Gl in wf spring 2016 by Michael Thomas

Good Living In

West Frankfort No. 27

Spring 2016

Showcasing the People, Places and Pride of West Frankfort, Illinois

J & S Professional Pharmacy

Photo by Rich Phillips

Back row L-R: Jacob Woolard, Nick Minor, PharmD, Audrey Denham; Center L-R: Steve Heyder, Sheila Blackwood, Karen Bennett, Callie Stoner, PharmD, Darci Mandrell, RPh, Joyce Fogleman, RPh/Owner, Angela Triplett, RPh, Jordan Moschino, Tammy Woolard, Wendy Blades; Front row L-R: Tyler Mathews, Judi Markwell. (Not pictured: Felicia Mortag, Lisa Claunch, Marianna Woodland, Mandee Davis, John Dimmick, Ian Davidson, Julie Butler)

• Daily delivery to homes and businesses • 2 Drive-up windows

Now 5 Pharmacists to Serve & Counsel You Joyce E. Fogleman, R.Ph./Owner

937-2416

309 W. St. Louis • West Frankfort, IL Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Publisher’s Letter

Good Living In

West Frankfort

’ll tell you what. It seems I get most of my wisdom from Facebook these days. I read a comment yesterday that said, “Three parts of my brain just want to go to sleep, and the fourth part keeps wondering if Penguins have knees.” That’s kind of how I felt this morning. Three parts of my brain wanted to go back to sleep and one part just kept trying to write this publisher’s letter in my head. OK, OK, so now it’s not quite 5 a.m. and here I am sitting in front of the computer screen. Three parts of my brain have decided to go back to sleep, and one part stubbornly insists on writing this letter. The problem here is that sometimes I feel like I just run out of words. I think I’ve used them all. Sometimes Michael and I wrack our combined brains trying to come up with an interesting article to write about. Sometimes we get the idea, and at other times a fresh or funny thought never even drops by. That’s when I have to use someone else’s words because I don’t have any of my own. Thus, my creative thoughts this morning from Facebook. You’ve probably seen by now that Michael and I are opening an event center in the Rissi Building that has been in our family for nearly a century. I thought of a lot of words to write a memoir of that building. My father ran his photography studio there and I grew up there. That’s the kind of bittersweet article that writes itself. The words and memories start flowing and then they’re coming faster than I can type. And then I have to stop to dry my eyes so I can see the screen. It was a labor of love. We’re blessed once again by the thoughts and words from journalist, Gary Marx about moving back to Southern Illinois. You’ve gotta’ love it. He does. Sometimes it only takes a smell to remind you you’re home. Speaking of loving it. West Frankfort has been named by some company named Zippia, (yeah, Facebook again) as one of the top ten laziest towns in Illinois. We disagree and find it amazing what the people of West Frankfort can do for this lazy little town. We love what they do to make our town better. Michael couldn’t resist poking a little fun at the political candidates in the presidential election. They never seem to run out of words. Someone else who never runs out of words is our son, Jaybird. Jay talks a lot, although often about the same things. When he runs out of words once in a while, he issues the stern command to his dad, “Sing, Mike!” That often means a Christmas song, 365 days a year, but that’s another story. West Frankfort is improving and growing all around us. Congratulations to Sloan Brown and family for buying BFJ, which will be a huge asset to our Main Street. Sometimes it seems that volunteers are everywhere doing everything to make living good in West Frankfort. . That makes me recall a few words of my own that we often used in our earliest magazine. “Neighbors by chance, Community by choice.” That’s why we’re here. That’s why we care. Like our magazine, everything we all do for this community, everything we all do for one another; it’s a labor of love.

Gail Rissi Thomas, Publisher Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 3

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS THEY MAKE THIS MAGAZINE POSSIBLE Aaron Hopkins, Attorney ....................... pg. 8 All American Hearing .............................. pg. 31 Baldwin Piano ........................................... pg. 13 Banterra Bank ....................................... pg. 21 Browning Clark Automotive .................. pg. 14 Burg’s Hair Parlour ................................ pg. 19 Calico Country Sew & Vac ...................... pg. 11 Community Connections Counseling ...... pg. 21 Frankfort Area Historical Museum ..... Back Gandy’s Auto Body Shop ..................... pg. 20 G. L. Williams Real Estate ...................... pg. 20 Heights Market & Deli ............................ pg. 15 Herron Rehab & Wellness Center ....... pg. 27 Honker Hill Winery .................................. pg. 21 J & S Professional Pharmacy ..................... pg. 2 Johnson Real Estate ................................. pg. 29 Lance Brown, Attorney ............................. pg. 27 McCollom Real Estate ............................ pg. 8 McCord’s Market ..................................... pg. 29 McDonald’s ............................................... pg. 11 Mike Riva, Attorney .................................. pg. 7 Murphy’s House of Tattoos ...................... pg. 19 Nolen Chiropractic ................................... pg. 19 Parker-Reedy Funeral Home ................... pg. 9 Paul Lawrence Insurance .......................... pg. 21 Peoples National Bank ............................. pg. 27 Ramey Insurance ....................................... pg. 20 ReMax Realty ............................................ pg. 19 Rissi Event Center .................................. pg. 23 Sandy’s Flowers & Gifts ............................ pg. 15 Severin Garden Center ............................ pg. 17 Southern Illinois Bank ............................. pg. 19 Stone Funeral Home ............................... pg. 29 Stotlar-Herrin Lumber ........................... pg. 17 Union Funeral Home .............................. pg. 13 Watsons Jewelers ................................... pg. 4 Weeks Chevy-Buick-GMC ...................... pg. 23 West Frankfort House Furnishing ........... pg. 11 WF Chamber of Commerce ...................... pg. 29 Your Heart’s Desire ................................. pg. 4 Contact Michael A. Thomas at 937-2019 if you wish to advertise in “Good Living in West Frankfort”.

Over 40 Booths With Everything You Can Imagine

A Unique Shopping Experience

New Items Daily • HOURS: Tues-Sat 10-5

antiques crafts jewelry designer jeans clothing primatives collectables glassware furniture

Outdoor Flea Market Every 2nd Saturday 501 W. Main • West Frankfort • 618 937-0015

Spring Watson’s Jewelers into

for all your Special Occasions

• Weddings • Anniversaries • Graduation • Birthdays • Mother’s Day • Father’s Day NOW AVAILABLE

& Where customers are still treated like gems!

JEWELERS Since 1948

128 East Main Street • West Frankfort Ph: (618) 932-2210

HOURS: M-F 9AM - 4PM Additional hours available by appointment Ph: 618-923-2889

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Good Living In

West Frankfort 6

No.27 Spring 2017

Table of Contents

6 10

The Rissi Building on East Main Street has a unique and rich history.

Writer Gary Marx recently returned to Southern Illinois and found that it has a smell that says “I’m home!”

The Brown family is making sure that West Frankfort remains known as “The Furniture Capital of Southern Illinois.

14 16

Welcome to Schmolland. A place where things are a bit different during the day.

West Frankfort made Facebook news when it was placed in the top ten of Laziest Places in Illinois. We wonder how did that happen!

With over 10 years of publishing magazines about West Frankfort, “Good Living in West Frankfort” thought it would be a good time to put together an index covering over 300 articles.

Leadership is vital to progress. Wisdom, insight, and foresight are indispensable to the endurance of nations.ls it possible that America can elect the best qualified candidate for President this November? We have 20 questions to ask to help decide.

Good Living in West Frankfort is a magazine about the people, places and pride of West Frankfort. Our goal is to showcase interesting, unique and previously unpublished stories about the citizens, events and places in our community in a positive manner. Good Living in West Frankfort provides businesses the choice to advertise in a high-quality full-color venue at affordable prices. This magazine is free to our readers because of those advertisers.

No portion of this publication, including photos and advertisements, may be reproduced in any manner without the expressed consent of Good Life Publications . ©2016 ON THE COVER: The Annual Old Kind Coal Festival will be held May 12-15 this year. We hope all readers will attend some of the envents and help celebrate our rich coal mining heritage.

Photo from 2014 OKC Festival by Michael A. Thomas

Good Living In

West Frankfort A production of

Good Life Publications 309 East Oak Street West Frankfort, IL 62896 Ph: (618) 937-2019 E-mail Contact: GoodLifePublications@Gmail.com Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

The Rissi Building

A photograph from approximately 1950 shows the Rissi Studio located at 328 East Main Street. Photoprapher Leon Rissi did a thriving business throughout Southern Illinois for many years. Not only did Rissi serve as photographer for the FCHS yearbooks, but he was one of the first photographers in Southern Illinois to take on-site wedding photos. Notice Dooley’s Groceries partially visible on the right. (Photo courtesy of Rissi Studio Archives)

ByGail Rissi Thomas

ouldn’t it be great if buildings could talk? Every building in this town has a story to tell, a story about how it was a home for a family or many families over a number of years, or maybe a story of how it housed several businesses, contributing to the prosperity and success of a resident or the building of the community. Unfortunately the stories of most of the prominent buildings on our Main Street have been lost over the years. Even if the names of the most obvious owners are still common, the details of those stories are long forgotten. I happen to be privy to the story behind one of those Main Street structures, including the details of which I am very fond. The Rissi Building, at 328 East Main, has been in our family for nearly 80 years. It served us well, not only as the location where my father, my brother, and later my sister and I each owned and operated a successful business, but the place where our family made our home, where my sister, Genelle, my brother, Tim, and I grew up in the heart of downtown West Frankfort.

