Ups and downs
Southern Illinoisan
Thursday, March 20, 2008

Thumbs down - to the aberrant, deadly and horrendously damaging torrential rains which drenched an already soggy Southern Illinois. Total rainfall in some areas exceeded 10 inches in less than a day and our already saturated ground and overflowing rivers would accept no more. Our region was declared a disaster area Thursday by Gov. Rod Blagojevich and it will take millions to repair all of the damages to our homes, businesses and infrastructure. Two lives were lost to floodwaters in Jefferson County, people were forced out of their homes across the region and there are growing fears of what will happen when our rivers, including the Big Muddy, Mississippi and Ohio, crest above flood stage. Dry weather is forecast through Monday, but let's all say a prayer that the outlook is accurate and also to consecrate our losses. Our region typically avoids damaging extremes of weather, but we endured three damaging ice storms in February and hoped an uncommonly cold early March might usher in better weather. We're still waiting and hoping.

Thumbs up - to the apparent quick death being dealt to an idea that the state consider buying Wrigley Field in Chicago, improve it, and then re-sell it to a private interest - all in the name of helping new owner Sam Zell unload it. Lawmakers scoffed at the suggestion this week. State Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, put it best: "We're not taking care of our roads, and our bridges, and our schools, now we want to buy Wrigley? That's just stupid."

Thumbs up - to the debate team at Southern Illinois University Carbondale for earning first place honors in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence. The SIUC debate team, which is under the direction of Todd Graham, topped better-known and supposedly more prestigious institutions from across the nation by being better prepared and more thoughtful. Graham described the accomplishment perfectly in Tuesday's newspaper: "We are the winners of the national championship of debate. It's similar to winning the major college basketball tournament coming up. More than 300 teams tried to qualify. They took the top 48 teams and we were one of them." The team and Graham deserve our respect and congratulations.

Thumbs up - to Kevin Clark, Argus Tong and Rob Gallegly. They donate time and labor to make Community Electronics Technology Interface of Carterville management a success because of their deep concern for environmental quality. They collect discarded items like computers, word processors and anything else that constitutes electronic waste, from going to the landfill. Having established a partnership with Michael Coffman, an assistant professor of electronic systems technologies at SIUC, they have managed to refurbish many of the discarded computers that are donated to marginally funded nonprofit agencies and other groups such as the elderly and low-to-moderate income families. It sounds almost too good to be true. But Clark, Tong and Gallegly are the real deal and we commend the young men for their enterprise that is a benefit to everyone.

Thumbs up - to Ryan and Robin Buckingham for their part in the rescue of a West Frankfort woman on Tuesday morning. A vehicle driven by Tracy Barnes, 29, hydroplaned into a flooded area just south of West Frankfort, on Illinois 37, and her car became submerged in the rising waters. Barnes called 911 on her cell phone and was connected with dispatcher Ryan Buckingham with the Franklin County Central Dispatch. While Ryan stayed on the line with the woman she was also being helped by a civilian that witnessed her attempts to flee the sinking vehicle. Once the helpful patron, Robin Buckingham, pulled the woman to safety he got on the phone with the 911 dispatcher and realized that dispatcher was his own son. The two worked together, not realizing the connection, and Barnes was freed without injury from the submerged vehicle. Thumbs up, too, to the countless unknown helpers who came to the aid of their friends and neighbors throughout our flooded region.

Thumbs up ... to advisors with the Harrison-Bruce Foundation in Herrin for their continued generosity in providing hundreds of thousands of dollars for worthy projects in Williamson County. From a $619,000 pledge to the Marion school district for the construction of a new athletic field house to a $3,100 contribution to bring the musical, "Beauty and the Beast," to the Herrin Civic Center next month, there is no request too large or small that isn't considered by this foundation whose gift keeps on giving.

Thumbs up - to news this week that some area residents who meet the proper income guidelines will receive home weatherization funding from the state and federal government. Crosswalk Community Action Agency in West Frankfort distributes the funds for clients in Franklin, Jefferson and Williamson counties following a home assessment. Those residents in Williamson County have until the end of the month to get their requests in by calling 937-3581.