By Dixie Terry
Welcome to the Merry Month of May!
This month is named for Maia, the Roman goddess who oversaw the growth of plants, and also from the Latin word, malores, meaning elders, who were celebrated during this month in ancient times.
May is designated as the National Month of the following: Celiac Awareness; Posture; Salads; Osteoporosis Prevention; Physical Fitness; Running/Fitness; Older Americans; High Blood Pressure Education; Salsa; California Strawberries; Hamburger; Eggs; and Mental Health Awareness.
The first week of May is National Pet Week and also National Herb Week.
The National Day of Prayer will be on May 1, with prayers for our great country requested,
These special days of May are coming up this week: May 1–Start Seeing Monarchs Day; May 2–Truffle Day. May 3–Specially-Abled Pets Day; May 4–Star Wars Day, Password Day, Teacher Appreciation Day.
The official birthstone for May is the Emerald and the flower of the month is the Lily of the Valley.
Did you know? Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, as a branch of the International Red Cross on May 21, 1881.
Happy Birthday to You! Apr. 27–Christian Smith, Patti Conway! Apr. 28–Pam Perry, Lora Batson, Phil Skuta, McKenzie Kirby! Apr. 29–Adam Hook, Chris Lawrence, Anita Etheridge, Hallie Martin! Apr. 30–Mindy Ferron! May 1–Missy McCuan! May2–Arlen Leslie, Adam Harner, Jon Hankins, Bobby Harp! May 3–Lonnie Hinton, Matt Eastman, Melanie Baker, Debbie Anderson, Karen Boner! May 4–Lisa Webb and her mother, Edith Webb! Heather Pearman, Theresa Harner, Ethan Childers, Austin Rhoads, Cody Smith, Ashleigh Castellano, our granddaughter! May 5–Steve Webb, Skylee Trovillion! May 6–Leona Boellini, Tim Woodard! May 7–Pat Sherman, Eva Meadows! May 8– Alice Sims! May 9–Dan Craig! May you all have many more!
Congratulations to these couples who are celebrating their wedding anniversary. Lisa and Mike King, 47 years, on April 29! Ken and Heidi Wiggs on May 4!
Take a hike and view the wildflowers along the way, with the River-to-River Trail Society, on Saturday, May 3, at Horse Creek Trail in Alexander County. The leader will be Bob Mulcahy. Meet at 10am at Horse Creek Trailhead. Call 471- 708-7599 for more information.
The River-to-River Trail Society is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, founded in 1993 by John O’Dell, to promote completion of the River-to-River Trail, which now runs 157 miles from Elizabethtown on the Ohio River to Grand Tower on the Mississippi River.
For season tickets for the Thrillbillies baseball team, go to thrillbillies.com. Reserve the all-you-can-eat seats and enjoy unlimited hot dogs, pizza, burgers, nachos, popcorn, fountain drinks, ice cream, and more.
The Veterans Honor Flight will be flying to our nation’s capitol on Tuesday, May 6 on Mission 14, with 88 veterans enjoying a full day touring the military memorial sites. The celebration, at the Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, will begin at 5pm with the public invited to attend and welcome the veterans on their return around 9pm.
Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois will enjoy Mission 15 on Tuesday, September 16, with 87 vets looking forward to the flight to Washington, D.C.
The River-to-River Run was held on last Saturday, with hundreds of runners heading across our county, stopping in Goreville, and then on to Golconda for a celebration party. A reminder on Sunday morning, as I drove to church, was the line-up of blue porta-potties at the Goreville Village Park and out on the Tunnel Hill Road.
The Marion Garden Club will hold their annual plant sale on Saturday, May 3, 8am to1pm, at the Ray Fosse Park. Get there early since the plants go fast at affordable prices.
Volunteers are needed to clean out the Little Grassy Lake that was drained the last few months. To participate, meet at the Little Grassy Campground on May 3 at 8am. Wear boots and bring work gloves.. Trash bags will be provided. To register, call the visitor center of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge at 618-997-3344.
