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.

OBITUARY – JOHN LOGAN DAVIS – BENTON

John Logan  Davis, 100, of Benton ‘went home to be with the Lord’ Monday evening Oct. 29, 2012 at his home.

Mr. Davis was born in Bessie, IL on Sept. 27, 1912, the son of John W. and Ethel (Sandusky) Davis.

He married Merle I. Kerley on Oct. 31, 1937 in Marion, KY by the Rev. J.C. Lilly, who was the pastor of the First Baptist Church, in Marion, KY.

John and Merle operated Davis Electric/Lawn Mower/Parts.  John was also a journeyman electrician, operating Davis Electric, having worked for many contractors throughout the country.  He was a 57-year member of the IBEW.

Mr. Davis was a 62-year member of East Benton Baptist Church where he served as a deacon since 1964.

Mr. Davis loved keeping his yard mowed and groomed and maintaining a large flower garden.  In his spare time he was always doing odd jobs.  He was also avid photographer.

Mr. Davis is survived by his wife Merle Davis, of Benton and three children; Kenneth Dale Davis, Parrish, IL, Ruth Ann West and husband Danny, of Benton and Tommy Eugene Davis and wife Debbie of Yules, Florida.

Also surviving are his grandson Kevin Scott Hefner, of Benton; grandson Logan Scott Hefner, of Benton and his nephew, Eugene Davis and wife Pat.

Mr. Davis was preceded in death by his parents, two grandaughters, Terri Renee Hefner and Shelley Renee Davis; sisters-in-law Pauline Davis, Esteleta Kinnison and Tena Wilkerson and brother-in-law Paul M. Davis.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Carroll Toler officiating.  Burial will be in the Masonic & Oddfellows Cemetery in Benton.  Visitation will be after 10 a.m. on Thursday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.

FCA Daily Devotion – Renewal

II Corinthians 4:16
When do you feel like your body is wasting away and your strength is drying up?  Maybe that’s at the end of practice, half-way through preseason or with one week to go in a long, difficult season.  How can we have our hearts renewed and find the strength to press through such feelings?  Today’s scripture gives us such encouragement.
In the second letter to the church at Corinth at chapter 4 and verse 16 we read, “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”  Paul was aware of his friends’ perilous times and the physical toll it was taking on them.  He identified with their plight.
It’s the nature of competition and long seasons to wear down our bodies.  We can identify with these people and the outward wasting away of their bodies.  The wisest among us also know how to be inwardly strengthened, day by day in our hearts.
Here’s the challenge for us.  Can we trust our hearts to lead us to do the right thing, even when our bodies are crying out for us to quit?  Can we continue to find new strength through renewed hearts and press through the hard times?
As you prepare to compete today, trust your heart to the one who gives strength without measure.  Ask Him to fill your heart with courage and to enable you to compete strongly.  You will be amazed at how your mind and your body will respond to your heart’s lead.
Bible Reading Plan:
Song of Solomon 4:8-16
Jeremiah 52

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

Following her dream …

By Jim Muir
By her own admission Lea Brock was a tomboy when she was growing up in Benton.
“I really was a tomboy … not just part of the time, all the time,” Brock said. “My mom used to say that she didn’t know what it would take to get me in a dress. I used to hang out with the guys, I liked hanging out with them. I like sports, motorcycles and I didn’t have a lot of girlfirends. I became a girl about my sophomore or junior year of high school.”
From those tomboy days to now – to borrow a line from the old Virginia Slims commercial – ‘you’ve come a long way baby.’

