Shots fired

 Apparently shots were here in the West Cherry, West College, South Forest area east of Poplar about 4 this afternoon. Officers were still in the area about 7 p.m. walking down West Elm, I gather to see if they could get any more information.

Harbaugh's Cafe

 I see by their social media posts that downtown staple Harbaugh's Cafe has opened a location in Marion and is currently holding a soft opening with a grand opening sometime in September.  Glad to see they are dooing well enough to have a second location.

Moka Coffeehouse

 Looks as if downtown Carbondale will get a new coffeehouse in the near future.  No opening date posted yet but signage is up for Moka Coffeehoue in the empty Geologic Oddities space in University Plaza on S. Illinois.

Property Taxes

 Given the hue and cry over Walker's Bluff Winery's recent announcement they were closing the facility due to high property taxes, here a basic overview of property taxes in Illinois and how they are calculated. With some exceptions, property taxes are assessed at 33% of the fair market value and, if oounties assess the value above or below that amount, an equalization factor kicks in to adjust the value back to 33% .  If you are not happy with property taxes, it is not all the fault of the country board.

Solar Bear

 Although I have not seen much publicity for it (granted I am not the target market either) but the annual Solar Bear event takes place this Friday and Saturday. It looks as if Levels has taken over from Pinch Penny as the main bar hosting Solar Bear drinking but there typically a lot of people congregate along West College between University and Poplar, with fraternities sponsoring a lot of house parties.  From what I have heard, last night was no busier than normal, though there were two stabbings on N. Washington near Washington and Main last night.

Update:  West College between S. University and S. Poplar is currently blocked off for Solar Bear partying.

Job Search

Seeing posts on social media from people looking for work certainly struck me when I was chatting with a restaurant owner earlier today. They have a number positions open and had open interviews a couple of weeks ago. They interviewed 30 people and called back 8 of them to offer them a position.  Of those 8 who apparently were still looking for a job, only 3 showed up.

SIMMS Grand Opening

 The southern Illinois Multimodal station has its official grand opening on August 28th.  I guess the bus stops there but not at the times I pass by as I have not seen any picking up or disgorging passages.  Originally, there was supposed to be taxi pickup there but with the ubuiquity of Uber and otehr car services, I do not know if there are any active taxi services in the city.

The City of Carbondale will celebrate the official grand opening of the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS) with a Ribbon Cutting and Dedication Ceremony on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at 401 South Illinois Avenue in Carbondale.

The completion of SIMMS represents a major milestone for Carbondale and the Southern Illinois region. Affectionately known as the “Jewel of the Southern Line,” the new station serves as a modern regional transportation hub, connecting multiple modes of travel and bringing together Amtrak, Greyhound, FlixBus, JAX Mass Transit, regional transit providers, bicycle and pedestrian connections, and Southern Illinois University’s Welcome Center within one facility.

Made possible through more than $23 million in federal and state grant funding, SIMMS reflects years of planning and collaboration among the City of Carbondale, the State of Illinois, the federal government, transportation providers, regional organizations, and community partners.
In addition to strengthening transportation connectivity throughout Southern Illinois, the station represents a significant investment in the future of downtown Carbondale. SIMMS is expected to improve access to the region for residents, students, and visitors while supporting economic development, tourism, and downtown revitalization.

“This is a historic moment for the City of Carbondale and the entire Southern Illinois region,” said City Manager Stan Reno. “The Southern Illinois Multimodal Station represents years of vision, collaboration and investment. We are excited to officially open a facility that will strengthen regional connectivity, support economic development and serve as a welcoming gateway to our community for decades to come.”

The August 28 ceremony will open with a performance by a SIU Brass Ensemble and include remarks from elected officials, project partners, and transportation leaders, followed by the ceremonial ribbon cutting. SIU Cheerleaders and the Saluki Shakers will help commemorate the occasion with the Saluki Fight Song.