Good Living in

I don’t know how long the original structure existed, but I’m sure, from the stories I’ve heard from both my mother and older West Frankfort residents, it had other lives some years before my father, Leon Rissi decided that it was an opportunity for his future. My father was, like his father, a professional photographer. Both he and my mother were natives of Collinsville. They were married in 1935, and because my grandfather already owned a successful studio in their hometown, they moved to the neighboring city of Highland and set up shop in a rented building. They weren’t completely satisfied there, but didn’t stay for long. Within several months, they received a letter from my great- grandfather, James Dunn, who was then superintendent of the Old Ben Mines. He wrote, and I have heard this many times, “You kids should bring your studio to West Frankfort. This is a boom town.” Trusting his judgment, they packed up and moved to West Frankfort, where they rented a storefront for a studio on the ground floor of what was the Downen Building in the 300 block of East Main, and rented an

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

apartment to live in on the second story. The Downen Building occupied the space where the Moose Parking Lot is now. It was a good location. They shared the neighborhood with the Coalfield Store where local miners bought nearly everything they needed and the BFJ Furniture Store. The opposite side of the street was bustling with Cox Grocery and Dooley’s Grocery stores side by side. Adjacent to them was Weavers’ Flower Shop. A wide alley running north and south separated that half of the block from what were originally Pharis Ford, later Shady Lane’s Chevrolet and eventually Coleman’s Chevrolet. Another grocery, Woodway sat on the southwest corner of Main and Jefferson. According to Neil Dillard of Carbondale, this was the look of the neighborhood in the late 1930’s. Dillard is from West Frankfort and during his high school years was a faithful and contented employee of grocer John Dooley. His first-hand information of the time is a treasure. It was a busy time in a busy town. Young men were leaving for the war and having photographs taken in uniform when leaving or home on leave. Photos of children and new babies were taken and sent in letters to fathers and older

brothers thousands of miles away. Large wedding parties gathered at the studio after the ceremony to have a formal professional wedding photo taken. James Dunn was right. “It was a boom town.” The studio thrived. It must have been before 1937 when my father arrived home at the apartment one day gleefully announcing to my mother that he had made a sudden change in their lives. I’ve heard my mother tell the story so many times that I remember every word just as she remembered it. He started the conversation with “I’ve bought a building. We are going to fix it up and have the studio in the front on Main Street and live in the back.” “You’ve done what?” she gasped in disbelief. “Come on, I’ll show it to you. It’s right across the street.” She said that her mind raced through the buildings across the street and could think of nothing except buildings that were occupied with successful businesses and an old burned out warehouse. “Every building was filled at that time,” remembers Dillard. “You couldn’t find an empty building in this town from the west side all the way to the high school.” That old warehouse is the building that Leon Rissi had his eye on and had already made a commitment on without his wife’s approval. My mother recalled him leading her by the arm across Main Street and into a dark empty structure, picking their way across a partly broken floor while he led the way with a flashlight. “There was no electricity”. She said. “I cried through most of the trip in spite of his excitement as he described the changes he would make to the dwelling. “Look, I’m going to make my studio right here and back here, we will have room for three bedrooms a kitchen, living room and a bathroom. I’m going to do it all myself.” “Riss,” she said, still crying. “What on earth are you thinking? You don’t even know how to hammer a nail.” “Don’t worry,” was his exuberant reply. “I can do it. I can get some books at the library. I’ll figure it out.” That he did, and in 1941, when the building was livable, they were ready to make use for another of those three bedrooms. My mother was pregnant with their oldest son, Tim.” At that time, there was a stairway parallel to the front of the building leading

to the basement, which housed a barbershop and what my brother remembers as Adolph Gruber’s Sign Shop. While Tim was still small, that front was changed and the basement entrance was closed. Stories abound about the purposes the building served before my father acquired it. Etheredge Tharp, who passed away this year at the age of 105, believed that there once was a large hotel on the corner of Main and Jackson Streets which burned. He thought that possibly the Rissi Building was the part of that hotel that contained the lobby, and was the only part left standing. Roger Boner, another former resident, now deceased, told me once that he remembered the building containing a bar or perhaps a sandwich shop at one time, and he distinctly remembered a ten pin alley, where he used to play ten pins in his younger days. I love the stories, but unfortunately have never been able to confirm any of them. The Downen Building on the North side of Main, was destroyed by fire in the mid Seventies, and the store fronts that housed the groceries and Weavers Flowers, and 10 apartments on the second story on the south side of that block burned completely only a few years later. The living quarters, where my mother lived until her death in 1999, contained some novel design features, ahead of their time, but still contained in the building today. An

Leon and Verra Rissi (Photo Courtesy of Rissi Studio Archives)

Easter 2016

Attorney At Law Since 1974

(618) 937-2404

226 East Main • West Frankfort, IL Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Aaron M. Hopkins Attorney and Counselor at Law GENERAL PRACTICE

402 East Main Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896 DUI Family Law Criminal Law 16 Years Experience Driverʼs License Reinstatement

618.932.3900 fax: 618.937.3182 hoplaw1@gmail.com

www.aaronhopkinslaw.com

Residential • Commercial • Land • Lake Serving ALL of Franklin County for over 40 years!

Sharon Sulcer Benton Broker 923-2576

Sandy Russell WF Broker 218-6985

Tany Steckenrider WF Broker 927-1176

Angela Brown WF Broker 922-4039

Roger Raubach WF Broker 937-3757

1301 W. Main • West Frankfort, IL 62896 Ph: (618) 937-4029

David McCollum Managing Broker 218-3700 www.mccollumrealestate.com

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Lynette Ing Benton Broker 215-1989

Frank Grounds Benton Broker 218-5575

Terrie Morris Benton Broker 927-5531

Cheryl Leadingham Benton Broker 218-3587

Pam Tippett Benton Broker 246-3946

811 N. Main • Benton, IL 62812 Ph: (618) 435-5531

example is the indirect lighting, which my father wanted recessed into the ceiling, but could not find available to buy. He created his own, by cutting holes in the ceiling with light sockets up and out of sight, having frosted circles of glass to cover the holes and trimmed with the chrome rims from Chevy headlights. Sliding “pocket “ doors that slid back into the wall remain in most rooms throughout the house, along with a breakfast nook that he designed and built, decorative glass brick, and other features that were clearly before their time. Neil Dillard still remembers seeing the interior of the living quarters on several occasions when he was delivering groceries from Mr. Dooley that brought him inside the dwelling. “You know, I thought that place was – well, just beautiful. I had never seen anything like that. There just weren’t homes like that in West Frankfort. It was so different that I remember going home and telling my mother and dad about it.” In the late 1940’s the Daily American announced a grand open house for the newly remodeled Rissi Studio, designed “in a modernistic theme.” Facts from that article clarify for us that my father acquired the building and opened his business in the late Thirties, and redesigned it 13 years later, after finishing the living quarters to his satisfaction. The newspaper article described “Construction of a new StoneKote front and the completion of a new reception room and office, today marks the completion of an extensive remodeling project, that when completed is expected to make the Rissi Studio at 328 East Main Street, one of the finest in the country. The major portion of the interior decoration has been carried out by Leon J. Rissi, proprietor of the firm. Rissi drew up the plans and specifications, and has done all the work, with the exception of the front, which was contracted.” The article continues to describe a “modernistic 4 x 12 foot picture window, below which is an aluminum framed display window.” The entire interior front wall has been upholstered in a tufted, vivid red leather wall.” Glass brick was used generously for decorative effects both in the studio and the living area, some of which remains today. Leon Rissi passed away in 1961 at the young

In 1981 a fire destroyed a portion of the 300 block of East Main Street including the Arscht Apartments, a weight lifting gym, Reed Liquor Store, Janet Galli’s Ceramic Shop and a florist, previously Weaver’s Flowers. (Photo courtesy of Genelle Bedokis)

age of 49. He had already sold the studio to his son, Tim, who operated it for 41 years. In 2000, my sister, Genelle Bedokis and I opened a bakery, Rissi Pastries and Gourmet Gifts, and again completely renovated the building. We kept the bakery open for 8 years; unfortunately our energy could not keep pace with the demand and we eventually closed. It has been rented several times since then. The building is currently for sale, but in the meantime, it will be taking on a new life. West Frankfort will now have an event center, something that has been needed for residents to host private dinners, family or business celebrations, baby and wedding showers or business meetings. The rich dark colors in the front area with indirect lighting and intimate setting includes tables and chairs for about 50 guests. Arrange-

ments for renting the site can be made by calling us at 618-937-2019 or Cathy Sikora at 932-2181. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every building on Main Street could talk, could tell us about its past life and how it served the community over the years? We wanted to tell you in our magazine about the new event center on our Main Street. But more importantly, we wanted to tell the story of a building, a business and a family that grew up in it. Local histories should be written down. Stories of the Arsht’s, the Pharises and the Burgs were about people who came to West Frankfort, believed in this town enough to invest a lot of money here, and then left without anyone knowing why. The story of the Rissi Building could also be forgotten. That would be a shame.

