GEC Tournament Parings

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Deaton Gym on the campus of Southeastern Illinois College, hosts of the tournament

Deaton Gym on the campus of Southeastern Illinois College, hosts of the tournament

The Greater Egyptian conference tournament parings have been released.  The Thompsonville Tigers have the 8th seed and they are playing top seed Gallatin County, in the first round at 8:00 on Monday, January 23.

Carrier Mills is the Number four seed and will play fifth seeded NCOE, to open the tournament on the 23rd at 6:30.

On Tuesday night the third seed Hardin County will play number six seed Galatia at 6:30.  Second seeded Crab Orchard will play the number seven seed, Pope County at 8:00 pm

All games are played at Southeastern Illinois College in Harrisburg.

Here is a link to the full bracket from Jack Bullock at abaselineview.com -sd

abv-jack

http://abaselineview.com/abvtourgec.html

 

Filed Under: Slider, Sports, Thompsonville High School Sports

Liberal is very conservative

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The Liberal MO Bulldogs girls basketball team holds hands to pray before tip-off with their opponents, the College Heights Cougars.

The Liberal MO Bulldogs girls basketball team holds hands to pray before tip-off with their opponents, the College Heights Cougars.

This is a story of a town called Liberal Mo, located at the Kansas border. The town is 35 miles north of Joplin. It is one of the most conservative counties in the state. The Founding Fathers of the town had two laws, no churches or taverns. The locals of this town of 750 are embarrassed. Please click on this link to read the story from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.

Filed Under: Featured, Slider

Memories I will always have of Royalton-Erv Coppi

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Before the days of cable and satellite television, there were only four channels in this market, WSIL, WPSD, WSIU, and KFVS. When WDDD, WCEE, and KBSI signed on the air, several were all amazed

Erv Coppi and Virginia Marmaduke hosting their classic movie show on Channel 8. (WSIU file photo)

Erv Coppi and Virginia Marmaduke hosting their classic movie show on Channel 8. (WSIU file photo)

at the selection. On Channel 8 Irv Coppi and Virginia Marmaduke hosted a weekend show on Channel 8. They showed classic black and white movies. I liked watching them especially ones with Ronald Reagan in them. I will share pieces of Franklin County history at times on this page. I do not know the date on this. The article was circulating on social media last night. To read the story click on the link from royaltonillinois.com sd

Filed Under: Featured, Slider

Harrisburg women avoid Fort Lauderdale Airport shooting

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
The two Harrisburg women who escaped the Fort Lauderdale shooting (WSIL TV Photo)

The two Harrisburg women who escaped the Fort Lauderdale shooting (WSIL TV Photo)

HARRISBURG – Two Harrisburg women traveling from Florida to St. Louis had just become airborne when a man began shooting in the Fort Lauderdale airport Friday afternoon, one of the women said. Celia Roark and her grandmother Patty Peterson had just departed the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport when a man reportedly from an incoming Canadian flight allegedly claimed a checked bag containing a firearm, took the firearm into a bathroom to load it and emerged shooting. Five people are dead and 8 injured as a result, according to multiple news outlets. The shooting happened in the baggage claim area of Terminal 2 at the airport. Roark, the daughter of former Daily Register sports editor John Roark of Princeton, Ind. and Amy Peterson of Marion, said they were in Terminal 1 prior to departure. Please click and read the story from Travis DeNeal of the Harrisburg Daliy-Register.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Slider, Southern Illinois News

South Main in Benton/East Main in WF closed for crossing repair this week

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment

road-closedThe furthest south railroad crossing on South Main Street (Route 37) in Benton is closed for repairs.  The road will open back up around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

The railroad crossing on East Main street (Route 149) will be closed on Wednesday morning around 7 a.m. on  and reopen around 7 pm on Thursday for repairs also.

This is weather pending.  If rescheduled, franklincounty-news.com will pass along an alternate date.

Filed Under: Benton News, Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider, West Frankfort News

Rain all this week-small chance of wintry precipitation on Friday/Saturday

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Image from WSIL TV Meteorologist Ashley Smith

Image from WSIL TV Meteorologist Ashley Smith

Good Morning!!!! It is going to be a windy Monday.  It will be Sunny with a high of 39 degrees today.  There is a 40% chance of rain tonight with rising temperatures throughout the night.

