A hawk made a brief stop atop a utility pole along the State Forest Road last Sunday afternoon. The hawk’s colors stood out in the light of an autumn afternoon.
Thank you, Dueling Pianos guys. Don’t know if you’ll read this, but I’m grateful for the song you chose to share when you passed by my vantage point at last Saturday’s Veterans Day parade in Anna.
Clouds filled much of the sky over Union County last Saturday morning. The image was captured during a stop along Aldridge Road, between metropolitan Cobden and Illinois Route 127.
Every once in a while, I figure it might be nice to create a scrapbook featuring some of the images yours truly has stumbled across during the latest chapter in The Journey Through Life. 
One last chance to bask in the sun? A turtle (yes, folks, another turtle) took advantage of sunshine and warm temperatures on the last Thursday afternoon in October. Pretty soon, many turtles will be flying south for the winter.
Before we get to the “good stuff”... Did you remember to celebrate National Cat Day on Sunday, October 29. We mentioned the special day to Bob, who got some pork roast out of the deal.
Zero the ghost-dog and Jack Skellington are featured in several Pumpkin Town displays at the Anna City Park.
With apologies to Bullwinkle Jay Moose, we’re going to begin this week with... Hey, Rocky, watch me pull a column out of my hat...
An up-close look at the Mississippi River in Grand Tower during a visit last Friday afternoon.
Once again this week, we’re offering a little bit of this...a little bit of that...a veritable potpourri of the writer’s musings, adventures and other things to waste your valuable time... Here we go...
Clouds in the sky over Union County covered part of the full moon Thursday night, Sept. 28
Union County residents had an opportunity to view the Harvest Moon – and a supermoon – in the night sky late last week.
A hawk made a brief stop atop a utility pole along the State Forest Road last Sunday afternoon. The hawk’s colors stood out in the light of an autumn afternoon.
Clouds filled much of the sky over Union County last Saturday morning. The image was captured during a stop along Aldridge Road, between metropolitan Cobden and Illinois Route 127.
One last chance to bask in the sun? A turtle (yes, folks, another turtle) took advantage of sunshine and warm temperatures on the last Thursday afternoon in October. Pretty soon, many turtles will be flying south for the winter.
Zero the ghost-dog and Jack Skellington are featured in several Pumpkin Town displays at the Anna City Park.
An up-close look at the Mississippi River in Grand Tower during a visit last Friday afternoon.
Clouds in the sky over Union County covered part of the full moon Thursday night, Sept. 28
A Southern Illinois state legislator is sponsoring a holiday season diaper drive to benefit needy area children. “We have many wonderful organizations in our community that work hard to provide the best care and attention to our young children,” State Rep. Paul Jacobs, R-Pomona, said in a news...
With the holiday season underway, the community is reminded about a yearly tradition to help families in need which is sponsored by WIBH Radio in Anna. The radio station is conducting its annual New Coats, New Hope Campaign to raise money to buy new coats for children in Southern Illinois. Nearly...
Three Southern Illinois state legislators on Wednesday, Nov. 1, joined the family of fallen police officer Brian Pierce Jr. for a dedication ceremony at the Spillertown Community Center following the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 31 in his honor. State Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg, State Rep...
With a pivot that this year will focus on the works of Southern Illinois University Carbondale cinema students and alumni, the Big Muddy Film Festival is scheduled to return to the region for a 45th consecutive year on Nov. 11. The one-night festival is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at The...
The Williamson County Courthouse in Marion welcomed new volunteer staff member Mr. Baker on Aug. 8. Mr. Baker is an Alliance of Therapy Dogs member and holds the Canine Good Citizenship Title Certificate.  His job at the courthouse is to make a victim’s testimony less “ruff” to undergo, the Office...
Shawnee Hills Arts Council’s Anna Arts Center has a variety of events scheduled during November. The arts center is located in the 100 block of West Davie Street in Anna. Art Exhibit The art work of local artist Nancy Young is on display through Nov. 25. Young paints landscapes, still lifes and...
In July, Southern 7 Health Department began offering genetic cancer testing to residents in the area counties which it serves. Union County is one of the counties served by the health department. Southern 7 Health Department explained in a news release that genetic cancer testing is the process of...
Ten Southern Illinois counties, including Union County, will receive a combined $1.2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, REAP, to fortify rural energy.  The awarding of the grant funds was announced Nov. 1 by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill.  “...
A historic courthouse overlooks the Mississippi River in Thebes in Alexander County. The landmark has been preserved, lovingly cared for and continually restored for many years by the members of the Thebes Historical Society, the Village of Thebes and generous private benefactors. A Living History...
Shawnee Community College is planning to stage a fall musical for the first time in four years.  This year’s production will be “Seussical.” The show, which pays tribute to children’s author Dr. Seuss, will be directed by SCC alum Clarissa Fox.  Performances are scheduled Thursday, today, at 9 a.m...

Obituaries

Janelle Nechoda Bean
Janelle Nechoda Bean, 23, of Thebes, died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Olive Branch. She was born on April 27, 2000, in Lake Forest, the daughter of Eric John Bean and Jayme Joy Leonhart Bean. She graduated from Eldorado Community High School, where she earned a varsity letter in track and a JV letter...
Chance Curtis Chapman
Chance Curtis Chapman, 28, of Anna, died on Nov. 5, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. He was born on Jan. 18, 1995, in Carbondale, the son of Herman Chapman and Jennifer Chapman. He was employed as a cell tower technician. He loved dirt bikes, motorcycles and 4-wheelers. He also loved the outdoors and his job....
Timothy Wayne Miller
Timothy Wayne Miller, 54, of Anna, died on Nov. 13, 2023.  He was born on Dec. 25, 1968, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Kenneth and Lynda Kissiar Miller.  After graduating from Dongola High School, he served in the U.S. Army and the National Guard. After completing his service, he worked as an over-...
J. Darling ‘Darlin’  (Wallace) Elsner
J. Darling “Darlin” (Wallace) Elsner, 71, of Anna, died Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born on Jan. 3, 1952, in Granite City, the daughter of Ray Eldon and Betty May Thomason Wallace.  She met the love of her life while she was working as a carhop...
John Thomas Murrie
John Thomas Murrie, 71, of Gideon, Mo., died after a brief illness on Nov. 5, 2023, at Dexter Hospital in Dexter, Mo. Per his request, his body was donated to the Washington University Medical School.   John was the fifth of seven children born to Clare H. and Daniel M. Murrie.  John had many...

Sports

The Anna-Jonesboro/Dongola co-op high school football team is scheduled to play at home at The Pit against Du Quoin on Friday,  Oct. 6. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m. Du Quoin is 6-0 after...

The Gazette-Democrat

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Anna, Illinois 62906
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