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Letter from the
A
Publisher
s regular readers of our magazines probably know, in each issue since we started this project, I get the opportunity to write a “Publisher’s Letter,” offering a little sneak preview of what we’ve chosen for that issue, and at times taking the privilege of commenting on something public or personal that has affected our lives.
In April, 2008, after our youngest son, Jay, had just spent 10 days in Intensive Care at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, I shared some thoughts about life’s journey and how sometimes it takes you down a path where you hadn’t planned on going and in many cases didn’t want to. Well this year our life took another abrupt and unexpected turn, one that I know many of you can relate to. The day before Thanksgiving I got the phone call telling me that after a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy it was confirmed that I have breast cancer. There’s nothing like the news that cancer has come home to your family to shuffle your priorities. The West Frankfort Christmas magazine suddenly became less important. Testing, decision-making, surgery and setting up a schedule for this year that will include chemotherapy and radiation took priority. Here we are finally with our first magazine of 2011 and it’s almost spring. Thank you to so many of you who have patiently waited and inquired about our publication, and thank you to so many of you who have kindly asked about me, encouraged me and prayed for me. There are no words to express how much it has helped. Almost every one of our West Frankfort advertisers has loyally jumped on board again. As for the articles within these pages, they range from a piece from Sherri Murphy with lots of information and tips for these hard economic times. It even convinced me, the most unorganized person in town to try my hand at clipping a coupon or two. There is a sentimental look at a West Frankfort landmark, Max Morris Gymnasium from Michael and from me a nostalgic memory of the West Frankfort Public Library as many of us remember it. There are a few other pieces about local residents that we hope you will enjoy. We are headed down a path now, a different path than we intended, but as I look around at so many families whose lives have been changed by cancer, it’s very hard to think, “Why me?” It almost makes more sense to think “Why not me?” A few issues ago, we covered the huge success of the 2010 Relay for Life. This year, I am sure it will have an extra meaning for me, my sister who is also a cancer survivor just this year, friends, people in our church, people in the school system and all over the community whose journey has suddenly taken a turn down a path they never intended to go. Please support this community of survivors every way you can. Your kindness, your encouragement, your prayers. Yes, your prayers. I never before understood how important they are. And as for you, Dear Readers, may the only paths you take this year be ones that you choose.
Gail Rissi Thomas, Publisher
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Please support our advertisers. They make this magazine possible: Aaron Hopkins, Attorney ....................... pg. 11 All American Hearing ...............................pg. 19 BFJ Interiors ........................................... pg. 13 Browning Clark Auto Repair ................... pg. 13 Calico Country Sew & Vac ...................... pg. 18 Coleman-Rhoads ...................................... pg. 11 Dr. Seb Pagano, Dentistry ................. pg. 4 Dr. Fred Whitlatch, Dentistry ............. pg. 27 First Christian Church ........................... pg. 10 Frankfort Area Historical Museum ....... Back G. L. Williams Real Estate.................... pg. 23 Gandy’s Auto Body Shop ...................... pg. 2 Heights Market ...................................... pg. 2 Herron Chiropractic ............................. pg. 12 Howell Insurance ................................. pg. 30 Image Graphics ...................................... pg. 23 Jackson Pools & Spas ........................... pg. 27 JenRuss Glass Design ............................. pg. 23 Johnson Realty .................................... pg. 31 Kreative Design Showcase ................... pg. 27 McCollom Real Estate ........................ pg. 31 McDonald’s .............................................. pg. 17 Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy ................. pg. 2 Mike Riva, Attorney ............................. pg. 21 Nolen Chiropractic Clinic .................... pg. 25 Parker-Reedy Funeral Home ................ pg. 23 Ponton Foot Clinic ................................ pg. 13 Professional Pharmacy .......................... pg. 9 Ramey Insurance Agency .................... pg. 27 Sandy’s Flowers & Gifts ...................... pg. 21 Severin Garden Center........................... pg. 26 Shelter Insurance Agency .................... pg. 30 Southern Illinois Bank .......................... pg. 26 Stotlar-Herrin Lumber ............................ pg. 24 Teamster’s Union .................................. pg. 31 Union Funeral Home ........................... pg. 2 Volanski Heating & Air ...................... pg. 31 Weeks Chevrolet ..................................... pg. 31 WF Aquatics & Activities Center ..... pg. 4 WF Chamber of Commerce ................. pg. 31 Contact Michael A. Thomas at 937-2019 if you wish to advertise in “Good Living in West Frankfort”.
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Your Smile Says Hello To The World
Good Living In
West Frankfort
Vol.5 No.1 Spring 2011
6 14
Table of Contents
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Max Morris Gym is considered by many as the finest high school basketball arena in southern Illinois. Find out more about its history, renovation and great moments.
