By Jeff Smyth

As Mike Plumlee looks back he admits there is one case that has haunted him for half of his 20-year career as a Perry County sheriff’s deputy.

            It was 10 years ago this month that the call came into the department about a gruesome discovery; fishermen found a dead newborn girl wrapped in a towel and blankets and stuffed in a plastic bag at Pyramid State Park.

            The finding sparked an intense multi-state search and brought a community together to grieve for a baby they didn’t know. Few did, in fact, for her life was taken from her after only a few hours of being born.

            As Plumlee, the lead detective, and others on the case searched for answers as to who killed this baby and why, the residents of Pinckneyville anxiously awaited any news that shed light on this crime. They still do for the case remains unsolved.

            BY JEFF SMYTH

Every so often someone comes up with what they think is the novel idea for Southern Illinois to secede and become its own state. The first movement actually occurred when Illinois was in its infancy as a geopolitical entity. It persists today.

            The disdain is predominantly caused by Chicago’s dominance over the affairs of the Land of Lincoln and a feeling we share of being treated like redheaded stepchildren. Northern politicians only pass through these parts when they want our votes. The remainder of the time we’re viewed as chigger-scratching, stump-jumpers who still brew our own moonshine. Well darn it, if chiggers are sucking on your skin cells then you have to scratch them and we don’t make white lightening anymore; we make meth.

            I have a keen interest in the secession notion. I’m from the arrogant upper regions Illinois. I spent 18 years there as a matter of fact, but was unimpressed. It’s an okay place if you like bitter-cold winters, nasally speech and people so intense that the simplest things become high drama. That’s not for me.

            I hadn’t given much thought to the Southern Illinois becoming the 51^st state until I was invited on Facebook to join the cause calling for just that. I checked it out but didn’t notice a lot of recent chatter on the page so I thought I’d give the organizer a little boost.

Life has returned from its slumber in the forests throughout Southern Illinois. With beautiful temperatures now is the time return to nature. Just remember to check for ticks.

It's "go-time" for morel mushroom hunters. The fungi morsels are popping up in the woods all throughought Perry County. Hunting them can be both a challenge -- you might get skunked in one stretch of woods -- or easy -- you could stumble upon a minefield of them. But bagging them isn't the only part of the game; deception and stealth also play a big role. If you find a patch the last thing you'll want to do is announce it to your fellow hunters lest they pillage it like Atilla the Hun tearing through Asian villages. If you find some 'shrooms that are brag-worthy, post them on this site. We will share in your glory. Just remember to include the GPS coordinates to where they were found.