MT. VERNON, Ill. – With the start of summer, it’s time to break out the classic car or convertible for the upcoming Cruise Night, hosted by the Kingsmen Auto Club of Mt. Vernon at the Rend Lake College MarketPlace. This month, Fords and convertibles are invited to participate.

The Cruise Night will begin at 6 p.m. Friday with live music by Hot Rod Nights, prizes, a 50/50 drawing, discounts to MarketPlace retailers, and more family fun. All automobile entrants will be given plaques for participation. The event will end at 9 p.m.

The next Cruise Night will be hosted on July 11, featuring Tri-5 Chevys and Rat Rods. To learn more about the Cruise Nights, contact Jim Hutchison at 618-244-7711 or 618-242-6279.

While visiting the Cruise Night, attendees can also stop by the RLC Golf Store to participate in a free fitting day with Callaway and Adams golf. Representatives from the two companies will be present from 3 – 7 p.m. to help patrons demo clubs and receive free fittings. For more information on the fitting day, contact the RLC Golf Store at 618-242-3001.

RLC will also be co-sponsoring the Nostalgic Drag Races this weekend, located at the I-57 Dragstrip south of Benton Saturday. Locals are invited to visit the dragstrip for a day of fun, including time trials, racing, and more.

 

Huck’s Ride for the Fund set for Saturday, July 12

 

(CARBONDALE, IL) One of southern Illinois’ most anticipated charity poker runs is coming back. Southern Illinois Healthcare and the Coach Kill Cancer Fund are pleased to welcome Martin and Bayley Corporation, the parent company of Huck’s convenience stores, as the corporate sponsor of Huck’s Ride for the Fund on Saturday, July 12. The poker run will begin and end at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds with card draws at Riverside Park in Murphysboro, John A. Logan College, West Frankfort City Park and the Harbor Oaks picnic area at Rend Lake.

Over the past several years, thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country have participated in what has become the largest fundraiser for the Coach Kill Cancer Fund. Former Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill created the fund in 2006 after a personal bout with cancer. Coach Kill and his wife, Rebecca, kept the Fund operational locally, even after Coach’s career took him to Northern Illinois University and University of Minnesota. Although Coach Kill is a “Gopher” today, he remains a Saluki at heart.

“When we started the Coach Kill Cancer Fund, we made a commitment that no matter what happened in our lives that we would keep it in southern Illinois because of what the people have done for us. We are truly grateful for the commitment of Martin and Bayley Corporation and Huck’s. With their involvement in making the Huck’s Ride for the Fund possible, we will be able to help so many people in southern Illinois who need it,” said Coach Kill. The Kills’ are looking forward to attending this year’s poker run.

Huck’s Regional Vice President of Operations, Mark McKinney of Marion, says the sponsorship is especially poignant for him and the Huck’s family, as they will be riding and participating in honor of McKinney’s son, Andrew McKinney. Andrew passed away from melanoma last August at the age of 24. Andrew grew up with the Huck’s family and had stepped his way to becoming the southern Illinois district manager for Huck’s.

“Andrew was the type of young man who lit up a room with his presence, a true lover of life. He inspired so many during his three-year fight against the disease. The words “give up” and “quit” were not a part of his vocabulary,” said the senior McKinney. “As one of the young leaders in the southern Illinois area, Andrew was truly dedicated to his family, his company, and his community.”

Headquartered in Carmi, Martin and Bayley (a 100% employee owned and operated company) own and operate 115 Huck’s convenience stores with 1,300 employees in a five-state region. Huck’s employees will rally to support the cause at the many poker run stops throughout the region during the event.

“SIH is privileged to partner with Jerry and Rebecca Kill in administration of the Coach Kill Cancer Fund. To date, supporters have helped raise nearly a half million dollars and provided support to over 1,000 cancer patients and their families in southern Illinois. We are excited about the new partnership with Martin and Bayley and Huck’s as the presenting sponsor. We look forward to the Huck’s Ride for the Fund success,” said SIH Vice President of Community Affairs Woody Thorne.

For specific details including registration information and specifics of the event, visit www.coachkillcancerfund.org and click on “Poker Run”.

 

 

Retired U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Illinois, spent his entire congressional career on the House committee that oversees railroads, highways, transit and aviation — where he became known as a dependable advocate for transportation interests in his downstate district and beyond.

 

Here’s a link to the story in the Southern Illinoisan.

SPRINGFIELD — Having given up on extending Illinois’ temporary income tax increase — at least for now — the Illinois Legislature is moving forward with a scaled-back budget that could lead to layoffs, further delays in paying the state’s bills and a post-election vote to make the tax hike permanent or generate some other source of revenue.