Parker-Reedy Funeral Home

604 E. Main Street • (618) 932-6500

Larry G. Wall, Raymond G. Parker, Steve Harkins Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

The Forest

and the Smell of Home

Northwest are rugged and foreboding, and your eyes scan for bear and marmot in the shadows of larch and Douglas fir. These are older woods that suggest rockslides and it keeps you on your toes. Paleo stones protrude from the floor, bringing geologic millennia into the immediacy of the moment. More friendly are the aspen of Colorado and the maple woods of Massachusetts, which invite you from a distance in autumn. You can almost hear them calling, as sirens on the sloped shores of the Berkshires and the Flatirons near Boulder.

Shawnee National Forest Photo Wikimedia Commons

By Gary Marx omebody left an empty beer can for us to find in our woods. I don’t know anything about this guy, but there were two clues that led me to conclude that he has absolutely no sense of right and wrong. The first clue was obvious. He somehow thought — and “thought” is a relative term here — that it was OK to throw an empty beer can into the woods. This person considers littering to be an acceptable response to the end of thirst. The second clue that this guy doesn’t know right from wrong was the can itself. It was an empty can of Keystone Light. Enough said. As I said, I know nothing more about this guy. In fact, he could be a woman for all I know, although I’d like to think that women in general have a finer moral compass that most guys. And they possess more common sense. My wife, for instance, was astute enough to take one look at our woods in the Shawnee National Forest and convince me that we should buy it. So we did, even though we lived in Kansas at the time. That was

Good Living in

10 years ago. Since then, we’ve done little with it except dream about building on it and being good stewards of the land. Now that we’ve moved back home to Southern Illinois, our dreams are gaining steam. Pam and I have done a fair amount of traveling in the past couple of years. We’ve been to Minnesota, Michigan and Colorado. We spent a week in and around Yellowstone last August. We spent two weeks working in the Cascades in Washington State in October. Everywhere we went, we took hikes in the woods, and it’s remarkable how different and unique each of those forests is. We were walking in an old-growth forest at Deception Falls about six months ago. This was near Stevens Pass in Washington, an area apparently never logged. Moss clung like a damp cloth on the trunks of centuryold spruce, and the air felt heavy, laden with moisture. The air was cooled by the creek that rushed over rocks to the falls below. It was unlike anything I’d ever seen, but so was the forest on the shores of Lake Superior where birch and pine rose from a mat of needles and leaves. So was the woods in central Wisconsin, cool and dark and smelling slightly of Gonesh incense. You dream of cabins and fish in places like that. Wilder woods in higher elevations in the

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

The Shawnee National Forest is wilder than some and friendlier than others. It is more diverse than many. Despite the occasional empty beer can, parts of it are some of the most pristine places in the Midwest. On our land alone, a small parcel really, we found several rare and protected species of wildflowers. And there are trails everywhere. One member of the Illinois Native Plant Society told me I could hike one Shawnee trail every week for the rest of my life and not hike them all. I realize “the rest of your life” is also a relative term — and in my case much shorter than most — but the point was made: This is an accessible forest and it is available for exploration and discovery. My senses are piqued every time I walk in these woods, whether it’s on my land or on some well-marked trail. I feel alive. The Shawnee smells of freshness and rot, growth and renewal. I look for morels in April, and I listen to the rustle of leaves in the canopy, measuring the strength of the wind and the coming of rain. We moved back to Southern Illinois because of the Shawnee. My body knows this place. My soul is at rest here. Every forest on the globe is unique, and each is magnificent in its own way, but these woods in Southern Illinois bring to me a peace I’ve felt nowhere else. Very simply, these woods smell like home. Gary Marx is a longtime journalist who has worked for The Southern Illinoisan and The Kansas City Star, among other publications. He has recently returned to Southern Illinois, where he hopes to get lost in the woods from time to time.

Sandy’s Flowers & Gifts

“When You Think of Flowers...Think of Ours” Since 1946 Hours: 8-4 Mon-Fri • 8-12 Saturday

105 S. Gardner • West Frankfort, IL 937-4561

SINCE 1946

NOW IN THE 4TH GENERATION OF THE BROWN FAMILY l-r: Alan Mitchell, Kyle Brown, Andy Brown, Linda Houseworth “Old Reliable” Our Family Cash Register Since 1914

(618) 932-6710

202 West Main St. West Frankfort, IL 62896

Still The Furniture Capital of Southern Illinois Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 11

Still the Furniture Capital

Brown Family Purchases Third Furniture Store in West Frankfort

By Michael A. Thomas he advertising phrase “West Frankfort, the Furniture Capital of Southern Illinois” is as well known throughout Southern Illinois and has served as a beacon to guide buyers into our fair city. And if Sloan Brown and his sons Kyle and Matt have anything to say about it, the familiar slogan will last well into the future. The Browns, owners of E. R. Brown Furniture and West Frankfort House Furnishings, recently announced that they have purchased the empty BFJ Interiors building on Main Street with the intent of expanding into new lines of furniture. The news is welcome relief to local residents who saw the closing of both BFJ and Coleman-Rhoads Furniture in 2013 as possible indicators of economic turndown. With Morthland College taking up headquarters in the former ColemanRhoads building and now this announcement of the rebirth of BFJ Furniture, an economic downturn could not be further from the truth. “There are many reasons to call yourself a furniture capital. It is not necessarily the store with the most furniture to sell. When those two stores closed people would come up to me and say, ‘well, you can’t call yourself the furniture capital now,’ but they were wrong,” said Sloan Brown. “West Frankfort is still the town people think about when buying furniture. Buying the BFJ building allows us to keep our theme. The business is here and we need more room.” “It is something we have been thinking about doing for two or three years,” said Kyle Brown. “Obviously it is cheaper than putting in a second room. We had a lot of options and this is the one we chose.” BFJ Furniture has been a fixture in Southern Illinois since 1921 when three Methodist ministers, whose intentions were to raise funds for the Methodist Orphanage and McKendree College, opened B. F. J. Furniture Company in Johnston City. Their

Good Living in

Sloan Brown and his sons Matt and Kyle stand below the BFJ Interiors sign on Main Street. The Browns have purchased the building, which has set empty since 2013, and plan to open their third furniture store in West Frankfort in the fall. The store will feature new lines of furniture not found in E. R. Brown Furniture or West Frankfort House Furnishings. The Browns will keep the BFJ Interiors name. Matt Brown will be store manager. (Photo by Michael A. Thomas)

last names—reflected in the store’s name— were Barnett, Fisk and Jones. The trio opened additional stores in West Frankfort, Marion, Herrin, Zeigler and Centralia, but eventually the entire business was sold to Barnett, and he later sold all but

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

the West Frankfort store. In 1941, when Mr. Barnett died in an automobile accident, Miss Edna Throgmorton, her brother Roderick R. Throgmorton and her sister Helen became owners, keeping the business in the Barnett family.

Miss Edna passed away in 1974 and the business was sold to John Goodson who sold the business to Pete and Susie Avripas in 1982. Son-in-law Jim White operated the store until it closed in 2013. In a Facebook comment, Pete’s son, Kurt Avripas, said the selling of BFJ was bittersweet, with a lot of happy memories of customer relations. He was sad to sell the store but happy to find it going to the Brown family. The Browns look on the purchase of BFJ as a new store, not an expansion. “We are not just going to put part of our existing furniture into it. We will be bringing in completely new lines,” explained Sloan. The addition of new lines will give the three-store conglomerate over 100 brand name choices of furniture and accessories.

Matt Brown, will be the manager of the new BFJ store. He will also be doing the hiring of salespeople. Kyle will be taking care of deliveries, receiving, warehousing “and everything else” he joked. That includes continuing his duties at West Frankfort House Furnishing, managed by his uncle Andy Brown, as well as E. R. Brown Furniture. Sloan is quite proud of his two sons. “We probably wouldn’t be doing this if

it weren’t for Kyle and Matt, but they both said this is what they wanted.” With all the new changes Sloan said one thing would never change. “Taking care of the customer after the sale. That is something my father always stressed and that will always stay the same. It is what has kept us in business for over 100 years.”

The grand opening of the new BFJ has yet to be finalized. “There is work to do,” said Sloan. “There is some roof work, we have already done tuck-pointing and will be installing new panels for the sign. We are going to keep the name BFJ. It is an established name and it will be its own store.” Then there is the 60,000 sq. feet of retail space to finish. “You have to understand that when we purchased the building, it was completely empty. That means installing phone lines, computer centers, as well as designing and building display areas.” But Brown added that he thinks the store should be ready by the fall. The Browns have a strong 100-year legacy of family involvement in the furniture business, according to matriarch Jane Brown, who was married to Warren Brown, son of founder Everett R. Brown. In 1913 Jane’s family opened the Campbell Furniture store in Benton and Jane actually has experience in the furniture business in St. Louis, New York and Chicago. “Kyle and Matt have five generations of furniture-store DNA in their blood,” she joked. “They got it from both sides of the family.” Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 13

Breakfast in

Sometimes living with a person who has a developmental disability is like visiting a different country.

Jay “Jaybird” Thomas enjoys his breakfast before getting ready for his job at Centerstone.

