December 2012

The Illinois Veterans Home in Anna received some extra holiday cheer through the efforts of the Lincoln Heritage Winery, which is located between Anna and Cobden.

The winery held a benefit for the veterans. Visitors were encouraged by the winery to bring gifts for the veterans or to contribute money to the veterans activity fund.

“We were so impressed to see the community bring such a nice variety of gifts for the veterans,” winery co-owner Bonnie Cissell said in a news release.

The community is invited to be a part of a prayer vigil which is planned Saturday, Jan. 26, at the Cross of Peace on Bald Knob Mountain near Alto Pass. The event is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

During the vigil, prayers will be said as a show of support for those in the region who are impacted by the recent closing of state-run facilities in Southern Illinois, including the Tamms Correctional Center at Tamms.

The Jan. 26 event will be similar to a vigil which was held in July 2012 in Jonesboro.

The host Lick Creek School junior high girls’ basketball team defeated Buncombe-Cypress 45-35 to win a Class S regional championship Saturday, Jan. 12.

Madison Root scored 18 points to lead Lick Creek to the win. She scored 15 of 18 points in the first half. She also had 4 rebounds and 6 steals.

Elle Basler added 11 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals.

Morgan Dillow had 10 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Brooke Miller had 3 points, 2 rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Bethany McMahan scored 16 points to lead Shawnee to a 56-34 win over host Joppa in South Egyptian Conference high school girls’ basketball Monday, Jan. 7.

Gwen Kuehne added 11 points for the Lady Reds. Jordan Johnson chipped in 10 points, Valley Reynolds   9, Reagan Brown 4 and Amanda Goodman, Morgan Stevens  and Alexis Charles 2 each.

Shawnee led 13-10 after the first quarter and 29-13 at halftime. The Lady Reds led 42-22 heading into the fourth quarter.

Shawnee, 7-7, is scheduled to play Thursday, today, at home against Meridian.