we like it here 10-14
DESCRIPTION
Making It HomeTRANSCRIPT
Moved to SI in‘94 and left in2008 forSpringfieldand hate it.Will be backin coupleweeks!!! Lovemy Salukicountry.
— MistyRoberts
Bievenue
2 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010WE LIKE IT HERE www.thesouthern.com
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OFELECTRICAL WORKERS
LOCAL UNION 702
Supporting America’s WorkforcePresident: Ron Waldron Business Manager: Steve Hughart
Asst. Business Manager: Tate Wright106 North Monroe Street • West Frankfort, IL 62896
Phone: 618/932-2102 • Fax: 618/932-2311www.ibewlocal702.org
Nearly four years ago,my wife and I faced acareer and relocation
decision.We could
stay innorthwestIndiana,where Iworked asthemanaging
editor of The Times ofNorthwest Indiana, ormove to SouthernIllinois so I could be theeditor of thisnewspaper. To helpmake the decision, wespent time in SouthernIllinois, meeting peopleand seeing the sights.
We ate ribs andbrisket at 17th StreetBar & Grill, saw the SIUmen’s basketball teambeat Creighton and hada terrific breakfast,complete with biscuitsand gravy, at Mary Lou’sGrill. We also went tothe Alto Pass scenicoverlook and toured theamazing wine country.
We liked it here andmoved to SouthernIllinois in early 2007. Inour stay, we’ve run intopeople who could liveanywhere in the worldbut chose this region.We’ve met people whomoved away, but missedtheir hometown region.And we’ve met manymore who wouldn’tconsider livinganywhere else.
That’s the themebehind the “We Like ItHere” special sections.We’ve told the stories ofthose who never leftSouthern Illinois(Always at Home, Sept.30) and of those whowere born and raisedhere and decided toreturn (Coming Home,Oct. 7). The one you are reading today, thethird and final section,tells the story of peoplewho had many choicesof where to settle andchose Southern Illinois.
We like it here. Wehope you like it here,too.
GARY METRO is the editor of The SouthernIllinoisan. He can bereached at 618-351-5033or [email protected].
About this section
Metro
DARRYL JONES
‘Obviously, we’re going to stay.’BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN
MURPHYSBORO —Darryl Jones moved toSouthern Illinois in 2000so his wife, Kelly, couldpursue a graduate degreeat Southern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale.
They never intended tostay.
Coming to the regionfrom Indianapolis, thecouple first moved toCarterville, but when theymade the decision to settle down in SouthernIllinois, they made theeasy choice of living inMurphysboro.
“It wasn’t our plan tostay, but we got involvedat (Vine CommunityChurch in Carbondale)and not too long after thatwe bought our firsthouse,” Jones said.
“We really like thehometown feel ofMurphysboro. It’s notlacking in anything, butit’s still small, and we justfell in love with the AppleFestival.”
In 2006, Jones launchedSplattered Ink, a graphicand Web design company,in Murphysboro, and twoyears later, he purchased abuilding on downtownWalnut Street to renovate
and lease to otherbusinesses. For a while,the building also housedMurphysboro GeneralStore, an attempted retailoutlet operated bybusiness students atMurphysboro HighSchool.
After launchingSplattered Ink, Jonesbecame involved with the MurphysboroChamber of Commerceand began attending lunchmeetings geared towardbusiness professionals intown. That involvementled to his joining theChamber’s Board ofDirectors, and he
eventually becamepresident of theorganization, a position hestill holds.
With a decade of life inSouthern Illinois undertheir belts, the Joneseshave no intentions ofleaving any time soon.
“Obviously, we’re goingto stay in SouthernIllinois,” he said.
“I want to stay involvedwith the city. Our businessis going to continue togrow, and we’re eventuallygoing to finish thisbuilding.”
ADAM TESTA / THE SOUTHERNDarryl Jones launched Splattered Ink in 2006.
My husband, Jack, and Iwere born and raised inSouth Bend, Ind. In June1977, we moved our family(son, D.J., 9, and daughter,Kelly, 6) to Cape Coral,Fla. This is a beautiful cityin south Florida on theWest Coast. Jack’s famouswords were, “I will liveand die in Florida.” Lifewas good: beaches,beautiful weather, goodfriends and boating everyweekend.
Then, along came a cutecollege graduate lookingwith her friend for ateaching job in Cape Coral.Her name was LisaPhemister and she wasfrom Marion. D.J. and Lisamet, fall in love and getmarried. After three yearsin Cape Coral, Lisaremained homesick andwanted to move back toMarion. D.J. agreed to tryit for a year; that was 19years ago and, yes, he isstill here.
In the meantime, ourtwo granddaughters, Tylerand Emily, were born. Wemanaged to see them threeor four times a year. In thisgrandmother’s book, this
is notenoughtime. Lisawas verygood aboutsending
pictures and keeping usinformed of theiractivities. They havealways been involved inmany things.
Then there was thisperson (me) who said, “Iwould never move backnorth”. Funny howgrandchildren can becomea whole lot moreimportant than palm trees,beaches and weather.
Jack and I started talkingabout moving here aboutsix years ago. We wouldcome up for vacation andgo around and look athouses. We would get backto Cape Coral and hewould say, “I don’t reallywant to leave Cape Coral.”About a year before wemoved here, he said hewould put the house forsale by owner and seewhat happens. It was acute little sign and sat inthe middle of the frontyard under a tree. Then,two years ago we were in
Marion on vacation, saw ahouse in D.J. and Lisa’sneighborhood, put anoffer and it was accepted.This time, we went back toCape Coral and Jack put abig wood sign with lightsshining on it and put it atthe curb. Despite the badreal estate market, we soldour house in Decemberand moved here Feb. 1,2009.
We arrived and therewas something all over ourdriveway: about 4 inchesof ice. Welcome toMarion! Jack worked veryhard fixing up the inside ofthe house, the outside andthe yard. Things weremoving along very welland then May 8, 2009, wehad the so-called “inlandhurricane”. We thought weleft hurricanes in Florida.Many people teased usabout bringing thehurricane with us. Jackdecided he was going tostart telling people wemoved here from Canadabecause they look at uslike we have three headswhen we tell them wemoved here from Florida.
All of that aside, we have
been here one and a halfyears, and being by familyis definitely the bestchoice. We have enjoyedseveral performances atMarion Civic Center,many fine restaurants, andthe shopping is good.Every state has its ownbeauty. We have becomevery impressed with therolling green hills, placeslike Garden of the Godsand, most of all, Lake ofEgypt. We have purchaseda pontoon boat and justlove spending time withour family on Lake ofEgypt.
Our daughter, Kelly, livesin Lyons, Colo., with herhusband (Bill) and our 2-year-old grandson, Jack.The three of them visitedthe first of July and Kellyand Bill spent a lot of timehiking at Garden of theGods and several otherlocations in SouthernIllinois. They were veryimpressed with our area.That is a huge complimentcoming from people wholive in Colorado.
The Phemister familyhas welcomed us withopen arms and includes us
in all family gatherings.The people in Marion arekind, friendly and veryhelpful. We live in a niceneighborhood with veryfriendly people. It seemsto be a very safe place tolive. It appears to be awonderful place to raisechildren as they have asharp school system.
