Late Winter / Early Spring Book Signings

As the weather keeps getting warmer there seems to be more and more opportunities for book signings and presentations.

Saturday, March 4
Science Center of Southern Illinois, University Mall in Carbondale from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Book signing while the store conducts a major sale to reduce inventory before they move to a new location.

Sunday, March 12
The Reitz Home in downtown Evansville, Indiana at 224 S. E. First St. at 2 p.m. I will be doing a 45-minute presentation about the history of the Old Slave House and the book.

Saturday, April 1
Southwest Indiana Book Expo at the Scales Lake Pavilion (800 W Tennyson Rd, Boonville, Indiana) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Warrick County Historical Society.

Old Mansion Transforms Into New B & B

Tourism and historic preservation are mixing in the development of the 1913-era Wall Manor into a new bed and breakfast inn for Mound City and Pulaski County.

The Southern Illinoisan has Dixie Terry's story in today's issue. The inn's website is www.wallmanor.com.

Kudos to new owners Don and Robin Stacy for their work and investment into this project as well as to the new day-to-day innkeepers Jim and Rita Barger.

Tourism on the west side of Southern Illinois seems to be taking off south of Route 13 with the private sector, particularly the local wine industry leading the way. It's good to see that tourism growth spread south as well.

Wall Manor will be a nice complement to the still fairly new Grand Chain Lodge further up the Ohio in eastern Pulaski County.

Mine Wars Interview Online

Thanks go out to David Purcell for sending me a link to an online transcript of a 1972 interview with his grandfather Henson Purcell of West Frankfort.

The Purcell was a retired newspaperman who recalled the violence of not only the gang wars of Charlie Birger and the Shelton Gang in the 1920s, but the more-overshadowed, and actually deadlier clashes between the United Mine Workers of America and the Progressive Mine Workers of America in the 1930s.

I'm not up fully on the UMWA and PMWA fully other than I often heard hushed whispers of events while reporting myself in Harrisburg in the 1990s. The last PMWA-organized mine (Saraha) wrapped up operations during my tenure at the Daily Register.

Purcell's interview starts with an overview of the struggle with a particular focus on the Battle of Mulkeytown in Franklin County.

It's a good read. There's a link to it from the Events page here at IllinoisHistory.com.

Bidding Begins for Old Slave House work

The state is moving forward with the Old Slave House project announced last week.

The Capital Development Board, which oversees state construction projects, advertised for yesterday. The Professional Services Bulletin provides the details:

The scope of work provides for planning and beginning the renovation of the Crenshaw House, including a Historic Structures Report which will provide a description and prioritization of the restoration work to be done. The initial work will focus on making the building weather-tight. This may include roof replacement/repair, restoring windows, siding, flashings and weather seals. The scope of work also provides for the abatement of asbestos containing materials and lead.

The selected firm will be notified of the time and place for the orientation meeting by the contract executive or the project manager. The meeting shall be attended by the firm’s project manager, consultants and a person authorized to make scheduling and financial commitments for the firm.

Finally, it's clear just how much the $150,000 project will cover. Not only do we get the historic structures report, but also the basic repairs hinted at during the news conference.

What's left for future projects will be construction of any visitor services facilities (i.e. bathrooms and the such) as well as the big project of restoration, which could come down the road even after a site is opened.

From another source I found out that there is some discussion of IHPA trying to get at least one staffer to split time between the various IHPA sites in southeastern Illinois.

The good news still is the project is real and moving forward. Bids are due in two weeks on Feb. 16 and the agency will meet to select the winner at their April meeting.

Old Slave House Funding Update

Jim Muir's story in today's Southern Illinoisan has literally generated interest around the world for the Old Slave House after UPI sent out a story a little over four hours ago. It's already on the websites of the Washington Times, Science Daily and, my favorite so far, Monsters and Critics.com, a site based in Glasgow, Scotland.

[UPDATE: It's now reached India at the WebIndia123.com site.]

The good news for me is that both Jim and UPI mention the name of my book, Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw.

The bad news is that UPI misread Jim's story and has incorrectly labled the house as a station on the Underground Railroad....

[PHONE RINGS. Intrepid blogger picks up phone.]

UPI is sending out a correction. Just got off the phone with them.

[UPDATE: Here's the corrected version.]