Photo by Michael A. Thomas

By Gail Rissi Thomas

that Holland had beautiful tulips and picturesque windmills and other wonders n 1987, Emily Perl Kingsley wrote waiting to be discovered. It was simply a a commentary about having a child matter of changing your expectations and with a disability. She compared it adjusting your thinking. to taking a trip. For nine months she planned a romantic and exciting trip to Italy. Years later, we began to hear more about 13190 Harmony Church Rd • West Frankfort • (618) 932-6032 But when she got there she found herself Autism. Another parent with an Austic in Holland instead. It wasn’t the exciting child, Laura Krueger Crawford, wrote and romantic Italy she had expected, but it a piece called, “Holland Schmolland.” was nice in a different way. She discovered She described their life as not living in

Browning Clark Automotive

13190 Harmony Church Rd • West Frankfort • (618) 932-6032 14

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Holland but in war-torn Iraq with bombs dropping and bullets whizzing by and things happening that you would never expect and when you least expect them. It isn’t romantic or pleasant. It isn’t relaxing. There are no windmills or tulips here, some days not even a dandelion. I get it. I would compare it to falling down the rabbit hole. It often transitions between chaos and bewilderment. Our Jaybird, whom many of you know personally, has both Down Syndrome and Autism. If you know him very well, you might know that he can name every musical instrument ever invented just by hearing a recording, or that he can tell you if the jazz soloist is playing a soprano, alto and tenor saxophone. You may have seen him sit for two or three hours, listening to a live concert and never move, barely taking a breath. Some of you might remember previous articles that I have written about him: “Dinner at Bob’s. Who Ordered the Meltdown?” or “Stuck at the Mall,” about his getting stuck in a little amusement car and having to call the Marion rescue squad to come and extract him. The “experts” told us in his early childhood years, that although children with Down Syndrome are talkative and socialable, with the addition of autism, Jay might never talk. Fortunately they were wrong.

Jay talks. Sometimes he talks a lot and when that happens, welcome to HollandSchmolland-Iraq. I have to explain that Jay talks in a kind of shorthand. I think it is a male thing. Why waste 10 words when one word can get the idea across. Why use paragraphs when a two or three word sentence speaks volumes. When he wants you to listen to him nothing deters him. Not even the right answer, or what you thought was the right answer. Actually, it may only be one piece of the Jaybird Code, the rest of which you must decipher with guesses and or listening to other clues from Jay. He is also very event conscious. Jay’s life revolves around birthdays, family traditions and holidays. When the page of the wall calendar is flipped to the next month you would think that the circus has come to town. You can practically feel the excitement in Jay’s voice as he rattles of what will be happening until the next page is turned.

Daily Specials Mon. Super Specials Please Call

937-4921 Tues. Loaded Potato

The Friendly Little Market on The Hill

1720 East Main West Frankfort (618) 937- 4921 Mon - Sat 5:30 AM to 9 PM / Closed Sunday

Owners: Kelly & Eric Kirk • GROCERY • DELI MEATS and CHEESES

CATERING SERVICES AVAILABLE Call-in Orders Always Welcome Lunchtime Delivery Available M-F 11-2

Served hot with butter, cheese sauce, bacon, sour cream and chives. $4.62

Wed. Taco Salad Seasoned ground beef over tortilla chips with all the usual goodies! $4.62/$6.47

Thur. Italian Beef Slowly cooked in au jus with thinly sliced onions, green peppers & seasonings. $4.62

Fri. Pulled Pork BBQ Extra tender pork loin with Kelly’s special sweet and tangy BBQ sauce. $2.77

Eat your breakfast.” Jay: “Go buy buns. Get buns, Mom.” Me: “Not today, Jaybird. It’s way too early to buy buns.” Jay: “Gifts.” Me: “Yes. I’m sure you will have gifts.” Anticipation is everything in Schmolland, Jaybird: “Coming? You wanna come?” and it begins far before the actual event. Me: “Sure Jay I’ll be at your party. “ For example, after the last firecracker has Jay: “Name!” boomed on the Fourth of July, it is time to Me: “Whose name?” begin talk of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Jay: “Genelle.” (Referring to my sister.) This is not a ‘only 124 days until Chrismas’ Me: “Yes, Genelle will be at your party. talk. No detail is left out. Every character Come on. Eat your toast. We have to get on Candy Cane Lane can be rattled off if ready for work.” Jay: “Cake.” the listener is patient enough. Me: “Of course we’ll have cake. What kind Jay’s birthday is May 22. He will be 26. of cake do you want, white or chocolate?” The fact that I am writing this exactly one Jay: “White. White cake. Buns.” month from that day is not relevant. Jay Me. “Ok white. Eat your toast Jay. I’ll and I have had this conversation several get buns. Your birthday is one month away. times in the last month. Probably not over See the calendar?” 100 or so. This was the conversation at our Jay: “Names, Mom. Names. Party.” Me. “Jay you know. Tim (my brother). breakfast table this morning. Genelle.” Jay: “Names, Mom.” Jay takes his seat at the table. Me: “WHOSE names?” Jay: “Day, Mom. Day. Gail, day?” Jay: “Tim. Tim and Genelle.” Me: “Monday.” Me: “Tim and Genelle’s names are still Jay: “What for?” Tim and Genelle. Come on, Jay. Please. Me: “I don’t know what for, because You’re gonna’ be late.” yesterday was Sunday?” Jaybird: “Daddy. Daddy. Dad, Dad. Daddy.” Michael finally looks up from doing Sudoku. With a lot more coaxing, Jay finally “Hamburgers, hot dogs, brats.” (We finally finishes eating. Now begins the morning recognize the topic of conversation is Jay’s ritual of what we refer to as “The Packing upcoming birthday.) “Mommy. What we of The Lunch”. The precise ceremony of a Catholic Mass has more freedom of gonna’ have?” Me: “Jay your birthday is a long way off. spontaneity than this ordeal. Jay collects

the components of his lunch bucket: a can of soda, a bottle of water, an ice pack, a paper napkin and whatever else the snack time and lunch menu might require for the day. One by one, these precious artifacts are bought to the altar of the kitchen table. One is not allowed to take anything from Jay’s holy hands, but must wait until he sets it down on the table. Then, and only then, am I allowed to pick it up and place it into his lunch bucket. Eventually, at the pace of an inchworm, Jay heads off to take his shower and get dressed. Michael takes him to his job at Centerstone. At about 1:30, he picks him up and brings him home. Jay sits down on the couch in our living room. Me: “Well Jaybird, how was your day? Did you work hard?” Jay: “Hamburgers, hot dogs, buns. Buy buns, Mom.” I try to remember that there are thousands of parents out there who have conversations with their kids very similar to this every day. I try to remember that there are other thousands who would give nearly everything they own, if their children could have any conversation at all with them, even one like this one. He’s watching me patiently, and I have to smile at his intensity as I promise that I will buy the buns in about a month. But not today. Jay: “Names!”

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 15

Top Ten

“Laziest Places in Illinois”

1. Centerville 2. Rock Falls 3. Harrisburg 4. West Frankfort 5. East St. Louis 6, Danville 7. Watseka 8. Centralia 9. Streator 10. Metropolis

By Gail Rissi Thomas Photos by Michael A. Thomas

nother disappointment today when I signed on to Facebook. West Frankfort was in Facebook news again, as I see a company called Zippia—whoever they are—has put us on another top ten list. We’ve been on the ten worst cities in Illinois twice now, but this latest one really hurts. West Frankfort has been named #4 on the ten laziest cities in Illinois.

Good Living in

I did a little research on Zippia, the company who keeps making all these judgments and publicizing them all over social media. Their website tells us a little about themselves, how they help people find the right careers, how they attempt to mentor them. The company is made up of about 13 individuals, each with either tech or management experience. Their published goals seem to be, well, basically helping people to find the right career path, and where to find it. Better yet, where not to find it. The

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

(Source: Zippia 2015)

biggest part of their business seems to be gathering data from census reports and the Internet. Most of that data seems to end up in lists, which in turn is supposed to help people make decisions where to live and get a job. Zippia has compiled all kinds of lists. They have only been in business since May of 2015, and according to their own website, they have compiled 216 lists. I hope compiling lists is a lucrative business. Far be it from me to call anyone lazy, but Good

Life Publications, with our somewhat laid back staff of two, could compile 216 lists in a month or two, and that involves taking time out for a couple of staff meetings a day and of course never missing an episode of Jeopardy. Zippia’s website tells us that they have compiled their 216 lists on topics such as the laziest places, the happiest places or the hardest working places in many different states. They don’t list their lists in any particular order, so I’m not sure if they have covered every state, or if some states just aren’t lazy, happy or hard-working at all. Some cities and some states made the good lists. For instance, I envy the people on the Ten Happiest Places in South Carolina or West Virginia. Now that is a really illusive one. Do they rely on census statistics like the number of clowns living there? But I can’t help but feel a little sorry for the residents of the 10 Hardest Working Towns in Arkansas. Those must be boring places to live. Imagine trying to get a golf game together there. The 10 Most Stressed places in Alabama must also be tough. You are stressed enough already and then Zippia puts you on the list.

