January 2013

Ellen Mae Johnson

<strong>Mrs</strong><strong>.</strong> <strong>Ellen Mae Johnson, age 100 of Sandwich, IL, formerly of Alto Pass, died at 5:40 p.m. Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Willow Crest Nursing Pavilion in Sandwich, IL. She was born October 16, 1912 in Alto Pass, the daughter of Ernest and Grace Miller Newbold.</strong>

Southern Illinois snow goose hunting seen as ‘great experience’

Some waterfowl hunters have already put up their gear by the time the regular season ends at the end of January. They might be hanging up that firearm a bit too early though.

Snows Unlimited Outfitters of Marion, Ill., goes all out during the snow goose season which begins Feb. 1 and runs through the end of March. This is the 11th year for the organization.

There is no limit on the amount of snow geese that hunters can harvest. The outfitters harvest numbers are usually in the teens and 20s per field.

Girls-only division featured for first time at wrestling tournament

The O’Fallon Panther Pummel is always one of the bigger junior wrestling tournaments in Illinois.  

What made this year special is that for the first time it featured a girls-only division.

Twenty-seven lady grapplers competed in this, one of four IKWF tournaments this year including a girls division.  

This made it the second largest regular-season gathering of female wrestlers in Illinois wrestling history.

Four of those girls were A-J Junior Wildcats.

Rural Anna man faces multiple child pornography charges

Union County State’s Attorney Tyler R. Edmonds reported Tuesday, Jan. 29, that Benson T. Poirier, 33, of 1870 Old Highway 51 N in rural Anna faces multiple child pornography charges.

Poirier has been charged with two counts of aggravated child pornography, one count being a Class X felony and one count being a Class 2 felony, and five counts of child pornography, all Class 3 felonies.  

Poirier is alleged to have possessed pornographic computer images of children under the age of 13 and children under the age of 18.  

Cast rehearsing to present 'Stories of Blue and Gray'

Saturday night at the Anna Arts Center in Anna, members of the cast of “Stories of the Blue and Gray” were rehearsing and preparing for their opening night on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m.  

Brian Caraker, the director of the production, said, "I am thrilled to have a great group of performers to work with and tell this historical story."

"Stories of the Blue and Gray" will be presented at the Anna Arts Center at 117 W. Davie St. in Anna.

This is one event of a Civil War Weekend which is planned Feb. 8-10.

Wildcats defeated by Nashville, Sparta

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School boys’ basketball team lost twice in action last week.

Nashville 54, A-J 30: Visiting Nashville took command of the game in the first quarter on its way to the win on A-J’s Senior Night Saturday, Feb. 9.

The Hornets led 15-10 after the first quarter and 26-16 at halftime. The Wildcats trailed 36-20 heading into the fourth quarter.

Ben McFarland scored 6 points and had 5 rebounds to lead A-J. Noah Fuller also scored 6 points and had 3 rebounds.

Education focus of local workshop

Nearly 40 people gathered last Saturday in Anna to share input on the future of education in Union County.

Representatives of nearly all of Union County's seven public school districts took part in a day-long education workshop.

School teachers, administrators, board of education representatives and community members were among those who attended the workshop.

The workshop was held at Shawnee Community College's Anna Extension Center.

Saturday's event was hosted by a Union County group called Concerned Citizens for Education.

Move into new courthouse continues

Days of operation for the "old" Union County Courthouse in Jonesboro are numbered.

Construction of a new county courthouse is nearing completion.

The new building is located directly behind a structure which has served the county since the 1850s.

County offices are in the process of moving from the old building into the new structure.

County Clerk's Office

The Union County clerk's office this week announced plans for its move into the new courthouse.

Gina ‘Janie’ Miller

Gina “Janie” Miller, 49, of Dongola, died on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born in Dexter, Mo., on June 8, 1963, the daughter of John and Joyce Ann Monan Poynor. They preceded her in death.

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The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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