We have found a nicechurch, AldersgateMethodist Church. Jackhas met a nice men’s groupfrom that church andenjoys coffee andconversation a fewmornings a week withthem. He also has enjoyedplaying golf with some ofwhom share his love forgolf.
I found a job asActivities Director at FifthSeason Residential. I findthe senior citizens ofMarion very charming,which makes my job veryenjoyable. They have somuch history and love toreminisce about it.
The moral of my story is,“Life is good in Marion,Illinois.” Who wouldn’twant to live in the hub ofthe universe?
SHERRY STEWART
‘The moral is ... Life is good in Marion, Illinois’
PROVIDEDMuch of the Stewart family has relocated from Cape Coral, Fla., to Marion.
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 3WE LIKE IT HEREwww.thesouthern.com
1 1/2 Mi. W. of Murphysboro on Rt. 149Murphysoboro, IL 687-3663
Hours: Mon-Sat 9-5pm Sun 12-5pm
TOM & KAREN HIPPENSTEEL
‘We’re just very, very happyto be here.’
BARB & JIM BUSH
‘It’s thebest-keptsecret in Illinois.’BY STEPHEN RICKERLTHE SOUTHERN
After searching eight years ineight states for the perfect bed andbreakfast to purchase, Barbara andJim Bush found what they weresearching for in Southern Illinois.The couple is originally from theChicago area and worked fordecades at the phone company, Jimin construction and Barbara incustomer service and marketing.
Barbara was a longtime memberof the Illinois Bed and BreakfastAssociation before the couplebought Kite Hill Vineyards nearlyfive years ago.
She said they searched long andhard across the U.S. to find theright bed and breakfast, and werealmost ready to give up.
“We looked in Hawaii, California,Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin,Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois,” shesaid. “We were just about ready togive up and we came down here andour place was for sale by the formerowner. We looked at the place andjust fell in love with it.”
After discussing the property, thecouple decided to buy both the bedand breakfast and winery, despitenot having experience inwinemaking.
She said playing catch-up onwinemaking has been a challenge,but found that fellow vintners onthe Shawnee Hill Wine Trail arewilling to help one another out.
Barbara said even though there is ahealthy dose of “friendlycompetition,” winemakers ofSouthern Illinois also providesupport for one another.
Jim, who does the winemaking,said he never thought of himself asa winemaker, but has found theexperience worthwhile.
“It was interesting,” he said.“Every day was a school day.”
The couple is in the process ofexpanding the winery and will turnthe winemaking duties over to apassionate young winemaker.
They said the experience ofmaking Southern Illinois theirhome has been wonderful, and theyenjoy the closeness to nature theregion offers.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous, andthat’s what attracted us to thisregion,” Barbara said. “It’sbeautiful. It’s the best-kept secretin Illinois.
“It’s been a wonderfulexperience. I love the fact that wedon’t have the heavy-duty wintersthat we had up in the Chicago area— that is a definite plus.”
Although the couple enjoys thebeauty of Southern Illinois and hasvisited the more notable parks ofthe region, the fact that they are
constantly working limits theirsocial and recreational time.
“Our social events are few and farbetween,” Barbara said. “If we getto do anything, it’s usually betweenNovember and February, becauseby March it all turns on again.”
They said despite having littleleisure time, it hasn’t been hardadjusting to life in SouthernIllinois.
Barbara said people back in theChicago area said they might not bewell-received when they move toSouthern Illinois, but she said theyfound the opposite to be true.
“We found everything to bepositive,” she said. “Neighbors andpeople we’ve met have been veryfriendly, and now they’re friends.”
Barbara said the hard work ispaying off because the bed andbreakfast is booked throughOctober. Jim said people who stayat the bed and breakfast often book their next stay beforechecking out.
“We enjoy our guests,” Barbarasaid. “I think that’s why they keepcoming back. They came in asguests and they left as friends.”
STEPHEN RICKERL / THE SOUTHERNJim and Barbara Bush bought Kite Hill Vineyards after an eight-year, eight-statesearch for the perfect bed and breakfast to purchase.
ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERNTom and Karen Hippensteel moved from southern California toJackson County in 2004. The couple decided property next toKite Hill Winery, which was opened by Karen’s sister andbrother-in-law, was the perfect place to spend their retirement.
BY D.W. NORRISTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — Formany SouthernIllinoisans, the sandybeaches and plentifulsunshine of OrangeCounty, Ca., probablyseem like paradise.
For Tom and KarenHippensteel, who movedto Southern Illinois fromCalifornia in 2004,paradise is a beautifulhome on five acres nearKite Hill Vineyards.Southern Illinois metalmost all the criteria theHippensteels had whenthey were searching for aplace to spend theirretirement years.
The Hippensteelswanted four seasons.“Southern California hasonly one season — smog,”Tom said.
They wanted a houselarge enough toaccommodate their 15grandchildren at a pricethe couple could afford.They also wanted to livenear a cultural center forenjoyment of the arts, andSouthern IllinoisUniversity Carbondaleprovided just that.
Tom and Karen enjoygardening and their homeon Kite Hill’s rollinglandscape allowed them tomore than double thegrowing space they had inCalifornia.
The one criterion thelocation of their newhome did not meet, beingan hour away from a majorairport, wasn’t importantgiven all the region has tooffer.
“We’re just very, veryhappy to be here,” Karensaid.
Tom and Karen fell in
love with Southern Illinoiswhen they visited Tom’ssister, who owns Kite Hill,in 2002. The Hippensteelssaid they knew right awaythat Southern Illinois wasthe place for them. Thepeople they met whenthey came here were a bigpart of the positives oftheir new home.
“They’re very generous,”Tom said.
“It’s a very open,inviting and friendlycommunity,” Karen said.
Tom and Karen attendFirst Presbyterian Churchin Carbondale and havebeen active in charitableand civic groups such asthe Carbondale’s LionsClub, Habitat forHumanity and theSouthern IllinoisParkinson Support Group,of which Tom is president.Tom is living withParkinson’s disease and ispart of a group of pool-playing pals called “TheShaking Cue Stick Club.”
Tom’s health was aconsideration when theHippensteels were lookingto move from California.They found SouthernIllinois to have just whatthey wanted.
“The quality of air andthe environment werepositives for us,” Karensaid.
Affordable living in abeautiful and healthyenvironment, the chanceto watch SIU football viefor a nationalchampionship, and thefriendly and generouspeople of Southern Illinoisare reasons why theHippensteels can tell theirfriends, “We like it here.”
4 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010WE LIKE IT HERE www.thesouthern.com
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MICHAEL SCOTT
‘Who said you can’t go home again? I did.’BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN
SIMPSON — Scaling thescenic bluffs of this littletown in Johnson Countyis enough to convert anyvisitor of SouthernIllinois into a full-timeresident.
Just ask Michael Scott.Oh, and his mammothdonkeys, Sophie andJanie.
Scott grew up inScottland, Ill., a smalltown in Edgar County inthe central part of thestate. He and his threebrothers learned the valueof hard work on theirparents’ crop andlivestock farm.
“We didn’t vacation likeother families due tomoney,” Scott said.“However, we never knewwe were poor. We wouldcamp out in grandpa’swoods with classmates …a vacation to us was goingto the county and statefairs.”
The importance of aquality education wasinstilled in Scott at ayoung age. He transferredfrom Eastern IllinoisUniversity to SouthernIllinois UniversityCarbondale in 1968 topursue a degree in radioand television. Collegelife was a change forScott, especiallyconsidering he was one of15 students in his seniorclass of high school.
