John Johns: A populist with flaws but best among Democrats
State Sen. Gene Johns is debatably the strongest Democratic candidate in Southern Illinois though his populism edges toward demagoguery. His record includes pushing higher utility costs and a coal severance tax while facing campaign finance legal trouble. Despite weaknesses in legislative skill, he stands as the best choice to face C. L. McCormick, with opponents lacking clear economic development plans.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Johns
Springfield
General Assembly
Sever
Saneeely
Glenn Poshard
Southern Illinois Educational Service Center
Ned Mitchell
Lesser
C.L McCormick
Southern Illinois
Illinois
Oo Johns
Jackson County GOP faces losses as eight board seats lack nominees
In Jackson County the Republican party forfeits power by not nominating candidates for eight of the fourteen county board seats. Democrats run primaries in three districts with district 2 featuring three Republicans for two seats and district 4 fielding four contenders. Democrats in district 7 name Joe Dybvig and Georgeann Hartzog as preferred picks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jackson County
GOP
Vaan
Spike” Erickson
Murphysboro
Larry Lipe
Carbondale
Robert Koehn
Gorham
Kenneth Jarrett
Jacob
Fountain Bluff
Koehn
Blaney Miller
E. Jenkins
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Miller
Jenkins
District 7
Joe Dybvig
Georgeann Hartzog
Dybvig
Hartzog
Aesos
Jacksonounty
Franklin County sheriff nominees in March primary
Franklin County voters see Charles F. Mandrell in the Democratic race and Gerald Gass in the Republican race as the stronger sheriff candidates. Mandrell, a 10 year veteran in the sheriff’s office, is backed by Sheriff William Willis and would face Forrest Johnson and R. E. Moore in the bid. Gass, a former West Frankfort officer, supports a countywide OS system and Franklin County joining the Southern Illinois Enforcement Group to boost drug enforcement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Franklin County
Charles F. Mandrell
Gerald ‘Jerry’ Gass
Mandrell
Sheriff’s Office
William Willis
Forrest Johnson
Illinois State Police
R.E. Moore
West City
Gass
West Frankfort
Southern Illinois Enforcement Group
Williamson County treasurer race features Hatfield and Troutman
The Williamson County treasurer’s race highlights Gene Hatfield of Herrin and Bruce A. Troutman, the former deputy treasurer. Hatfield has 23 years in state and local offices and currently runs Marion’s state drivers license station. Troutman, four years in office with a business background at Mohr Value Store, is Brown’s recommended successor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Williamson County
William V. Brown
Gene Hatfield
Herrin
Marion
Hatfield
Brown
Bruce A. Troutman
Coer
Troutman
Mohr Value
Midwest towns woo prisons plants and waste facilities
Across Illinois and Iowa towns compete for a prison, a hog slaughtering plant, and a hazardous waste site to spur jobs amid high unemployment. Marshall seeks a hazardous waste plant. Stanwood and Sheffield battle Iowa Beef Processors for 600 jobs. Northwest By-Products attracts a Minnesota plant with bonds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Allison Engel
Pacific
Kankakee
Ill
Marshall
Austin
Minn
Illinois
Iowa
Midwest
Sunbelt
Amery Industries
Brown County
Illiois
James Thompson
Department of Corrections
Michael Lane
Northwest By-Products
Stanwood
Sheffield
Kanakakee
Grim sights at Jackson County Jail in Southern Illinois
A letter laments overcrowded cells at Jackson County Jail noting six by six foot cells plus bunk space, juvenile and female cells, and violations of state codes. It urges building a new jail law enforcement center, citing space, safety, and fire code issues and asks voters to approve the March 16 ballot measure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brown
Marshall
Indiana
Lane
Streator
Illinois
Galesburg
Thompson
Springfield
Mason City
Iowa
Southern
Jackson County
State Department of Corrections
Cor
Ridor
Sheriff's Department
Suggestions to cut the budget letter to President Reagan
Wanda C. Calliss of Herrin writes criticizing budget cuts that target the poor and defense of Social Security. She urges the president to tax the wealthy, reduce presidential and Congressional perks, trim ex presidents benefits, and close big business tax loopholes to reduce the deficit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern Illinoisan
Reagan
Congress
United States
Wanda C. Calliss Herrin
Doomsayers headline sparks reader upset over end of world claim
A reader criticizes a March 3 Today section story predicting the world's end. The letter warns against panic and urges newspapers to inform without frightening the public, noting biblical timing and potential consequences for belief.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern Illinoisan
Editor Corrects Letter on Infamy Claim and Naval Errors
A letter in the February 26 issue misidentifies naval figures. The author blames garbled names Theobald for Kimmel and praises Halsey, noting WWII surrender aboard Missouri and five star rank Fleet Admiral. The editor calls for responsibility, editorial notes, and potential staff changes for factual errors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Theobald and
Halsey
General Short
Theobald
Edward Kimmel
Missouri
Also Mentioned on This Page
Sen
Gene Johns
Franklin
Herrin-Murphysboro
Chicago Heights
Park Forest South
Les Horell
Kankakee Area
Tom Clark
Slammer
Fdr
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