Spotlight on Herrin

BY KEVIN D. FROSTFOR THE SOUTHERN

The Herrin Chamber ofCommerce has been dedicated tothe economic growth of theHerrin area for decades.Attracting new business andindustry to the Herrin area hasbeen and will continue to be ourprimary mission. However, as ourworld changes, it is time tobroaden our mission to furtherserve our existing members.

Our Economic DevelopmentCommittee does an exceptionaljob of bringing new business toour community. The Chamberwill continue to work diligently tobring new businesses to theHerrin area. 17 new businesseshave joined our communitywithin the last 12 months andmore ribbon cuttings are plannedon new businesses every week.

While economic development inour area is as important as ever, inthese difficult economic times ithas become equally important tomaintain and support thebusinesses that are already a partof our community.

Moving forward through 2011the Chamber is expanding itsmember benefits to includeadditional assistance for itsmembership. With a greater

emphasis on the support of andthe promotion of our existingbusinesses, we can further expandthe economic opportunities in theHerrin area. With greaternetworking opportunities, moreexperienced members may be ableto offer guidance andencouragement to newermembers on some of the pitfallsand opportunities of smallbusiness ownership. Newermembers may offer advice toenergize the more senior membersin the areas of marketing andsocial networking.

Currently, Chamber membersenjoy regular luncheon meetingswhere such exchanges arepossible. We intend to foster thisforum of business leaders comingtogether for the betterment of ourcommunity as a whole.

Our goal is to make Chambermembership essential for anysuccessful business in Herrin andthe surrounding area.

Additionally, members enjoy aregular newsletter, discountedadvertisement options and accessto other members. One of ourmember businesses is recognizedeach week as our “Spotlight”business of the week. Chambermembers also receive regular e-mail updates about what ishappening within the Chamber

and around thecommunity. FridayFriendly Remindersupdate members viae-mail on everythingfrom the Herrin HighSchool football gameto the latest fundraiserhappening in the area,thus making theChamber a “hub”around whichcommunity activitiesoccur.

We are committed tothe growth andprosperity of Herrin,not only economically, but also itsgeneral well-being andcommunity spirit. We are lookingto expand our Healthy Herrinprogram, which will set Herrinapart as an example of acommunity working together topromote a healthy lifestyle.

The Herrin Chamber willcontinue to partner withHerrinFesta Italiana to showcaseour community and celebrate ourheritage. Few communities canboast of a community festivalorganized and run by hundreds ofvolunteers that has achieved thesuccess and recognition ofHerrinFesta Italiana. TheChamber will continue to useFesta to demonstrate the

uniqueness of our communitywhile recognizing theresponsibility Festa has to be agood neighbor.

The city of Herrin has sufferedthrough a number of challenges inrecent years. It is a testament toour resilience that USA Today hasrecognized Herrin for its responseto these challenges. We live in adifferent world today than we dideven a few short years ago. TheHerrin Chamber of Commerce isadapting to those challenges andleading the way as Herrin adaptsand thrives in this newenvironment.

KEVIN FROST is the incomingpresident of the Herrin Chamber ofCommerce.

Supporting our own, welcoming those who are new

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

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STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNKevin Frost has always been highly active incommunity support in Herrin.

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNThe Brewer Foundation does a lot of work for children and adults in need.

The Southern Illinoisan Thursday, October 28, 2010 3

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

BY LIZ LIVELYFOR THE SOUTHERN

After our recent article in theUSA Today, “After plant’sclosure, town takes care ofitself,” people throughout the

country learnedabout ourbeautiful city andits “Won’t quit”attitude. Peopleoutside of Herrinbegan to find outwhat it means tobe a Herrinite.

People learned we have pride,we don’t give up, we supporteach other, and we do whateverit takes to take care of our own.

We realized that our businesscommunity was much like ourcitizens. While many of ourneighbors have emptystorefronts in their towns,Herrin has continued to have avibrant downtown withvendors, service providers andoffices occupying buildings allthe way up and down ParkAvenue into and throughEnergy to Illinois 13. Throughthe hard work of Herrinbusiness owners and leaders,we have remained a vitalcommunity.

At times, people maywonder, what makes a Herrinbusiness, a Herrin business?The answers can be foundwhen you do business in ourbeautiful city. Onecharacteristic that creates aHerrin business is quality.

When doing business withJohn Helleny of HellenyFurniture, you know you arepurchasing a piece of qualityfurniture from people who willstill be in business when youare ready for your next piece.When your Grandfather clockneeds service, you know GaryWill from Gary’s Clock Shop

will come to your house andtend to your clock with thequality workmanship you canexpect from a Herrin business.

The next characteristic thatmakes a Herrin business aHerrin business is exceptionalcustomer service. When youvisit Louie’s P&R for yourfavorite lunch meat sandwichor your steaks for the night,chances are, Tony Gualdoniknows your name and makesyou feel right at home. Hetakes the time to listen to justhow you like your steaks cut.While you are there, you mightfind yourself in a conversationabout the Herrin Tigersfootball game or about theupcoming basketball season.Either way, you leave with asmile on your face because youhave just received exceptionalcustomer service.

A third characteristic thatmakes a Herrin business aHerrin business is the ability towork with other people andbusinesses to make greatthings happen. HerrinFestaItaliana is a perfect example ofthe amazing things thathappen when Herrinbusinesses and people worktogether. The collaborationbetween the Herrin SchoolDistrict and our localcommunity colleges andSouthern Illinois University areexamples of the connections inour community that are madethrough the hard work ofHerrinites and our businesses.

The Herrin Chamber ofCommerce encourages peoplefrom inside and outside ourregion to visit us and have theexperience of what makesHerrin, Herrin.

LIZ LIVELY is executive directorof the Herrin Chamber ofCommerce.

Herrin: A town that ‘won’t quit’ —

and for good reason

BY SCOTT FITZGERALDTHE SOUTHERN

Herrin and Marion high schoolstudents who want to attendcollege but fret about financialhandicaps to do so, have a friendin downtown Herrin.

It’s the Robert N. Brewer FamilyFoundation, which is in anAmerican Institute of Architectsaward-winning building at thecorner of Park Avenue and CherryStreet next to the railroad tracks.

“This has been a fun journey,and the best part is that it stillcontinues,” said Marie DeLaney,foundation secretary andtreasurer.

The foundation was establishedin 2001 upon the death of RobertBrewer, a 1942 graduate of HerrinTownship High School, who in1968, founded America’s Best Innand, ultimately, built a chain ofmotels and suite properties. Healso established the BrewerManagement and ConstructionCompany.

His last business venture beforebeginning the foundation waslaunching Encore DevelopmentCompany that provided housingfor seniors in independent living

communities.DeLaney who began working for

Brewer in 1980, said he wasthorough up to the end of his life,making plans for the foundation.Today, his son, R. Denver Brewer,is foundation president.

