The Gazette-Democrat

Splish, splash, Rocky was takin’ a bath in the “pond” in the photographer’s backyard...on a Friday...maybe the critter was getting ready for the weekend.

Rocky gets ready for the weekend...and other stuff

I’m not quite why it crossed it mind Monday evening, but there it was... We’ll come back to that thought in just a bit... Meanwhile... I know you can’t wait, so here is my latest Critter Sighting (and Smelling) Update...

Bears were spotted last week at the Union County Fair in Anna...

Bears out there...at the Union County Fair...

There were bears out there. One bear. Two bears. Three bears. Maybe even four bears. I saw them. I really did... ...at the Union County Fair... ...there’s even a picture to prove it...

July 28...clouds billowed into the sky over Cobden during the evening. The photographer (that would be me) did a little magic in Photoshop to highlight the steeple at the First Baptist Church in Cobden...just to give an idea of the immensity of the clouds.

The Journey Through Life is just peachy...

Once again this week, we’ll be offering a little bit of this...and a little bit of that...and some pics of the sky...

One more memory from a recent visit to Old Man River...an egret (well, I think it's an egret) was doing a balancing act on a rather large piece of driftwood (as in a log) that was floating in the water along the banks of the river at Grand Tower. The egret flew the coop, so to speak, when a towboat approached. By the way...I think there was an oak buffet with a beveled mirror hidden in there...or maybe an arrowhead...

This week's menu features word salad...

Goodness, gracious...it’s August already. How can that be possible?

The towboat Mt Vernon was making its way north on the Mississippi River at Grand Tower late last Friday morning. Mississippi River water was lapping at the edge of what I think is a boat launch area along the river. The water in the river had been stirred up by the towboat’s passage. The towboat was going under a landmark natural gas pipeline bridge which crosses the river.

Spending some time with Old Man River...

Oh...to be able to string together a few words like fellow journalist Mark Twain...

While wandering around on a daily walkabout last Sunday afternoon, the photographer was lucky enough to spot a bunch of dragonflies. “Bunch,” by the way, is a scientific term for “a whole bunch.” These were just a couple of them...

Special creatures spotted on a Sunday afternoon...

Last Sunday afternoon, the sun was shining and, as far as could be determined, the heat index was not 109 degrees. That was quite an improvement over what we experienced in our little corner of the world on Independence Day.

Smokey Bear, Woodsy Owl celebration set

A celebration in honor of the birthdays of Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl is planned Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center near Cypress. The celebration is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The wetlands center is located at 8885 State Route 37 South. All ages are welcome....

Lawyer in Library programs scheduled in area communities

Each month at local public libraries in the First Judicial Circuit in Southern Illinois, volunteer attorneys are working to help self-represented litigants through the Lawyer in the Library program. Organizers of the program note that with locations across the Southern Illinois region, free legal...

Secretary of state's office offering more online services

By Alex Abbeduto Capitol News Illinois abbeduto@capitolnewsillinois.com Illinoisans who need a notary public can now access those services online through a new “E-Notary” portal launched by the secretary of state’s office. The process is one of the latest initiatives of Illinois Secretary of...

Jazz festival scheduled in Cairo

The Harold S. Jones Fine Arts Center in Cairo announces plans for the fifth annual Smooth Jazz on the River Festival The two-day celebration of music, community and culture is planned Sept. 1-2 at Fort Defiance State Park in Cairo. Festival hours are scheduled from noon to 10 p.m. each day....

Rocky Ledges Trail Run/Walk planned at Touch of Nature

The Rocky Ledges 5K/10K Trail Run/Walk, set among the forested lakeside trails of Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, is set for Sept. 21. Registration for the event is underway. The ninth edition of the event begins and ends at Camp 2, giving...

SIU Day scheduled at state fair

The color maroon will be everywhere on Saturday, Aug. 31, as the programs and services that Southern Illinois University Carbondale provides to the region and beyond will be on display at the Du Quoin State Fair. The events are part of SIU Day/Coal Heritage Day. The fairgrounds are open from noon...

Spay, Neuter Coalition event slated

Live music, a meal and more are planned at an upcoming “spay”getti dinner in Union County. The Cobden Spay and Neuter Coalition is planning to host the event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at Veterans of Foreign Wars Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 near Anna. Ticket prices are $10 for...

Southern 7 Health Department plans September Diaper Drives

National Diaper Need Awareness Week is Sept. 23-29. In an effort to draw attention to an unmet need in the lower seven counties in Illinois, Southern 7 Health Department plans to hold several “Bundles of Joy” Diaper Drives throughout its service region in September. Donations will support...

Positive West Nile test in Jackson County

Routine mosquito testing has identified the first batch of mosquitoes to test positive for West Nile virus in Jackson County in 2024. The Jackson County Health Department reported in a news release that the mosquitoes were collected Aug. 2 near Murphysboro. West Nile virus is transmitted through...

Elks sponsor orthopedic assessment for children

South District Elks Lodges, in cooperation with the Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation, are planning to sponsor a free children’s orthopedic assessment clinic. The clinic is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at Marshall Browning Hospital, which is located at 900 N. Washington...

Obituaries

Nicholas Robin Dillon

Nicholas Robin Dillon, 47, of Anna, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. Nicholas was born on June 24, 1977, in Cape Girardeau, the son of Robin A. and Betsy Womick Dillon. He was a 1995 graduate of Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. He worked as a manager for United Rx...

Linda Gail Rutherford

Linda Gail Rutherford, 61, died Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, at her home in Fredericktown, Mo. She was born on Aug. 2, 1963, in St. Louis, the daughter of James Lewis and Ruby Juanita Masterson Kanaday I. On July 29, 1995, in Fredericktown, Mo., she was united in marriage to Timothy “Tim” Rutherford. He...

Mary Ann Courtright

Mary Ann Courtright, 96, of Jonesboro, died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at home, with her loving daughter and granddaughters by her side. She was born on July 23, 1928, in Cobden, the daughter of Lee and Pearl Hartline Cavaness. She married Jimmie Carl Courtright on Jan. 29, 1949, in Jonesboro;...

Harold Edward Ralls

Harold Edward Ralls of Plainview, Texas, passed away on Sept. 8, 2024. The most appropriate three words to describe my father are hard-working, loyal and compassionate. Harold was an amazing, hardworking and provider for his family. He could be found in the bitter cold or the sweltering heat...

Mary Lou Schlenker

Mary Lou Schlenker, 96, of Anna, went home to be with her Lord and Savior at 7:35 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Hillview Nursing Home in Vienna, surrounded by her family. She was born on Aug. 16, 1928, in Harrisburg, the daughter of Harry and Mamie Bond Libby. She married Wardell Schlenker in...