The wind was blowing so hard last Friday morning that it caused the entire Jonesboro Square to tilt. Or, maybe the photographer just couldn’t hold his camera steady... This week’s column makes mention of Mr. Lincoln...and some other good stuff, too...
Oh. My. Gosh. Did you see snow flurries falling last Sunday morning? At about 8 a.m. in the little corner of the world your writer calls home. The flurries lasted for about 30 seconds...
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future location of a 5,000 square foot bus depot facility in Anna. Local lawmakers, transportation executives and other members of the community wielded the shovels in the event. Photo by Benjamin Marxer.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week in Union County to commemorate the beginning of a building project that will expand the public transportation options for residents of Southern Illinois. 
Yup...another pic of a pileated woodpecker. The photographer just finds them to be fascinating birds. This one was seen last week in Union County.
After getting home from another exciting day of editing copy, generating a couple of actual stories and taking a few photographs, I suggested to The Other Half on Monday evening that it might be good to check the calendar.
From left are Marsha Hayes, community engagement coordinator; Sherrie L. Crabb, Arrowleaf CEO; John A. Cantrell, ROSC program manager; Tina Gibbs, Ameren Illinois community relations representative; Rollie Hawk, chief information officer at Arrowleaf; and TJay Purchase, R3 Program coordinator. Photo provided.
A regional food bank recently received grant funding to help with its operations.
Strange birdfellows? Your writer consulted with a fellow scribe at The Paragraph Factory if “strange birdfellows” seem appropriate for this image of a mockingbird and a killdeer. The fellow scribe was OK with it.
Once again this week, we’re going to go with a little  bit of this...and a little bit of that... Is it just me, or does the wind pretty much just keep on blowing...day...after day...after day...?
Super Bowl snackers? We had a couple of special visitors on our front porch last Sunday night. The picture is a bit fuzzy ‘cause it was shot through two windows. An attempt to join the critters on the porch for a better photograph was unsuccessful.
Last Sunday afternoon was nearly perfect...in terms of the weather...and the little adventure your writer experienced in the bright February sunshine. All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to spend some time on an unofficial national holiday.
The wind was blowing so hard last Friday morning that it caused the entire Jonesboro Square to tilt. Or, maybe the photographer just couldn’t hold his camera steady... This week’s column makes mention of Mr. Lincoln...and some other good stuff, too...
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future location of a 5,000 square foot bus depot facility in Anna. Local lawmakers, transportation executives and other members of the community wielded the shovels in the event. Photo by Benjamin Marxer.
Yup...another pic of a pileated woodpecker. The photographer just finds them to be fascinating birds. This one was seen last week in Union County.
From left are Marsha Hayes, community engagement coordinator; Sherrie L. Crabb, Arrowleaf CEO; John A. Cantrell, ROSC program manager; Tina Gibbs, Ameren Illinois community relations representative; Rollie Hawk, chief information officer at Arrowleaf; and TJay Purchase, R3 Program coordinator. Photo provided.
Strange birdfellows? Your writer consulted with a fellow scribe at The Paragraph Factory if “strange birdfellows” seem appropriate for this image of a mockingbird and a killdeer. The fellow scribe was OK with it.
Super Bowl snackers? We had a couple of special visitors on our front porch last Sunday night. The picture is a bit fuzzy ‘cause it was shot through two windows. An attempt to join the critters on the porch for a better photograph was unsuccessful.
Researchers at the University of Illinois are asking adults in Illinois to complete an online survey about their experiences with wild white-tailed deer. The survey is part of a larger effort by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s, USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, to study...
Homemade maple syrup, one of nature’s original comfort foods, is the star of the show at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s popular annual Maple Syrup Festival, set for March 25-26.  The festival is happening at Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center and features a weekend full of special...
The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School baseball team opened the spring season with a pair of wins.  A-J 15, Cobden 0: Aaron Sheffer tossed a one-hitter to lead the host Wildcats to the win Wednesday, March 15. Sheffer didn’t allow a walk and struck out 11. Tyler Franklin, Mitchell Howell, Jake...
The chiefs of the Anna Police Department and the Anna Fire and Rescue Department have issued activity reports for the month of February. The reports were given at a March 7 regular meeting of the Anna City Council. Anna Police Chief Bryan Watkins shared the following highlights: 449 total calls....
For Southern Illinois residents in need of basic health care, the Wellness on Wheels, WOW, van may be able to help. Through a grant funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, IDPH, Southern 7 Health Department continues to provide a variety of health care services through IDPH WOW van...
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. As the number of unreported child abuse cases continues to rise in Illinois as a result of the pandemic, child abuse advocates in Union County are encouraging residents of all ages to get involved in awareness and prevention activities this April. In...
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the future location of a 5,000 square foot bus depot facility in Anna. Local lawmakers, transportation executives and other members of the community wielded the shovels in the event. Photo by Benjamin Marxer.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held last week in Union County to commemorate the beginning of a building project that will expand the public transportation options for residents of Southern Illinois.  The spot of the shoveling ceremony will be the future location of a new 5,000 square foot bus depot...
A spring clean up campaign is scheduled to start Sunday, March 26, in Cobden. Event organizer Shane Bruce said in an email that a minimum of six volunteers are invited to help out over six weeks starting on March 26. Bruce can be contacted by email at shanebruceoffice@gmail.com or by phone at 323-...
A new youth soccer program in Union County has been created to accommodate children with physical and developmental abilities, as well as players who are more comfortable participating on a less competitive team.  “The purpose of this team is to celebrate players of all abilities,” said organizer...
Grandmaster Robert Cutrell will be teaching a self-defense training course at Coffman’s Martial Arts Academy in Anna. Photo provided
A public self-defense training course is planned at Coffman’s Martial Arts Academy in Anna. Taught by self-defense expert, Grandmaster Robert Cutrell, the upcoming six-week course is for men and women 18 years of age and older of any skill level.  Training is open to the public. Registration will...

