Mr. and Mrs. Quintin Cima and Mr. and Mrs. Barry Richardson would like to announce the marriage of their daughter, Autuam, to Charlie Spruell on Jan. 2, 2009.

Charlie is the son of Kim Spruell of Herrin and Mike Spruell of Christopher. Autuam and Charlie reside in Marion.

Jim and Jayna Hart of Benton would like to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jenna Nicole, to Ben Kirkpatrick, son of Ed and Becky Kirkpatrick, of Valier.

On Nov. 29, 2008, joined together were Richard Mays Jr. and Cynthia Rice as husband and wife.
There was a small wedding for family and friends.

Amanda Jeanice Coffel and Tyler Andrew Zimmerman are thrilled to announce their marriage.
The two were wed on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008, after eight months of engagement.

The Logan Community Center will be hosting its 12th annual Alumni Basketball Game at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24, at the Logan Gym.

The peewee team will be playing the Thompsonville Tigers at 6 p.m., and the first alumni game should start around 7 p.m. The second game will follow at approximately 8 p.m.

Concessions will be available. Come out and enjoy the fun!

Five generations of the Smith family in Franklin County recently gathered for a photo — including great great-grandmother, Esther L. Smith of Benton; great-grandmother, Mary Ann Bretzman of Mulkeytown; GrandPa Dana Lee McClendon of Mulkeytown; mother, Michelle Nicole of Christopher; and new addition, Johanna June Godwin.

The Sesser High School Class of 1960 and guests will hold their monthly dinner meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Sesser Opera House Restaurant.

Mr. and Mrs. Carroll McEndree recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. A surprise party was held by children Debbie (Scott) Grammer, Don (Malissa) McEndree, Larry ( Phyllis) McEndree and Marty McEndree, fiancé Verneda Jones, granddaughter Brittany Brown and boyfriend Andy Southard.

De Anne and Gary Newman and Robert and Monica Combs would like to announce the engagement of their children, Brandon Newman and Rachel Combs.

They will be married Saturday, Jan. 10.

Mr. and Mrs. David Spears are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Patricia Ann, to Charles Wayne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garry Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bain.

Turkey and all of the trimmings, music by Benton Middle School choir and Benton Consolidated High School Madrigal Singers, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus and animal balloons — these and more were part of the annual Kiwanis Division 33 Christmas party for special needs populations, held Tuesday at the Benton Civic Center.

Dave Webster, Benton Kiwanis Club treasurer, said the annual Fun Day Christmas party brought more than 800 people out on a cloudy, rainy day.

Veterans and family members, local residents and dignitaries braved the chilly weather Tuesday morning as Benton VFW and American Legion posts observed Veterans Day.

Brad and Robin Aaron and Mike and Rhonda Reed would like to announce the marriage of their children, Amanda Bradley (Aaron) and Eric Dalton Reed.

A civil ceremony was held Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, in a judge’s chambers at the Wichita County Courthouse near Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, in preparation for their new life together in Misawa, Japan.

Dr. Charles and Margaret Spence of Sesser will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of the First Baptist Church of Sesser during an open house hosted by their children and grandchildren.

The couple have a daughter, Mrs. Virginia Canopy and husband, Andy, of Morton, and a son, Dr. John Spence and wife, Dr. April, of Sesser. They have four grandchildren: Kristen, Phillip, Emma and Wade.

Mr. and Mrs. Norman Melvin of Benton celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 4, 2008.

For the occasion, family and friends joined them at a buffet dinner served at the Knights of Columbus Hall in West Frankfort.