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The West Frankfort Arts Council created a moment of Broadway recently with their production of “Mame”.
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20 John Stewart is an artist on a mission to honor the coal miners of West Frankfort. 22 Contributing writer Sherri Murphy gives her advice on how using just two simple letters can empower you towards a better life.
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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.©2011 Printed quarterly: Spring, Summer, Fall and Holiday Season. Cover Art by Michael Thomas: The magnolia trees in full bloom in front of F.C.H.S. are always a welcome sign of spring.
Kassi Gardner is a talented 8th grade student at Central Jr. High School. Her first cartoon, “Granny Tales”, shows just how talented .
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Everybody is feeling the pinch these days and trying to make every dollar stretch. Two West Frankfort women have found a way to make those grocery bills almost disappear.
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Gail Rissi Thomas talks about her memories of the West Frankfort Public Library and the people who gave West Frankfort another jewel in our community crown.
Good Living In
West Frankfort
A production of Good Life Publications 309 East Oak Street West Frankfort, IL 62896 (618) 937-2019 Published Quarterly: (Spring • Summer • Fall • Winter)
E-mail Contact: GoodLifePublications@Gmail.com Spring • 2011
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Max Morris Gym :
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The Supreme Court Text and Photos by Michael A. Thomas One can only imagine what visitors think the first time they walk into West Frankfort’s Max Morris Gym. This truly feels and looks like a basketball cathedral and, why not? It was built with one thing in mind--basketball. Built in 1950 and given a face lift 54 years later, the “Supreme Court”, as Redbird playby-play Bruce A. Fasol is fond of calling the gymnasium, is a showplace with few equals among high school facilities anywhere. The First Basketball Game: Before there was Max Morris Gym, F.C.H.S. home basketball games were played in the auditorium. It is little wonder that community pride demanded a facility that would properly display the talents of the boys who wore the Red and Gray.
A near capacity crowd of 4,000 people watched the Murphysboro Red Devils defeat Breese Central in the Class 2A Super Sectional held at Max Morris Gym on March 8, 2011.
Warren Wilkinson holds the distinction of scoring the first points by a Redbird basketball player in Max Morris. “It was February of 1950,” said Wilkinson. “We played Mt. Vernon. They had just won the state title in 1949, and this was when there was only one class. The game was supposed to have been played earlier in the year but the gym wasn’t ready. Mt. Vernon agreed to move the game to a later Spring • 2011
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date so that they could be the first opponent to play there. In fact, it became the last game of the season.” The defending state champs bought a large contingent with them to the game. West Frankfort had even more fans to cheer on the Redbirds and, more importantly, to proudly witness the first game ever in their new gymnasium.
of CUSD #169 said, “It is a showplace. It is really spectacular and there aren’t too many high school gyms that can compare, especially in southern Illinois. It is a very special place, something we are very proud of. The cost of replacing it would be off the charts.”
According to Glodich, records on file indicate that the gym was built at a cost of $470,000. It sounds like a bargain price until one consid“The dressing rooms weren’t finers that adjusted for inflation, the ished for that game,” remembers figure equals about $4.25 million Wilkinson who was a sophomore dollars in today’s market. And that guard at the time. “Both teams does not take into consideration the had to use the old dressing rooms extra costs associated with handiacross the street in the high school capped accessible entrances, rest and then walk over to the gym. I re- rooms and seating that are required member walking onto the floor and building standards today. seeing the place packed, and that In this era of fiscal constraints and was just for the sophomore game. multi-purpose use, it is very unI scored 19 points in the game so I likely that Max Morris Gym could guess I held the single game record be built. for about an hour and a half,” joked But all buildings eventually age Wilkinson.
and Max Morris Gym was no exception. The construction of Max Morris Gymnasium had provided our community with the most prominent basketball facility in Southern Illinois, and it would be unacceptable to allow this 'jewel' to be lost to age, deterioration, and decay. “At the time of the required Health, Life, Safety study, it was determined that Max Morris Gym, though a legendary facility, was in serious need of major renovations from a safety standpoint”, said George Hopkins who was superintendent of schools at the time of renovation. “The electrical system was not only antiquated but access to lighting was by way of an old, dangerous breaker box to which both staff and students had access-- in order to turn on lights. The flooring in several areas of the walkways and under the reserved
Mt. Vernon beat the Redbirds behind Max Hopper’s 30 points and eventually repeated as state champions with a record of 33-0. Former F.C.H.S. coach Stan Chagnon was coach of the Rams at the time. One person who has seen a lot of high school basketball gyms in his life is Lon Kruger. Basketball fans remember Kruger as a former head coach of the University of Illinois. Kruger is now coaching the University of Las Vegas Runnin’ Rebels. He came to West Frankfort in 2000 to watch a recruit play at Max Morris gym. He may not have signed the recruit, but he told F.C.H.S. Athletics Director Richard Glodich, “This is the nicest high school gym I have ever been in.” Greg Goins, current Superintendent Pg. 8
Max Morris Gym during renovations. The renovation was accomplished in two phases during the summers of 2004 and 2005 and within the time constraints between one basketball season and another. Summer basketball activities were moved to Frankfort Intermediate School. PE programs in both the spring of the concluding school year and the fall of the new school year utilized outdoor areas of the track field or the PE field behind the Vocational building, as well as the weight room. (photo courtesy of George Hopkins)
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when Max Morris made its postrenovation debut,” said Hopkins proudly.
