Happy weekend, Southern Illinois! In today’s happening-today edition: Tick-borne alpha-gal risk, kitty yoga, and Black Diamond Full Throttle Weekend + events worth checking out today & tomorrow.
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01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Community celebration efforts: Murphysboro marked 618 Day on June 18, raising funds at Faye Café for projects like resurfacing the Fifth and Walnut retaining wall and restoring train depot into a visitor center -- see Murphysboro's fundraisers.
Growing health concern: With ticks surging in the Shawnee, a University of Illinois study says southern Illinois faces the highest alpha-gal risk. A new state law now requires doctors to report diagnoses -- learn about alpha-gal risk.
Community transit stays available: Vienna extended its free In-Town Shuttle through December. Service runs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for residents in city limits, with trips booked 24 hours ahead -- get the full details.
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Weekend on the water: Need a low-key reset this week? Bluegill Bay Marina & Campground has lakeside campsites on Crab Orchard Lake, boat slips, fishing piers, a ramp, and a bait-stocked general store. Bonus points for the fish cleaning station and laundry, because real life still follows you outdoors.
Weekend swing fix: Carbondale’s own Hickory Ridge Public Golf Course is an 18-hole, tree-lined par 72 with a driving range, practice spots, and a clubhouse restaurant that actually hits the spot. Sneak in a quick nine or join a league, then claim bragging rights over something other than your yard.
Craving a coastal fix? Skip the drive to the Gulf and let Sausea's Seafood handle the itch with seasoned boils, crispy fish baskets, and a strong po' boy game. Chill vibe, generous portions, and sauces that demand bread-dunking, which is my scientific way of saying this spot seriously hits the weeknight comfort mark.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town today & tomorrowOur favorite events going on the rest of this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
💎 Black Diamond Full Throttle Weekend @ Black Diamond Harley-Davidson (Marion) | Saturday (6/20) at 9:00 AM – Full Throttle Weekend is roaring into the Oasis, giving Father’s Day the soundtrack it deserves, and unveiling the next chapter of Harley-Davidson. Expect chrome, camaraderie, and that unmistakable rumble echoing across Marion. Perfect excuse to upgrade the bike, the boots, or the bragging rights.
🚗 6th Annual Troop 520 Car Show @ Gateway Classic Cars (O'Fallon) | Saturday (6/20) at 10:00 AM – Rescheduled because Midwest weather has opinions, the Troop 520 car show rolls into Gateway Classic Cars with engines, good eats, and tunes. Free to browse, a small fee to show. Crowd picks Best of Show, Scouts and Scouters crown their favorites, bragging rights included.
🧘 Kitty Yoga @ Aspire Yoga (Marion) | Saturday (6/20) at 11:45 AM – Kitty yoga outside Aspire, with adoptable kittens weaving through your warrior two. Finally, a class where losing balance is the cat's fault, and you might leave with a new roommate. Bring your mat, your calm voice, and zero resistance to tiny paws.
🎨 ART Journal Workshop @ Art Gecko Studio (O'Fallon) | Saturday (6/20) at 1:00 PM – Art Gecko Studio is hosting monthly creative journaling for the 21-and-up crowd, and it beats doomscrolling. First session is $50 with your own art journal, then $25 monthlies with supplies, plus weekly prompts, new projects, and zero judgment, just grown-up glue-stick joy.
🎉 Summer Reading Celebration Party @ Barnes & Noble (Carbondale) | Saturday (6/20) – The town's most wholesome rager is here, the first Summer Reading Celebration Party for kids who devour books. Bring the littles, their parents or guardians, and your patience for glitter. Expect crafts, bookish fun, and more juice boxes than IPAs.
🎼 Price, Copland & John Williams @ Carterville High School | Sunday (6/21) at 2:00 PM – Southern Illinois Music Festival is tipping its hat to America at 250 with a concert of Florence Price, Copland, and John Williams. Expect warm Americana, big swells, and tunes you forgot you knew, patriotic without plastic hats, the kind even your Saluki hums along to.
⚾ Thrillville Thrillbillies: Faith & Family Night @ Mtn Dew Park (Marion) | Sunday (6/21) – Ballpark weather calls for peanuts, family, and a little faith. The Thrillbillies host the O’Fallon Hoots for Faith & Family Night, part one, a night of community and connection where the loudest argument is nachos versus hot dogs, and bedtime gets negotiated in the seventh. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — The Southern Illinois report Weather forecastToday — High: 87°F — Low: 68°F — Precip: 4%
Mostly sunny. High near 87, with temperatures falling to around 85 in the afternoon. South southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: A slight chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tomorrow — High: 86°F — Low: 70°F — Precip: 78%
Rain showers likely before 10am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 86. South wind 3 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 12 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. This house is wildSet on a roomy 1.5-acre lot in the Carterville School District, this well-kept 4-bedroom, 5-bath home blends countryside charm with everyday comfort. The oversized primary suite feels like a true escape, while the flexible layout suits guests, work-from-home life, or busy family routines. Outside, the broad yard invites cookouts, games, and garden projects.
Take a peek inside → |
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