Alley Lighting

 Remember the T-Mobile grant Carbondale Main Street got last year to upgrade lighting in some parts of downtown Carbondale?  Judge Services finished work on the first project, the alley running just north of Aban Kitchen, criss crossing overhead strings of lights from Illinois Avenue to Pickle's Alley. Have not seen them turned on yet so have no idea how bright they are.

Aban Kitchen uses the alley as a pick up location for their to-go orders adn the new lighting will make it brighter for customers waiting in the alley and safer for staff members bringing out the orders. There are two more locations in town scheduled for similar upgrades.

Hiring

 Both Thai Taste and Big Chill are looking for additional staff. Due to staff shortages, Thai Taste will close for lunch on July 29th and dinner on July 30th.

off the Rails Schedule

 Here is the schedule for the fall slate of Off the Rails Concerts. While I see the August 15 as a welcome back concert for SIUC students, I just hope the summer heat does not drive away attendance. After all it is starting at 3 in the afternoon.

The City of Carbondale is excited to announce the return of the Off the Rails Concert Series, bringing five unforgettable nights of free live music to downtown Carbondale from August through October 2026. For the first time in the series' history, our concerts will take place on the Robbie Stokes Memorial Stage at the New Era Events Plaza (200 S. Washington Street), marking a new era for one of Southern Illinois' favorite live music traditions.

Following the successful debut of the Robbie Stokes Memorial Stage during this summer's Sunset Concert Series, Off the Rails now has a permanent home in the heart of downtown. The series continues its mission of showcasing an eclectic mix of nationally touring artists, regional favorites, and emerging local talent while creating memorable community experiences that celebrate Carbondale's vibrant music culture.

"Off the Rails has always been about creating opportunities for people to experience incredible live music in the heart of downtown Carbondale," said Dena Haun, Tourism and Special Events Coordinator for the City of Carbondale. "This year feels especially meaningful as we bring the series onto the Robbie Stokes Memorial Stage for the very first time. Robbie dedicated so much of his life to supporting musicians and building Southern Illinois' music community. It's incredibly fitting that this stage will now host artists from across the country while continuing to shine a spotlight on the amazing talent we have right here at home."

The 2026 season kicks off with the CarbondAlien Music Festival, celebrating Southern Illinois' thriving local music scene before welcoming nationally recognized artists throughout the fall. All events are free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy local food vendors while experiencing live music in downtown Carbondale. Public consumption of alcohol is permitted within the Downtown Entertainment District in accordance with City regulations. Guests may purchase beverages from participating establishments or bring their own in non-glass, single-serve containers.

2026 Off the Rails Concert Schedule:

Saturday, August 15 // CarbondAlien Music Festival // 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Features: The Hornworms, City of Soul, Tawl Paul & Slappin' Henry Blue, Tr!cks, Stay Here and the Southern Illinois Soul Jazz Coalition!

Saturday, August 29 // 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Features: Marcella Simien & Family Soul Band

Friday, September 4 // Lost Cross 40th Anniversary // 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Features: Didjits & Acumen

Saturday, September 19 // Hemp, Hops & Shrooms // 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Features: Hot Like Mars & MoonShroom with programming from the SIU Cannabis Science Center and the SIU Fermentation Science Institute

Friday, October 2 // SIU Family Weekend // 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Features: Kyle Tuttle Band & Special guest Chris Housman

Petitions

 Nominating petititons for the 3 open city council seats and mayor's office are available for pickup starting July 28th. Clare Killman has said she will not run for another term, leaving her seat open.  No word yet on Mayor Harvey or Councilpeople Loos and Maxwell.

On April 6, 2027, the City of Carbondale will hold an election to select one Mayor and three City Councilmembers for four-year terms. Informational documents and petition forms will be available in the City Clerk’s Office beginning on July 28; these same forms and other useful information are available in the 2027 Candidate’s Guide that can be found on the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website. Signed, completed forms will be filed in the City Clerk’s Office during the statutory filing period of Monday, October 19 through Monday, October 26, 2026 (circulation and filing dates amended by Public Acts 103-0586 and 103-0600). 

This election will be for the seats presently held by Mayor Carolin Harvey, and Councilmembers Clare Killman, Adam Loos, and Nancy Maxwell.  

Assistent City Manager Position

 Think you can run Carbondale better than the people now doing it?  Here is your chance. The city has an assitant City Manager positon open and is accepting applications with the first review of them starting August 21st:

The City of Carbondale is accepting applications for the position of Assistant City Manager, seeking a highly qualified and strategic professional to join the City's executive leadership team. The position will work directly with the City Manager to enhance organizational capacity, improve interdepartmental coordination, and advance key City priorities.  

The Assistant City Manager will provide leadership on strategic initiatives and special projects while supporting day-to-day municipal operations. Responsibilities include coordinating major City initiatives, overseeing grant development and administration, supervising public relations and communications, tourism and community promotion, and violence prevention programs, while fostering partnerships that enhance the quality of life for Carbondale residents. 

Parking

 I keep harping on this and I will bring it up at the next city council meeting I attend but the city needs better signing pointing out the parking behind the buildings on the East side of South Illinois. There is as much parking in downtown at there was before Storyboard nee Evolve took over the 710 parking lot but it is not nearly as visitble and there is little signing pointing it out.

