By Dixie Terry
Look to the sky! The Full Hunter Moon appeared on Thursday, Oct. 17, to make an impressive showing. As well, the Aurora Borealis has appeared in local skies the past few weeks, also known as the Northern Lights. Take a look!
Election Day will quickly be arriving and we hope that everyone will have their say at the polls. I voted by mail again this year.
Did you know? Election Day was set by an Act of Congress on Jan. 23, 1845, to be the first Tuesday following the first Monday of November, for Presidential Elections.
The recent overnight cold spell didn’t affect the roses blooming outside my bedroom window and they continue to bloom, even attracting a butterfly on a recent sunny afternoon.
October is National Head Start Month!
The Southern 7 Health Department distributed 8,900 diapers on a recent Friday at the Metropolis Head Start from the earlier Diaper Drive.
The River-to-River Trail Society offers yet another hiking opportunity on Saturday, Oct. 26. in Jackson County at the Little Grand Canyon, led by Cody Evans at 618-559-0686. Meet at 10am in the parking lot of the Canyon, with no doggies, please. The following week, the hike will be in Johnson County at Panther Den.
It was a beautiful weekend for the 50th Fort Massac Encampment, which brought in hundreds to enjoy life in the 1700s.
Did you notice that news announcer Mark Keisling is no longer on Channel 3 news programs? He was “let go” due to budget cuts, according to a message on Facebook. What a shame!
October 24 is National Media Appreciation Day!
The “Southern Illinois Made Expo” held last summer at The Marion Pavilion raised $70,000, which has been donated to “This Able Veteran,” “Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois,” and “Down the Leash Service Dogs”.
The Kiwanis Club of Marion will host its annual “Pancake Day” on Saturday, Oct. 26, 6:30-10:30am, at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Tickets are $6 and $8.
The Tunnel Hill Community of Christ Church held their annual hayride to the Lake of Egypt on Oct. 8, with a campfire and wiener roast for members and guests. And, a good time was had by all!
Happy Birthday to You! Oct. 22–Kari Hammond! Oct. 23–Adam Kirby, Myrtle Kelley, Johnie Bailey, Kyle Kellums, Donna Hancock! Oct. 24–Leslie Wright, Bob Funkhouser! Oct. 25–Helen Hancock, Diane Kirby, Kevin Retz, Tara Peas, Susan Lamb! Oct. 26–Jeff Morrow, Dustin Robertson, Max Falmier, Cody Maze! Oct. 27–Rich Schuhardt, Nickolas Bowns, Mike Whitehead, Payton Sopczak! May you all have many more!
Phyllis Webb celebrated her October 11 birthday with sixteen family members arriving for a family get-together.
Our great-grand, Aubree Castellano, of Marion celebrated her 18th birthday on October 11, by attending the Haunted Chittyville School with a bunch of gal pals, with birthday cake afterwards.
Our granddaughter, Jamie, of Goreville, celebrated her birthday on October 14, with her mom, Nancy, and her son and daughter, Levi and Nicole, with a Subway pick-up and a picnic at Ferne Clyffe.
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating wedding anniversaries: Amy and Dave Duringer on October 22! Doug and Angela Dunn on October 24! Lonnie and Cathy Hinton on October 26!
From my traveling cousins, Norman and Elsie Hinkle of rural Buncombe, came a Facebook message from the “RV Hall of Fame” in Elkhart, Indiana.
“Hope Fest 2024” is bringing a Christian rock festival to the Community of Faith Church in Marion, as a fundraiser for the “House of Hope” in Herrin, to be held on Oct. 26, with a 5K Walk/Run and a Children’s Run ar 12-2pm, when the music will continue until 10pm. Tickets are $10.
Volunteering at the Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop on Oct. 22-24-26 will be members of the Lake of Egypt Christian Church.
Goreville First Pentecostal Church is offering a new bus ministry to their Sunday services at 10am and 6pm. This is for all ages with breakfast being served each Sunday am. Call 618-751-3278 for a ride.
The 14th annual “Run For Hope” held at the Johnson County Fall Festival cleared $6,700 for the ministries of Eagle House Ministries . The Goddard Girls won the category for the largest group and the most creatively dressed.
