The Southern Illinoisan is still the only paper in the state that regularly runs ultra-positive articles about the governor. Today was no different.

When Ivan D. Foutch held the grand opening of his new bar in Du Quoin Friday night, an unexpected guest strolled in - Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The governor had been eating dinner at Alongi’s restaurant when he bumped into some of Foutch’s friends from Centralia who informed him they had come down for the grand opening of ID’s Lounge in Du Quoin.

“Why don’t I just go over there and surprise him?” the governor asked.

Within a few minutes the governor strolled into the new tavern and the jaws of the roughly 50 patrons in the bar dropped to the floor.

It’s a cute story. The kind he doesn’t get much any more, except in that paper.

I just wonder who he was eating dinner with and why the Southern just happened to be around to cover the momentous event.

UPDATE: I neglected to read the governor’s entire press release. This may be why the story appeared:

Governor Blagojevich’s team, “The Blue Suede Running Shoes,” consisted of the Governor; Lon Monk, the Governor’s Chief of Staff… Meta Minton of the Southern Illinoisan…