Christmas Joblessness Hits Southern Illinois Hard
Southern Illinois faces layoffs from Indal Aluminum Murphysboro and Trojan Powder Wolf Lake as hundreds face their first Christmas unemployed. Profiles include Bill McDonald 59 and ex Trojans worker, Bob Webb 31, Mitch Pribble 22, Willie Morton 33, and others balancing debt, distance from families, and a belief that Christmas remains about love, not gifts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brad Berker
Southern
Illinois
Indal Aluminum
Murphysboro
Trojan Powder Co
Wolf Lake
Bill McDonald
Cobden
Trojan
McDonald
Oklahoma
Bob Webb
Utah
Tamms
Rehiring Benton men awaits legal opinion
Benton officials will obtain a labor law opinion before acting on a directive from the Illinois Arbitration Service to reinstate two city street workers laid off Aug 1. Pedigo and Lampley, who filed grievances, plan to report to work Monday as council weighs legal guidance and payroll impact.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jean Ann Bailey
Brown
Santa at University Mall Shares Wish List and Wisdom
Bonnie Marx reports Santa at University Mall fielding children’s asks from toys to trucks while emphasizing wishes for kindness and peace. He recalls a preschooler’s bereavement request, notes teen attention, and stresses Christmas as Jesus’ birthday with a hope for communal goodness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bonnie Marx
Southern Illinoisan
Santa
Dukes of Hazzard
University Mall
Jesus
St. Nick’s
Carterville
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
North Pole
Rudolph
Water mains fail in Johnston City region trigger outages
Water service broken by multiple 12 inch and 6 inch mains Friday and Saturday left West Frankfort and nearby towns dry. Johnston City residents also lost pressure amid Rend Lake pump issues. Boil water orders blanket Johnston City Route 37 district until pressure normalizes, with possible lift Monday if supplies recover. Local fire chiefs warn of unsafe conditions for fires.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Frankfort
Johnston City
Doug Anderson
East St. Louis
Bryan
Anderson
South Dorris
Aaron
Pershing
Orient
Ramsey Heights
Plumfield
Rend Lake
Route 37
Route 37 Water District
New Amtrak depot opens on Monday in Carbondale
Amtrak's 391 from Chicago is due to arrive at Carbondale's new rail and bus depot at 2 15 p m Monday as the first train to use the facility since its dedication on October 8. Platform width caused safety concerns but Amtrak says the issue has been resolved by not using that platform and arranging trains on other platforms with ICG responsible for spring fixes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Amtrak
Chicago
Carbondale
Pam Dickson
Illinois Ordnance
Orcill
Adams
United mine to host congressional safety inspection
The Freeman United Coal Co No 6 mine near Waltonville will host a January 7 safety inspection led by Rep. Cardiss Collins. The Chicago Democrat chairs the House subcommittee on manpower and housing. She will meet with United Mine Workers, mine operators, and MSHA officials in Benton before touring the mine and holding a press conference.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Freeman United Coal Co
Waltonville
Cardiss Collins
Chicago
House Government Operations Committee
Collins
Mine Safety and Health Administration
Kentucky
Illinois
Arondelli Heads Franklin County Housing Authority
New officers were named Friday night at a meeting of the Franklin County Housing Authority. Robert Arondelli of Christopher is the new chairman replacing William Crocker of Lesser. Frank Jones of West Frankfort is vice chairman and Arthur Neal of Benton is secretary treasurer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Franklin County Housing Authority
Robert Arondelli
Christopher
William Crocker
Lesser
Frank Jones
West Frankfort
Arthur Neal
Benton
Crab Orchard wildlife refuge under debate over purpose
Ben Gelman reports on Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge as critics urge shift toward state control and tourism, while Fish and Wildlife Service officials insist the No 1 goal remains protecting wildlife and wildlands. The 43,000 acre site blends consumptive uses like hunting with non consumptive activities, and a master plan aims to modernize facilities while preserving wildlife benefits for Southern Illinois.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ben Gelman
Southern Illinoisan
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Defenders of Wildlife
Washington, D.C
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Phil Heckel
Carterville Merchants Association
Tom Dinnis
Herrin Chamber of Commerce
Heckel
Ray Goodman
Marion
David Kenney
Illinois Department of Conservation
Springfield
Wayne Adams
Fish and Wildlife Service
Adams
Illinois
Also Mentioned on This Page
Jonesboro
Webb
Mitch Pribble
Anna
Transcraft Corp
Pribble
Willie L. Morton
Mississippi Valley State University
Morton
International Union of Operating Engineers
Flora Reilly
Pedigo
Lampley
Lampeley
Leland Brown
Water Department
Pedigo and
John McCutchen
Michael D. Scott
Santa Claus
Sohn’s
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Johnston City Water Restored
Water Service
W. Frankfort
United Mine
Arondelli
Franklin County
Byline
B.G
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