2015 Herrin & Energy Spotlight

SPOTLIGHT ON HERRIN AND ENERGY October 30, 2015

In Herrin, it’s all about

neighbors helping neighbors, and family helping family ‌H errin chose a new city motto last year from more than 250 submissions. The winning slogan, Welcome Home, won the most of several hundred votes. Herrin Chamber of Commerce President Deborah Hogg embraces the sentiment and calls it a true reflection of the pride Herrin citizens have in their community and their dedication to helping all who call the city home.

Deborah is also the community education manager for Hospice of Southern Illinois.

She joined Hospice in 1996 as a volunteer and accepted a position on staff in 1998. She joined the Herrin Chamber of Commerce more than 10 years ago, was asked to serve on the executive committee and now serves as president. Deborah is understandably excited about all things Herrin.

“I have not lived in Herrin since the ’70s, but I attended church here and have been active in the community and with HerrinFesta,” she said. “I consider it an honor to serve as chamber president. I spend a lot of time in Herrin. It’s an incredible community, so friendly, always so welcoming.

So ‘Welcome Home” is a motto so well chosen.”

Another newcomer to his office, Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini, may be the only person who has more good things to say about Herrin. He was appointed acting mayor when Vic Ritter stepped down. He was elected to the position this spring.

“We really have all the ingredients here in Herrin to attract new residents and new businesses,” he said. “Our cost of living is low as is the cost of real

‘Herrin really has the complete package,’ says Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini.

BYRON HETZLER, THE SOUTHERN‌

Herrin was named after Isaac Herring, a Baptist preacher and the first permanent settler in Herrin in 1816. It is the hometown of country music star David Lee Murphy, Cleveland Indian’s shortstop Ray Chapman, San Diego State University men’s Basketball Coach Steve Fisher, and Presidential Medal of Honor recipient Joseph William Ozbourn, who died saving his comrades on July 30, 1941.

Page 2 Friday, October 30, 2015 Special Section

Santa Is Dashing All The Way Two Events All The Same Day! Saturday, December 19th Richard Sitler, The Southern‌

Deborah Hogg is president of the Herrin Chamber of Commerce. Herrin ‘is an incredible community, so friendly, always so welcoming,’ Hogg says.

estate as compared to more metropolitan areas. Our quality of life is high with excellent schools and medical care facilities, including the new surgical wing at Herrin Hospital, and access to a multitude of recreational and outdoor pursuits.

“Herrin really has the complete package,” he said. “We just need to do a better job telling people who, what and where we are.”

Mayor Frattini believes that one of the more intangible but definitely positive aspects of living in Herrin is the spirit of community, how so many people are more than willing to roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help anyone in need. For example: when the Herrin Fire Department needed a new ladder truck, the local Harrison-Bruce Foundation purchased a new one. It’s being outfitting now and should be in service within the month.

The mayor also calls the city “blessed” with many active social and fraternal groups such as Rotary, American Legion, VFW, Knights of Columbus and Elks, providing scholarships and assistance projects.

“Every day, Herrin residents rise to the occasion. Every week, there’s another successful fundraising campaign. It’s neighbors helping neighbors, putting their positive mark on the community, exercising their willingness to contribute. That’s the No. 1 reason we have such a quality community.”

A few of the more recent fundraising efforts include Southern Illinois Worship Center’s purchase of a new, fully equipped squad car for the Herrin Police Department; Teddy’s Sports Bar ongoing efforts, raising more than $50,000 so far this year to benefit local charities; a St. Jude’s Golf

The Fred G. Harrison and Julia Harrison-Bruce foundations in Herrin have put millions of dollars into worthwhile projects in the community since they were first formed in 1969. That list includes the Herrin Civic Center, a new Herrin Police Department building, the Herrin sports complex and walking trail, the Aquatic Center, Herrin Hospital Memorial Gardens, electronic message boards at Herrin and Energy city halls, the Herrin skateboard park, Herrin Teen Town, the Herrin Doughboy memorial, tornado sirens in Herrin and Energy, improvements to the Herrin Cemetery entrance, park shelters in Herrin and Energy, donations to the Energy Fire Department and the signs that you see when you drive into Herrin, welcoming visitors and residents alike.

Tournament; and donations that have allowed the city to build a new fountain on the City Hall grounds.

“We hope to have our new fountain going in November. It should be really beautiful,” Mayor Frattini said. “All of these efforts, all of this help and

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A Doo Wop Christmas Tickets available @ The Brewer Foundation, 2 North Park Avenue, Herrin and the Herrin Civic Center or by calling Marie at 618/988-1234 Concert benefits: The Robert N. Brewer Family Foundation Scholarship Program

See Herrin / Page 4

Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 3

Energy is a close-knit community, where neighbors help each other out

BYRON HETZLER, THE SOUTHERN‌

Perry Allen (right) and Hailey Smelcer prepare and get ready to serve meals at the Herrin House of Hope in September.

HERRIN: Neighbors, family FROM PAGE 3

fundraising just proves that we really are all one big community, one big family in Southern Illinois and that it’s important to us that family helps family.”