Athletic Director Richard Glodich and a group of dedicated volunteers gave the lobby area a fresh look by refurbishing, redesigning, and restoring trophies and photos in the Athletic Hall of Fame. A new carpet and recessed lighting in that area provide an impressive first impression for the facility.
seating areas had seriously deteriorated. A section of the gym floor was also in need of replacement. All of these areas were repaired.” “Many former basketball players and PE students probably remember the task of cranking up the side basketball goals prior to Friday evening contests. Those side goals had been damaged by use, years of “ups and downs”, and the backboards were not in compliance with IHSA standards”, Hopkins said. “They were repaired or replaced, and now a motorized system raises and lowers the four additional goals.”
were out-dated, not handicapped accessible and often not functional. The water and sewer systems were also out of date and damaged by time and use. Cracks in the foundation made the building susceptible to flooding. All of these items were addressed in the ‘Max’ renovation,” related Hopkins.
“Bathrooms and shower facilities
“The lighting of the gymnasium floor, audience areas, as well as most other areas in the building was poor and extremely inefficient. The old lighting system was replaced by a state of the art, highly efficient lighting system. The brightness of the new system, along with the painting of the entire facility, certainly dazzled the crowds
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“I recall looking at the “war zone” within the gym in late September and wondering just how in the world the “Supreme Court” would be ready for basketball season”, Hopkins said. “Somehow, with the accelerated efforts of the subcontractors involved, as well as the tremendous efforts of PE instructors like Susan Malkovich, custodial staff and volunteers, we witnessed the “Comeback of Max” on time and in all its glory—the glimmer had returned to the jewel.” Max Morris Gym was the site of last years 2A Super-Sectional which saw Breese Central down the Murphysboro Red Devils 5342. The game was played at Max Morris instead of the SIU Arena, which was unavailable because it was being renovated. Nearly 4,000 fans were in attendance. “Officials from the Illinois High School Association fell in love with the facility and the atmosphere,” said Goins. “And we are very excited to have this year’s SuperSectional return to Max Morris.” Max Morris has been the venue for many athletic events. Girls basketball, volleyball, wrestling and intramural sports all found a home at one time at the ‘Max’.
Who Was Max Morris? (March 13, 1925 – January 8, 1998) Max Morris was born in Norris City Illinois and attended Frankfort Community High School where he excelled in football, basketball and track. He was an honor student as well as student body president. He graduated from F.C.H.S. in 1943.
Glen Max Morris Morris attended the University of Illinois one year and as a freshman excelled in both football and basketball. The following year he transferred to Northwestern University as part of the V-12 Navy College Training Program that was designed to supplement the force of commissioned officers in the United States Navy during WW II. While at Northwestern, Morris participated in football, basketball and track earning several honors and awards: • As a forward, Morris led the Big-10 in scoring in basketball his junior and senior years and was named “All Big10” as well as “All-American” both years.
AA ARON M . HOPKINS C L TTORNEY & OUNSELOR AT AW
• In football, Morris was an All-American tight end and set a single-game record (at the time) of 158 yards receiving. His senior year he was named “All Big-10” as well as “AllAmerican” and participated in the 1945 College All-Star Game against the NFL Champion Green Bay Packers. • Professional Football: 2 years with the Chicago Rockets (AAFL) and one year with the Brooklyn Dodgers (AAFL). • Professional Basketball: 1 year with the Chicago American Gears (NBA) and 3 years with the Sheboygan Wisconsin Redskins (NBA). • 1983 Morris was one of 20 inaugural inductees into the Northwestern University Sports Hall of Fame and the only one to be inducted in three sports. • In 1985 the F.C.H.S. Gymnasium was named after Max Morris.
