January 2011

Christopher Haire, 12, of Jonesboro, competed in the Nashville, Tenn., Gun Club December clay target shooting competition.

The competition was held Sunday, Dec. 18, at the Tennessee State Clay Target Complex in Nashville.

Chris won first-place trophies in the three events and four classes in which he competed.

He competed in the ATA 100 singles 12-15-year-old class, ATA 100 singles adult class, ATA adult handicap 18-22 yards and the ATA adult class doubles competition.

Anna-Jonesboro Community High School’s Brady Wright has been honored as the Southern Illinoisan newspaper’s high school football player of the year for 2011.

Wright, a versatile quarterback, led the Wildcats to a 9-3 finish and to the quarterfinals of the Class 3A high school football playoffs.

“He had a heck of a year for us,” A-J coach Brett Detering said. “But one of the things he’s aware of is that it is really a team honor.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White reports that alcohol-related fatalities have decreased by 9 percent from the previous year and urges motorists to continue this trend by celebrating the holiday season safely and not drinking and driving.

Illinois recently received a 5-star rating, the highest ranking possible by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, for the state’s innovative and comprehensive efforts to combat drunk driving.

Connie A. Young, 74, of Navarre, Fla., and formerly of Dongola, died at 9:31 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at West Florida Regional Medical Center in Pensacola, Fla.

She was born on Jan. 3, 1937, in Wetaug, the daughter of Harley and Edna Staudacher Hight.

She married Alvin Junior Young. He preceded her in death on Aug. 4, 1986.

She liked country and western line dancing.