Jersey County January 2022

Alpine coaster coming to Grafton in 2022

By Mark Ellebracht and Doug Jenkins Big Z Media

A first of its kind attraction for Illinois is coming to Grafton in 2022. Aerie’s Resort is announcing the construction of a new Alpine Coaster, with plans to be open by the end of summer. Behind the scenes work has been going on for several years, but recently all permits were approved for the attraction and the announcement was made that construction would begin soon.

An Alpine Coaster is similar to a roller coaster, but instead features a two-person coaster sled that travels at speeds of up to 25 miles per hour on a 3,000-foot track through the woods and around the limestone landscapes on the Aerie’s property. Director of Operations at Aerie’s Resort JD Lorton said that the

coaster will fit in with what the resort already offers. Aerie’s already has a winery at the top of the bluffs

Prekindergarten

Child Find Screenings

Community Unit School District No. 100 administers speech, vision, hearing, and developmental screenings for prekindergarten age children.

If you have a child who turned 3 or 4 years old as of September 1, 2021 that you would like screened for prekindergarten or early childhood placement for the remainder of this school year or for fall placement, please call 618-498-5561 (ext. #5) for an appointment.

overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, lodging, a zip line, the Sky Tour and more. This is the first coaster of this type in the state, there are three in the Branson, Missouri, area and eight located in the Gatlinburg/ Pigeon Forge region in Tennessee.

Lorton says they hope to debut the Alpine Coaster in September 2022. 3 aeriesresort.com

Quick ER diagnosis saves Elsah resident’s life

William McAnulty thought he might just be having an anxiety attack when he came to the Alton Memorial Hospital Emergency Department on Sept. 3. Had he known then what it actually was, his anxiety would have gone even higher.

Thanks to a quick diagnosis by Dr. David Burnside, an ER physician at AMH, the 36-year-old McAnulty was sent to Missouri Baptist Medical Center immediately and underwent a six-hour open heart surgery the following day, which likely saved his life. The Elsah native is thankful for the work done by Burnside and all the AMH Emergency Department team.

“I actually don’t remember a lot of what happened at Alton Memorial because I was out of it for much of the time,” McAnulty said. “I had shortness of breath and just didn’t feel very good at all. Most were thinking it was just a panic attack, but Dr. Burnside noticed something and ordered a CT scan. There was a hole in my heart wall and an unusual amount of fluid leaking from my heart, and he recommended that I get sent to MoBap.”

At Missouri Baptist Medical Center, McAnulty was

diagnosed with an infection and an aneurysm based on the CT scan done at AMH, which led to the surgery.

It’s not the way William and his wife, Joanna, would have preferred to spend their Labor Day weekend. But without Burnside’s diagnosis and the surgery performed Sept. 4 by Dr. Joshua Baker, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Missouri Baptist, it likely would have been William’s last weekend.

McAnulty was already being monitored by cardiologists at AMH because of a bicuspid aortic valve, meaning the valve has two flaps (cusps) instead of three.

It may cause a narrowed or obstructed aortic valve opening — aortic valve stenosis — making it difficult for the heart to pump blood into the aorta, the body's main artery.

“I was told that without the surgery that things would have burst and I wouldn’t have made it past Monday,” William said. “We’re just grateful that Dr. Burnside took the time to look at things so we could find out what was wrong.

McAnulty teaches seventhgrade social studies in the Ritenour (Mo.) School District, though now he’s on a three-month leave

while he recovers. He had a few weeks of receiving antibiotics at the AMH Infusion Center before some physical therapy targeting his cardiovascular system.

“I’m feeling great now,” he said. “I know I’ll never feel

as poorly as I did that Friday night when I came in. They have me on a heart-healthy diet for a while. It’s bland, but it’s nothing that I can’t do. It beats the alternative.”

McAnulty was in Missouri Baptist for nine days and is

home now, walking a mile a day.