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Of course a facility the size of Max Morris has been used for non-sporting events as well. Most memorable were Homecoming Coronation, Prom and Graduation. The list—not complete by any means—also includes the annual All-School Music Demonstration which showcased the talents of the district’s music departments from K-12, the Science Fair, the Franklin County Music Festival, the first Bob Gower Banquets, at least one Old King Coal Energy Fair, an Old King Coal Concert, a David Wilkerson Revival and the welcoming home of National Guard troops from Afghanistan. One would be remiss to not also mention that many West Frankfort residents can remember being at a basketball game in Max Morris Gym on December 21, 1951, the night of the Orient Mine Disaster. Scoreboard keeper Bill Simmons— now deceased—recalled seeing policemen scan the crowd for doc-
The listed bleacher capacity of Max Morris Gym is 3800 seats, a number which may have been surpassed at the recent Super Sectional game which included many standees.
tors and quietly summoning them. Word then spread quickly and many in attendance left in a panic wondering if their loved ones were safe. Time will only tell if Max Morris Gymnasium will still be an important and significant edifice in West Frankfort in the year 2100.
Max Morris Memories By George Hopkins
Following the 1960 state tournament team from Max Morris Gym to the IL State Finals on (black and white) TV. The Franklin County rival “wars” between Rich Herrin’s Benton Ranger “recruits” and the WF Redbirds, coached by Gene Ernest, Harold Hood, Tim Ricci, Dave Lee. Bob Brown’s great high school career and his return to the Max as a coach in mid-70-s after being an All-State player as a Redbird in the early ‘60’s Tim Ricci’s great high school basketball talents—and he, too, returned to coach at his Alma mater. My sophomore or junior year…1967…Greg Starrick of Marion scored 70 points in a
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game against Redbirds, but WF won on a last-second breakaway layup by Jeff Overturf. The first season of competition of girls basketball, which began over Christmas break of 1977. A dedicated group of pioneer female athletes played several games in January of 1978. The first Lady Redbird basketball victory was at Max Morris gym in January of ‘78 against Elkville-Elvorado. The first real female super-star, Kelli Golis, who scored 1550 points in a relatively small number of games, all without benefit of a 3-point line…and all with a Men’s basketball, as the smaller women’s basketball came to be used the year after her high school career ended. Other outstanding female players that came afterward were Melissa Broy, Jennifer Williams, Brooke Gossett, Hillary Barkley, Hillary Ramsey, etc. many of whom attended college on athletic scholarship thanks to the opportunity to play girls basketball. The areas of the balcony were unofficially reserved for various grade levels of students (i.e., the last row/highest spot in gym of the Northeast corner was the “junior high” hangout section. It was there that we learned the updates regarding the “social order” of things, indicated of course, by who was sitting next to whom.
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Text and Photos By Michael A. Thomas
as well as students of the F.C.H.S. Music Department.
(Editor’s Note: Due to some unforeseen personal events, this story has been delayed from its original planned publishing date of November. We regret the delay, but we also believe that the support of the Arts in West Frankfort is a timeless story, and we applaud the many members of the cast, orchestra, sound, make-up and stage crew that made the production of Mame possible in October of 2010.)
For those unfamiliar with the story line, Mame is set at the end of the Roaring Twenties and centers around Mame Dennis, played with great enthusiasm by Gaila Dzaidus, who suddenly finds herself raising her 10-year old nephew Patrick who was recently orphaned.
aschedag Auditorium was transformed into a bit of Broadway in late October when the West Frankfort Arts Council presented the musical “Mame”. The lively musical comedy was directed and conducted by Dave McHaney and featured the talents of several local citizens
The audiences of the four performances of “Mame” found that the city of West Frankfort is filled with talented singers who contributed to the success of the production. Allan, Tamara and Lucas Willmore, Judy DeLap-Little, Larry Morris, Dustin Keele and Braxdyn Melvin all showed they could hold their own on stage. A superb pit orches-
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tra of 25 musicians from several communities in southern Illinois accompanied the singers.
Dave McHaney conducted the pit orchestra and directed the play. McHaney produced a dozen musicals during his years as F.C.H.S. musical director.
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From Top Left: (1)Dusty Keele (2) Cast at the Fox Hunt (3) Tamara Willmore (4) Braxdyn Melvin (5) Judy DeLap-Little and the Moon Song chorus (6) James Rotramel plays the banjo in the pit (7) Aaron Hopkins gets made up by his wife Amanda. (8) Curtain call of part of the cast. 8 Spring • 2011
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my Mom’s friends in Mt. Vernon where I learned some drawing and water color basics.”