Here’s the link at the Chicago Sun-Times.

(Editor’s Note:  This story was published in the Southern Illinoisan in 2004.)

 

By Jim Muir

The barber tools have been sold, the small portable building has been moved from its familiar location on Sesser’s north side and the curtain has dropped on a Sesser tradition that spanned more than eight decades.

In short, Delmar Jones has dusted off his last haircut.

The 79-year-old Jones remembers the last haircut he gave, it took place a couple of weeks ago, but the new retiree also showed a keen memory by recalling the exact date of the first haircut he administered back when he was a 16-year-old youth learning the barber trade from his father, Stanley.

Together the father-son duo spent 84 years keeping men and boys in the Sesser area looking dapper.

“I remember when I gave my first haircut, it was on August 6, 1941,” said Jones. “My dad was registered with the state and even though I was still in high school I could study under him. At that time you could do that.”

With the United States at war Jones enlisted in the Army during his senior year of high school in 1943 and actually had to have his entry date into the military pushed back in order to graduate.

“I registered on my birthday on Feb. 6 and they called me on March 23 and I had to go to the veteran’s association to get an extension in order to stay in high school until I graduated,” said Jones. “I graduated in late May and on June 8, 1943 I was in Chicago.”

Jones was in the service until February 1946 when he returned to Sesser and within a matter of days was married.

“I lived on love for a few weeks but then I decided I was going to have to eat and I went to work with my dad on March 1, 1946,” said Jones.

Counting the two years that Jones cut hair prior to his stint in the military, he cut hair in Sesser for 58 years.

Jones recalled that his father opened a barber shop in Sesser in 1920 and cut hair for 44 years before retiring.

“My dad cut his last head of hair in December 1964 and died in February 1965,” Jones said. “So, you can pretty much say that he worked right up until the time he died.

Jones said he “wouldn’t even attempt to guess” how many haircuts he’s given in his lifetime, but did remember a quite memorable day when he was in the Army.

“One day in the Army I cut 54 heads of hair at 40 cents a head,” said Jones. “I got to keep 30 cents of it so it wasn’t a bad day.”

Jones said when he first began his career on Sesser’s Main Street a haircut cost 35 cents and when he retired the price was $8. However, the cost of his labor is only one of many changes he witnessed throughout his lengthy career. After his father passed away Jones had four different partners that helped him man his two-chair shop.

He noted that barbershops were once a hotbed of discussion and on occasion he played both psychologist and referee.

“The conversation was the most enjoyable part of the job,” said Jones. “I loved all the conversation, every minute of it. And there was always plenty of it. I’ve heard it all, the good times and the bad times. And there was a time years ago when the barbershop was a gathering place and a good spot to hang out and get the news. A lot of times guys just came in to visit.”

Jones said putting a group of men with varying opinions in close quarters could sometimes be interesting and occasionally alarming.

“There was some pretty lively discussions an occasionally things could get a little heated,” said Jones. “I had two guys get into it one time about politics, they were talking about President Reagan and unions and one of the guys almost jumped out of the chair.”

Jones said he first noticed a sweeping change in men’s hairstyles in the mid-1960s and said that is also when many men started going to beauty shops for a haircut.

“After the Beatles came over here everything changed,” said Jones. “There was a real decline in business because young boys didn’t get their hair cut as often, if they got it cut at all. Before the Beatles a lot of young guys got their hair cut every two weeks but that all changed. I’m not a friend of the Beatles.”

Jones said he has literally watched generation after generation of Sesser families move through his barber shop.

“I have seen six generations of the Buntin family in my barber shop,” Jones said. “And there are several families in Sesser that I’ve cut five generations of hair.”

Jones said he has also had steady customers that have spanned his entire career. Keith Ward, 65, said Jones gave him his very first haircut and added that he is not entirely enthused about the retirement and the prospect of looking for a new barber.

“Unless he was sick or I happened to be on vacation, nobody else has ever cut my hair. I can easily say that he has been my barber my entire life,” said Ward. “And the toughest thing about this for me is that nobody can cut my hair like Jonesy. I’ll never be satisfied with another haircut.”

Ward said Jones value to the city of Sesser went far beyond his barber skills.

“He’s just an asset to the city; you just don’t find people like him anymore,” said Ward. “And anytime there has been a military funeral in Sesser during the past 60 years he’s been there. He’s the guy that gets everybody together and when they march to the cemetery every year on Memorial Day, Jones is there. He’s just a just a great guy and I hope he has a great retirement, but I’m still not happy that he won’t be my barber anymore.”

