Carbondale Bytelife

It take a pretty expansive use of the term "more" for the Southern to move from a story mentioning 2 people staying in on New Year's Eve to a general statement that more people are staying in for the holiday. I guess two people is more but still, I was looking for some statistics or research that said there was a trend throughout the country or even the region.

Labels: holidays, southern Illinois, Southern Illinoisan

If you're looking to give someone a gift made in Illinois, here's the link to the Ill. Dept. of Agriculture Illinois Gift Guide. Scrolling down the page, I found listings in southern Illinois for Blue Sky VInyards, Country bob's, Darn Hot Peppers, Genkota Winery and Hodgson Mill but quit after the Hs.

Labels: Christmas, southern Illinois

There's a freeze warning out for tonight. Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing for several huors tonight and Monday.

Labels: southern Illinois

Nah, but I found his comment in yesterday's SI amusing.

Bost said Palin would do a great job in the White House, partly because she is a woman.

"I think women should be in politics," Bost said. "They would do a better job just because of the way they're wired."

If he'd like to put his money where his mouth is, I bet all three parties could find a woman to run for his seat.

Labels: election, southern Illinois

Dave called me out the other day, saying that I only post "self-promotional" entries-- after my experience trying to find a dentist this week, I decided to expand my range of blog topics.

Just being up-front-- unless you've got cash or non-Medicaid insurance, you're going to have a real difficult time finding a dentist in Southern Illinois. How do I know this? I just got off the phone with someone from the Adolescent Health Center in Carbondale-- I'd been calling to try to get my son a dental appointment, and they had told me last week that some openings were going to be made available.

The only catch? Like all services for poorer folks, it was going to be a cattle call, scheduled promptly at 8:30 a.m. this morning. I started calling at 8:29, and actually got through. However, it was about 10 seconds before 8:30, so like a radio show call-in contest, I found myself at the end of a polite hang-up.

82 calls and almost exactly 30 minutes later (I counted, seriously) I got through again. All the appointments were taken, and my son wasn't going to be able to be seen after all. He's got a good smile right now, so I guess the message from all those "I-don't-take-IDPA-insurance" dentists around here is that a toothbrush and floss is good enough. According to the beleagered woman answering the phone, she had more than 125 calls on her voice mail when she walked in-- and the previous woman answering at 8:29 said she had received nearly 400 early calls since 8 a.m. Say what you will, but these numbers speak for themselves-- Southern Illinois is in need of dentists willing to serve Medicaid/IDPA recipients. After all, state-sponsored health care isn't much of a benefit if nobody accepts it!

As for me, I'm a bit too old for the Adolescent Health Center. They do their best, but still had to laugh when I told them that Doral Dental (the "handy" phone service Illinois uses to connect Medicaid recipients with participating physicians) had given me their phone number. They also gave me the phone number of five other dentists who also don't take IDPA for new patients, or at all!

On the other hand, I'm loving the fact that one office told me of their "emergency" openings for those of us with severe tooth pain-- from now, until I try the Tom Hanks-approved ice-skate to the face, I get to call their office each morning and hope someone cancelled.

Drop everything, family! Some better-insured person might practice a bit of that trickle-down economy!

I'm apparently not the only one who noticed. Check a University of Illinois study about availability of dentists in rural populations-- here's a quote:

"More dentists should be recruited to enroll in the Medicaid program. Efforts should be made to increase the number of children treated by currently enrolled dentists. This recommendation includes discussion of: adequate reimbursement rates; outreach to enroll new dentists in Medicaid; increasing participation levels of currently participating dentists."

and...
"A low supply of dentists in rural areas affects the entire rural population, not only Medicaid enrolled children. For Medicaid, as well as uninsured, children, it exacerbates the existing barriers to care. There were 18 rural Illinois counties that had no dentists who participated in Medicaid. The rural region also has few dental specialists, especially pediatric dentists. Also, the rural region had a slightly higher proportion (27%; 178/648) of active dentists who were 55 19 years of age or older. National ADA data show that older dentists treat fewer patient visits per year. the slightly higher proportion of older rural dentists and their estimated lower productivity leads to even further competition among all potential patients for the dentists’ time. As these older dentists retire, and there are not enough new dentists to replace them (see #3 below), it will affect access for all people in their communities, especially those with Medicaid coverage or who are uninsured."

Carterville resident John Flora's "Create-a-Smile" Dental Foundation initiative is also doing great work, helping those who otherwise have no access or ability to afford dental care. CAS receives some of its funding from their thrift store at 115 N. Division St., in Carterville-- and one at 33 Circle in Zeigler. Here's a small portion of what CAS has managed to accomplish:

"1. Purchased a pair of dentures for a woman. 2. Paid for numerous cleanings, oral examinations, and x-rays at John A Logan Dental Hygiene School. 3. Obtained a Root Canal and restorative dental procedure for a 12 year old girl. 4. Help people by referring them to others that might help them. 5. Obtained charity cases for our applicants. 6. Done extensive outreach. 7. Attended various Health Fairs with dental poster and info as well as toothbrushes and toothpaste free to the people who come through the health fair."

You might even consider giving them a tax-deductible donation, eh? Sounds like money well-spent. Maybe you'll help this guy:

Labels: dental care, dentist, health, ice skates, southern Illinois, teeth, tom hanks

NPR has an interesting story about Obama's trip back in 1997 to southern Illinois. Before that trip, the then state Senator had never been below the Mason Dixon Line.