Kassi Gardner Text and Photos by Michael A. Thomas
K
The Next Charles Shultz?
assi Gardner may not be the next Charles Shultz, but then, who knows. Gardner is way ahead of the famous Peanuts creator whose first drawings were rejected by his high school yearbook. Gardner, an 8th grader, has already had her first cartoon published in a recent issue of Central Jr. High School’s ‘The
Redbird Word’ and has garnered rave reviews from her peers and teachers alike. The daughter of Robin and Chuck Gardner, Kassi has always had an interest in drawing. “I’ve always doodled,” Kassi said. “And last summer I took an art class from one of Spring • 2011
Art instructor Tim Murphy saw a lot of talent from Kassi and called her one of the most talented students he has taught at this level. “Kassi is a very disciplined and very detailed artist. She draws a lot and likes to draw. That’s the key. I could tell from her very first project that she paid attention to details. She could see things that nobody else saw and reads things into contours. The little extra things that others miss, she sees them.” The attention to details may explain why it took Kassi about two weeks to finish her project to her satisfaction.
Kassi got the inspiration of her cartoon from a joke book, but she developed the two characters from her own imagination. “Granny is this kind of clueless lonely old lady,” Kassi said. “Granny likes flowered dresses and always wears a flower in her hat and, of course, her granny glasses.”
The pet store owner, Pete, also came alive through Kassi’s talents. “At first I drew him as a young clerk, but then he became this middle-aged trucker guy with a belly, working in a dead-end job.” Jaimi Kerley, 7th grade science teacher at CJHS, is sponsor of ‘The Redbird Word’, the school’s newspaper. There are 18 students who provide the content for the monthly publication. The students work on the paper outside of their regular schedule and meet with Kerley at during lunch or at other non-classroom hours. The publication includes reports on school activities, sports, fashion, technology and movie reviews as well as cartoons. “I have known Kassi since she was very little,” Kerley said. “She is an all around good kid and very creative. The cartoon Kassi Gardner (r) discusses her just shows that cartoon with Jaimi Kerley ,‘The you can count Redbird Word’ advisor. on her for anything and everything.” Though this was Kassi’s first effort, Granny Tales proved to be popular with her peers. “A bunch of people liked it and wanted to know if I was going to do another one.” We hope she does. After all, what will happen to Granny now that her beloved pet parrot has died?
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By Michael A. Thomas
Capturing an Era West Frankfort artist John Stewart has an eye for the past
If you have recently visited the Black Diamond Harley-Davidson showroom in Marion, you may have been struck by the recently added artwork. The scenes—all done in charcoal pencil but nearly indistinguishable from a photograph—depict life in southern Illinois as it was nearly a century ago. One image even depicts a very young Kenny Gray on a motorcycle. The quality is stunning and captures not just an image but also an almost melancholy nostalgia for the era. The creator of these wonderful drawings is John Stewart, a West Frankfort resident. Stewart is one of those rare talented individuals who seems to have a need to draw as much as others have a need to eat. He has binders full of artwork that he has done over the years that not only attest to his ability, but also his passion. “I have about seven areas of interest,” Stewart explained. His portfolio includes light and figure studies, fantasy, architecture, wildlife and coal mining. “I was born in Michigan,” Stewart said, ‘but we moved to Benton when I was seven because my Dad involved with coal mining. He was a big influence in my life. Dad was always doing different things—painting, wood burning and photography. He would show me different things like smudge shading and little tricks like that. He might point out little things that I did right or wrong.”
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Stewart’s work was recently on display at last year’s Old
King Coal Festival. He had drawings of 10 area coal mines and made prints for sale. Some of his pictures also made their way into the OKC booklet. “There were about 25 coal mines around,” Stewart said but he has not completed drawings of all of them. He has hopes to finish his coal mines project and eventually publish his work in a book.
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So this year, I compromised. In my humanness, I decided to "-ER". Here was my plan: I did not resolve to become a healthy eater and fitness nut because I knew by day two, sometimes as early as day one, I would cheat, fall short, fail or give up ...but I did resolve to become healthi-ER than I have been in the past ...THAT was possible-foreseeable-doable- attainable. I may not be able to have a perfect temperament in every situation, but I resolved to be kind-ER and gentl-ER, in 2011. I knew that most likely I wouldn't sign up for some extra college courses this year, but I look forward to becoming smart-ER about the things I know little of, including things that presently don't necessarily hold my interest. I might not make the best decisions in each situation, but in 2011, I resolved to be wis-ER about the choices I make regarding my time, my energy, my money and my actions.