Despite the countless hours on his feet Jones said his legs have held up well during his long career.

“My hips and my shoulders have really started bothering me and that’s what caused me to retire,” said Jones.

Jones said he also remembers a few mishaps along the way, especially with children.

“There were a few nicks along the way and you always had some little guy that couldn’t sit still and would turn his head when he wasn’t supposed to and that includes the guy that’s writing this story,” Jones said. “I still remember that one.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Oh come all you young fellers so young and so fine
Seek not your fortune in a dark dreary mine
It’ll form as a habit and seep in your soul
Till the stream of your blood runs as black as the coal
Where it’s dark as a dungeon and damp as the dew
Where the danger is double and pleasures are few
Where the rain never falls the sun never shines
It’s a dark as a dungeon way down in the mine”

“Dark as a Dungeon” – Johnny Cash

 

By Jim Muir

Like many area residents I had that ‘kicked-in-the-gut’ feeling Wednesday when I learned that there had been a fatal accident at the Viking Mine near Thompsonville.  Like the old Johnny Cash song says so correctly … ‘where the danger is double and pleasures are few.’

Adding more grief to that familiar feeling was the fact that the young man was only 25 years old.  In terms of life … just a kid.

And it was with a unique perspective that I started following the story. It’s always the way I follow tragedy in the coal industry. Even for a guy that strings words together for a living it’s hard for me to explain how I feel. For want of a better explanation, it’s like every story that involves coal mining grabs me and won’t let go. Sometimes I do what I am doing now, sit down and write and try to sort my jumbled thoughts out.

You see, as I watch these stories play out, I realize that I know these people and the lives that this now-grieving family live. I know their lifestyle, their desires, their tenacity, their faith, their endurance, their ingenuity and their fears. I’ve never met the young man that was killed or his family … but I know them.

I know about riding a ‘cage’ 600-feet into the ground and about the feel and smell of the damp, dark recesses of a coal mine. I know about swing-shifts, rock falls and about trading the ability to breathe fresh air for a paycheck. I know what it feels like to change clothes next to a fellow miner at midnight and laugh and talk with him only to learn that he was killed in a rock fall three hours later. I know about the eerily quiet, subdued feelings that are present when miners return to work on the shift following a fatality. I know what it feels like to work in the exact same section of a mine where only hours before a young life had been snuffed out.  I helped in the recovery of miners killed in roof falls so I also know what it’s like to hide my fears and tears and to hope against hope, even if it’s only a fleeting hope.

Again as I follow another tragedy, I am reminded that occupation-wise I’ve lived two lives. I spent 20 years as a coal miner that nobody knew and the past 20 years as a reporter, broadcaster and columnist that a lot of people know.

To many, it might seem logical to embrace my current job status and visibility and to shun my previous life as an underground coal miner. But, that will never happen because that’s where I came from, that my roots. While it’s been 20-plus years since I worked my last shift in an underground coal mine those days are like yesterday, never too far away.

Again, I don’t know anybody involved in this story personally, but I do know them well and my heart breaks for them. They are just like the people I worked with every day for two decades. As my mother used to say, ‘they are the salt of the earth.’ These people are hard-working, faithful, loyal, outspoken and certainly not afraid to stand up for what they believe. As I watched this current tragedy unfold I am also reminded once again that I am who I am today not because of something I learned in a classroom but because of my previous ‘life’ and because I ‘know’ these people. Even if I wanted to (and I don’t) I will never shed my blue-collar mentality.  It’s just part of my fabric and makeup and always will be.

In the coming days the Viking Mine will reopen and loved ones will worry and fret as miners will grab their dinner buckets and trudge off again into the bowels of the earth to mine coal. But those miners will go because, speaking as the son and grandson of coal miners, ‘it’s a way of life, it’s all we know.’

God Bless this grieving family and the miners at Viking Mine.

 

 

 

 

By Jim Muir

The community of Sesser is mourning the loss of city alderman Jim Kelly, a man whose legacy of working for the betterment of the small Franklin County community and the entire region spans parts of seven decades.

Kelly, 78, died Saturday night at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale after a brief illness.

Kelly, a 1953 graduate of Goode-Barren Township (Sesser) High School, was a graduate of SIU and an Army veteran.  He was co-owner of a local grocery store in Sesser and then entered the banking industry, rising to the position of president of the Bank of Sesser (later Magna Bank) before retiring in 1993.