“While he (Robert Brewer) wasunable to attend college, he wascommitted to assisting youngpeople who, like him, find itnecessary to work during highschool and college. He sincerelywanted to give a helping hand, butnot a handout,” DeLaney said.

Since the foundation’sbeginning in 2001 shortly afterBrewer’s death, 389 students fromHerrin and Marion high schoolshave received nearly $3.2 milliondollars in scholarship money at$4,000 per year.

Student numbers are dividedalmost evenly with 181 studentscoming from Herrin High and 208from Marion High.

Selection boards composed ofthree members including Laneyreview applications each year andbase their selections on criteriacentering on the potential scholarrecipient’s desire for moreeducation. That is accomplishedby looking beyond grades —

students must have a cumulativeC or better — and looking at classattendance records andconducting interviews. Studentsshowing interest to attendtechnical/trade schools areselected also for scholarships,DeLaney said.

The responses from studentswho have graduated and arecommemorated with an 8-by-10,self-portrait photograph that linethe hallways of the foundation’sbuilding are phenomenal.

“I follow up on them. We try toget continuing correspondence,”DeLaney said.

Students are invited to drop inat the foundation like a secondhome. Many do. And thefoundation hosts a huge kid’sChristmas party every holidayseason.

“There is such a magnitude ofpeople who have been touched by this scholarship program. It’san incredible experience to answer a phone call from one ofthem or answer the front door tosee them standing there,”DeLaney said.

[email protected]

A ‘Foundation’ for education: Brewer legacy helps students in need

Lively

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN


BY D.W. NORRISTHE SOUTHERN

There’s something specialabout Herrin.

Volunteering is the spirit ofthe town, and Peter Bondioliand Kevin Frost are examples ofwhy things get done in Herrin.Whether it is fundraisingefforts for Our Lady of MountCarmel’s grade school orworking to secure the town oneof the top bocce facilities in theMidwest, Bondioli and Frost aretwo in a large group of residentsworking to make this town ofalmost 12,000 a better place tolive.

A sense of responsibility isthe lifeblood which coursesthrough Herrin, and it startsearly in life. Frost and his sister,Sara Bondioli, are past winnersof Herrin the Herrin Chamberof Commerce’s Young Citizenof the Year award.

“I think, when you grow up ina community like Herrin, yourecognize at a fairly young agethat it’s just understood thatpart of what you do is give backto the community,” Frost said.“And, most of the people Iknow who grew up and stayedaround the community do thatto some capacity, so I don’tknow that Dad or I areparticularly unique in that; it’sjust the way Herrin is.”

Bondioli and Frost ticked offseveral names of fellow citizenswho have been or are essentialto helping Herrin improve.

“The first name that comes tomy mind is certainly (the late)Robert Ferrari,” Bondioli said.“But gosh, there are so manynames.”

“I was going to say, I canthink of a bunch,” Frost said.“(The late) P.J. Cerniglia.”

“Actually, I thought of P.J.’sname,” Bondioli said. “There

was a gentleman that’sdeceased now, Eugene Moroni.He was the guy at the firstHerrinfesta that decided therehad to be bocce. ... (The late) EdQuaglia, former mayor, he had avery good vision for whatHerrin could be, I think. EdGoodwin, at the Bank of Herrin.Ed and Bob Ferrari would get inthe car and drive around Herrinand they’d identify projectsthat needed to be done. Andthen, Ed Goodwin would go andtalk to Julia Bruce, at theHarrison Bruce Foundation,and they’d decide what theywere going to do and theywould put it into action. That’show the coal miner’s memorialgot started. … They madethings happen. … RichardPisoni does so many things forpeople and businesses in thiscommunity and wants nothingin return. It’s just person afterperson. … The Zwick family. …It becomes a tradition, really.”

Bondioli attended St. Mary’sCatholic School, now Our Ladyof Mount Carmel, as a youth.He lived in Carbondale whileattending Southern IllinoisUniversity, earning a degree in1972, and for a few years aftergraduating. Bondioli lived inMarion until about 1981, atwhich point he returned toHerrin.

“What brought me back toHerrin was the Catholic gradeschool because when Kevin’smother (Mary) and I gotmarried, it was very importantthat Kevin went to schoolthere,” Bondioli said. “That wasreally what brought us, from aresidential standpoint, back tothe community. About 10 yearslater, I brought the businessback because it made sense tobe here, to have my office inHerrin, rather than elsewhere,because it gave me the

opportunity to tend to differentfamily needs, parents and stuffthat were eventually going toneed help, and they did. I’vejust been very happy being indowntown Herrin.”

The Bondioli family’sconnection to the school haspaid dividends for both. Theschool is also a source ofcommunity pride, and folks inHerrin have generously donatedto it.

“One of the things I wasparticularly proud of, and Iwant to stress I was part of agroup that, in 1985, startedforming a foundation for theCatholic grade school,” Bondiolisaid. “We actually got thatformed in 1986, and I probablyspent about 15 years aspresident of that foundationbefore it was time to go.”

Bondioli has served on theHerrin Chamber of Commerce

as a board member and pastpresident. Frost will be theChamber’s president in 2011and was a past president of theJohn A. Logan CollegeFoundation.

Bondioli and Frost aremembers of the Herrin BocceClub, the non-profitorganization which runs thecity’s acclaimed bocce courts.The complex is used for manycharitable events and hashelped groups raise more than$100,000.

“My dad had the vision ofwhat that place could becomeand he was able to impart thaton a number of people whothought enough of it to donatesome fairly large amounts ofmoney to maintain it as thefinest bocce facility in theMidwest,” Frost said ofBondioli.

Herrin’s citizens also donatecountless hours to the HerrinHospital, Bondioli said. And, ofcourse, there is HerrinfestaItaliana, one of the largestevents in Southern Illinois.

“There’s not manycommunities that could puttogether a volunteerorganization big enough anddedicated enough to puttogether a five-day communityfestival the way Herrin doeswith Herrinfesta Italiana withnearly all volunteer labor,” Frostsaid.

Whether its providing at-riskyouth a place to learn job skillsor simply giving time tonumerous charitable and civiccauses, the citizens of Herrin,like Bondioli and Frost, arededicated to making their towna better place.

“One of the things that’sunique about Herrin is, ifthere’s a job that needs to bedone, somebody just seems tostep up and do it,” Frost said.

When it comes to volunteers,Peter Bondioli and Kevin Frost say ‘Can do!’

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNKevin Frost (left) and Peter Bondioli have always been highly active incommunity support in Herrin. The two were responsible for helping createthe Herrin Bocce Club, which helped raise the money to build theHerrinFesta Italiana Bocce Complex.


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Herrin Bowl is a family affair,literally, as it has served as afoundation stone for the TimLaBotte family and today is oneof few public sites whereparents can feel comfortable iftheir children patronize thebusiness.

“We try to run a clean andhealthy operation. When peoplecome in here, they will see afamily member behind thecounter. I try to do most of mybusiness here in town with thesmall entrepreneurial spirit,”

said Tim LaBotte who beganbowling here as kid in 1972.

