A mine collapse may have played a factor in a sink hole in a park in Alton this summer. It created a massive hole in a soccer field and grabbed the headlines.

The U.S. Geological Survey says there have been more than 7,400 coal mines in Illinois since the early 1800s. Nearly all mines are no longer in operation, but they can still cause the ground above them to sink.

The larger mines are in southern Illinois. Still, there is a chance old mines can collapse under houses and infrastructure in northern Illinois.

Mike Phillips is a geology professor at Illinois Valley Community College. He says there’s a long history of mining in Illinois.

“The older mines were probably a little bit less careful about where they mine and what they did afterwards,” said Phillips. “And so a lot of the mine subsidence that people have problems with are associated with those older mines. And just because a lot of time has passed doesn’t mean that the that the risk is gone.”

Phillips also says residents will have time to evacuate if their home starts to sink.

“But now, the one thing that we do have kind of going for us is it tends not to happen overnight. It’s happening over the course of of a few days. And so it does give people time to at least get out. I haven’t heard of anybody getting physically injured in Illinois by mine subsidence, just because it’s more of a slow motion thing.”

In Illinois, companies have to offer mine subsidence insurance. If you can prove that your home is not near a mine, you are exempt.

Check out the mine map.

What is Illinois’ state pie? It’s a question many people have asked in recent days, according to a review of recently-searched terms on Google.

While some states’ official pies aren’t particularly common – take Indiana’s sugar cream pie or Oregon’s Marionberry pie – Illinois’ is.

By some accounts, it actually is the most popular pie flavor – especially at a certain time of year.

You may have guessed it: Illinois’ official pie is pumpkin pie.

In 2015, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill making pumpkin pie the official state pie of Illinois.

It makes sense given Illinois produces more pumpkins than any other state in the country. Ninety five percent of the pumpkin crop in the U.S. intended for processing is grown in Illinois, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

If you buy canned pumpkin, chances are it was processed in Illinois too.

A company in Morton, a town outside Peoria, produces 85 percent of the processed pumpkin in the U.S., according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The Illinois Fighting Illini expect to have two key cogs for the season opener against Eastern Illinois.

Illini coach Bret Bielema announced center Josh Kreutz and linebacker James Kreutz are available Thursday. Josh was hampered with a knee injury while James dealt with a chest issue.

“James Kreutz got cleared [Thursday],” Bielema said. “I think he was ready to burn his green injury. To have two Kreutz brothers limited in practice is not healthy for anybody. Both James and Josh are back, cleared, 100 percent to go.”  

Josh Kreutz was limited last week in practice. Bielema also said the only players who will miss opener are Cole Ruskin and Mason Muragin. Both are out with knee injuries.

James Kreutz had 18 tackles and one sack last year while James is the returning starting center.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer is never mistaken for Lamar Jackson.

He is most valuable to the Illini as a passer first but it doesn’t mean he is unable to scramble or run the ball when needed.

“Luke is very talented,” Illini coach Bret Bielema said. “I always say this, he kind of looks like a guy that’s in a pick-up game at the rec league but he can really, really, athletically do some things with his feet that are pretty impressive.”

Last year Altmyer rushed for 282 yards on 94 carries with three touchdowns. He had a 72-yard scoring run against Kansas, so he’s proven he can run.

Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Illinois Fighting Illini On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com

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