Highs will be in the 50’s to around 60 Tuesday through Thursday until a cold front goes through the region on Friday and a wintry mix is forecasted. Temperatures will yo-yo throughout the weekend.

Here is the Hazardous Weather Outlook from the National Weather Service in Paducah KY:

SOUTH WINDS WILL START PICKING UP THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. SOME AREAS MAY SEE WINDS INCREASE TO AS HIGH AS 20 TO 25 MPH SUSTAINED…WITH GUSTS INTO THE 30 TO 35 MPH RANGE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL POSE A HAZARD TO AREA TRAVEL…ESPECIALLY TO HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES. SECURE ANY LOOSE OUTDOOR ITEMS THAT MAY BE STREWN ABOUT BY THE WIND. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THUNDERSTORMS ENTER THE FORECAST TUESDAY NIGHT ACROSS MAINLY WESTERN KENTUCKY, AND AREA WIDE WEDNESDAY. THUNDERSTORMS RETURN AGAIN TO THE FORECAST FOR SOME LOCATIONS THURSDAY. LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN WILL BE THE PRIMARY THUNDERSTORM RELATED HAZARD. A WINTRY MIX OF PRECIPITATION IS FORECAST FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT FOR THE NORTHWESTERN TIER OF COUNTIES. THE SAME EVENT IS POSSIBLE SATURDAY NIGHT ALSO, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. HEAVY RAINFALL RATES ARE POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. PONDING OF WATER ON ROADWAYS AND INUNDATION OF LOW LANDS AND FLOOD PRONE AREAS IS EXPECTED.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?map.x=176&map.y=89&site=pah&zmx=1&zmy=1#.WHN1oNQrJxA

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

We Must Stay on Guard

January 9, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Franklin Graham at George W. Bush's innaguration

Franklin Graham at George W. Bush’s innaguration

In just a few weeks, Donald Trump will stand on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol, put his hand on the Bible, swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, and become the 45th president of our great and storied nation. This extraordinary occasion certainly wasn’t anticipated by very many. Just a few months ago, even days before the Nov. 8 election, virtually every poll showed Hillary Clinton with what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. The mainstream media were clearly forecasting her triumph, even to the extent that Newsweek magazine had already put together and printed an election edition with a picture of Clinton and the title, “Madam President.” A social media image surfaced showing Clinton autographing a copy of the issue on her plane. Please read the rest from Franklin Graham from Decision Magazine

Filed Under: Columns, Faith Matters, Opinion, Slider

Christopher pulls away late from Hamco

January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Steve Dunford

CHRISTOPHER-  Free throw shooting wins basketball games.  The Bearcats were stellar at the line on Friday night down the stretch as they pull away from the Hamilton County Foxes 59-48.

There was a full house at "The Cave" on Friday Night as Christopher has been packing them in for the last few years and Hamilton County has always traveled well. Pictures pulled from FoxesFans.net video

There was a full house at “The Cave” on Friday Night as Christopher has been packing them in for the last few years and Hamilton County has always traveled well. Pictures pulled from FoxesFans.net video

This was a much closer game than the final indicated.  Christopher was up by 10 at times early in the first half, the Foxes cut it to one with about 4:48 to go.  Jared Curry hits a big three the next trip down the floor.  HamCo kept hanging around.  They were within one with a minute and some change left on the clock.

Hamilton County coach Jeremy Varner had this to say about Friday Night’s game “Our kids played hard tonight. We fought back from an early deficit and tied the game at one point in the second half. We missed some easy opportunities in the first half and the Bearcats cashed in on some easy transition offense.

The transition game of Kaleab Pedigo, Bradley Young, and Jared Curry was not there as much as the Foxes did a better job getting back on defense the second half.

I am going to add a little to coach Varner’s comments.  The Foxes have been in a lot of ball games to some very good teams.  They lost a couple of barn burners to Harrisburg and West Frankfort.  The Foxes have taken their lumps over the last couple years, as it has been lean times in McLeansboro.  Soon, they are going to get a W in one of the close games they have been in, and it will result in a few more.

There might be a few pixels but I love this shot. There is a battle of the boards, especially the Fox and Bradley Young

There might be a few pixels but I love this shot. There is a battle of the boards, especially the Fox and Bradley Young.

I have watched this Foxes team several times on FoxesFans.net They are starting to remind me of the Curt Reed coached teams.  They play their guts out, are pesky on the defensive end and they never go away.  The half court, deliberate style of play was getting to Christopher some in the second half.  Waltonville was effective with it when they played at Christopher, the first time those two teams met.  This bunch from McLeansboro can sneak up on some teams at the BIT.