LaBotte met his wife-to-be,Crystal, at Herrin Bowl andeventually proposed to herwithin its confines. One of theirgranddaughters took her firststeps in Herrin Bowl. A couplegot wedded in the bowling alley.The preacher who united theirvows was a Herrin Bowl regular,LaBotte said.

It’s not unusual to see parentsdrop their kids off at HerrinBowl and leave them for theafternoon.

“We’ve gained the trust of thecommunity. Our customers are

also our friends. It’s more iconicfor us as family. It’s more iconicfor Herrin that we have beenhere for so long,” LaBotte said.

The longtime icon nearlyceased in August 2002 whenHerrin Bowl was totallydecimated in an accidental fireduring an expansion phase.

HERRIN BOWLWhere: 526 N. Pershing St.,

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SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

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STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNHerrin all-state bowler Kristy Gualdoni practices at Herrin Bowl.

Local bowlers mourned its loss.The LaBottes who purchased the business in 1998 were

able to collect enough insurance and restructure its loan witha gracious Bank of Herrin to rebuild the alley in the originallocation and open it exactly a year to the day fire destroyed it.The new alley with 16 lanes is about 1,600 square feet largerthan its predecessor and offers a large game room. Theoriginal vertical neon sign still greets motorists off Illinois148.

Another challenge the LaBottes have successfullyovercome is keeping a steady business in a day and age whenmost families and young people have a plethora ofentertainment options at home.

“That has been a difficult thing with being in the video-game age and of course the financial aspect of a dwindlingeconomy,” LaBotte said.

But, Herrin Bowl has offered several incentives to attractpeople including bowling leagues.

Go to Herrin Bowl on Saturday afternoon and one will see apacked house with bowlers of all ages competing in leagueplay, LaBotte said.

Another huge positive impact that has kept younger peoplecoming through the door is Herrin High School offeringbowling as a varsity sport, LaBotte said.

“What’s great about bowling is you don’t need to be 7 foot12 inches tall and weigh 300 pounds. Anyone can have fundoing it, and it’s great exercise,” LaBotte said.

[email protected]

Coming upFish fry: 4-6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, Herrin

United Methodist Church Family Life Center,300 S. 17th St. Meal with drink and dessert;carry outs available. Tix: $7 adults; $4 children.

Flu shots: 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 6,Logan Primary Services, Herrin. AddusHealthCare will provide flu shots. $25.618-997-6565.

Flu shots: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 20,Logan Primary Services, Herrin. AddusHealthCare will provide flu shots. $25.618-997-6565.

The Haunting of Chittyville School: 7-10 p.m.Oct. 28 and 31; 7-11 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30;Chittyville Road, Herrin; adults, $12; children,10 and under, $8; not recommended for under10; 618-988-9131.

Barbershop Harmony Show: By the LittleEgypt Chorus, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. SaturdayOct. 30, Herrin Civic Center; songs by the chorus and The Pitch Catchers, Touch Of Oldand Classic Intervals;$10-$15; 618-833-3228.or www.harmonize.com/littleegyptchorus/10show.html.

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN


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It takes a lot of effort from volunteersand HerrinFesta Italiana officials tomarket the weeklong festival entering its21st year.

“We market a little differently than a lotof events,” said Jim Gentile, festivalexecutive director Jim Gentile. “At onetime, we marketed the entertainers, andthat was it. Now, in addition to the

entertainment, we market ourselves. We want to bringas much attention to Southern Illinois as possible.”

Gentile said HerrinFesta gets corporate sponsors to

HerrinFesta Italiana is one

of the city’s mostimportant events

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOPaxton Griffith of West Frankfort and his partner Abbi Mayfield react to winning the Class A category at the 7th AnnualHerrinFesta Italiana Talent Contest on May 26 at the Herrin Civic Center.

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOSavannah Burton laughs while she and her fellow ‘Grape Stompers’, Jessica Perkins (right) andJessica Moore, mash grapes with their feet to squeeze out as much juice as they can in 90seconds during the annual grape stomp at the 2005 HerrinFesta Italiana.

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help in its marketingeffort each year. Inaddition to donatingmoney to help payoverhead for particularevents, sponsors join alsoin the marketing efforts.One corporate sponsorvolunteered to pay for andput up large postersadvertising HerrinFesta atstrategic locations in2010.

In addition to keepingits strong ties with localmedia, the marketingeffort extends to St.Louis, Chicago, Evansvilleand Cape Girardeau.

“We’re really out there,”Gentile said. “We go outpersonally and visit witheach of these outlets. I doa lot of one-on-onevisits. We’re sponsordriven. We have threedozen events, and most ofthose events do not makemoney.”

What has aided in themarketing effort is someof the events taking on alife of their own withmore popularity andinterest each year. One ofthose is the annual beautypageant, whichunofficially kicks off thefestival, Gentile said.

“Our events over theyears, such as the beautypageant and talentcontests held early in theweek, have become largerwith more participantsand audience membersthan we’ve everimagined,” Gentile said.

What has greatly aidedin getting the word outabout HerrinFesta andgetting more visitors hereis computer technology.

The availability ofonline ticket purchasesover the festival websitefor the first time in 2010helped boost ticket salesfor the entertainmentshows featuring Nashvillestar Luke Bryan and therenowned 38 Special.

“I feel like this featureenhanced people’s ability

to purchase tickets,” saidCris Trapani, HerrinFestaCommittee president.

Some marketingsurveys shows thatpeople, particularlyyoung people show atendency to purchaseentertainment andsimilar events in advanceand pay with a creditcard, Trapani said.

“We knew we wereheaded in the rightdirection when we lookedat the first ticketspurchased online, and itwas from a couple inSpringfield,” Trapanisaid.

Another method ofselling tickets in advanceutilized for the first timewas discounted priceswhen buying tickets atone of the corporatesponsor outlets. Trapanisaid the method wassuccessfully utilized withBlack Diamond Harley-Davidson of Marionwhose founders, RodneyCabaness and ShadZimbro were the festival’scorporate honorees thisyear.

The HerrinFestawebsite is getting 3

million hits annually.There are about 3,000Facebook friends linked toHerrinFesta.

“We’re getting reallygood response from theseavenues,” Gentile said.

HerrinFesta organizersand volunteers areworking on adding a newevent this year — a bagstournament, whereparticipants toss sacks ofcorn, Gentile said.

[email protected]

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

HERRINFESTA 2011HerrinFesta Italiana will

be May 23-30 indowntown Herrin.

Live outdoorentertainment eventsbegin Thursday, 5-10 p.m.and Friday 5-11:30 p.m.Weekend hours are fromnoon to 11:30 p.m.Monday Memorial Dayhours are from noon to 9p.m.

For more information, goto www.herrinfesta.comor call the HerrinChamber of Com-merceat 618-942-5163.