“My eyes were openedto people of the world,”Scott said. “I received aneducation that has givenme a fulfilling life of 34years of teaching, andnow I am working at SIUin the College ofEducation and Human
Services. Who said youcan’t go home again? Idid.”
Scott still remembersthe first time he realizedthat Southern Illinois wasthe place for him.
“I had just assumedthat Southern Illinois waslike the rest of the state,”Scott said. “When Iarrived and was actuallyable to tour the area, Isaid right then and therethat I would never leavethis area unless forced to.
“The first two places Ivisited were Garden of theGods and Bald KnobCross … I was like a kid inthe candy store. I havehiked most of the River ToRiver Trail, canoed downLusk Creek in the spring,rode my bike all over thedeep southern parts ofthe state, and yes, I havebeen trail riding since thelate 1980s. The ShawneeNational Forest is sodiverse … when I am onmy donkey or hiking, I seeand experience somethingnew each time I am out.”
Scott taught speech,literature and drama inMount Vernon for thefirst five years of hiscareer. He later moved onto Anna-Jonesboro HighSchool, where he spent 27years teaching beforeretiring in 2008.
“My greatest enjoymentin teaching was seeing mystudents learn,” Scottsaid. “And, moreimportantly, watchingand listening to themapply what they hadlearned. Throughspeeches, original poetry,research papers, originalshort stories, studentsnot only were creative,but they were revealinglittle bits of themselves.”
Now, back to thosedonkeys.
Scott wasn’t allowed tohave a horse during hischildhood, but made upfor it in 1988 when hebought and trained hisfirst mule. The next thingScott knew, he was raising,showing and selling mulesuntil he saw his firstmammoth donkey.
“I always tell people it ishard to put into words ...so I suggest they take onehome for a week and theywill understand,” Scottsaid. “The donkey is farsuperior in intelligencethan the other equine.They have a personalitythat is precious. If youtreat them right, they arethe easiest of the equine
to get going under saddle.I am in no way a cowboy,but I have trained my ownas well as trained others’donkeys to drive a cart.”
Scott says mammothdonkeys live to be 30 to40 years old, whichmeans he has plenty oftime left with Sophie (11)and Janie (4). That’s goodnews for local elementary
students, too, as Scottand the 58-inch-tallSophie have startededucational readingprograms in threeschools.
“Being in SouthernIllinois with my friendsand donkeys, this is aboutas close to paradise as aperson can get,” Scottsaid.
BY JOE SZYNKOWSKIFOR THE SOUTHERN
Brothers Sergio, Julio and NickMendez-Rodriguez haveinstilled their rich family-firstphilosophies into their variousrestaurants, and SouthernIllinois is all the better for it.
Sergio opened his first Sergio’sMexican Restaurant in 2003 inMurphysboro. Seven years later,he has added locations inHerrin, Centralia and Sikeston,Mo., and he plans to keepexpanding. Nick has hit it bigwith his Okla-Tex Nick’s Bar-B-Q restaurant in Benton,while Julio’s popular La Fiestarestaurants are sprinkledthroughout the region.
After growing up in the quaintfarming community of JesusMaria Jalisco in central Mexico,the brothers feel comfortablewith the small-townatmosphere of Southern Illinois.
“You can make a good livinghere,” Sergio said.
“I’m lucky that business goesgood. The houses are not tooexpensive and you can settledown here.”
Sergio says when he first
moved to the area from Atlantaalmost a decade ago, the pace ofliving was “too slow.” It didn’ttake long for him to feel at ease.
“You feel comfortable aroundhere and make a lot of friends,”he said. “When I first openedthe business, I would havepeople offering to fix somethingin my building or my house. Myold neighbor would just comeover and mow my grass. I nevereven asked him to do it.”
The brothers lived in variouslocations before choosing tomove to Southern Illinois. Theyall moved from Mexico toCalifornia as adolescents andspread across the county. Sergiolearned the ins and outs ofbutchering and cooking fromone of his father’s friends inAtlanta. Julio honed his craft inBowling Green, Ky., while Nickstudied the art of smokingbarbecue in Kansas City, Mo.
Nick says the safety andaffordability were big reasons inhim opening shop in Benton.
“It’s a real nice place to raisebabies,” Nick said. “The peopleare really nice here and havebeen a big help with thebusiness. After living inCalifornia and Kansas City,
those were nice places, but justnot great to raise a family.”
It is important to the brothersthat they portray family-friendly atmospheres in theirrestaurants. The Herrin Sergio’srestaurant features a largepainted mural that representsthe family’s heritage. Thebrothers were three of 16children growing up in poverty-stricken Mexico — their fatherworked long hours to supporthis children, while their motheralways offered emotionalsupport.
“When I opened my firstrestaurant and the sales werelow, my mom gave me goodenergy and told me to hang inthere,” Sergio said. “I still talk toher almost every day. Even latelywhen I’ve been getting tired,going back and forth opening upin Centralia, she just tells me tokeep going.”
The brothers plan to keepgoing as long as SouthernIllinois residents keep fillingtheir restaurants.
“Sometimes I can’t believebusiness is as good as it is,” Nicksaid.
“I just want to thank mycustomers.”
SERGIO, JULIO & NICK MENDEZ-RODRIGUEZ
‘You can make a good living here.’
STEVE JAHNKE / THE SOUTHERNSergio Mendez, owner of Sergio’s Mexican Restaurants in the SouthernIllinois area, poses with his wife, Lety, and son, Jose, at the Herrinlocation. On the wall behind them is a mural of his extended family.
ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERNMichael Scott is pictured with his mammoth donkey, Sophie, on his property near Simpson in Johnson County. Scott came toSouthern Illinois in 1968 and immediately fell in love with the area.
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6 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010WE LIKE IT HERE www.thesouthern.com
JIM HAMBRICK
‘... It’saboutselling a city.’BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN
METROPOLIS — JimHambrick has walked thestreets of Hollywood andrubbed shoulders withmovie stars, but afternearly two decades of lifein deep Southern Illinois,he feels lost in theconcrete jungle.
A lifelong Superman fan who has worked on a number of Man of Steel television programs and movies,Hambrick has owned and operated SuperMuseum in Metropolis for18 years.
His journey has come along way from displayingthe first piece ofmemorabilia, a Supermanlunch box, toneighborhood kids.
“It’s no longer about akid showing off his lunchbox, it’s about selling acity,” he said.
In 1972, DC Comics andthe Illinois GeneralAssembly both officiallydeclared Metropolis thehome of Superman,which initially drewHambrick to the MassacCounty city.
He came with a visionfor the museum and afestival and has been anintegral part indeveloping the city’sannual SupermanCelebration into aninternationallyrecognized eventfeaturing celebrity
appearances and drawing thousands intothe town.
And on top of hisSuperman-relatedbusiness, Hambrick alsooperates the AmericanaHollywood Museum indowntown Metropolisnear Harrah’s Casino.
“I thought I did (missLos Angeles), but with the Americana Museum,my whole world
surrounds me. EverythingI loved about California isin that museum,” he said,noting the feelings a pastvisit to his home city leftin him.
“When I got off theplane at LAX, I felt likeTarzan in New York. I justdidn’t feel at home anymore.”
