Fire destroys Fopal's Big Barn in West Frankfort
Fire destroyed the 21,000 square foot Fopal's Big Barn north of West Frankfort on Friday afternoon. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from multiple towns battled the blaze, using pond water after a two inch line failed. The structure burned to the ground by 8 p.m. The store, in business since 1976, sold lumber, heating supplies, fixtures, shoes, paint, dog and horse feed, furniture and groceries. Owners plan to rebuild at the same site.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fopal
West Frankfort
John Foder
Robert Toupal
Route 4
Marion
Luke Henson
Benton
West City
Johnston City
Toupal
Hostages’ Homecoming Sparks Joy and Vets Protest Across Cities
Amid ticker tape parades from New York to San Diego 52 liberated hostages are welcomed home while Vietnam veterans silent and loud protest over unequal reception. In Indianapolis a two mile march honors dead commandos and calls for veterans benefits as others reflect on broader resident needs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York Times
Washington, D.C
New York
Main Street
U.S.A
Iran
Homer
Ill
Culpeper
Johnstown
Baldh Springs
Texas
San Diego
Algiers
Greg Steele
Air Force
Veterans Administration Hospital
War Memorial
Indianapolis
Steele
Los Angeles
New York City
Ron Kovic
California
Edmund G. Brown Jr
Peter Wilson
Richard Morefield
U.S
Tehran
Dorothea
Paul Lewis
Illinois
Muller
Cam Lo
Jury to probe burning of Ferrell building
A grand jury in Union County circuit court will investigate a February 25, 1980 fire in Anna that destroyed three Ferrell operated businesses BCD Service Cliff View Builders and Kerby Bookkeeping and Tax Service The fire damaged a building owned by Anna Mayor Robert Ferrell with an estimated value of at least 100 000 The probe was ordered by Circuit Judge D D Bigler special prosecutor Ronald Eckis and state s attorney Rodney Clutts noted potential conflicts of interest in local government dealings
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
H.B. Koplowitz
Southern Illinoisan
Anna
Robert Ferrell
Union County
Ronald Eckis
Ferrell
Rodney Clutts
State’s Attorney’s
Clutts
D.D. Bigler
Eckis
BCD Service Co. Inc
Cliff View Builders
Kerby Bookkeeping and Tax Service
Service and Building Company
Groundhog Day forecasts and lore from Punxsutawney
The National Weather Service warns of 40s with wind today and colder nights with possible snow flurries. Monday brings upper teens and more flurries as Groundhog Day observers point to Phil the groundhog in Punxsutawney, with folklore predicting six more weeks of winter or an early spring depending on his shadow.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
National Weather Service
National Geographic Society
Group eyes lake near Goreville to ease water deficit
Area water agencies study financing a 640 acre deep lake southwest of Goreville to supply Marion and Lake of Egypt as plants run near capacity. Projected cost near 10 million dollars, with a 1.4 mile dam across Little Saline Creek and two main branches. Authorities caution the 3,000 acre watershed may not sustain long term inflow. no funding applications filed yet.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cathy A. Monroe
Marion
Lake of Egypt
Goreville
Crab Orchard Lake
Dale Shadowers
Lake of Egypt Water District
Saline
Chicago & Eastern Illinois
Johnson County
Shawnee Resource and Conservation Development Council
Fmha
Southern Illinois Power Cooperative
Also Mentioned on This Page
ED Greer
Vietnam
James R. Thompson
Lewis
American Legion
Homer High School
Manhattan
Barry Rosen
Rosen
Bobby Muller
Punxsutawney
Phil
Ann Landers
Otis Holley
Joppa
John Montgomery
Johnson County Board
Max Ray
West Vienna
Farmers Home
Paul Molinaro
Harrisburg
Ned Travillion
Johnson County Soil and Water Conservation Service
Holley
Rend
Kinkaid Lakes
Shadowers
U.S. Forest Service
Devils Kitchen Lake
Cypress
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!