WMOK News Check – Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Today we Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71°.
Tonight – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 55°.
Thursday – A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 7am. High near 76°.
Thursday Night – Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 63°.

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Metropolis Mayor Don Canada told WMOK recently that the new parking area in Uptown Metropolis is expected to be ready for use in time for the Metropolis Superman Celebration in June. WMOK first spoke with Mayor Canada following his election in a May 2021 WMOK Coffee Break at which time we discussed the parking issues facing Uptown Metropolis.

Canada told WMOK at the beginning of the project that his hopes were to have the project completed by this year’s Superman Celebration and if the weather doesn’t create any challenges it looks as if that will happen.

The new Uptown Parking lot which is nearing completion is located at 604 and 608 Pearl Street in Metropolis. The purchase of the property was approved for $41,000 with the usual and customary closing costs

Parking Solutions on the Horizon for Uptown Metropolis - WMOK

604 and 608 Pearl Street in Metropolis – 2021

Mayor Canada estimated that the lot will hold roughly around 50 cars – making way for many more shoppers on Market Street.

In August – Canada told WMOK that the city would soon be removing the grass from the lots, putting down rock and beginning the foundation. An engineer firm had been hired to advise on the costs of paving.”

Mayor Canada has reiterated during our discussions, “We really appreciate the young lady who sold us those because she’s gonna be helping the city out for a long time with those two lots.”

With a little more than three weeks to go before Superman Celebration begins we found work coming right along at the worksite on Wednesday afternoon.

Metropolis Uptown Parking - WMOK Metropolis

604 and 608 Pearl Street in Metropolis – May 2022

More from WMOK News regarding Parking in Uptown Metropolis:

Aug 24, 2021 –Parking Solutions on the Horizon for Uptown Metropolis

Dec 28, 2021 – Metropolis Mayor Don Canada Talks with WMOK about Parking Improvements in Uptown Metropolis

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook statement for our area. This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri.

DAY ONE…Today and Tonight – There is a chance of thunderstorms late tonight over southeast Missouri. The main hazards will be brief heavy downpours and lightning.

DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN…Thursday through Tuesday Thunderstorms are likely Thursday and Thursday night. Isolated severe storms are possible, mainly over southeast Missouri and the southern counties of western Kentucky. The main hazards will be isolated damaging winds and large hail. A tornado or two cannot be ruled out.

There is a chance of thunderstorms on Friday and Friday evening. The main hazards Friday will be locally heavy rain and lightning, however a few storms could produce hail up to the size of quarters.

Today is Star Wars Day! Star Wars Day celebrates the film series Star Wars, which was created by George Lucas. The eponymously-titled first film of the series was released on May 25, 1977. Later gaining the title Episode IV: A New Hope, the film became a worldwide cultural phenomenon and helped usher in the concept of the blockbuster movie. It was followed by The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983); these three films made up the original trilogy. A prequel trilogy was released between 1999 and 2005, and a sequel trilogy began being released in 2015. All of the films were commercially successful, and there have been spin-off films to the series as well. Star Wars became a franchise, and books, games, television series, and more have been produced under its name. Star Wars merchandise has also been very successful.

May fourth was chosen as the date of Star Wars Day because of the phrase “May the fourth be with you,” which is a pun of the phrase “May the Force be with you”—a phrase used multiple times in Star Wars films. An early record of the pun dates to May 4, 1979, just shy of two years before the release of the original film. Well wishes were printed in The London Evening News that said May The Fourth Be With You, Maggie. Congratulations.. These wishes were directed to Margaret Thatcher, who became Britain’s first female prime minister on the day.

Star Wars Day came with the rise of the internet and was a grassroots creation from fans. In 2008, the first Facebook groups appeared for Luke Skywalker Day; it took place on May fourth and the phrase “May the fourth be with you” was associated with it. Within a few years, the phrase and the idea took hold on college campuses and Star Wars Day began. The first organized event took place in 2011 at the Toronto Underground Cinema.

Lucasfilm, the creator of Star Wars, came to embrace the day. After purchasing Lucasfilm in 2012, Disney began celebrating the day the following year. They have held events at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Various other entities connected to the franchise host parties, have giveaways, and put on sales on the day. Celebrants of the day have movie marathons, make Star Wars related recipes, wear Star Wars costumes, and share the phrase “May the fourth be with you” with fellow fans and on social media.

You can assist S7HD’s Environmental Health team monitor for West Nile Virus in the southern seven counties of Illinois by reporting sick or dying crows, blue jays, robins, or other perching birds. To make a report, please contact Miranda Adams at (618) 634-2297, ext. 9114, who will determine if the bird will need to be picked up for testing. The birds collected by S7HD do not get tested for Avian flu. Go to the link below for more information on Avian flu. https://www2.illinois.gov/…/IDNR-recommends-halt-to-use

Upcoming Fundraisers and Events

MAY

On May 7, the Metropolis American Legion Post will be hosting a meal for all vets and their families between 4PM and 7PM. All veterans are invited to bring their families for burgers, hot dogs, barbecue, and side dishes. You do not need to be a member of the Legion to participate. The Legion is located at 4th and Market St., just a block west of Fat Edd’s Roadhouse.

On May 7, from 7A until 12P the Massac County Home and Community Education will be having a Benefit Sale. The Benefit Sale will take place at the Massac County Community Center on Korte Rd. This will be a great time to select Mother’s Day gifts, special bargains, crafts, and garden plants. All proceeds will go to HCE to help with programs they offer in the community.