MURPHYSBORO, Ill.  A daycare-turned-tavern that has had neighbors up in arms has been purchased and may soon house a number of minority-based community programs.
The Southern Illinoisan reported that a group of black community church leaders acquired Woo-Woo's Tavern. Judy Patterson of Lighthouse of Faith announced the acquisition Oct. 26 in an e-mail to news media.
She said in her e-mail that the three buildings involved would be remodeled to house a drug rehabilitation program, an emergency homeless shelter or group home as well as a teen night/weekend activity program.
"Our focus will be to develop a number of programs that address the needs of minority individuals in both communities since it is half-way between Carbondale and Murphysboro," Patterson wrote. "The main focus of these programs will be to specifically address the needs of those associated with drugs and violence within our communities."
Neither Patterson nor the previous owners could be reached Sunday for further comment, the newspaper reported.
Neighbors, who were frequently at odds with the tavern owners because of noise and traffic problems, expressed some concern about programs targeting people associated with drugs and violence.
"Anybody not knowing more than what I do would have some pause for concern," said neighbor John Ryan. "People who run these kinds of facilities need to have experience in what they are doing. If they are run well and if they have enough security and keep their problems within their own four walls, then I would hope we don't have anything to worry about."