SEVERIN GARDEN CENTER, INC LANDSCAPING

TREES • SHRUBS • EVERGREENS SHRUB TRIMMING • SPRAYING “CALL THE PROFESSIONALS”

721 NORTH GARDNER STREET WEST FRANKFORT, IL 62896

DALE & PEGGY SEVERIN PHONE: (618) 932-3017

We’re pretty lucky, actually. In West Virginia, they even made a list of the 10 laziest and fattest cities. At least we didn’t make that one, but of course they probably haven’t compiled that list for Illinois yet, so who knows. We’ll have that hanging over our heads for a while. Oh the anticipation! They said the fat list is based on how many gyms were in the town. That’s a relief. I thought maybe they just took a video camera and shot footage of people walking down the street. I dare them to come here when the ‘Hot Donuts’ light is on at Dixie Cream. They’d have to make a new list when they got home: The Fattest People Working at Zippia. Anyway, you get the idea. You can make a list about bad things in any town, or good things in any town. In choosing West Frankfort for this dubious honor of being one of the laziest towns in Illinois, they did say that at least half of the lazy towns chosen were downstate. I wonder why. They admitted that unemployment was a factor. I am feeling a little sorry for my husband though. He is originally from Kankakee, about one hour south of Chicago. Kankakee just missed the mark, coming in at #11 on the lazy list. Now he lives here, in Lazytown #4. He sure knows how to pick them. Just thought of something. Maybe it’s all his fault!

Volunteer Sylvia Tharp (standing) offers desserts to Alice Campbell, Mona deGroof, and Mary Ann Gelso at the Red Geranium Tea Room located at the Frankfort Area Historical Museum. Tharp is one of several people who donate their time every Wednesday to cook and serve lunch to raise money to help support the museum. Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 17

week preparing a meal just to help keep the museum in existence. The museum also supports a large, user friendly, genealogical and historical library, with thousands of well-preserved documents including nearly 100 years of the community’s newspaper. Genealogical researchers find it an unexpected treasure when they travel miles to get here to research their roots. If they had come to West Frankfort, I wonder if they would have caught a glimpse of the residents who donate their own time planting the flowers to help beautify West Frankfort’s Main Street. With the support of the city administration, all spring and summer we have something to brag about. West Frankfort musicians Butch Hoppers (guitar) and Al Peebels (bass) entertain residents and staff at Frankfort Care Center, something they have done weekly for many years.

(Above) Harriett Willis (l) and Connie Howard have been volunteering their time to plant flowers along Main Street. (Below): Logan Black enjoys the new playground equipment at the West Frankfort City Park while his mother, Crystal, watches.

So I’m not sure exactly how it happened that West Frankfort made this list of the 10 laziest towns in Illinois. I have to make a guess that on the day they visited our fair city, (if they did at all, which I’m pretty sure they didn’t), they probably didn’t visit the beautiful West Frankfort Park, and probably one of the best of any they might find in a city of this size. They probably didn’t stop to lend a hand to the volunteers who got together and painted all the playground equipment to make it nice for the kids this summer. I would bet my Lazyboy that they haven’t seen the new state of the art playground equipment added by the park board since then. Maybe they didn’t visit the Aquatic center, boasting an Olympic size indoor pool, gymnasium, party room and banquet room, The well equipped weight and exercise room with trainers available, busy with selfless volunteers working hard to keep us all off of the dreaded “Laziest and Fattest List.” That center, by the way was funded partly by tireless efforts of local citizens with long running fundraising efforts, and unbelievable generosity from all these lazy unemployed people. Too bad they didn’t visit on Wednesday. They could have enjoyed an excellent lunch at the Frankfort Area Historical Museum, where a handful of local men and women donate their entire day every

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

We invite all Zippians to come here on the Fourth of July and catch a concert from the volunteer town band played on as fine a park bandshell as you will find in any small-town America as other volunteers light up the night with fireworks. And by golly, I wish those lazy people on Candy Cane lane would stop with all that decorating at Christmastime or we might have to be put on that hardest working list. That goes double for you people putting on the Old King Coal Festival each year. Oh, it’s too bad they didn’t come through on a weekend when there was a dinner, an auction and raffle going on to help some local resident pay bills for cancer treatment, an illness or accident that has torn apart a family’s life. There are certainly plenty of those going on, and if you are going to need help from a disease, or some kind of trauma, I can’t think of a better town to need it in than this little lazy city. I have to guess that if visitors from Zippia came here to check us out, they probably didn’t run across a copy of the Frankfort Gazette where local citizens are trying their best to make sure the city has a newspaper. I can’t help but wonder how many of the top ten lazy cities have its own magazine like Good Living in West Frankfort, focusing on the Pride, People and Places in West Frankfort. Perhaps we should send them a copy of this one. Michael is getting the stamps out of the drawer right now. I need a nap.

How about Professional Chiropractic Care instead of General. Also remove the Health and welless Program and add- Now doing CDL/DOT Medical Exams

Nolen

Bank With Conﬁdence

Chiropractic Clinic

Everybody’s Hometown Bank

Johnston City, 1012 W. Broadway (618) 983-8433 Thompsonville, 21394 Shawneetown Rd. (618) 627-4400 West Frankfort, 404 S. Logan (618) 932-8536 Zeigler, 202 N. Christopher Rd. (618) 596-8028 www.southernillinoisbank.com

Member FDIC

Equal Housing

Lender

Professional Chiropractic Care Now doing CDL/DOT Medical Exams

937- 4164

107 S. Van Buren • West Frankfort, IL Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 19

Thank You Southern Illinois

Linda Hogan, Shannon Browning, Kert Williams, Gay Morton and Coltun Williams

Gandy’s Body Shop

FOR SALE

Lifetime Warranty • Free Estimates

John C. Odle, Owner (618) 932-6979

14020 Gossett Road • West Frankfort

937-3124

A Unique collection of Purses, Jewelry, Collectibles and more!

119 E. Main West Frankfort, IL 62896

Friendliest Service Competitive Rates

Ramey Insurance

(618) 932-2730 (618) 937-4421

Back Row: Danny Ramey • Cheryl Tindall • Jim Johnson • Bethanne Chance Front Row: Cathy Short • Corine Ramey • Karissa Borowiec

www.rameyinsurance.net

110 North Logan • West Frankfort, IL 62896 20

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Community Connections Counseling offers outpatient therapy for a variety of emotional and mental health challenges to individuals of all ages, couples and families. DEPRESSION – ANXIETY – MARITAL ISSUES – DIVORCE RECOVERY – ABUSE - ANGER

Our therapists have one goal – to care for their clients’ needs and help them heal and move forward. They are professional, certified, and trained in the latest trauma therapy techniques. NEW OFFICE NOW IN WEST FRANKFORT INSIDE THE J&S PROFESSIONAL BUILDING

Other offices in Mt. Vernon, Centralia, Carmi, and Louisville

LET US HELP. WE WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE. Call 618-242-6944 or outpatient@umchome.org

A Service of the United Methodist Children’s Home 107 Shiloh Drive, Mt. Vernon, IL * umchome.org

Unwind

Honker Hill Winery

Live Music Every Sunday

Karaoke Every Friday Night Live Music Every Sunday

Dealing with insurance issues is like dealing with the next batter.

WE NEED TO TALK!

Paul Lawrence Insurance 305 E. Broadway, PO Box 118 • Johnston City, IL 62951

4861 Spillway Road Carbondale, IL 62901 (618) 549-5517 Fri - Sun Noon - 6pm

LUCAS BROS.

(618) 983-6953 e-mail: paul.lawrence.by9j@statefarm.com Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 21

Good Living in West Frankfort Magazine Index: April 2007 - December 2015

Vol.1 No. 1

Vol. 1 No. 2

Vol. 1 No. 3

Vol. 2 No. 1

Vol. 2 No. 2

Vol. 2. No. 3

Vol. 2 No. 4

Vol. 3 No.1

Vol.3 No. 2

Vol. 3 No. 3

Vol. 4 No. 1

Vol. 4 No. 2

Vol. 5 No. 1

Vol. 5. No. 2

Vol. 5 No. 3

Vol. 6 No.1

Good Living In

West Frankfort No. 25 Spring 2015

Showcasing the People, Places and Pride of West Frankfort, Illinois

West Frankfort

No. 18 / 2013 No. 19 / 2013 No. 20 / 2013 No. 21 / 2014 No. 22 / 2014 No. 23 / 2014 No. 24 / 2014