“They say I will have a better quality of life when all this therapy is over,” he said. “I’m fortunate to be here, and I have to thank Dr. Burnside for that.” 3

Will McAnulty and Dr. David Burnside

SECRET DINER

Sliders in style

By Bill Roseberry Big Z Media

This hidden treasure inside another business in northwestern Madison County should be emphatically embraced by its community, in my opinion.

I don’t know if I’ll call this joint underrated, but I will say underappreciated. I have never been dissatisfied when visiting here.

You’ll find the building that houses the restaurant and the business it is paired with along a main road through town. Pull into the large paved parking lot in front of the building and enter through the main entrance, walking straight back to find the dining area.

It’s slightly hidden, but a sign is visible for the restaurant.

Turn right to enter and you’ll come face to face with the large dining room. There are large windows peering out from the restaurant, too. It’s low-lit and offers an eloquent atmosphere.

The ceiling is black with inset lighting and small hanging lights dangling.

Lots of booths are situated throughout, with black benches and white backs featuring dark wooden tables. The benches have very high backs, shielding you from your neighbors and offering a quiet, secluded experience.

Tables continue going back through the elongated dining room design. They are wooden with metal chairs situated around them. The walls are painted red and

Go Figure

Arrive at the figures given at the bottom and right columns of the diagram by following the arithmetic signs in the order they are given (that is, from left to right and top to bottom). Use only the numbers below the diagram to complete its blank squares and use each of the nine numbers only once.

gray. A long bar stretches across the front of the restaurant, featuring shelves with a plethora of liquor. There are also a couple of TVs hanging behind the bar and another TV hanging on an adjacent wall for entertainment. The hallway behind the bar leads to the kitchen and past a selection of draught beers.

There is a small gaming area in the front of the restaurant with a small partition wall and glass to the ceiling for seclusion. There is also a small stage next to the gaming area where they offer karaoke entertainment at the bar on the weekends. There are stools along the bar for additional seating, too.

But without good food a great atmosphere goes out the window, in my opinion, and the food is why I was here. I visited with my mom during lunchtime and it wasn’t overly busy. We set up shop in a booth and I got us started with some pierogies off the appetizer menu.

For my main course I selected the three sliders, while my mom ordered a cheeseburger with Swiss and bacon with a side of plank fries.

Let’s start with the pierogies. These little Polish pastries from heaven are done up right here. They taste like makeshift mini baked potatoes, featuring bacon bits, caramelized onions, chives and sour cream on top of the fried, tender potato pastry. They are artistically displayed and taste delicious. I’ve never had a bad

DIFFICULTY H

Overall:

experience with them here. Next, my sliders arrived. They were all phenomenal. Again, they were artistically displayed on my plate, making them look even more mouthwatering. There was a bison slider with garlic butter, white cheddar and onion confit aioli, a chicken slider with bacon and gouda and finally a Polish reuben with Polish sausage, sauerkraut, Swiss and Thousand Island dressing.

The chicken slider was the best. It was super tender and the artisan bun was so doughy and delicious. It all practically melted in my mouth. The Polish sausage and sauerkraut went together like peanut butter and jelly on my palate and the bison was so tender, lean and flavorful and made almost creamy from the onion aioli. It only had a hint of onion, but more of a blast of sweetness. To reiterate, the trio of sliders were amazing. As for mom, she really enjoyed her loaded burger, which was served on a potato bun with Swiss and bacon. The plank fries were fantastic too; thin and

CryptoQuip

Cleanliness:

Service:

Food:

Price:

Any idea of the name of this restaurant?

Check the puzzle solutions to see if you are right.

crunchy with a hearty taste. There’s plenty of other creative cuisine on the menu here. Some of the other sliders include a lamb sausage, a fried panko shrimp and a pizza featuring an Italian sausage patty, if that’s your thing. You can also get pizza here on imported Italian flour, or order shrimp and grits, a t-bone steak or honey basil glazed salmon, if that’s your fancy. There are plenty of goodies here and you won’t be disappointed. 3

This is a simple substitution cipher in which each letter used stands for another. If you think that X equals O, it will equal O throughout the puzzle. Solution is accomplished by trial and error.

