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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

VOL. 110, ISSUE 6

InsiDE Annual Saluki Stair Climb marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 Dawgs keep the wheel

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Dive into Mermet

Local firefighters make their way down the stairs Sept. 11, 2026 during the annual 9/11 Saluki Stair Climb at the Banterra Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Olivia Luesing | oluesing@dailyegyptian.com SEE MORE | PAGE 3

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Tapes restored

after 38 years

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New Illinois e-bike law could push Carbondale riders into traffic TAY ACREE News Reporter A new Illinois law is drawing a clearer distinction between traditional low-speed e-bikes and more powerful electric vehicles, creating new rules for how some of them can be operated. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2027, creates separate classifications and rules for low-speed electric bicycles, electric scooters and other electric vehicles. For e-bikes,Class 1 bikes provide motor assistance only while the rider is pedaling and stop assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes can propel the bicycle without pedaling but also stop providing

motor assistance at 20 mph. Higher-speed electric bikes that fall outside the state’s low-speed e-bike classifications will face additional requirements, including a driver’s license, registration and insurance, depending on how the vehicle is classified. The law also addresses high speed electric scooters and other micromobility devices, which are regulated separately from the state’s three classes of low speed e-bikes. High-speed electric vehicles with electric motors of 750 watts or more that can travel faster than 28 mph that fall outside the state’s low-speed e-bike definitions will be

prohibited from sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and bicycle paths. For riders, the law gets personal For Carbondale riders such as Mike Scott, that raises concerns about what happens when people who already feel vulnerable around cars have fewer places to ride. Scott bought an e-bike because he needed an affordable way to get to work and the grocery store while saving for a car. Scott said mobility issues make walking long distances difficult, and when a grocery store near his home closed, he needed another way to get around Carbondale. Before buying his own e-bike, Scott

relied on shared electric transportation around town. Eventually, the cost began to add up. “I was spending upwards of $150 a month on those,” Scott said. “I’m like, why don’t I just buy me one?” Scott said he does not know his bike’s exact top speed but estimates it can travel somewhere between 20 and 30 mph. Because the exact specifications of his bike have not been confirmed, it is unclear how it will be classified under the new law. Scott already tries to avoid riding alongside heavy vehicle traffic. “I feel more safe on the sidewalk, or I feel more safe in a bike path,” Scott said. E-BIKE | 3

NCAA eligibility changes could impact future of SIU Athletics AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter The NCAA Division I cabinet in June unanimously approved the new 5-for-5 eligibility rule, giving players the option to compete for a fifth year. This decision could have an enormous impact on the current rosters of all colleges across all collegiate sports. Thousands of athletes could potentially be granted a fifth season — including some Salukis. This would completely change rosters and scholarships, as well as transfer decisions, name, image or likeness money paid to an athlete for sponsorships and advertisements, and revenue-sharing allocations. Since the decision was made in June, many collegiate athletes from the high school class of 2022 have sued for their fifth year of eligibility, because the original rule only applied to those who graduated in 2023 and after. Courts originally ruled in favor of the athletes, but an NCAA appeal led to a stay on the original

decision, meaning those who graduated high school in 2022 can’t compete — for now. As the appeals process plays out, there is a lot that remains unknown about which players will be allowed another year, and which athletes won’t be allowed an extra year. What does this mean for the Salukis? As a Division I program, SIU is directly affected by the NCAA’s new eligibility ruling. Any athletes who graduated and played just four years could potentially come back. Tim Leonard, Southern Illinois University’s director of intercollegiate athletics, said SIU has former athletes looking to appeal for their fifth year of eligibility, such as wide receiver and returnman Tae Marrero Jr. “We have two or three kids that are trying to come back and would fit in our rosters,” Leonard said. “We still have to make it fit our squad size. Assuming they could get that year of eligibility.” None of these athletes

attempting to return are eligible as of today, but that could change at any moment depending on how cases play out in the courts. Leonard also talked about the many factors that factor into roster construction. “Moving forward, there is going to be a significant number of kids who could potentially gain an extra year,” Leonard said. College athletes will now set up a five-year academic plan to align with their collegiate careers. “There are no longer scholarship limitations, only roster limitations. So now it becomes what’s the best way to fill them up, but we also don’t have unlimited funds,” Leonard said. These collegiate athletes are also students. A lot goes into building the most talented roster and setting up student-athletes for success in the classroom. Factors such as transfers, funding, and opportunities go into these decisions, Leonard said. Wisne vs. NCAA Twelve former collegiate athletes

who graduated high school in 2022 and weren’t eligible for a fifth season under the new rules took the NCAA to court to seek a fifth year of eligibility under the newly released policy. According to reporting by Jon G. Long and Bennett Widman,Long is an attorney, the federal court in Colorado handled the case. On July 31, Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney issued a preliminary injunction allowing affected athletes to compete. Sweeney said that the athletes would suffer “irreparable harm” if they were denied the chance to participate in a fifth season. According to Long and Widman, the judge reasoned that the athletes would lose the opportunity to profit through name, image, and likeness, or NIL. Sweeney clarified certain requirements athletes had to meet to return for a fifth season. The conditions were that athletes over the age of 24 were ineligible. According to the Colorado injunction, athletes who had

signed any kind of professional contract were also ineligible. This was specifically targeted toward two players who formally played football at Louisiana State University, tried out for NFL teams, and were cut from those teams. These two players, Da’Quan Wright and Zavian Harris, are now attempting to return to LSU for another year. This situation has gone to court, and the Southeastern Conference, which LSU is a member of, threatened to kick LSU out of the conference if it let these players return to play. The NCAA transfer rules are still applicable. Newly granted fifth-year athletes could return to their teams because they had missed the transfer portal window; they could not transfer. Additionally, colleges still had to meet NCAA roster limits and follow the revenue-sharing rules. NCAA appeals decision On Aug. 3, the NCAA appealed ELIGIBILTY | 4

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Wednesday, September 16, 2026

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Murphysboro celebrates 75 years of ‘Appletime, Sweet Appletime’ MORRIGAN CAREY Staff Reporter Every year after Labor Day, Murphysboro holds the annual Apple Festival, a large-scale, week-long festival which is entirely volunteer-led and community-organized, to celebrate the city’s history, its orchards, and to fundraise for local causes. The festival has been a staple of the community since 1952, when it was a small, singleday event to promote local businesses. Today, it stands as the single largest alcohol-free festival in the state of Illinois. Advertising for the festival used the slogan “Appletime, Sweet Appletime,” a play on the expression “home, sweet home” in honor of the festival’s close ties to the identity of Murphysboro itself. Over the course of this year’s 75th Annual Apple Festival, running in different capacities between Monday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 13, several events, fundraisers and competitions were held across the city, including a crafts fair, carnival, a golf tournament, a concert and a community parade, as well as an abundance of food from local businesses, applebased bakeries, and staple carnival vendors. According to festival organizers, festivities unofficially began with Wednesday’s prayer breakfast in the Davis McCann Center, with songs and prayers from Murphysboro religious leaders and a speech from Mayor Will Stevens. “I’ve had the privilege of serving as mayor of Murphysboro now for more than a decade, and during those years, there are certain moments on the calendar that become familiar,” Stevens said. “I know you know exactly what I’m talking about: It’s when the Christmas lights go up, it’s

when school’s getting ready to start, it’s when summer is starting to wind down. And all of these things bring with it certain traditions and activities. In Murphysboro, September comes.” Stevens continued, “25 years from now, there’ll be a prayer breakfast, I hope, at the 100th Apple Festival, and some of these children that are here this morning will be the leaders of the community then. They’ll stand behind this podium, and they’ll volunteer and they’ll sit at these tables. And it’ll be up to us today, and next year and the year after that to continue to hand these traditions down and let them know how important they are, so that we can continue to have this great tradition, all bound together by our faith and our prayers.” In May 2017, the Murphysboro Apple Festival was recognized officially as a public charity. Profits from the festival are reinvested into next year’s celebration, or towards community causes. Thursday’s festivities featured the “Taste of Murphysboro” event, a ticketed dining event catered by local businesses, the proceeds of which go to a scholarship fund of the same name, awarded to outstanding high school seniors at the end of the evening. The community-organized festival is made possible by a committee of volunteers with no shortage of support from the community, with many committing time and money yearly, such as Murphysboro local Peggy Reiman, who has been associated with the event for 13 years. “The only (festival) I remember ever missing was when my daughter was born just this week 26 years ago,” Reiman said. “It’s your local, hometown event. It’s always great because you get to see a lot of people that you