CHUCK NOVARA / THE SOUTHERN Jim Hambrick, owner of Super Museum, stands next to abillboard of Superman in Metropolis. Hambrick has ownedthe museum dedicated to the famed superhero for 18 years.
MIKE & DEBBIEBROOKS
‘It’s laid-back. I love it.’BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN
CHESTER — Statues ofPopeye characters line thestreets of the RandolphCounty seat. Policeofficers wear the cartoonsailor’s image on theiruniforms. Thousands ofpeople flock to town eachyear for the annual Picnicbearing his iconic name.
But it wasn’t alwaysthat way.
Sixteen years ago,Debbie and Mike Brooksmoved to Chester, homeof Popeye creator ElzieSegar, from Memphis,Tenn., with plans to open Spinach CanCollectibles, a Popeye-themed shop andmuseum. But when theoutsiders arrived inSouthern Illinois, theyweren’t necessarily metwith optimism.
“It took a while forthem to adopt us,” DebbieBrooks said. “We weretold we wouldn’t survivehere, that we wouldn’tlast.”
Spinach CanCollectibles did last andcontinues to grow and bea driving force in the cityand its tourism efforts.The city’s Popeye heritageearned it a spot in anational edition ofAmerican Profile newsmagazine and broughtadded attention to themuseum and itshometown.
Debbie Brooks alsoplays an integral role inthe annual Popeye
Festival. She’s served onthe board for the past fiveyears and now serves asthe festival chairwoman.She said it only madesense for her to step intothe role given her ties tothe community and hersix-days-per-weekcommitment to being atthe museum.
“It’s been fun,” she said.“We’ve enjoyed it.”
And with festivalpreparations and tourist
visits keeping her busy,Debbie said she plans onstaying put for theforeseeable future.
“It’s laid-back. I love itso much better; it’s notthe hustle and bustle ofthe city. I love the small-town feel,” she said. “I’mnot going anywhere, and Inever thought I would saythat.”
CHUCK NOVARA / THE SOUTHERN Debbie and Mike Brooks collect Popeye memorabilia and nowown Spinach Can Collectibles, a store that has sales all overthe country and various parts of the world. The couple movedto Chester, home of Popeye creator Elzie Segar, 16 years ago.
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 7WE LIKE IT HEREwww.thesouthern.com
JOEL SAMBURSKY
‘Southern Illinois has everything we need to be happy.’BY LES WINKELERTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — JoelSambursky has forged acomfortable relationship
withSouthernIllinois.
Theformer starSalukiquarterbackhad a stintas director
of the Carbondale Chamberof Commerce before joiningForbes Financial Group as afinancial planner. He methis wife, Samantha(Stutzer), while both werestudents at SIU.
Sam, who played golf atSIU, is now DianeDaugherty’s assistantcoach. The Samburskyshave a daughter, Lane, whowill turn 1 this week.
“My wife, Sam, and I aregoing to be here a longtime, God willing,”Sambursky said. “We justreally love this area. Weknow we could make moremoney somewhere else, butSouthern Illinois haseverything we need to behappy.”
A native of Liberty, Mo., aKansas City suburb,Sambursky didn’tnecessarily get a warm andfuzzy feeling aboutCarbondale on his firstvisit.
“My recruiting trip, Ithink there was a largesnowstorm,” he said.“Coach (Jerry) Kill wasbrand new and didn’t reallyknow what to show us. We
really didn’t see much ofCarbondale because ofthat. My initial thoughtwas, ‘Wow, this is kind of inthe middle of nowhere.’”
That thought wasreinforced by the circuitousroute his parents took fromLiberty to Carbondale.
Despite any misgivings,Sambursky opted to attendSIU. He moved to Carbon-dale at the beginning of thesummer semester.
“I was one of twofreshmen to come toCarbondale early in thesummer,” he said. “Mysecond thought was, ‘whatdid I get myself into?’
“The first year was reallychallenging, the footballteam was 1-11. It wasn’treally did I choose the rightfootball team, but did Ichoose the right area?”
That first year wascomplicated by the eventsof Sept. 11, 2001 …probably not a good omen.
Bad karma aside,Carbondale slowly began togrow on Sambursky.
“I remember taking walksin the morning, just togather my thoughts andpray a little bit,” he said.“It’s just such an awesomearea. I loved the fact therewas a lake on campus, Iloved the area around it. Ithought it was just really agood mix of people.”
Things started to turnaround in the next coupleyears. The football teamstarted winning. He metthe woman who wouldbecome his wife. Suddenly,Carbondale had a differentlook and feel.
“I think any collegeathlete at some time startsthinking about what’snext,” Sambursky said. “Iwas pretty proactive onthat. I’m 6-foot-0 and I’m195 pounds, I’m probablynot big enough to play inthe MVC, much less theNFL.
“I think a lot of studentscome down here and go toschool and look for a reasonto leave. They start chasinga big paycheck. I startedthinking I have no greatreason to leave.”
Now, Sambursky and hisyoung family have woventhemselves into the fabricof Southern Illinois. Inaddition to his day job, theformer quarterback is avolunteer assistant coachfor Carterville High School.
He spends fall Saturdaysworking as the sidelinereporter with Mike Reis andGene Green on SIU footballbroadcasts. Members of hisfamily are starting to moveinto the area.
Without question,Southern Illinois worked itsway into Sambursky’sheart.
“It did,” he said. “It wasvery comfortable. I thinkstill being around thefootball team, the coaches,doing radio, my wife,getting the job as assistantwomen’s golf coach and mebeing a financial planner…It’s just worked out great.I’ve developed some greatrelationships over the lastnine years.”
PHOTO BY SIU MEDIA SERVICESFormer SIU quarterback Joel Sambursky evades a tackle by Indiana State’s Derrick Williams.
Sambursky
BY CODELL RODRIGUEZTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — Onecommonality that London,Toronto, Bronx, N.Y., andSouthern Illinois have isthat Allison Joseph haslived in all of them.
Joseph, associateprofessor of English anddirector of the MFAprogram at SIUC, was bornin London to parents fromGrenada and Jamaica. Herfamily moved to Torontoand later Bronx, N.Y., andshe attended school inOhio and IndianaUniversity, where she mether husband, John Tribble,who is now the managingeditor of Crab OrchardReview at SIUC. Josephwas one of the foundingeditors.
Despite experiencing thebiggest cities in the world,Joseph has found a home inSouthern Illinois andSIUC. She has launchedthe Young Writer’sWorkshop, which giveshigh school students fromall over the country achance to show off theirliterary prowess, and hasseen the MFA programbecome one of the top 50in the country, accordingto the “Poets and Writers”journal.
“SIU and Carbondalehave been a wonderfulplace to launch a lot of
these projects,” Joseph said.Joseph said she came to
SIUC because she wasinformed of a position byEnglish professor RodneyJones, whom she says shehas a lot of respect for. Shevisited the campus andwas impressed by thegraduate programs, thestudents and the physicalappearance.
Joseph obviously tookthe job and eventuallyformed the Young Writer’sWorkshop. Joseph said shewanted to offer somethingfor writers because they donot get the events thatathletes get. The annualfive-day workshop brings30 high school students,ages 15 to 18, from all overthe country and featureswriting classes andreadings from facultymembers and otherparticipants. What sheloves about the workshopis that it brings so manydifferent students ofvarying ethnicities,cultures and backgrounds.
