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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Southern Illinois Secession?
"They say 'oh it can't be done, they'll never let it happen' well those are the people that are afraid to take that first step," said Greg Stover who started this grass roots movement.
Two months ago Stover created a Facebook page asking if southern Illinois should be its own state. Now it has almost 800 members and the group held its first meeting Wednesday night in Carbondale. But not everyone is buying the idea.
"Although I do think that Chicago is kind of its own self, I kind of like Illinois being Illinois," said Jennifer Sivels of Herrin.
"It would improve some things I think and complicate others, I think that the whole state gets a lot of funding because of Chicago, Springfield, so we might actually lose some funding," said Carrie Delzer of Carterville.
Money would be a huge issue after all southern Illinois is one of the poorest regions of the state. But this group doesn't think that will be a problem.
"One of the ideas of southern Illinois is being a place with low taxes a place where businesses and industry would look at and want to come to and bring jobs in to this area," said John Shukites, one of the groups organizers.
But asking people to secede likely won't be easy. But that's a challenge this group is up for.
"It is going to be a big challenge, it is going to take a unified effort it's going to be everybody in southern Illinois wanting the same goal," said Kevin Williams, another group organizer.
And if you'd like to learn more about this group you can find them on facebook by searching "should southern Illinois be its own state," or their email is southernillinoisnow@gmail.com
By Ryan Kruger
rkruger@wsiltv.com
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