Puzzle Answers

don’t necessarily always get to see. It’s everyone in the community coming together to make this wonderful thing happen.” Another annual event of the Apple Festival is the apple pie contest, with separate categories for traditional and nontraditional pies, as well as separate contests for junior bakers and apple butter. Award-winning pies were auctioned off Thursday evening, with the highest price going to the first-place traditional apple pie at $130. Karen Hale, who has placed in almost every competition since 2013, is this year’s first-place baker in both the traditional and nontraditional categories. “I have been involved in the apple pie contest for about 45 years, ” Hale said. “I had won ribbons, I had a drawer full of ribbons, but not until 1998 did I win first place. I decided then that if I ever had the opportunity, I would be on the committee and run the apple pie contest, so I did that for about five years and I changed some things. I separated the two different pies, one traditional and one nontraditional.” Hale Continued, “I don’t want this contest to go by the wayside. I’m sure it’s probably the oldest contest of the Apple Festival, and some of the contests have gone by the wayside. That was my main reason for staying involved. Now, I feel like I need to do something else. I don’t want to sound conceited at all because my mom was the one who taught me how to bake pies, but I don’t know, maybe there’s something else I can do. I don’t need any more stuff, I have a room full of prizes.” Staff Reporter Morrigan Carey can be reached at mcarey@dailyegyptian.com

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

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Scott said he often travels through the middle of Carbondale to avoid heavier traffic. Roads such as Main Street can make him uneasy because of the speed and volume of vehicles. Scott said drivers have made sudden turns around him, forcing him to react quickly. He has even fallen off his bike while trying to avoid a vehicle. “Some people make splitsecond decisions without a turn signal,” Scott said. “I’ve had to veer off. I’ve fallen off my bike to miss another car.” Scott said he believes e-bike riders could benefit from safety training or classes focused on how to operate the bikes and navigate traffic. “I think more education needs to happen,” Scott said. Carbondale City Council member Nathan Colombo, who also rides an e-bike, shares some of Scott’s concerns about putting riders alongside cars. “I’m always concerned about forcing any kind of non-car traffic onto roadways,” Colombo said. Colombo said the challenge is balancing the safety of pedestrians with the safety of people riding bicycles, e-bikes and electric scooters. Carbondale’s bicycle infrastructure has improved, he said, pointing to recent changes on Wall Street between Grand Avenue and Main Street. The roadway was reconfigured to include one northbound lane, one southbound lane, a center turn lane and bicycle lanes in both directions. Colombo said the change has improved his own experience traveling through the area and that he has received positive feedback from both drivers and cyclists. Local officials navigate bike safety gaps Colombo identified Illinois 13 and U.S. 51 as two of the most challenging corridors for cyclists because of heavy traffic and inconsistent bicycle infrastructure. Along Main Street, Colombo said a rider can move from a separated greenway to a wide bike lane, then a standard bike lane and eventually to an area with no bike lane at all. “In just a couple miles stretch of traffic, you can experience full separation, wide separation, narrow separation and no separation from vehicular traffic,” Colombo said. Both 13 and 51 are under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation rather than the city, limiting how much Carbondale can change the roadways on its own. The safety concerns Colombo described became personal on his way to his interview with the Daily

Destinee Wilson rides on an Electric Blue Velotric E-bike Sept. 10, 2026 at SIU Campus in Carbondale, Illinois. “Love this beauty, been helping me get around for three years here at SIU, if nothing else invest in one of these beauties.” Nazarene Lace | nlace@dailyegyptian.com Egyptian. Colombo said he was riding his e-bike when a large truck passed him and intentionally blew diesel exhaust toward him. “That is just one of dozens of potential dangers traveling on roadways alongside car traffic,” Colombo said. Colombo said he supports creating a legal distinction between conventional e-bikes and electric vehicles that operate more like motorcycles. He said electric vehicles capable of reaching speeds similar to motorcycles should be licensed and operated with the same level of responsibility expected from other motorvehicle operators. “I think it is very reasonable to have created this differentiation,” Colombo said. But he has concerns about rules that could place riders into vehicle traffic. “I don’t think that we should be forcing anybody on a low-speed electric or manual vehicle, scooter, bicycle, or otherwise, to operate in a highrisk environment alongside car traffic,” Colombo said. The Carbondale City Council has not discussed additional ordinance changes because of the new state law, Colombo said. He said most council discussions involving electric transportation have instead centered around Veo’s shared vehicles in Carbondale. While Colombo looks at the issue as both a council member and rider, Carbondale city planner Myra Stevens approaches it from a transportationplanning perspective. Stevens said the city is preparing for continued

Illustration by AJ Sullivan | @sullinks.art

growth in e-bikes and other micromobility options by investing in infrastructure and seeking funding opportunities for future projects. She pointed to projects on South Wall Street, Oakland Avenue and Pleasant Hill Road as examples of Carbondale incorporating bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure into road improvements, though she said there is still room for improvement. One of the biggest challenges

improvements. She pointed to South Wall Street, Oakland Avenue and the Pleasant Hill Road widening as examples. Stevens identified Piles Fork and Pleasant Hill Road as two major projects where the city is working to improve bi access for bicyclists and pedestrians, including wider paths and more separation from vehicle traffic when possible. She said the city generally tries to create off-street paths wide enough for bicycles, scooters and

“Car ownership can be one of the biggest financial barriers to residents of a community, especially for younger folks such as myself,” Stevens said. The law also sets minimum age restrictions for riders: Class 1 and Class 2 e-bike riders must be at least 15, while Class 3 riders and users of other high-speed electric vehicles must be at least 16. Stevens said infrastructure is important, but age can also play a role in safety when riders

“I don’t think that we should be forcing anybody on a low-speed electric or manual vehicle, scooter, bicycle, or otherwise, to operate in a high-risk environment alongside car traffic.” -Nathan Colombo Carbondale City Council Member

is determining where projects can physically fit and how the city will pay for them. “The two largest factors of what affects project feasibility are right-of-way and funding availability,” Stevens said. Stevens said community need and available funding play major roles in deciding where bike lanes, shared-use paths and other multimodal improvements are built. The city has no jurisdiction over Illinois 13 or U.S. 51 because both are controlled by IDOT. Where Carbondale does have control, Stevens said Carbondale uses a “Complete Streets” approach when possible, adding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure during road

pedestrians while keeping them separated from cars. For Stevens, planning for e-bikes also means changing how people think about who uses them. “The biggest misconception I think people have about e-biking is that it is purely recreational,” Stevens said. She said e-bikes and other forms of micromobility should be viewed as serious transportation options for commuting to work, getting groceries or traveling to medical appointments. Her point mirrors how Scott uses his own bike. Stevens said the ability to live without a car was also one of the things that drew her to Carbondale after college.

