Fires, relief gifts highlight Southern Illinois news
Three die in Pope County mobile home fire near Hamletsburg on New Year s Day. A Murphysboro blaze destroys a home and belongings. Public safety urges holiday fire safety, working smoke detectors, and water on live trees. SIU players McElroy and Pickard earn Academic All Star honors. Flood relief funds of 150000 distributed to 31 agencies across 21 counties. Egyptian High School students influence Freedom Writers Foundation visit. Readers invited to comment on editorials.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois
Pope County
Hamletsburg
Murphysboro
SIU
Mike McElroy
David Pickard
Athletics Directors Association
McElroy
Pickard
Southern Illinois Together
Flood Benefit Committee
Poshard Foundation For
Southern Illinois
Brandon Phelps
Harrisburg
John A. Logan College
Freedom Writers Foundation
Tamms
Foundation
Freedom Writers
Letters to the Editor Policy and contact details
The Southern Illinoisan outlines rules for signed letters up to 250 words addressing current issues. Include a telephone number for verification, though only names and hometowns are published. Edits are allowed and libelous or personal attacks are not published.
Officials Contact List Features Illinois Politicians
A contact compilation lists U S Senator Mark Kirk and Senator Dick Durbin, U S Representative John Shimkus, State Senators Gary Forby and David Luechtefeld, and State Representatives Brandon Phelps, Mike Bost, and Jerry Costello with office and district phone numbers and email addresses for constituent inquiries.
Vote Them Out: Critique of Bill 1652 and Ameren Influence
A citizen writes to the Editor denouncing Illinois Bill 1652 passed in the veto session, accusing lawmakers of siding with Ameren to raise electric bills for a decade. He urges voters to identify legislators involved and reject them, referencing past rebates and the so called smart grid. sentenced web link provided for bill details.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ameren
Springfield
Ilga.gov
Legislation
Helmets for Arts Programs Suggested to Save Activities
A reader from Mulkeytown suggests distributing football helmets to chorus and art students to preserve extracurricular offerings. The idea would shield programs from cuts by giving students protective gear during performances.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern Illinoisan
Sandy Peffer Mulkeyt
Republican jobs plan criticized by columnist
A columnist mocks a Republican jobs plan that would remove most regulations decertify unions weaken minimum wage protections and nearly zero corporate taxes. The piece argues such a plan would boost low wage casual labor and outsourcing, citing uncertain how it would create broadly shared employment.
Response to editorial on prison inmates innocence claims
The writer argues against the piece claiming universal inmate innocence. They challenge guards’ assertion and say most prisoners do not claim innocence, offering personal experience from Illinois prisoners and visits. They stress readers should know there are differing views on invoking innocence in criminal cases.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jesus Christ
Saints Peter and Paul
Thomas More
Nelson Mandela
Martin Luther King Jr
Illinois
Save Our Post Offices and Starve the Route Waste
A reader argues USPS should rework mail routes to place addresses near post offices and stop Saturday deliveries instead of closing offices. They call for preserving in person mail access for those without computers, citing historical rights and jobs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
USPS
The
USA
Readers vote for Golden Pen Award winner in Southern Illinoisan
The editorial board selects finalists Jim McPhail of West Frankfort Ben Eubanks of Du Quoin and Arlyn Fisk of Percy for December 2011 letters. Voters can cast ballots online or by mail through Thursday with the winner to receive an inscribed gold pen and editor column recognition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern Illinoisan
Thesouthern.com
Jim McPhail
West Frankfort
Chicago
Southern Illinois
Ben Eubanks
du Quoin
Illinois
Arlyn D. Fisk
Percy
Thesouthern
Gary Metro
The
N. Illinois Ave
Carbondale
Also Mentioned on This Page
Gary
Metro
de Soto
Williamson County
Voice of the Reader
P.O. Box
U.S
Mark Kirk
Kirk
Senate
Dick Durbin
Durbin
Jerry Costello
Costello
House
John Shimkus
House.gov
Shimkus
Gary Forby
Yahoo.com
David Luechtefeld
Sendavel
Midwest
Gmailcom
Mike Bost
Mike
Bost
Hotmail
John Bradley
Jerry F. Costello
Gmail
Republican Jobs Plan
Bos Tyson Murphyse
Golden Pen
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