No. 25 / 2015 No. 26 / 2015

149 Grill.......................................................“The Legendary 149 Grill,” pg. 9. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Advertising.,.................................................“Merci. Thank You. Grazie. Danke,” pg. 12. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Androff, Jack...............................................“Renaissance Man,” pg. 22. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Animal Rescue............................................“Bless The Beasts,” pg. 38. No.20 Winter 2013 Bedokis, Genelle.........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Bedokis, Genelle: Personal Column...........“The Little Rocker That Came Home to Stay,” pg. 30. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Bernadoni, Carletto and Annuniciata..........“Dinner for a Quarter,” pg. 12. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Bernhard, Carolyn.......................................“Meeting Miss Bernhard,” pg. 28 Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 BFJ Furniture.............................................. “Farewell Friends,” pg. 32 No. 20. Winter 2013 Big Charlies Diner.......................................“Dinner for a Quarter,” pg. 12. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Blades, Gay................................................. “Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Boner House................................................“Inside The Boner House,” pg. 12. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 Boner, Bette.................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3. Dec, 2007 Boskie, Jack................................................“Supercar,” pg.23. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Bowen, Bob.................................................“Before There was Soft Serve There was Bowens,” pg.pg. 14. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Brown Maple House....................................“The Brown Maple House Then and Now,” pg. 8. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Brown, E.R. Furniture.................................“Celebrating 100 Years,” pg. 28. No. 24 Winter 2014 Broy, Charles...............................................“The Broys of Summer,” pg. 18. No. 23 Fall 2014 Broy, Dan.....................................................“The Broys of Summer,” pg. 18. No. 23 Fall 2014 Broy, Dennis................................................“The Broys of Summer,” pg. 18. No. 23 Fall 2014 Broy, Michah...............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 18. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Bullock, Jared..............................................“Duty, Determination, Devotion,” pg. 22. No. 23 Fall 2014 Bussler, Jay..................................................“4,000 and Counting,” pg. 13. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Butta, Florence............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Caldwell, Leigh...........................................“Oh Say Can You Sing,” pg. 16. No. 22 Summer 2014 Caleb Bike Farm.........................................“Joy and Purpose: The Caleb Bike Farm,” pg. 22. No. 22 Summer 2014 Candy Cane Lane........................................“Candy Cane Lane by The Numbers,” pg. 32. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Castellano House.........................................“The Castellano House,” pg.24. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Castleton, George........................................“Letter of Memory,” pg. 4. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Chambers, David.........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Chance, Jason..............................................“W F Couple Welcome Home Heroic Grandson,” pg. 15. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 (Index continued on page 24)

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Introducing West Frankfort’s Newest Gathering Place Family Events • Club Meetings • Business & Civic Groups • Bridal and Baby Showers Craft Shows • Fundraisers • Business for a Day

The perfect place for gatherings of 45 or less. Comfortable, unique, private, and inviting. Plenty of parking and convenient location. Call us for pricing and details on how you can use this building for your needs.

328 East Main Street West Frankfort, IL 62896

(618) 937-2019

WEEKS CHEVROLET • BUICK • GMC RIGHT ON THE PRICE RIGHT OFF I-57

10881 State Highway 149 • West Frankfort, IL

618-937-2446 Open Mon-Fri 8am-7pm • Sat 8-6

www.gregweeks.com Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 23

(Continued from page 22) Christmas Cookies.......................................“A Quick Cookie Trick,” pg.38 Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Christmas Photo Collage.............................“Christmas Across the Community,” pg. 34. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Christmas.....................................................“Tips On Christmas,” pg.12. Vol. 5 No. 3 Winter 2011 Churches......................................................“Easter Holy Week: 2008,” pg. 8. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 Claycamp, Sherry........................................“They Call Her The Flower Lady,” pg. 10. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Coffee, Billy................................................“The Wandering Wiseman,” pg. 42. No.20 Winter 2013 Coleman-Rhoads Furniture.........................“Farewell Friends,” pg. 32. No.20 Winter 2013 Community Thanksgiving Dinner...............“Home Town Heroes,” pg. 14 Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Cutsinger, Ruth............................................“Grandma Ruth’s Bonbons,” pg. 33 No.20 Winter 2013 Demaretti, Peggy.........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Denning Elementary School........................“Pilgrims and Indians Among Us,” pg. 29. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Denning Elementary School........................“Talking Turkey,” pg. 10. Vol. 5 No. 3 Winter 2011 Depression Era in WF..................................“When Times Were Tougher,” pg. 18. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Durfee, Allison............................................“At The Grammy’s,” pg. 26. No. 21. Spring 2014 Egyptian Drive-In........................................“Remembering the Egyptian Drive-In,” pg. 10. No. 22 Summer 2014 Ellis, Bob.....................................................“Paper Boy’s Bad Luck is Ended by Good Deed,” pg. 6. No. 26 Winter 2015 Engram, Thomas B......................................“Thomas B. Engram and the Betsy J,” pg. 26. No. 19 Summer 2013 Falletti, Esther..............................................“We Can Do It,” pg. 34. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Fantasy of Lights Parade.............................“Photos of The Fantasy of Lights Parade,” pg. 40. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Fasol, Tara...................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. No.20 Winter 2013 FCHS...........................................................“100 Years All Class Reunion,” pg. 28. No. 22 Summer 2014 FCHS............................................................“Blossom High,” pg.28. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 FCHS...........................................................“Willam B. Ittner FCHS Architect Extraordinaire,” pg. 18. No. 22 Summer 2014 FCHS First Yearbooks.................................“The FCHS Buddha,” pg. 12. No. 18 Spring 2013 First Baptist Church....................................“Strange Coincidence,” pg. 7. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Folgelman, Joyce.........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Fourth of July at the City Park....................“A Frankfort Fourth,” pg. No. 19 Summer 2013 Franklin County Poor Farm........................“Franklin County Poor Farm,” pg. 24. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Franklin County Relay for Life...................“Franklin County Relay for Life,” pg. 28. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Frazier, Zach................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 18. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Gardner, Kassie...........................................“Kassie Gardner the New Charles Schultz?,” pg. 16. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Gass, Shaney...............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Goins, Greg.................................................“The New Guy in Town,” pg. 14. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Gossett, Terry..............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6 Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Grant, Jan....................................................“Parting Shot” (Photo), pg. 38. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Gusta, Leigh Bedokis..................................“A Love Story,” pg. 16. Vol. 5 No. 3 Winter 2011 H Group (Centerstone)................................“Making a Difference,” pg. 20. No. 18 Spring 2013 Hanna, Sherry..............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. No. 20 Winter 2013 Harris’..........................................................“Doing Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well,” pg. 4. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Hastings, Robert..........................................“Send In The Cows,” pg. 10. No.20 Winter 2013 Hastings, Tim..............................................“Joy and Purpose: The Caleb Bike Farm,” pg. 22. No. 22 Summer 2014 Hastings, Tim..............................................“Send In The Cows,” pg. 10. No. 20 Winter 2013 Hays, Alice and Phyllis...............................“The Hays Twins,” pg. 10. Vol. 4. No. 2 Summer 2010 Heights Bakery............................................“Rich in History, Rich in Memories,” pg. 8. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Helping Our Troops.....................................“www.anysoldier.com,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 Herron, Chere..............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Herron, Gordon...........................................“Being Santa,” pg. 20. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Herron, Kent .............................................. “Water Skiing for Disabled at City Lake,” pg. 12. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Hixon, John.................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Hogan, Linda...............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. No.20 Winter 2013 Hopkins, Aaron............................................“A Twin’s Life at Christmas,” pg. 19. No. 24 Winter 2014 Hopkins, Sean..............................................“A Twin’s Life at Christmas,” pg. 19. No. 24 Winter 2014 Hopkins, Aaron............................................“How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” pg. 10. No. 23 Fall 2014 Hopkins, George..........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Hopkins, Leonard........................................“Leonard Hopkins D-Day Hero,” pg. 10. Vol. 6 No 1 Spring 2012 Hopkins, Leonard........................................“A Twin’s Life at Christmas,” pg. 19. No. 24 Winter 2014 Ice, Robert...................................................“The Black March,” pg.. 8. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Ittner, William B. ........................................“Willam B. Ittner FCHS Architect Extraordinaire,” pg.. 18. No. 22 Summer 2014 (Index continued on page 26)

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Twenty Questions

I Would like to Ask The Presidential Candidates By Michael A. Thomas

acing an important Presidental Election in November, which many agree will be a pivotal point in American politics, voters are left with the daunting task of choosing a president which finds a United States of America more divided than at any time since the Civil War. Having watched what seems like weekly debates since February, I have grown increasingly tired of the name calling, mud slinging, and exaggeration of the true facts coming from the candidates of both political parties. It is time to put an end to this nonsense and get to the real hearts and minds of these people. One of them will be guiding the course of the nation for the next four years. I do not yet know who I will be voting for in November. To me, picking a president is similar to picking a spouse; you want to get to know them before you make the final decision. Since each candidate is asking for my vote, I would like to ask each of them the following questions. Maybe I can get a clearer picture of with whom I want to spend my next four years.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

What quality about your opponent do you admire most? What bad habit would you like most to overcome? Wouldn’t getting rid of all the illegal aliens really hurt Taco Bell? Do you open Christmas presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? How much do you think a gallon of milk costs at the grocery store? Currently the name Donald is ranked as the 418th most popular name for a boy. Do you think that popularity will increase or decrease after this election year? 7. Which Downton Abbey character is most like you? 8. Do you ever get tired of saying the same things over and over and over and over? 9. If you become president, will you tell us the truth about Area 51? 10. Who put the bomp in the bomp bah bomp bah bomp? 11. We’re ordering pizza after the debate and you get to choose three toppings. What are they? 12. When playing Monopoly, which piece do you choose first? 13. Today’s music. Pretty much a bunch of crap isn’t it? 14. Is getting Girl Scouts to sell cookies just a sneaky example of corporate greed? 15. Tell us your favorite knock-knock joke. 16. Would you rather be eaten by a lion, stung to death by a 1,000 African honey bees or watch re-runs of The View? 17. Fruit Loops, Sugar Smacks or Lucky Charms? 18. President George H. W. Bush hated broccoli. Are there any foods you hate? Are there any Bushes you hate? 19. At the end of the next debate, would you do the Chicken Dance if you knew it would guarantee you at least one swing state? 20. If elected President, could you issue an executive order making Southern Illinois the 51st state? Please? Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 25

