(Kendra Kennedy-Gordon photo)

Four-year-old Luna Mason (L) and two-year-old Stoic Mason (R) are the latest to reach the 1,000 mark in the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the Sallie Logan Public Library in Murphysboro. Not pictured is little Zelda (6 months) who has reached 55 books. The siblings are the children of Abby and Seth Mason of Murphysboro. 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a national program developed to promote reading to newborns, infants and toddlers, and to encourage parent and child bonding through reading. The program is funded by The 1000 Books Foundation, which is operated exclusively for charitable, literary and educational purposes. To sign up or for more information on the free, local program, call 618-684-3271, or visit sallieloganlibrary.org. For more information on the national program, visit 1000booksbeforekindergarten.org.

(Photo provided)

Murphysboro Tourism is funding a new historical mural of Gen. John A. Logan located at North 12th and Walnut streets. Chris DeShazo, owner and operator of Spectrum Graphics in Murphysboro, is painting the mural depicting Gen. Logan rallying the troops. This new one replaces one that had been on the same wall for decades. She is being assisted by two fellow Walldog International members, Nancy Bennett of Iowa and Joy Kier of Nebraska, as well as local residents Sue Gindelsparger and granddaughter Ava Stumeke. This is DeShazo’s fifth mural in the community.

Submitted by Jessica Denham
Western Governors University

Mallory Swafford, an eighth-grade science teacher at Murphysboro Middle School, has received a $500 grant through Western Governors University’s “Fund My Classroom” initiative.

The funds will be used to purchase materials that will allow her students to create their own solar-powered electronic circuits to demonstrate their learning of energy, renewable resources and circuitry. Swafford learned she was selected for the grant when WGU staff surprised her with a check presentation in early May.

By providing students with this hands-on learning opportunity, they will gain first-hand experience in the world of renewable energy. Swafford believes this is important – not only because the next generation will need these resources to combat climate change, but also because the renewable energy sector will continue to expand in an economic sense, allowing for more jobs to be created.

The grant money received from WGU will allow Swafford to obtain a solar charger, metal film register, transistors, LED light diodes and circuit kit, wiring kit and batteries needed for her students to create solar-powered electronic circuits to practice skills that will serve them into adulthood, as well as demonstrate their knowledge on topics covered over the course of the school year. Swafford hopes that in doing so, students will be more prepared for the growing job market and the continued fight against global climate change.

The innovative classroom is one of 27 across Illinois chosen by WGU to receive funding. The nonprofit, fully online university issued a call in March for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate proposed classroom projects by April 17 for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Swafford’s proposal is one of more than 80 nominations received statewide. Most grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week, which ran from May 2 to 6.

“We received nominations for some amazing classroom projects, and we are happy to bring so many to life through this year’s ‘Fund My Classroom’ initiative,” said Terrance Hopson, regional vice president of Western Governors University. “When it comes to expanding classroom curriculum and employing innovative techniques to engage and challenge students, teachers are often limited by costs. This initiative is an opportunity for WGU to give back to teachers, who go above and beyond to educate our students, by providing them with funding they can use to further enhance learning both in and out of the classroom.”

By Curtis Winston   •

The city’s finances have received a “clean opinion” from auditing firm KEB, although the auditor’s report to the Murphysboro City Council last Tuesday did warn about not enough segregation of duties when it comes to spending money.

Auditor Anna Guetersloh of Marion-based KEB told the council that this year’s audit was an “unmodified opinion” over last year, meaning it was a “clean opinion."

As far as the accuracy of financial information the council is receiving, there are “no issues," Guetersloh said. “You are getting good financial information.”

However, Guetersloh noted, because of the city’s small staff there is not enough separation of duties when it comes to handling payroll and disbursements.

“You need more people in the steps of the payroll process and the disbursement process,” she said. But, "as long as you have an honest person in that role, you have no issue.”

The audit report was the major item on an otherwise light election day agenda, which had the council decamping to the high school while council chambers were in use as a polling place.

Present were aldermen Gloria Campos, Barbara Hughes, Michael Austin, City Clerk Gina Hunziker, Mayor Will Stephens, aldermen W.J. Pittman, John Erbes, Gary McComb and Don Gladden. Aldermen Jance Curry-Witzman and Mike Bastien phoned in to the meeting, and alderman Russell Brown was absent.

There were no action items on the agenda, other than approval of the June 14 meeting minutes and accounts payable registers, as well as a vote to go into executive session to discuss property matters.

Alianna Haddick, who recently completed third grade at Carruthers Elementary School in Murphysboro, recently won second place in the third-grade division in the Southern Illinois Reading Council's short story contest.

Her story, won 2nd place in the third grade division. She received recognition for her story, “The Gummy Bear Club," at the reception and awards presentation at the Carbondale Civic Center.