Lea Brock was an All-South and All-State track and cross country athlete at Benton High School.
Brock has carved out a lucrative modeling career and has worked extensively throughout the country. Despite her early years when she pulled away from anything feminine Brock says she always knew she would someday be a model.
“Ever since I was a little girl I always pictured myself being on the cover of magazines and being a model,” said Brock. “It’s always been a dream.”
Brock was a standout track and cross country athlete gaining All-South honors for four years and also being named All-State. She ran the half-mile, mile and two-mile during her career and was also part of a two-mile relay team that held the school record for many years.
Longtime Benton track coach Don Webb said Brock was dedicated during her high school athletic career.
“The thing I remember most about Lea is that she was very competitive and such a hard worker,” said Webb.
With the assistance of her parents Brock sought out to find a modeling agency shortly after she graduated from Benton High School.
“We sought out several agencies, which is important, and ended up with an agency in northern Illinois,” said Brock. “That’s how it got started. I went solo for a few years but right now I’m represented by two agencies from St. Louis and I also do some work promoting myself.”
Brock said she has modeled lingerie and also has been photographed while scantily clothed but said she has turned down all opportunities to be photographed nude.
“That is something that I feel very strongly about,” she said. “And I think if you are a young model you have to be very careful. You have some photographers who push you to show more and more but I’m not going to cross that line.”
Brock said social media and the growing strength of the Internet have proven to be a way that she can promote her work. She said a popular website – modelmayhem.com — that allows models to show their portfolio of work is a plus for both her and for agencies and also cuts down on both time and travel.
Brock said one of the first things she learned as a model is that “having a thick skin” is a requirement.
“It is hard and sometimes slow to get started,” said Brock. “They (agencies) will be very blunt with you and simply say, ‘no we’re not interested in you’ but you have to learn to take that and understand that most of the time they have a certain look that they are going for and you might not be that look. It is, in many ways, a cut-throat industry.”
Brock said in many ways her days in athletics helped her to understand the nature fo the modeling business.
“I think athletics helped me very much because you understand that you are not going to win at everything you do but that does not stop you from competing and trying to win every time out,” said Brock. “I was very passionate about sports and now this is a passion of mine. The last three years have been better than ever.”
Brock’s list of credits that now enhance her resume includes: “Get Wicked Clothing” online magazine, “Seductive Collections” online magazine, “House of Style Magazine,” “Hardcore Choppers,” “Thunder Road Magazine” and “Motor Exotica Magazine.” Brock has also worked for Dillards, Budweiser, Allen Stuck Jewelry Catalog, KC Trucker Calendar, Cheerz USA Calendar and hundreds of others.
Brock said her family ties to this region have played a two-fold part in her career.
“I started when I was 18 so I have 10 years invested and to be honest I’m very comfortable with what I’ve done, but I believe my location has hurt me somewhat” said Brock. “If I would have moved to Los Angeles or New York I think I could have advanced much faster.”
Much like an athlete Brock said that most models also have limited number of years for their respective career.

Lea during her softball days at Benton Community Park

“Clearly there is a window of opportunity that you have as a model,” Brock said. “I think the younger the better, start as young as you can if you are really wanting to pursue this. Really, between the ages of 18 and 28 is the best years … but it still comes back to what they are looking for. Some are still working good in their late 30s. Some photographers tell me that they prefer working with older models because we know what we are doing.”
As an example to parents that interests change Brock said she had her first experience with glitz and glamour at an early age.
“I did the Rend Lake Pageant when I was 10 years old and I absolutely hated every minute of it,” she said. “So, who would have thought that I would love that kind of stuff now.”
Brock was asked to offer advice to both athletes and those in search of a dream or a career.
“The best advice I can give is that you don’t ever give up on your dreams,” said Brock “I had a passion that was so strong and when I got turned down I just kept going. Don’t let anybody get you down and don’t be around negative people.”

 

Redbird Volleyball season ends with loss to Mt. Carmel

By Bruce A. Fasol
The 2012 West Frankfort Redbird volleyball season ended abruptly Monday night. West Frankfort was matched up as the fifth seed against Mt.Carmel. The regional was played in Centralia.
In game one, the Golden Aces made easy work of the ‘Birds with a 25-13 win. Facing elimination, Tim Murphy’s squad played hard in the second game, but falling 25-19.
Mt.Carmel now moves on to play the winner of the Benton/Centralia match tonight.

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.

A few rambling thoughts on high school football playoffs …

A few rambling thoughts on the high school football playoffs …

Southern Illinois will be well-represented in the IHSA football playoffs with exactly half the teams in our immediate coverage area.  Counting the South Seven, Southern Illinois River-to-River and the Black Diamond conferences thee are 28 teams in our region and 14 will be heading into post season action.

The biggest disappointment on Saturday night was the ‘reward’ that Chester got for going 9-0 and completing the first-ever undefeated season in school history.  The Yellowjackets (because of an IHSA mandate) will face South Seven power Belleville Althoff.  How can a team that has played a 5A schedule drop down and now play a 2A schedule?