We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you in 2022.

PIZZA SPECIALS

MON FREE Cinnamon sticks with pizza purchase

TUE FREE 2 liter of soda with pizza purchase

WED

THU

AMERICAN MADE LOCALLY OWNED 10904 Route 111, Medora 618-729-9999

Why don’t celebrities ever complain about being hot?

They have a lot of fans.

I bought a wig for only $1. It was a small price toupée.

What do you call a wreath made of $100 bills?

Aretha Franklins. Do they allow loud laughing in Hawaii?

Or just a low ha?

TRIVIA TEST

By Fifi Rodriguez

1. SCIENCE: How long does it take for light to travel from the Sun to Earth?

2. TELEVISION: Which comedian used the catchphrase “one ringie dingie, two ringie dingies” in a TV character sketch?

3. MEASUREMENTS: How many centimeters are equivalent to 100 inches?

4. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who is the only president to serve nonconsecutive terms?

5. LANGUAGE: How many languages are spoken in the

Word Scrambler

world today?

6. GOVERNMENT: Which branch of U.S. government is responsible for making laws?

7. SPORTS: Which famous baseball pitcher’s nickname is “The Chairman of the Board”?

8. FOOD & DRINK: What type of food do the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles love?

9. GEOGRAPHY: Which ocean does Bermuda lie in?

10. MATH: What is a prime number? 3 (answers in puzzle solutions)

Unscramble the letters within each rectangle to form four ordinary words. Then rearrange the boxed letters to form the mystery word, which will complete the gag!

Why did the dad tell the joke?

To get to the other sigh.

My neighbor claims his dog can bring a ball back from half a mile away.

That seems a bit far-fetched to me.

You meet a man on the Oregon Trail, the man says his name is Terry. “Terry? That’s a girl’s name!” You laugh. Terry shoots you.

You have died of dissin’ Terry.

Dad Jokes.

by Donna Pettman

Principia mediation team defends championship ranking

The Principia College International Academy of Dispute Resolution Mediation Team successfully defended its international championship ranking last month by capturing first place in two of the four categories of competition.

Led by co-captains Olivia Burbee and Delaney Gatine, the team sent everyone into the final round, a rare feat. This resulted in two first-place

finishes and Top 10 finishes in every competition category. All members contributed to a formidable final points total, with freshmen Avery Smith and Louisa Longshore scoring like veterans.

To round out Principia’s spectacular finish, seniors Olivia Burbee, Delaney Gatine, and Juliet Beck captured the coveted H. Case Ellis Spirit of Mediation Award for advocacy. This

CHILDFRIENDLY FAMILY-STYLE,GREAT FOOD LIVEENTERTAINMENT & THE BESTPATIO AROUND!

prestigious award given by the academy goes to the institution that demonstrates the highest qualities of peacemaking and dispute resolution.

Principia College mediation results

First Place, Individual Advocacy — Luke Nutwell and Grace Pecheck

Sixth Place, Individual Advocacy — Louisa Longshore

Ninth Place, Individual Advocacy — Olivia Burbee, Juliet Beck

First Place, Individual Mediation — Grace Pecheck

Fourth Place, Individual Mediation — Avery Smith

Fifth Place, Individual Mediation — Erin Demaree

Eighth Place, Individual Mediation — Luke Nutwell

Fifth Place, Team Advocacy — Principia College

H. Case Ellis Spirit of Mediation Award, Advocacy — Principia Team 7 (Olivia Burbee, Delaney Gatine, Juliet Beck) 3

FLASHBACK

By Mick Harper

1. Who first released “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me,” and when?

2. Name the group that had a hit with “Ms. Grace.”

3. How many Billy Joe Royal songs topped the charts in the U.S.?

4. Belinda Carlisle was the lead singer for which band?

5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “’Cause I have wandered through this world, And as each moment has unfurled, I’ve been waiting to awaken from these dreams.” 3 (answers in puzzle solutions)

Each numbered row contains two clues and two 6-letter answers. The two answers differ from each other by only one letter, which has already been inserted. For example, if you exchange the A from MA STER for an I, you get MISTER. Do not change the order of the letters.