The Herrin Chamber of Commerce is very active in their efforts to help, too. That work has included two very successful blood drives, providing landscaping for City Hall, and helping make HerrinFesta the success it was this year.

Recently, about 10 chamber members rolled up their sleeves and spent a day downtown collecting hundreds of bags of trash.

“In Herrin, if you’re willing to participate, you’re one of us,” she said. “If you’re willing to give, you’ll get so much in return.”

But one of the best examples of the generosity of Herrin residents can be found in Herrin’s House of Hope on North 14th Street, created and sustained by a strong volunteer network and a collective of area churches who wanted to meet people’s basic needs, such as food, shelter and clothing. It’s a combination soup kitchen, food pantry and thrift store.

The ministry runs on about a $50,000 budget, none of which comes from state funding, said executive director John Steve, the only paid staff. Funding comes from donations from the supporting churches, businesses and individuals; various

‘In Herrin, if you’re willing to participate, you’re one of us,” she said. “If you’re willing to give, you’ll get so much in return.’

Deborah Hogg Herrin Chamber of Commerce President

fundraisers; and proceeds from sales at the thrift store.

A top priority for the ministry, though, is serving people with dignity, Steve said.

That dignity is preserved by the wealth of volunteers, who are the heart of the ministry, cooking the meals, greeting the visitors and sliding right up to take their lunch orders, then serving them with a smile, or after lunch is over, spraying and wiping down the tables, sweeping and mopping the floors, washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen.

“Herrin is a great place to live, work, play, raise a family and do business,” Mayor Frattini wrote for the city’s Web site. “If you’re already a part of our community, thank you. If you’re considering relocating your home or business to Herrin—or simply thinking about a visit — please do. We would love to have you. The door to the Mayor’s office is open so come by and say hello.”

For more information, call City Hall at 618-942-6166 or the Chamber of Commerce at 618-942-5163.

Page 4 Friday, October 30, 2015 Special Section

‌The community of Energy, with roughly 1,200 residents, has an idyllic charm and small-town feeling that is unmistakable. Its well-kept public park, post office, pharmacy, hardware store and several other locally owned and operated businesses contribute to Energy’s wellmaintained infrastructure.

Many of today’s residents can trace their family histories to the community’s early days.

Jeters Incorporated as a municipality in 1907, the Village of Energy was a thriving coal-mining community at the turn of the last century.

Formerly known simply as the “Y,” the town was named after the Energy Coal Co. in 1904, and incorporated three years later.

More than 100 years later, Energy continues as a place rooted in community.

“We’re a close-knit community, where neighbors care for neighbors,” said Mayor Frank Jeters. “But we’re constantly making improvements. For example, we have a new water tower – had it for about a year – thanks to a loan through the state, and we have a TIF business district and an expanded enterprise zone.

Energy has several businesses that have been there for years, including Polar Whip, serving burgers since 1931; Webb’s Heating and Air Conditioning, making customers comfortable for more than 32 years; Energy Culvert Company, meeting the needs of customers since 1970; and Herrin Bowl, built in 1959 and rebuilt in 2003 after a devastating fire.

“We want to keep that hometown feel in Energy,” said Sheri Vick, village secretary, “mostly residential with family-friendly businesses.”

Mayor Jeters lived in Energy for 42 years – he has recently moved to Herrin – and has worked for the city for 22 years. He’s going to “step down” next year.

“It’s time to slow down,” he

Energy is so special and why the people who live here love it like they do.

“They take care of each other,” she said. “And they’re all proud to live here in Energy. It’s a safe community, one where you can put your baby in a stroller and actually stroll down the city sidewalks without worry, one where neighbors can walk to the village hall and talk to the employees and probably meet a neighbor or two, paying their water bills.”

“The police department gets the credit for keeping Energy said. “I bought my dad’s house safe,” Mayor Jeters said. “Chief in Herrin after he passed away Shawn Ladd has been with the earlier this year. I plan on workdepartment for more than 20 ing on the house and doing a lot years, serving as chief for 18, the of camping.” longest serving chief of police His wife, Jerri Lynn, is a nurse with the Shawnee Health Service in the history of the Energy Police Department and Williamand has been for more than 35 son County. years. She’s not sure she’s ready “Jeff Dietrich, officer and to retire just yet, but Frank is canine unit handler, has been working on her. They have two with us for almost three years. boys. One is a police officer in Our dog, Figo, was sponsored by Energy and the other is a police multiple corporate donations. officer in Carbondale. They Jeff went to Alabama for training also have one great-grandson and is part of a group that works and their first granddaughter with the dogs regularly.” this year.

Energy holds a K-9 fundraiser But if you ask Mayor Jeters every year about this time. Those about his family, he would include the members who work at funds have paid for three-quarthe Energy Village Hall. I respect ters of the village’s new Chevy Tahoe SUV – big enough for Figo each and every one of them and – and helps pay to take care of lean on them to keep this town running smoothly, especially my the dog.