Next issue. Is the governor coming down or not?

Last week I was told he wasn't part of the delegation, but Jim had it in the story that he is. However an earlier phone call from a tourism official who was trying to find out about tomorrow's event had been told that he couldn't. The latest news release from the state doesn't mention him and the journalist I talked with doubted he would come back since he toured the region yesterday.

[In Jim's defense, he was working on the story last week for the Saturday or Sunday edition. That may have been the current plan as of last week.]

The most interesting thing about the article was the reference to the site actually reopening.

Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Norris City, announced last week the state will appropriate $150,000 in funding to renovate the facility that was built more than 170 years ago and has been vacant for nearly a decade.

Phelps said the funding will be used for a twofold purpose.

"We have secured the $150,000 to help renovate the Old Slave House and to also help get it up and running," Phelps said.

Later on he hinted when it could reopen.

Phelps said he expects the Old Slave House to be "up and running" by the end of this calendar year.

As I noted last week, I'm still not sure where the money is coming from. I rechecked my notes from December when I called on the status for possible funding. At that time I was told the money is coming from previously-appropriated unspent allocated funds.

Because of the amount involved I thought it was the capital money Phelps had been working on with the governor last spring. This suggests old money that was still in the hopper. Just how old no one can tell me.

Better yet, it's looking like the money is coming from the General Revenue fund which would allow the governor to not only use the funding for capital projects like any renovations, but also for staffing, a necessity if they want to open before the end of the year.

Shovel Attack Criminal Reforms - Parts 4-7

I'm tired of dragging this out with one idea a day so here are the last four suggestions to plugging the loop-holes in the state's criminal justice system when dealing with DUI offenders and victims.

Double Compensation under Crime Victims Assistance Act — $27,000 or $28,000 doesn’t cover much in the way of medical expenses when surgeries are performed. While the legislature has increased the amount covered over the years it has only kept up with general inflation, not medical costs which have increased much faster. Make it retroactive also to any victims of a crime committed in FY2006.

Demand Crime Scene Blood Alcohol Testing — BAC testing today is mostly voluntary with incentives offered to drunks for taking the test. If they take the test they don’t automatically get their license suspended. However what’s the incentive for persons with licenses already suspended? At the very least this loophole should be changed so that it is mandatory when the suspect does not possess a valid driver’s license for any reason. Frankly though the state’s implied consent rules should be expanded to include anyone operating a vehicle on a public roadway and all DUI suspects should be tested. Police should have the right to gather evidence at the scene where reasonable evidence suggests an impaired driver.

Target the Source — Require law enforcement officers to inquire of DUI suspects where they obtained their alcohol or drugs. Currently this is not on the Illinois State Police forms used by local police departments. While suspects may refuse to answer – this is their right, those that do would be providing authorities with information for future investigations if the same establishments appeared over and over. It would also highlight targets for victims looking for compensation. In my case this wasn’t asked.

Develop Suspended Driver Hot Sheets for Local Police — Require the Illinois State Police or the Secretary of State’s Office to compile a list of local drivers with suspended licenses cross-checked against vehicle registrations and license plates. This type of data could help aggressive police agencies to target suspended drivers who keep driving, a segment of the population which according to police are among the most likely to be involved in other criminal matters.

So what do you think? Tips, comments, constructive criticisms and suggestions wanted.

Cross posted at Illinoize.

Shovel Attack Criminal Reforms - Part 3

Continuing from my previous posts about needed changes in Illinois' criminal laws (Shovel Attack Criminal Reforms - Part 2"), here's the third proposal:

Impound Drunk Driver’s Weapon of Choice, Their Cars — If a vehicle is used in the commission of a crime such as a DUI, or is involved in a wreck where a DUI citation is issued, or illegally enters private property (such as being parked in someone’s front yard), the vehicle should be impounded until the DUI case is resolved for the two-fold purpose of public safety by taking a drunk’s vehicle away from him, and securing assets for the court to take in the event that the suspect is unable to pay any fines or court-ordered restitution. If the vehicle title is held by a lender then they would only be able to secure the vehicle if they followed former repossession procedures.

Quickly now, tell me what's wrong with this proposal? Where are the holes that need to be plugged. Keep in mind that the vehicle used in by the drunk driver with the 11-year-old suspended license in my little incident has been driven since he posted bail and got out of jail. There are multiple vehicles at his house so this isn't the case of the only vehicle in the family.