“The thing that holdsthem together is that theylike to write,” Joseph said.
Joseph has seen her shareof success. Her awardsinclude the John C.Zacharis First Book Award,the Aquarius Press LegacyAward, the Literary Awardfrom the Illinois ArtsCouncil and the Academyof American Poets Prize.
Her published worksinclude “What Keeps MeHere,” “Imitation of Life”and “My Father’s Kites.”An award-winning poetneeds inspiration and thatis something Joseph hasfound in the natural beautyof the region.
“I really have becomemore and more interestedin the physical landscape,”
Joseph said.But it’s not just the
rolling hills and woodedareas that make Josephwant to stay in the region.She likes the fact that thearea’s affordable and thatshe has been pleasantlysurprised by the people shehas met. She admits shehad some fears about beingpart of an interracial couple
in Southern Illinois afterhearing stories aboutsundown towns, but saidshe has experienced a lotless problems than sheanticipated. Just becauseher expertise falls in thearts doesn’t mean Josephcannot rival anyone’sSaluki Spirit. She and herhusband are regulars forSaluki football and
basketball games.One of Joseph’s greatest
sources of pride in theregion will always be theMFA program.
“Every day, there’s greatnews from current studentsor someone who went toschool here,” Joseph said.
8 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010WE LIKE IT HERE www.thesouthern.com
www.westfrankfort-il.com
ALLISON JOSEPH
‘SIU and Carbondale have been a wonderful place.’
ALAN ROGERS / THE SOUTHERNAllison Joseph, an associate professor of English at SIUC, leads an introductory poetry class at the university.
I am a recent transplant, and I willnever go back! Love it here!
— Debbie Oilschlager Kuchar
New Jersey girl that married 16 yearsago a man from Illinois. Love it here!
— Phyllis Wells
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THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 9WE LIKE IT HEREwww.thesouthern.com
GEORGE SHEFFER
‘One thing I like is SIU.’PETER GITAU
‘Diversity exists down here.’BY CODELL RODRIGUEZTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — WhatGeorge Sheffer, owner ofMurdale True Value, likesabout Southern Illinois issomething he saw on oneof its more destructivedays.
The store’s goods werein high demand May 8,2009, and the staff knewit. He said they workedextra hours to make surepeople got what theyneeded, and the customerswere courteous andappreciative. He saweveryone pitch in and helpeach other out through achallenging time. Shefferloves the people ofSouthern Illinois butthey’re only one of thereasons he stays.
In the 1970s, Sheffer wasan SIUC student from theChicago suburbs, workinghis way though college byworking in a bar calledAmerican Tap. That,however, changed.
“I met my wife and mybest friend here,” Sheffersaid. “When I married her,
I decided I wanted to getout of the bar business,and I’ve been doing thisever since.”
Before the bar andmeeting his wife, Shefferwas drafted into the U.S.Army during Vietnam. Hestood on the tarmac,waiting to be shipped outwhen President RichardNixon announced no moretroops would be sent.After spending timestationed in Germany, heeventually took overmanagement of a TrueValue in Harrisburg andworked there from about1980 to 1985. That’s whenhe became sole owner ofMurdale True Value inCarbondale.
Sheffer said what kepthim here was the lifestyle.He was used to travelingback and forth for hourson an expressway andenjoyed the change. Thenthere’s the nature.Whether it’s Giant CityState Park or the manywine trails, Sheffer cannotget enough of thelandscape.
Sheffer also enjoys what
SIUC brings to the region.He said he enjoys thecamaraderie that comeswith tailgating before aSaluki football game,especially outside the newSaluki Stadium. He alsoenjoys that the universitybrings people from all overthe world to Carbondale.
“I think one thing I likeis SIU and how lucky weare to have it,” Sheffersaid. “We have a diversecommunity. That’s a veryfortunate thing to have.”
SIUC is part of the bigpicture when it comes toeducation. Sheffer said hehas been able to see hischildren learn from greatteachers from gradeschool through highschool and both areearning Ph.D.s. Withgreat schools and a greatuniversity, Sheffer saidthe region can give greatsuccess to anyone.
“You can apply yourselfhere and you can competeanywhere in the nation,”Sheffer said.
CODELL RODRIGUEZ / THE SOUTHERNGeorge Sheffer owns Murdale True Value in Carbondale.
BY CODELL RODRIGUEZTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — PeterGitau admits that the firsttime he visited SouthernIllinois for a job interview,he was afraid it was toosecluded.
But Gitau soon foundthere was much to love inSouthern Illinois, enoughso that he turned downjobs in Ohio and Texas, thenative of Kenya is theassociate vice chancellorfor student affairs and deanof students at SIUC. Hewas the dean of student lifeat the University ofDubuque (Iowa) beforecoming to SIUC in 2008,and said one of the bigreasons he settled inSouthern Illinois is that hewouldn’t have to deal withIowa winters anymore.
“I grew up in Africa righton the equator, and wenever got snow,” Gitau said
In fact, the milder winterwas one of the big sellingpoints he said theuniversity used in bringinghim to SIUC. Even thoughhis first winter in the
region was plagued by anasty ice storm, Gitau isvery happy in SouthernIllinois.
While Gitau was initiallyafraid that SouthernIllinois would be toosecluded, he found it was arural area with a greatvariety of people, plenty ofcultural events to take partin and plenty of things todo.
“Diversity, in its realsense, exists down here,”Gitau said.
He said he especiallyenjoys visiting Giant CityState Park.
“That’s a place thatanyone who comes intoCarbondale needs todiscover,” Gitau said.
But he hasn’t forgottenKenya. Gitau goes backwith students andcommunity members to dowork such as buildingschoolrooms and libraries.He’s taking a group ofabout 15 on Dec. 15. He saidthe trips are not vacationsand require a lot of workbut said it is a rewardingexperience for everyone.
“I think that’s how you
create culturalunderstanding,” Gitau said.
He said culturalunderstanding is extremelyimportant, especially inSouthern Illinois.
“If I came here with aclosed mind, saying thesepeople aren’t going to likeme and I’m not going tolike them, nothing wouldchange,” Gitau said.
More than anything,Gitau enjoys interactingwith SIUC students. Heworks on programs such asSaluki Cares, which offershelp to students dealingwith anything from a deathin the family tohomesickness.
Gitau said he has foundthe students to beremarkable people whoimpress him by startingand maintainingRegistered StudentOrganizations andorganizing student events.
“That shows you thatstudents are not juststudents but leaders in themaking,” Gitau said.
CODELL RODRIGUEZ / THE SOUTHERNPeter Gitau is associate vice chancellor for student affairs at SIUC.
10 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 11WE LIKE IT HEREwww.thesouthern.com
• Gov. Quinn took over at atime of crisis in Illinois, but asgovernor he has workedtirelessly to reform state ethicslaws and put Illinois back towork.
• Gov. Quinn spearheaded thefirst jobs bill in over ten years,which will put over 439,000people back to work.
• Gov. Quinn created aprogram to give $2500 toevery small business thatcreates a job.
• Gov. Quinn cut $3 billion fromthe state budget and opposesSen. Bill Brady's tax cuts for thewealthy because they will addover $1 billion to the statedeficit.