are operating faster electric vehicles. She said protecting younger riders is important when vehicles are capable of higher speeds, and that mature judgment often comes with age and experience. Colombo, who has drivingage children, said he also supports restrictions for younger riders. “The safety concern for inexperienced operators is significant,” Colombo said. The City of Carbondale Police Department said it plans to prepare officers for the new law with a focus on education, voluntary compliance and traffic safety when the legislation takes effect in January 2027. Randy Mathis, assistant to the chief for community information, wrote in an email that the department does not currently have a tracking mechanism specifically for crashes or safety issues involving e-bikes or similar forms of transportation. The department, however, has received reports of electric scooters and e-bikes being involved in incidents in the city. Mathis wrote that the department is encouraging residents to learn the provisions of the new law and remain aware of safety concerns while using any forms of transportation. “Our goal is for residents and visitors is to seek proper education, be aware of safety concerns, and to always be aware of their surroundings regardless of what mode of transportation they are currently using,” Mathis wrote. An ordinary trip, a necessary ride Stephanie Palmer reached out to the Daily Egyptian after

seeing a request for people affected by the new e-bike law. Palmer said her father is visually impaired and cannot obtain a driver’s license. He also has mobility limitations that make standing or walking for long periods difficult. Before he bought an e-bike, Palmer said she handled much of his transportation — taking him to the store, picking up prescriptions, running errands and getting him where he needed to go. When she was unavailable, his other option was often paying someone for a ride, she said. Her father saved money for about nine months to buy an e-bike earlier this year. Palmer said the bike let him take care of some everyday tasks without having to coordinate his schedule with someone else. “That independence made a really noticeable difference,” Palmer said. “He finally had something that gave him the ability to take care of some things for himself instead of always having to work around someone else’s schedule.” Palmer said her father told her the bike can reach up to about 32 mph after checking its specifications. That has left the family concerned about how the bike will be classified once the new law takes effect. Because the DE has not independently confirmed the bike’s full specifications, including its motor power, it is unclear whether it will fall under the stricter provisions of the new law. Palmer said replacing the bike with a lower-speed model would not necessarily be financially realistic. “If his current bike is no longer legal for him to operate because of its maximum speed, it puts him right back into the situation he was in before he bought it,” Palmer said. “He would once again have to depend on me or someone else for transportation.” For Scott, those concerns are another example of why e-bikes should not automatically be viewed as recreational vehicles. “Most people who get them, from what I’ve seen, are using them for transportation, not so much for leisure,” Scott said. “From getting point A to point B, it is the big one, especially living in a rural community as we do.” In this instance, point A to point B can mean something as ordinary and necessary as getting to work or buying groceries. Staff reporter Tay Acree can be reached at tacree@dailyegyptian.com

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Wednesday, September 16, 2026

SPORTS SIU volleyball swept in Hawkeye Invitational The Salukis headed to Coralville, Iowa, to compete in the Hawkeye Invitational. The Dawgs dropped all three matches. NOAH PETSCHKE Sports Editor The Salukis hit the road, heading to Coralville, Iowa, for the three-match Hawkeye Invitational on Sept. 10-11. Over the weekend slate, the Dawgs took on the Iowa Hawkeyes, the Incarnate Word Cardinals, and the Missouri State Bears. SIU finished the weekend 0-3, but took a set against a Big 10 school in the University of Iowa. Sept. 10: SIU 1, UI 3 Set 1: SIU 23, UI 25 Looking to continue their hot start, the Salukis faced a tough opponent in the Hawkeyes, a Big 10 team. The Dawgs took a small early lead over Iowa and jumped to a 12-7 lead on a 5-0 run. The Hawkeyes began to storm back, tying the game at 20-20. Two kills and an SIU attack error secured a first-set win for Iowa. Outside hitter McKenzie Moeller racked up a noteworthy six kills in the first set. Set 2: SIU 25, UI 22 The two clubs duked it out to start the second set, with many SIU points coming off Iowa blunders. After a 13-13 tie, the Hawkeyes could not keep pace with the Salukis. The Salukis notched five service aces in the second set, with the final

ELIGIBILTY CONTINUED FROM 1

to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, requesting a stay of the injunction. NCAA Chief Legal Officer Scott Bearby was quoted on Aug. 3 by Long as calling the injunction “egregiously wrong.” Athletes attempting to return are currently waiting for their specific court decision to allow them to actually compete. Those players are ready, because any day the court could allow them to play. The NCAA added that problems would arise with incoming freshmen losing roster spots or significant playing time due to returning fifth-year athletes, as well as causing displacement within rosters that had already been formed. On Aug. 4, the plaintiffs requested that Judge Sweeney enforce the injunction. The plaintiffs wanted the NCAA to make it possible for athletes to gain their fifth year, let schools know that athletes are now eligible for their fifth season, and stop preventing fifth-year college athletes from securing roster spots. New 5-for-5 rule gives athletes more time, eliminates redshirts With the new 5-for-5 rule, athletes would plan on having a five-year collegiate career instead of four. This will give them more time to accumulate their credits in the classroom. There will be more years for an athlete to capitalize on making money through NIL. Athletes will decide where to commit to play. While there is more time to transfer, transferring a bunch could cause problems with credits. Previously, the NCAA’s rule was five-for-four, or five years to play four collegiate seasons.

one from outside hitter Alexandria Arrington to tie the match at 1-1. Set 3: SIU 15, UI 25 The third set wasn’t as competitive as the previous two. The Hawkeyes soared to an 8-3 start as the Salukis could not find a solution to the opposing offense. SIU sprinkled in kills here and there, but never got close to closing the gap. A UI ace won the third set for the Hawkeyes. Set 4: SIU 23, UI 25 The Salukis cleaned up their errors in Set 4, getting off to a 13-7 start, hoping to force a fifth set. Four straight kills and two attack errors shrunk the SIU lead. SIU came close to forcing a fifth set versus a tough opponent, but fell just short at 23-25. Sept 11 (Match 1): SIU 0, UIW 3 Set 1: SIU 18, UIW 25 Looking to get back in the win column, the Dawgs faced off against the Cardinals of the University of the Incarnate Word on Saturday. The Cardinals had the Salukis’ number early on, going on multiple runs and never letting the Dawgs get close to their lead. A four-point run propelled the Cardinals to a first-set victory. Set 2: SIU 14, UIW 25 The Dawgs kept the set close till 7-7, but a 7-1 This allowed athletes to take a redshirt year to develop and acclimate to the collegiate level. The new NCAA ruling has essentially eliminated redshirts. Instead of five years to play four seasons, the rule is now five years of athletic competition. This new procedure eliminates voluntary redshirts and medical redshirts. An athlete can still develop early in their collegiate career; the difference is they are allowed to play in games, unlike a redshirt. If a player is injured, they don’t get an extra year of eligibility. They have five years to play collegiate athletics no matter the injuries suffered. The five-year eligibility window for a collegiate athlete begins when an athlete turns 19 or enrolls in college, whichever comes first. For example, if an athlete is 18 years old, graduates high school in May and then enrolls in a college, the five-year eligibility clock begins as soon as the athlete enrolls. That athlete now has five seasons to play in college athletics. On the other hand, if an athlete decides to take a postgrad year after high school to work on their development, the eligibility clock begins as soon as that athlete celebrates their 19th birthday, even though they have yet to enroll at college. Whichever of these two events occurs first immediately begins the athlete’s five years of eligibility under the new NCAA rules. There are a few limited exceptions allowing an athlete to extend their five-year eligibility clock, including military service, pregnancy and religious missions. Sport Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com

Photo provided by Saluki Athletics. Cardinals’ run gave UIW a commanding lead yet again. The Cardinals went on an emphatic 11-6 run to put SIU’s back against the wall, down 2-0 in the match. Set 3: SIU 19, UIW 25 The Salukis got off to a 4-0 start in Set 3. Three service aces from setter Ella McFarland fueled an early SIU lead. Similar to the previous sets, the Cardinals’ offense came alive and swung their way to another commanding lead. UIW outnumbered SIU

in total kills, 46-30, en route to a Cardinals’ sweep of the first match on Saturday. Sept. 11 (Match 2): SIU 0, MSU 3 Set 1: SIU 18, MSU 25 The Dawgs were on the verge of being swept in the invitational entering the final match on Saturday. The Salukis got off to a hot start, taking a 10-5 lead on multiple kills and MSU errors. Midway through the set, SIU started to make blunders, allowing the Bears to catch up.