Text and Photo by Sherri Murphy So, here we are, anticipating the arrival of spring, just as we were all anticipating the arrival of the new year just a few months ago—you remember—when we each were vowing to make major life-changes and drop old habits by the simple declaration of a resolution. Well, not everyone made resolutions because there are many conflicting ideas as to whether are not they are beneficial. I've pondered the remarks from those who are either too "cool" to resolve to do anything differently, or those who don't believe in setting oneself up to fail, against those who believe anything is possible if it begins with a goal. I have resolved to do many things and failed and I've set no goals and succeeded (in the fulfillment of nothing) and really, I ask you, which is worse? Pg.22
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I am a goal setter, but I prefer setting realistic goals that build upon each other in order to place myself in full view of the prize. And it is obvious that those goals must begin with a plan as well as a concentrated effort on my part. So, I resolved to become bett-ER about planning and following through with my good intentions. And how is that going, you ask? Well, a lessER woman would get defensive when that question is asked, but I will say, I am a bett-ER woman for even making the attempt to move forward when it would be much easier just to sit back, relax and stay just the same. So, as I enter this new spring season, full of hope and wonder, I lift my fruit smoothie to the sky and offer a toast: "Here's to the rest of 2011. May it be filled with "-ERS" that will make our former human selves green with envy!"
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By Sherri Murphy
"How do you make it as a single Mom?"
e're all feeling the crunch. Job opportunities are dwindling, taxes are soaring, gas and food prices are sky-rocketing and the government doesn't have enough money to bail each of us out individually so many are becoming creative and resourceful in the battle of attempting to make ends meet.
Rachel's answer was a familiar one, "Well, I just juggle the bills."
West Frankfort's own Rachel Taylor, just may hold the secret key to giving us not only a head-start in the race against inflation, but her couponing expertise may help us actually WIN!...and have some spare change left over to celebrate the victory! Before the national economy took a turn for the worse, Rachel was experiencing her own hard times as a single mom, trying to raise 2 boys on a very limited income. Her friend, Rainey Mitchell, asked her a simple question that sparked the beginning of a new lifestyle for Rachel and her family.
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The two shared different tips that they had learned for "survival", but Rainey offered to take Rachel shopping with her and demonstrated to her the power of POWER COUPONING. The very first time Rachel applied the principles and tips taught to her by Rainey, she left the local big-box store with two shopping carts full of necessities and had saved an impressive 75% of the retail prices for the items. "When I came out of the store and looked down at my full carts, I stood in broad daylight in that parking lot and cried and thanked God for them! From that moment on, I was hooked!" This "hooking" of Rachel's wallet to the power couponing way of life, has not only saved her thousands of dollars over the Spring • 2011
years, but has even PUT DOLLARS into her wallet. "My most memorable purchase was one when I saved 103% of my total price. The store had to GIVE me $25.43 after redeeming my coupons. They paid me to take the items home!" Now obviously, in order to be PAID to take items home, or to receive a 103% discount on your items at the checkout, one must do their homework Rachel Taylor explains as well as spend her couponing strategy some time collecting, organizto a recent class held ing and planning at the West Frankfort strategies to get Public Library. (Photo by Sherri Murphy) the biggest bang for the bucks!
Her time is well organized, and so is her 5lb. coupon organizer! Although many of her techniques are a bit advanced and may require more effort and discipline than many are willing to practice, her basic tips can save even the laziest bargain hunter more money. Here are a few of her tips we all can glean from, whether or not we become POWER COUPONERS or just want to save a little more at the store. 1. She constantly searches newspapers and magazines for coupons and organizes them by categories paying particular attention to expiration dates. The weekend edition of local newspapers including the Daily American and the Southern Illinoisan are good sources for manufacture's coupons. 2. She tries to use the coupons at stores that will double them (Kroger doubles daily up to $0.50) other stores do not, but some will double during special coupon days. 2. She always brings the recent flyers from local stores to "ad match" at other stores during her shopping trips. For example: K-Mart and Wal-Mart will match each other's current sales on the same merchandise IF you show them the current ad when making the purchase. Many other stores follow this policy as well. 3. "Ad stacking" is another valuable tool. One can learn to utilize 2 coupons for two different products to maximize savings. 4. Rachel takes full advantage of "Register Rewards" which reward the consumer for shopping in their stores by allowing them to earn "bonus bucks"--MORE savings off their purchases. The more dollars spent, the more dollars in savings is earned. This practice becomes extremely valuable when combined with manufacturers coupons that can also be doubled. 5. She is not afraid to ask for a further discount on items she purchases often (like sport shoes for her sons) or she has also written a letter to the company and simply asked for a coupon that they mailed to her. 6. She also likes to stockpile for the most savings. ALWAYS purchase at least three items with a coupon if possible. This habit also saves gas money for the "emergency trips" when Spring • 2011
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items vanish from your cabinets sooner than expected and also lessons the amount of full-price items purchased due to spurof-the-moment shopping. 7. Local stores in West Frankfort may run their own store specials that are equally as good as a coupon, so she has an eagle-eye when scouring ads and flyers for the best deals. 8. She knows each store policy about coupons. Most accept them, some will double, some have exclusions and exceptions and it's better to know these things in advance BEFORE she takes her two carts through the checkout only to find that her coupons will not be accepted. She keeps a printed "Coupon Policy" from each of the stores she frequents along with her coupons...just in case. Rachel's goal is to lower her out-of-pocket expense so her money is not tied up, especially in consumables that disappear so quickly (food, toiletries, etc.) She is willing to sacrifice her time, to maximize her savings. She is also willing to share her expertise with others at no cost to those who attend her workshops. She recently has held two FREE COUPONING 101 classes held at the West Frankfort Library to share her knowledge with others. More workshops will be scheduled in the future.