• Gov. Quinn understands theimportance of hunting to theSouthern Illinois economy, andhas continued to support thecreation of a fourth zone forwater fowl hunting. This effortwill ensure that Southern Illinoisremains competitive withsurrounding states andreceives its share of huntingrelated revenue.
GovernorPPaatt QQuuiinnnn
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GREG MEREDITH
‘No place compares to Southern Illinois.’BY ADAM TESTATHE SOUTHERN
Greg Meredith’s fourchildren have all grownand left Southern Illinoisto pursue careers, lives andfamilies of their own inWashington, Texas andWashington, D.C.
These cross-countrylocales allow Meredith,owner of Meredith FuneralHome in Carbondale, achance to see the countryand travel to spend timewith the family. But forMeredith, there’s always asense of joy in returninghome.
“When we leave to govisit our kids, I’m alwaysglad to get back,” he said.“No place compares toSouthern Illinois.”
While Meredith was ateenager in the 1960s, hisnorthern Illinois familypurchased a plot offarmland in the Marionarea, making the tripacross the state to workand manage both familyfarms. Upon helping hisfamily, he developed apersonal affection for theregion and returned toattend Southern IllinoisUniversity Carbondale in1965.
Personal issues causedhim to return up north tocontinue his education,but it wouldn’t be longbefore Meredith wouldfind his way “home.”While on a skiing trip inBozeman, Mont., Meredithinjured himself and wound
up spending time at anarea funeral home, wherehe discovered his interestin the profession.
After pursuing amortuary degree andworking at a Marseillesfuneral home, he began astatewide search for a placeto launch his ownbusiness. Much to hissatisfaction, Carbondalebecame that place. In 1974,he purchased what wouldbecome Meredith FuneralHome and has continuedto operate the business forthe past three and a halfdecades.
“The thing that gives methe greatest joy is to beable to help people,” hesaid. “When I can helppeople at the roughesttime of their life, it’s veryfulfilling to me.”
And there’s no placeMeredith would ratherwork with people than inSouthern Illinois, a place ofunique characteristicsranging from its people toits aesthetic beauty to itscultural diversity. As amember of the community,he tries to do his part. He’sa member of the Chamberof Commerce, volunteerswith the American CancerSociety and participates incommunity events likeSIUC’s “Singing with theStars” in 2009.
“Wherever I am, I alwaystry to promote SouthernIllinois,” Meredith said.
PAUL NEWTON / THE SOUTHERNGreg Meredith moved permanently to Southern Illinois 1974 and owns and operates Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale.
ARMEN ASATURIAN
‘I’ve really grown toappreciate the character.’BY CODELL RODRIGUEZTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — ArmenAsaturian is home.
The president of theengineering firmAsaturian, Eaton andAssociates moved toCarbondale in 1970, andthere is no other place hewould rather live thanSouthern Illinois. With hislove of hunting, fishing,the outdoors and friendlypeople, he said he hasfound the place best suitedfor him and his family.
Asaturian is of Armenianheritage and was born inTehran, Iran. He attendedundergraduate school atthe University of IllinoisChampaign-Urbana,where he met his wife, aGalena native. Aftercollege, the IllinoisEnvironmental ProtectionAgency offered him a job inone of three locations,
including Carbondale. Hesaid he and his wife bothwanted to live in auniversity town andCarbondale seemed like agreat fit.
“We both thoughtSouthern Illinois would bea great place to live andraise a family,” Asaturiansaid.
It also allowed Asaturianto receive a master’s degreefrom SIUC. He said hegreatly appreciated theeducation the regionoffered his children fromkindergarten to highereducation. He alsoappreciates the culturalopportunities and isinvolved with VarsityCenter for the Arts.
Asaturian also just lovesinteracting with people.He said he gets to meet andgets to know a lot of peoplein his line of work, andwith all the friends he hasmade, it has further
convinced him that hebelongs here.
“I’ve really grown toappreciate the characterand values of the people inthe area,” Asaturian said.
His first attraction to thearea was the nature. Hisfirst visit to SouthernIllinois was for a goosehunting trip, and he lovesthat the region doesn’t feeltoo congested.
“I don’t like big, crowdedspaces,” Asaturian said.
Asaturian’s relatives alsoimmigrated to the UnitedStates. He said it has beena long time since he hasbeen in Iran and hedoesn’t plan to go backbecause his home is herenow.
“Living in a country withthis much liberty andfreedom is not possibleanyplace else in the world,”Asaturian said.
CODELL RODRIGUEZ / THE SOUTHERNArmen Asaturian is founding partner of Asaturian, Eaton and Associates in Carbondale.
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12 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010WE LIKE IT HERE www.thesouthern.com
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BY BECKY MALKOVICHTHE SOUTHERN
BENTON — St. Louistransplant Lee Medders isquick to name one of herfavorite aspects of life inSouthern Illinois.
“I’m 3.8 miles from myjob,” she said. “Yes, Imeasured it. I’m veryexcited about that.”
That’s because Meddersused to fight the flood ofvehicles on St. Louisroadways as she made herway to a job she hated.
Medders and herhusband, Steve, a MountVernon native, moved torural Benton just morethan four years ago.
“My husband gotdownsized, and I wasn’thappy in my job. I was sickto death of it and hopingto get away from it andthis is where life took me,”she said.
After taking a couple ofyears off to get used torural life, she purchasedThe Buzz, a popularcoffeehouse andrestaurant on the BentonPublic Square.
“I bought The Buzz afterliving here about twoyears. I was bored out ofmy mind and didn’t knowanyone. You can only talkto your dogs for so long,”she joked. “It’s fun.Everyone who works hereloves their job and thepeople who come in aregenuinely happy — andseem more genuine thanpeople in the city. They aremore interested in whatyou have to say.”
She also finds peopletake an interest in gettingto know their neighbors.
“When I got here, Ididn’t know anybody. I’vefound when you go to thesame places all the time,everyone knows yourname, they greet you when
you walk in the door. Ididn’t have that back in St.Louis. I guess it’s moreintimate here,” she said.
At the same time, thereis more privacy, she said.
“Here, the houses are farapart and we have moreproperty. It’s cozy. We can
build a fire in the backyardand roast marshmallows.You can’t do that in thecity either,” Medders said.
Her dogs also enjoy morefreedom.
“They can run in ouryard. We can take them ona boat and to the beach. I
like having places to takemy dogs,” she said.
While the slower pace ofSouthern Illinois tooksome getting used to, she’snow happy with the morelaid-back lifestyle.
“I like that there’s lesstraffic. I like that a lot. I
like that I can see stars inthe sky. I like walking inplaces and everybodyknows my name. It’s like‘Cheers,’” she said,laughing.
LEE MEDDERS
‘I like walking in places and everybody knows my name.’
BECKY MALKOVICH / THE SOUTHERNLee Medders made a home and business in Southern Illinois after moving from St. Louis. Medders is owner of The Buzz in Benton.
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 13WE LIKE IT HEREwww.thesouthern.com
DIANE DAUGHERTY
‘It never occurredto me to leave.’
BETH WALKER
‘It’s a beautiful place to live.’
BY PETE SPITLERTHE SOUTHERN
Twenty-four years ago,Diane Daugherty had adecision to make.
Coming off the LPGATour after knee surgery in1986, the Centralia, Mo.,native knew she stillwanted to be active in golf,even though her careerwas coming to a close.