MSU went on a 15-5 run to take the first set, 25-18. Set 2: SIU 16, MSU 25 The second set wasn’t off to a promising start for the Salukis either. A 7-0 MSU start took the Salukis out of the set early. SIU never came within five points of the Bears following their hot start, dropping the second set 25-16. Set 3: SIU 22, MSU 25 Looking to avoid dropping their eighth consecutive set, the Dawgs came out swinging with a kill by Arrington and a

pair by Moeller. The Bears started mashing the ball and clawed their way back to the lead. A late-game SIU run tied the score at 22-22, but MSU took the last three points to complete the sweep. With these losses, the Dawgs fall to 5-4. SIU is back in action on Sept. 1819 in Clarksville, Tennessee, for the Governor’s Classic. Sports Editor Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegpytian.com

Salukis’ second-half heroics enough to secure 1-0 victory over SIUE NOAH PETSCHKE Sports Editor After a 2-0 road victory, the Salukis returned home to play the Cougars of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Thursday, Sept. 10. Despite not scoring in the first half, the Dawgs eventually notched a goal, enough to win 1-0. Goalkeeper Reagan Miller came into the match with the sixth most saves per game in the Missouri Valley Conference, but did not have to block any shots on goal for the first half. The Dawgs applied consistent pressure on the Cougars for the first 45 minutes. SIU put up two shots on goal within four minutes of each other, but neither found the net, keeping the game knotted at 0-0. At the 54th minute, midfielder Michelle Betancourt delivered a close-range goal, giving the Dawgs a 1-0 lead. Betancourt entered the game at the 40th minute,

Junior forward Guliana Balistreri (2) dribbles past SIUE sophomore midfielder Claire Nieroda (7) in a match against SIUE Womens’s Soccer Sept. 10, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin and it took only 14 minutes for the sophomore to give the Salukis an advantage. Miller’s blocking skills came into play during the second half; the goalie saved four shots on goal from the Cougars, a pivotal part in the Salukis’ fifth shutout victory.

The clock wound down, and the Cougars couldn’t find a way into the goal, giving SIU its fourth straight victory and tying the program record for consecutive wins. With this win, the Salukis are 5-2 overall and sit atop the MVC standings. The

Cougars fall to 2-2-3. The Dawgs are back in action on Sunday, Sept. 13, to face the Skyhawks of the University of Tennessee at Martin on the road. Sports Editor Noah Petschke can be reached at npetschke@dailyegyptian.com

Team celebrates after Sophomore midfielder Junior foward Maya Dixon (6) battles against SIUE Michelle Betancourt (18) scores the first and only sophomore defender Ashley Molinari (19.) goal. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Sports | Page 5

Williams puts up 5 touchdowns in SIU’s 34-20 victory over SEMO AARON CARNAHAN Sports Reporter The Southern Illinois Salukis bested the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks in the Dawgs’ home opener on Saturday, winning the War for the Wheel for the second year in a row. In the last five matchups of the longstanding rivalry, the visiting team has come out with the victory, but the Salukis broke the streak, winning the annual War for the Wheel at home. Saluki quarterback DJ Williams was healthy and back on the field for the Dawgs after missing most of Week 1 and all of Week 2 with a leg injury. Both SIU and SEMO entered the matchup with a 1-1 record this year. SIU received the opening kickoff, and on the first play of the game, Saluki wide receiver Kyle Thomas was flagged for offensive pass interference, nullifying the 75-yard touchdown. Southern Illinois couldn’t get anything going after the penalty and was forced to punt. The Redhawks put together an 11-play, 67-yard drive, resulting in a SEMO field goal, putting the away team up 3-0. Williams and the Saluki offense were back on the field for their second drive of the game. Running back Chandler Chapman picked up a first down on a fourthdown play. On the next play, running back Edward Robinson fumbled. SEMO recovered the ball, and it was a turnover for the SIU offense. The Redhawks completed a 49-yard pass to the Saluki

2-yard line. Two plays later, the SEMO offense scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown. The extra point was good, and SEMO was up 10-0 over SIU. Southern Illinois took the field, down double digits in the final minutes of the first quarter. Williams connected with wide receiver ET Harris for 45 yards. Williams scrambled for a 16-yard touchdown to get the Dawgs on the board. Kicker Seth Adams tacked on the extra point to bring the Salukis within three. End Q1: SEMO 10, SIU 7 The Saluki defense came up with a stop to begin the second quarter, forcing the Redhawks to punt back to the Dawgs after a three-play, -11-yard drive. Chapman rushed for a 21yard gain to start the drive for Southern Illinois. After putting together a 9-play, 53-yard drive, the Salukis were set up for an Adams 28-yard field goal. Adams’ kick missed wide to the right, and the Redhawks remained in front by a score of 10-7 with 10:50 to go in the second quarter. The two teams exchanged punts after failed drives. The Southern Illinois defense came up with another stop. Linebacker Ben Fiegel forced a fumble that SEMO recovered. Fiegel had an interception last week against Samford, and now a forced fumble against SEMO. The Redhawks punted the ball right back to SIU after a three-play, -9-yard drive. 6:41 remaining in the second quarter. The Salukis didn’t have possession for long. On the first play of the drive, Chapman

Derek Harden Jr. (68) turns the wheel to his left with the SIU football team following after winning the War for the Wheel against SEMO Sept. 12, 2026 at the Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

fumbled; the ball was recovered by SEMO. The Redhawks were set up with great field position at the SIU 31-yard line. SEMO moved the ball to the Saluki three-yard line, but the SIU defense held the Redhawks to a 21-yard field goal, putting SEMO up 13-7. Williams connected with Thomas for 10 yards, followed by a 30-yard strike to wide receiver Allen Middleton. Williams capped the drive off with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Thomas. The Salukis tied the game at 13-13 after an unsuccessful point-aftertouchdown. Halftime: SIU 13,

SIU quarterback DJ Williams (1) hands the ball off to SIU running back Quade Chatmon (26) during a game against SEMO Sept. 12, 2026 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Riley Sembler | @riley_sembler

SEMO 13 SEMO received the ball to begin the second half. The Redhawks picked up a couple of first-down gains, moving into Saluki territory. The Saluki defense found a way to turn over SEMO with an interception by cornerback Sebastian Vargas. However, the Saluki offense struggled mightily throughout the third quarter. Finishing the quarter with just 28 yards of total offense. After getting the ball back, SEMO moved the ball quickly down the field. A 63yard touchdown pass on the third play of the drive put the Redhawks up 19-13 with the touchdown and PAT. SIU’s offense failed to move the ball on their next drive, running five plays for eight yards. The Dawgs were forced to punt the ball back to SEMO. The remainder of the third quarter was filled with one team punting back to the other. The Redhawks went three-and-out and punted back to the Salukis. End Q3: SEMO 20, SIU 13 Williams completed a pass to Middleton, moving the chains. Two plays later, a pass was intercepted and the Redhawks got the ball back at their own 32-yard line. SEMO picked up one first down before being stopped by the Saluki defense. Williams and the Southern

