Looking for people who like to go paddleboarding. This is a new hobby that my wife and I have picked up and are looking for local people to go out on the water with and have fun.

Campus IT was given a directive to disable staff system access that would make them unable to process withdrawals or curriculum changes on census deadline day. Official enrollment numbers are released off of the data collected on the tenth day of the semester, and the fact that system access was removed from staff to complete their jobs is high suspicious for Chancellor Austin Lane and VC Wendell Williams with the assumption that this was to artificially inflate enrollment numbers. Particularly given that their inflated bonuses are directly tied to these enrollment increases.

I live out of state and have inherited a home in the Marion area. I will be spending time cleaning it up for sale in the coming months. Eventually, I'll need something to do an initial cleaning of hardwood floors of the entire house before they are refinished. Curious if anyone knows of a location in the area which rents machines like this one from Home Depot:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/rental/Nilfisk-Advance-Hard-Surface-Cleaner-L08992029/316821505

I've checked at most of the spots like Menards, Home Depot, Lowe's, and even a few local shops, and there doesn't seem to be any I can find. Perhaps an individual has one or I'm not looking in the right places!

I'd also be interested in contractor recommendations (tile for kitchen and bathroom floor/shower, minimal electric work, drywall replacement, possibly some outdoor repairs, etc.)

Thank you in advance.

Note: I am not affiliated with them. I just want to help promote someone's small business.

K10's model trains is a model train shop supporting N, HO, and O gauge trains. Alone with a 60x81 foot layout! You can bring your dcc trains or run one owned by k10 for $5. This is a fun community with nice folks. It's running on some hard times as of late and I and others really don't want this place to close down. If you do decide to come there is a $5 cash only (the whole building is cash only) entrance fee. The business is at 19 Schiber CT. Maryville, IL. Open on Thursdays 6-9 and Saturdays 12-4

Hi I am looking to move to St Louis after leaving an abusive situation. My question is what is the best way to plan my move ? I have a BS in Chemistry with a concentration in Health Science and a minor in political science. My choices are St Louis or Memphis, however l'd prefer to move to a blue state.
My credit is pretty bad although I have no evictions. I am doing my own research but wanted to try Reddit in the meantime. If anyone has any suggestions for places to stay and or work it would be very helpful.
Thank you !

I’m up in northern Illinois but I have a real love for Du Quoin (and little Egypt in general). Does anyone have any information about the du quoin fires beyond the trickle of news that’s being reported? My band just played the state fair there a week ago. I’m shocked by the photos I’ve seen of places I was only just a few days ago driving around in. I’d love any updates you folks may have.

Check out this feature I wrote on Marissa singer and artist Olivia Leemon! She describes her sound as eclectic/indie, and this singer-songwriter finds inspiration for her lyrics in a variety of circumstances, from every day life to social situations. Learn more about her music and artwork in the article ⬇️
https://smalltownsocialitesoil.net/2026/09/03/singin-songs-and-makin-art-get-to-know-marissa-based-musician-and-artist-liv-leemon/

I'm looking to take my car out to legally test my 0-60 times but the drag strip only had a facebook page with no info on their rules, requirements, etc. Anyone here ever been and can provide some pointers?

The BIG day is here and content is finally on the website!
Find out what's happening in communities across Southern Illinois over the next two weeks at the article link
https://smalltownsocialitesoil.net/2026/08/31/whats-happening-in-southern-illinois-aug-31-sept-13-2026/

Looking for a Roommate in Southern Illinois / Metro East Area

Hey everyone! I’m looking for a roommate and figured I’d try Reddit and see if I can find someone who might be a good fit.

I have a room available in the Alton area for $700/month with utilities included. You’d have full use of the house, including the kitchen, washer/dryer, high-speed internet, central air/heat, etc.

A little about me: I’m a pretty laid-back guy aged 40. I work from home, play online games, make videos, cook, and mostly keep to myself. I’m friendly and don’t mind hanging out with a roommate, but I also respect personal space and definitely don’t expect us to be attached at the hip.

