January 2009

Roberta Eickelman, 78, of Dongola, died at 2:50 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.

She was born on Dec. 12, 1930, the daughter of Jack and Marie Rogers Lawrence.

She married Harold Marquardt in 2002.

She was an avid garage sale enthusiast.

A Union County couple received some sweet honors at the National Sweet Sorghum Producers and Processors Association's annual convention.

And, thanks to the recognition they received, Union County now is home to the number one sorghum syrup in the nation.

The association's annual convention was Feb. 26-29 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

Clifford and Margaret Heil of rural Cobden, and Margaret's brother and his wife, Larry and Jane Johnson of Farmington, Mo., attended the convention. All four are members of the association.

To the editor,

I am very concerned about the economy of our country.

It seems as if most things were going well until the gasoline, diesel and home heating fuel prices raised within the past few years.

Most of us were doing well, paying our bills and living a comfortable life until the fuel prices were elevated.

These higher prices take away the extra money we have for things such as eating out, buying clothing, taking vacation trips, and just being able to buy something extra we want or need.

Cobden will have a new police chief effective in early April.

The job was on a busy agenda at this week's regular meeting of the Cobden Village Board of Trustees.

The meeting was Monday night at Cobden Village Hall.

Current Cobden police chief Dennis Holbrook is planning to retire on April 8.

As Holbrook's retirement draws closer, the village board on Monday night unanimously approved Mayor Wes Lyerla's appointment of David Isom as police chief effective April 8.

Isom has been working as a police officer in Cobden.