Cross-posted at Illinoize.

Shovel Attack Criminal Reforms - Part 2

Continuing from a previous post about needed changes in Illinois' criminal laws (Shovel Attack Criminal Reforms - Part 1"), I propose the following:

Stop New Car Titles for Drivers with Suspended Licenses — At the present time, according to police, the state must still issue car titles to individuals who are not legally allowed to drive. I’m sorry, but if you have a suspended or revoked license you should not be able to buy another vehicle in your name until your driver’s license is available again.

So what do you think?

Cross posted at Illinoize.

Shovel Attack Criminal Reforms - Part 1

I'm hoping the headline got your attention. That's what it's there for. You see, two-and-a-half months ago I was hit by a drunk driver — with a shovel.

Actually, that's the cute way to say it. The looks on people's faces when I say it is priceless. Shock and sympathy quickly transform into something else, usually into a contorted face of someone trying to stifle a smile or outright laughter.

That doesn't bother me. Getting hit by a drunk driver is something people understand. Getting hit by a drunk driver wielding a shovel isn't.

Long story short, he got out of the truck, grabbed a shovel from the bed of his pickup and tried to "teach me a lesson" in his words by attempting to decapitate me with a shovel blow to the head. I put my arm up and survived with only a fractured elbow and damage to my ulner nerve which still prevents me from using my left hand completely.

What I thought would be a few hours in the ER with X-rays and stitches stretched into a five-day stay at the hospital and two surguries. By the the cops talked to me again the second time in the ER that night I was madder at the system than the assailant. You see, if the drunk had been prosecuted and punished properly for his earlier crimes he wouldn't have been on the road that night, or ended up in the front yard where the incident took place.

Since then I've discovered a number of flaws with our system of justice and I've asked my local lawmaker to consider them for new legislation. Rather than outline them all at once, I'm going to use this forum to discuss them one at a time so the comments can reflect each proposal on its own merits.

The first proposal deals with the state employees who for some reason must threaten the public safety by operating under a gag order. Law enforcement people I talk to can't believe this is real, but it was explained to me by a state employee.

Empower Secretary of State Employees — According to workers at the drivers license facilities; they are not allowed to report crimes they see on the job. For example, they could watch someone drive up drunk, stumble inside, reek of alcohol, admit to just drinking a fifth of Scotch, and ask to get their license renewed. Rather than keeping a drunk driver off of the roads they are required to serve him and allow him to drive off. I haven’t found out the reasoning, but it seems that this policy violates the general state law that citizens are legally bound to report crimes.

I'll published the next proposal tomorrow.

Cross posted at Illinoize.

State to Release Old Slave House Funding?

Got a call today from Springfield. Great news for the Old Slave House.

It appears that the officials from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and the Capital Development Board will be in Gallatin County next week for a big announcement.

The big media shindig is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Old Slave House outside of Equality.

It looks like the governor's office is finally releasing funds secured through the efforts of state Rep. Brandon Phelps, D-Harrisburg, in last yeart's budget.

The amount is $150,000 to be spent on a historic structures report which is where they bring in the architects to study the physical history of the site and look at any structural issues that need to be addressed.

Obviously there's more to it than that, but that's the best information I have at the present.

The next step is the one that Open it NOW! Friends of the Old Slave House has been calling for, either secure operating funds for the site, or turn it over to a new regional non-profit group to operate.

Wednesday's announcement won't reopen the site, but it's definitely a step in the right direction.

Good Home-Town Coverage

The Marion Daily Republican's Cherri Flinn covered a recent book signing for Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw: The Real Story of the Old Slave House.

The article focuses on my interesting incident with a violent drunk driver.

MARION — Although writing a book and getting it published is extremely difficult, promoting it can be equally as challenging. For local author Jon Musgrave a strange twist of fate landed him in the hospital curtailing his holiday book promotion.

Musgrave had planned to use the month of November to publicize the reprint of his book, "Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw," from paperback to hard cover. However, an assault by a drunk driver who beat him with a shovel, fractured his elbow with a laceration to the bone, which caused severe nerve damage to his left hand.

Here's what the rest of the week looks like.

Wednesday, Dec. 21
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – The Book Worm in Carbondale.

