America at 250

SIUC,  in conjunction with the city, has launded a website listing local events tied into the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.   If you know of an event, you can submit it on the website.

Maybe it is just age but I remember the celebration of the 200th anniversary back in 1976 as getting a lot moe attention. There was the parade of the tall ships into New York Harbor as well as hundreds of other events throughout the year focusing on the nation's history. I have not heard about anything of that magnitude for this year's celebrations, though New York city will host another Parade of Tall Ships on July 4th

George Sheffer Visitation

 If you want to attend the visitation for George Sheffer, it is tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 7p.m.  Mass is 10 a.m. on Thursday at St. Francis Xavier.  From the obituary:

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 3:00pm until 7:00pm, with a Rosary Service at 7:00pm all at Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00am on Thursday, April 30, 2026 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Carbondale with Father Carl Scherrer officiating. Burial will be private.

Storm Shelter

 The University is opening Trueblood Hall as a storm shelter until the storm has passed

CARBONDALE -

The City of Carbondale has partnered with Southern Illinois University to open a storm shelter in anticipation of severe weather this evening. This designated “Safer Place” is available to community members who may need a secure location should dangerous conditions arise.

The shelter is located at 1175 S. Washington Street, Trueblood Hall. Parking is available on the west side of the building, and the entrance is on the lower level on the southeast side of the building.

The shelter will be open from 5:00 PM until the severe weather event has passed.

RIP George Sheffer

 Civic leader, and owner of Murdale True Value for over 30 years,  George Sheffer passed away in his sleep this past Friday night. I got to know George first as a lay minister at St. Francis Xavier church where he was active as a lector and eucharistic minister and later when he started the paw painting program through the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce. In more recent years, he had acted in an advisory capacity to the city, drawing on his decades of business experience.

I last saw George at reconciliation/confession during Holy Week before and he looked in good health and spirits then.  A friend saw him and Diane, his wife for those who do not know the family, during mass on the 19th and said he looked fine as well.

Update:  here is George's obituary from Meredith  Funeral Home

West Side Plaza

 The stip on the west side of town housing Legacy Fitness and Central Church is getting a facelift and rennovation.  The facade on the western 2/3 of the building will be removed, Pro Nails will move its retail space next to Edward Jones and the entire west half of the building will be rennovated to accomodate Illinois Department of Human Services offices, which will relocate from Murphysboro to Carbondale.

Carbondale Sign

 The city has put a large Carbondale logo across the top of the Robbie Stokes Memorial Stage, complementing the one on the Multi Modal Transport Station. Now to complete the set, they should put the name of the city across the facade of the City Hall/Civic Center

Homeless Shelter

 The city is on track to receive $2 million to fund creating a permanent homeless shelter overseen by the Warming Center. according to the story, the city is working to get NeroRestorative to donate a building at 306 West Mill for use as the shelter, just down the hill from the Survivor Empowerment Center.  Since that location was previously an apartment building, it would need far less renovation to convert it to a shelter than would demolishing the current one, which is not up to code, and build a new one. It would also be far enough away from the southwest residential area that concerns by residents of that area should be minimal.