January 2012

The Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT, is alerting motorists who plan to travel on new U.S. Route 51 from Makanda to Anna about lane reductions.

Highway contractors began patching work on Friday, Sept. 7, along new U.S. Route 51 between Makanda and Anna.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane in various locations to allow the contractor to patch the highway.

Traffic will be controlled by flaggers. The work is planned during daytime hours only.

Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days are planned Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22-23, at John A. Logan College in Carterville.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the event.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days include a wide range of activities for those of all ages.

Among the many highlights are wildlife programs, seminars, an art and heritage show, bluegrass music, goose and duck calling, youth goose calling, activities for children and food.

No injuries were reported in the aftermath of an incident Thursday morning, Sept. 13, at The Gazette-Democrat's office in Anna.

The incident involved a hand grenade used for training purposes.

Authorities said the grenade was considered to be live. However, a member of the bomb squad also explained that "as it sat, it would not go off."

The weapon had been left on the desk of Jerry L. Reppert, the publisher of The Gazette-Democrat.

<strong>Mr. Harold W. Smith, age 61 of Wolf Lake, died at 7:20 p.m. Monday, September 24, 2012 in the Landmark Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was born January 1, 1951 in Wolf Lake, the son of Ellis and Virginia Hamel Smith. He married Norleen Brown on October 24, 1998 in Grand Tower.</strong>