THE
Daily Egyptian SERVING THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1916.
DAILYEGYPTIAN.COM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2024
VOL. 108, ISSUE 15
Hangar 9 set to close Jan. 1 Lylee Gibbs lyleegibbs@dailyegyptian.com
Snow melts from the top of the Coal Miners Memorial statue in Herrin as it stands in front of the Herrin House of Hope Dec. 1, 2024 in Herrin, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediak
Southern Illinois charities fight food insecurity
Enan Chediak @enanchediak
When 94-year-old Bob McKnight entered the Herrin House of Hope in the morning, the volunteers were preparing for the day’s service. He’s a well-known figure in Herrin, serving as a pastor in a Baptist Church in Herrin for over 50 years. So, when he led the morning in prayer, many of the volunteers stopped what they were doing to hear him.
McKnight is often involved at the House of Hope and said that he was concerned about the issue of hunger. “There’s people out there that’s homeless, and people out there that’s hungry,” McKnight said. “It’s a good cause, and things is free for people who don’t have anything…” Although McKnight spoke about Herrin, which is a small town of just over 12,000 people, what he said reflects a broader issue in the United
States – food insecurity. According to feedingamerica.org, more than 47 million Americans deal with the issue of hunger and more than 50 million have used food assistance from places like the Herrin House of Hope. In southern Illinois, Feeding America estimates that 16%, or around 8,520 people, experience food insecurity in Jackson County, and 14%, or around 9,400 in Williamson County. With more than one out of
ten people in these two counties experiencing food insecurity, the need for access to food for everyone grows. But for the people in the front lines of this work, things aren’t always easy. Amy Simpson has been working in the field for over 15 years. “The kids love Pop Tarts,” Simpson said. “I won’t buy them. They’re too expensive.” Empty grocery bags, topped with FOOD INSECURITY | 2
Taking the reins: three new faces sworn into Jackson County Offices Mylee Walker @myleewalkerwrites
After a long and historic race in Jackson County, Marsha Cascio-Hale, Christian Hale and Amy Wilson-Dallas were sworn into office on the morning of Nov. 27, 2024 at the Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro, Illinois. They were sworn in by Presiding
Judge Christy W. Solverson, who gave some opening words to the crowd. “It really, truly is my honor and privilege to preside over the installation of our newly elected county officials,” Solverson said. She also emphasized the importance of voting, which we saw in the historic THREE NEW FACES | 3
Circuit clerk Christian Hale (center) places his hand on his grandmother’s Bible, held by his wife Marsha Cascio-Hale (right) while being sworn into office by Presiding Judge Christy Solverson (left) Nov. 27, 2024 at the Jackson County Courthouse in Murphysboro, Illinois. Enan Chediak | @enanchediak
Hangar 9, a beloved bar and live event venue located on The Strip, is set to close its doors on Jan. 1, 2025. Sally Carter, who’s owned the venue since the 1980s, announced the closure on Friday, Nov. 22 in an email to staff. With decreased business and the urge to retire, Carter listed the building for sale several years ago in hopes someone would follow in line to keep the establishment open to the live music and bar scene. On and off, potential buyers have taken interest in purchasing but none ever came to fruition. “The realtor and I discussed reducing the price, which we did a couple of times,” Carter said. “In the back of my mind I knew that if something didn’t happen by the end of the year, that was giving it long enough.” Popular among alumni and current students, Hangar 9 is open Wednesday through Saturday from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. and welcomes the community inside for a variety of events including weekly trivia on Wednesdays and karaoke on Thursdays. Carter said the lack of live music has contributed to the building’s decrease in popularity, but it will be missed. “We’ve always tried to be a good friendly neighborhood kind of joint that you could hang out in and feel comfortable in,” Carter said. “I want to say thank you for all the years of success that we got from it, and love, so many marriages came from Hangar.” The space saw a vast amount of live music from SIU’s School of Music giving students the opportunity to gain musical experience on stage. In the age of digital streaming, Carter believes the decline in the School of Music hasn’t fueled Hangar 9’s fire. The well-loved bar is open for the remainder of the year with its traditional schedule. Typically closed the week between Christmas and New Years Eve, Hangar will be open additional days to give the community one last dance or drink. The final night is set for New Year’s Eve with a drag show. Editor-in-Chief Lylee Gibbs can be reached at lgibbs@dailyegyptian.com