By Dixie Terry
Welcome August! This hot, humid and hazy month was named for the first Roman emperor and grand-nephew of Julius Caesar, Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.-A. D. 14).
This is the only month that doesn’t have a national holiday. However, there are several special days that make a recognition that we can observe, such as: Aug. 1–Girlfriend Day! Aug. 2–Ice Cream Sandwich Day! Aug. 3–Watermelon Day! Aug. 4–Chocolate Chip Cookie Day! Aug. 5–Mustard Day! Aug. 6–Root Beer Day! Aug. 7–Friendship Day! Aug. 8–Dollar Day! Celebrate!
Aug. 7-13 is Farmers Market Week! The first weekend of August is Family Reunion Weekend! August is also celebrated as National Sandwich Month, Foot Health Month, Water Quality Month and Romance Awareness Month.
The astrological signs for August are Leo through the 22nd and Virgo, through the 31st. The birthstone for this month is the Peridot and the flower is Gladiolus.
Keep cool! Did you know that heat is the top weather-related killer, causing more fatalities than lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined. Drink lots of water and eat less protein in the summertime.
Have you noticed all the Naked Ladies around town? They are everywhere! Sometimes called “Magic Lilies,” since they pop out of the ground overnight, always the last week of July. They are also called “Resurrection Lilies,” with their botanical name being “Lycoris squamigera”. And now you know.
Pyramid Acres Marina of Lake of Egypt has a full schedule for the month, with entertainment underway to suit all tastes. Take a look! Dave Clark, 8-11 p.m. on Aug. 6. Jarrek Stone, 2-5 p.m. on Aug. 7. with more to come each weekend.
Bring the kids and grandkids and enjoy the “Family Fun Day” this Saturday, Aug. 6, 4-7 p.m. at The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church at 1214 East DeYoung Street/Route 13 in Marion. There will be music, games, food, (lots of it, I am told!) a puppet show, face painting, a bouncy house and prizes galore. And, everything is free!
The Illinois Amish Heritage Center, located between Arthur and Arcola on Route 133 will be the site of “Steam Threshing Days” on Aug. 5, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Aug. 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lots of events will be underway. The cost is $10 per person or $20 per buggy or car load. Those under twelve get in free.
The 2022 “River to River” All-Corvette Show” will be underway in downtown Herrin on Saturday, Aug. 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. To register, call 618-889-8555, for $15. The rain date is Aug. 27.
That same date, the Keith Pursell Memorial Scholarship Car Show will be going on at the Herrin City Park, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The entry fee to show a car is $25 by emailing BPursell1@gmail.com.
The next “Quilts of Valor” presentation will be Aug. 27 at 5:30 p.m,. at the Old Soldiers and Sailors Day near Stonefort on Hwy. 45. Ten area veterans will receive a “Quilt of Valor” provided by the Little Egypt Quilters.
The DuQuoin State Fair opens Aug. 26 and runs through Sept. 5. Admission will be free. Parking is $15 at Gate One or $10 at the other gates.
After our greats, Reagan and Aubree, returned home from Florida after two weeks with our granddaughter, Leah and Andrew Sadlo and their little girls, the Sadlos headed to Long Island, New York, to visit his family.
After seeing our great-grand, 3 1/2 year old Jamison, driving a bumper car at an event in New York, all by herself, I decided not to watch Facebook for a while.
Another great-grand, Maelyn, spent the weekend with her Gramps, our son, Joel, and she brought along her new puppy, a Belgium shepherd, while her mom and dad were taking a weekend off in Nashville.
Joel, Maelyn and Roxie, the dog, dropped by my house on Saturday bringing me a bouquet of fresh flowers. And, it wasn’t even Mothers Day! And, then they were off to Wal-Mart to shop for a trick-or-treat costume.
The summer vacationing has begun to wind down in our family and everyone is getting ready for school to begin, all complaining that the summer was too brief.
Was Vienna ever filled with culture over the weekend! The Art Gallery Off the Square of Marie and Joe Emery was filled on Saturday afternoon at their open house. We have so many creative folks in Johnson County and the surrounding counties and the gallery is a wonderful place to show off their art, crafts and books. Stop in and take a look.
Also underway on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, area youngsters were showing off their talent at the old gym of VHS, in the musical, “School of Rock.”
The Johnson County HCE members were serving up Italian Beef plates to appreciative crowds, prior to the musical. This was a fundraiser for their scholarship program.
The Friends of the Marion Carnegie Library will hold their bi-annual book sale on Aug. 19 and 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hard backs will be $1 and paperbacks will be 25 cents.
Get well wishes go out to Janet Morrison, who is recuperating from a broken arm.
The Harrison-Bruce Historical Village is offering “Summer Sunday Programs” at 1-4 p.m. on the John A. Logan College campus. For more, call 618-985-3741, ext 8343.
The Eagle House Ministries will host “Marriage Under Adversity,” a marriage retreat, on Aug. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at their location on the Buncombe Hill of Route 37 Call 618-771-7442.
Happy Birthday to You! Aug. 8–Seibert Tregoning, Danielle Eastman! Aug. 9–Abigail Payne, Dorothy Pfeffer, Caleb Montgomery! Aug. 10–Emilee Webb Misty Rowe! Aug. 11–Tyde Resczenski, Nancy Farris, Venetta Maze! Aug. 12–Elizabeth Potocki, Melissa Darnell, Dixie Hughes! Aug. 13–Robert Poole, Owen Hancock, Joyce Frederick, Logan Lambert! Aug. 14–Caleb Murley, Mary Comp, Carl Kelley! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to these couples who will be celebrating wedding anniversaries! Julie and Jason Hammond on Aug. 11! Mike and Tracy Dalton on Aug. 13!
Congrats to Nancy Norris of Eagle Point Bay who won First Place in the “Women’s Senior Traditional Division” at the International Bowhunters Organization in Pipestem, West Virginia.
We would appreciate receiving your newsy happenings for this, your local column. Call 618-422-2086; email dixieterry85@yahoo.com; or mail to 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, Il. 62959.
Have a great remainder of the week and enjoy August!