Illinois offense strung together an eight-play, 97-yard drive. Williams found Thomas for a 71-yard completion to begin the drive, followed by Williams’ second rushing touchdown of the game Freshman kicker Weston Schofields’ PAT was good, and the Dawgs tied the game up at 20-20. The Saluki defense continued to make plays as cornerback Gavin Shepard came up with an interception to end the Redhawks’ drive. Chapman broke a 16-yard run. Two plays later, Williams found the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the night. Williams’s 13-yard touchdown run gave the Salukis their first lead of the game. The PAT by Schofield was good, and the Salukis were up a touchdown with 4:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. SEMO put together a nine-play, 44-yard drive. The clock ticked down under two minutes, and the Redhawks had converted on fourth down once during the drive. On 1st & 10 from the SIU 37-yard line, a pass over the middle was broken up by a hit from linebacker Andrew Behm. The ball was knocked into the air and intercepted by linebacker David Obadein. Obadein returned the interception 57 yards to the SEMO 32.

The Saluki offense wasted no time extending their lead on Williams’s fourth rushing touchdown of the night and his fifth total touchdown of the game. Williams ran it in from 30 yards out to put the Salukis up 33-20. Schofield tacked on the extra point, and the Dawgs were on top by a score of 34-20. The Southern Illinois defense forced a fourth interception in the final seconds of the game. The interception came from linebacker Charles Whelpley. The clock expired, and Southern Illinois had beaten Southeast Missouri State. Final: SIU 34, SEMO 20 Williams finished going 17/30 for 286 passing yards, a TD, and an INT. Chapman was the leading rusher with 18 carries for 71 yards. Williams was the secondleading rusher with seven carries for 67 yards and four TDs. The Salukis’ leading receiver was Thomas with 5 receptions for 144 yards and a TD. Southern Illinois moves to 2-1 after winning their home opener. SEMO falls to 1-2 after the loss. The Salukis will travel to Urbana-Champaign to face a Big 10 opponent in the University of Illinois. The game will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Sports Reporter Aaron Carnahan can be reached at acarnahan@dailyegyptian.com

Family Weekend takes over SIU tailgate DAYLIN WILLIAMS Staff Photographer Salukis and their families took over the tailgate before the SIU vs. SEMO game on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, around Saluki Stadium before the game. Alumni and students set up different tents and games such as “cornhole” and “beer die” to hang out before the game. Businesses around Carbondale set up tables with freebies and an assortment of promotional items. The parking lots were full of cars and tents celebrating the game against SIU’s rival in the War for the Wheel. Staff Photographer Daylin Williams can be reached at dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com or on Instagram @photosbydaylin

Chris Bassler takes his best shot at an inflatable free-throw game at a tailgate Sept. 12, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Zay Gynn and Jack Loeffelman shotgun alcoholic beverages at a tailgate Sept. 12, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Page 6 | Entertainment and Culture

For scuba diving enthusiasts, Mermet Springs ‘the best place in the Midwest’

Diver Andrew Lucca lifts his buoyancy control device above the water to let out air and descend into the water April 25, 2026 at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual PEYTON COOK Photo Editor

Sometimes a person doesn’t just discover a place. It discovers them, too. For Glen Faith, that place was an abandoned rock quarry in rural Massac County in far southern Illinois. He would eventually transform it into Mermet Springs Inc., a scuba diving destination that draws hundreds of divers every year for recreation and training. But Faith’s life underwater began years earlier. A certified diver for over 40 years, he got his start in 1987 after joining the Illinois Secretary of State Police as an investigator, and volunteering for its dive team. Working out of the agency’s Marion office at the time, Faith helped conduct underwater searchand-rescue missions across southern Illinois, recovering bodies, guns, drugs and other evidence. The work introduced Faith to scuba diving. It became a lifelong passion. Originally of Joliet, Faith first came to southern Illinois as a student, earning a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1985.

A few years after starting his job in law enforcement, he learned from a neighbor about an old quarry just up the road from his home in Vienna, a piece of private property that divers would sometimes sneak onto to explore. “He told me about it and I drove straight down here in my police car and drove in the gate and found what is now Mermet Springs,” Faith said. The quarry, which operated from about 1956 to 1972, had been long abandoned by the time Faith arrived at that gate of untapped opportunity, still early in his police career. He was immediately drawn to the place. “The water was blue and crystal clear and it was just amazing because diving on a rescue team, you dive in muddy ponds and creeks and rivers,” Faith said. “This was almost like the ocean compared to what I’d been diving in.” But there was one problem. The owner, Adley Schmidt, wasn’t too keen on divers sneaking onto his property. Faith had heard all the stories about how he was known to run them off. So he tried a

“Mermet Springs is a wonderful asset to the region, and complements the other soft adventure offerings across the area.” Owner of Great American Divers Heather Kiwani steps on the stairs holding a weight attached to an easter egg she found for an underwater easter egg hunt they hosted April 25, 2026 at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

- Carol Hoffman Executive director of the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau

BELOW: Divers from Great American Diving in St. Charles, Missouri travel to Mermet Springs to do frequent dives July 17, 2026 the dive shop frequent Mermet Springs and completes their open water dives to become a certified diver there at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Entertainment and CUlture | Page 7

different approach. He knocked on slower, but we still had over a 100 cost was in transporting it to rural Open water certification is the Schmidt’s door and asked for his people a day.” southern Illinois. most basic scuba training one can permission to dive in the quarry. The old limestone quarry The quarry also includes two do. It starts with practicing skills in “We ended up becoming good offers a unique diving experience. submerged Cessna airplanes, the pool and a written test. Once friends,” Faith said. “I ended up getting Limestone is a rock composed a school bus, pickup truck, completed it is moved to the quarry permission from him to come in here primarily of calcium carbonate, motorcycle and train car. where they review the skills and pass and to scuba dive.” which can help neutralize and Mermet Springs is one of only a test to be officially certified. A few years later, Faith decided remove impurities from the water, two dive spots in Illinois and offers Divers can be certified starting he wanted to start his own business making conditions suitable for dive a variety of diving options and at age 10 — and it is common and open up the quarry to others. training. training from night diving to open for families to have generations of Schmidt wasn’t ready to sell, so they The water’s clarity also makes it water, advanced and instructor divers. worked out a long-term leasing the perfect place for divers to find certification. “It is a safe, fun and controlled arrangement — and that is how and explore the many attractions Unlike many quarries, it is also environment,” Heather Kiswani Mermet Springs Inc. got its start in the Faiths have submerged at open year round, allowing for said, owner of Great American 1996. Mermet Springs. certification such as a dry suit, Divers, located in St. Charles, “That was more than 30 years ago Most famous among them: the which is required for diving in Missouri, who frequently visits now,” he said of the business he now co- wingless Boeing 727 that Faith much cooler temperatures. Mermet Springs. “They run a very, operates with his wife, PJ Faith. paid $1 to purchase and that was “We use local pools, and right very good organization down there. Today, the Faiths can be found featured in a scene shot underwater now we have more than 25 Glen is amazing, his wife PJ is there nearly every day. They advertise for the film “U.S. Marshals.” Faith instructors,” Faith said. “We’ve got amazing.” Mermet Springs as a full-service dive laughs talking about how expensive training classes that are going almost Faith said they take safety very center and open-water destination, that $1 plane really was — the real every day.” seriously at Mermet Springs. offering scuba instruction for everyone from the beginning openwater diver to aspiring instructors. The property includes a dive shop that offers rental equipment and repairs, and the business organizes group trips to some of the world’s best scuba destinations. Certified open-water divers can also enjoy the - Glen Faith quarry outside of classes, while those Mermet Springs Inc. co-owner who are not certified must dive with a buddy. “I love that it’s a diving location that gives people the opportunity to not only dive, but to see and explore the world,” Faith said. He also loves that it brings families together and draws people to southern Illinois from across the region and country. It’s also a great boost to regional tourism efforts. “Mermet Springs is a wonderful asset to the region, and complements the other soft adventure offerings across the area,” said Carol Hoffman, executive director of the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau. “It is a much-needed part of our outdoor infrastructure, which is good for visitors and community members alike.” After leasing the quarry, it took about one year to have it ready to host divers starting only on the weekends. When it first opened it would average about 10-12 people a day. The numbers have grown much more since then. “This past weekend,” Glen Faith Employee Logan Murphy feeds the fish at the quarry hot dogs on top of a submerged school bus said during an interview at the May 11, 2026 at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual property in August, “it was a little

