A National Weather Service damage survey and analysis by structural engineering experts found that an EF-4 tornado damage occurred in southern Williamson County on Friday, May 16.
A new state funding formula is designed to increase resources for underserved and rural public libraries in Illinois. Libraries in the Southern Illinois area are among those that will benefit from the program.
Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias led a legislative effort to change the...
The National Weather Service office in Paducah reported late last week that a cold front was expected to move through the region on Friday, Nov. 7, bringing with it a chance for a few showers and thunderstorms. Another chance for showers was possible Saturday night, followed by much colder...
The Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office announced Nov. 4 that fire departments across the state are beginning the transition to the National Emergency Response Information System, NERIS, which is a secure, cloud-based platform built to modernize how emergency incidents are reported and analyzed....
A new fiscal year budget was on the agenda for a lengthy special meeting of the Union County Board of Commissioners which was held Thursday, Oct. 30. The meeting was at the Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro.
Funding requests presented by county officeholders and department heads were discussed....
The Aspen Institute on Oct. 28 named Shawnee Community College as one of the 200 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s premier recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges.
The 200 colleges were...
Veterans of Foreign Wars Carroll P. Foster Post No. 3455 of Anna is welcoming entries for this year’s Veterans Day parade in Anna. The parade is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, starting at 11 a.m. The theme for this year’s parade is “Service to Our Nation.”
Letters of invitation and application...
The Illinois Department of Public Health, IDPH, joined in the observance of Lead Poisoning Prevention Week Oct. 19-25 and continues to remind all parents and caregivers of young children to be aware of risk factors for lead poisoning and how to prevent it.
IDPH has been steadily expanding the state...
The Friends of the Shawnee National Forest will mark its 15-year anniversary from 6 to 9 p.m, on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass.
The Friends will highlight many of its projects that promote and protect the Shawnee National Forest during the celebration.
The event is sponsored by...
Cool autumn temperatures have arrived, offering a reminder that winter is not far ahead. Once again, WIBH Radio in Anna has begun its annual New Coats, New Hope Campaign to buy new coats for kids age 3 to 16 living in the lower 45 counties of Illinois.
Now in its 15th year, the Anna radio station...
Nearly 2 million people in Illinois could lose federal food benefits ahead of Thanksgiving if Congress can’t agree on a budget by the end of the month.
The Illinois Department of Human Services announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has told states that Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program...
Obituaries
Donald Merriman passed away Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 at the age of 90. He went peacefully inside his longtime country estate with his family by his side.
Don was born March 19, 1935, in Johnson County Ill., the son of Jeff and Bertha (Anderson) Merriman.
He grew up on the family farm in the Cache...
Joe H. McMahan, age 87 of Anna, went home to his Savior, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 with his family by his side.
He was born Oct. 11, 1938 in Wolf Lake, the son of Merritt Estin and Beulah E. (Bittle) McMahan.
He married Gale Scivally on Dec. 14, 1963 in Mt. Carmel. She preceded him in death on June...
Karen Kickasola Reichert, age 77 of Grand Chain, Ill. passed away at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025 at her home.
She was a beloved momma, granny, and great-granny. She missed her husband, Skip Reichert, over the last six years.
She loved watching her grandkids play sports and playing with her...
Paul Michael Spiller, age76, of Carterville, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on Dec. 21, 1948, in Anna the son of Paul L. and Margaret Ann (Brust) Spiller. On Nov. 14, 1967, he married the love of his life, Nancy K. Spiller....
Billy Mac Travis, age 68 of Jonesboro, died Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 at St. Louis Medical Center.
He was born Oct. 4, 1957 in Anna, the son of Billy Lee and Maxine (Lingle) Travis.
Billy Mac is survived by his son, Jeremy Travis of Murphysboro; daughter, Rachel Travis of Wolf Lake; grandchildren,...
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Sports
Following decades of decline, even fewer birds will darken North American skies by the end of the century, according to a new analysis by scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign....
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