In case a refresher course is needed, here is the Carbondale code regarding the use of bicycles and electric scooters on sidewalks. Basically ride in the street and/or bike lanes except when unsafe. If on the sidewalk, riders on wheeled vehicles give the right of way to pedestrians
City does need to talk with Veo about doing a better job of collecting the scooters from around town and returning them to parking hubs. Maybe the new multi-modal transit station will incorporat a scooter hub!
The Carbondale Tourism office is shuttering June 30th, according to a post on its Facebook page. Since Carbondale's budget runs July 1 to June 30, I imagine tomorrow is when this year's funding runs out. Earlier this year, the city council voted to transfer tourism funding to Southernmost Illinois Tourism, which promotes tourism for most of southern Illinois, including the Shawnee National Forest.
with a budget of $170,000, it was always rather difficult for Carbondale Tourism to make much of an impact drawing business and convention activity to the city. I estimate about a quarter to a third of the funding went for salaries and rent, not leaving much for promotional activities.
Crews finishing up work on the new fixtures at Turley Park playground. Ribbon cutting is this Thursday at 9 a.m.
\Nice to see work like this getting done around town. Maybe Attucks Park for the next project?
Illinois Central Railroad shut down and repaired the East College rail crossing last week. The shut down caused a lot less disruption than did the Walnut and Main Street closures but it needed it as badly as the other two did. Not sure if there are any plans to repair the other crossings but the other three do not need repair nearly as badly as those three did.
Looks as if Carbondale's Fourth of July fireworks display will take place south of the Bantera Center on the SIUC campus. Spectators are advised to park in Banterra Center parking lots 18 and 56. Overflow parking will be directed to lot 89, north of the Banterra Center. Roads will start to close in the area about 6 p.m.
According to this FB post, the shuttered Dairy Queen will be reopening under the name Big Chill. Likely looking at re-opening before the fall semester at SIUC begins
After over a century in DeSoto, Tom's Place will be closing on July 1. The restaurant announced on its Facebook page today that, after over 100 years open and operating the past 25 years under the ownership of MaryJane and Lasse Sorensen, the couple has decided to close the business. They feel that the past three years have proved stressful and they have neither the energy nor the health to continue operating, but hope that someone may take over operations in the future.
The Illinois Department of Public Health has tested water samples from Poplar Camp Beach and bacteria levels are back to safe readings so the beach has reopened. Given the temperatures expected this week, that is a good thing.
JCHD has an online survey asking what the public feels are the biggest public health needs in the county. You can access it here. Results will be posted on the department's website in late August
Fire on East Ash street this morning about 1:45. Apparently no one injured but the apartment building collapsed.
Ulta Beauty has completed its move out of Universty Mall and is now located between Bath and Body Works and Home Goods in the strip mall on the north side of Highway 13. Just one more step in the decline of the mall, a trend that is happening nationwide and overtook the Marion Mall some years ago.
Closed because water testing revealed increased levels of E. Coli, which is not good for people. Appears the lack of rain for the past month has concentrated bacteria in the water. That, combined with an increased number of geese at the lake caused e. coli to reach dangerous levels. Ergo the beach is closed until further notice. Ah well, there is always the Splashpark.
Just under 50% of Illinois high school students going to college leave Illinois to go a 4 year instituion in another state. Of those about 60% go to one of the following states: Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, and Ohio. it's not just an SIUC problem, it affects colleges throughout the state. SIUC just got hit a lot harder than most other colleges.
On WSIUs In Focus today, the history of slavery in Illinois was discussed . The 1818 Illinois Constituion allowed the use of indentured slaves to refine salt at the Gallatin County salt licks. In 1823, a referendum was put before voters to allow slavery throughout the entire state. The referendum passed in southern Illinois, where slaves were held, but defeated in the rest of the state and the Consistution ammended to eliminate slavery over time in the state. The 1848 Constituion outlawed slavery throughout the state including the indentured slavery in Gallatin County. Without the cheap labor provided by slaves, it proved expensive to refine the salt to remove its high sulfur content, meaning Illinois salt could not compete against the purer slave refined salt produced in Virginia and the Carolinas, leading to the decline of the Illinois salt industry.
Gun shots exchanged late Sunday night by stupid young men in the 700 block of South Illinois. Bullets shattered windows in at least two cars parked in the lot and another bullet broke a window in the Evolve Apartments across the street. No one was injured, thank goodness.
According to this post on Facebook, the council seat vacated by Carolin Harvey was assumed by Lacaje Hill:
Do not like calling them dispensiaries since the cannabis they sell is for recreational rather medicinal purposes but another cannabis store is opening in town on East Main in the space previously occupied by T. J. Martin's Jewelry. Given the steady customer stream at Consume Cannabis at the corner of Main and Washington, I imagine this one will do well, though it will not see much foot traffic. Opens June 15.
Rather bemusing to see So Il. Pridefest held in the Washington Street Entertainment Event area this afternoon and then the Miracle Healing Crusade at the Town Square Pavillion this evening. Maybe there will be some crossover but I rather doubt it.
Here's the next City Council Agenda. Major items on it, at least from my point of view:
1. appointing someone to fill out the remainder of Carolin Harvey's council term.
2. approve or deny the FullerDome Not for Profit's request for a special use permit for a Fuller Museum just south of the Dome. If any council people read this, I say approve it.
3. approving crematoriums in the auto and warehouse area north of the square
4. discussion of the 2024 Eclipse, which happens in less than a year.
5. approving a grant application for the Washington Street Entertainment Plaza
Illinois EPA will be collecting hazardous waste on June 24 from 8 a.m. until 2:45 pm in the South lot at the Bantera Center. Pre-registration is required so here is the link
Repairs on the railroad crossing on East Walnut street are expected to get completed by 6 p.m. June 9th
Then the East Main crossing will close for repairs on Monday at 8 a.m. and remain closed until 6 p.m. on the 16th.
Detour takes drivers to the north side of the Square to cross the tracks on East Jackson. However, I have found a much shorter wait by crossing the tracks at East College as most of the traffic takes the Jackson Street detour.
The Southern is moving to publishing only 3 print issues per week. At this rate, by 2025, they will only be putting out one issue a week, like the DE and The Carbondale Times.
Looks as if the plans to reopen the Dairy Queen under another name are moving ahead. The parking lot for the building is closed today for sealcoating
The city council will hold a special meeting this Tuesday at 6 p.m., likely to select the person to serve out the rest of Carolin Harvey's council term. Since there are citizen comments first, you could make statements in support of anyone you would like to see appointed to the post.