“I love that it’s a diving location that gives people the opportunity to not only dive, but to see and explore the world.”

Great American Diver employee helps instructor Heather Kiswani up the stairs after looking for easter eggs for a dive event April 25, 2026 at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

“We have an underwater recall system,” Faith said, describing a radio system that can be heard throughout the entire quarry. “I can do recalls if we were to have a lightning storm or a lost diver, things like that.” All of their instructors “practice and speed dress until they can be dressed and ready to help with the rescue in 2.5 minutes or less,” Faith said. The quarry can provide all the gear one may need with additional upgrades if desired. On Thursdays, they offer a discount: Anyone who helps clean the submerged items has their entrance and air fee waived. They also offer multiple trips a year for a set price where everything is included. They then travel with the group and scuba dive together. Jessa Shoemaker, who is a part of the office staff, traveled with owner PJ Faith to Little Cayman in the Cayman Islands in April for a women-only trip. “We had women from ages 18 all the way up to 80, and everybody interacted with everybody,” Shoemaker said. “Above water was just as much fun as below the water, “ PJ Faith said. The Great American Divers shop has been going since 1996. Kiswani said they travel there about two to three times a month. “Glen has it set up so well for training. There’s underwater attractions there so divers don’t get bored.” For Glen Faith, Mermet Springs Inc. also is a full-circle moment. As he once worked on a law enforcement dive team, today he helps train firefighters and others so they can be certified to conduct underwater search-and-rescue missions. “It’s not just a training platform and then diving into the murky green water,” Kiswani said. “He’s just got it set up so well for training that it really is the best place in the Midwest to go to train.” Editor’s note: This story was made for JRNL 552 and was co-published with Capitol News Illinois. Photo Editor Peyton Cook can be reached at pcook@dailyegyptian.com

Co-owner of Mermet Springs Glen Faith poses for a portrait on the training boat stationed in the middle of the quarry April 23, 2026, at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

Allen Jones looks towards his son Adrian Jones, who is taking off his fins before stepping out of the Mermet Springs quarry. The father and son got certified together almost a year ago July 17, 2026 at Mermet Springs in Belknap, Illinois. Peyton Cook | @cookmeavisual

Page 8 | News

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

SIU community honors 25th anniversary of 9/11 with annual stair climb OLIVIA LUESING Staff Photographer

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, giving this tribute special significance. According to the university’s website, this stair climb is in conjunction with SIU’s recognition of America’s 250th anniversary. “The event provides an opportunity to reflect on a defining moment in our nation’s history and honor the enduring values of service, sacrifice, courage, resilience and unity,” the website says. As participants completed the challenge, soaked in sweat and out of breath, they had the chance to collect T-shirts and enjoy breakfast Participants make their way up and down the stairs outside the Banterra Center Sept. 11, 2026 during the from Dave’s Bagels. The 9/11 Saluki Stair annual 9/11 Saluki Stair Climb in Carbondale, Illinois. Olivia Luesing | oluesing@dailyegyptian.com Climb brought together southern Illinois first responders and veterans, SIU students, faculty and staff, and members of the local community. Participants take to the stairs It was a morning of in the Banterra Center Sept. 11, honoring the lives lost 2026 during the annual 9/11 and the first responders, Saluki Stair Climb in Carbondale, service members and Illinois. Olivia Luesing military personnel who oluesing@dailyegyptian.com answered the call on Sept. 11, 2001.

As the sun rose over the Banterra Center in Carbondale on Sept. 11, community members and students began their morning with a workout at the annual 9/11 Saluki Stair Climb to remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks that occurred 25 years ago. Participants had the option to climb 110 flights of stairs representing the 110 floors that were in each of the World Trade Center buildings, or walk two miles around the Banterra Center concourse to represent the evacuation distance from ground zero across the Brooklyn Bridge. Groups were formed to take on the challenge together, and the unit with the largest team will be recognized on social media. Many sports teams at SIU gathered to participate, including the football team, women’s basketball team and the swim and dive team. The event is hosted by the Air Force ROTC Detachment 205 Staff Photographer Olivia in partnership with Southern Luesing can be reached at Illinois University Carbondale. oluesing@dailyegyptian.com

Sororities welcome home new members during annual Bid Day DAYLIN WILLIAMS Staff Photographer

Bid Day, which took place at SIU on Sept. 12, 2026 is the day that the recruitment process has been leading up to for the girls interested in joining a sorority and also the day girls know which sorority they got accepted into. The potential new members met on Shryock Lawn, and swiftly headed inside the auditorium due to the heat. They then received letters with a sorority’s invitation listed on it. They opened their envelopes to reveal their drafted sorority, and proceeded to acquire a matching shirt. “You’re taking pictures, you’re meeting new people, you’re sharing stories, and it’s the best thing. Like, I am so excited to see everybody’s faces this year,” CPA Recruitment Chair Sophia Opila said. Opila helped orchestrate the recruitment process along with Interim Director of Greek Life Bethany Peppers, and few other selected sorority members. The process is over

three days long and requires potential new members to get to know each other, discuss philanthropic fundraising, and converse with active members on preference. “Preference night, the most special night, is where PNMs talk with active members for an hour at a time, just going in and getting real deep with one another,” Opila said of the third night. Potential new members rush outside of Shryock Auditorium on the lawn after receiving sorority selection. They all gather at their respected sororities and mingle with their new friends. They collectively take photos and make their way back to their sorority houses. Potential new members were fueled with excitement and joy. They described the Vice President of Recruitment for the College Panhellenic Association Sophia Opila joins her organization after experience as anxious, loving, finalizing Bid Day Sept. 12, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin and fun. “It’s where we get to run home to our sisters, to each Staff Photographer Daylin other. To feel the love within Williams can be reached at our sorority,” potential new dwilliams@dailyegyptian.com or member Elena Redman said. on Instagram @photosbydaylin

Potential new members open their Bid Day envelopes containing invitations to potential Greek organizations Sept. 12, 2026 in Carbondale, Illinois. Daylin Williams | @photosbydaylin

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Entertainment and Culture | Page 9

