Carbondale board needs landlord-free appeal panel
The Carbondale Building Board of Appeals includes three landlords among its five members, with notices of code violations against them. City Manager Allen Gill likens it to a jury of peers, but concerns arise about conflicts of interest in rental housing decisions affecting SIU and residents. Calls grow to replace landlord members with nonowners to ensure fair code enforcement and safety.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Raymond Martin
James Gaddis
Carbondale
Southern Illinoisan
Building Board of Appeals
Allen Gill
Gill
SIU
Sigrid Putnam
Brad Cole
Joel Fritzler
Brian Gorecki
Campus Habitat
Fritzler
Board of Appeals
Feedback request for editorials and comments
Readers are invited to share thoughts on editorials in the comments field at www thesouthern com opinions or email Gary Metro with name address and telephone to have comments considered for publication.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thesouthern
Gary
Metro
Thesouthern.com
Pick the Next Golden Pen Winner
Readers vote online and by mail for the Golden Pen Award with voting open through Thursday. Finalists include Barbara Burns protesting modern culture swearing and blasphemy, Syl Vanek urging no smoking in public places, and Christine Mize arguing the middle class bears heavy taxes. The winner receives an inscribed gold pen and feature in an editor written column. Vote online at thesouthern com or mail a printed letter from Aug 2 to Gary Metro at The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Barbara K. Burns
Carbondale
Syl Vanek
Johnston City
Herrin
Christine Mize
Murphysboro
Thesouthern. Com
Gary Metro
The
Southern Illinoisan
N. Illinois Ave
Voice of the Reader on Teaching to the Test
A letter argues two thirds of students enter college underprepared and schools face academic warnings. It condemns teaching to the test as harming kids and cites superintendents and politicians driving score manipulation.
DNR Deer Policy Debate Across Illinois Spurs Reform Talk
Critics urge the Illinois DNR to prioritize deer management amid rising populations and costly damage. They argue a leaner system with broader hunting access could reduce vehicle crashes, landscape damage, and disease risks while benefiting families relying on meat from hunting. The Sparta World Shooting and Recreational Complex is cited as a costly backdrop to calls for reform.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Department of Natural Resources
Sparta
Pyramid State Park
WSRC
Illinois
DNR
Thanks to Costello Phelps for flood help in Cairo
James Wilson thanks Congressman Jerry Costello and state Rep. Brandon Phelps for early and ongoing aid during historic floods in Cairo and Alexander County. He notes Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, and SEMA updates helped keep Cairo dry and praises their efforts for flood victims.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jerry Costello
Cairo
Alexander
Costello
Brandon Phelps
Army Corps of Engineers
FEMA
SEMA
Alexander County
Costello and Phelps
Letters to the Editor Policy and Contact Info
The Southern Illinoisan outlines letters limited to verification purposes and 250 words. Letters must be signed with name hometown and may include a telephone number for edits. Personal attacks, libel, or mass submissions are not published. Send to The Southern Illinoisan Carbondale IL or call editor contacts.
Officials contact list for Illinois representatives and senators
A roster of political contacts includes U S Senator Mark Kirk and U S Representatives Jerry Costello and John Shimkus, plus Illinois State Senators Gary Forby and David Luechtefeld and State Representative Jerry Costello I. Includes multiple phone numbers and website links for each official.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Carbondale Board
PEN
Bes
R.N. Aigiry, Aka
Mainmai
Christopher
Clark Ashby
Phelps
James Wilson
de Soto
Williamson County
Voice of the
Southern Illinoisan PO
U.S
Mark Kirk
Kirk
Senate
Dick Durbin
Durbin
House
John Shimkus
House.gov
Shimkus
Gary Forby
David Luechtefeld
Sendavel
Midwest
Gmail
Mike Bost
Mike
Bost
Hotmail
John Bradley
Jerry F. Costello
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