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOAaron Steele, 14, of Herrin looks up as he tries to finish hisplate of pasta during the pasta eating contest.

Thursday, October 28, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan

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HONOR

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNThe doughboy statue along North ParkAvenue in Herrin stands as a tribute to thosethat fought in World War I.

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNThe Coal Miners Memorial in Herrin.

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNSpc. Jacob Martin (left) and PFC Garrett Lukens of the Marion National Guard unit raise a flagduring ceremonies for an open house at the Herrin Civic Center.

BY JOHN D. HOMANFOR THE SOUTHERN

In the 1950s and foryears thereafter, Herrinwas known as abasketball town as theTigers captured fiveregionalchampionships and theschool’s only state title(1957) during thedecade.

The 1957 team, led byEarl Lee, was loadedwith talent, includingAll-American JohnTidwell, who went onto star at Michigan.There were otherstandouts, as well,including IvanJefferson, Gene Turni,Willie Williams andRichard Box. The Tigersdefeated Collinsville inthe finale and wereescorted with a caravanof cars fromChampaign to Herrin.Residents throughoutSouthern Illinois, wholistened to the game onthe radio, stood outsidetheir homes andcheered madly as themotorcade passedthrough theircommunities.

It was a simpler timeback then. Athleteswere revered. Half thetown would turn outfor a game on Fridaynight. Going to watch abasketball game thenwas an event.

As basketball’spopularity began towane in the late sixties,a young, energetic ex-Herrin alum

jumpstarted theschool’s footballprogram.

Paul Restivo, with thebacking of athleticdirector Dick Henley,came up with thenecessary capital to lurenew assistant coaches(Chuck Koerner andBruce Jilek), purchasenew equipment anduniforms and applied afresh coat of paintwhere needed toreshape attitudes.

That strategy,combined with someamazing young talent,resulted in anabundance of successon the gridiron.

The Tigers wouldeventually roll up a 27-game win streak (‘71through ‘73) withRestivo at the helm andRodney Jones andChuck Foster carryingthe pigskin as theOrange and Blackcollected threeconsecutive SouthSeven Conferencechampionships.

At that time, therewas no playoff systemin effect, but Herrinwas consistently rankedNo. 1 in SouthernIllinois and among thetop 20 teams in thestate regardless ofenrollment.

The Tigers weren’ttoo shabby on thehardwood either asGary Rafe, Bill Green,Mike Newbold, JoeHosman and RandyLively put together theschool’s only unbeaten

record within theSouth SevenConference (‘72-’73).

Longtime Herrinsports broadcasterMike Murphy, who alsoplayed on those early1970s Herrin teams,said what made thatera special was awinning persona thatemanated from theelementary schoolsand carried over to thejunior high and highschool.

“You can credit a lotof that success inbasketball to MikeSortal. He was ataskmaster offundamentals at thejunior high. We knewhow to play the gameby the time we got tohigh school,” Murphysaid. “And we expectedto win in football, too.And that’s a credit toPaul Restivo, BruceJilek and ChukKoerner. In morerecent years, Ithoroughly enjoyedcalling the 2002 statechampionship game inbasketball and then thesemifinals in football in2004 when Herrin lostto Lombard Montini.Those were talentedteams.”

Murphy said whatshouldn’t be dismissedis improved facilities.

“From the newHarrison-Bruce SportsComplex to a renovatedbasketball gym, therehas been a wonderfulresurgence in supportof athletics. Those are

ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERN AND THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOS 1. Abby Horn of Herrin avoids Meredith Brown of Carterville during Herrin's 40-32 championship win atthe Class 2A Regional Girls Basketball Tournament on Feb. 11 in Murphysboro.2. DeMarlo Harris of Herrin yells after sacking Marion quarterback Brett Bradley Friday, Oct. 22 in Herrin.3. Troy Stuckey carries the ball for Herrin during a game with Marion Friday, Oct. 22 in Herrin.4. Marshall Anderson of Herrin anchors the first place 4x100 relay team Monday, April 5 at the HerrinInvitational.5. Carterville's Samuel Dalton tries to get the ball away while being defended by Herrin's Bobby Mannie(right) and DeMarlo Harris during the Tigers' win over the Lions on Tuesday, Feb. 2 in Carterville.

Page 1122 Thursday, October 28, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan

PREP SPORTSHerrin High athletics

has resurgence of success

1

4

2

5

3

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

The Southern Illinoisan Thursday, October 28, 2010 Page 1133

Turning out for heroes: The 1957 basketball team

BY LES WINKELERTHE SOUTHERN

Welcoming home a statechampionship team with aparade through town is atime-honored tradition inSouthern Illinois, atradition that undoubtedlybegan in 1918 whenCentralia High Schoolbecame the first local teamto win the statechampionship.

Herrin fans turned out indroves for a citywidecelebration when theirbeloved Tigers claimed thestate basketballchampionship in 1957.

“I went halfway toZeigler to meet themcoming in,” said VirgilLukens, a lifelong Herrinresident. “They had a longline of people coming in.They went to the gym withthe fire trucks.

“Everybody was goingcrazy because we beatCollinsville. That wasabout like beating Marion.”

The victory celebrationhad fans lining the roadsinto Herrin, the streets ofthe town and thegymnasium itself.

“They had a line of cars,it seemed to me it was fromJohnston City to Herrin,”said Paul Restivo, whoplayed on the 1952-53team. “I remember theteam coming into town onfire trucks on the OldJohnston City Road. Themood in the communitywas togetherness. All thebusinesses and everyonewere out celebrating thatchampionship. It was aboost to the community,knowing the team was thebest.”

The Tigers finished 31-2that season. The startinglineup included JohnTidwell, Richard Box, Ivan

Jefferson, Jim Gualdoniand Willie Williams.Reserves were KennethFinney, Steve Heard, JohnHendricks, Bart Lindseyand Jerry Miller.

Tidwell was team’sleading scorer in the statetournament, averaging 17.5points per game. Box,Jefferson and Gualdoni allaveraged in double figuresduring the tournament.

Herrin basketball hadbeen building momentumfor several years prior tothe championship run.

“That was by far thepinnacle of athletics inHerrin,” said Mike Sortal,longtime junior highcoach. “Prior to 1957,Herrin was on a rollanyway. Itchy Jones and hisgang had alreadygraduated. The enthusiasmfor basketball began whenItchy was a freshman,about 1952. That was thebeginning of the days whenthe gym was packed forevery game.”

The championshipunited that community likenothing had previously, orsince that time.

“Everybody kind of hadtheir chest stuck out a littlebit,” Lukens said. “It’s justone of those things thatyou just seldom have achance to experience.”

“Those were great days,”Sortal said. “I just thinkabout the enthusiasm. Iwould say it lasted quite awhile. I’d say for severalweeks, maybe for a couplemore years really.”

Restivo agreed withSortal that thechampionship was thepinnacle of athletic successin Herrin.

