Mayor’s Row…….by Ned Mitchell

          Since a lot of sports minded folks read this column on a weekly basis lets’ do a simple little play here.  Suppose you are a coach of a basketball team and your team has lost the last five games by a score of 48 to 2.   I would think that after the first game the coach would be trying to figure out what went wrong.  After the second game the coach and the players would be trying to figure out what was happening.  The third loss would find the coach, players, cheerleaders, and fans in a stew.  Once the team lost the fourth game by a score of 48 to 2 the local board of education would be livid.  Shucks, the coach’s wife would even be on his case!

          48 to 2 is a terrible way to lose a game but that is exactly what we are doing here in Illinois.  One would think that the bimbos we have running things in Springfield would look at the fact that 48 of the 50 states that make up the United States of America have some sort of concealed carry laws that allow qualified citizens to arm themselves for protection.  That leaves only Illinois and Wisconsin out in the cold, or losing the ball game 48 to 2.  Seriously, what on earth are these folks thinking?  Can Wisconsin and Illinois both be right and the other 48 states wrong?  I doubt it!  Of course these are for the most part the same folks that could not see the train wreck called Blagojevich about to jump the tracks.  Surely these folks are not that naïve.  How could I sit around in Sesser, Illinois and know what was going to happen to the reformer/unreformer Governor and the powers that be in Springfield fail to heed the warning signals that we were on the wrong track heading for disaster?

          Well folks they are at it again on this issue.  State Representative John Bradley (D-Marion) has introduced a bill that would allow concealed carry for the umpteenth time.  This time the Illinois Sheriff’s Association is on board and is supporting the bill.  Mayor Daley thinks it is okay for Alderman in Chicago to be allowed to carry guns but forget a homeowner even being allowed to have a firearm in their own home in Chicago.  Daley will once again block this bill.

          Bradley would be wise in exempting Chicago from the legislation and pass it for the rest of us.  Let Chicagoans keep killing each other off like they did last year in record numbers and let the rest of us protect ourselves.  This is a good piece of legislation and our leaders need to put Illinois back in the game.  I am tired of losing 48 to 2!

          Sesser’s new TIF District is off and running and we are on pace to set a record number of new houses built in a single year.  We have already seen one house built and sold and we just inked a contract last week with another builder that is going to build two new homes in the 300 block of West Florence Street.  These homes will be under construction by the first of March weather permitting.  But wait; that’s not all!  We are also in the process of seeing one other house getting ready to start construction with two more in the planning stages.  We think once this program grows we will be able to attract new families to Sesser.

          The Coal Miner’s Memorial is up and running and if you have time drive by city park and you will see where the memorial will be located.  The actual memorial will be over 10 feet tall, seven feet wide, and weigh 48,000 pounds.  Surrounding the memorial will be letter paving bricks honoring miners who toiled in the coal fields.  The memorial will be lighted with benches on the perimeter of the monument.  It will be made of black granite.  Bricks are going fast and if you would like to purchase one for $100.00 call 625-5322 or 625-2491 and we will take your order.  We plan to dedicate the memorial this year during our Homecoming celebration which is the third weekend in June.

          Another huge project taking place this spring in Sesser is the completion of the new baseball complex on the east side of town.  Weather has already got us behind but we are determined to play ball there this year.   Fortunately we were able to get the dirt work done last fall and the grass seed sown.  We had hoped to have the lighting and fencing completed by now but we were just not able to get that done.  We hope to have good enough weather in the very near future to get this project back on track.  The Cardinal’s Red Bird Rookie construction crew will be here soon to complete their portion of the project.  This will be a complex that all of Sesser can be proud of.

          If you have been traveling Main Street at night lately you will notice work being done there too.  Off Mane hair salon and flower shop is in the process of moving into their new building in the Opera House block and we are excited about having them join us uptown.  They are putting a lot of time, effort, and money into their building and they will be a welcome addition to Sesser’s business district. 

          Other work has been going on in the Opera House Theater and that consists of performers getting their lines right for the upcoming Broadway play “Noises Off” and volunteers who are building the set for the show.  This will be a professionally done show and once again we will feature nightly specials at the Opera House Café to coincide with the performances.  The show runs Feb 12th, 13th, 14th at 7:00 pm and on Sunday the 15th at 2:00 pm.  This would be a great place to spend Valentine’s Day and see a show and have a great prime rib or smoked pork chop dinner.  Reservations are suggested and you may call 625-5322 for tickets and dinner reservations.  We hope you will get out and support our theater!

          Aunt Marjorie Dame turned 93 on February 7th and celebrated with a lunch at the Opera House Café.  Granddaughter Johnel will have a birthday on the 12th.

          Mae Merkel has been in the hospital again but is now home.  Carl Allen is continuing to get stronger and is an assisted living facility in Benton.  Robert Allen is recovering in a St. Louis hospital.   All of these folks would appreciate a card that can be sent to their home address.

          Valentine’s Day is the time to plant spring lettuce and I have got the hot bed all ready.  It was good to see the last of the snow and ice leave and I even have noticed spring bulbs poking their green sprouts from beneath the cold soil so perhaps spring is not that far off.

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