“I thought if I couldn’tplay golf, I would livevicariously through thenext big thing, which wascoaching,” Daughtery said.
After a couple of jobinterviews, including oneat Northern IllinoisUniversity, Daughertylanded in Carbondale atSouthern IllinoisUniversity and neverlooked back.
“I came to SIU andthought I’d coach a coupleyears and move on,” saidDaugherty, who is now inher 25th season ofcoaching the Salukis. “Ihad chances in the earlieryears. Colleges would callDr. (Charlotte) West andask for the opportunity tointerview me.”
From the days of lightblue golf bags beingliterally spray-painted“SIU Golf” to the newindoor driving range andputting facility namedafter the longtime coach, alot of the Salukis’ progresshas been because ofDaugherty.
“I have put my heart andsoul into SIU, it neveroccurred to me to leave,”Daugherty said.
And the residents ofSouthern Illinois havegiven back to the program.Perhaps not monetarily,but with respect and
admiration of a coach whohas become synonymouswith Saluki golf.
“The people,” saidDaugherty, when askedwhat she likes best aboutthe area. “At our home atHickory Ridge (Public GolfCenter), I can’t hit ballswithout 10 people comingup to me and saying hello.
“They treat my girls likecelebrities and SouthernIllinois is home.”
Daugherty has kept herrecruiting efforts withinthe area as well. Seven ofthe eight Salukis on thecurrent roster are withinan hour and a half’s drivefrom home, withFlossmoore’s MargaretGilley the lone exception.
“When I recruit kids, Iask them if they want to gosomewhere where it’s hotall the time,” Daughertysaid. “I love the one or twosnow days we get here andI’ve never felt unsafe.”
Daugherty has alsobranched out into nongolf-related activities likeanimal rescue andauctioneering. St. FrancisCommunity AnimalRescue and Education,which moved into a newCountry Club Roadlocation in Murphysboroin July, is averaging 35adoptions a month thanksto Daugherty’s help.
“One of my big passionsis animal rescue, and thecommunity supportbehind that has beengreat,” Daugherty said. “Idon’t know how I got thissecond life as anauctioneer, but I alwaysseem to show upauctioning things.”
PAUL NEWTON / THE SOUTHERNSIU women’s golf head coach Diane Daugherty moved toCarbondale after an injury ended her pro golf career in 1986.
BY LINDA RUSHTHE SOUTHERN
Beth Walker came toCarbondale to attendSouthern Illinois Universityand never left SouthernIllinois, she said. As a newgraduate in public relationsand communications andlow on funds, she said shestayed because “honestly itwas better financially forme to stay. I would bemaking less money, but thecost of living is lower here.”
In short order, she foundwhat she considers herdream job, then fell in lovewith Southern Illinois —and with the man whomoved in across the streetfrom her in Johnston City.
Walker, the former BethHartke, is corporate eventsdirector for the American
Heart Association, covering23 Illinois counties and theCape Girardeau area. Shecoordinates the annualHeart Walks that are majorfundraisers for the AHA,works on wellnessprograms for workplacesand also serves on a numberof health coalitionsdesigned to improve areahealth care.
“I’m very lucky,” shesaid. “I found the positionin Southern Illinois thatwas perfect for me.” Whilea student at SIUC, Walkerwas active in a studentpublic relationsorganization and met DonFisher of Marion Ford, anactive AHA volunteer.“When he heard about theAHA job opening, Doncalled me and urged me toapply. That was a little over
five years ago,” Walker said.As she traveled
throughout SouthernIllinois, she grew toappreciate its uniquebeauty and the goodness ofits people.
“Everyone is willing tohelp,” she said. “In myregion of Southern Illinois,volunteerism is high.There are great neighbors,great area leaders. It wouldbe a great place to raisekids.” Even though timesare tough for manyfamilies, she is encouragedby the many volunteers sheworks with and thegenerosity of donations. Atthis year’s Heart Walk onOct. 2, more than 1,500volunteers were out on achilly day, raising fundsand awareness about heartdisease. That, she said, was
“the perfect work day.”Walker grew up in
Teutopolis, a small townwith a population of 1,400.Southern Illinois has all thesmall-town attributes, butalso offers the opportunityto “live large” with plentyof educational and culturalattractions, she said.
She laughed as sheexplained her “four-hourrule,” meaning she wants tolive within four hours orless from her parents inTeutopolis.
Walker’s husband,Charles, has a story similarto hers. He is from Fairfieldand has an auto technologydegree from SIUC. He tookjobs with automanufacturers that tookhim far from home. Thenhe, too, heard from aformer instructor that
Pepsi MidAmerica inMarion was looking for adirector of logistics. He washired and moved toJohnston City.
Charles and Beth met asneighbors, then began todate, always under thewatchful eyes of the olderwomen who live nearby.
“The wholeneighborhood knew whenwe had dinner,” Beth saidwith a laugh.
The two married Oct. 31,2009. They love to spend
time exploring the region’sbackroads on Charles’motorcycle. Bethparticularly loves thechanging colors of autumn.They enjoy sharingactivities with visitingfamily members.
“There are so manyopportunities to volunteerand enjoy life,” Bethobserved. “It’s a beautifulplace to live.”
PROVIDEDBeth Walker of the American Heart Association speaks at anews conference April 7 in Herrin.
BY SCOTT FITZGERALDTHE SOUTHERN
CARBONDALE — Racheland Stuart Fischoff’sdecision to move toSouthern Illinois and livehere sounds almost toogood to be true.
They were key players inHollywood — Rachel ascript consultant for theentertainment industry,and Stuart as a mediapsychologist who hasappeared regularly on CNNnewscasts forcommentary, such astaking live telephone callson the air after theOklahoma City bombing in1995, and writingfrequently for PsychologyToday.
They met in HollywoodHills and got married in1989 at a scene locationwhere the classic “Shane,”staring Alan Ladd, wasfilmed.
Rachel is not permittedto talk about inside storiesor tell lively anecdotesabout some of the keyplayers she worked with in
Hollywood because ofconfidentiality contracts.And frankly, she’s notinterested.
“I’m not interested infame. I never soughtanything like it. I preferredbeing a backgroundplayer,” Rachel Fischoffsaid.
She is originally fromCleveland and worked as astringer for The ClevelandPlain Dealer. A brashreporter she remembers isJoe Eszterhas, who latersettled in Hollywoodwriting scripts like “BasicInstinct,” and thenotorious “Showgirls.”
The Fischoffs’ decisionto move to SouthernIllinois and Carbondale inparticular outdoes nearlyanything a Hollywoodscript writer couldimagine.
“Los Angeles andHollywood is a toughurban climate. The air inLos Angeles is brown. Thecompetitiveness brings outthe worst in people.Around 2000, we made aconscious decision to look
for a university town tolive. The Internet made itpossible for us to continueour work from anywhere,”Rachel said.
Luckily, Carbondalemade Rachel Fischoff’s listof university towns to visit.The Fischoffs subscribedto The Southern Illinoisanto learn more about thecommunity.
“I’m part of a fadinggroup of readers who stilllikes to hold thenewspaper. The newspaperand even theadvertisements offeredeverything. I had atremendous view of thistown because the paper isall local. I also researchedthis place endlesslyonline,” Rachel said.
She arrived here in 2003via Greyhound bus, andthat was intentional.Traveling by bus offers atrue glimpse of thelandscape and people,Rachel said.
