The Herrin Independent - Swinford Media Group

07/17/2025

“𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐩” 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟒𝟔 - 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐲 ‘𝐘𝐞𝐬’ 𝐓𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬?

In this, the 46th episode of “Squared Up,” Monica talks about her great experience bridal shopping at “Blush & Ivory” in downtown Marion. She tried on many dresses, but did she pick one? We also get a look at young Tom in an old commercial as he recounts the period of his life when is on-screen wife was mistaken for his real-life wife. We preview our SI Made Talent Show on Friday, July 18 and tell you how you can watch live! We also have other stories to tell and events to tease while Tom keeps looking for his remote control. Subscribe to Swinford Media Group on YouTube so you don’t miss a single episode of “Squared Up,” “Coaches at Crown Brew” or “Hometown Heat", or listen to the podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts!

Watch or listen now on these platforms:
🔗 YouTube: youtu.be/F86mI2j2DhI
🔗 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/squareduppodcast
🔗 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/squared-up/id1745972207
🔗 Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/431d324a-aa79-41ce-b193-2a89e0e6a0df

07/17/2025

PICK UP A COPY TODAY! Check out this week’s top stories in your hometown’s weekly news from Swinford Publications! 📰✨

The Marion Star: Swinford Media Group office (box), Post Office, Small's Meat Market, KB’s BBQ, Hucks (E. DeYoung St.), City Hall (box), Carnegie Library, Hucks (Court St.), Walt's Pizza & Restaurant, CVS, McDonald’s (Court St.), Hardee’s (box), Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center, Kroger, Walmart, Hucks (W. DeYoung St.), McDonald’s (W. DeYoung St.), Hucks (Halfway Rd.), Motomart

The Herrin Independent: Swinford Media Group office (inside), Energy Village Hall, Polar Whip, Walmart, Kroger, Walgreens, Chuck’s BBQ, Farm Fresh, Burger Nook, Louie’s P&R, Library, First Southern Bank, Bank of Herrin, American Legion, City Hall, VFW, Williamson Co. Programs on Aging

The Courier: Farm Fresh, Steve and Rich's Barber Styling, City Hall, Post Office (box), Country Cupboard (box), First Southern Bank, McDonald’s

07/10/2025

After over a decade away, the FCA Power Camp returned to Williamson County on June 30–July 1, bringing 115+ young athletes together at Marion High School for two days of sports, devotionals, and discipleship. Led by 20+ coaches and 15 student huddle leaders, the camp focused on the theme of “God’s Glory” through faith and athletics. Campers took part in football, baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, and more—while diving into spiritual growth and community.

After over a decade away, the FCA Power Camp returned to Williamson County on June 30–July 1, bringing 115+ young athletes together at Marion High School for...

07/08/2025

🏡 Estate Sale in Goreville! Stop by 116 Skyline Drive for great deals on clean furniture, tools, antiques, and more! 🗓️ July 10 (5–7 PM), July 11 (9–5), July 12 (9–Noon - prices discounted!) Browse photos on Facebook: Countree Peddler�
*Sponsored post

07/04/2025

Happy Independence Day from Swinford Media Group! 🎇

07/03/2025

𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 - 𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬

In Episode 47 of Coaches at Crown Brew Getting Coffee, presented by the Swinford Media Group and sponsored by Adrenaline Fundraising, Marion Plumbing, and Swinford Wedding Videography, host Kerry Martin sits down with one of Southern Illinois’ most experienced and respected educators—Rich Williams. A Sparta native with decades of service in coaching and school leadership, Williams has held just about every title in the playbook: head coach, assistant coach, athletic director, college staffer, bass fishing coach, and president of the Southern Illinois Coaches Association—a role he’s held for the past 17 years, making him the longest-serving president in the association’s history. Williams’ journey spans small towns and big impact. He’s coached football and basketball at schools across the region, helped rebuild struggling programs, and launched a football co-op that gave dozens of students the chance to compete for the first time. Known for his steady leadership and student-first approach, he’s spent his career building programs where culture, character, and connection come first. In this episode, Williams reflects on growing up across from the Sparta school bus lot, coaching in places where wins didn’t come easy, and why he’s always believed that effort, integrity, and relationships matter more than the scoreboard. He shares hard-earned lessons from the sideline, the locker room, and the AD’s office—along with stories of community spirit, career pivots, and staying grounded in purpose through every challenge. Whether leading teams or mentoring the next generation of coaches, Rich Williams has devoted his life to making a difference—and his reflections on loyalty, legacy, and love for the game are not to be missed.

