Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
CHICAGO — The sponsor of legislation to allow the concealed carry of firearms on Saturday ripped Gov. Pat Quinn’s ongoing efforts to make the measure more restrictive, saying the Chicago Democrat is pandering to voters in Cook County and that his actions could lead to “mayhem” across Illinois.
Here’s the link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.
WHITTINGTON – Paul L. Barnfield, 70, passed away at 1:35 p.m. Wednesday, July 3, 2013, at his home.
He was born Aug. 30, 1942, in Benton, the son of Elzie and Marie (Hamilton) Barnfield. He married the former Barbara G. Winemiller on Aug. 24, 1968, in Benton, and she survives.
Mr. Barnfield was a member of American Quarter Horse Association, and he showed and trained horses.
He was a sales trainer and entrepreneur.
Mr. Barnfield served in the Army National Guard from June 11, 1960, to April 17, 1964, and then in the Army Reserve, where he was discharged June 19, 1968, and qualified as a sharpshooter.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Barnfield of Whittington; daughter, Amy and husband, Rich Miller, of Glen Carbon; son, Timothy Barnfield of Marion, five grandchildren, Justin, Abigail, Connor, Tyler and Alicia, two sisters and brother-in-law, Dorothy and husband, the Rev. Paul Brown, and Francis Melvin, all of West Frankfort, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David; and two sisters, Ruthie and Shirley.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, July 8, in Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with Brother Ralph Brandon officiating. Burial with military rites, conducted by Benton American Legion and VFW posts and an Illinois National Guard Honor Team, will be in Shiloh Cemetery in Whittington. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Monday at Morton & Johnston Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.
SESSER – Dorothy Elvera Jones, 90, died Wednesday, July 3, 2013, in Nature Trail Healthcare in Mount Vernon.
She worked as a dress factory inspector in Du Quoin and was a member of First Baptist Church in Sesser.
Dorothy was born Aug. 25, 1922, in Washington County, to Christan and Virginia (Watson) Nehrkorn.
Dorothy is survived by her son, Ronnie Jones of Sesser.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son, Roger Jones on Oct. 29, 2012; daughter-in-law, Virginia Jones; and sister, Ester Jane Nehrkorn.
Funeral ervices will be Saturday, July 6 at 11 a.m. at Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser, with Brother Mark Miller officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery Sesser. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
For more information, visit www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com.
Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn intends to take action today on legislation that would allow guns to be carried in public, and he’s widely expected to insert changes to the bill to try to put in place stricter regulations.
Here’s the link to the story in the Chicago Tribune.
Joyce Lynn Spencer, 76, of Whittington, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2013 at her home.
She was born in Whittington on Sept. 25, 1936 to Raymond and Vaneta (Winemiller) House.
She married James Spencer on Nov. 27, 1952. They were married for 60 years.
Mrs. Spencer was a former hairdresser and worked at H & R Block before retiring.
She is survived by her husband, James Spencer, of Whittington, three daughters, Brenda (David) Garvin, Carla (Bennie) Allsopp and Penny (Dale) Brookins, all of Whittington and two sisters, JoAnn Johnston, of Mt. Vernon and Jane Spencer, of Whittington.
Also surviving are five grandchildren, Adam (Shelly) Allsopp and Mathew Allsopp, both of Whittington, Ryan (Dawn) Garvin, of Benton, Kentucky, Mallory (Alex) Gibbs, of Benton, and Chelsea Brookins, of Whittington. Additional survivors include four great-grandchildren, Presley, Holden and Keira Allsopp and Kinlee Garvin. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2 at Shiloh Cemetery with the Rev. Mark Minor officiating. There will be no visitation, those attending are requested to meet at the cemetery.
Morton & Johnston Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Benton police reported a busy weekend with multiple arrests.
On Friday June 28, 2013 Benton Police arrested Ronald W. England, age 59, of West Frankfort for driving while suspended. England was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 28, 2013 Benton Police arrested Bobby L. Williams, age 60, of Benton for criminal trespass and resisting a peace officer. Williams was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 29, 2013 Benton Police arrested Trevor J. Myers, age 22, of Benton for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of cannabis, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, and illegal transportation of alcohol. Myers was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 29, 2013 Benton Police arrested Kevin J. Phelps, age 31, of Thompsonville for driving while license suspended. Phelps was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 29, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 700 block of Glendale Street in reference to a fight in progress. Through investigation, police arrested Ashley S. Adams, age 18, of Benton for unlawful consumption of alcoholic liquor. Police also arrested Linda Copher, age 54, of Benton for unlawfully permitting a minor to become intoxicated. Curtis R. Key, age 37, of Buckner was also arrested for endangering the life of a child. All suspects were charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
On June 30, 2013 Benton Police were dispatched to the 300 block of North Stotlar street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Through investigation, police arrested Cody D. Zinzer, age 25, of Benton for aggravated assault. Zinzer was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.
