Larry Joseph Yates, 72, of Cobden, Illinois, lost his battle to cancer on Friday, April 24, 2020, at 4:55 a.m. at his home, surrounded by his wife and family. 

Panfilo “Pan Blanco” Queriapa-Velasquez, 88, of Carbondale, died Thursday, April 23, 2020, at his home.

He was born on July 10, 1931, in Cheran, Michoacan, Mexico. He married Sara Tomas.

Dorothy L. Hawkins Smiddy, 98, of Jonesboro, died on April 24, 2020, at the Sikeston Convalescent Center. 

Jose Garcia, 79, of Cobden, died Monday, April 27, 2020, at his home. 

He was born on May 8, 1940, in Mexico, the son of Carmelo and Socorro Gomez Garcia. He married Beatriz Garcia.

SIU Professor Emeritus, Bill Boysen, 84, of Cobden, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2020. 

He was born on Jan. 23, 1936, the son of Emil and Erna Boysen of Foster, Wash. 

River levels were falling during the past week in the region.

The Poshard Foundation for Abused Children has been awarded a $300,000 grant by the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. 

Just a bit of a note to start this week...to the driver of the pickup truck who passed a school bus which had stopped to deliver meals...that’s all...