Jim was a lifelong member of the Sesser Methodist Church, where he served in various leadership roles for many years including serving as a Certified Lay Speaker.
He was currently serving as a member of the Sesser City Council; a member and past chairman of the Rend Lake College Foundation Board; treasurer and past president of the Franklin County Shrine Club; a member of the Ainad Shrine; a member and past master of the Sesser Masonic Lodge; a member of the Sesser-Valier Alumni Recognition Committee; and member and former long-time Treasure of the Sesser Homecoming Association.
Previously he served as Sesser City Clerk from 1960-1968; had served as a member of the Cache River District Lay Leadership Committee; had served as trustee of the Goode-Barren Township Building; had served as a member of the Christopher Rural Health Corporation board of directors; was a former officer and member of the Sesser Chamber of Commerce; a former member and treasurer of the Sesser Area Cultural and Development Corporation; a former member of the Sesser Jaycees, Lion’s, and Kiwanis; a former member of the Franklin County Sherriff’s Merit Board and past member of the Illinois Bankers Association.
While Kelly was a fixture at the local bank in Sesser helping many young families with their first home or car loan, he was even more widely known for his role in the community and for getting things done with a genuine smile and a quick wit.

Sesser resident Keith Ward has been associated with the annual Homecoming for 54 years and said Kelly served as treasurer “for as long as I can remember.”

Ward said the late Ralph Gordon, another long time banker in Sesser, held the role as treasurer briefly when the Homecoming Association was initially formed in the early 1950s but Kelly soon took over the financial reins for the organization that oversees the popular Rend Lake Days, held each June at the city’s Miner’s Memorial Park.

“I guess 50 years he’s been our treasurer,” said Ward.  “He’s just always been there, and from the beginning he was always a go-to guy.  When you needed something he was always there. As far as the Homecoming Association he was much more than treasurer.  Jim just looked over a lot of different areas and always made sure things got done.  He knew the dates and times we needed to get things moving and he took care of so many of the little details.  He was just a guy who got the job done and he always did it with a smile.”

Ward noted that Kelly’s work within the community went far beyond his role with the Homecoming Association.

“Jim was an active member of his church, the Masonic Lodge, Shriners and he also served the city as an alderman,” said Ward.  “I can honestly say that he made Sesser a better place to live.”

Former Sesser mayor Ned Mitchell said he knew Kelly “all my life.”

“My acquaintance with Jim spans all of my life of 66 years,” Mitchell said. “I grew up in the Methodist Church in Sesser and have attended church with Jim all of those years.  As I grew older I knew Jim as a partner in a grocery store, then as a banker, then as an Alderman for the City of Sesser.  Through all of those years I developed a friend ship that crossed all boundaries of politics, both of us different in political parties, yet we had an outstanding friendship that crossed those barriers.”

Mitchell said Kelly kept his priorities in order throughout his long history of community service.

“Through the years we served on various committees together and worked together for the betterment of Sesser,” Mitchell said. “Jim had a full and complete life seeing many projects that he was involved in come to pass, and he accomplished all of that with a very keen sense of humor.  He leaves a legacy of dedication to his church, his family and his community.”

Sesser Mayor Jason Ashmore, who took office in May 2013, said Kelly was “one of the most well-respected men in the community.”

“Jim was a part of many different community organizations and he loved the city of Sesser and always had its best interest in his heart,” said Ashmore. “We had many great conversations in my first year as mayor. I will miss him and those conversations.”

Sesser businessman Randall Crocker served alongside Kelly the past 30 years as a volunteer with the Homecoming Association.  Crocker pointed out that while he was involved in many civic and community projects, a role that Kelly took on following the sudden death of his brother Joseph made a lasting impression on him.

“His brother Joseph died suddenly of heart attack when he was in his early 40s and he had three young sons and Jim made it a point to be involved and be an influence in his nephews lives,” said Crocker. “I always admired and respected him for that.”

 

Crocker called Kelly “a great public servant” and noted that while he was active within the community, he wore many hats on various committees and boards throughout Southern Illinois, including his role as a board member and past president of the Rend Lake College Foundation – an organization that has provided scholarship assistance through the years to thousands of area students.

“Jim spent a lot of his own personal time giving back to the community, helping others and trying to make Sesser and Southern Illinois a better place,” said Crocker. “He will be missed.”

 

By The Associated Press

MOUNT VERNON — Cleanup is underway in portions of southern Illinois a day after severe storms that spawned deadly tornadoes in Oklahoma and Arkansas rumbled through the region.

When questions arose about political hiring at the Illinois Department of Transportation, Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration evaluated several jobs that already had been filled to ensure they were among the few positions where an applicant’s political loyalty and connections could be considered.