By Dixie Terry
Winter continues! As we watch the recent ice and snow gradually disappear, the question is will there be more.
Lots of tree damage was done and an abundance of fire wood will be available in the future.
The Cardinals are coming! The Cardinal Caravan will make a stop in Marion, while visiting six states in four days. More than 30 current and former players will visit 20 cities and will be in Marion at 12 noon on Sunday, January at The Pavilion.
The Pittsburg, Illinois Free Will Baptist Church will hold a “Praying Women” event on Saturday, Feb. 1, 1-5:30 pm, with free admission. All area women are invited.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center will be a presentation of “Don’t Stop Believin’. ” Stay tuned.
The annual Southern Illinois Boat and Fishing Show will be held on Saturday, Feb. 1 and Sunday, Feb. 2, at 1602 Sioux Drive in Marion. Entertainment, food and fishing information, along with fishing and boating equipment will be on display.
Have you broken your New Year’s resolutions yet?
Income tax preparation time is coming up, with the University of Illinois Extension offering a free service to those who qualify. This will be provided at the Goreville Senior Center and the U. of I. Extension office in Vienna, Call 618-973-0978 for information and appointments.
“The Hub” in Marion will host an indoor farmers’ market, each first Friday through March, 3-6pm, in their gym. Two food trucks will also be available on the parking lot at 4-7pm. A variety of merchandise and produce will be available from vendors from across Southern Illinois.
Ge rid of your live Christmas tree by donating it to the U. S. Corps of Engineers Rend Lake Project. Donated trees will be bundled and weighted in March to be dropped in Rend Lake for fish habitat. Volunteers are needed for this project. For more, call 618-924-2493.
The Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop will be opened on Tuesday, Jan. 21, after being closed since Dec. 21. Volunteers from the Lick Creek Pentecostal Church will working on Tuesday and Thursday, 9am to 4 pm and on Saturday, 9am to noon. Stop and shop!
The Red Carpet Gala fundraiser of the Hospice of Southern Illinois will be held at The Pavilion in Marion on January 25. Visit httpsilhospice.org for tickets.
Our great-grands, Belle and Addie Williams of Maine were off to Atlantic City with their cheerleading team to compete last weekend.
The Liberty Church of Williamson County visited the Hillview Senior Living and Rehab on Jan. 6 and distributed 2025 calendars to the residents. On Jan. 9, the residents enjoyed a “Hot Chocolate Day” event and on Jan. 7, they had enjoyed an “Exercise to Music Session.”
My youngest child just applied for her Social Security, another sign that time flies.
Happy Birthday to these local folks! Jan. 13–Cassie Stafford, Jasilyn Westerfield, Marleis Trover! Jan. 14–Eric Goins, Angie Pritchett, Kim Hankins, Meesha Null, Sally Summers! Jan. 15–Maddox Billingsley, Don Carlton! Jan. 16–Sue Brenningmeyer, Payton Massey! Jan. 17–Cindy Parmley, Darla Waters, Melanie Maple, Eric Whittington! Jan. 18–Timothy Null, Betty Charnell! Jan. 19–Daniel Arroyo, Anne Calvin! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to Donna and Max Ray on their January 19 wedding anniversary!
The next American Red Cross Blood Drive will be held on Monday, Jan. 20, 12-6pm at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna. Please give!
Save your aluminum can tabs for the Johnson County HCE Project for the Ronald McDonald House of Nashville. Take these to the U. of I Extension office in Vienna.
Enjoy the remainder of the week and all the activities that January has to offer.