Area News
Free Guided Hike – Birding for Beginners
Shawnee National Forest will offer a guided birding hike on March 29th at 8:00 a.m. along the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail. Learn how to spot birds, recognize their songs, and list your observations. Bring binoculars if you have them. This hike is beginner and child-friendly, but please leave pets at home. Limited spots…
Read MoreWith surge of crashes involving ISP Troopers, Gov. Pritzker and Illinois State Police urge motorists to follow “Move Over” law
With a recent surge in crashes involving ISP troopers, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Police (ISP) are urging motorists to respect the Move Over Law and use caution when approaching emergency vehicles on interstates and roads. So far in 2019, 14 ISP troopers have been struck by vehicles when they were pulled over…
Read MoreLocal letter published in American Journal
By Wendell Brownfield Wendell “Skip” Brownfield of Elizabethtown shared with the Independent a letter which he wrote to Americal Journal concerning his military service. The letter was published in the January-February-March 2019 magazine which is “dedicated as a living memorial to all veterans of the Americal Division.” The front cover of the magazine features images…
Read MoreIllinois’ Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances hits 10,000 calls as state expands access to opioid treatment for hospital patients
10,000 calls have been answered at the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances and Illinois expands the Hospital Warm Hand-off Program The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced that the Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances has reached 10,000 calls. The 24-hour helpline is confidential, free and provides caring and non-judgmental support…
Read MoreRecognition for Illinois history as 30 sites are added to the National Register of Historic Places
The efforts of Illinois historic preservation advocates to preserve and promote the state’s heritage paid off in 2018 with 30 properties being added to the National Register of Historic Places, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced today. The places recognized are scattered across the state and include a nationally significant African American art…
Read MoreCAPITOL RECAP
Big crowd fills Capitol to protest abortion bills By CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS Legislators, advocates and hundreds of Illinoisans crowded the rotunda of the Capitol on Wednesday, March 20, to condemn a package of reproductive health measures that would revise abortion law. The bills are proposed by four Democrats from both chambers of the General Assembly.…
Read MoreSIC hosts annual Business Skills Competition for area high school students; Armstrong and Adams take first place
HCHS Team Jessica Armstrong – 1st place Excel and Summer Adams – 1st place Accounting Gallatin County High School is the overall winner for the high school business skills competition at Southeastern Illinois College. The event, held Feb. 28, included six categories for individual students to compete with their peers from other SIC district high…
Read MoreCub Scouts hold Pinewood Derby
The Hardin – Pope County Cub Scout Pack 2982 held its first annual Pinewood Derby last Saturday, March 23, at Pope County School. They held a Sponsor Race, Scout Race, and gave out People’s Choice Awards. They had lunch and invited children to join Cub Scouts. There were many Cub Scout and sponsor cars to…
Read MoreLeprechaun on the loose
Submitted by Stephanie Mosby Kindergarten Teacher Kindergarten got quite the surprise last Friday morning when they arrived at school. A Leprechaun had been in their rooms overnight. The Kindergarten rooms were filled with green streamers and balloons – what a mess! He had even put their morning work in their chairs, to try and trick…
Read MoreHardin County High School Academic Challenge Team wins 2nd Place at Sectionals, Advances to State, Earns 8 individual medals
The Hardin County High School Academic Challenge team, along with many other Illinois schools, competed on the campus of Southern Illinois University, March 13, 2019, to take a series of sectional exams as part of the Academic Challenge. Hardin County High School placed second overall! Six team members medaled individually, as listed: Jett Spivey –…
Read More