Thursday, Dec. 22
9 a.m. to noon – Waldenbooks in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.
6 to 9 p.m. – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Friday, Dec. 23
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Cata’s Books in the VF Outlet Mall in West Frankfort.
3 to 6 p.m. – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Saturday, Dec. 24
9 a.m. to noon – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.
1 to 4 p.m. – Waldenbooks in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Commen Sense

It just seem so appropriate for this day and age.

THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

If this sounds vaguely familiar, it should. American patriot Thomas Paine wrote this December 23, 1776, in a series called The American Crisis.

Thanks to the Power Line blog for the reminder.

Book Signings

Between physical therapy three times a week and book signings I'm planning on staying busy now through Christmas.

Saturday, Dec 10
12 to 4:30 p.m. – Ice Age Symposium at Southeastern Illinois College at Harrisburg

Sunday, Dec. 11
1 to 3 p.m. – Barnes & Noble in Carbondale.

Wednesday, Dec. 14
7:30 to 10 a.m. – Latta Java in Marion.

Thursday, Dec 15
9 a.m. to noon – Cata’s Books in the VF Outlet Mall in West Frankfort.

Friday, Dec. 16
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – The Book Emporium in Harrisburg.
2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Waldenbooks in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Saturday, Dec. 17
12 to 3 p.m. – B. Dalton in Fairview Heights.

Sunday, Dec. 18
1 to 4 p.m. – Waldenbooks in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Monday, Dec. 19
11. a.m. to 1 p.m. – The Buzz in downtown Benton.
2 to 5 p.m. – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Tuesday, Dec. 20
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Cata’s Books in the VF Outlet Mall in West Frankfort.

Wednesday, Dec. 21
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – The Book Worm in Carbondale.

Thursday, Dec. 22
9 a.m. to noon – Waldenbooks in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.
6 to 9 p.m. – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Friday, Dec. 23
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Cata’s Books in the VF Outlet Mall in West Frankfort.
3 to 6 p.m. – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Saturday, Dec. 24
9 a.m. to noon – Gospeland in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.
1 to 4 p.m. – Waldenbooks in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.

Hate-filled Rhetoric

Got an interesting, if not creatively spelled e-mail today, taking me to task about the section on IllinoisHistory.com concerning Indian massacres in Southern Illinois.

I happened to run across the S. IL. website about Native American History of IL. I was shocked and appaled that you had a section on Indian Massacres. Why don't you list all the GENOCIDAL Massacre of almost all the Native Americans In Il. by the white Invaders ,Murderers and Rapists?!! I suppose if adolph hitler won WW2 there would only be a handful of people today who would know about the Holocaust. I'm going to send this blatant RASCIST website to many many Native American organization and other Human Rights groups. Think about IT!!!

Since the writer's e-mail bounced I'll share my reply.

I don't appreciate being falsely maligned as a racist, especially from someone who has trouble spelling the word.

If you are willing to apologize I'll discuss the matter with you. If not, it's your loss.

I have no doubt that Indians were unfairly attacked at times. Two of the leading Indian-haters in the region in the early 19th Century were murderers Thomas Griffee who lived in what is now Williamson County and the infamous Col. John Moredock of Monroe County.

The trouble with the e-mail writer is that history simply doesn't support the idea of "the GENOCIDAL Massacre of almost all the Native Americans In Il."

The only attack on an Indian village in the region that I've found is Vernon H. Crest's version of the Battle of the Long Ridge between Equality and Harrisburg. Though his version of the story doesn't mention it, this incident from February 1813 came just after the Mound City Massacre that set off the Creek Civil War. It may be the basis for the vague recollection I've come across from locals referring to a "White's Massacre".

Leonard White of the saltworks at Equality led the American forces at the Long Ridge so the two incidents may be one and the same. It should also be noted that I've never found a 19th Century account of this event.

The closest incident of attempted genocide took place in the late 17th Century during the Iroquois Wars when the Iroquois massacred a great number of Illini Indians at the Battle of Kaskaskia near modern-day Peoria in 1680.

The Illinois Confederacy had already lost to the Winnebago and would eventually tick off every other neighboring tribe much to their detriment.