The Manifest Youth Conference Event welcomes all area youngsters to Vienna High School on Saturday, May 31, 12pm to 4pm. The cost is $10. Call 618-658-8116 for more information and to register, This will be sponsored by Eagle House Ministries.
The annual Mothers’ Day Luncheon of the Johnson County HCE on Saturday, May 3, is a sell-out already.
The Rend Lake Water Festival will be on April 30–May 3, with entertainment and activities for all ages, for the 52nd year. The carnival will take place on the corner of the Benton Public Square. The car show will be located at the Capitol Park in Benton on Friday, May 2, at 6-9pm. Other events will be at the lake camp grounds and park areas.
The Poshard Foundation has provided 59 food pantries in Southern Illinois,with an $11,000 gift for food for children. In our county, Blessings in a Backpack of Johnson County; Vienna Food Pantry, Arrowleaf Client Choice Food Pantry in Vienna, and K-Lee’s Food Pantry in Goreville, will receive a share of this generous gift.
John A. Logan College will host “Essence of Folk Lore” on Saturday, May 3, a Mexican dance and musical in o’Neill Audutorium. This is free.
Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated on Monday, May 5, to commemorate the winning of a battle by Mexico over France way back when.
Notice! The Heather Treat Memorial Duck Race has been rescheduled from Sunday, May 4 to Sunday, September 14, 2025. Ducks and t-shirts are now available for purchase.
The Vienna Farmers’ Market is now open, Mon-Sat, in the Vienna City Park, beginning at 8am. There is no charge to vendors. For information, call the Vienna City Hv8-658-5161.
The Goreville Community yard sales will be underway on Saturday, May 17. Contact the village hall to be included in the listing. Get those closets cleaned out and have a sale in your yard or garage.
“The God’s Miracles,” with help for depression, addictions and helplessness, will be held at the Potter’s House Christian Center by Evangelist Andy Anderson. The times will be: Sunday, May 3, outside, at 5pm; Sunday, May 4–11am and 6:30pm; Mon.–Thurs.–May 5-8, at 7pm; at 1214 DeYoung Street in Marion. Everyone is welcome!
The Old King Coal Festival will be ongoing May 8-11, in West Frankfort, with free entertainment. Bring your chairs and enjoy! Entertainment will be held each evening, along with a carnival and more.
The BDC Pickleball Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4, 8am-7pm at 500 East Thompson Street in Marion.
At the Marion Cultural and Civic Center, enjoy “One Night in Memphis,” on Friday, May 4, 7-10pm.
The ARTSCO Poets will entertain at John Brown’s on Tower Square Plaza in Marion on Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8pm.
The Southern Illinois Reptiles and Exotics Show will be underway on Saturday, May 17 at 10am to 4pm at 1602 Sioux Drive in Marion.
HerrinFesta Italiana will take place on Monday, May 19–Monday, May 26, 12pm-10pm in downtown Herrin.
The Run-For-Heroes Half Marathon will be held in Vienna on the town square at 8am to 1pm on Saturday, May 24.
The Johnson County Genealogical and Historical Society will soon open their center on the public suare in Vienna. A museum, vintage photos of local people and places, a library, geneology info, and historical videos, plus much more, will be provided for the public. Beginning open hours will be Fridays at 1-4pm and Saturdays, 9am to noon. Seats from the old Grand Theatre will be in use. Stay tuned for the opening date.
The volunteers at the Goreville Ministerial Alliance Thrift Shop this week are members of the Lick Creek Pentecostal Church. The Communityof Christ Church members will be e next week, which means I will get to be a bag lady at the front desk.
May Day is the first day of the month and is rich in history and folklore, intended for the celebration of the return of Spring. Hanging a basket of wildflowers on the door knobs of neighbors was a tradition in England and was brought to early America, along with dancing around the Maypole.
Have you sighted a hummingbird yet? I heard they had been seen in Paducah last week. So, they will soon fly across the Ohio River and be seen at local feeders.
Your news items are needed for this newsy column. Give a call to 618-422-2086; email to dixieterry85@yahoocom; or via mail to 907 C Independence Avenue, Marion,IL. 62959.
Have a great remainder of the week and enjoy all that the month of May has to offer!