Watch or listen now on these platforms:
🔗 YouTube: youtu.be/TKeYLb0oxh4
🔗 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coachesatcrownbrew
🔗 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coaches-at-crown-brew-getting-coffee/id1709412544
🔗 Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/b6ea26f0-09d9-4998-976a-1edd9d053da4

Click the links above to listen or watch now, and be sure to subscribe for more amazing episodes to come!

07/03/2025

“𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐩” 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟒𝟓 - 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐬

Our crew meets to record Swinford Media’s weekly podcast about a lot of randomness, including Monica not being included on the lease, Bill's thinning hair and Tom's stinky feet solution. Monica thinks this episode needs a lot of editing but you’re getting it all, let us know what you think on the Squared Up page. Follow us weekly on the Swinford Media Group Channel on YouTube, on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Watch or listen now on these platforms:
🔗 YouTube: youtu.be/j6zsEDBQVsg
🔗 Spotify: podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/squareduppodcast
🔗 Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/squared-up/id1745972207
🔗 Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/431d324a-aa79-41ce-b193-2a89e0e6a0df

06/30/2025

This week, we’re sitting down with a true staple of Southern Illinois sports—Episode 47 of Coaches at Crown Brew Getting Coffee features longtime coach, mentor, and leader Rich Williams. A Sparta native, Williams has done just about everything in the world of coaching: head coach in football and basketball, bass fishing coach, athletic director at three schools, college assistant under Hall of Famer Jay Harrington, and for the last 17 years, president of the Southern Illinois Coaches Association—the longest tenure in its history. Throughout his career, he’s coached under legendary names and helped build and sustain programs in places where winning didn’t always come easy—but where community and impact mattered most. At Elverado, he rebuilt a football team on the brink, launched a co-op with Trico, and gave dozens of kids the chance to play a sport their schools could barely support. And as an assistant coach, he’s been a loyal right-hand man to some of the region’s best. In this episode, Rich talks about growing up in Sparta, learning from his coaching heroes, the power of preparation, and why he always believed in putting kids first—even when the wins didn’t come. He also reflects on lessons from the sideline, leading the Coaches Association, and what legacy really means in small-town sports.
Catch the full episode this Thursday at noon on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, and YouTube. And if you missed last week’s episode with Marion soccer great Jessie Crabtree, it’s streaming now at linktr.ee/coachesatcrownbrewpod.

06/29/2025

🇮🇹 ITALIAN HERITAGE: The Herrin Heritage group just returned from a 12-day trip to Italy, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Herrin’s Sister City relationship with Cuggiono! Highlights included the dedication of Largo Herrin park, the unveiling of two new murals (including one honoring the 1950 U.S. World Cup team), and visiting Villa Annoni and local cemeteries tied to Herrin families.

They also toured cities like Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Amalfi Coast. Plans are already in the works to welcome friends from Cuggiono to Herrin in 2026. Read more in next week’s edition of The Herrin Independent newspaper!

06/27/2025

Southern Illinois FCA will host its annual FCA Power Camp for incoming fifth through eighth grade boys and girls on June 30-July 1, 2025 at Marion High School’s HEC Building.
The free camp, which is returning to Williamson County for the first time in more than 13 years, will run daily from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and will offer students the opportunity to choose from seven different sports for daily clinic sessions: football, track, cheerleading, basketball, volleyball, baseball and softball. The camp is open to all students from Williamson County.
Campers will participate in structured sports training, a character-building FCA message and a daily breakfast snack and lunch. All participants who register by June 16 will also receive a free camp T-shirt and Bible. This year’s theme is “Glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Registration is now open at https://fca.regfox.com/2025williamsonpower. For more information, contact Austin Dickson at [email protected].