Yup...another pic of a pileated woodpecker. The photographer just finds them to be fascinating birds. This one was seen last week in Union County.
After getting home from another exciting day of editing copy, generating a couple of actual stories and taking a few photographs, I suggested to The Other Half on Monday evening that it might be good to check the calendar.
From left are Marsha Hayes, community engagement coordinator; Sherrie L. Crabb, Arrowleaf CEO; John A. Cantrell, ROSC program manager; Tina Gibbs, Ameren Illinois community relations representative; Rollie Hawk, chief information officer at Arrowleaf; and TJay Purchase, R3 Program coordinator. Photo provided.
A regional food bank recently received grant funding to help with its operations.
Strange birdfellows? Your writer consulted with a fellow scribe at The Paragraph Factory if “strange birdfellows” seem appropriate for this image of a mockingbird and a killdeer. The fellow scribe was OK with it.
Once again this week, we’re going to go with a little  bit of this...and a little bit of that... Is it just me, or does the wind pretty much just keep on blowing...day...after day...after day...?
Super Bowl snackers? We had a couple of special visitors on our front porch last Sunday night. The picture is a bit fuzzy ‘cause it was shot through two windows. An attempt to join the critters on the porch for a better photograph was unsuccessful.
Last Sunday afternoon was nearly perfect...in terms of the weather...and the little adventure your writer experienced in the bright February sunshine. All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to spend some time on an unofficial national holiday.
The current playground and equipment at the Anna City Park.
An update about plans for a new playground project was shared at last week’s regular meeting of the Anna City Council. The meeting was Tuesday evening, Feb. 7, at Anna City Hall.
Fellowship of Christian Women from Ohio Chapel Church in Grand Chain made a monetary donation of over $2,200 to the 2022 WIBH Radio New Coats, New Hope Campaign. The group was one of many donors in the region to help collect over $12,000 for kids needing coats in Southern Illinois. From left are Moury Bass, co-owner of WIBH; Jane Winterbottom, Helen Norin; and Ron Ellis, co-owner of WIBH. Photo provided.
On Dec. 9, WIBH Radio in Anna wrapped up its annual coat campaign – raising more money than ever before. 
Yup...another pic of a pileated woodpecker. The photographer just finds them to be fascinating birds. This one was seen last week in Union County.
From left are Marsha Hayes, community engagement coordinator; Sherrie L. Crabb, Arrowleaf CEO; John A. Cantrell, ROSC program manager; Tina Gibbs, Ameren Illinois community relations representative; Rollie Hawk, chief information officer at Arrowleaf; and TJay Purchase, R3 Program coordinator. Photo provided.
Strange birdfellows? Your writer consulted with a fellow scribe at The Paragraph Factory if “strange birdfellows” seem appropriate for this image of a mockingbird and a killdeer. The fellow scribe was OK with it.
Super Bowl snackers? We had a couple of special visitors on our front porch last Sunday night. The picture is a bit fuzzy ‘cause it was shot through two windows. An attempt to join the critters on the porch for a better photograph was unsuccessful.
The current playground and equipment at the Anna City Park.
Fellowship of Christian Women from Ohio Chapel Church in Grand Chain made a monetary donation of over $2,200 to the 2022 WIBH Radio New Coats, New Hope Campaign. The group was one of many donors in the region to help collect over $12,000 for kids needing coats in Southern Illinois. From left are Moury Bass, co-owner of WIBH; Jane Winterbottom, Helen Norin; and Ron Ellis, co-owner of WIBH. Photo provided.
A spring clean up campaign is scheduled to start Sunday, March 26, in Cobden. Event organizer Shane Bruce said in an email that a minimum of six volunteers are invited to help out over six weeks starting on March 26. Bruce can be contacted by email at shanebruceoffice@gmail.com or by phone at 323-...
A new youth soccer program in Union County has been created to accommodate children with physical and developmental abilities, as well as players who are more comfortable participating on a less competitive team.  “The purpose of this team is to celebrate players of all abilities,” said organizer...
Grandmaster Robert Cutrell will be teaching a self-defense training course at Coffman’s Martial Arts Academy in Anna. Photo provided
A public self-defense training course is planned at Coffman’s Martial Arts Academy in Anna. Taught by self-defense expert, Grandmaster Robert Cutrell, the upcoming six-week course is for men and women 18 years of age and older of any skill level.  Training is open to the public. Registration will...
An update about property taxes and an animal control project were shared at last Friday morning’s regular meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners.  The meeting was Friday morning at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro. The county is planning to advertise a request for qualifications...
For more than a decade, WIBH Radio in Anna has raised awareness of child abuse and neglect in the Southern Illinois region.   Since 2011, the local radio station has partnered with area child service agencies to raise funds to buy new coats through its New Coats, New Hope Campaign.   In April 2022...
Those in need of help with answering legal questions are invited to attend a free Lawyer in the Courthouse event which is planned March 24 at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon in the community room at the courthouse, which is located at 309 W....
Stinson Memorial Public Library plans to offer a Lawyer in the Library program from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 18. The library is located at 409 S. Main St. in Anna. The Lawyer in the Library program offers an opportunity for self-represented litigants to sit down with attorney Gene Turk for a...
The Illinois Department of Public Health, IDPH, on Friday, March 10, announced the CDC was reporting 26 counties in the state were at medium community level for COVID-19 last week, compared to 14 a week earlier.  No counties were reported at high level, compared to four the previous week. Union,...
A meet the candidates forum is planned Thursday evening, March 16, at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School. The forum is set for 7 p.m. in the media center at the Union County school. Candidates for the A-JCHS District No. 81 Board of Education in the April 4 election have been invited to attend...
A Southern Illinois legislator has been selected to serve on the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture for the 118th Congress.  U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill. announced in a news release that his Republican colleagues had selected him to serve on the committee. Bost will be a member of the Subcommittee...