“The state police have used hard-working right hand man, Figo to sniff out drugs, so has Andrew Barclay, public works the Herrin Police Department,” director, and Sherri Vick, who Mayor Jeters said. “Chief Ladd does a little bit of everything at works closely with Herrin Chief the hall, including serving as of Police Quinn Laird, so much secretary, water clerk, deputy so that it’s almost like having one clerk, notary and Mayor Jeters’ big police force. I’m proud of the girl Friday. way they work together. I’m very “These guys and gals are the proud of our police department. ones who really take care of the They keep the crime to a minitown,” he said. “I’m just the one mum and they’re well respected they holler at when they have by the people here. When we call a question or a problem. Seriously, Sherri is very good at what them, they’re here.

“And I’d better mention our she does. What is it that you top-notch fire department to be do, Sherri?”

After a smile, she said, “What- fair,” he said. “They’re all voluntary, really eager to help, with ever I need to do!” good equipment. When we call And after a laugh, Sherri them, they’re here, too.” and hizzoner talked about why

Save the date, Nov. 14, for the Energy Police Department’s K-9 fundraiser in a new and bigger location, the Herrin Civic Center. It all starts at 5:30: a steak dinner and silent auction. Tickets cost $30.

Call the Energy City Hall for more information.

Economic Development 101

Herrin Mayor is taking care of business in Herrin ‌When the Herrin Maytag plant closed in Herrin in 2006 and about 1,000 people lost their jobs, the city took a body blow. But like any great fighter, the community was back on its feet quickly, accessing its options and moving forward again.

Earlier this year, that recovery took a giant step forward with the announcement that Phoenix Investors, a Milwaukee-based investment group, had purchased the empty building for $1 million and planned to refurbish the facility.

“There’s a lot of work going on at Maytag,” said Herrin Mayor Steve Frattini. “Phoenix crews are demolishing a portion of the building that was too expensive to refurbish and cleaning, reconditioning, scraping and repainting the rest, making the facility more attractive for prospective tenants.

“All that work must make a more positive impression on anyone who comes out for the tour, so much more than bringing them into a dark and dirty building,” he said.

Mayor Frattini said that the city is in negotiations with a “moderately sized manufacturing business that is considering expanding into Illinois.”

He’s is absolutely sure that the facility will sell quickly and once more employ residents, and cites the advantages of doing business in Herrin as the main reasons.

“Economic development is who we are,” he said. “We have so many unique selling points, not the least of which are our infrastructure, logistics and transportation choices. We have a very good interstate highway system, the nearby Williamson

County Regional Airport with service seven days a week via Cape Air, quick access to Class One rail service, and a cityowned short-line rail service and locomotive. We have it all.”

Frattini also said the community has a mindset that helps reduce and remove barriers to industrial growth, fast-tracking any permit processes and inspection through the council and moving quickly on utility improvements like larger water lines.

But Herrin isn’t putting all of its eggs into one basket. They’re constantly reaching out to entice businesses that are looking to establish or relocate in Southern Illinois and taking care of the current and growing list of Herrin businesses.

“Our two TIF districts are also real pluses for the community,” he said. “And we have property available in our industrial development park. We really have all the ingredients – including the low cost of real estate and housing and our quality of life and low cost of living – and the right attitude to recruit businesses, but those efforts won’t come at the expense of our current businesses. We’re all working hard to take care of them, too: including the council, the chamber and the city’s economic development committee. They’re a priority, a vital part of our economic development efforts.”

Mayor Frattini calls his approach Business Development 101, which he defines as “taking care of the businesses you have, helping facilitate growth, and attracting new businesses,” with existing businesses at the top of the list of priorities. He cites a recent program of downtown façade improvements, part of

BYRON HETZLER PHOTOS, THE SOUTHERN‌

The old Maytag plant in Herrin has been purchased by a company from Milwaukee.

Herrin officials are working to make downtown more business and pedestrian friendly.

a matching grant program that covers half of the cost of that work, up to $2,500 per business, as one of the city’s latest efforts.

“We’ve had a number of

applicants and a number of improvements have already been made,” he said. “We’re also looking into expanding that program, using additional

TIF funds.

“We’re really proud of our downtown,” he said. “We really don’t have many empty storefronts.”

Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 5

Director Susan Mullen found exactly what she was looking for with her work at Herrin City Library ‌Susan Mullen has been a librarian for 23 years, but this is her first job at a public library.

She grew up in Chester and served as nature director and camp counselor at Camp Ondessonk, a Catholic youth camp in the Shawnee National Forest near Ozark. She received her degrees at SIUC and the University of Missouri-Columbia and served as librarian media specialist and teacher at Chester High School and Chester Grade School for 13 years; librarian media specialist and teacher at Olympia High School for 10 years; and director of the Herrin City Library.

She was hired in August and has settled into her new hometown nicely.

Her son, Sean Mullen is serving in the army, stationed in Germany with at least four more years to serve. So, she’s grateful for the support of family and friends, and oh, and very proud of her son.

“He’s about to make sergeant,” she said with a big grin on her face.

