CARBONDALE - Evan James of De Soto was one of about a dozen people with an ashtray and a beer at arm's reach late Tuesday afternoon at PK's in Carbondale.

PK's has been a haven for an after-work smoke and drink for more than half a century, but that all will change in January. That's when the state goes smoke-free after Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill Monday.

"I think it's a big mistake," James said, taking a drag of his cigarette. "If people don't want to go where people are smoking, they don't have to go."

James shares that opinion with proprietor Gwen Hunt, who has been the owner of the legendary bar, originally known as Pizza King, since 1955.

Hunt said she is frustrated with what she perceives as a lack of attention to choice.

"If you go into a bar and it's too smoky, it's your option to stay or leave," Hunt said. "It's your option to eat at McDonald's and die of whatever they claim McDonald's food will do to you. It's not just the smoking. It's a lot of things."

Although Hunt has become an icon for nightlife in Carbondale, she is not a smoker. However, she said she considers it her choice to own an establishment that permits smoking.

"I'm a nonsmoker, and I live my life in a smoking establishment," Hunt said. "It doesn't bother me, whereas my sister is two years older than me and she now has lung cancer."

Legislation would allow smokers to indulge in their homes, cars, at retail tobacco shops, certain hotel or motel rooms and outdoors. Smoking would be banned in public places, including bars, restaurants and workplaces.

The ban stipulates that smoking would be illegal within 15 feet of entrances to or windows in public areas.

Carbondale City Council recently flexed its home-rule muscles to pass legislation that would have gone into effect in January. The city ordinance will now be superseded by the new state law.

Marion Mayor Bob Butler said he considered the legislation too far-reaching. However, Butler said he thought the law might serve a higher purpose.

"I think it's rather a sweeping undertaking, but it's probably a good thing all things considered," Butler said. "I think any thinking person realizes that smoking is a bad habit, and I know we do have a number of smokers and I do know that it is difficult to break the habit.

"If it takes a ban such as the state is imposing to encourage people to quit, it's probably a good move," Butler said.

Lucas Woith disagrees. Woith is executive producer of Midwest Cigar Summit, an annual event that draws cigar enthusiasts from across the Midwest.

The summit started in Havana, Ill., as a small gathering with a play on words.

"We had T-shirts that said 'I smoked a cigar in Havana (Illinois, that is),'" Woith said.

Woith said he expects the forthcoming smoking ban might inspire more than 600 people to come to this year's event, which will take place in Peoria.

"We want to give people a place where they can come out and enjoy their hobby and not have to worry about hearing nasty comments or getting dirty looks," Woith said.

ashley.wiehle@thesouthern.com

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