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Blockos closes, local restaurant owners weigh in
Joei Younker jyounker@dailyegyptian.com
Over the past six months a multitude of new businesses have made their way into Carbondale. From restaurants, to late night snack places, with even a new deli on the way. While some of these new businesses are booming and bringing some life back to Carbondale, others have faced too many struggles and have announced their closure. Blockos was an all American style restaurant that specialized in breakfast and lunch, located on the main strip in Carbondale. After almost seven months of business, it closed permanently Sept. 17. This closure stirred up emotions around the area, with dozens of comments piled under the WTF? Carbondale Facebook post making the announcement, “Blockos will be closing permanently SUNDAY.” Owner Alaye Graham responded to the community, posting: “I apologize to everyone that hasn’t had the option to try us, we had the roughest weeks ever being open last week. Thank you to everyone for the support and it was wonderful being a part of the Carbondale community.” Past customer Katie Evans commented, “My family and I loved your restaurant. My boys thought it was so cool seeing someone so close to their age start a business (incredible!) and the food was delicious.” Amber Brantley Golchin wrote, “My understanding is that it’s really hard for restaurants in Carbondale… The fact that you came so far is a testament to your strength and talent.” To that, Graham replied, “We had so many narratives stacked up against us but we fought through ‘em, I was just tired.” One of those narratives involved a shooting that took place just outside Blockos on Sept. 2. Graham did not specifically mention it in his posts, but it clearly took a toll, forcing the restaurant to lose hours. BLOCKOS | 3
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2023
VOL. 107, ISSUE 5
Salukis sail to victory
Baker to Hartrup caps rally to win the Wheel
Brandyn Wilcoxen bwilcoxen@dailyegyptian.com
After a 370-day residency in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, the Wheel returns to Carbondale after the No. 15/18 Southern Illinois Salukis (3-0) rallied to upset the No. 13/15 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (1-2) on the road by a score of 26-25 on Saturday night. “It’s a game we’ll always remember for sure,” head coach Nick Hill said. The pivotal play of the 91st edition of the SIU-SEMO rivalry came with just 11 seconds left, when quarterback Nic Baker found wide receiver Izaiah Hartrup in the back of the end zone on 4th-and-7 from the 9-yard line. When asked where that play ranks among his top moments as a Saluki, the four-year starting quarterback of 30 SIU games said “right now it’s number one. I can’t think of anything else.” That touchdown was made possible by redshirt freshman safety Desman Hearns ripping the ball out of the hands of the former All-American running back Geno Hess. That gave Southern the field position needed to set up the gamewinning score.
The Salukis run the newly claimed wheel back to the stands full of fans after the Dawgs beat out the Redhawks by one point Sept. 16, 2023 at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
“He was holding the ball like a loaf of bread,” Hearns said. “So I went down, I stripped the ball and got it. I tried to score, but someone grabbed me.” Hearns played in just his fifth career game on Saturday, but has already had a major impact. His forced fumble came just one week after he had a critical fourth-quarter interception to help SIU
hold its 14-11 lead against Northern Illinois. “Defense, we’re always preaching that. Punch the ball out, get the ball back for the offense,” Hearns said. “The more times the offense has the ball in their hands, the better chances they have scoring and us winning the game.”
Hartrup making the winning catch marks a significant point in his journey as a Saluki. The last time these two teams met, he was forced to watch from the sidelines after an injury kept him from playing in 2022. His impact in this year’s edition of the rivalry is SEMO | 8
Marion Veterans Affairs spreads the Brandyn Wilcoxen bwilcoxen@dailyegyptian.com
word on suicide prevention
Among the nearly 46,000 U.S. adults to die by suicide in 2020, more than 13% of them were veterans. With rates like that, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to stem the tide and save lives. The Marion VA Health Care System hosted its first ever Veteran Suicide Prevention Summit on Sept. 14 and 15 at Cornerstone Church in Marion.
Each day featured keynote speakers, resource tables and breakout sessions designed to tackle different angles of suicide prevention. Topics discussed included posttraumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and homeless, all of which are linked to higher suicide rates among veterans. Not only did the summit aim to bring these issues to light, but also provide information on how to handle them.
“This event is all about bringing the VA’s resources out into our community, to help our community partners work together to eliminate veteran suicide,” said Zachary Sage, executive director of the Marion VA. Anyone can call the National Suicide Hotline at its new number, 9-8-8, and veterans can then access the Veterans Crisis Line by pressing 1. “That’s [the Veterans Crisis Line] the first, most ready resource available
for you,” Sage said. “You are welcome to come to any VA clinic, come to our emergency department. Go to any emergency department if you’re in crisis. The most important thing is that you get to a place where you can be safe.” The Marion VA Health Care System has 12 facilities across southern Illinois, western Kentucky and southwest Indiana. In Illinois,
VA SUMMIT | 3
1, 2, & 3
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