabetes,” said SIH Patient and Family Education Coordinator Deb Newbolds. Certified diabetes educators and dietitians will be available to answer questions. The event also includes healthy cooking demonstrations.

Diabetes affects both young and old alike,” said Newbolds. “We want people to learn the way they live may be putting their health at risk.”

This event is free and open to the public.

StarQuest Academy and Echo reopen after smoke scare

After being shut down since last Thursday, StarQuest Academy and Echo alternative schools re-opened today. They are located on Route 37 between West Frankfort and Johnston City.
The schools were evacuated after a smoke scare, Thursday afternoon, according to Matt Donkin, Regional Superintendent of Schools in Franklin and Williamson County.  It is his ROE office that operates the schools.
Thursday afternoon, smoke was detected in the building. This was caused by a malfunction of one of the air-conditioning units at the school. Buildings were evacuated in an orderly manner,according to Donkin.
Friday produced the mandatory inspection of the facility, with classes expected to resume. Those classes were indeed back in session today.

Early voting begins Oct. 22

By Jim Muir

Voters in Franklin County can begin voting early on Monday, Oct. 22.

A spokesperson at the Franklin County Election Office said that residents will be allowed to vote between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Election Office, located in the Franklin County Annex Building, at 202 West Main Street, in Benton.

Below is a list of dates and times that will be important to voters in the days leading up to the Nov. 6 general election.

Early Voting for General Election

First day early voting — Oct. 22, 2012 (Monday)

Last day early voting — Nov. 3, 2012 (Saturday)

Dates and Location

Monday, Oct. 22 through Sat, Nov. 3 at Franklin Co. Election Office, County Annex Building, 202 West Main, Benton, IL

Monday-Saturday – 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 27  — Denning, Township, 217 S. Horn St., West Frankfort, IL  – 8 a.m. to 12 noon

Saturday, Oct. 27 — Christopher City Hall, 218 North Thomas St., Christopher, IL — 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Absentee Voting for General Election

Last day to mail absentee ballot- military/overseas – Oct. 29, 2012

Last day to mail absentee ballot- domestic US – Nov. 1, 2012

Last day  for in-person absentee voting – Nov. 5, 2012

The Franklin County Election Office, County Annex Building in Benton will be open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the month of October and Saturday, Nov. 3.

Routine business for county board

The Franklin County Board made quick work of the items on their agenda Tuesday night in Benton.
The lengthiest portion of the meeting came with a nearly hour long executive session.  No action was taken following the return to the open meeting.
The board accepted, with regret, the letter of resignation of Tom Vaughn from the Franklin Hospital Board of trustees. Vaughn is to be seated in December as a member of the Franklin County Board itself.  Serving on both boards would be a conflict of interest. No replacement was ready to be voted on Tuesday.
The Board approved travel requests from the county sheriff’s department the highway department and the treasurer’s office.
An intergovernmental agreement between the county and the village of Royalton was tabled.
The County is to offer for bids a 1985 bucket truck used by the highway department.
The next County Board meeting will be held November 20th, at 6pm
Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News