CommuniTEA Social Hour

 At the Civic Center until 2 p.m.  About a dozen local not-for-profits are set up to provide information about themselves and what services they offer. Finger food and door prizes as well

Rip's Pizza For Sale

 Just after announcing the business was shifting to 2 nights a week, the owner posted yesterday that they have found some other business opportunities and is putting the pizzeria up for sale. That makes 2 restaurants with good name recognition in town available:  Rip's and Thai Taste. Anyone buying Rips would have to compete with at least 7 other pizza places in town while there is only one Thai restaurant.

Ryan Livingston Murder

 July 13, 2006, Ryan Livingston was murdered on the south side of West Walnut in the 300 block. For a number of years, flowers were left and the sidewalk chalked at the location but as years have passed, the memorials stopped.  As the article notes, the case gets revisited from time to time and is not closed but barring someone coming forward, it is unlikely to ever be solved.

Mint Indian Restaurant

 Mint Indian Restaurant has opened in the space formerly occupied by Tandoor and Tadka. Here is hoping it lasts longer than the former did. When I get a chance, I need to compare it and Bombay Olive since I have not heard much about the Olive in recent years.

SIMMS

 Do you have any idea what SIMMS is?  If you are not familiar with downtown Carbondale, you probably do not but someone thinks emough people are familar enough with the acronym to put it on a directional sign (Southern Illinois Multi Modal Station) pointing east from S. University along West Cherry/ Buckminiser Fuller Way. I am glad the same sign points toward the Amtrak station as more people will know what Amtrak is than SIMMS and are likely looking for the same location.

Parking

 One way the city could make downtown more welcoming is getting rid of the parking kiosks. Parking meters were originally put into downtown to stop students from parking close to campus, leaving their cars all day and avoiding the need for a parking sticker.  With the loss of large parking areas in downtown (farewell 710 Bookstore parking lot), and the drop in student population, the original need for them has vanished and parking meters are now just another revenue source for the city. I wonder if the new parking kiosks even generate enough revenue to pay for the cost of putting them in and maintaining them.

Fraud Conviction

 Dean Amley, owner of Egyptian Corner, located at the corner of Wall and Main Street, was sentencd yesterday to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay over half a million dollars in restitution for fraudulently accepting SNAP benefits. From my reading of the release, between 2014 and 2020, Amley and his employees would buy SNAP benefits from recipients  for less than face value, paying them in cash and using the fraudlently acquired SNAP benfits to purchase inventory for the store or allow them to purchase prohibited items such as tobacco and alcohol. USDA OIG and the FBI all co-operated in the investigation.

I am bemused by the reference to the Truump administration created National Fraud Enforcement Division at the end of the release, implying it has some impact on the case which, given that Amley pled guilty in March of 2025, over a years before the creation of the Division, is just not so. Still it is good to fraud prosecuted, no matter who does it.

Thai Taste

 Downtown staple Thai Taste went on the market today for $580,000.  Price includes the restaurant, equiptment and building with two upstairs apartments.  20% down payment with a 30 mortage at approximately 6%. In business since 2004. The current owner wants to move on but has no plans to close the restaurant.

One of my favorite sit down restaurants in Carbondale.

Buckminister Fuller Way

 The Stretch of West Cherry running from S. Illinois to s. Oakland has been honorarily named Buckminister Fuller Way. this does not mean anything officially so residents along the street still live on West Cherry but now West Cherry Street signs have a Buckminister Fuller Way sign below them. Selecting the street runnng between the Buckminister Fuller Dome Historic Site and the Buckminister Fuller Visitors Center is a nice touch.

Drainage

 I drove though a few of the spots that have been problematic in heavy rains during this afternoon's downpour and was happy to see no flooding.  Either the rain was less than in the past or the city has improved the drainage system in those area.

Flags

 It is unfortunate the Lions Club flags get vandalized so often. From what a member of the Club tells me, Marion and Carterville put out similar flag displays with even larger numbers of flags with no problems.

Flag Vandalism

 If you drove through downtown Carbondale this past weekend, you should have noticed the flags lining Illinois and Main Street, courtesy of the Lions Club.  Someone, or someones, vandalized 5 of the flags on North Illinois, near the intersection of Illinois and Washington.  5 of the flags were cut from their staffs and stolen. 

The Lions Club is offereng a reward for information leading to the recovery of the flags and/or arrest of the vandals.  Contact the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200 if you have any information.

Carbondale Fireworks

 As of 7:45, the concern about inclinent weather  has passed and Carbondale's fireworks are scheduled to go on as planned, although the musical programing will start later than scheduled. Of course, nothing about the weather has stopped people in town from setting off fireworks starting shortly before 6 p.m.

Bald Knob Cross 250

 In case you want to see lots of fireworks from several different communities, the Bald Knob Cross is offering evening viewing hours tomorrow night starting at 7 p.m.  I am not sure if other events are planned for the Cross, such as music, but the Visitors Center will be open with food available.

Carterville Water

A damaged valve on a large water main has meant all water in Carterville has been shut off while repairs are made. The city does not indicate when water service will return but a boil water order is in place until the morning of July 4th.

In all my years in Carbondale, I have never heard of the city issuing a boil water order for any part of the city.  People complain a lot about Carbondale but its water quality and service is far superior to the communities surrounding us

City Council Meeting Canceled

 Must be a slow summer as there is no business before the council for the entire month of July. i guess, after stopping an influx of data centers into the city for the next year, they decided to call it a month.

Notice is hereby given that the regular City Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, has been canceled as there is no business for deliberation on this meeting date.

 

Please Note: The next regular City Council Meeting will commence at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.