Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News
Newspaper covering Franklin County, Illinois
A regular meeting of the West Frankfort City Council will be held Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at West Frankfort City Hall.
On the agenda: approval of payment of bills totaling nearly 145 thousand dollars, next steps in the electric aggregation process, officer reports, approval of a roofing repair at the Public Safety Building, and commissioner reports.
The meeting is open to the public.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The first West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce meeting of 2013 will be held Wednesday at noon. The meeting will be at Triple E Steakhouse in the shopping plaza.
Jessica Rude will be installed as the new President of the Chamber. Other officers will also be sworn in at this same meeting. The retiring officers will be recognized for their service.
Business items on the agenda include the past year’s finances, and final plans for the Annual Dinner planned for Jan. 17.
Tickets remain for that annual dinner and are available at the Chamber of Commerce office at 101 Nolen Street in West Frankfort. The office is located in the Public Health and Safety Building.
Cost of the tickets are $30 per person. The annual banquet will be held in the Patton Banquet Room at the park’s Aquatics Center.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The West Frankfort Redbirds boys varsity basketball team is back in action for a Tuesday non-conference match-up. Hamilton County comes to West Frankfort for a match-up of two teams who have struggled this year.
The Redbirds are on a three-game losing streak. However, it must be noted, that two of the losses have come against the regions top team in Harrisburg.
One of the losses came during the second round of the Holiday Tournament, and the other loss to the Bulldogs came last Friday. Sandwiched in was a narrow loss to Union County, Kentucky, also in the EHT.
The junior varsity game begins at 6:15 pm at Max Morris Gym. The varsity contest starts about 7:45pm. The broadcast of the game can be heard on the school’s web site at www.wfschools.org
It is the first meeting of the year between the Foxes and the ‘Birds.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
A new page may have been torn from the calendar, but West Frankfort Lady Redbird coach Matt Hampleman found the same major problem carrying over from 2012 into the new year: no offense. A 22-2 first quarter lifted the hst Eldorado Lady Eagles to a 57-16 win, Saturday afternoon.
The Redbirds could make up no ground in the other quarters as well,outscored:12-1, 12-7, and 11-6.
Individual scoring for West Frankfort saw Wilce lead the way with 13 points.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The second meeting of the Harrisburg Bulldogs and the West Frankfort Redbirds was quite similar to the first meeting between the two clubs. The first meeting came in the second round of the Eldorado Holiday Tournament. That game was won by Harrisburg 72-41.
Game One began with the Redbirds aggressively attacking the Bulldog defense, and holding a first quarter lead. But, Harrisburg came storming back to put the game out of reach by halftime.
Friday night, Dan Dewerff’s team stayed with the same battle plan. Early, that plan worked. At the high point of the first quarter the ‘Birds held a 10-4 lead over their visitors. But, following a time out, and lecture by Harrisburg Coach Randy Smithpeters, the Bulldogs refocused, regrouped and went on a 12-0 run to end the quarter with a 16-14 lead.
Much of the first half momentum for the area’s best team came from a stifling full-court defense. The Redbirds wilted under the press, with frequent turnovers and mistakes.
At the half, the game was not in doubt as Harrisburg led 46-25 having doubled up their opponent’s second quarter scoring 30-15.
That second quarter pull-away for the Bulldogs was punctuated with three 3-point shots from Ryne Roper who had 11 in that frame alone. By third quarter’s conclusion, Harrisburg was cruising 63-41.
Going into the final quarter, Harrisburg had cleared their bench leading 63-41 . The end result was another lopsided Bulldog win of 76-54.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
A reminder, the West Frankfort Lady Redbirds will open the 2013 portion of their schedule this afternoon. Matt Hampleman’s Lady Birds will try to improve on 2012 as they head to Eldorado.
Tip-off at Duff-Kingston Gymnasium is set for 1 p.m. this afternoon against their Black Diamond Conference foe. Ohio Division play resumes for the girls Tuesday, at Massac County.
West Frankfort senior Trenton Easley dribbles past Harrisburg defenders during the team’s Dec. 29 match-up at the Eldorado Holiday Tournament. Harrisburg travels to Max Morris Gymnasium on Friday night to take on the Redbirds in the first game of 2013.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
The West Frankfort Redbird boys varsity basketball team believes that they are an improved ball club over the course of the season. and, they believed that they showed some of that improvement in the just completed Eldorado Holiday Basketball Tournament. The Harrisburg Bulldogs say: “Prove it.”
The champions of the recently concluded EHT invade West Frankfort’s Max Morris Gym Friday night as both teams get the 2013 portion of their schedules underway. They have one meeting already under their belts as Harrisburg pulled away from the ‘Birds for an easy win in the EHT second round. The Redbirds actually led by a bucket at first quarters end in that game.
The JV game begins at 6 p.m., and the varsity contest starts at approximately 7:45 p.m. Friday. It is an Ohio Division ballgame.
The Redbirds open 2013 with a 3-8 record, and are winless in the conference so far.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
West Frankfort Police Chief Jeff Tharp has announced that one arrest has been made in a theft from an industrial business, and authorities are seeking a second suspect.
Ronald Pulliam
The thefts were reported in mid-December from Coal Age Industrial, located in the Industrial Park, west of the West Frankfort. At that time, police began surveillance of the business, and video evidence was collected at the scene from security cameras.
On Jan. 3, West Frankfort Police arrested 24-year-old Ronald R. Pulliam of Johnston City. He was charged with theft over $500.
Steven Pulliam
Pulliam is accused of stealing large fabricated pieces of metal, which investigators believe he resold. Coal Age Industrial told investigators that since the thefts began, they have lost $30,000 in metal products.
Tharp said an arrest warrant has been issued for Steven Pulliam, 22, of Johnston City, as well. He is the brother of Ronald Pulliam Jr. More arrests could be forthcoming, according to WFPD.
STAFF REPORT
The 14-4 West Frankfort 8th grade girls basketball team will be celebrated with a ceremony Thursday before their home game against rival Benton. The games start at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Junior High School gymnasium.
Before the game, there will be a Fazoli’s spaghetti dinner in the school cafeteria.
The meal will be served from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and includes pasta with meat sauce, a small salad, a drink and two breadsticks. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children.
Take-out meals will also be available.
By BRUCE A. FASOL
Reservations for the annual West Frankfort Chamber of Commerce dinner are being taken now. The date for the dinner is set for Thursday, Jan. 17. The site for the 7 p.m. banquet is the L. Goebel Patton Banquet Room at the West Frankfort park Aquatics Center.
The dinner marks the calendar progress and success of the business community in West Frankfort. One of the highlights is the awarding of the Daily American Citizen of the Year award.
Tickets are $30 per person and may be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce office, 101 E. Nolen St.
The catered dinner will also feature music. Featured speaker for this year’s dinner is Brandon Sawalich.
