SIMCO Mines Put Out of Work After Long Coal Strike
The 110 day United Mine Workers strike left 60 Southern Illinois Minerals Corp. miners unpaid since December with no medical coverage. SIMCO struggles to reopen strip mines at Sparta and Oroville as bankruptcy and failed takeover agreements erode finances. Union dues remain unpaid and bonds threaten reclamation, while miners seek new jobs and the company explores sale or merger options.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barbara Schechter
Southern Illinoisan
United Mine Workers of America
Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois Minerals Corp
Sparta
Oroville
UMW
SIMCO
James Burks
Carbondale
UMW Health and Retirement Funds
Steve Chancey
Murphysboro
Springfield
Larry Holliday
Three States Trucking Co
Burks
Herrin
Vergennes
Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals
Gene Filer
Filer
Marion
Holliday
Vergennes farm open house draws city folks and visitors
At Ray Blacklock’s 1100 acre Vergennes farm, city residents, a Vietnamese professor and a Japanese diplomat toured fields and horses during a Jackson County Extension Office open house. Visitors discussed farming as a career while noting U.S. farming methods differ from Asia’s.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ann Schottman Knol
Vietnam
Japan
Southern Illinois
Ray Blacklock
Vergennes Farm
Jackson County Agricultural Extension Office
Bruce
Lisa Lipe
Makanda
Lipe
Akira Ouchi
Southern Ilinois University-Carbondale
Dinh-Hoa Nguyen
Nguyen
Siuc Center For Vietnamese Studies
Ouchi
Hanoi
America
Asia
Blacklock
Tokyo
Rain showers bring relief to Southern Illinois farmers
Farmers in Franklin Williamson and Southwestern Illinois welcomed nearly 2 inches of rain that watered crops and lawns. Extension advisers noted soybeans corn and beans should improve though more rain is hoped for. Officials reported varying totals from .48 to over 2 inches. Weekend open house at Blacklock farm drew city visitors and offered livestock displays with farm equipment and demonstrations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jean Ness
Southern Illinoisan
Southern Illinois
Richard Swope
Cooperative Extension
Franklin County
Benton
Swope
Williamson County
Dennis Thompson
Marion
Sparta
Prairie du Rocher
Charles Willman
Randolph County
West Frankfort
Piltz
Thompson
Don Semancik
National Weather Service
Cairo
Semancik
Christy Powers
Vergennes
Dan Powers
Christy
Stephen
Grasshoppers Threaten Southern Illinois Crops This Year
Southern Illinois reports rising grasshopper damage as drought and warm weather boost populations. Farm advisers note farmers replanting soybeans and spraying with Levin to control the pests. Entomologist Don Kuhlman warns this may be the largest grasshopper crop in 12 years, with 10 to 20 per square foot in some areas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois
Cooperative Extension Farm Advisers
Richard Swope
Franklin County
Swope
Charles Willman
Randolph County
Willman
Dennis Thompson
Williamson County
Levin
Thompson
Don Kuhlman
University of Illinois
Kuhlman
Kevin Black
Harrisburg
Sweep of state offices sparks record removal in Illinois
In an unannounced move directed by James Clark, the Illinois Department of Administrative Services sent regional managers to a Springfield meeting while a van removed payroll and property records from Marion, Mt. Vernon, East St Louis, Champaign, Peoria, and Springfield offices. The memo called it an internal audit amid unconfirmed corruption allegations, with Rockford and Chicago untouched.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Springfield
Associated Press
Illinois Department of Administrative Services
Ovie Edwards
Marion
Edwards
Mt. Vernon
East St. Louis
Champaign
Peoria
Rockford
Chicago
Clark
Odore D. Puckorius
State Administrative Services
Puckorius
Also Mentioned on This Page
Chancey
Bruks
Jackson County
National Labor Relations Board
Joe Jines
Dan Blacklock
University-Carbondale
Blacklock Farm
Bob Frank
Frank
Dairy Council
Van
James Clark
Gov
James Thompson
The
Agency
Marion Center
Puckarious
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