It’s sort of complicated but let me try to explain.

The IHSA earlier this year adopted by-laws regarding non-boundaried schools — private schools — regarding the multiplier that is added to their enrollment.  First I should add that every private school is required to add a multiplier of 1.65 to its enrollment in order to try and level the playing field for schools that can draw students from a specific boundary.  But, earlier this year the IHSA allowed for some waivers for private schools.  Instead of trying to explain I will give you the exact language from the IHSA website.

IHSA By-Law 3.170 requires a 1.65 multiplier be applied to the enrollment of every non-boundaried school. Waivers of the 1.65 multiplier are granted to individual sport and activity programs on a yearly basis. A sport or activity program at a particular school is not eligible for an automatic waiver for the current school term if, over the course of the previous six school terms, the program (as a team) has accomplished any of the following:

1. Won a trophy at the state final tournament.

2. Qualified for the state final tournament (the final weekend of play).

3. Won a sectional tournament.

4. Won a regional tournament two or more times.

5. In track and field only, finished second or third in the sectional tournament two or more times.

6. In football only, won a first-round playoff game.

7. In music only, finished in the top 10 in the state sweepstakes.

All other sport and activity programs are granted an automatic waiver of the 1.65 multiplier.

Now, that brings us back to Belleville Althoff playing Chester in a Class 2A game.

Based on that criteria, Althoff, which finished 6-3 in the tough South Seven Conference, qualifies for the waiver this year.  Althoff has an enrollment of 416 students, and it should be kept in mind that those students can come from a wide area around Althoff.  In previous years Althoff would have been required to multiply the 416 by 1.65 to come up with an enrollment of 686 students, which would have put them squarely in Class 4A.  But, with the waiver their enrollment will stand at 416 and they will drop down two classes to play in Class 2A.

Technically, according to IHSA guidelines, Althoff is allowed to get the waiver.  But, in reality and all fairness its a technicality that, to put it bluntly, stinks to high heaven.  After watching the scores closely all season and seeing that Althoff finished at 6-3 playing against schools with enrollments that ranged from 909 to 2,200.  The Crusaders lost to undefeated Centralia only 38-35.

Here’s something that the IHSA should consider:  If they are going to grant waivers to private schools (who by the way have many more advantages already than public schools do) they should consider granting waivers to co-op schools also.  Here’s an example:  Sesser-Valier High School co-ops with Waltonville and Woodlawn.  S-V has an enrollment of 220 students and with the co-op actually picks up an additional 20 players from the two other schools.  But, S-V is required to add the entire enrollment of both schools which pushes the overall enrollment to 506 and into Class 3A.  Based on the 220 enrollment and even adding the exact number of players to that S-V would be either Class 2A or possibly Class 1A.

While I believe the IHSA does a good job in many aspects I believe there has to be some changes made involving private schools.  I agree with the comments made by Chester coach Brian Lee.  “When something like this can happen, the system is broken.”

Throughout the 2012 football season Lee’s team turned in a perfect 9-0 mark.  His assessment of the ongoing public vs. private fiasco in high school sports in Illinois is also perfect.

— 0 —

After a one-year hiatus both Du Quoin and Carterville are both back in the IHSA playoffs.  Du Quoin’s record of 27 straight appearances and Carterville’s mark of 16 straight were stopped last year.  Mt. Carmel, at 27 years straight, now holds the longest-running mark in the state.

–0–

So, who got the toughest draw on Saturday night?

Well, without question Chester (as I mentioned earlier) got the toughest.  Even at 6-3 Belleville Althoff would have to be considered the team to beat in the 32-team Class 2A field.  But, otherwise … Johnston City, for the second straight year, got a tough first round opponent.  Last year the Indians faced perennial powerhouse Case-Westfield and this year JC get to head to Vanmetre Field to take on the host Indians, winners of seven straight and champs of the SIRR Mississippi Division. It’s a certainty in this game that a team nicknamed the Indians and a team wearing black/white/red will win.

Carmi-White County will head to Casey-Westfield, another tough match up for the 6-3 Bulldogs.

–0–

Getting in … just by the hair of your chinny-chin-chin …

The Herrin Tigers have been fighting for their playoff lives for the past three weeks with absolutely no margin for error.  And then, if the Tigers could win it’s final three games and go from 2-4 to 5-4 they would have to hope for enough playoff points to get in.  Well, to the surprise of many the Tigers scratched and clawed to win those final three games and finish at 5-4.  Still, most observers felt that the 38 playoff points would not be enough to get Herrin over the hump.