Christopher coach Eric Stallman giving his team instructions during a timeout in the third quarter.

Christopher coach Eric Stallman gives  his team instructions during a timeout in the third quarter.

Bradley Young led the Bearcats with 19, Kaleb Pedigo added 16 to lead the Bearcats.  I have a shout out to Bryce Pratt.  In close games when Christopher has the lead, he has been deadly from the free throw line.  He went 6-6 down the stretch last night.  A lot of teams are “fouling the freshman”.  He came up big in the Sesser-Valier Holiday tournament in the Championship game against Waltonville.  I am going to give him the nickname “Cool Hand Luke”

Oakley Dial led all scores with 28 on the night.  Here is what coach Jeremy Varner said about the Foxes performance:

“Oakley Dial carried us in the first half.  Jake Whipple started the 3rd quarter off with some much needed offense before he had to sit down with his fourth. That really hurt us because he was playing some very good defense on Jared Curry. Matt Rubenacker, Jordan Pike, and Nate Neal all stepped up and played some hard nosed defense in this game.”
One thing I noticed in the box score that Kaeleb Pedigo was held to one three on the night, and Jared Curry was held to nine points.  I believe it was the first time he was held under double figures.
“Christopher has some real nice talent. They can all score and they are real aggressive on the glass. We had a few opportunities to tie or take the lead if we would have made some bunnies around the basket. I’m very proud of how our kids always battle and never quit when they are down. The attitudes they have would make any coach proud.”
“Dial ended up with 28 and probably could have had a few more free throw attempts, but that isn’t always a guarantee on the road against a good team.”
The Bearcats improve to 9-4 on the season, as they will host Zeigler-Royalton on Tuesday.  The Foxes are sitting at 5-10 as we speak.  The picked up a nice win over the run and gun NCOE fighting Cardinals last night 82-74.  They travel to DuQuoin to face the Indians, in a non conference game on Tuesday.
BOX SCORE:  
CHRISTOPHER (59)  Young 7 0 3-5 19; Pedigo 5 1 3-5 16; Curry 3 1 4-6 9;  Pratt 1 0 6-6 8; Schimpf 0 0 3-4 3; Snell 0 0 0-0 0; Sanders 0 0 0-0 0
HAMILTON COUNTY (48)  Dial 8 3 3-5 28; Whipple 4 0 1-2 9; N. Rapp 2 1 0-1 7; Rubenacker 0 1 2-2 4; E. Rapp 0 0 0-0 0; Neal 0 0 0-0 0; Neal 0 0 0-0 0; Potter 0 0 0-0 0
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
CHRISTOPHER (9-4)                  20     7    13    19    -59
HAMILTON COUNTY (5-10)     9    14    15    10    -48

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Christopher High School Sports, Slider, Sports

Clear and cold today…..warmer and wet next week

January 8, 2017 By Leave a Comment

jan8-graphicAfter a frigid weekend, temperatures are going to warm up into the 50’s next week.  There is a chance of wintry precipitation in the long range forecast.

Here is the latest Hazardous Weather Outlook by the National Weather Service.

.DAY ONE…TODAY AND TONIGHT SINGLE DIGIT WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED EARLY THIS MORNING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY RAIN RETURNS TO THE FORECAST TUESDAY AND LASTS THROUGH MUCH OF THE REST OF THE WEEK. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE. THUNDER RETURNS TO THE FORECAST TUESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY…MOSTLY ALONG AND SOUTH AND EAST OF THE OHIO RIVER. ANY THUNDERSTORMS MAY ENHANCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE DURING THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY TIME FRAME.

RAIN MAY CHANGE TO A WINTRY MIX LATE FRIDAY NIGHT OR EARLY SATURDAY MORNING BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL WITH CERTAINTY OR SPECIFICITY.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?map.x=176&map.y=89&site=pah&zmx=1&zmy=1#.WHJiCdQrJxA

Above is a link to the seven day forecast for Franklin County.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Tigers drop their seventh straight

January 7, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Steve Dunford

THOMPSONVILLE- The Thompsonville Tigers were sitting at 3-2 on the season after their 71-55 win over NCOE on December 2nd.   They dropped their seventh straight game in a 50-27 loss to Hardin County in Greater Egyptian Conference play.