Labels: election, southern Illinois

Caught a brief mention of the economic effect of the IDOT move to Harrisburg on WSIU this morning. Apparently, the move will cost the Springfield economy about $9 million, while adding about $7 million to southern Illinois. You can read more about it here and here.

Not sure if it's related or not, but after last night's rain, my rain gauge showed 3 1/4".

Labels: economy, southern Illinois

Apparently, the rumor that the now closed Mugsy's was looking into the Crainville Pioneer's Cabin location as a place to relocate to has really hurt the restaurant's business. Heck, I even mentioned the rumor here. According to this article, business at the restaurant has dropped by half since the story started circulating.

Labels: business, restaurants, southern Illinois

Rendleman Orchards is now open for the summer fruit season. The sign in front of the store says Peaches are now available but the schedule on the website says not until next week. If you remember, last year we got no peaches due to the freeze, this year looks pretty good.

Labels: southern Illinois

Pagliai’s is still frakkin' delicious. Pizza is a pretty big deal in my life, and I'm always happy to go out for a slice or three-- hadn't been to Pag's for a while, mostly on account of my extreme happiness with Marcello's Pizza in Chester.


Anyways, my little group ordered a lovely extra-cheese and garlic on the thick 'n crispy... along with a vegetarian special on the chewy thick crust. Great food, nice big drinks, and naturally saved gas by not driving to Chester.

Marcello's still gets my vote for best pizza in Southern Illinois, though-- yummy garlic butter with fresh spinach on a veggie pie sets 'em over the top in my opinion.

So let's talk pizza, 'cause I'm sorta bored with everything in Carbondale closing, etc. Feel free to leave vehement comments about your favorite Southern Illinois pizza (current, historical, whatever) and where to get it. Call out a favorite waitress! Gripe about the bathroom-- it's all game.

(And yes, that's Pizza Head above. Remember him?)

Labels: business, Carbondale, food, pizza, random post of relatively little use and even less quality of writing, southern Illinois, yummy

If you've yet to hear Southern Illinois's flagship experimental and avant-garde broadcast, "It's Too Damn Early," today is your chance! I'll be covering for the Jazz Kitten from 6-8 p.m, so I don't want to hear any excuses about being asleep, etc...

Be sure to listen in-- WDBX 91.1 FM. Feel free to call in requests: 618-457-3691.

Labels: experimental, jazz, music, radio, southern Illinois

The viewing party for Cristopher Cichocki's film "Elemental Shift" is this Saturday morning, 4 a.m., at WDBX-FM.

I can't say enough good things about this film-- I just hope that you'll come see it, whether you're a fan of experimental media or not. The film is appropriate for all ages, and lasts just over an hour. I hope to see you there!

UPDATE: It looks like we also may have a surprise musical guest in-studio, following the screening. Feel free to kick yourself if you miss this.

Labels: experimental, film, music, noise, radio, southern Illinois, WDBX

According to this story in the Southern, Governor Blago announced yesterday he's moving the Department of Traffic Safety from Springfield to a location in southern Illinois. Unfortunately, he's not creating 150 new jobs as he claims in the article, just shuffling them around. Plus, the current holders have the option to retain them if they are willing to move to the region.

Labels: southern Illinois, state government

I see this idea is bubbling up again. You'd think with Hastert and Poshard trucking around the state selling people on the idea the infrastructure in the state needs repairing, we wouldn't be looking at more roads to build, especially one through such an ecologically sensitive area as the Cache River wetlands. As for development, look at all the development that's popped up along I24 and I 57. Do we really need to get from Paducah or Cairo to Cape Girardeau that quickly? Or maybe I'm just being grumpy.

Labels: development, southern Illinois

With the interest Americans have in our past, especially the lurid parts, and the e80th anniversary yesterday of his execution, it's surprising no one has taking advantage of Charlie Birger's exploits here in Southern Illinois to set up a guided tour of the locations associated with the story. The Rend Lake tourism organiation has already posted a driving tour of some important locations in the story.

Labels: southern Illinois

According to this article in today's Southern Illinoisan, these are the 10 deadliest roads in southern Illinois:
Top 10 Deadly Roads:

1. Illinois 37

2. Illinois 3

3. Illinois 149

4. Illinois 154

5. US 51

6. Illinois 148

7. Illinois 4

8. Illinois 127

9. Illinois 15

10. Illinois 14

As one commenter on the paper's website wondered, are there more particular areas of each road that are more dangerous. Is it safer to drive 127 north of Murphysboro than south? How likely are accidents around Diamonds or Club Coyote? I see that you're relatively safe when driving along Hwy 13, which is a load off my mind.

Labels: southern Illinois

Over 20,000 people are without power as of about 3 p.m. this afternoon. According to WSIU, El Dorado is completely without power, as is most of Metropolis.

Labels: southern Illinois

Here's the most recent list of school closings for tomorrow Feb. 13.

Labels: sc, southern Illinois

Not C'dale exactly, but this is pretty sad.

Labels: b, southern Illinois

That was fast. Announced as a go on December 18th, it looks like the plug is getting pulled on the FutureGen project. Ostensibly the reason is cost of the project but Senator Durbin and Congressmen Tim Johnson and John Shimkus say the Department Of Energy never mentioned costs until Mattoon was chosen as the site for the project over Texas. Estimated costs of the project have increased from around $800 million when it was announced in 2003 to about $1.3 billion today. The plant is/was expected to create about 3,000 construction jobs, 150 permanent jobs and bring about $100 into the local economy.

Update: Apparently Texas is still in the running for a piece of the deconstructed FutureGen project if the DOE goes ahead with its plans

Labels: Energy, southern Illinois