CARBONDALE — The Center for Empowerment and Justice in Carbondale is facing an uncertain future after the death of its founder in August.
The center is known for providing internet and laundry services to those in need, offering legal support and helping to find stable housing for those who are or were incarcerated and being a safe place to start new business and teach community classes like sewing. There is a community garden next door and it is beginning to operate a harm reduction clinic from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays.
Photos: February 1984 blizzard strikes Southern Illinois
1984 Blizzard
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A copy of the original file photo of Don Casper, Carbondale resident, as he shoveled snow on East Main Street by J.R.'s during a blizzard on Feb. 27, 1984.
'Thundersnow' blasts region
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A clipping of the front page of The Southern Illinoisan on February 27, 1984, the day a major snow storm covered the region, which depicts the hazardous winter weather conditions — noting that the storm that hit that day was considered a "thundersnow."
Snowed in!
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's Feb. 27, 1984 edition, page 3, which portrays the affects of a "thundersnow" that hit the Midwest that year.
Snow-covered Carbondale
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A copy of the original file photo of the winter blizzard on Feb. 27, 1984, on University Avenue & Main Street in Carbondale.
More than a foot has fallen
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A clipping from the front page of The Southern Illinoisan on February 28, 1984, the day after a major blizzard covered the region. As stated in Dave DeWitte's article, the snow storm brought back recollections of a similar storm in February of 1979 — a storm that had caused a state of emergency in the region.
Mother Nature speaks
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's February 27, 1984 edition, page 8, which shows Southern Illinoisans clearing away and trudging through the snow brought on by a blizzard that year. More than a foot of snowfall was recorded.
Clearing parking lots
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A copy of the original file photo of Danny Jones, a resident of Carbondale and employee for Jim Cecil Construction, as he clears parking lots during a blizzard Feb. 27, 1984. In the background is Huffman Funeral Home, 210 W. Oak St., in Carbondale.
A new meaning to the word 'snowfall'
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's March 1, 1984 edition, page 5, which shows several SIU students making the most of a snow day following a blizzard that blanketed the area.
What next?
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's March 2, 1984 edition, page 3, of an image depicting the slushy aftermath of a blizzard earlier that week.
Stuck
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's March 1, 1984 edition, page 3, tells the story of how one gets unstuck from the snow, according to a few local tow truck drivers following a heavy blizzard that week.
Driving in the blizzard
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A car drives east on Feb. 27, 1984, during a blizzard on Highway Old Route 13 between Carbondale and Murphyboro.
Snow buries mid-U.S.
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's February 27, 1984 edition, page 22, which shows a story from The Associated Press that recapped the winter conditions that day in the Midwest — St. Louis area residents had lost power during the blizzard as wet snow piled up and broke power lines.
The forecast
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's February 27, 1984 edition, page 22, showing a weather forecast the day a major 'thundersnow' hit the area.
A silver lining in snow clouds
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A clipping from the front page of The Southern Illinoisan on February 28, 1984, the day after a blizzard dropped more than a foot of snow on the ground. Pictured, were two residents that had braved the snow to help shovel the driveway of senior citizens in the area.
Truck drivers tank up on coffee, generosity
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A clipping from the front page of The Southern Illinoisan on February 29, 1984, following a blizzard that week. The story discusses how local kindness and hospitality were welcome and appreciated by out-of-state truck drivers who faced riding out the storm.
Mail deliverers ask for a little help
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A clipping from the front page of The Southern Illinoisan on February 29, 1984. The blizzard made mail delivery a precarious mission, as mail carriers asked the public for assistance in clearing the way to the mailboxes.
Snow shoveling is strenuous
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's February 29, 1984 edition, page 1, following a blizzard that week. A local cardiologist reminds people to take heed while shoveling because it is a strenuous exercise that can cause strain on the heart.
Blizzard kills 10 in Illinois
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's February 29, 1984 edition, page 2, showing an Associated Press story that summarized the totality of damage and havoc caused by a blizzard that struck the Midwest that week. Ten deaths were reported in the state.
Hundreds stranded by storm
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A clipping from The Southern Illinoisan's February 29, 1984 edition, page 24. Shown are frosty weather conditions that week along with a story by The Associated Press, summarizing the affects nationwide from the blizzard — 38 deaths were reported (10 in Illinois).
Governor JB Pritzker joined the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and community leaders to announce significant investments to expand workforce training and support Illinois’ continued economic recovery from the pandemic. The new initiatives include a $40 million workforce recovery grant program aimed to get more jobseekers back to work, while helping sectors impacted most by COVID-19. The funding will expand workforce training, job training and support services as well as covering basic expenses that are barriers to those seeking employment.