Killman Calls for Secession

 This is the sort of thing that makes you  a laughingstock. Heck, several of our surrounding  counties have passed resolutions calling for southern Illinois to secede from the state, because they do not like that Chicago has outsize influence over the rest of the state. Making sure that the roads and sewers are in good shape and that residents are save are far more helpful than posting statements like this.

Live Music

 with Hangar 9 closing at the end of the month,  to my knowledge, there will be only three  places in  Carbondale regularly hosting live music:  PKs, Tres Hombres and Booby's. there are three basement venues of which I have heard, Lost Cross and two others of which I do not remember the names. Levels, Trax and The Cellar on play recorded music or host DJs as does Indigo Lounge on occasion. Quite a decline from the days which you could catch live bands playing multiple places over every weekend.

Longbranch

 According to this post, Longbranch will close after the 1st, then reopen in March with a redesigned interior and new menu. Hopefully they will have enough traffic to justify longer hours. also hopefully, the hangers on in the town square will find someplace else to hang out. From what I have heard the crowds that gather in the parking lot after dark dissuade customers from coming to eat at places like Tres Hombres.

Flooding Survey

 The city is seeking help in identifying locations prone to flooding in the city and has posted a survey here. I cited the intersection of Willow and Illinois as well as Illinois and Cherry. I thin the Mill Street underpass may flood as well but I stay away from there as much as possible. 

Mike Bost and Little Grassy Lake

 Rep. Mike Bost is not happy with the plans to drain Little Grassy Lake and shut it down for 7 years. I especially was bemused by this line:  "I’ll fight to get the answers we deserve and make clear to the D.C. bureaucrats how much this lake means to the people of Southern Illinois."

I would be willing to bet that members of the Fish and Wildlife Service have spend much more time and have a better understanding of the problems Little Grassy Lake faces than Rep. Bost has over the past decade.

city Council Candidates

 Due to procedural errors when they turned in their petitions, current city council members Ginger Raye Sanders and LaCaje Hill and council candidate  Ryan Reed will not appear on the ballot for next year's election. The Municipal Officers Election Board held unanimously, 3-0 in the case of Reed and Hill and 3-0 and 2-0 in the case of Rye Sanders that the three candidates had violated state statutes  and that current case law requires strict and not substantial compliance as Hill had argued.   The three may appeal the decision to the Jackson County Circuit Clerk

Romantix

 Romantix is opening a location in Marion and is looking for a store manager, should anyone be looking for a position.  Pay is around $45,000 per year. Moving into the shuttered Family Video location on West Main