She got off the bus andbegan walking thedowntown Carbondalestreets. She noticed atremendous amount ofdiversity as she heardforeign accents andnoticed people of manyethnicities.
“I walked every inch ofthe town. Walking is howyou understand the town.The people were fantastic,”Rachel said.
After her Greyhoundjourney, Rachel was soldon the area andimmediately wanted to
become a part of it.“A town like this is
comfortable andunderstandable withoutbeing boring. There is thestimulus of the universityand general pleasures ofwalking down countryroads,” Rachel said.
She eventually movedhere and lived in aSouthern IllinoisUniversity Carbondalegraduate student housingrental for a year. Stuartjoined her and they’vebeen here ever since withnot a single thought ofdeparting to somewhere
else. In fact, they aremaking an investment onimproving their residentialproperty south of town.
“Crazy was the wordvoiced most when we toldour Hollywood friendsabout moving here on ourown free will. No onebelieved us. Theypredicted we would hate itand stay maybe a year.Surprise! We love it!”Rachel said.
SIUC provides thecultural milieu theFischoffs are accustomedto. They love theearthiness of Southern
Illinois and are active withmany facets of thecommunity from The BigMuddy Film Festival tobelonging on many patroncommittees of the arts toattending lectures at localchurches. They are activein environmental causes,also.
“It would take me 10lifetimes to do everythingthat I want to do in thisarea. We came herebecause we wanted tocome here,” Rachel said.
14 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 WE LIKE IT HERE www.thesouthern.com
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After living in severalparts of the United Statesand overseas, Jennifer andChris Seaman had theopportunity, because ofChris’ career as apharmacist, to choosevirtually anywhere to live.They chose SouthernIllinois.
Jennifer was born andraised in West Frankfortand graduated from theUniversity of Illinois with amaster’s degree in humanresources. She took a jobwith DuPont and moved toWilmington, Del. Duringher time with DuPont, shealso lived in Richmond,Va., and Kansas City, Mo.
While in Richmond, shemet her husband, who wasin pharmacy school. Chriswas in the Air Force,stationed at Whiteman AirForce base near KansasCity, Jennifer was able totransfer to the area withher job. The couple marriedin Kansas City.
Chris was then stationedin England for three years,and was deployed to Iraq.As they got to talking aboutfamily with the pharmacistfilling in for Chris during
his deployment, theydiscovered he was fromHerrin and his brother wasa pharmacist at the VA inMarion.
Jennifer said being so farfrom home and discoveringsuch a close connectionwas viewed as a sign.
“We had thought aboutcoming here, but we kindof saw that as a sign,” shesaid.
“I always knew familywas important to me, and Iwanted to come backhome. I have two smallchildren; all my family isfrom this area. I alwaysknew that this is eventuallywhere I wanted to end up.”
She said when decidingwhere to settle after Chris’obligation in the Air Forcewas completed, theyconsidered St. Louis,Kansas City, and theupstate New York area,where Chris is from, butdecided to move back toSouthern Illinois to beclose to Jennifer’s family.
Jennifer said her husbandwas reluctant to move tothe Midwest because hewas terrified of tornados.
The couple moved backto Southern Illinois in thefirst week of May 2009 and was welcomed by the
super derecho.She said the family has
recently built a house inCarterville, with abasement, and enjoys thequality of life SouthernIllinois has to offer.
Jennifer said havingtraveled after college wouldlater become important indeciding to settle back inSouthern Illinois.
“I was fortunate enoughafter school to live in a lot ofdifferent places and see alot of different things,” shesaid. “I think that’simportant because I got tosee a lot of different parts ofthe country. I think it makesyou appreciate home thatmuch more when you’vebeen out in the world. Itjust kind of solidified mewanting to move backhome. Small-town life isnot so bad after all.”
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010 15WE LIKE IT HEREwww.thesouthern.com
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KIM & SCOTT MILLER
‘It’s really about a quality of life, that’s really the bottom line’
BY STEPHEN RICKERLTHE SOUTHERN
Having lived most oftheir adult lives inSouthern Illinois andmoving away for theircareers, Kim and ScottMiller found themselves ina city that was lacking thequality of life they wereaccustomed to in SouthernIllinois.
Kim Miller came to SIUCas an undergraduatestudent and stayed untilshe earned a Ph.D. inhealth education andhealth promotion.
Her husband, Scott,came to SIUC in 1969, and
upon graduating in 1971,got involved in theconstruction trade. Scottworked for the physicalplant at SIUC for 13 years,beginning in 1987.
When Kim finished herdoctorate, she was offereda job at University ofKentucky in Lexington andbecame a tenuredprofessor there.
The couple lived inKentucky for 10 years butdidn’t feel at home likethey did in SouthernIllinois.
After a decade away, thecouple decided to walkaway from the careers theybuilt in Kentucky to beback in Southern Illinois.
Scott is semi-retired andKim, having given up hertenured position as aprofessor, is now anadjunct professor, but saidshe is open to careerchanges or a full-timeposition.
Scott said career-wisethe couple gave up a lot,
but they are happy to beclose to friends and familyagain. Scott’s childrenfrom a previous marriagelive in Southern Illinoisand were a factor in thecouple coming back.
“There’s trade-offs witheverything,” he said. “And
we thought the trade-offof being in a comfortableenvironment and feelinglike part of the community,we were willing to take thatleap and let the chips fallwhere they would with thework knowing that we’reboth capable and
experienced and we’d findsomething to do,”
“It’s really about aquality of life move, that’sreally the bottom line,”Kim said. “After we’d beenfor Lexington those manyyears we’d had a lot ofconversations about whatkind of life we wanted. Weknew we weren’t living it,but we had a lot ofconversions about what wedid want and it alwaysseemed like it came back tohere.”
Kim said the move wasthe right decision, andthey now enjoy a bettersense of connection to thecommunity, people and theoutdoors.
She said they are avidfitness people and enjoytaking advantage of all theoutdoors activitiesSouthern Illinois has tooffer.
She said one of thegreatest things about livingin Southern Illinois is allthe activities it has to offer
and its low-stressenvironment.
“On the weekends, youcan kind of live like you’reon vacation without goingon vacation,” Kim said.“We have friends who haveboats on Little GrassyLake, and they’ve beennice enough to invite us,and it’s like when you’reout there, there’s nobodyout there. People travel along way to have this kindof experience and here it isright in their backyardpractically.”
Having been back in theregion for only a fewmonths, the couple saidthey are still rediscoveringsome areas of SouthernIllinois.
They said they have noregrets about what theygave up to come back toSouthern Illinois.
“It feels like the rightdecision,” Kim said.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Last week,in “We Like It Here: ComingHome,” we told the story ofJennifer and Chris Seaman,as well as Kim Miller.Unfortunately, their photoswere reversed. We would liketo offer our apologies and re-run the stories in theirentirety in today’s section.
STEPHEN RICKERL / THE SOUTHERNKim and Scott Miller pose for a portrait at their home inMakanda. The Millers returned to Southern Illinois after livingin Lexington, Ky., where Kim was a university professor.
JENNIFER & CHRIS SEAMAN
‘I wanted to come back home.’
STEPHEN RICKERL / THE SOUTHERNJennifer Seaman poses for a portrait at Heartland Regional Medical Center.
16 THE SOUTHERN ILLINOISAN THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2010