Community Events Roundup Perry County and Southern Illinois
Harness racing at Perry County Fair kicks off at 3 p.m. today featuring 2 and 3 year old trotters and pacers. Blood drive for Carbondale city employees runs 1 to 5 p.m. in Carbondale. Tennis class for beginners and intermediates at John A. Logan College courts in Carterville runs 9 to 11 a.m. for 10 weeks at $35. The Dyer Family gospel and bluegrass concert is at Royalton Nazarene Church at 7 p.m. Also, Ava Park Board meets at 6:30 p.m. in the community center. The Greater Egypt Planning and Development Commission Executive Board also meets at 6:30 p.m. in Carbondale. Jackson-Union Counties Regional Port District convenes at 7 p.m. in Grand Tower. De Soto Daze events span Friday to Sunday with a car show, ball tournament, parade, craft show, and kids activities. Salem hosts a Fly-in/ drive-in WWII to present-day aircraft with USO-style dance and a theater showing. Great Boars of Fire in Anna hosts a dinner and auction to benefit Jimmy Boyd. Harness racing returns Saturday at Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. Crab Orchard Refuge hosts a live lawn program Saturday morning with white-tailed deer crafts and activities.
Gunman denied release from Chester mental health center
James E. Johnson, who led a 1994 shooting spree across five buildings including two police stations and the Williamson County Courthouse, has lost his appeal to be released from Chester Mental Health Center. The Fifth District Appellate Court ruled there is no clear and convincing evidence he is not a danger to himself or others. Johnson was deemed unfit to stand trial in 1994, found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1996, and remains subject to involuntary admission with a maximum 30 year sentence. The ruling upholds a Williamson County court decision denying discharge amid ongoing petitions and hearings.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mount Vernon
Williamson County
Chester Mental Health Center
Fifth District Appellate Court
Marion
James E. Johnson
Williamson
Johnson
Charles Garnall
Chester
RV rally draws hundreds to Du Quoin
Cookie and Ed Dierker joined hundreds of RV enthusiasts at the Du Quoin State Fairground for the 19th annual Newmar Kountry Klub International Rally. They travel full time in a Newmar Mountain Aire, praising features like a large basement storage, diesel engine, 8.5 mpg, and in RV life the motto Home is where you park it. The couple plans to visit all 49 reachable states, cherishing the freedom to travel.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tasar Maragni
Ed Dierker
Argenta
Newmar
Dierker
Cookie
Newmar Mountain Aire
Dierkers
du Quoin State Fairground
du Quoin
Newmar Kountry Klub
Borowiak's IGA in Sparta to close this month
The Sparta Borowiak's IGA will close in a few weeks after a 25 percent off sale starts today. Manager Alan Smith says the store lacks profitable volume and will discontinue operations while the other eight Borowiak's stores stay open and workers jobs total 25. The Benton location previously announced closure amid union picketing concerns, which were denied as a factor in Sparta.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sparta
United Food and Commercial Worker
Smith
Borowiak’s
City Won't Pay EPA Fee in West Frankfort
Mayor Bob Ellis announced at the Tuesday council meeting that West Frankfort will not pay the EPA sewer discharge fee of 17,500 dollars. He cited ongoing lawsuits and a House vote to rescind the fee, noting 90 members favored repeal. The council also accepted a bid of 2,605 dollars for the sale of a city ambulance from Danny Shelton of Three Angels Broadcasting, who said he plans to donate the vehicle.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Frankfort
Bob Ellis
EPA
Ellis
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
House
Danny Shelton
Three Angels Broadcasting
Shelton
County to towns pay up or lose animal control
Union County officials threaten to end animal control services if towns do not pay their share within 30 days. Chairman Jack Eddleman says letters will go to city councils outlining new funding obligations as the county faces fragile finances. Animal control officer Donna Hawk currently serves the whole county, with service instability since 2001 and past nonpayment by some townships.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Union County
Jack Eddleman
Eddleman
Eddieman
Donna Hawk
Hawk
Tweedy
Paul Schmidt
Dongola
Schmidt
Alto Pass
Also Mentioned on This Page
Perry County Fair
Grandstand
Pinckneyville
Illinois
Carbondale
John A. Logan College
Carterville
Dyer
Royalton
Ava Park Board
Greater Egypt
Jackson County Health Department
Health Department
Murphysboro
Jackson County Housing Authority
Seventh St
Jackson County Road and Bridge Committee
County Highway Department
Jackson-Union Counties
Grand Tower
Wyat’s
de Soto Daze
de Soto
Salem Leckrone Field
Salem
Anna
Jimmy Boyd
Jeannie
Jennifer
Linda
du Quoin State Fairgrounds
John Cisna
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Www
Thesouthern.com
John D. Homan
Christi Mathis
Cookie Dierker
Holiday Inn
United States
Chuck Novara
the Southern
Sparta Borowiak
Caleb Hale
Jim Tweedy
Caleb.hale
Thesouthern
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!