Interim Chancellor Named

SIU's BOT named Dr. Paul Sarvela as interim chancellor yesterday, with no end date, indicating that the BOT does not plan to rush looking for a new permanent chancellor. Sarvela looks a good choice, from what little I have read about him. With 28 years of service, he should have a very good idea of how SIUC works and obviously has no plans to leave before retirement.

I hope that the BOT decides to pick someone already employed at SIUC to fill the position permanently. the last three chancellors came from outside the university and had to learn about the institution which takes awhile to do. Appointing someone from inside avoids that problem

Firehouse Opening Delay

It appears the city is still trying to correct a number of violations of the ADA at the new westside fire department building. It appears that the architects who designed the building stands in violation of at least 30 parts of the ADA, which have to come into compliance before the Attorney General will sign off on the project.

Water Quality Report

The annual water quality report has gone out and once again, Carbondale's water sources exceed all standards.  In fact, if you hand out around city hall in later summer, you can usually find bottles of Shawnee Mist water from Cedar lake that the city bottles and gives away.

Delish Ribbon Cutting

If you are free at 11:30 this monrning, Delish 7 Spice Grill is having a ribbon cutting:

Name: Ribbon Cutting for Delish 7 Spice Grill

Date: July 2, 2014

Time: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Event Description:

Come along as we celebrate the new location of Delish 7 Spice Grill at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2014, then stay and enjoy lunch!

Graffiti Blitz

Downtown in the area of Main and Illinois got hit by a graffiti "artist". Besides the two spots in the photo, the alley running between Mary Lou's and the Door, and well as the one behind them, got hit as well.  Looks as if someone even tagged the two mailboxes fixed to the wall outside Mary Lou's .  Pretty brazen.

City Sales Tax

Just a reminder that city sales tax increased to 8.5% today.

Southern Illinois Unemployment Down

According to today's Southern Illinois Business Journal, unemployment for the Southern Illinois region as a whole is under 10%. A number of counties tip out at 9.9% but this is the first time in years I have seen all of them in single digits.