Lauren Williams shares her couponing experiences at a recent workshop.
(Photo by Sherri Murphy)
Lauren Williams recently attended one of Rachel's workshops, and in one month--using the tips she had learned--saved hundreds of dollars. Lauren also shared her own experiences and tips at the latest class and inspired those in attendance with her savings. She even designed a Facebook page, “Coupon clippin’ Momma”, so others can follow along, be inspired and educated about the couponing experience. So before you throw out those coupons that come in your Sunday paper, take a moment and add up the savings printed on these little slips. YOU could actually meet the two ends that haven't touched in awhile.
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110 North Logan • West Frankfort, IL (618) 932-2730 • (618) 937-4421 Fax www.rameyinsurance.net
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By Gail Rissi Thomas don't know how old I was when I first got my license. Oh no, not the license you're probably thinking of. I was 16 the day I got a license to drive, issued by the State of Illinois, opening the door to life on wheels allowing me to cruise Main, haul my younger friends around and accept the opportunity to run every errand that I could beg someone important to entrust me with. But about 8 years earlier, I was awarded another license. This one, issued by my mother, was much more important, probably more valuable and at the time, much more exciting. That was the permission from her to walk to the library by myself. I'm not sure how old I was when I got the nod, but times were different then, and if I hadn't had to cross Main Street to get there, I may have been making the two block journey at age four or five.
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In the measurement of big deals, this was big. It was huge. Not only did I no longer have to wait until my dad or older sister would walk me over to the imposing white building filled with every book that I intended to read eventually, but I was no longer limited to the time they were willing to spend waiting while I found the perfect two books to check out. If I wasn't careful enough to choose two that were long enough to last until the next day, or if I couldn't pace myself, I could now even make a trip in the morning, and go back to restock in the afternoon The librarians seemed to frown on that practice, but not nearly so much as my walking chaperones. The West Frankfort Public Library sat where the present library sits at the corner of Jackson and Poplar Streets. The library was named the Crim Memorial Library in memory of the Crim Family, pillars of the First Christian Church, which donated the church building and the property to the city of West Frank-
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fort in 1937 when they moved to the prestigious brick building on East Oak Street. William Crim, church founder first came to West Frankfort in 1858 and returned to make his permanent home here in 1865 after serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. He served as first pastor of the church, and he and his two sons had helped build the church in 1903. The property was donated to the city to possess as long as it was used for a public library, designated to be named Crim Memorial Library. For 50 years, Mrs. Helen Clem was head librarian, keeper of the books, payer of the bills, and ‘shusher’ of boisterous little boys and girls. She was a gentle lady, kind and capable, and her name was synonymous with the library. In fact so much so, that as far as my friends and I were concerned, it was her library. I knew my mother called her Mrs. Clem, but the name of the library was the Crim Memorial Library, wasn't it? I remember in my confusion once referring to her as
Mrs. Crim Clem, and at least in my family, the name seemed appropriate and became that through the years. You could have told me she lived there—in fact I probably thought she did. She didn't though. She lived with her son, Ron, who probably had me beat in hours spent at the library. “My mother was born in Belleville,” Ron tells his mother's story. “Her family moved to West Frankfort, because her father worked for the UMW of A. My father, Myron Clem, was a Federal Judge. They met at the Stone Funeral Home, which is where the Union Funeral Home is now. Mr. and Mrs. Stone lived upstairs there and they used to have friends over to play cards at night. One night, my father was invited to substitute for an absent card player, and after they met, my mother said, 'I'm going to marry that man.' Well, she did. I was born in 1937, but my father died when I was nine years old. I spent many, many evenings at the library while she was working.” The church was not the site of the first library in town. As early as 1927, a group of townspeople felt that it was important to establish a city library. A meager collection of books was gathered and organized in a small building in the 1100 block of East Main. Within a year, the city purchased a house at 910 East Main, and the library was moved and expanded. In 1937 it was moved to the present location, when they acquired the First Christian Church property. That housed the library until the 1960's when it was moved to a temporary building on East St. Louis Street (the old office of the superintendent of schools) where some of the books remained available to circulate until the new library was completed and opened in 1966. In fact, Mrs. Clem had the dubious pleasure of moving the library four times during her 50-year tenure. When Ron Clem and I talked about his mother and about the library we remembered as children, we took a short mental journey through the old library, and for those readers who are old enough to remember it, our mental images of the interior may refresh your memory as it
did mine. The library, which still looked exactly like a large white church building on the outside, complete with steeple and bell tower, faced Jackson Street at the time. A flight of at least ten steps led to what I remember as very heavy wooden doors. Although, since I only weighed about 60 pounds at the time, my memory may be a bit tainted. The main room in the library seems huge in my mind's eye, complete with a card catalog, a large circulation desk to the right and all the things you expect of a library, including a smell that was always there. It wasn't a smell of old dusty or musty books, but I think of it more as a smell of anticipation, like a movie theater or any special place that told you something wonderful was waiting for you inside.