Susan was looking for “something different, something more,” when she found the job posting. Library Director Michael Keepper was retiring and Susan had history and family in the area. Her twin sister, Patty Mullen, is the assistant director of Good Samaritan Ministries in Carbondale, Mullen and Susan had lived in the area before, while she worked at Camp Ondessonk and later, when she attended SIUC. “I’m very happy here, very excited about my new position,” she said. “We have a great staff – they’re all so wonderful – and this is a good facility with excellent resources.”

Susan started right away improving the library’s Web site and making plans to expand programming.

“I love the visiting authors in our history room and of course, our story times,

UPCOMING The library has story time every Tuesday at 10:30 and regular book sales. Check their Facebook page – herrincitylibrary – for dates and times. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, there will be a special spooky story time at 6 p.m. On Dec. 5, author and Herrin native Emily Priddy will sign copies of her new novel, “Greetings from Coldwater,” during the Christmas book sale from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Herrin City Library often offers books from its collection for sale to the public.

but I want to do more,” she said. “I love to do displays and have started doing that with some new bulletin boards.

Susan admits that she misses her students, having spent so much of her career in an educational setting, but she is going to use that emotion to fuel her efforts to bring more children into

the library.

“I want to attract more children to the library, especially kids age 8 to 15,” she said. “I’m working on it. Stay tuned.”

For more information, call or visit the library at 618-942-6109, 120 N. 13th St. or visit herrin.lib.il.us or their Facebook page.

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Herrin Hospital takes steps toward ‘world class’ service ‌In April, Southern Illinois Healthcare announced a $23.7 million expansion and modernization project planned for Herrin Hospital.

Construction began in in August, and is expected to be complete in the fall Farrell of 2017.

“We just embarked on this three-year construction project,” said Terence Farrell, vice president and administrator of Herrin Hospital. “Four of our smaller operating rooms will be replaced and three will be added, giving us a total of seven large ones.

The prep and phase two recovery area, and the endoscopy and minor procedure rooms will also be replaced.”

Farrell said the demand for surgical services is expected to rise in the future and that’s at least partially because of SIH’s efforts to recruit new specialists and eliminate the need for patients to travel to obtain the services they need.

“We’ve been successful in bringing those physicians here, so much so I don’t necessarily have all the space they need,” he said.

Surgical cases at the hospital, particularly in the area of minimally invasive procedures, have increased 21 percent since 2010. Meanwhile, surgical hours increased 67 percent between 2010 and 2013. And Farrell said that

A $23.7 million expansion of Herrin Hospital was announced by Southern Illinois Healthcare in April.

The work will be completed in the fall of 2017.

Byron Hetzler, The Southern‌

growth will continue.

“We’ve become more surgically focused and specialty focused,” he said. “We’ve expanded our orthopedic, joint and emergency care, our bariatric or weight-loss program, as well as our minimally invasive, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical options,” he said.

Farrell cites the numerous awards and accreditations that Herrin Hospital continues to receive as proof of the administration’s commitment to the constant improvement of their services.

“The variety of specialists at Herrin Hospital today is impressive by any standard,” he said.

“We have renowned and accredited bone and joint program and we’re the only location for bariatric

surgeries in Southern Illinois. Our advancements in stroke care have been recognized, with one of the state’s first Target Stroke designation for our life-saving, donorto-needle times for stopping stroke in its tracks by administering tPA,” the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

Herrin Hospital has also been recognized as a prolific leader in the Prairie STAT Heart program, meeting or beating the national average for door-to-balloon time, getting heart attack patients to Memorial Hospital in Carbondale for cardiac catheterization in 90 minutes or less. Farrell said it’s

more like 50 minutes.

“All staff members work together to identify the early signs of stroke and heart attack, using standard, evidence-based protocols, so we’re ready to treat the patient as soon as possible,” Farrell said.

“That’s world-class care.”

Farrell is also understandably proud of the hospital’s improvement in patient satisfaction.

“Herrin and all SIH hospitals are fastidious about process improvement, using LEAN Daily Management. It’s a Toyota Motor Company protocol that has been adapted to healthcare and other industries to reduce waste and improve efficiencies,” said Rosslind Rice, Communications Coordinator for SIH. “Each and every morning, Terence and members

of his executive team do rounds in every single department of the hospital, monitoring the Patient Care Improvement Boards to see how the department is tracking daily on its goals for safety, quality, operational excellence and delivery,” Rice said.

“For the last few years, we’ve really opened up the lines of communication and empowered every staff member to identify problems and work with others to get at the root of those problems,” Farrell said. “We’ve trained staff to work together on collaborative methods, tactics that have become hardwired into Herrin Hospital.

They work rigorously to make those procedures error-proof, making this facility one of the best of the best.”

Awards, certificates, accreditations ‌Awards and accreditations received by Herrin Hospital include the Target Stroke Elite Plus Honor Roll designation from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association.

Herrin is the only hospital in Illinois to earn Elite Plus status. Herrin has also received Primary Stroke Center certification and the AHA/ ASA Stroke Gold Plus and Achievement Award for reducing the time between the patient’s arrival and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), the only drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke.