Lost tapes of Carbondale band revived after 38 years Lucky Mary Blonde is releasing their live performance from 1988 with the assistance of AI music restoration CALI ROY Staff Reporter In 1988, Midwest alternative rock trio Lucky Mary Blonde performed their album, “Let the Moonlight Burn,” along with several unreleased tracks, live at the former Gatsby’s music club in Carbondale. The live show was recorded on cassette tapes, which were lost almost immediately after the performance, effectively leaving the recording stuck in ‘88 for nearly four decades. But after a recent rediscovery of the tapes, the former band used AI audio restoration to clean up the old recordings and finally release the album 38 years after the show was originally recorded. What was once assumed to be a lost memory has now been brought back to light for new platforms and a new audience. Lucky Mary Blonde came to fruition in late 1986, when bassist Jerry Tilk was attending Southern Illinois University and living in Lewis Park. Tilk just so happened to be neighbors with Todd Baxter, who played guitar. “Todd had a guitar, and I told him I was a bass player,” said Tilk, “and we just started goofing around, and before you know it, it got more serious, and I said, ‘Hey, you know, I know the best drummer on the planet, this guy [John Baldus] in St. Louis, he really is, and so we got together and just started practicing, and that’s how it really started.’” Tilk had known Baldus since high school in Belleville, Illinois. Although Baldus was living in St. Louis at the time, he didn’t pass up the opportunity and drove to Carbondale for rehearsals and gigs, then drove home afterward. The band started playing local and regional gigs at bars and frat parties, and gained a small following in the area. Despite still being relatively unknown, the band went into the recording studio in Oct. of 1987 to record their debut album “Let the Moonlight Burn,” which featured seven original tracks. The band worked with producer Steve Lamberson and audio engineer Paul Mahern to record the album in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Hit City Studios. After the album’s vinyl release, the band gained traction across college towns throughout the Midwest and began climbing the Midwest college radio charts. The band had also sparked the attention of famous

Jerry Tilk, John Baldus, and Todd Baxter sometime in 1987/88. Photo provided by Jerry Tilk.

musician and Carbondale The band continued to icon Robbie Stokes. perform throughout 1987 Stokes, originally from and 1988 before suddenly Anna, Illinois, established deciding to break up in himself by working with October 1988. But thankfully, musical heavyweights before they did, they recorded such as Blue Öyester Cult one of their final performances and the Grateful Dead. in September of that year. Eventually, Stokes settled “This was one of our last in Carbondale and spent shows. In fact, it might have his time supporting local been our very last show we bands and the music scene. ever played in Carbondale, “He really liked us,” said and that was at Gatsby’s,” said Tilk. “It’s almost ironic to say, Tilk. “And no one knew it was I think he saw something in our last show. I think we knew, us that we didn’t see, and so he but we didn’t tell anybody. And would always let us come play Robbie Stokes, to his credit, if I Gatsby’s. He was the guy that recall, it was his idea to record. gave us the stage, the venue in I remember him setting Carbondale. When the album everything up. He mic’d the came out, he was very excited amps and the board. He put about it. He really liked it, and mics in the audience and all he was pushing us.” this stuff. I think he knew it By then, Lucky Mary was going to be a big show.” Blonde had gained a solid The band performed their reputation and was regularly 16-track set at Gatsby’s, which performing at Gatsby’s, and, featured 11 unreleased songs because of their growing alongside five tracks from popularity, the band was “Let the Moonlight Burn.” booked at the massive street After the show, Stokes gave party on The Strip during the tapes to the band, hoping Halloween of 1987. the recordings would go “It was just massive, somewhere. But ultimately, massive,” said Tilk. “Six blocks they would end up on a long, just people as far as storage shelf for the next few you can see. It’s probably 25, decades. 30,000 people, and we played “We were 22 years old. that show. The audience was We’re little kids; we don’t insane, but after that, we had care,” said Tilk. “He just a huge following. Everyone in handed us the tapes, and we town knew who we were, and just threw them in a box, or, it grew really, really quickly. in one case, we clearly gave the So, it was a great experience.” tape to somebody and forgot After their Halloween about it, and then we broke performance, the band had up probably a month after become bigger than ever that.” before and seemed headed for Although the breakup fame beyond the Midwest. was sudden, the band had But despite Stokes’ pressure long anticipated it. With to go bigger, and obvious their lives outside of Lucky support from fans, the band Mary Blonde just starting never pursued anything larger. to take off, they decided to

put their instruments down bass, drums, vocals, and focus on their careers background vocals, etc. and relationships rather than Baldus ran with Tilk’s idea chasing a claim to fame. of using AI to fix the audio, For the next 37 years, and eventually found Moises, Tilk, Baldus, and Baxter an AI application that lets each moved away from musicians upload recordings, Carbondale and settled into isolate sounds, and polish their own lives, starting their tracks. Baldus began families and building careers. using the AI application to The band had long forgotten get a higher-quality sound about the tapes of that night from the tapes. Baldus did at Gatsby’s. Then, in 2025, the best he could on his own Tilk got a call from an old before eventually sending the college friend, who said he tracks off to audio engineer had miraculously found the Jason McIntyre at Sawhorse tapes from their performance. Studios in St. Louis, Missouri. The tapes ended up McIntyre worked on the being sent to Baldus, tracks independently, and who digitized the cassette when he finished, Baldus went recordings into MP3s. back into Moises to separate “I just did it initially for the sounds again and dig my personal record, and I even deeper into the editing. was gonna just send Jerry the He spent months editing the electronic files so we would tracks and fixing up broken just sort of have a record,” spots in the audio. Once they said Baldus. “That was my were satisfied with the edit, first thought, and then I guess Baldus and Tilk (with outside Jerry started listening to it, and support from Baxter) reached had ideas that maybe we could out to audio engineer Paul do something with this.” Bruski at In Your Ear Studios After years tucked away, the in Richmond, Virginia. The cassette had warped, leaving two spent some time in the parts of the tape muddy and studio re-recording a few unclear. Although nobody missing spots in the audio and in the band was an audio doing the final mixing and engineer, they figured that mastering of the tapes. with newer technology, there “All we used AI for here was had to be a way for them to to separate the existing tracks, clean up the tapes and release and it gives us back the base them on streaming platforms. just as it was, or the kickdrum “Jerry came and approached or the snare just as it was on me one day and said, ‘You the recording,” said Baldus. know, do you think we “So we didn’t use AI to create could use AI to separate these anything. There’s that stigma cassettes?’” said Baldus. of, ‘Well, you didn’t make it; The cassettes were the machine made it.’ Well, a stereo mix of all the that’s not real, we did here.” sounds, and to clean up Now, nearly four decades the sound as a whole, they later, Lucky Mary Blonde has needed to separate the been able to reproduce their different tracks: guitar, 1987 music and bring it to

modern streaming platforms for past fans and potential new ones. “When we split up in late ‘88, it was kind of sudden,” said Tilk. “I think we were really tight on stage. We had a good show, and again, those songs never got recorded. I remember when we left, it’s really unfortunate; no one will ever hear those songs. And so it was always just like this little thorn in the back of my mind; I wish we would have, at least, recorded those songs. And turns out we did.” “It’s one of those things, you go, ‘Well, missed opportunity,’ and you go on, and you forget about it and you go on with your lives,” said Baldus. “But, you know, to come back and say, ‘Hey, wow, here it is. We really did make something out of it.’ I’m super excited to have it out there now.” This nearly 40-year-long journey has finally brought Lucky Mary Blonde’s magnum opus to light, forever solidifying their contribution to Midwest music history. “We were this mouse that screamed 40 years ago,” said Tilk. “And that echo will now be there forever.” Lucky Mary Blonde’s first album, “Let the Moonlight Burn,” as well as their new live album, “Lucky Mary Blonde LIVE!” is now on all major streaming platforms. For more information on Lucky Mary Blonde and the upcoming album release, visit their website: https:// luckymaryblonde.com/ Staff Reporter Cali Roy can be reached at croy@dailyegyptian.com

