Welcome to Forgotonia

Despite the attempts to save the place several months ago, the owners of the poor little Student Prince, the mom-and-pop diner on Jackson Street (long popular for that Saturday or Sunday morning need-for-grease meal), have called it quits.

I noticed several weeks ago when I drove by that the place appeared to be shuttered, but I never got around to posting anything about it.

I’ve only eaten there a handful of times, but I’m sad it see it go, mainly because it’s just been around forever.

And because when I was a cub reporter [miserable little pee-on] for The Macomb Journal back in 1999, I did a feature on how the owners at that time were closing shop; then another one a few months later when some other people saved it and re-opened it.

It just seems that every town should have that [formerly smoky] little diner where you can fill up on eggs and toast and endless coffee for only a few bucks, and where you see farmers and truckers and factory workers gathered in the same place with late-night college revelers. Don’t you think?

One small bright spot about this passing is that, according to an ad in Friday’s Western Courier,
those breakfasts will actually still be available, just in a different place:

“East [I didn't know there was a west] Student Prince Crew has Moved to Rocky’s! Same GREAT Breakfast! Just Different Location“

So there you have it.

Order up!

Today’s installment from Illinois Cougar Watch, fresh in my inbox this morning. Yessss!

Possible Cougar Sighting in LaSalle County
12 12 2008
We received the following email on November 3, 2008:
Yesterday afternoon
around 3:00pm I was at my father in laws small farm. It is located in LaSalle Co
near Rt 52 and Rt 71. I was getting ready to unhook and store my boat for the
winter. It was a very nice day bright sunshine and cool. After putting some air
in the trailer tires for the boat, I spotted what I first thought was a deer
walking the tree line of a cut bean field about 300 yards out.
I watched it
for a couple of seconds and noticed it just looked a little different than a
deer and then it jumped up and pounced on something. I thought it might be a
coyote and grabbed some binoculars out of the truck. When I looked up and
focused in I couldn’t believe my eyes. I took the binoculars away from my eyes
in shock and looked out at the field again to locate this brown thing in the
field. I put the binoculars back up to my eyes and sure enough it was a large
cat with a long tail just walking slowly, stopping and looking
around.
I watched it for 30 seconds and was 100% percent sure it was a
large cat at 300 yards the same size as an average deer. I ran into the house
and told my father in law and he came out and seen it too. We watched it
together for another minute swapping the binoculars back and forth. It was just
walking along with the sunshine just making this thing glow. I could see the
muscles in the hind legs and the small head it was incredible. I’ am a avid
outdoorsmen and I know what I saw and it was a cougar.

I’m sorry.

But I just can’t.

I’ve tried for too long to let it roll off my shoulders.

But I simply cannot sit by in silence any longer.

I drive by this sign at least twice every day. Every. Single. Day.

And it’s been this way for at least a year, if not two.

Come on, people. It’s time for some editing.

I know the people who work there are nice. And the food I had there a couple times was good. But please. The panini-uz and wrap-uz are driving me crazy.

If you don’t do something about this soon, I am going to have to turn you in.

…because I am an editor.

On Election Eve, I sat down with a copy of the McDonough County This Week, and decided that despite having way too much other stuff to do, I would do my civic duty and read up on the two men running for McDonough County Coroner.

I came away from the experience knowing where I stood:

(firm in the belief that all men who hold office ought to know how to use an apostrophe).

Which of these men do you YOU think deserved my vote?

Word around town is that Salsarita’s has bit the dust. It’s only been here about two years, if memory serves.

I suspected this was coming. I never, ever hear anyone say they “just came back from” or “met up at” or “totally need to go back to” Salsarita’s.

And then a week or two ago a friend and I cruised by and noticed the big sign out front was lying in the parking lot. We couldn’t tell if it was from storm damage or if it was a purposeful takedown.

I wonder how The Spaz is doing?

P.S. Check out this cutline from the Western Courier story on the place when it opened:

Salsarita’s puts a twist on fat food with beer and margaritas on the menu and food being prepared in front of customers. Waiting time is based on the length of the line, which has been long since its opening.

According to the Macomb Eagle, the basketball court in Western Hall now has a new “parkay” floor.

Mmmm, parquet!

…thanks?

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A: a delicious entree from the kitchen of Last Chance Saloon:

(From actual ad, printed in last week in the Western Courier)

Last Chance Saloon
open 7 a.m. everyday
featuring absinthe —”The Green Faery”
GREAT FOOD AT GREAT PRICES
99 cent eggs and toast
Homemade soup
Homemade tenderloin chicken wings and more!

Actual ad (complete with a little picture of a blonde woman smiling, wearing a do-rag, and proudly hoisting a feather duster) printed in my hometown paper:

The Farmers [sic] Daughters Cleaning Service
Tag team mother-daughter cleaners.
Christian women will do all manner of residential cleaning. Insured.
Call for rates.