When the dust finally settled the Tigers were tied with Greenfield for the 256th and last spot, which called for a tie-breaker … and another tie-breaker … and finally a third tie-breaker.  Here’s how it played out

Herrin and Greenfield [G.-Northwestern Coop] tied for the final playoff spot. The additional tiebreakers were:

  • Head-to-head competition (teams have not played each other)
  • Opponents making the playoffs (4 for both teams)
  • Wins by opponents making the playoffs (29 for Herrin, 27 for Greenfield-Northwestern).

So, in the end it was the slimmest of margins that got the Tigers in this year.  But, without the tenacity that Herrin showed in the final three weeks of the season the high drama on Saturday night would not have happened.

–0–

Benton will host Robinson in a first round game – only the second time that the two teams have met.  The first meeting is probably more memorable to Benton fans than those from Robinson.  The two teams met in 1995 – the first time ever that the Rangers made it into the playoffs.  Benton was 6-3 (5-4 teams did not qualify in those days) and the host Maroons were undefeated and the top seed.  But, on a cold and blustery day in Robinson the Rangers sprung the upset and notched its first-ever playoff victory.  Certainly, it’s a game that will forever be etched in the minds of Benton football fanatics.

–0–

Finally, many years ago I heard a phrase that I think best defines the IHSA playoffs and Saturday afternoon football.  While there are games throughout the regular season that will always stand out there is something about playoff football on Saturday afternoon that trumps regular season games.  I think this phrase says it all:

The game you remember … are the games in November.

Benton hosts Robinson, S-V-W-W on road to Vienna in first round playoff games

The football camps in July, those grueling two-a-day practices in August and every one of those Friday night battles for nine tough weeks are all geared toward one thing: Saturday afternoon football in Week 10.

In short, let the playoffs begin.

Southern Illinois teams will be well-represented in the field of 256 teams that will begin play on Oct. 27 in eight different classes. Of the 28 teams that comprise the three football conferences in Southern Illinois – South Seven, Southern Illinois River-to-River and the Black Diamond — 14 teams will be in action in first-round games.

Here’s a breakdown of the teams in our region:

Class 2A

Carmi-White County (6-3 No. 14 seed) at Casey-Westfield (9-0 No. 3 seed)

Johnnston City (7-2 No. 9 seed) at Du Quoin (7-2 No. 8 seed)

Belleville Althoff (6-3 No. 15 seed) at Chester (9-0 No. 2 seed)

 Class 3A

Anna-Jonesboro (6-3 No. 8 seed) at Greenville (9-0 No. 1 seed)

Sesser-Valier Co-op (6-3 No. 5 seed) at Vienna-Goreville (6-3 No. 4 seed)

Robinson (6-3 No. 7 seed) at Benton (8-1 No. 2 seed)

Carterville (6-3 No. 6 seed) at Vandalia (7-2 No. 3 seed)

 Class 4A

Herrin (5-4 No. 8 seed) at Harrisburg (8-1 No. 1 seed)

Class 5A

Marion (7-2 No. 5 seed) at Chatham Glenwood (7-2 No. 4 seed)

Jacksonville (5-4 No. 7 seed) at Centralia (9-0 No. 2 seed)

 

Game times will be set on Monday for all IHSA playoff games.

 

 

 

 

Three Benton golfers advance to sectional competition

Staff Report

The Benton Rangers golf team missed advancing as a team but will send three golfers to the Carbondale Class 2A Sectional next week.

Seniors Branden Hammonds and Jesse Sanders will be joined by junior Andrew Simpson after all three advanced from the Mount Carmel Regional on Tuesday.

As a team the Rangers finished fourth with a score of 326.  Massac County won the regional with a team score of 302 followed closely by runner-up Mount Carmel with 305.  Marion finished 326 to grab third place.

Christian Seaton, of Mount Carmel, was turned in the top individual score with a 1-over-par 72.

Sanders turned in a score of 76 (5-over par) and finished as the top individual scorer not on an advancing team.  Simpson and Hammonds both registered an 82. Tyler Neal for the Rangers carded an 86.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News