(Continued from page 24) Jenkins, Kristi..............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Johnson, Jack...............................................“Feeling Safe,” pg. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 Johnson, Jack...............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Jones, Merle.................................................“Let The Madness Begin,” pg. 15. No. 21 Spring 2014 Kathalynas, Linda........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Lawrence, Laverne ‘Potsie’........................“The Saga of the WF Thunderbolt,” pg. 16. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Leaving Home.............................................“From Roots to Wings,” pg. 18 Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Lemon, Craig...............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Ligon, Chaz.................................................“Chaz Ligon Has Our Hearts,” pg. 24. Vol. 6 No 1 Spring 2012 Lingner, Penny.............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Lithuanian Recipes......................................“A Lithuanian Christmas,” pg. 34. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Little League................................................“Play Ball,” (Photo Collage) pg. 20. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Little, Gary...................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Lucas, Joyce................................................“A Christmas Miracle,” pg. 14. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Luoto, Martin..............................................“Jumbo Finn,” pg. 24. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 M. M. Fox and Sons Store..........................“From Caskets to Candy,” pg. 30. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Mahalic, Charles.........................................“The Saga of the WF Thunderbolt,” pg. 16. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Mame..........................................................“Mame: WF Arts Council Brings Broadway to Town,” pg. 14. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Mamie’s Sweet Shop...................................“Joe and Mamie,” pg. 21. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Manis, Mary ...............................................“Mary Manis Creates Wonderful Santas,” pg. 38 Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Mandrell, Josh.............................................“The One,” pg. 26. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Maragni, Ray...............................................“Reliving a Miracle,” pg. 19. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Marshall, James ‘Laddie’........................... “Remembering ‘Laddie’,” pg. 18. No. 18 Spring 2013 Marx, Gary..................................................“The Word for Winter,” pg. 14. No.20 Winter 2013 Marx, Gary..................................................“Saving Tommy,” pg. No. 23 Fall 2014 Marx, Gary..................................................“Watching The Wheel Go Around,” pg. 14. No. 24 Winter 2014 Marx, Gary..................................................“Fighting Over Chicken Feed,” pg. 6. No. 25 Spring 2015 Max Morris Gym.........................................“The Supreme Court,” pg.6. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Mayernick, Robert.......................................“Christmas in Korea,” pg. 6. No. 22 Summer 2014 McCord, Robert...........................................“Heroes Among Us,” (Pearl Harbor), pg. 10. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 McCord, Sue................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. No.20 Winter 2013 Michalic, George..........................................“Heroes Among Us,” (Pearl Harbor), pg. 10. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Mitchell, Sally..............................................“Hidden Talent,” pg. 25. No. 22 Summer 2014 Moreland, John............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Moreland, John and Mary................. ..........“Under The Golden Arches,” pg. 24. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Morris, Max.................................................“Who Was Max Morris?,” pg. 11. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Morrison, Sandy......................................... “God Provides,” pg. 22. Vol. 5 No. 3 Winter 2011 Morthland College .....................................“First Annual Heritage Days a Huge Success,” pg. 8. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Morthland, Tim ..........................................“Man With A Dream,” pg. 28 Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Murphy, Jason ............................................“Finding Stable Ground,” pg. 13. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Murphy, Sherri........................................... “The Corner,” pg.. 20. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Murphy, Sherri............................................“The Confession,” pg. 6. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Murphy, Sherri ..........................................“Welcome to Wal Mart,” pg. 8. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Murphy, Sherri ...........................................“Three-legged Race Haiti Style,” pg. 22. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Murphy, Sherri............................................“To ‘ER’ is Human,” pg. 22 Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Murphy, Sherri............................................“Enjoy The Season and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” pg. 8 Vol. 5 No. 3 Winter 2011 Murphy, Sherri............................................“The Children of Summer Deserve Their Day,” pg. 6. Vol. 6 No 1 Spring 2012 Murphy, Sherri............................................“Spoiler Alert,” pg. 8. No. 18 Spring 2013 Murphy, Sherri............................................“It’s A Good Life,” pg. 28. No. 23 Fall 2014 Murphy, Sherri........................................... “I Can’t Believe They’re Not Better,” pg. 16. No. 24 Winter 2014 Murphy, Sherri:...........................................“One Week Without a Mom,” pg. 9 No. 25 Spring 2015 Murphy, Tim...............................................“Candy Cane Lane by The Numbers,” pg. 32 Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Murray, Father Trevor.................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 National Guard, Illinois..............................“Welcome Home”, pg. 12. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 New Era Dairy............................................“Tacos, Banana Popsicles and the New Era Dairy,” pg. 22. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Nicholson, Helen........................................“How Good Were Those Good Old Days?,” pg. 26. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Nolen, Orville ............................................“The Legendary 149 Grill,” pg. 9. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Norman, Everett.........................................“Ike and Mike,” pg. 12. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 (Index continued on page 28)

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Kennedi and Logan Brown

Personal Injury and Death Cases 800-917-1771 618-932-2772 618-937-2662

P.O. Box 280 • 115 East Main Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896

Herron Rehab & Wellness Center Our New Services Meridian Stress Assessment Neurofeed Back

• ADD/ADHD • ANXIETY / DEPRESSION • Early Stage Dementia

Class IV K- Laser

• The drug free / surgery free solution • Advanced pain relief • Accerates the healing process • Relieving pain, reducing swelling & increasing range of motion

Get Your Life Back! West Frankfort, IL 607 W. Oak Street Phone: (618) 937-3509

Benton, IL 106 W. Washington Phone: (618) 439-2225

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 27

(Continued from page 26) Odle, M.C.........................................................“The Sign Man,” pg. 14. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Old City Hall....................................................“Ribbon Cutting Old Firehouse Event Center Opens,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Old King Coal..................................................“Old King Coal Schedule (2010),” pg. 26. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Old King Coal..................................................“The Old King Coal Weddings,” pg. 17. No. 25 Spring 2015 Old Park Swimming Pool................................“The Park Pool,” pg. 10. No. 19 Summer 2013 Pagano, Seb......................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Parks, Doctor Robert and Marilyn...................“West Frankfort Street Scene,” pg. 28. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Paschedag’s Music House................................“End of an Era,” pg. 10. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Pearson, David.................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Pharis House, The.............................................“Inside the Pharis House,” pg. 16. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Photo Collage 1................................................“Neighbors by Coincidence, Community by Choice,” pg. 19. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Photo Collage 2................................................“Neighbors by Coincidence, Community by Choice,” pg. 28. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Photo Collage Parade of Lights.......................“Lights Parade 2008,” pg.36. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Photo Collage Winter 2007-08.........................“What a Winter!,” pg. 22. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 Photo Collage National Guard Deploys...........“An Emotional Farewell,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Photos of Summertime.....................................“Finding Fun in Frankfort,” pg.6. No. 19 Summer 2013 Polar Plunge.....................................................“Home Town Heroes,” pg. 20. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Raubach, Marcia..............................................“WFRX Part of Beatles Folklore,” pg. 26. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Recipes.............................................................“Cherry Tortilla Cobbler Summertime Treat,” pg. 22. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Rhoads, Steve...................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Rissi, Tim and Jane..........................................“Three Wedding Stories,” pg. 18. No. 19 Summer 2013 Riva, Kate.........................................................“Kate Riva’s Coffee Shop,” pg. 28. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Roger, Stanley..................................................“Preserving West Frankfort One Piece at a Time,” pg. 20. No. 19 Summer 2013 Sawalich, Brandon and Stacy...........................“The House on Heights Hill,” pg. 16. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec, 2007 Scobby, Carla...................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. No.20 Winter 2013 Serena, Michaelangelo.....................................“Let’s Hear It For The Boys,” pg. 24. No.20 Winter 2013 Severin’s Garden Center...................................“How Does Your Garden Grow?,” pg. 16. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Simmons, Johnny............................................. “Heights Bakery: Rich in History, Rich in Memories,” pg. 8. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Simpson, Marilyn.............................................“Last Look” (Photo), pg. 30. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Smart, Marsha..................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Smith, Hal........................................................“Hal Smith World Series Hero,” pg. 7. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Snyder, Ola.......................................................“From Russia With Love,” pg. 10. No. 21 Spring 2014 Solar Eclipse 2017............................................“America’s Eclipse,” pg. 6. No. 24 Winter 2014 Spani, Zella.......................................................“Memories of S.I.U.,” pg. 27. No. 25 Spring 2015 St. John’s Catholic Church...............................“Stained Glass Spendor,” pg. 18. No.20 Winter 2013 Stewart, John....................................................“Capturing An Era Artist John Stewart,” pg. 20. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Stotlar Herrin Lumber......................................“Happy 110th Stotlar’s,” pg. 28. No. 18 Spring 2013 Sullivan, Clara Tadlock....................................“The Old King Coal Weddings,” pg. 17. No. 25 Spring 2015 Sunday, Billy...................................................“When Billy Sunday Came to Town,” pg. 10. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 Table Pride Bakery...........................................“The Pride of West Frankfort,” pg. 21. Vol. 6 No 1 Spring 2012 Table Pride Bakery...........................................“Table Pride Bakery The Rest of The Story,” pg. 24. No. 21 Spring 2014 Tate, Ron..........................................................“Old King Coal Festival (2010),” pg. 20. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 Taylor, Rachel..................................................“Saving Big With Coupons,” pg. 26. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 Taylor, Wes.......................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 December 2007 Teen Town........................................................“Remembering Teen Town 1957-1966,” pg. 12. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Tersinor, John...................................................“West Frankfort’s Racecar Driver Extraordinaire,” pg. 20. No. 25 Spring 2015 Tharp, Ethridge................................................“Shop Local,” pg. 24. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Tharp, Sylvia....................................................“My Most Treasured Christmas,” pg. 12. Vol. 1 No. 3 December 20072007 The Patch..........................................................“The Patch: A Coal Mine Legacy,” pg. 18. Vol. 6 No 1 Spring 2012 Thomas, Gail and Michael...............................“About Us,” pg. 30. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 Thomas, Gail....................................................“The Cake Story,” pg. 24. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Barbie’s Close Call,” pg. 24. Vol. 1 No. 3 December 2007 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Stuck At The Mall,” pg. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Bread Pudding,” pg. 6, Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Dinner at Bob’s,” pg. 8. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Thomas, Gail....................................................“People are Good at Heart,” pg. 10. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Growing Up on Facebook Meet the Twinkies,” pg. 28. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Sharing The Sorrow,” pg. 6. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 (Index continued on page 30)