and didn't understand why I couldn't understand the story. I'm not surprised as I watched the movie on Netflix last week and I still didn't understand it. And the little women, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy were so real to me that I actually dreamed one night that they had moved into the brick house across the alley. It was in the children's room that I first met up with Cherry Ames. For those who have never heard of Cherry Ames, which would probably include nearly everyone, she was a lesserknown counterpart to Nancy Drew. Like Nancy, Cherry encountered an incredible mystery that she could solve in every volume. But unlike Nancy, Cherry was a registered nurse and must have held every nursing job ever known to civilization. I followed her escapades
Helen Clem served as West Frankfort’s librarian for 50 years and is remembered as a kind, gentle-hearted lady who worked tirelessly for the library.
Ron Clem tells me that there was a nice magazine room in the back of the library, but it was a good -sized room off to the left side that held the magic for me. That was the children's room. In there with smaller sized tables and chairs and half sized book shelving along every wall, I first met the Five Little Peppers and the Bobsey Twins. I followed Alice down the rabbit hole
as a student nurse, a department store nurse, an army nurse, a jungle nurse and a dude ranch nurse. I read all 24 volumes and then read them again. And then read them again. That was back before privacy laws prohibited libraries from having you sign your name on the card, and I loved to look back and see who the last person was who read the book before I did. Oh, it was me! Spring • 2011
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The long summer days often found me sitting at the kitchen table reading to my mother as she cooked. At the library, I discovered a large volume titled, “The Family Book of Best Loved Poems,” from which I read aloud the melodic ballads like, “The Face on the Barroom Floor” and “Over the Hill to the Poor House” “Don't read that one, I'll have to stop cooking,” my mother would say, wiping the tears away with her apron. The old library was my home away from home, and when I wasn't there, I was lying on the old metal glider on our back porch reading to the rhythm of the squeaks as I rocked back and forth. I remember one day being in the children's room with my sister and getting an uncontrollable case of the giggles that nearly got us evicted when one of the huge family of pigeons that made their home in the bell tower poked his head in a hole in the roof and looked around as if to say, “What are you doing in my house?” It was definitely time for another move. On April 3, 1965, the voters of West Frankfort passed a bond issue to build a new library, and the old building was demolished to allow for the construction of a new facility at the same site. By September 4, 1966, the new modern facility, housing 15,000 volumes, was open to the public.
Howell Insurance Agency
According to the present librarian, Pam Sevenski, the library collection now contains 40,000 volumes, and is a member of the Shawnee Library System that gives patrons access to over a million books. In addition, the library offers magazines, audio books, newspapers, Also available for use are: microfilm reader/printer for back issues of The Daily American newspaper, copy machine, and fax machine. The library has 14 public access computers with word processing and Internet capabilities. More information is available on the website, www. westfrankfort.lib.il.us. Unfortunately, threatened budget cuts in today's uncertain economy have put public libraries in harm's way. In order to preserve the three most vital services, provided by the state's library network, the shared catalog, delivery to local libraries and the talking book service, Shawnee Library System will soon be merging with other regional libraries to form the Illinois Heartland Library System, encompassing the lower four library systems in the state.
Susan Patton, Kevin McFarland, Carol Ratachie, Ryan Patton Bethanne Chance, Cathy Short, Weldon Ing and Donna Stone
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I'm sorry to say that I don't read a lot just for pleasure anymore. But although I am not a frequenter of libraries, that doesn't mean I am not a lover of libraries. Reading as a child not only makes a good reader, but also a good writer. I can not imagine how different my life might have been had I not been given that license to cross Main Street, climb that tall flight of steps, holding tightly to that library card, my golden passport to those heavy wooden doors and the other world that lay just beyond.
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