Christian Stanley, a ninth-grader from El Dorado, waits to begin judging Friday at the SIU Dairy Farms. High school students across the region came to SIU as part of Ag Day, a recruitment tool used by the College of Agriculuture. Stanley, who is a member of El Dorado High School’s FFA, said he plans on earning a degree in Agricultural Education.
Greg Burkhart, of Carterville, uses a drip torch to lay fire along the road during a prescribed burn in Ava. Due to high moisture content, personnel had difficulty producing large enough flames to burn out the understory. – Steve Matzker
A firefighter carries a drip torch Tuesday during a prescribed burn off Buttermilk Hill Road in Ava. Drip torches are filled with a mixture of diesel and gasoline. – Steve Matzker
Tom Wilson, of Carrollton and forest protection manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, patrols the road Tuesday during a prescribed burn in Ava. The area was loaded with dead and down fuel after a tornado in 2006 and a derecho in 2009. One of the objectives of the prescribed burn was to reduce the risk of a sever wildfire. – Steve Matzker
Fire Boss Scott Crist uses a map woods in Ava to brief his squad Tuesday in order to show which sections of the forests need to be ignited during a prescribed burn. Crist said the unseasonably warm weather would cause the burn to produce more smoke than usual due to the amount of green plants.
Forest Paukert, of Goreville, peers into the forest Tuesday during a prescribed burn in Ava. Paukert, along with other fire fighters, were assigned to ignite the designated burn areas or keep watch for loose embers.
Chad Deaton, of Stonefort and a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service, keeps watch on a prescribed burn Wednesday in Ava. One of the objectives of the burn was to restore the forest to it’s natural state, and to reduce fuel loads from previous years’ storms. –Jessica Tezak | Daily Egyptian
Southern University runner May Dozier is cooled down after her event Saturday by the team’s athletic trainer, Jamar Johnson.
Freshman guard Carteasha Macklin Struggles for a rebound Jan. 21 against Wichita State.
Howard Gates, left, of Carbondale and Marcel Martin, middle, of Carbondale, take a break Monday while David Gates, right, removes insulation from the trailer the team demolished at Cornerstone Village in Carbondale. The team was removing the trailer in a new effort made by the park’s owners to clean up the trailer park. – Isaac Smith
John Balogach, left, feeds his son, Vincent Balogach, Monday in his home at Cornerstone Village in Carbondale. John Balogach said he moved into the renovated trailer this month. — Isaac Smith
Rack the Focus 