National Wildlife System events and local celebrations in Illinois
Centennial celebration at Cypress Creek Refuge Ullin features 10:30 recognition and 11:00 dedication at Bellrose decks, noon to 3 p.m. open house. Crab Orchard Refuge visitors center near Marion hosts time capsule, ribbon cutting, and a bald eagle with stamp cancellation. Spring break beach party for Carbondale students at LIFE Center 7-11 p.m. with pool, sports, and mocktails. The Three Musketeers play at Herrin Civic Center 7:30 p.m. St Patrick's Day events in Murphysboro include 9 a.m. 5K, cook-off, craft fair, parade, kid festival, and more. Protests over Lusk Creek closure to horses depart Marion to Harrisburg. Spaghetti Fest in Creal Springs 4-7 p.m. proceeds support community events. Hike from Hayes Creek to Peter Cave 10 a.m. Meet Mitchellsville. Contact John O'Dell at 618-252-6789.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
National Wildlife System
Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Ullin
Bellrose
Cache Chapel Road
Bellrose Waterfowl Reserve
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
Illinois
Marion
U.S
Jerry Costello
Murphysboro
Old Depot
17Th
Pine Streets
St. Andrew's Church
18Th Street
Society For Creative Anachronisms
Murphysboro Youth Center
The
Dorians
Hayes Creek
Peter Cave
Mitchellsville
John O'Dell
Murphysboro Chamber Optimistic Amid School Deficit St Patrick Events
At a Murphysboro chamber lunch the mood stayed hopeful despite a $1 million deficit for District 186 and a broader Illinois funding crisis. Mayor Williams urged town pride while Lori James Gross warned of national school cuts and a bleak outlook for many districts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Murphysboro
Chamber
Lori James- Gross
Ron Williams
Davis-McCann Center
Williams
Southern Illinois
James Gross
The
Fire Tower in Trail of Tears Forest Listed on National Register
A 110 foot steel and wood fire tower in Union County’s Trail of Tears State Forest, built in the 1930s, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Once part of a network of lookout towers, it remains the region’s last intact structure of its height. Archaeologist Hal Hassan notes the towers once symbolized Civilian Conservation Corps work, now largely dismantled as rangers shifted to aerial surveying.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sue Nawojski
Technican
Trail of Tears State Forest
Jonesboro
Union County
Andy West
West
Hal Hassan
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Civilian Conservation Corp
Legislation to let counties levy tax likely to fail
Rep Dan Reitz says House Bill 537 to allow counties to levy property taxes for county employee health insurance costs will not pass this session. He notes the discussion helps counties cope with rising insurance costs and general-fund strain as Illinois economic troubles persist. SEE INSURANCE / PAGE 2B
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Illinois
Dan Reitz
Steeleville
Reitz
Coulterville school chief resigns post
Superintendent Bill Riley announced his retirement effective June 30 after submitting his resignation. The board accepted it and moved to cut spending to avert further financial issues. They rehired Brad Hall as K-12 principal and scheduled a special meeting for Monday at 7 p.m. to discuss filling the superintendent role.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Coulterville
Bill Riley
Brad Hall
Riley
Educational Fund
Riders Prepare Rolling Protest Over Shawnee Trail Closures
Equestrian groups plan a rolling demonstration from Harrisburg to Marion protesting the U S Forest Service trail closures in the Lusk Creek Zoological Area. A counter group will deliver a thank you card to the Forest Service as supporters from five states join the protest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marion
Shawnee National Forest
Harrisburg
Shawnee Trail Conservancy
Lusk Creek Crossing
Forest Service
Lusk Creek
Carbondale
U.S. Forest Service
Shawnee Trails Conservancy
Illinois
Benton
Lusk Creek Zoological Area
Duane Short
Regional Association of Concerned Environmentalists
Short
Also Mentioned on This Page
Carbondale High School
Life Community Center
Sunset Drive
Long Branch
Sallie Logan Public Library
Walnut St
Creal Springs
Wonder Water
Www
Thesouthern.com
Key Club
Kiwanis Service Club
Caleb Hale
E Tower
Christi Mathis
Claire O'Brien
Michael Scott
Scott