Page 10 | Entertainment and Culture

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

DE and Hangar 9 to host second annual RSO karaoke cup. Here’s what to know GUS BODE Campus Legend Big news! Hangar 9 and the Daily Egyptian are teaming up to host the second annual RSO Karaoke Cup. Free to enter, the karaoke competition will run from Sept. 23 to Nov. 18. Any student organization who is formally registered with SIU can participate. including fraternities and sororities Every Wednesday starting at 9 p.m., for eight weeks, competing RSOs will perform a song of their choice for a chance to advance to the next round. The winning RSO will receive a $750 donation and a trophy courtesy of Hangar 9, and the second place runner-up will receive $250. “RSOs provide great opportunities for students, and this is a chance for them to let loose, have fun and possibly win a generous prize,” DE Editor-inChief Carly Gist said. “We had a great time connecting with our campus community last year, and we look forward to doing it all over again. This year is going to be bigger and better than ever.” How it works Participating RSOs will be split into two groups through a random drawing. The groups will compete on alternating Wednesdays throughout the

regular season. Group A will compete Sept. 23, Group B will compete Sept. 30, and the groups will continue alternating through Nov. 11. RSOs can have as many people perform as they want, but everyone who performs must be a member of that RSO. RSOs can change who performs from week to week, meaning the same people do not have to perform every time. However, each participant can only perform for one RSO. RSOs will choose their song in person with the Karaoke Cup host before competition begins that night. Participating RSOs are highly encouraged to prepare at least two songs each week in case another RSO gets to their first choice first — or in case they decide to change their song at the last minute. There is no song-length limit, and explicit songs are allowed. Songs performed during previous weeks may also be performed again later in the competition. There is no rule against repeating a song you have already performed, however it may affect your score. Scoring Performances will be scored by a panel of judges from the Daily Egyptian. After each performance, the RSO will

Forestry Club performs at the first annual Karaoke Cup event held by the Daily Egyptian and Hangar 9 Oct. 28, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_

Winners of RSO Karaoke Cup, Joyful Noise Choir, holding their trophy Nov. 18, 2025 in Carbondale, Illinois. Emily Brinkman | erb_photo_

remain on stage to receive its scores. Each judge will give the performance an overall score from 1 to 10. Scores from the judges will be based on six criteria: stage presence, singing ability, choreography/dancing, outfits/ costumes, preparedness/ organization and crowd participation/reactions. The judges’ scores will then be added together to create the RSO’s total score for that performance. Those points will be added to a running point total that carries over each time the RSO performs during the regular season. After each round of performances, the RSO or RSOs with the lowest running point totals in their group will be eliminated. The exact number of RSOs eliminated during each round will depend on how many organizations register. Once registration closes on Friday, Sept. 18, the Daily Egyptian will create and distribute a complete schedule. Every RSO will perform at least once before facing elimination. Aside from night one, eliminations are based on total points accumulated throughout the competition,

not simply a team’s score from that night’s performance. If a judge is a member of the RSO performing, they will not judge that performance. Their score will instead be calculated using the average of the scores given by the remaining judges. By the end of the regular season, each group will be reduced to two RSOs. The top two RSOs from Group A and top two RSOs from Group B will advance to the final four on Nov. 18. Tiebreakers If two or more RSOs are tied at an elimination point — or tied for first or second place at the end of the finale — the tie will be settled with an additional performance. Each RSO involved in the tiebreaker will be assigned a song at random from a playlist curated by the judges. The song will be selected using Spotify’s shuffle feature. The RSOs will have 15 minutes to prepare the song, whether they know it or not, and then perform it in front of the judges. The scores from that performance will determine the winner of the tiebreaker. If the RSOs somehow remain tied, the process will be repeated until the tie is broken.

Schedule conflicts Because the number of performances each Wednesday night will depend on registration, we cannot guarantee exactly what time an RSO will perform or how late a night of competition may run. If there are scheduling conflicts, the DE is willing to work with RSOs. For example, if an RSO cannot participate at 9:30 p.m. but can perform later that night, its representative can contact the DE before 5 p.m. that Wednesday to request a schedule change. Changes will be accommodated when possible. If an RSO is scheduled to perform but must cancel, it will receive 10 points for that performance, so long as its representative informs the Daily Egyptian by 5 p.m. that day. If an RSO fails to notify the Daily Egyptian by 5 p.m., does not show up and misses its scheduled performance, 10 points will be deducted from its running total and they are likely to be eliminated. It is highly encouraged to come and perform even if there is only one person available. The final four Once the final four are determined, regular-season point totals will be wiped clean.

All four finalists will enter the finale on equal footing with zero points. Each of the four finalists will perform twice during the finale. Scores from the first round will be revealed immediately after each performance, just like during the regular season. Scores from the second round, however, will be withheld until all four RSOs have finished performing. The scores from both performances will be added together to create each RSO’s finale point total. At the end of the night, all four finalists will return to the stage together. The withheld scores will be revealed, the final totals will be calculated and the RSO with the highest finale point total will be crowned the winner of the Karaoke Cup. How to enter Choose one representative from your RSO to fill out this Google form attached to the QR code at the bottom of this page. That person will serve as the Daily Egyptian’s primary contact throughout the competition. You must sign up your RSO by Sept. 18. You can contact jbrandhorst@ dailyegyptian.com with any questions or concerns.

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

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Page 12 | Puzzles

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

"Catch Some Zs" by Allen Vaughan 4

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*To play Sudoku, fill a 9x9 grid with digits 1 through 9 so that each row, each column, and each 3x3 subgrid contains each number exactly once.

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Weekly PUZZLE PAGE Answers on page 2

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1. Overabundance 2. Marine growth 3. ___ moss 4. Some macaroni 5. ___ Loa 6. Les ___, short name for an epic 2012 musical film 7. Axlike tool 8. Some track meet entrants 9. Oscar or Tony, e.g.. 10. Vehicle that's a big pain at the pump 11. "Of course!" 12. Coupes and compacts 13. Tricky curve 17. Comes to the surface 21. Wall painting 23. Longed 25. Noble gas 26. Reddish horses 27. Pizza cheese 28. ___ fixe (obsession)

30. Desiccated 32. Astrological ram 33. San Diego baseballer 35. ___ up: get misty-eyed 36. "Como ___ usted?" 38. Big cat group 42. Swimmer Mark of Olympics fame 44. Drooped 45. Took hold of 47. Reef ring 49. German wine valley 50. Streisand, in fanzines 51. Certain util. 52. Big first for a baby 54. Tip-off 55. Leghorns, e.g. 56. Clapton who sang "Layla" 57. Retired flier 60. Nintendo console

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Weekly Event Calendar Your guide to upcoming local events over the next 7 days!

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1. Mountain pass 4. Actress Thompson of "Sense and Sensibility" 8. Wizardry 13. Vogue competitor 14. Deposited 15. "___ Teenage Werewolf" : 1957 sci-fi film 16. Hyperactive state from consumption of too much candy 18. Light in a light show 19. Subway stop 20. Comes to the surface 22. Influence 24. Pakistani language 25. Fighting forces 29. Corn units 31. Cook in the microwave 34. Cathedral crosses 35. Scarlett's home 36. Poet Pound 37. Long look 38. Jeopardy 39. Skidded 40. Etienne's eleven 41. ___ McNally 42. Take the helm 43. Secretive org. 44. Cable 45. Thinly spread 46. Incursion 48. Three, in Germany 50. Some VWs 53. Snags 58. Parcel out 59. Chewy candy sticks 61. Queen of the ball 62. German article 63. The "U" in I.C.U. 64. Burn with hot water 65. ___ Piper 66. Emergency PC key

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