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NEW MUSEUMS AND STRUGGLING SCHOOLS

BY JEFF SMYTH

The announcement this week of the city of Pinckneyville being awarded $750,000 in grants to help fund two proposed museums evoked a rapid response; and most of it was negative. No one argued against the concepts of a high school basketball hall of fame or a museum celebrating America’s agricultural heritage. Rather, the detractors believe that, at a time the state is in arrears to struggling school districts, the money could be better spent.

Pinckneyville Community High School District 101 is owed almost $300,000. The state is six months behind in its payments to District 50 and owes $196,000. Our neighbors to the east, Sesser-Valier, laid-off seven teachers and six coaches. District-by-district statewide the same story is being told.

With this happening, Monday’s announcement becomes confusing to most of us. How can the state find money to create a place to display old sneakers but ignore our schools?

PCHS MUSIC MAKERS PREPARE TO PERFORM

The PCHS Music Makers will perform "Once Upon a Mattress" March 25-27 at the school auditorium. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $5 and available at at the administration office on the third floor. Tickets remain for the Thursday and Saturday performances. Friday night's is sold out.

This year's performance is "Once Upon a Mattress." The cast includes: Shannon Wright, Jessie Peradotto, Coleman Choate, Trey Cockrum, Josh Kuberski, Shannon Nehrkorn, Gabe Herbst, Bobbi Barnett, Kaitlyn Hagene, Colleen Ryterski, Blake Thornton, Brad Thornton, Dustin McCurdy, Patrick Kovic, Mark Fontana, Hannah Travis, Deanne Brand, Sarah Carlson, Andrea Hernandez, Laine Justynski, Andrea Logsdon, Jessi Ross, Emily Schmidt and Tifany Zenger.

IT'S BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL OUTSIDE

Dollops of color are starting to appear as spring takes hold. Share your pictures of Mother Nature's rebirth by posting them here.

SPRING NOTHINGS

The Post cruised by the ball diamonds Tuesday evening to find kids playing in dirt, the PCHS JV team playing a softball game against Carbondale (Pville won) and the PCHS varisty baseball team's pitchers and catchers tossing the ball around in the mud. There is no profound storyline here; just photos to remind us we are almost out of the cold weather woods. Click on the picture of Drew Dudek to see more spring images.

GRANT TO HELP FUND TWO MUSEUMS

BY JEFF SMYTH

Initiatives to establish two museums in Pinckneyville were bolstered March 22 when the city received a $750,000 grant from the state of Illinois. The money will be divided equally by the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum and the Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame and Museum, according to Tibretta Reiman.

Reiman is general manager of the Foundation for Pinckneyville, a non-profit organization serving as the financial pivot point for both projects. The money was granted to Pinckneyville under the Community Development Assistance Program (CDAP), a federally-funded program administered by Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity (IDEO). It must go to a local government entity but the Foundation will direct the funds, Reiman said.

Both museums are in the development stages, but city and civic leaders foresee them as a means of reviving the economy of a city that sits in the center of a county saddled with double-digit unemployment.

“I love talking about the future because that is where we are going to live,” Mayor Joe Holder said.

Charlie Greer, president of the Heritage Museum, said this project will encompass 23,700 square feet of space in three buildings. He provided an oral walking tour that included an entry area in which horses, “the source of power in the 1800s,” will be housed. Other rooms will include a 1930s farm house replete with authentic wall calendars, a one room schoolhouse, steam machines and a display of the early gas engine age. The museum is expected to open next year.

Rural Heritage will be located north of the Perry County Fairgrounds. The two largest buildings were sold by Holder to the Foundation in late 2008 for $250,000, according county records. Greer said the third building will be constructed. Greer said the museum is currently leasing the buildings from the Foundation with a purchase option.

POMS TAKE SECOND AT STATE

The PCHS Poms placed second in the kick category at the Illinois Drill Team Association state meet at the University of Illinois. Fourteen teams from throughout the state competed in the Class A division of that category. Click on the image to view more pictures.

'SMALL TOWN' CASSITY A BIG HIT

BY JEFF SMYTH

It’s game day and the text message alert chimes on Kyle Cassity’s cell phone. The St. Louis University basketball starter and former Pinckneyville Community High School standout sees it’s from his mother. He also thinks he knows how it reads: “Shoot the ball.” It’s the same message Beth Cassity has sent him throughout his sophomore season.

He opens the message anyway and, to his surprise, the message is different: “Don’t shoot the ball,” it reads. It’s dime-store reverse psychology but, Beth believed rightfully, it worked.

Cassity, who admits to having been tentative to shoot his freshman year and has been admonished by Billikens coach Rick Majerus for being too generous with the ball, had a breakout game that evening, scoring 15 points at Duquesne. He went on to drain 16 at the University of Massachusetts and 14 against Dayton.

“I feel a lot better with my game now,” Cassity said. “Last year I deferred to the older guys and the start of this season was a little tough but against Duquesne I played pretty well and my game has picked up.”

Indeed, Cassity has started 23 of 30 games, is on the floor for an average of 31.5 minute (second on the team) and leads the Billikens in assists (93) and steals (26).

SOPHS CLOSE SEASON ON HIGH NOTE

The sophomore Panthers swept the competition on its way to winning the annual Sophmore Tourney at Murphysboro. The defeated host Murphy 56-51 in the title game. This picture is courtesy of Lori Bruns.

DUBOIS CELEBRATES POLISH HERITAGE

Thousands of revelers were drawn to the tiny Washington County town of DuBois Sunday for the 16th annual Polishfest. Click on the image to view the picture gallery. Also, check back Thursday for columnist Jeff Smyth's take on this event.