Mayor's Row...by Ned Mitchell
A lot of things tend to irk me anymore and one of the latest irks is the attempt by some in professional sports to idolize St. Louis Cardinal baseball pitcher Josh Hancock by comparing his death to that of former Cardinal star Darryl Kile. As you remember Kile died unexpectedly of natural causes five years ago. Josh Hancock was well, plain and simple drunk when he got behind the wheel and died from a car wreck that he alone caused.
Just last week a very prominent assistant states attorney from Du Page County was killed on her way home from work due to an automobile accident that she alone caused. This prosecutor was as tough as nails on drunk drivers in Du Page County, yet she had a blood alcohol content of over .025 which is three times as drunk as the law allows. This was in the middle of the afternoon for Pete's sake and she was on her way home from work. This list could go on and on from famous people like Paris Hilton reaching all the way down to the town drunk that every town has. Alcohol abuse is no respecter of anyone; it reaches across all social boundaries and claims it's victims at an alarming rate in this country.
We already do not allow truck drivers in this state to have an arrest involving alcohol in excess of .04. There is a move underway now in many states, including Illinois to lower the blood alcohol content to .05 for those operating vehicles on our highways and city streets. One would think this would be a no brainer, but wait, we have the little problem of the liquor industry and their very powerful and well financed lobbyists.
There are all kinds of studies today that show a definite correlation between reducing the amount of alcohol a driver is allowed in their system to the number of people killed on our nation's highways. The lower the blood alcohol content the fewer people die. That is a fact my friend and has no fiction involved. Some nations such as France, Finland, Germany (where drinking is almost a sport), Greece, Spain, and Italy already have a blood alcohol content of .05. Norway and Sweden, both known for being very liberal countries, limit their driver's blood alcohol content to .02 percent.
We spend an immense amount of time in Springfield trying to limit the amount and type of guns that Illinois residents can own. Already we are one of only two; you read that right, only two who do not allow some sort of concealed carry provision for their citizens. Almost every week there is some sort of new law proposed by my liberal democrat friends from Chicago to stomp on our second amendment rights. Foolishly they think that taking guns away from law abiding citizens is going to lower their crime rate. If it does anything it will increase it as we all know that criminals are called criminals because they do not abide by gun laws or any other laws for that matter. We are so far out of step in this state that 48 other states disagree with us on the gun control issue.
My whole point here is that we do have a problem with drinking and driving in Illinois. We have that problem in Franklin County in a huge way. We have buried dozens of very young people in this area due to alcohol related accidents. The percentage of repeat offenders is just that in Franklin County, offensive to me and to you if you stop and think about it.
The bottom line is, and I am a bottom line type of guy, if you drink, don't drive. Police officers have a job to do and if they see you driving under the influence it is not their fault if you get arrested. They have an obligation to protect other drivers. The prosecutors and judges have a job to do so don't blame them when you get arrested. You alone can stop this devastating epidemic in our country. If you drink and drive and kill someone they are no less dead than if you would have shot them with a gun. With Memorial Day coming up and our highways jammed, think about it before you do it. I am sure that no drunk driver sets out to kill either themselves or some innocent person. Josh Hancock did not plan on killing himself in an accident and neither did the Du Page County prosecutor, but sadly their lives have been snuffed out all over the thrill of stopping and having a few drinks and then driving. Think of the grief their families must endure from now on, children without a mother, spouses without a mate, moms and dads without their children.
Life is very brief sometimes and we don't know what awaits us around the next bend in the road but folks this is a problem we can work on. It is not impossible to stop senseless death and destruction on our highways. We want you to be safe and sound in Sesser. We will work with you any way we can but don't drink and drive. That way we can all enjoy a safe and happy Memorial Day.
Freedom is not free as we all know and we here in Sesser encourage you to pause and think about our veterans as we take a day off from work to celebrate Memorial Day. Sesser will have their usual service at the Maple Hill Cemetery where we pay tribute to our deceased veterans. It is always a solemn ceremony that begins with a small parade made up of our local VFW and American Legion members who. Special floral wreaths are placed at the veteran's monument in our cemetery and flags are placed at the individual grave of each departed comrade. It is a touching ceremony and Maple Hill Cemetery will be very well groomed for the occasion complete with a new white vinyl fence on the north edge.
Work is fast and furious at the historic Sesser Opera House as we prepare for our first show of the season this week. The newly formed Opera House Company theater troupe will be performing Gilbert and Sullivan's "Pirates of Penzance" operetta. Thanks to the wife, who is producing this show, I have been involved more than usual with the theater and let me tell you this is going to be one fantastic show. There are professional people from all over Southern Illinois and from all walks of life who are taking part in this show. Nobody is being paid anything to perform and that right there speaks volumes about how dedicated these folks really are to the cause.
From the city perspective we have spent the necessary money not only lately but for the last 30 years to make the historic building what it is today. It has been completely restored and the new stage lighting system is beyond description. This gem of a building is a tribute to Sesser and we are very proud to be able to host this show. City workers have been tireless in moving seats around and helping install the new lights. We have painted and cleaned in the midst of some fantastic opera singers rehearsing. The orchestra will be performing from the pit, just as that pit was designed to be used about 94 years ago. The sound will be phenomenal I can assure you of that. You will hear singers like you have never heard in this area. We hope that you take the time to visit us here in Sesser and see this show. You will not be disappointed! Come early and have a meal in Sesser at Bruno's Steakhouse, Anjo's Pizza or at the Opera House Café. Don't stop with that though, for after the show you will still have time to stop by our famous Custard Stand for dessert. You can come to Sesser and have a great time in a safe and friendly atmosphere. Tickets for the show are selling at a good pace and can be bought at The Print Shop on Main Street, or by calling 625-5322 or email at printshop@dtnspeed.net . We hope to see you in Sesser this week! Show times are 7:30 pm this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with a Sunday matinee at 2:00 pm.
Sesser resident and former Mayor Dwight Dame is moving temporarily to the Greentree assisted living facility in Mt. Vernon to recouperate. Connie Hutson is home recouperating from heart procedure. Betty Edwards is home and out and about a little and that is good. Please remember these folks with a card, call or personal visit. It would mean a lot to them and is good therapy for you!
The historic Opera House complex was host to a 60th birthday party last week for former resident and friend Wayne Shurtz. They had a huge crowd in town from about 6 different states to celebrate not only Wayne's birthday but to prepare to honor his mother Mary, who turned 80 also last week. Wayne is married to the former Karen Basso and is the recent recipient of a liver transplant. He is doing well after this serious surgery and in a little talk to his family he gave all the credit to God and his doctors for his successful surgery. Now that Wayne is retired I of course had to try and coax them to move back home. He was a step ahead of me as he explained that he and Karen hoped to be back here as residents within the next two years. It gives us great joy to have former residents come back to Sesser and live. It is what we are all about and we work hard to be worthy of folks who want to move here and make Sesser their home.
If you have old tires you need to get rid of there is a county wide tire recycling drive at the Franklin County Highway Department in Benton. According to recycling coordinator Keith Ward the tires will be accepted on Friday and Saturday, June 1 and 2 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
If you need us give us a call at 625-5322 or 625-3611 or write nedmitchell@verizon.net .
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