By Will Summers, Washington County Master Gardener We are in mid-winter and outdoor activities are limited for many southern Illinois gardeners. However, constraints breed opportunities elsewhere. Now is the time to make plans for your new year’s outdoor gardens. This article seeks to provide ideas where you might want to change, add, or even reduce your home gardening and landscape. Hopefully, you are already accomplishing most of these listed items, but we hope you will find new ideas to incorporate in your gardening. This concept provides healthy diverse, native, multi-storied habitats with ..read more

It was around 1966 — my family went to visit a friend. She was quite a cook, and had all kinds of shiny pots and pans hanging from a rack above the kitchen table. It was evident that she liked all the gadgets that went with her cooking hobby and many of the items were unknown to me, but I was impressed all the same. There were mixers and grinders and gleaming stainless steel utensils everywhere, but she took the opportunity to show us her newest acquisition. It was like a big box with a door and a couple dials on the front, and was actually a unit meant for restaurants. This sleek and futuris ..read more

Intermountain Electronics is determined, and quite possibly destined, to make a long-lasting impact in Centralia. Producing a wide range of products ranging from battery energy storage systems and electrical buildings to portable substations and underground power distribution, IE has seen massive growth since its arrival in Centralia’s Industrial Park in 2012. According to IE General Manager Tim Benedict, the power distribution manufacturer nearly tripled its workforce since expanding its 400 Swan Dr. location in 2020 and constructing a secondary production warehouse across the street. “Three ..read more

The C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library in Mt. Vernon is going fine free, so there are no more fines at the library. You just need to return your books or other library materials. Lost or damaged items will still need to be paid for. You cannot check out materials while you have overdue items. Brehm Library cannot waive fines imposed by other libraries. Please do not leave donations in the book drop. The Library will be closed on Feb. 19, March 29 and March 31. Brehm Library offers a variety of classes and special presentations. Below are some of their upcoming events. Celebrate Mardi Gras at B ..read more

Excuse me, you stand corrected! A few weeks ago I was having a conversation with an individual I’ve known for some time. We rarely talk politics. However, on this particular occasion, illegal immigration was brought up. I mentioned over 10 million unvetted, illegal invaders have crossed over the border since the Biden Administration has taken control of the White House. At that point the individual quite innocently looked at me and said, “Well, Cathy, we are all immigrants.” My answer was, “I don’t know about you, my dear, but my family came to the United States, without breaking our laws, to ..read more

SSM Health is expanding its decades-long commitment to environmental sustainability with a new multi-year, solar energy initiative that will significantly reduce the health system’s carbon footprint, beginning with the recently completed installation of a field of solar panels next to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois. The solar plans will eventually encompass facilities across the four states in which SSM Health serves. The project helps to fulfill SSM Health’s November 2022 commitment to the White House’s climate pledge for health care organizations to become carbon-neutr ..read more

By Miranda Yates, South Central FFA Reporter On January 24, three South Central FFA members participated in the Section 19 Public Speaking Career Development Event held at Cowden-Herrick High School. This competition provides FFA members with the opportunity to develop agricultural leadership and aims to provide the opportunity for personal growth and premier leadership by enhancing the speaking skills of students participating. River Yingst competed in the Creed Speaking section, where they are required to memorize and recite the FFA creed, and be judged on the delivery of it. River Yinst pla ..read more

By Majo Bates, Washington County Master Gardener I’m not a meteorologist, but I am writing this article on a very cold day in January 2024! Most of us who have a vegetable gardens or flowers in the spring want to start uncovering our perennials and vines before or at least by the end of April. Watching the weather reports, I’m pretty sure Southern Illinois and the rest of the state may have rough spring weather until the end of April. One–digit-degree or low two-digit-degree figures are too low to remove leaves, mulch, and such around our perennials and vines until the weather clears of frost ..read more

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications now for instructors for 2024 summer fishing clinics through the department’s Urban Fishing Program. Fishing instructors are the department’s boots on the ground at free clinics hosted in communities throughout Illinois. These are temporary positions not to exceed six months, making them perfect for teachers, retirees, students, and others who are eager to help people learn about fishing skills and ecology. Available spots are based in Boone, Champaign, Jackson, Jefferson, Macon, Madison, McLean, Peoria, Rock Island ..read more

Centralia BPW Education Foundation and Centralia BPW has been offering scholarships for over 25 years to students in our area communities. They host annual scholarship fundraisers in which all proceeds directly benefit the fund. The scholarship deadline for the 2024-2025 school year is March 31, 2024. Applications must be postmarked or received by this date to qualify. Applications are available at Centralia High School, Christ Our Rock High School, Kaskaskia College Financial Office or can be accessed at the CentraliaBPW.org Education tab. The post Centralia BPW Foundation scholarships appear ..read more