Southern Illinoisan: "A spin through the region" (Blago article)

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http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2005/01/20/top/doc41efae175dd84296232285.txt

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Competing with four Salukis fans, Gov. Rod Blagojevich spins a ball on his finger during halftime of the SIU game Wednesday night.


PAMELA KAY SCHMALENBERGER / THE SOUTHERN


SOUTHERN ILLINOIS -- Gov. Rod Blagojevich is a man on a mission. A mission, that is, to help Southern Illinois keep its economic momentum moving forward.

To accomplish that mission, Blagojevich came to the area Wednesday -- the first of two days the governor will spend in the region -- to tour some of the area's more successful ventures and meet with some of the people responsible for those successes. He said he will also meet with local leaders to hear what challenges they face and learn how the state might be able to help overcome those challenges.

"This trip is about listening," Blagojevich said. "It's about getting a sense of the different things happening in the different sectors of the economy of Southern Illinois. I also want to learn about some of the visions the leaders of the area have and how state policies can be fostered to shepherd that vision to results."

One of the governor's first stops after leaving Williamson County Regional Airport was at the newly dedicated Marion Cultural and Civic Center. Guided by Marion Mayor Bob Butler and Yolonde Peterson, chairman of the center's board, Blagojevich toured the center. More than seven years in the making, the facility was constructed after a fire destroyed the original center in 1997."