 |
|
|
• ABC 15 TOP STORIES VIDEO
Charleston- All eyes were on the Super Bowl with more than 106 million viewers tuning in. But for many here in East Central Illinois the big game was a chance to see some familiar faces play once again. The New Orleans Saints took home their first Super bowl win with MVP honors going to quarterback Drew Brees. But the big win wouldn't have been possible without a few locals making some big plays.
Miles away from the bayou the cheers of, "Who Dat," rang strong.
"No question, I think the EIU community was New Orleans Saints fans all the way," says Eastern Illinois University Assistant Athletic Director, Dave Kidwell.
Three East Central Illinois alums took their place in history with the Saints win.
"The Saints went in as the underdog but boy the pulled it off," says Kidwell.
Former Illini player Pierre Thomas some big plays on the field while the coaching staff was stocked with former EIU players: Saints Special Teams Coordinator Greg McMahon and Head Coach Sean Payton.
"Maybe something in the water here. I have no idea how fortunate we've been to produce individuals that have gone on to that level," says Kidwell.
Payton's decision to start the second half with an onside kick took the Colts by surprise.
"I just told them we're going to open up the second half with this," says Payton.
But for those back home in Charleston the play looked oddly familiar.
"We played Southern Illinois and our coach at that time... opened the game with an onside kick so I'm curious to know if that was in the back of sean's mind," says Kidwell.
25 years after Coach Payton played as a Panther, senior Mon Williams watches a fellow Eastern player take top honors. Now this EIU player can't help think similar success could one day be his.
"Knowing that this program's good and anything can happen," says Williams.
We tried to catch up with Greg McMahon's Rantoul family but his mom and dad were some of the lucky ones who got to watch the game in Miami. They won't return to the area until later in the week.
Reported by Kate Springer.
Super Bowl Team Has Local Ties
Miles away from the bayou the cheers of, "Who Dat," rang strong.
"No question, I think the EIU community was New Orleans Saints fans all the way," says Eastern Illinois University Assistant Athletic Director, Dave Kidwell.
Three East Central Illinois alums took their place in history with the Saints win.
"The Saints went in as the underdog but boy the pulled it off," says Kidwell.
Former Illini player Pierre Thomas some big plays on the field while the coaching staff was stocked with former EIU players: Saints Special Teams Coordinator Greg McMahon and Head Coach Sean Payton.
"Maybe something in the water here. I have no idea how fortunate we've been to produce individuals that have gone on to that level," says Kidwell.
Payton's decision to start the second half with an onside kick took the Colts by surprise.
"I just told them we're going to open up the second half with this," says Payton.
But for those back home in Charleston the play looked oddly familiar.
"We played Southern Illinois and our coach at that time... opened the game with an onside kick so I'm curious to know if that was in the back of sean's mind," says Kidwell.
25 years after Coach Payton played as a Panther, senior Mon Williams watches a fellow Eastern player take top honors. Now this EIU player can't help think similar success could one day be his.
"Knowing that this program's good and anything can happen," says Williams.
We tried to catch up with Greg McMahon's Rantoul family but his mom and dad were some of the lucky ones who got to watch the game in Miami. They won't return to the area until later in the week.
Reported by Kate Springer.
Super Bowl Team Has Local Ties
• ABC 15 LOCAL NEWS
Ill. officials removing trees from state park
March 10, 2010 04:14 EST
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Diseases and damaged trees are coming down at Illini State Park south of Marseilles.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is beginning the removal this week to limit the spread of tree diseases at the park.
The process begins in the Marsatawa Area of the park. Foresters found 24 dead trees there last summer. They included 16 black oak trees.
Experts believe the trees have oak wilt. That is a very infectious disease and the trees must come down this winter.
The affected area of the park will be closed during removal. The public should not remove any of the cut wood.
Foresters will take other disease-preventing action. That includes trenching around diseased trees to keep their roots from grating to others'.
------
On the Net: http://dnr.state.il.us/
• VIDEO LIST
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
• BUSINESS NEWS
Stocks see modest gains
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street celebrated the first anniversary of soaring gains from 12-year lows with a modest rally.
• CONSUMER INFO
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
• SCIENCE/TECH NEWS
IN THE NEWS: VIDEO GAMES BRINGS REAL GUITARS INTO MIX
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's a new musical video game -- and this time, there ARE strings attached.
• GET THIS
RESTAURATEUR-BREAST MILK
NEW YORK (AP) -- How's this for a gourmet treat?