— Story originally published in The Southern Illinoisan.

[email protected]

two of the finest highschool facilities in all ofSouthern Illinois. Anyplayer would be excitedand proud to call thathome and I am proud tobroadcast the gamesthere.”

In the 1980s, girls’sports came of age at theprep level in Illinois andnobody in the regionplayed softball any betterthan Herrin.

Under Jilek, Herrin ranthe table that decade,claiming 10 conferenceand regional titles, fivesectional titles and fivestate tournamentappearances. Jilek wouldgo on to win over 500games for the Tigersbefore retiring as teacherand moving on to John A.Logan College, where hecontinues to coach softballtoday at the age of 74.

Softball continued torule the roost in Herrin inthe 1990s with onlysporadic success on theboys’ side.

But in 2002, thebasketball team, under thedirection of MikeMooneyham, advanced tothe state title game before

dropping a nail-biter toPleasant Plains. MikeGavic, Brian Algee andBrad Walker drove thatteam to heights not seensince the 1950s.

Meanwhile, the footballteam had a nice run ofsuccess under head coachJohn Helmick. Led byarguably the school’s bestall-around football playerever in Kyle Walker, theTigers advanced to thesemifinals of the Class 4Aplayoffs in 2004.

A couple of years later,something special wasbrewing in track and field.

Never known as a powerin the spring sport, Herrinascended to the top of theheap under head coachChad Lakatos with a first-place finish at State inboth 2007 and 2008 as ledby All-American highjumper Eric Thompsonand Tommy Taylor.

Lakatos then accepted ajob to coach inEdwardsville and RobLong picked up where hispredecessor left off,guiding the Tigers toanother state title this pastspring with help from All-American high jumper

Zach Riley.There have been myriad

other successes inathletics at Herrin inrecent years. Thewrestling team, led byKelsey Lewis, competed atstate in both 2007 and2010 and look to repeatthat feat again this year.

The boys’ bowling teamunder Mark May has madefive appearances at thestate meet with sectionalchampionships in both2006 and 2009. The girls’bowling team made stateappearances in both 2006and 2008.

The girls’ basketballteam, coached previouslyby Newbold, notched themost wins in schoolhistory last winter with 29.Moreover, during a five-year time period, theTigers won a stunning 204games with threeconference titles and fourregional titles.

The volleyball team wona sectional championshipin 2007 and six regionaltitles in the last decade.

Coach Keith Warren’sbaseball squad has had itsshare of success, too, withan Elite 8 finish in 2009

and four regional titles inthe last six years.

Not to be overlooked isthe dance team, nowcounted as an IHSA sport.The Tigerettes qualifiedfor state five times in thelast seven years and theFlag Team, now known asSilks, won the statechampionship this pastspring.

“I am very proud of ouroverall achievement inathletics the last fewyears, both on the maleand female side,” saidMooneyham, now theschool’s athletic director.“We have made greatstrides. I feel that nomatter what the sport,coaches have theresponsibility of raisingtheir program to acompetitive level. And wehave seen that here atHerrin.”

Mooneyham saidsuccess breeds success.And the Tigers haveenjoyed more than theirshare of outstandingathletes.

“It also takes greatfacilities and great supportfrom the administration tobe a winner and wedefinitely have that.”

HHS STATECHAMPIONS

1957 boys’ basketballteam

2007 boys’ track team2008 boys’ track team2010 boys’ track teamAll-AmericansJohn Tidwell, boys’

basketball (‘57)Eric Thompson, boys’

track (‘07)Zach Riley, boys’ track

(‘10)All-Time Leading Scorers

in BasketballHeather Elders (1,810)

1999-2003Gene Turni (1,656) 1957-

1960ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERNAntuan Davis (6) and Zeb Williams come off the field during the Oct. 22 game with Marion.

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN


Going on 73 years old,Richard “Itchy” Jones isthe picture of health. Hecould easily pass for aman 10 to 15 years hisjunior as he runs morethan two miles each dayand has kept his weight ata microscopic 156.

Retired now for fiveyears as baseball coach atUniversity of Illinois andliving in Champaign withhis wife, Sue, Jones nowlets his competitive juicesflow on the golf courserather than the balldiamond.

One of the mostdecorated baseballcoaches in NCAA history,Jones ranks 13th on theNCAA Division I wins list

with a 1,240-752-6record.

Jones led the Illini to aBig Ten Conferencechampionship in 2005 —his 39th and last year ascoach. He was rewardedwith his second Big TenCoach of the Year awardafter the season. His bestseason with the Illinicame in 1998, when theyhad a record of 42-21 andwon the first, regular-season Big Tenchampionship for Illinoisin 35 years. The Illini wereselected to the NCAATournament that season,where they fell to top-seeded Florida in theSouth Regional titlegame, two outs short ofqualifying for the school’sfirst College World Series.

Southern Illinoisans aremuch more familiar withJones’ body of work atSIUC. In 21 seasons withthe Dawgs, he compiled astunning 738-345-5record or .681 winpercentage. That included10 NCAA tournamentappearances and threetrips to the College WorldSeries.

In 1971, his second yearwith the program, he ledthe Salukis to within onegame of the nationalchampionship, finishingsecond. SIU placed thirdboth in 1974 and 1977.

In his last season as aSaluki (1990), Jones ledthe Dawgs to a 49-14record and sixth MissouriValley Conferencechampionship in 14seasons and advanced tothe NCAA Regional as theNo. 2 seed. SIU lost in theregional title match.

Jones was also quite anathlete himself in hisyounger days. He wasSIU’s baseball MVP as afreshman in 1957 andearned All-InterstateIntercollegiate Athletic

Conference honors threetimes as a middleinfielder. He was a goodenough college player tobe drafted by theBaltimore Orioles andplayed in their minorleague system.

Before that, he was astandout performer atHerrin High School.Ironically, Jones was moreknown for his basketballprowess at Herrin.

“I was playing on thesophomore team as afreshman and rememberhead coach Lee Cabutticalling me into his office.I didn’t think I had beenplaying all that well andthought he was going tosend me back down to thefreshman team. Instead,he said he wanted me torun the point for thevarsity,” Jones said. “Thatwas a big surprise. Mydad (‘Jiggs’), who was acustodian at the juniorhigh, was introduced toCoach Cabutti by myjunior high coach, MikeSortal. My dad told CoachCabutti to put me back onthe freshman team whereI belonged. I’ll neverforget that.”

Jones was such atalented ballhandler forthe Tigers that hisnumber was later retired.

“I enjoyed all four yearsI played. We had somereally good teams,” Jonessaid. “Of course, thegame that stands out themost in my mind was mysenior year in 1956 when we playedPinckneyville in thesuper-sectional. JohnTidwell made two freethrows for us with notime on the clock to forcean overtime, but we lostin double overtime.”

The next year (’57),Herrin would go on to winthe state championship.