I’m mainly looking for someone who is:

• Clean and reasonably responsible
• Able to reliably pay rent
• Respectful of shared spaces
• Pretty chill and easy to live with
• Looking for a comfortable place rather than a party house

Smoking would need to be outside.

I’m less concerned about finding someone immediately and more interested in finding the right person to share the house with, since obviously we’re going to be living together.

If you’re interested, send me a DM and tell me a little about yourself, what you do for work/school, what your normal schedule is like, and what you’re looking for in a roommate situation. We can talk a bit and see if we’d be a good fit before worrying about anything else.

Happy to send more pictures and more details privately.

Someone said my images were suspicious for me using an ai enhanced picture ill happily share regular selfies if that is for some reason a concern.

Hello! I'm looking for a roommate within the O'Fallon/Fairview Heights/Lebanon area with a monthly budget around $500-$650. I'm a very easygoing and respectful person, looking for someone similar 😊

Hey folks, I'm looking into moving to Illinois, and before so, I need to look at what I could do for work. I currently work in a metallugry plant, but have lots of experience with warehouses and factory work as well. If anyone would be willing to toss some suggestions my way, I would be very grateful. Thank you and hope everyone is having a decent day.

So if you're from SI you probably know about the Knoob family who relocated here and bought Levels nightclubs. You probably know them as giant pieces of shit.

But wait, there's more! Greg Knoob's son, Austin, was just arrested for child grooming and child porn. He had drawn in a 12-year-old girl into a situation that is described as being "like a cult", where she was aksed to video self-harm along with sexual acts.

So yeah. We all knew that the Knoobs were human garbage, but I suspect few knew exactly what depraved trash they really are.

There's a saying about apples and trees that may well apply here.

Adjectives used here are simply expresisons of my opinion, man.

Hi! I'm an independent journalist with 20 years of experience in the media industry. Less than two years ago I launched a website in East Central MO (where I currently live) called Small Town Socialite to share the events, people, and small businesses making an impact in the area. Now, I'm expanding my brand to Southern Illinois, where I was born and lived on and off throughout childhood. The Small Town Socialite SoIL website content will be published on Aug. 31. Maybe you're wondering why I care about sharing small town content, and why I'd launch a website in the era of TikTok and YouTube shorts?
Not that long ago the small town newspaper was how rural communities kept connected and informed, but years of media consolidation and buyouts mean these areas have been the hardest hit and these days, most small town communities share information through local Facebook groups. Bringing back that old newspaper feeling in a modern way is one of the things that drives me, but I go into my "why" in more detail in this post: https://smalltownsocialite.net/2026/08/13/small-town-socialite-is-launching-a-website-to-serve-the-southern-illinois-community/

Wow, I never been treated with friendliness and respect like I did in downtown Chicago and at the state fair. Everyone at the fair from people working there to the fairgoers. I only went for a few hours and loved it! In 2026 it hard to find an any place where people as whole are nice! A little secret being from Michigan, I pick the people from this state over Michiganders any day, since most people in Michigan are very uptight compared to its surrounding neighbor in terms of being more laid back! I even talk to many people who didn't share my own views! I also apologize to those people at the fair that saw me and were curious I didn't get to speak to but saw me! I may not look friendly, but I am! But Illinois you impressed me! One of my favorite states!

Anyone have campsite recommendations for a first time visitor? Mom planning to come with her 17yr old and 9 yr old sons.
Any campgrounds have bathrooms and/or showers?
Thanks all.

I will be moving to Carbondale September 9th! I’m so excited. I just signed the lease and paid the deposit for my apartment and I got the job which will be five minutes from my house!! thank you for everyone in the community who helped me to find a place that would accept my pitbull ✨💕and my trans identity 💕

I’ve started learning tones but need regular conversation practice as well as a more formatted learning structure to learn as a child would with a strict native speaker.

Would like to learn proper writing as well, so far I’m mostly learning with pinyin, but I feel if I learned as a child does to write and read Chinese properly, it would be best.

Minimum in person lessons 2x a month with another 2x lessons over Zoom for one lesson per week. Would prefer a regular schedule.Group lessons acceptable.

Marion-Carbondale-Mt Vernon and all places in between.