The hospital was also honored for its work in treating heart attack patients, for its work in rehabilitation, for its knee and hip replacement surgeries and treatment, and for its metabolic and bariatric surgery services.

Herrin Hospital’s Hip Fracture Rehabilitation program is the only one in a 90-mile radius to achieve excellence status from the Joint Commission for these types of surgeries.

And all of these awards and accreditations are just what the hospital has received in the past two years, topped by Press Ganey 2015 Quality honors, which just came in a few weeks ago, for reaching and maintaining high levels of excellence across multiple years.

Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 7

If you want authentic Italian food, it’s all here at Louie’s P&R in Herrin

Louie’s P&R has been a fixture in the Herrin community for years.

‌Louie’s P&R Italian Deli was established in the late 1890s, originally named D&R Market after principle stockholders Frank Detomasi and Ernest Ruggeri. The store was renamed P&R in 1950, when Detomasi sold his share to Charlie Parigi. In 1957, Louie Gualdoni became the owner, and the store was renamed Louie’s P&R. Louie’s son, Tony, and his wife, Alisa, own and operate the deli today.

“My business is in Herrin, and I live in Energy, so I love both communities,” Tony said.

The name of the deli has remained the same, but the store has undergone a complete transformation. Customers can still get the finest Italian sausages, salameats and other authentic Italian favorites, but now, they can also order freshly made sandwiches – try the Italian Beef! – to go or to eat in the store’s new dining area, which was finished about six years ago. In August, Louie’s P&R started serving breakfast.

Everything that’s served or sold has to pass Tony’s critical eye and palate.

“If it doesn’t taste good to me, I BYRON HETZLER, THE SOUTHERN‌ don’t serve it,” Tony said. “My brother

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and I developed our Italian beef recipe about 20 years ago.”

In 2000, Tony bought his brother, Chris, out of the store, and Chris bought Tony out of the family seasoning business.

Since then, Chris has concentrated on developing and promoting Louie’s Seasoning Company, which includes that special Italian Beef Seasoning that Tony uses in many of his products.

“Dad was the driving force behind the business,” Tony said.

“Mom passed away in 2013, but until then, she focused on home, cooking three meals a day and putting clothes on our backs. Chris and I are very lucky to have had her and lucky to still have Dad.” Louie lives in an assisted-living facility near the deli. On this particular day, he stopped by for a visit, and Tony took him around the store, showing him all of the products.

“My brother and I worked alongside

‘Come in on Saturday and get some of our special sausages or some hot salami, served warm with some really great Italian flavors.’

Tony Gualdoni, Owner of Louie’s P&R Italian Deli

my dad every day for years,” he said. “He was proud of carrying the kind of specialty Italian items that you could only find on The Hill in St. Louis.”

Louie’s still carries them, including biscotti (almond biscuits), pizzelle (waffle cookies), grissini (breadsticks), proscuto (dry-cured ham), mortadela (Italian bologna), polenta (cornmeal porridge), aborio rice, risotto (rice dish), muffaletta (sesame bread), giardiniera

(vegetable relish), a wide range of olives and olive oils, Italian tuna, several kinds of Italian soup mixes – including Brodo di Pollo (chicken soup) and Pasta Fazool (pasta and beans) – plenty of anchovies and several kinds of pasta sauces and salad dressings from restaurants on The Hill and Alongi’s Italian Restaurant in Du Quoin.

“That’s what makes us different,” Tony said.

“But our main business, I would have to say, is the deli, where we make and sell our sausage, bratwurst, luganiga (Italian breakfast sausage) and our salameats (garlic-flavored sausage), our most popular deli item.

Come in on Saturday and get some of our special sausages or some hot salami, served warm with great flavor.”

For more information, call the deli at 618-942-3394 or visit louiespnr.com.

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Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 9

One Mopit with fries

Nesler’s Polar Whip in Energy is a business that’s ‘family all the way through’

‌At Nesler’s Polar Whip in Energy, one of their famous “Polar Whip” hamburgers will cost you 80 cents. A double or a cheeseburger is $1.05, and a double cheeseburger, $1.15.

Ron Nesler owns Polar Whip.

He’s there at 5:30 a.m., every day but Sunday, to start the prep work necessary to churn out 50 to 100 dozens of burgers a day – yes, dozens, you do the math – including cutting up the beef that arrives every day and grinding the meat.

“I got used to going to bed early, at about nine, a long time ago,” he said.

Mom and Dad started the place in Herrin in 1931. They called it Wimpy’s, after the Popeye cartoon character who loved hamburgers and would “gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.” You can still catch the character hanging out at Polar Whip in the form of painted cutouts on the side of the simple, white wooden building.

Ron grew up in the place since Mom and Dad worked long hours.

“I picked up a lot of trash on the lot, peeled a lot of potatoes and did a lot of dishes,” he said.

“And Dad taught me to use my brain instead of a pen and pencil to add everything up and figure the sales tax. These new cash registers just spoil you.

“But don’t get me wrong; it was fun growing up here,” he said. “I’d listen to the men talk when they came in to drink coffee, especially if they were talking sports.”