And Jones would go on

to play both basketballand baseball at SIUC. Heearned his bachelor’sdegree in physicaleducation in 1961 andmaster’s in ’65. He beganhis coaching career as theassistant basketball coachat Jacksonville HighSchool in ’61 and tookover as baseball coach fiveyears later in ’66. Hereturned to Carbondale in’68 as an assistant toSaluki coach Joe Lutz andwas named coach whenLutz left in ’70.

Jones said he feelsprivileged to have enjoyeda long and successfulcareer in baseball. Heattributes much of thatsuccess to the parentingprovided by his mother(Rosine) and father, aswell as the mentoring hereceived from his juniorhigh and high schoolcoaches.

“My days growing up inHerrin were the primedays of my life,” he said.“Because of the way I wasbrought up, I have alwaysdone my best to leave apositive impression withpeople.”

Jones has also had todeal with adversity.

He was diagnosed withbreast cancer in 2000.Fortunately, he suffers noill effects of the diseasetoday.

“It can happen to men,too. I advise all men to getchecked if they have anyconcerns whatsoever.”

The Joneses have twogrown children,Michael and Susan.Michael works in financewith UPS, while Susan isa federal marshal. Theyalso have two grandsons,Richard Caleb and MicahJoseph.

— Some information for this article wasretrieved from the University of Illinois

Fighting Illini website.


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SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN


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Marlene SimpsonCity Clerk

Elizabeth IsslerErnie Gwaltney

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Deon McGuireRobert Craig

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Stu RidingsPolice Chief

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Steve Fisher has manyreasons to thank BillFrieder. It was Friederwho gave Fisher, a Herrinnative, the opportunity towork with him asassistant basketball coachat Michigan in the early1980s.

And it was Frieder,whose decision to accepta coaching job at ArizonaState before Michigan’s1989 season concluded,put Fisher in the rightplace at the right time forthen-athletic director BoSchembechler.

Schembechler declaredhe wanted a Michiganman to coach theWolverines the rest ofthat season and that

Frieder was no longer thatman. That’s when therevered ex-football coachturned to Fisher andasked him if he couldcoach the team.

Fisher said he could.And the rest, as they say,is history.

Fisher went on to leadthe Wolverines to anational championshipthat spring with a littlehelp — OK, a lot of help —from Glen Rice.

A week after the titlegame, Schembechlerremoved the interim headcoaching tag from Fisherand made him theschool’s permanent headcoach.

Two years later, armedwith one of the mostimpressive freshmanclasses ever in Chris

Webber, Jalen Rose, RayJackson, Jimmy King andJuwan Howard, Michiganand its “Fab Five” made itback to the championshipgame, this time losing toNorth Carolina.

Fisher eventually losthis job at Michigan butlanded on his feet,spending one year as anassistant coach with theSacramento Kings of theNBA before his selectionas head coach at SanDiego State University.

“I’m now in my 12thyear here,” Fisher said.“We won 25 games lastseason and went 16-1 athome. We won a school-record 26 games the year before, are picked to win the conference and figure to be ranked inthe Top 25 in the

preseason this year.”Basketball is definitely

back on the map at theuniversity.

“I couldn’t have walkedinto a better situationwhen I came here inMarch of 1999,” Fishersaid. “We hadn’t had awinning season in 20years and were drawingabout 1,000 a game.There was nowhere to gobut up. Now, look wherewe’re at. We’re averagingmore than 9,000 fans agame now. Thecommunity has reallyembraced us.”

At 65, Fisher says hemaintains a zest forcoaching.

“If you can bringenthusiasm and passionto your job, you have abetter chance at success

and a lengthy career,” hesaid. “What’s not to likeabout San Diego State?We are the second-mostapplied to school in thecountry, and San Diegohas consistently beenvoted as America’s finestcity.”

Fisher may havebecome a famous collegebasketball coach, but hehas never forgotten hisHerrin roots.

“I have nothing butfond memories of mytime growing up inHerrin,” he said. “Iremember going to thestate tournament in 1957as a kid to watch theTigers play inChampaign. And whenwe won, I was like a kid ina candy store. I rememberthose Herrin players

cutting down the netsafter they won thechampionship.”

Fisher learned how toplay the game from hisfather, Howard, whocoached the Saint Mary’sCatholic School team inHerrin. But when hereached junior high age,his father pulled him outof the parochial schooland shipped him to SouthSide Junior High to playfor the master in MikeSortal.

“Coach Sortal had sucha big impact on me. Heand my dad became thebest of friends. CoachSortal was such aninnovator. He wasdefinitely ahead of histime.”

When Fisher reachedhigh school, he had yet

Herrin still scores high with top college basketball coach Steve Fisher

SDSU MEDIA SERVICESHerrin native Steve Fisher coaches the San Diego State Aztecs against UNLV Feb. 13. TheAztecs beat the Runnin' Rebels to claim the Mountain West title.


SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

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another outstandingcoach to learn from inGlen Whittenberg.

“I remember that oursophomore team wentundefeated and that I hurtmy knee my senior yearand missed half theseason. We made it to theSupersectional that year(1962-63 season) and lostto Metropolis on acontroversial call. Wewere so close to going toChampaign and being oneof the first teams to everplay in their new gym –Assembly Hall.

“What was amazingwas who we beat to theget to the Supersectional.We beat a great Bentonteam coached by RichHerrin and an even betterBelleville West team.”

Upon graduation,Fisher attended Illinois

State University. He firstplayed on the freshmanteam and only started twogames with the varsity asa junior.

“Our crowningachievement was makingit to the Final Four inDivision II my senioryear,” he said. “We beatNorth Dakota State led byPhil Jackson (Los AngelesLakers head coach) andthen ironically beat SanDiego State before losingto Southwest MissouriState (now MissouriState) and KentuckyWesleyan.”

Steve and his wife,Angie, have two grownsons. Mark is on the SanDiego State staff as anassistant coach. Jayrecently graduated fromUSC film school.

Fisher said he stays in

contact with his brothers— John and George — inHerrin. They also have asister, Maria, who suffersfrom Alzheimer’s disease.

“I get back home waytoo infrequently,” Fishersaid. “George does a goodjob of keeping me abreastof what all Herrin is doingin sports, and I cheerproudly. The couple timesa year I do make it backhome, I always make apoint to get to the PolarWhip and visit my goodfriend and formerclassmate, Ron Nesler.”

Fisher said he can’timagine the day he walksaway from the game ofbasketball.

“I’ve known since I was15 that I wanted to coachbasketball,” he said. “Iguess the key is that Inever viewed it as work.”

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNA participant in the Robert A. Ferarri Corporate Bocce Tournament tosses one of his team's redballs down the court Friday, May 28 at HerrinFesta Italiana.

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN


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BY D.W. NORRISTHE SOUTHERN

For years, golf has beenthe go-to outdoor activityfor corporate events orcommunity fundraisers,but maybe it’s time to givebocce a try.

