Thursday, August 28, 2003
Wrong Story
If anyone locally watched WSIL-TV News Three's 6 p.m. newscast Wednesday they might have heard a completely incorrect story.
While they got it right that we want to see the site developed as an educational facility we are not asking for any funds. That's right. No funds. We know there is no money in the budget. Former state Sen. Larry Woolard knows I harassed him enough two years ago when there was money in the budget, but even I didn't bring the Old Slave House up last year when there wasn't any money, while he and every other person was doing everything they could to keep Gov. George Ryan from closing the Vienna prison.
We didn't ask the governor for money this summer, and technically, neither him nor his staff said "no" to the idea of more money. We asked him to take another alternative, which his staff rejected.
If anyone locally watched WSIL-TV News Three's 6 p.m. newscast Wednesday they might have heard a completely incorrect story.
A SOUTHERN ILLINOIS HISTORIC SITE WILL *NOT* GET STATE MONEY TO KEEP IT OPEN.
THE STATE BOUGHT THE OLD SLAVE HOUSE NEAR EQUALITY THREE YEARS AGO FOR ABOUT 700-THOUSAND DOLLARS.
BUT THERE'S NO MONEY TO RUN THE FACILITY.
LOCAL SUPPORTERS OF THE LANDMARK HAD HOPED THE GOVERNOR WOULD ALLOCATE FUNDS TO OPERATE THE FACILITY AS AN EDUCATIONAL SITE.
BUT THOSE SPEARHEADING THE EFFORT SAY THE GOVERNOR SAID NO TO FREEING UP MONEY FOR THE OLD SLAVE HOUSE.
While they got it right that we want to see the site developed as an educational facility we are not asking for any funds. That's right. No funds. We know there is no money in the budget. Former state Sen. Larry Woolard knows I harassed him enough two years ago when there was money in the budget, but even I didn't bring the Old Slave House up last year when there wasn't any money, while he and every other person was doing everything they could to keep Gov. George Ryan from closing the Vienna prison.
We didn't ask the governor for money this summer, and technically, neither him nor his staff said "no" to the idea of more money. We asked him to take another alternative, which his staff rejected.