Members of Carlyle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3523 form up outside the Clinton County Courthouse for Monday’s Memorial Day observance. (Photo by Bryan Hunt) Monday morning’s Memorial Day observance in Carlyle was lessened a bit by the coronavirus pandemic, but the day’s message was not lost on the 100 or so individuals who dotted the Clinton County Courthouse lawn.
That message was clear: Let us not forget the sacrifices of those who wore the uniform in defense of our country, and gave their lives for the same.
Members of Carlyle Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3523 hosted this year’s event, which is usually held in Carlyle City Cemetery.
Because of the pandemic, and calls for social distancing and the limiting of crowds, this year’s service was shortened considerably, to about 15 minutes.
Boy Scouts from Carlyle Troop 281 raised the American flag, lowering it to half-staff.
World War II veteran and prisoner of war Wilbert “Vince” Rolves, 96, was on hand for the observance.
The Albers native, who lives in Carlyle, is considered the last living World War II POW in Southern Illinois.
A sign-in sheet and temperature log, face masks, and the reminder about maintaining one’s social distance greet visitors to The Fitness Factory in Carlyle when they arrive to work out. (Photo by Bryan Hunt) It's business as usual — well, almost — for the clientele of The Fitness Factory gym in Carlyle.
The gym has reopened to modified hours and workout conditions following owner Jeff Taylor teaming up with Greenville attorney Thomas DeVore, of the Silver Lake Group Ltd.
DeVore has filed suit against the governor, alleging J.B. Pritzker's extension of the stay-at-home order has violated his clients' rights.
DeVore filed a notice of due process, on behalf of Taylor's gym, on May 14 with county state's attorney John Hudspeth, Clinton County Board of Health president Dr. Brian Klostermann, and Carlyle Police Chief Mark Pingsterhaus.
In it, DeVore notes that his client "puts each of the proper local enforcement authorities on notice of its position that being open does not constitute a public health risk."
DeVore's notice signaled Taylor's intent to reopen in 48 hours, the period given for the enforcement authorities to respond to Taylor's intent to reopen with a possible court order to halt the reopening of the gym.
One of DeVore's clients is David Tate, owner of the Fit 4 All gym in Lebanon, which reopened on May 11.
Taylor's return to business started with friend Logan Speiser of Carlyle getting a text about Tate's gym reopening.
Taylor then found out about DeVore, who filed paperwork with the Clinton County State's Attorney's office and the Clinton County Health Department to help get the gym reopened.
While the fall sports in the Illinois High School Association are still up in the air due to COVID-19, the Cahokia Conference is not sitting around watching the rain fall.
When the IHSA revoked the district play in high school football a few months back, Wesclin High School and some others in the conference showed interest in leaving conference play to find a situation with schools closer to their enrollment.
“We had heard of some schools showing concern about a competitive balance with enrollments and such,” said Central High School athletic director Neil Hamon. “We are just looking for a good fit for our student athletes and what’s best for our conference in general.”
With that information swirling, the schools of the conference looked for better solutions and to try and keep all their current schools as a part of the conference.
At the Salem High School school board meeting on Monday, May 18, principal John Boles announced that invitations have been sent to Roxana, East Alton-Wood River, Okawville, Sparta and Chester high schools to join the league with four of them playing football.
| Fri., May 22 | 449.25 |
| Sun., May 24 | 449.45 |
| Tues., May 26 | 449.53 |
| May 20 | .18" |
| May 21 | .02" |
| May 22 | .00" |
| May 23 | .00" |
| May 24 | .00" |
| May 25 | 1.10" |
| May 26 | .02" |