Bocce has been growingin popularity, and it’s easyto see why. The game canbe played with drink in

hand and is perfectlytailored for co-ed groupsof any age.

“You’ll see kids out here3 years old, 4 years old,”said Herrin’s Jim Helleny,owner of Jim’s MobileOffices in Marion. “Ifthey can throw the balldown the court, they’ll beplaying.”

Nobody has to sit out ormiss an event because

they don’t haveequipment or are unsureof the rules. The game iseasy to play, but tough tomaster.

“In bocce, you can beages 5 to 95, able-bodiedor disabled — anybodycan play,” said KevinFrost, a partner in theHerrin investment firmBondioli-Frost andAssociates.

LIFE

‘Boh-chay’No matter how you say it, bocce scores big

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SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN

It’s Showtime!Don’t miss these exciting events at the Herrin Civic CenterFor tickets call us at 942-61115

Mike Niehaus, Magician &Ventriloquist is from St. Louis, MO. He has traveled around the United

States performing shows for children and family

audiences.

November 6, 2010 at 2PM

Red Skelton Remembered: This

show is for the entire family to enjoy good clean

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February 25,& 26th, 2011 at 8PM

“Evening in the Round” Grammy

Award Winner Linda Davis, co singer of (Does He Love You) special Guest Lang

Scott Comedy Songwriter Bille Whyte.

March 12th, 2011 at 7:30PM

Solo Pianist Paul HigdonHe performed last summer as pianist for WorldsApart, a unique Italian-American project. He has

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April 17th, 2011 at 2PM

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What: Four covered courts, restroom facilities(handicapped accessible) and vending areas. The courtsare constructed of a crushed brick surface over a gravelbase with integrated drainage system.

Lights: Auto-system provides lights for night-time play.For special events: Available for rental for corporate

outings, political and charity fundraisers, family reunionsand similar events.

When: When no club events or rental events arescheduled, the courts are available for anyone to use freeof charge. The club asks only that you treat the propertywith respect and clean up after yourself.

Where: The complex is in the 300 block of West WalnutStreet in Herrin

The Herrin Bocce Club complex

Frost, also theassistant HerrinFestabocce chairman, saidspecial needs groupsfrom Franklin andWilliamson countieshave booked the TheHerrin Bocce Clubcomplex for events andhad no problem pickingup the game.

“I’d put them upagainst anybody whoplays,” Frost said.

Twenty-four corporateteams of four or fiveplayers each competed atthe HerrinFesta Italianacorporate boccetournament duringMemorial Day weekend.The roofs of HerrinBocce Club complex, oneof the finest in theMidwest, protectedhundreds of participantsfrom the afternoon sun.

“They’re all undercover, so even if it rains,unlike golf, where youhave to quit, we have thefacilities to play in therain,” Helleny said.“They’ve taken as manyas 32 teams. You’retalking about 160players. You can actuallyhandle more people herethan with golf. And, theinteraction is fantastic.”

Bocce players aren’tseparated by hundreds ofyards of green expanse,which lends itself tocamaraderie.

“It’s a greatnetworking placebecause, unlike a golftournament where youspend five or six hourswith the same guys, hereyou spend five or sixhours walking aroundand meeting people,”Frost said.

Monday night isFamily Night at thecomplex, league playoccurs Tuesday nightsand the bar league isThursday nights.

— Reprinted from the summer issue of Life and Style in Southern Illinois

magazine

Bocce is played witheight large balls and onesmaller ball (called thepallina). The game canbe played with two, fouror eight players. Thepurpose of the game is toget your bocce balls asclose as possible to thepallina, which is thetarget and the smallestof the balls.� Divide the bocce

balls evenly between thenumber of players.� At random, choose a

player to throw thepallina, which is thetarget and the smallestof the balls.� After the pallina is

thrown, the same playerwill throw his first bocceball. After the firstplayer has thrown hisfirst bocce ball, he is considered “inside” becausehis ball is closer to the pallina than any of thecompetitors’ balls. All other players are considered“outside.”� Whenever a player is considered “inside,” he

will forfeit his turn throwing bocce balls. All“outside” players will take turns throwing theirbocce balls until one of theirs gets closer to thepallina than the “inside” player. After all playershave thrown their bocce balls, the player who is“inside” will be awarded points.� One point will be awarded to this player for

every ball that is closer to the pallina than hisclosest competitor’s ball. After the points areawarded, the frame is completed.� A game is won when a player reaches 13 points.

Play as many frames as necessary until a playerreaches this point level.

STEVE JAHNKE / THESOUTHERN

Bocce official Jon Maleskipoints out that the greenball is ‘in’ or closest to thepolena during a match.

Bocce at a glance

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNHerrin High School students Allissa Johnson (center) and herfriend Ali Pinkard (right) cross the wooden bridge over thepond at Herrin City Park.


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THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTOChris Fernandez (right), 10, of West Frankfort reacts to a gameof pinball he is playing against Aaron Twist, 11, of WestFrankfort during the first day of the 4th Annual HeartlandPinball & Arcade Show at the Herrin Civic Center.

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNDowntown Herrin along North Park Avenue.

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BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN

Only two performershave laid claim to everymajor entertainmentaward: an Oscar, aGrammy, an Emmy, aTony, an Obie and aPulitzer Prize.

Attracting an entertainerof such stature seems like adaunting task, but theleadership of Herrin CivicCenter knows never tocount even the smallestdog out of the fight. AndExecutive Director CarlOrtale proved the benefitof mentality when hebooked Marvin Hamlischfor an appearance at thevenue.

“We have a ‘Why notHerrin’ attitude. I don’tknow how else to put it,”Ortale said. “Mypassport’s got quite a fewstamps on it, but if a guylike Marvin Hamlisch canleave his vacation in Italyto come play in Herrin onthe Fourth of July, why notHerrin?”

And Hamlisch is onlyone of numerousdistinguished guests tograce the stage of the CivicCenter. With a fullschedule of upcomingevents and appearances,that list will only continueto grow. Upcoming guestsinclude Grammy Awardwinner Linda Davis, whosang “Does He Love You”with Reba McEntire, andperformers from Chicago’sSecond City comedy club,who will also run aworkshop for area schools.

These appearances,along with the center’spast track record, help addto the venue’s claims ofbeing as good as any otherin Southern Illinois. With

its 341-seat auditoriumknown as “the biggestlittle room in theMidwest,” the center isprepared to meet anychallenge.

“We’ve been known toget just about anythingthere — from state-of-the-art audio-visualequipment to a world-class stage with lightingand sound; everythingfrom world-class concertsto baby showers,” Ortalesaid.

But the center’s successlargely comes from thesupport it receives fromoutside organizations,almost a sort of tribute toits beginnings as a state-funded venture. In the late1980s, the stateLegislature used a surplusof funding from horseracing revenues to launchauthorities in three cities— Springfield, Quincy andHerrin — to operate thesetypes of facilities.

