By Dixie Terry
It has been a busy TV summer, with days and nights of the Summer Olympics from Paris, followed by the National Republican Convention, after which came the National Democrat Convention. Although my TV was tuned into it all, I (also) had a good book in hand.
August continues to bring us the “Dog Days of Summer” as we anticipate the arrival of “Indian Summer.”
What are “Dog Days”? This period of sweltering weather coincides with the year’s at sunrise rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, which is the constellation, “Canis Majoris,” meaning “The Greater Dog.” Not including the sun, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.
The 29th annual “Cache River Days” is coming up on Sept. 5-8, to be held at the Ullin ball park, with the theme, “Moonlight Over the Cache.” The parade will be on Saturday at 11 am. There will be numerous activities for all, including canoe rides down the Cache River.
The Marion Cultural and Civic Center is celebrating its 20th year in the new structure, after the original burned. Check out their upcoming entertainment at marionccc.com.
Friends of Morris Library will hold a fundraiser at the SIU-C ballrooms on Saturday, Sept. 7, 5:30-9:30 pm with live music by The Phonics,” with appetizers, a buffet dinner, catered by Hunan. Call for reservations at 618-453-1815.
A Patriot Day Car Show will be held on Sept. 14, 11am to 1 pm, with registration at 10am, with no fee. Live music, a 50/50 raffle, free food and fun are promised. The location is 1517 East DeYoung Street in Marion.
Register online for the 10K, 5K and Kid’s Fun Run on the Tunnel Hill State Trail at the Vienna City Park on Sept. 27. Register at eaglehouseministries.com.
The “Veterans on Parade” will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10am in downtown Marion. All veterans, military personnel, Gold Star mothers and their families, and organizations that benefit veterans, are urged to participate in the parade.
The following words of wisdom, from long ago, still hold true today: “Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.” By John Wesley, 1703-1791.
Some special days in August to recognize and appreciate include: Aug. 26–Dog Day and Women;s Equality Day. Aug. 28–Bow Tie Day, Rainbow Bridge Day, Remembrance Day. Aug. 29–Lemon Juice Day. Aug. 30–Beach Day and Grief Awareness Day.
National Senior Citizens Day was celebrated on Aug. 21, which was signed as Proclamation 5847 by President Ronald Reagan on Aug. 19, 1988, declaring Aug. 21 be recognized as National Senior Citizens Day, that encourages the supporting of senior citizens to live their lives to the fullest and as independently as possible.
The county had a new wheelchair ramp installed at the Gorville Senior Citizen Center, provided and installed by Mobility Life, that greatly improves access to the building. This is part of an effort to revitalize the center and bring it more into service for the community. Over the past two years, the site has hosted the $ave It Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VIA). Southern Pride and the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging are working to bring programs and activities to the center. More information will soon be available.
One of the new projects at the Goireville Senior Center is the “Book Borrowing Program, for senior citizens, who can borrow books for free, at 11am to 12-noon Mon.-Fri.. For more, call 618-658-8140. “Freedom Sings” will be underway on Saturday, Sept. 7, presented by the city of Marion, with a partnership with “Freedom Sings USA” and other generous donors. The performance will take place at 6:30pm on Tower Square Plaza, with no admission charge.
Happy Birthday to You!
Aug. 24–Lucas Jones! Aug. 25–Kelly Harper, Barry Eastman! Aug. 26–Matt Webb, Cindy McCree,Art Jacobs, Helen Baker Burnett! Aug. 27–Michael Rotan, Grayson Webb, Linda Escherich! Aug. 28–Ashleigh Kellums, Kim Capps! Aug. 29–Larry Peas, Chad Bailey! Aug. 30–Jon Wright, Renee Lewis-Timm, Claire Lambert! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating wedding anniversaries! Glenn and Phyllis Webb on August 25! Betty and Herman Pritchett on August 29!
Seventy-one years ago, on August 23, I met a young man from Goreville, on a blind date, With two other couples, we all attended the Anna Drive-In Theatre to watch “Angel Face,” after church services at the Cypress Baptist Church. His name was Jim Terry and two years later on June 3, 1955, we were married at that same church and enjoyed fifty-six wonderful years together, until he passed away on Sept 11, 2011.
On Sept. 1-2, noon to 10 pm, the 5th annual “Smooth Jazz on the River Festival” will be held at Ft. Defiance State Park in Cairo, with free admission.
The Murphysboro Apple Festival will be underway on Sept. 11-15 with a Saturday parade and activities for all ages, plus apple desserts galore.
The Webb Family Reunion will be held on Sunday, Sept. 1, with worship services at 11 am, at the Tunnel Hill Community of Christ Church, followed by a bountiful potluck lunch at noon, and a talent show at 1:30 p.m.
Get ready for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of Ferne Clyffe State Park, when it was purchased from Miss Emma Rebman by the state of Illinois. The date has been set for Sept. 21 with a rain date of Oct. 5. Stay tuned!
The DuQuoin State Fair is underway on Aug. 23-Sept. 2, with lots of activities for one and all.
Volunteering at the Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop on Aug. 27-29-31 will be the Grange Hall Freewill Baptist Church. Drop in!
The Eagle House Ministries will present “Word is Worship Night” on Sept. 13 6-8 pm at the amphitheater of the Vienna City Park. The admission is free, with four Christian bands to be performing.
The 4th annual Art Stroll will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 am to 2 pm in historic downtown Carterville. There will be live music and much more for this fundraiser for “Strong Survivors.”
The second “Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois” for 2024, will take place on Sept. 10, with 103 veterans taking the flight to Washington, D.C. for a full day of visiting military memorials. Join the crowd that evening to welcome them home at the Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois in Williamsom County.
Enjoy the “Monarch Butterfly Roundup” at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, on Sept. 14, 10am to noon. Reservations for this free event are requested by calling the refuge.
The annual “Hunting and Fishing Days” will be held on Sept.28-29 at John A. Logan College campus, with fun activities for all ages. Bring the entire family and enjoy!
Share your good news in this, your community column. Call 618-422-2086; email [email protected]; or mail to 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, Il. 62959.
Enjoy the remainder of the week and all that August has to offer!