“Cougar Chaos” traveled well last night, as the visitors bleachers on the east Side of Doc Harvey gym were packed.  They did not make the long 75 mile trip back home on Route 34 disappointed.

6' 7" sophomore Center Anthoney Darge steps to the free throw line last night for the Tigers

6′ 7″ sophomore Center Anthoney Darge steps to the free throw line last night for the Tigers

Coach Pete Gordon all year has been telling over and over what his young squad needs to do.  They need to cut down on turnovers.  I had them with 10 in the first quarter alone.  I don’t know how many they finished with for the game with but several were unforced.

Free throw shooting has been another point by Coach Gordon where they have struggled.   The Tigers were 7-18 39% from the line.

In my view, there were several of opportunities to attack the zone that were passed up.  Hardin County is very prone to get in foul trouble.  It is something this young ball club is going to have to learn to do.  The GEC is a dominant zone league.  The only teams that play mainly man-to-man is Gallatin County and NCOE.  Crab Orchard mixes it up.

Tiger G-F Reed Raubach being guarded by Tyler Winters, who has over 1,000 points in his career.

Tiger G-F Reed Raubach being guarded by Tyler Winters, who has over 1,000 points in his career.

 

Even though they are struggling, it seems like any team filled with sophomores.  Please be patient with the coaching staff.  There are three very good ones on the sidelines.  Most of all be patient with these kids.

I left a disgusted alumnus last night, I am going to be honest.   I have thought about last night a lot.  The Benton Rangers have a lot on their roster that had to step up and play when they were young.  They were 25-4 last year.  They are 13-1 and ranked 7th in the state in the latest AP class 3A poll.  Again, I said just be patient.  Good things will come in time.

I talk to Hardin County coach Rodney lane a lot throughout the season.  I did not get direct quotes but he was very pleased with the defensive effort from the Cougars.  He said they missed too many layups.

He also gave me an update on sharp shooting guard Cameron Shaw.  He went down with a knee injury with six minutes to go in the first quarter.  He said his knee is still swollen today.

The post players had their way last night inside for the Cougars.  Craig Hudson led the way with 15.  Jamison Hicks had 12.  Tyler Winters had 11.  Cory Wilce was the only Tiger in double figures with 12.

The Tigers dropped to 3-8 on the season and 1-4 in the GEC.  They are 1/2 game  ahead of Pope County for the cellar.  Hardin improves to 4-8 and 2-2 in the conference.  With last night’s win, they are in sole possession of third place.

Hardin County has Galatia at home on Tuesday night in their second home game of the year.

Thompsonville has Carrier Mills in a non conference game.  The first game a team plays each other counts in the conference race in the GEC.

Around the GEC last night, Seth Ramsey burned up the nets in Golconda last night as he had 48 points in a 91-69 victory over Pope County.  Crab Orchard went down to Century and won 77-67.  Galatia made the trip to Marion and thumped Agape Chirstian 77-49.

I just got a Tweet that Gallatin County beat Webber Township 52-40 this afternoon.

The seeding meeting is taking place Monday.  I always do some bracketology.  Here is my “fly on the wall” ballot.

  1.  Gallatin County
  2.  Crab Orchard
  3.  Hardin County
  4.  Carrier Mills
  5.  Galatia
  6.  NCOE
  7.  Pope County
  8.  Thompsonville

BOX SCORE:

HARDIN COUNTY (50)  Hudson 6 0 3-9 15,  Hicks 5 0 2-5 12;  Winters 3 1 2-2 11;  Austin 1 0 4-6 8; Cullum 1 0 0-0 2; Fields 0 0 2-2 2

THOMPSONVILLE (27)  Wilce 2 1 3-5 10; Fitch 2 0 1-5 5; Kessler 01 0-0 3; Payne 2 0 0-0 4; Darge 1 0 0-2 2; Summers 0 0 2-4 2; Woodring 0 0 1-2 1; Jones 0 0 0-0 0; Bybee 0 0 0-0 0; Dixon 0 0 0-0 0; Kirkman 0 0 0-0 0; Cardwell 0 0 0-0 0

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

HARDIN COUNTY (4-8) (2-2)    9    11    8    22-50

THOMPSONVILLE (3-8)(1-4)    2      8    2    15-27

 

 

 

Filed Under: High School Sports, Slider, Sports, Thompsonville High School Sports
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