The Herrin ExpositionAuditorium Building andOffice Authority was theresult, and in 1988, itopened the Civic Centeron donated land. In the20-plus years since, thelocal community hasstepped up and adoptedthe venue and itsleadership as a core part ofthe city and its lifestyle.

“Every town has its upsand downs,” Ortale said.“The fact that the statechose Herrin to locate oneof the three authoritieswithin its boundaries wasone of the smartest thingsthe state of Illinois hasever done. Regardless of itsups and downs, the folksof Herrin will cometogether for Herrin, andworld-class performersand heads of staterecognize this, and that’swhy they come.”

[email protected]

‘Why not Herrin?’

STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNMary Wood of West Frankfort (middle) asks for somecranberries to be added to her plate while getting assistancefrom volunteers Grant Mills of Carterville (left) and SandyEdwards (right) during the 20th Annual Mayor Ed QuagliaMemorial Thanksgiving Dinner on Nov. 26, 2009 at the HerrinCivic Center.

That’s the goal of Civic Center Director Carl Ortale


Go to Our Lady ofMount Carmel CatholicChurch in central Herrinand get ready for agenerational history and amulticultural exposure toone of the town’sbedrocks.

“The story developsitself as you walk aroundthe block,” saidMonsignor Kenneth

Schaefer, the church’seighth pastor since itsfounding in 1900.

In a chapel directlybehind the main altar andtabernacle, a small tablesits that was used whenthe first masses were saidin Herrin in city hall in1898. The main crucifixhas embedded chunks ofarea mine coal.

There are drums fromUganda that arrived herefrom Our Lady of Mount

Carmel’s sister parish inthat country. The

Stations of the Cross arefrom the original St.Elizabeth’s Hospital ofBelleville. The carpetunderneath the main altaris from Iran. There is alsoa hand-wovenAfghanistan rug that aparishioner who wasstationed there during hismilitary time, returnedwith at the request ofMonsignor Schaefer.

“The church tends to bea collection of art,”Schaefer said. “Eachgeneration addssomething.”

And it’s been manyfamily generations sincethe Italian RenaissanceRomanesque style churchwas built in 1924.

“It was a prettyformidable group ofpeople. And many of theItalians were from thesame town (Cuggioni)when they settled here.They had the mostinfluence in thecongregation,” Schaefersaid.

An east addition, builtin 2005 at $2.5 millionraised by the parish,

provides space forbaptisms and a social areafor congregationmembers to meet aftermass which numbersthree on the weekendincluding a Saturdaynight service for the 900households that belong tothe parish.

The church sanctuary isa mainstay, but a powersource for Our Lady ofMount Carmel’s successand steadiness throughthe years has been itsschool that will celebrateits centennial anniversarynext school year.

“You might say we’re inthe kid business. We aresharing the Catholictradition with thisgeneration growing up,”Schaefer said.

The school has anenrollment of 311 childrenfrom pre-kindergartenthrough the eighth gradewith 99 percent of theenrollment coming fromWilliamson County and80 percent from Herrinalone.

Aided by the purchaseof a nearby former

Southern Illinois beerdistributorship in 2001and remodeled to provideseven classrooms and amulti-purpose room, OurLady of Mount CarmelSchool is the fifth largestCatholic school inSouthern Illinois. Itoperates on a $1.2 millionbudget and employs 45people, a significantcontribution to the regionand town of Herrin,Schaefer said.

“Why would people doall this?” Schaefer asksabout the rich tradition ofOur Lady of MountCarmel and its schoolthat’s endured forgenerations from thegenerous contributions ofits dedicatedparishioners.

“The number of peopleinvolved with our faithcommunity has remainedsteady through the years.This has been on-goingstory of people who areCatechists at heart,”Schaefer said.

[email protected]


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STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNOur Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church was built in 1924 in an Iltalian Renaissance Romanesque style.

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BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN

A 1958 referendum granted thenecessary $150,000 for theconstruction of a permanent facilityfor the Herrin City Library, which hadmoved between city hall and a houseat 14th and Harrison since itsestablishment in 1912.

Nearly 45 years later, in 2002, a $1.25million partnership between privatedonors, the city and the Illinois StateLibrary allowed for the facility to beexpanded, more than doubling its size.

The growth in physical size throughthe decades has been accompanied byan expansion of services and use at thepublic outlet. Director MichaelKeepper said the library serves asmore than a resource for finding booksand magazines; it’s an integral part oflife and learning for the community.

“We’re what you might call theaccess point for continuingeducation,” he said. “People neverstop learning, even if they’re not goingto school.”

And one of the library’s challengeshas been to keep up with the timesand trends of that learningexperience. The advent of the Internetas an every-day tool and the creationof digital publishing formats have ledto the library adjusting its thinkingand product offering.

Five computers are available forlibrary patrons to use for Internetaccess and other basic computerapplications, and the library’s websiteallows cardholders to download digitalcopies of books to be read on homecomputers or handheld readingdevices.

“We’ve tried to cater to the readinginterests of the whole community,from pre-school to senior citizens,”Keepper said. “There are still lots ofpeople that prefer to have a paperbackor a hardback book to read, but yes,the digital age is changing things.”

As another way to cater to thecommunity, the library hosts anumber of special events through theyear. Pre-school story times areoffered periodically, and a kids’summer reading program attractsabout 250 children each time.There’s also programming for adults, including an upcoming

Library is growing in size and goals

A special showing of at least threefilms at the Herrin City Library willblend the city’s Italian heritage with acultural experience from theMediterranean county.

The library will start the film serieswith a showing of “La Destinazione (TheDestination)” at 2 p.m. on Saturday,Nov. 6. The film, directed by PieroSanna and starring actor RobertoMagnani, tells the story of a youngpolice officer working the streets of theSardinian city of Coloras and hunting anassassin.

“It just kind of connects the Italianculture with the people here,” sandSandra Colombo, a Herrin residentactive in preserving Italian heritage.

In connection with the screening, thelibrary is displaying a Sardinian maskused in the town of Mamoiada duringthe Carnivale season, a celebrationdepicted in the movie. Along with themask is a series of photographs byAngelo Mereu, who worked as a setdesigner for the film, that show thenatural beauty and customs of theregion.

At least two more films will bescreened as part of the series. LibraryDirector Michael Keepper said one ofthem will be coordinated in conjunctionwith the annual HerrinFesta event inMay and the other would likely beshown next summer.

The films are being provided by theItalian Film Festival of St. Louis.

“It’s just another way to celebrate theItalian heritage in Herrin,” Keepper said.

—Adam Testa

Italian films connectlibrary with its residents

Italian film series.While more than half the city’s

population is registered for a library card,the organization has a much wider reach.Modern technologies have allowed thelibrary leadership to share books and othermaterials with libraries across the country.

“There aren’t many states we haven’tborrowed from or loaned to from ourcollection,” Keepper said.

[email protected]

Thursday, October 28, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan

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