Then Dad was drafted, and the women ran Wimpy’s.

“When Dad got out of the service, they changed the name to Polar Whip, because we had one of the first soft ice cream treats

RICHARD SITLER PHOTOS, THE SOUTHERN‌

Ron Nesler is the owner of Nesler’s Polar Whip at 100 W. Johnson St. in Energy. The four-generation, family-owned business made the national news when Nesler’s father kept the price of hamburgers at the eatery at 15 cents during the 1970s, when inflation caused the prices of everything to go up.

Other restaurants in Herrin and Energy include The Frenchman’s Widow, serving a classic pub menu with some culinary twists since 2013; Mary’s Restaurant, fine dining; Burger Nook Café; Chuck’s BBQ; Sergio’s Mexican Restaurant; Teddy’s Sports Bar & Grill; and the Annex Coffee & Deli, with a full bakery and lots of sandwiches, open since 2011. in the area,” he said. “Polar Whip was the name of the ice cream.”

But ice cream wasn’t enough, however tasty, to keep Polar Whip in business, especially during winter. So the Neslers started selling hamburgers. Ron’s dad and brother-in-law came up with the recipe for the distinctive burgers, just the right mix of grains as fillers.

“I never found out just exactly where that burger recipe came

Page 10 Friday, October 30, 2015 Special Section

from,” Ron said. “All I know is that it’s been handed down, generation to generation, and it’s very much a family secret.”

In 1964, Dad moved the business to Energy and in 1982, Ron took over.

“I taught school,” he said, as if he’s trying to remind himself.

“Dad’s legs were getting tired, he told me, and he asked me to take over for the summer.”

It didn’t go too well at first and

in six weeks, Ron resigned. But he thought better of it, talked it over with his wife, Jeannie, and decided to take a chance.

“We’ve been in this restaurant ever since,” he said, grinning.

“And Jeannie’s been a big part of it all along. None of this would be possible without her.”

All three of Ron’s children have worked at Polar Whip; each would tell you that the restaurant has given a lot of jobs

to a lot of local people over the years, many of whom were high school students.

“This place didn’t make me rich, but it’s provided a good living and helped put all of these kids and grandkids through college,” he said, as proud of what Polar Whip provides for his family as he is of its famous burgers.

“Polar Whip has always been a true family business, family all the way through. And it’s been really good to our family, too.”

Seven of Ron’s eight grandchildren have worked at Polar Whip, all except one, but he’s just a sixth-grader. Give him time.

“They learn how to work

here,” Ron said. “There’s a lot of preparation involved; everything is portioned out and we don’t like waste. You have to have pride in what you’re doing, beyond just serving a lot of people a lot of burgers; you have to enjoy people.”

Ron will tell you that he wants things done a certain way at Polar Whip, just like his dad.

“I want it done right; I want to run this restaurant our way,” he said. “We have been successful, so there’s no reason to mess around with the formula.

“Dad taught me to keep it basic, so I don’t vary the menu too much,” he said.

“I once tried replacing the crinkle-cut fries with straight ones, but people really complained, so I pay more for what they want.”

Customers step up to a tiny counter and tell the attendant what they want.

It’s a simple menu: burgers and other basic sandwiches, fries and other fried sides, chili in season and a soft drink, orange, lemonade or tea. Desserts are cones and cookies.

You’ll sit down and wait until your order is called. The attendant just reads it off of the brown paper sack, a tried-and-true method, said Ron. “Our burgers always taste the same. When you come in here, you know what you’re going to get.”

Nesler’s Polar Whip is a familiar site in Energy.

A basic burger has mustard, onion and pickle, a “Mopit” in Polar Whip slang.

Order it with everything – mustard, onion, pickle, catsup and mayonnaise (if you want it) – and it’s “loaded.”

If you already know about Polar Whip, you know what I’m talking about: Customers come because they can count on

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In fact, call 618-988-9210 and they’ll John Nesler prepares onions at Nesler’s Polar Whip. He is the son of owner Ron Nesler. have your order ready for you to pick up.

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Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 11

Nothing beats the excitement, passion of Herrin Tigers sports ‌Herrin High School, home of the Tigers, has taken home plenty of honors in its long and storied history. In May, six HHS students earned academic honors, awarded during graduation ceremonies.

They are Kaylee Gaumnitz, Luke Hentrich, Mary Jones, Makenzie Ray, Donielle Whitecotton and Sarah Swick.

Those impressive young men and women are some of the finest examples of what Herrin High School is all about, providing a first-class education to young men and women, sons and daughters whose parents are more than happy to get one of those “My child is an honor student” bumper sticker.

But most will admit that when it comes to excitement about winning, nothing can beat the enthusiasm of Tigers fans.

And this year, they have plenty to be excited about. In February, The Herrin Lady Tigers upset West Frankfort, 82-76, in an SIRR Ohio Division girls’ basketball battle, and Herrin swept Benton that same month, 29-27, 25-21, in SIRR Ohio Division prep volleyball.