Obituaries

Jacob Lee Burton
Jacob Lee Burton, 80, of Tamms, died Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 6:55 a.m. at Integrity Nursing and Rehab in Anna. He was born on July 16, 1942, in Grand Tower,  the son of William H. and Molly Ellen Knupp Burton. He married Ethel Louise Dover on Dec. 3, 1963, and they spent 59 years blessed years...
Linda Harris Ross
Linda Harris Ross, 79, of Cordova, Tenn., died Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at her home. She was born on Feb. 15, 1944, in Anna, the daughter of Guy and Muriel Barnhart Harris.  She married Jim Ross on Jan. 18, 1963, in Carbondale. She is survived by her husband Jim Ross of Cordova, Tenn.; her...
Sydney Sue Spencer
Sydney Sue Spencer, 86, of Powder Springs, Ga., passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023. Mrs. Spencer was born on Feb. 28, 1937, in Wolf Lake, the daughter of Percy Clifton Foreman and Violet Esther Miller Foreman.  She was a member of Peoples Baptist Church and volunteered for Sweetwater Valley Camp...
Jean Dietz, 87, of Jonesboro, and formerly of Pontiac, died Monday, March 13, 2023, at Integrity Healthcare in Anna.  She was born on July 2, 1935, in Pontiac, the daughter of John Lyman and Ida B. Chandler Cole.  She married Wayne Dietz in August 1954. He preceded her in death in February 1965....
Robbie Dale Turner, 56, of Vandalia, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at his home, surrounded by loving family.  He was born on May 18, 1966, in Cahokia, the son of Jimmy Ray Richardson and Leona Kay Turner.   He married Audrey Yvette Snyrponis in Vandalia on March 22, 2019.  A sharp sense...

Sports

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School baseball team opened the spring season with a pair of wins.  A-J 15, Cobden 0: Aaron Sheffer tossed a one-hitter to lead the host Wildcats to the win...

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