Obituaries

Jacob Lee Burton
Jacob Lee Burton, 80, of Tamms, died Thursday, March 16, 2023, at 6:55 a.m. at Integrity Nursing and Rehab in Anna. He was born on July 16, 1942, in Grand Tower,  the son of William H. and Molly Ellen Knupp Burton. He married Ethel Louise Dover on Dec. 3, 1963, and they spent 59 years blessed years...
Linda Harris Ross
Linda Harris Ross, 79, of Cordova, Tenn., died Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at her home. She was born on Feb. 15, 1944, in Anna, the daughter of Guy and Muriel Barnhart Harris.  She married Jim Ross on Jan. 18, 1963, in Carbondale. She is survived by her husband Jim Ross of Cordova, Tenn.; her...
Sydney Sue Spencer
Sydney Sue Spencer, 86, of Powder Springs, Ga., passed away Thursday, March 16, 2023. Mrs. Spencer was born on Feb. 28, 1937, in Wolf Lake, the daughter of Percy Clifton Foreman and Violet Esther Miller Foreman.  She was a member of Peoples Baptist Church and volunteered for Sweetwater Valley Camp...
Jean Dietz, 87, of Jonesboro, and formerly of Pontiac, died Monday, March 13, 2023, at Integrity Healthcare in Anna.  She was born on July 2, 1935, in Pontiac, the daughter of John Lyman and Ida B. Chandler Cole.  She married Wayne Dietz in August 1954. He preceded her in death in February 1965....
Robbie Dale Turner, 56, of Vandalia, passed away on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at his home, surrounded by loving family.  He was born on May 18, 1966, in Cahokia, the son of Jimmy Ray Richardson and Leona Kay Turner.   He married Audrey Yvette Snyrponis in Vandalia on March 22, 2019.  A sharp sense...

Sports

A new youth soccer program in Union County has been created to accommodate children with physical and developmental abilities, as well as players who are more comfortable participating on a less...

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