News Notes

Congratulations once again to the Cobden High School girls' basketball team, which had a very special season.

March is Red Cross Month. During the month, a blood drive is planned Monday, March 9, at Union County Hospital in Anna.

Delta Theta Tau Sorority is planning to have a Trivia Night March 7 at the VFW post near Anna.

With the observance of Ash Wednesday on Feb. 25, the season of Lent began.

Eli Tellor, Ashley Hatfield and Steve Hornbeak are scheduled to be among the performers at the debut of the SI Opry slated for March 21 at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.

The Cobden liquor advisory board plans to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, today. The meeting is at Cobden Village Hall.

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School School Jobs for Illinois Graduates classes raised more than $1,000 last week for St. Louis Children's Hospital.

A kindergarten Family Reading Night program was scheduled Tuesday evening at Lincoln School in Anna.

Planning is underway for an Anna Junior High School 8th grade graduation party.

A Pre-K moms' night is planned today at Jonesboro School.

Brian Tucker, whose focus is golf during warmer weather, recently demonstrated that he's not a bad bowler. He rolled a perfect 300 game at West Park Lanes in Cape Girardeau.

Fitness Forum in Anna has a new personal trainer on staff. Brandon Radcliffe of Makanda, and originally from Clarksville, Tenn., is available evenings for personal training sessions.

Tiffany Hileman of Anna has joined the staff at Fitness Forum. She is teaching hard core abdominal classes and stability ball classes on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

March 1-7 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Illinois.

The Gazette-Democrat has been notified by the Illinois Press Association that it has received state honors for the 2008 Veterans Day section.