And just recently, the Herrin Tigers football team had an impressive 24-6 road win over Breese Central, and with that win, finished the regular season with an 8-1 record. (Breese fell to 5-4.)

It’s the second straight year the Tigers have finished 8-1. They are 23-4 over the last three years. That’s pretty impressive and more than enough to get Tigers fans excited.

“I think that’s pretty special,” said Herrin head coach Jason Karnes. “That’s a tribute to the players first and foremost, as well as our coaching staff.”

But nothing, and I mean nothing, can rival the record of the 1957 Herrin basketball team. Five members of that championship team – Richard Box, Jim Gualdoni, Ivan Jefferson, Bart Lindsey

Byron Hetzler, The Southern‌

Herrin’s high school football team takes the field for a recent Friday night game.

and John Tidwell – visited Herrin in 2012 as honored guests for the homecoming celebration.

The festivities began with a showing of the 2009 documentary, “A Magical Season: the 1957 Herrin Tigers.” The visiting team members sat at a table that held the state championship trophy.

Herrin competed that year in a singleclass system, against more than 600

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Page 12 Friday, October 30, 2015 Special Section

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Illinois schools. Many will say that their accomplishment cannot be topped, if only for that reason.

“It was a perfect storm,” said Jefferson during the ceremonies. “We had the right players, coaches and fans. Everyone did a heck of a job.”

The Tigers ended their season that year with a school-best, 31-2 record, defeating then-undefeated Collinsville for a 45-42

victory at the state tournament in Champaign. Gualdoni said that he was unaware of the magnitude of what the team had accomplished until they arrived home.

People lined the streets – cheering, waving and celebrating – in many Southern Illinois towns as the state police escorted the team bus.

“It was so surreal,” Gualdoni said. “It was overwhelming.”

Proudly Serving the Citizens of Herrin Steve Frattini, Mayor Shelly Huggins, City Clerk Carl Goodwin, Treasurer Alderman Ward I David Shoemake Sheila Ahlgren

Alderman Ward III Steve Miller Marilyn Orso

Alderman Ward II Robert Craig Paul York

Alderman Ward IV Marilyn Ruppel Bill Sizemore

Richard Sitler, The Southern‌

A group of teen basketball players from Cuggiono, Italy, and their hosts participate in an activity in the Language Arts Classroom of Michaelanne Stanley at Herrin High School this summer.

The Southern File Photo‌

Contestants participate in the grape stomp competition at HerrinFesta Italiana.

Preserving and celebrating Herrin’s Italian heritage ‌Linda Jennings, director of the History Room at the Herrin City Library, can trace the lineage of many of the Italian families in Herrin and Energy to the tiny northern Italian village of Cuggiono, just west of Milan.

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, more than 5,000 immigrants left Cuggiono, searching for better lives as coal miners in Herrin.

“We’ve made many lasting connections to the people there, and while our collection of materials on that region grows, so does their collection on us. We’ve been told that they’re launching their own museum dedicated to their ancestors who immigrated to the United States.

Officials on either side of the Atlantic have worked to establish a sister-city relationship. An e-mail exchange program has been growing and in July, a basketball game was played between teams from both communities. Local residents hosted

families in their homes.

“A group from that region has visited Herrin four or five times, bringing gifts and books,” she said. “Now we have four or five books from them, but many other books in our collection mention the strong connection between us.”

The History Room also has material on “the Ku Klux Klan, which was very active at one time in this area,” and S. Glenn Young, who was one of the Klan’s leaders and a special agent of the US Treasury Department’s Prohibition Unit.

“So many Italians had grape arbors in their back yards so they could make their own wine. But when prohibition became law, the KKK took a hard stand against bootlegging,” she said. “For a while, groups of Klan members, some led by S. Glenn Young, went after these back-yard wine makers with a vengeance with hundreds of arrests for illegal drinking and violent raids on a great number of Italian

One bocce ball rests against the pallino on the red brick dust of the court during bocce tournaments at HerrinFesta. Thanks to its roots in Italy, the game of bocce has become popular in Herrin.

THE SOUTHERN FILE PHOTO‌

homes in the area.” Still despite many hardships, challenges and even violence, Italian immigrants thrived in Southern Illinois with a strong presence in Herrin.

And the renewed connection between the sister cities has brought that heritage

into sharp focus.

Mayor Steve Frattini says that pride of heritage is on full display in Herrin during the city’s annual HerrinFesta Italiana, “one of the most popular, best festivities in Illinois and the Midwest.”

For 25 years, Herrin has been celebrating its Italian heritage with HerrinFesta Italiana, the city’s biggest community event, drawing about 40,000 people on Memorial Day weekend and bringing in an estimated $1.5 million to the region. Festivities include live entertainment, a pageant, a carnival, lots of good food and drink, a bocce ball tournament, grape stomping, a pasta-eating contest, a big-a-nose contest, and displays and exhibits of art, crafts and photographs. The festival is run entirely by volunteers under the umbrella of The Herrin Chamber of Commerce and in tandem with the city and the Herrin Civic Center. For more information, visit herrinfesta.com.

Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 13

The Coal Miner’s Memorial in downtown Herrin honors the town’s rich — and sometimes tragic — ties to the coal mining industry. The names of 17 victims of the 1922 Herrin Massacre who were buried in Herrin City Cemetery were memorialized in June when a monument was installed at the site.

BYRON HETZLER, THE SOUTHERN‌

Herrin, Energy roots in coal ‌Throughout the last century, coal fueled Southern Illinois, both literally and figuratively. Communities were built around mines, businesses thrived and men brought good paychecks home by digging the precious natural resource out of the hills and valleys day after dangerous day.

Southern Illinois lost many sons to this treacherous profession. The Coal Miners Memorial in Herrin honors them.

Dedicated on Oct. 14, 2000, it is a tribute to all Southern Illinois miners of the past century.

The statue – at 100 N. 14th St. – depicts a miner being greeted by his young son as he returns from work. The inscription reads, “In memory of coal miners who gave so much that future generations may benefit with a better life. They labored, served their country, sacrificed for their families and some lost their lives. We honor and salute them so that they will never be forgotten.”

There was violence connected to coal mining, especially between union and non-union workers. But none was as infamous as The Herrin Massacre of 1922, a bloody battle around the Lester Strip Mine (between Herrin and Marion), which resulted in nearly two dozen murders. A grand jury returned 214 indictments, including murder, but no one was ever convicted of the killings.

Still, mines flourished, providing for generations and creating economic stability for communities such as Herrin and Energy. During the 1950s and ’60s, nearly 90 million tons of coal was produced annually in Illinois. But by 1979, those numbers had decreased – 18,000 miners working at 71 mines – and by 1980, there were only 45 Illinois mines operating.

In the front lobby of Herrin Village

Page 14 Friday, October 30, 2015 Special Section

Hall, the Franklin Area Historical Society and the Herrin Library History Room have filled two display cases with photographs, documents and a few pieces of related equipment from the heydays of the coal mines in the area. There’s a photo of Franklin County Coal Corporation’s Energy Mine No. 5 in Freeman Spur, taken on September 19, 1941, and another from Watson Coal Mine No. 1.

There’s one of the first one-cent postcards from Williamson County showing a scene from the Sunnyside Coal Company of Herrin. And there’s also a handwritten list of mine disasters, complete with fatality counts, including 69 killed at Braidwood on Feb. 16, 1883, and 111 killed at Centralia on March 25, 1947.

The 1990 Clean Air Act changed the national energy landscape, requiring coal-fired power plants to curb sulfur-dioxide emissions. The statewide industry shrunk to fewer than 3,500 workers producing only 33 million tons a decade later.

Many hoped and still hope clean-coal research and coal-gasification technology will lead to a resurgence of the industry. Others argue that despite environmental costs, coal is the best source of domestic energy — abundant and relatively cheap — and that if the U.S. wants to become more energy-independent, the country will have to rely more heavily on coal.

Whether the coal industry will play any significant part in Illinois’ or Herrin’s and Energy’s futures remains unknown. But what cannot be doubted is the part it has played, back when coal was king, and everyone knew someone who crawled into those holes in the ground to make a living.

For more information on the Coal Miners Memorial, call Herrin City Hall at 618-942-3175.

Chief of Police Quinn Laird is making sure the force is there to protect and serve Herrin ‌Even though Quinn Laird started his service to Herrin as Chief of Police on June 17, he’s already made some positive changes and he’s confident that his department is strong and his officers and staff more than willing and able to handle whatever comes, any time of the day or night.

“We added the use of part-time officers and put more officers on the street,” Laird said. “There were many discussions about improvements, but bottom line, just adding those officers and realLaird locating some resources have made the city safer and the police department much more visible. That’s always good.”

Laird may be new to his position, but not to law enforcement. He’s worked for the Herrin Police Department since 1997, part-time before that.

“I was a supervisor for 11 years, so I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on,” he said.

He’s spending some of his time as chief just getting out and trying to engage the

“That extra manpower will make a big difference; it already has.”

Quinn Laird, Chief of Police, Herrin

public and community leaders in positive discussions about their concerns.

“There might have been a perception problem in the past, and I know that we were short-staffed for a long time. We’re still short-staffed. The coverage area and the population have grown, but the staffing levels have remained the same for years. But I also know, for a fact, that we have a highly trained group of men and women here, experts in firearms, tactics and other aspects of law enforcement.

Herrin used to have two officers on duty on Friday night, for example. Now they have four or five.

“We’re concentrating on adding those extra officers, and, as resources become available, we plan to add more,” Chief Laird said. “That’s a positive step in the right direction as far as the safety of the town is concerned, and that is our No. 1 Byron Hetzler, The Southern‌ One of the main goals of Herrin’s Police Department is to add even more officers than it already concern here. That extra manpower will has. ‘The extra manpower will make a big difference; it already has,’ says Chief Quinn Laird. make a big difference; it already has.”

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505 Rushing Drive, Herrin - Just West of Logan Park on Rt. 13 Special Section Friday, October 30, 2015 Page 15

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