Local musician Kevin Lucas will perform his annual Good Samaritan House of Carbondale homeless benefit concert on July 10 from 2 to 5 PM at Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass.

There is no cover charge for the event and donations are optional, but 100 percent of the donations go to the homeless shelter. It has been a rough couple of years for all shelters and they need all the help they can get, being often short on funding and over capacity.

Kevin is releasing his new single coming out in late summer with famed guest saxophone soloist Jeff Coffin. He is also coming off a successful release of a remake of the popular Kevin Lucas Orchestra song "Cahokia Winds" by Top 10 Billboard Folk artist Grant Maloy Smith of Rhode Island. Grant traveled to Southern Illinois to film a music video with Kevin, and the song has been featured on the air, in the press, and in the program at Carnegie Hall in NYC last April. Kevin has also teamed up with his former writing partner Andy Waldron of KLO and they are releasing a music video of their remake of Drive by the Cars, as well as a music video for the new KLO original "Seen it All Before", written by Andy Waldron.

Kevin will also be performing three concerts at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, IL this year. The dates are Friday, August 12, 12 PM to 2 PM ,on the Village of Cultures Stage: Thursday, August 18, 4 PM to 6 PM, on the Village of Cultures Stage: and Friday, August 19, from 12 PM to 2 PM, on the Village of Cultures Stage.

By Curtis Winston   •

A four-way stop sign at 23rd Street and Gartside has been approved by the Murphysboro City Council.

There are yield signs on the north and south of the intersection. The council’s action was at the request of a resident, who said the intersection, which is bisected by the Union Pacific railroad tracks, is unsafe, and motorists are not slowing down or stopping.

Council members agreed that the intersection is hazardous, among them Mike Bastien, ward 5, and John Erbes, ward 4.

The council, with aldermen Barbara Hughes, Gloria Campos, Michael Austin, Erbes, Bastien and Don Gladden were all ayes except for Gary McComb who said nay. “Yield is the same as stop,” McComb said.

In other traffic matters, the council refused by lack of a motion to a request to change 16th Street to Spruce from Walnut from one-way to two-way. Police Chief Jamie Ellermeyer said the street is not wide enough to accept two-way traffic with parking on both sides, and that businesses were concerned about parking spots being removed. “Leave it the way it is,” he said.

Herring Drive, a private road that steeply slopes into Illinois Route 149, will be officially taken under city maintenance, following action by the council.

And a city easement in the Westwood Hills subdivision was relinquished.

However, a request to vacate a portion of an alley behind 464 N. Ninth St. was tabled, due to the lack of a supermajority vote of eight council members, as seven aldermen were present.

A Murphysboro man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for burglarizing a local liquor store last fall.

Christopher P. Douglas, 20, of Murphysboro received the sentence to the Illinois Department of Corrections last week. The charge arose out of an Oct. 10, 2021, incident during which Douglas was caught in the act of burglarizing S.I. Liquor Mart in Murphysboro. Douglas ran from the police, but he was apprehended after a brief pursuit. Douglas admitted to burglarizing the business, and the police found Douglas’ backpack filled with stolen merchandise.

Douglas pleaded guilty last October, and the court recommended Douglas for placement in a substance abuse treatment program during his incarceration.

According to Jackson County State’s Attorney Joseph A. Cervantez, Douglas’ sentence came after the court, the state’s attorney’s office, the public defender’s office and the probation department spent months working with Douglas to give him an opportunity to seek counseling and treatment and possibly avoid a prison sentence altogether.

Douglas failed to complete the requirements of the court-ordered program, including failing to complete court-ordered substance abuse treatment, failing to keep the probation office advised of his place of residence, continuing to use illicit drugs, and committing a new criminal offense.

(Submitted photo)

Local residents received an American Cancer Society (ACS) Relay For Life 2021 PaceSetter Award as they prepare for their 2022 event in June. The PaceSetter Award is an honor that recognize Relay For Life events who demonstrate excellence in year-round planning and achieves or exceeds their Relay For Life goals.

Relay For Life of Jackson County Murphysboro exceeded their $50,000 fundraising goal in 2021 by raising $56,195.

Relay For Life of Jackson County Murphysboro’s 2022 event will take place on Friday, June 3rd as part of the Brews Brothers Taproom block party starting at 7 pm in Murphysboro. The community is invited to bring their lawn chairs and take part in the festivities. The Relay For Life of Jackson County Murphysboro committee have set a goal to raise $50,000 again this year.

Founded by Dr. Gordy Klatt in Tacoma, Washington, in 1985, Relay For Life events around the world have raised nearly $6.5 billion to help ACS attack cancer. Funds raised help ACS fund and conduct breakthrough research and give cancer patients and their families the resources they need.

To learn more about Relay For Life of Jackson County Muprhysboro, visit www.relayforlife.org/murphysboroIL.