The University of Illinois Extension will be holding a “Tai Chi Arthritis and Fall Prevention Program” in Marion at the Williamson County Extension Office, 10:30-11:30AM, beginning on Oct. 21 and continuing through Dec. 12. Committing to the entire program is recommended. Register online at go.Illinois.edu/TaiChi.
The annual “ShopaPalooza ” of the Adams School will take place in the Marion Pavilion on Saturday, Nov. 2, 10am to 5pm. This is an annual fundraiser that brings in a crowd.
A free breakfast for men and boys will be held at the Boyton Street Community Center in Marion, on Saturday, Nov. 2, with door prizes and a keynote speaker. RSVP to 618-997-1113.
The “Learning in Retirement” group learned about the restoration efforts for the Cache River watershed at their Oct. 16 meeting held at the Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale and presented by Molie Oliver, the Natural Resource Co-Ordinator for the Il. Dept. of Natural Resources at the Cache River Natural Area.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, at 9-11am, a program by the “Friends of the Shawnee Forest” will be held in The Alto Pass Room of the Giant City Lodge. A breakfast buffet will be served at 8:45am, followed by the program. The cost is $20, payable at the door. Reservations are required by calling 309-826-6783.
The Little Egypt Writers Society will meet on Oct. 22 at 1:30pm at the Little Egypt Art Centre on Tower Square Plaza in Marion. Any writer or anyone interested in becoming one, is welcome.
My daughter, Nancy, and I attended lunch at Club 60 at the Marion Senior Center last Friday, after which, we were joined by another daughter, Pam, and enjoyed the MHS homecoming parade. My great-granddaughter, Aubree, was dressed in a costume of a character from “Sponge Bob Square Pants” and rode on a float with other seniors. She jumped off long enough to give us all a hug before re-joining her class of 2024. The theme of the parade was “Under the Sea,” with some outstanding floats seen.
Seen on Facebook was our Williams family, in Maine, attending their first hockey game at the University of Maine.
Halloween is just around the corner and there is a multitude of events awaiting those who enjoy all things spooky.
The 8th annual “Spooktacular” will be held at the Mountain Dew Park in Marion, sponsored by the Marion Police Department on Saturday, Oct. 26, 5-8pm, with free food and drink, music, trunk or treat, all for free.
On Oct. 32, 5-8pm, the Vienna United Methodist Church will be providing a “Safe Night,” for all youngsters, on their back parking lot, with candy and more.
SIU-C is offering a “Haunted Hollow” at The Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, 8 miles south of Carbondale, on Giant City Road, 11am to 4pm on Oct. 20.
The “Fluorescent Circus Freaks” will be held every Friday and Saturday and Oct. 28-30-31 at the Shawne Hills Art Center on Davie Street in Anna. It is $7 per person or five people for $30.
Trunk or Treat will be underway at the Crab Orchard Campground on Saturday, Oct. 26, 5-7pm at the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.
The annual “Rocky Horror Show” recommended for adults only, will be presented on Oct. 31-Nov. 2, at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center. For times and tickets, go online to marionccc.com.
A Halloween Extravaganza, presented by local organists, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 6:30pm at Shryock Auditorium in Carbondale. Haunting classics will be heard and the audience members are welcome to wear costumes if they choose. This is free.
A “Trunk or Treat” event will be held Oct. 31, at The Potter’s House Christian Center in Marion on DeYoung Street at 7pm. It is free!
The Marion Masonic Lodge will hold a “Howl-O-Ween” Trivia Benefit for “Down the Lease”. Games begin at 6pm on Oct. 26, with refreshments available, a 50/50 drawing, a silent auction and costumes encouraged. The location is 705 Robinson Drive.
A Spooky Movie Double Feature will be held at the Marion Carnegie Library on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 4pm, with free candy and popcorn, for youngsters and their grownups.
Have news to share? We appreciate any good news from your neck of the woods! Call 618-422-2086; email [email protected]; or via mail to 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion, Il. 62959.
Have a great remainder of the week and enjoy all that October has to offer.