Creal Springs News

Forty years ago Friday, Southern Illinoisans were saddened to hear that Sen. Robert F. Kennedy had died from an assassin's bullet.

Williamson County residents voted back in March to raise sales taxes one percent to help fund school construction.

Clean-up from last months ice storms will continue in Southern Illinois-after the floods of 2008 are dealt with. via Magic 95.1

Many communities have storm sirens that alert people when there's a tornado warning. via WSIL

“Events like this allow people to put a face to the name they see on the list. People can talk to our doctors and get to know them.”

Hundreds of Southern Illinoisans took advantage of the break in winter weather Friday to attend the Boomer Lifestyle Expo at Illinois Centre mall. via Southern Illinoisan

Voice of the Southern Hed: Voters did right thing; state must be next The issue: A new sales tax to help pay for school construction in Williamson County likely will be copied by other counties in the state. via Southern Illinoisan

“Hopefully we should be up and kicking by this afternoon”

WSIL TV was off the air Tuesday morning because of the harsh winter weather that pounded the region. via Southern Illinoisan

The boil order for all Lake Egypt Water District customers south and east of the intersection of S. Market and Lake of Egypt Rd. via Southern Illinoisan

“We've filled every old storage room we have with kids”

It was not the convincing margin of victory Williamson County school administrators were hoping for in Tuesday's primary, but in the end, all that mattered to them was that the referendum calling for a 1 ... via Southern Illinoisan

“We would build new schools. We would reduce property tax rates where schools had already been built. And that by passing this referenda new jobs would be created”

The Williamson County school districts went all out to get the word out to voters about their one-percent sales tax proposal. via KFVS12

“I don't know if ecstatic is a good enough word to use to describe how I'm feeling”

In one of the closest races of the evening, Williamson County voters Tuesday narrowly approved a sales tax referendum that will benefit the five school districts in the county. via Southern Illinoisan

“The sheer magnitude of the $75 million to $100 million school construction projects is expected to create jobs in the region.”

"Shall Williamson County be authorized to impose a retailers' occupation tax and a service occupation tax at a rate of 1 percent to be used exclusively for school facility purposes?" That is the question on the ... via Southern Illinoisan

We waited. And waited. And waited still more, yet our elected lawmakers failed to produce a statewide road, bridge and building program last session. via Southern Illinoisan

“Marion city leaders argue over tax increase”

Now is the time to get back on track To the Editor: For too long, multi-national corporations hove owned politicians. via Southern Illinoisan

The city clerk says that the city gets its water from the Lake of Egypt water district and they are replacing a 12 inch main pipe, so it is actually the Lake of Egypt that has issued the order. via Magic 95.1

“I think that could put us at a competitive disadvantage”

Williamson County school officials are promoting a one-cent sales tax increase proposal to help pay for the construction of new schools and retire new school debt. via Southern Illinoisan

“The house was a complete loss”

A fire at 309 Union St. in Creal Springs ravaged a two-story framed house owned by Melvin Miller Thursday afternoon. via Southern Illinoisan

“But if all of your kids aren't progressing it's something that you ought to look at.”

One of the most intriguing stories to come out of schools in Southern Illinois was Williamson County districts' finding their own way to fund school construction instead of waiting on the Capital Bill. via Southern Illinoisan

“A sales tax is much more fair than a real estate tax. You don't have any say-so over real estate taxes. A sales tax, though, is paid for by anyone who spends money in your county.”

The Williamson County Board of Commissioners today is expected to approve a proposal by the county's five school districts to place a tax referendum question on the February primary ballot. via Southern Illinoisan