One of the remaining unsolved mysteries in Southern Illinois is what really happened to the Indians. Intrigingly there's a growing amount of evidence that many simply assimilated into the backdrop of the Shawnee Hills, especially the Shawnee.

In the Cache River Valley it appears that Cherokees settled into the area more than three decades before the Trail of Tears. They were joined by members of other tribes over the years including at least two Lakota Sioux youth who fled their tribe's village on the Little Big Horn in 1876 a day after Gen. Custer's last stand. (One of those teens later served as a deputy sheriff in Pulaski County in the 1920s.)

Up near St. Louis to the north in Calhoun County it appears that after the Tamaroa signed a treaty to go west, most simply returned to their homes and still maintained a distinct identity until the early 20th Century. Native speakers could still be found up into the 1970s.

I guess my point is to not jump to conclusions when dealing with history you know little about.

First Thanksgiving Letter Revealing

Edward Winslow's letter of December 11, 1621, remains the only near contempory account of the first Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims.

Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after have a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the company almost a week, at which time amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain, and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

Book Signings

With the holiday shopping season approaching I have a number of book signings set up.

Friday, November 25

• 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. — Gospeland bookstore in the Illinois Centre Mall in Marion.
  
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Cata's Books at the VF Outlet Mall in West Frankfort.

Saturday, November 26

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — B. Dalton bookstore in Times Square Mall in Mount Vernon.

Tuesday, November 29

• 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Taylor's Mini Mall (formerly The Book Daddy) at Fairfield.

I'll likely be at Gospeland bookstore later this Saturday afternoon and Sunday afternoon as well, it's just not on my official calendar.

Making Bloody Progress

This morning between the hours of midnight and 4:30 a.m. I finally was able to make some progress on wrapping up my latest book, The Bloody Vendetta of Southern Illinois.

I'm still a couple of chapters away from completion.

This was supposed to have gone to the printers earlier this month, but a drunk drver changed my plans.

Between the pain medication that's prevented me from concentrating to the one-handed typing, it's been diffiucult to get back in the mode of writing.

I'm still shooting for the book to be available by early to mid-December in time for Christmas.

From the back cover:

In the 1870s the Bloody Vendetta wreaked havoc in the heart of Southern Illinois leaving a half dozen men assassinated and property values in freefall. As a defense attorney Milo Erwin represented many of the suspects involved. Following the trials of 1875 and 1876, Erwin published the first detailed account of
the Vendetta. Now Jon Musgrave pieces together the rest of the story, combining Erwin's work with contemporary newspaper accounts as well as modern research. From the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan as they took advantage of the chaos, to the
events of what happened after Erwin wrote his book, Musgrave connects the dots from the Vendetta to the Civil War era Aiken Gang to the second generation of outlaws including the ill-famed Jennings Gang of the Wild West and later Hollywood, to the
robberies and murder in the Carterville and Carbondale area of the mid 1890s.

The book will be a 6" x 9" paperback, at least 224 pages and will retail for $14.95. (ISBN: 0-9707984-6-6)

Illinoize Gearing Up for Illinois Politics

Rich Miller with Capitol Fax is starting a new group blog on Illinois politics and has asked yours truly to participate.

Go, check it out. It's at capitalfax.blogspot.com.

Wild Things

Watch your back boys. them Texas roadkill critters are on the way to Egypt.

The Daily Egyptian is reporting thatb armadillo sightings are on the rise herer in Southern Illinois.

Armadillos provide several services. They eat insects, help till soil, and in a pinch, they can make a tasty meal.

Hitching rides in railroad cars and barges up from the south, armadillos have begun to migrate to southern Illinois. The armored animals, often the victims of collisions with vehicles, were originally native to Central America, but in the 1800s, they appeared in the United States, according to Joyce Hufmann, a research scientist for the Illinois National History Survey.

Clay Nielsen, wildlife ecologist for the Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab at SIUC, said although it's too early to find out if these creatures are here for good, there is nothing to worry about.

SIU Tabs Poshard to Helm System

Congratulations go out to former U.S. Representative Glenn Poshard whom the SIU Board of Trustees announced this morning as the new president of the SIU system.

Congrats also go out to the trustees for not dragging the selection process out any longer than necessary. We all knew Poshard was the favorite.

There's a better picture of Poshard than the one above. The Marion Daily Republican has it here. It shows him ready to roll.