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Ph. (618) 932-2181 Fax (618) 932-6330 201 East Nolen Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896 www.westfrankfort-il.com

wfchamber@frontier.com

McCord’s Market Locally Owned & Operated Since 1974

501 South Logan Hours: Mon-Sat 7-9 (618) 937-6146 Closed Sunday G. David Green, Broker • (618) 923-1111 Kurt Avripas, Broker • (618) 923-2379 Steve York, Broker • (619) 200-2243

Free Carry-Out Convenient Parking Butcher Block Quality Meat

112 E. Main Street West Frankfort, Illinois 62896 Ryan Ridgeway, Broker

(618) 937-3040 Fax (618) 937-3099

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 29

(Continued from page 28 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Penny Candy,” pg. 26. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Why Can’t They Leave Stuff Alone,” pg. 6. No. 18 Spring 2013 Thomas, Gail....................................................“West Frankfort: A Caring Community,” pg.. 14. No. 19 Summer 2013 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Touching A Spot: A Pie, A Man, A Memory,” pg. 27. No.20 Winter 2013 Thomas, Gail....................................................“What Women Want,” pg. 8. No. 21 Spring 2014 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Remember The Teacher,” pg. 18. No. 21 Spring 2014 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Grandparent’s Day,” pg. 26. No. 23 Fall 2014 Thomas, Gail....................................................“Fowl Play,” pg. 10. No. 24 Winter 2014 Thomas, Gail....................................................“When Pizza Came to West Frankfort,” pg. 11. No. 25 Spring 2015 Thomas, Gail....................................................“The Changing Shape of News,” pg. 14. No. 25 Spring 2015 Thomas, John...................................................“Let’s Hear It For The Boys,” pg.. 24. No.20 Winter 2013 Thomas, Michael..............................................“20 Questions: 2008 Presidential Campaign Humor,” pg. 26. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Thomas, Michael..............................................“Our Politically Correct Cereal,” pg. 6. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Thomas, Michael..............................................“Halloween Genes,” pg. 18. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Thomas, Michael..............................................“Pondering Donder,” pg.. 10 .Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Thomas, Michael..............................................“The Boathouse,” pg. 18. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Thomas, Michael..............................................“Password Problems,” pg. 28. Vol. 6 No 1 Spring 2012 Thomas, Michael..............................................“Anchor Date,” pg. 6. No. 21 Spring 2014 Tomlinson, George and Deanna.......................“It’s a Wonderful Life,” pg.. 16. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Tregoning, Dennis and Suzie...........................“Three Wedding Stories,” pg. 18. No. 19 Summer 2013 Tregoning, Susan..............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. No.20 Winter 2013 Tregoning, Susan and Paul...............................“Three Wedding Stories,” pg. 18. No. 19 Summer 2013 Trinity Methodist Church.................................“Home Town Heroes: Trinity Methodist Church,” pg. 10. Vol. 3 No. 2 Summer 2009 Turner, Jocelyn.................................................“Father’s Day Tribute,” pg. 6. Vol. 5. No. 2 Summer 2011 Turner, John......................................................“Father’s Day Tribute,” pg. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 UMWA Hospital...............................................“Farewell to a Friend,” pg. 28. Vol. 5 No. 3 Winter 2011 VanWay, Debbie...............................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 December 2007 Walston, Lee.....................................................“Poem: A Prayer to June,” pg. 19 Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007 Ward, Luke.......................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg.18. Vol. 3 No. 3 Dec. 2009 Weakly, Rosemary............................................“Rosemary’s Babies,” pg. 36. Vol. 1 No. 3 December 2007 Weaver, Andy...................................................“Grandma Ruth’s Bonbons,” pg. 33. No.20 Winter 2013 West Frankfort Business History......................“Shopping West Frankfort (Old Ads),” pg.. 22. No. 24 Winter 2014 West Frankfort Early Auto Dealerships ..........“Putting the Roar in the Roaring Twenties,” pg.25. No. 26 Winter 2015 West Frankfort Early Movie Theaters..............“Let Us Entertain You,” pg. 16. No. 26 Winter 2015 West Frankfort Fire Department......................“Photo Home Town Heroes,” pg. 30. Vol. 4 No.1 Spring 2010 West Frankfort History.....................................“Preserving Our Past How You Can Help,” pg. 22. Vol. 1. No. 1 April 2007 West Frankfort History.....................................“In The News,” pg. 20. No. 26 Winter 2015 West Frankfort History: Businesses.................“We’ve Got The Goods,” pg. 22. No. 26 Winter 2015 West Frankfort History: Main Street................“A Trip Through West Frankfort 1903,” pg. 10 .No. 26 Winter 2015 West Frankfort Library.....................................“To Love a Library,” pg. 28. Vol. 5 No. 1 March 2011 West Frankfort Police Deparment....................“Hometown Heroes,” pg. 30. Vol. 4 No. 2 Summer 2010 West Frankfort Street Deparment.....................“Hometown Heroes,” pg. 29. No. 21 Spring 2014 West Frankfort Switchboard Operators............“Number Please,” pg. 14. Vol. 2 No. 1 April 2008 WF Chamber of Commerce.............................“Chamber Makes Downtown Merry,” pg. 42. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec. 2007 WFRX Radio Station.......................................“WFRX 1300 The Voice of a Community,” pg. 22. Vol. 5 No. 2 Summer 2011 Wilburn, Don Athen ........................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec. 2007 Wilkinson, Kate................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec. 2007 Williams, Earl...................................................“Ice Cream, Monkey Ropes and The Lexington,” pg. 22. Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2009 Williams, Karen................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg.16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Willis, Harriett..................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 6. Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec. 2007 Willis, Julie.......................................................“The Christmas Belles,” pg. 8. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Women’s Card Clubs........................................“When Women Were Wild,” pg. 8. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Woody, Mike....................................................“Christmas Memories,” pg. 16. Vol. 2 No. 4 Holiday 2008 Woolard, Tom...................................................“Feed The Birds,” pg. 22. No. 21 Spring 2014 WWII Christmas Letters..................................“Christmas in Wartime,” pg. 34. No.20 Winter 2013 Yadro’s Auto.....................................................“Yadro Auto Parts History,” pg. 20. Vol. 2 No. 2 Summer 2008 Yusko, Joe and Mamie.....................................“Mamie’s Sweet Shop,” pg.. 21. Vol. 2 No. 3 Fall 2008 Zavich Family...................................................“Coming Home,” pg. 7. No. 26 Winter 2015 Zhao, Ping and Yani.........................................“Family Reunion 8,000 Miles from Home,” pg. 6. Vol. 1. No. 2 August 2007

Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016

Advanced Hearing Center

Proudly Serving the People of Franklin County

ALL AMERICAN HEARING OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS PROVIDES STATE-OF-THE-ART HEARING INSTRUMENTS

• VIRTUALLY NO MORE WHISTLING • HEAR CLEARLY ON THE PHONE • HEAR BETTER IN NOISE • HEARING TESTS ARE ALWAYS FREE!

STEVEN SAWALICH HEARING AID SPECIALIST

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION 800-634-8364

HE A R I N G MEMBER OF

All American

DR. PAULA HARRIS, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY

UMWA Provider

OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

ADVANCED HEARING SYSTEMS

TRENT HUDGENS HEARING AID SPECIALIST

BARB CAGLE PATIENT SERVICES COORDINATOR

FACTORY STORES OF AMERICA MALL WEST FRANKFORT, IL (618) 937-6419 TOLL FREE: 1-800 634-8364

Your Trusted Hearing Health Care Professionals Good Living in

West Frankfort No. 27 Spring 2016 31

Please Support The

Frankfort Area Historical Museum Preserving our Past Building for our Future

This Ad Sponsored by Brandon and Stacy Sawalich 32

Frankfort Historical Museum 2000 E. St. Louis Street West Frankfort, IL 62896 Phone:(618) 932-6519