This column was originally published October 28, 2010. It’s easy to forget the purpose of universities and the essential — if at times testy — interplay of free thought in a free society. In an age that increasingly gives personal responsibility to the state, it’s easy to lose sight of the social value of deep free-will. Martin Luther postulated a relationship that is the seed of a free society. In 2010 some of my reflections regarding Luther were challenged. So be it.
— Walter V. Wendler
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By Walter V. Wendler
Halloween marks a number of occasions but none more important than the nailing of Luther’s 95 Theses on the Castle Church door at Wittenberg — the birth of a reformation that transformed the modern world on October 31, 1517.
This act changed things: not just the association of Christendom to the church; not just the relationship of Christendom to its namesake, Jesus Christ; not just the bond of a man to an organization; not just the suggestion that individuals are masters of their own fate; not just the impact of the printing press and the translation of the bible into German to make it accessible to all rather than just the few conversant in Latin; not just the concept that money could buy anything from happiness to heaven; not just the notion that a single man with a powerful idea could take on the largest multinational corporation in the world and start a revolution, a reformation; and certainly, not just the belief that concepts are important, even more so than the force of tradition and dogma, but rather that people with passion need to stand and risk.
“Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise”, he said. Just a man standing for what he thought right.
The Church was rocked, and the waves created extended well beyond its walls. The power of a thinking person changed the course of humanity. Other potent examples we know from world history.
I hope.
Here are ten individuals who had dramatic impact: Albert Einstein, Johannes Gutenberg, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Cai Lun (said to have invented paper, without which poor Gutenberg would have been hopeless), St. Paul, Marie Curie, Confucius, Buddha, and Isaac Newton. Any historian worth his salt would affirm their inarguable influence.
Life as a lightning rod took its toll on Luther. Obsessions developed, manifested later in his life by anti-Semitism that bordered on hate and madness. His view, before the paranoia-poisoned madness set in, was that each person should discover his own way in the world. That the need for the insertion of any man between a person and the Creator was not only unnecessary and limited, but antithetical to Holy Writ and the exercise of free will. We must stand or not on our own actions and decisions, neither bought nor begged. Rugged individualists were needed, not beholden to a social or ecclesiastical organization contaminated by greed, avarice, or the collection of power. Even associations with the best intentions should not compel membership or ideas against individual free will.
Luther was a powerful free thinker who, by example, encouraged others to do likewise -to think freely – to make their own way guided by their own understanding of their place in the world, not by infringement of any kind.
This powerful thinking has little to do with candy corn and jack-o-lanterns, but much to do with the purpose of the university. Luther’s boldness when he nailed his Theses to the church door that day in Wittenberg changed the western concept of social order.
His idea — squeezed out of his faith and insight — to create an appropriate sense of self- determination was more basic than had been previously known.
This is without qualification the work of the university – allowing lives to be defined by aspiration and passion rather than acquiescence and passivity.
At a university, the power of free thought, and engaging it through scholarship and learning, faith and experience, is so central that I can say with confidence that institutions neglecting it do not fulfill their mission to their students.
I wish he had nailed his 95 Theses to the door on July 4, rather than October 31.
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.
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.
Youth from Benton, Christopher and Pinckneyville attended Rend Lake College’s Summer Dance Camp this week at Waugh Gym. FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Marlee Gant, Makena Carollo, Jocey Padivic, Ryan Wildermuth, Kallie Carollo, Ashlynn Cimera and Callie Rushing. MIDDLE ROW, FROM LEFT: Paige Powers, Cagney Kwiatkowski, Cordelia Lemons, Callie Wildermuth and Emery Bowlin. BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: Kadinz Wilson, Cailyn Fowlkes, Bailey Taylor, Aubrey Lemmon, Victoria Davis, Karlee Reyes, Keely Epplin, Paige Epplin, and Kyla Epplin. (Photo by Nathan Wheeler / RLC Public Information)