Savvy Tech awarded façade grant

The Jersey County Business Association (JCBA) is excited to announce Savvy Tech as a recipient of its Façade Improvement Program. Owner Ricky Threet will be awarded a $640 matching grant from the JCBA.

The JCBA began this program towards the end of 2020. The Façade Improvement Program enables JCBA members to apply for a matching grant of up to $1000 to improve the front or rear façade of their buildings. The JCBA will award a matching grant each quarter to its members with qualifying projects.

Steve Goetten, who Chairs the JCBA Façade Improvement Program said, “We want to help improve investment in our local building stock, which research shows is good for business. We are thrilled to

premises at 205 N. State Street.

Ricky Threet explained, “While Savvy Tech has been a company for over two years now, we had the misfortune of opening our first storefront in Springfield, Illinois right as the pandemic began. I am from the area, and after that experience we were ready to move home and to try again to establish brick and mortar premises. Joining the JCBA has been great for our business, and the grant assistance to help us to improve our curbside appeal is fantastic.”

He continued, “We offer professional technology assistance and IT services and are very proud of the work that we do. We wanted to make sure that our premises gave the correct impression of our business and our skill and expertise.”

thousands, we hope that it is a helpful incentive for a business to invest in professional signage, the upkeep of their building, and generally improving their curbside appeal. We all know that first impressions count. But studies show that first impressions are made within the first 17 seconds of meeting someone new, and 55% percent of that impression is based off of appearance. There is also a tendency for an impression created in one area to influence opinion in another area – so if a storefront leaves you with a good impression, you’re more likely to think highly of the business inside too.’

A full list of services that Savvy Tech provides can be found at savytechusa.com. They are located at 205 N. State Street in Jerseyville, and can be reached at 618639-8324.

Use your JCBA gift

Have you ever received a gift certificate for a birthday and then forgotten to use it? A forgotten store card or certificate that lurks in the bottom a purse or vehicle console? The Jersey County Business Association is urging you to dig those out and use them, particularly if they are the JCBA’s own branded gift certificates. The JCBA annual issues $35,000 in its gift certificates, and December is always a busy month for the program. JCBA Director Beth Bear wanted to remind you that using these gift certificates is not only fun, but important for local businesses as well.

“December is a great month for gift certificates, as they are a wonderful gift for so many of the people in our lives. But I always want to remind recipients to spend them!

After a gift certificate is purchased from us, the JCBA merely holds the money until it is redeemed at

certificates!

a participating business. We don’t take a cut – we don’t even collect interest on the balance. Every dollar goes to local businesses.”

Bear explained that the JCBA Gift Certificate Program is regulated by the State of Illinois. Gift certificates never expire, and any monies from unclaimed gift certificates cannot be used for any other purpose. It can only be returned to the State of Illinois as unclaimed property or redeemed. Bear said that even gift certificates with the old blue JCBA logo on them are still valid and do not expire.

“I love that this program supports our members as well as our local sales tax revenues – but only when they’re spent. Find those unused certificates and order carry out, cross an item off your Christmas list at a local retailer, or purchases food and drinks for the holidays.

Let’s run down that gift certificate account balance and get that

Family ties fuel Roberts Motors’ success

By Jason White Big Z Media

Roberts Motors is a foundation for the local business community and an example of a successful family enterprise.

But Vice President and General Manager John Roberts wasn’t always enthusiastic about working in the family business. He planned a career in electronics, but changed his mind during a class at Lewis and Clark Community College.

“The teacher says, ‘This is what you’re going to be doing the rest of your life,’ and I hated it,” he said. Roberts had already worked part time at the dealership, mowing grass and cleaning out grease pits. He realized selling cars might help him overcome his childhood shyness.

John’s dad, Sam, also wasn’t always involved in automotive sales. Sam was working at an A&P grocery

STRANGE BUT TRUE

By Lucie Winborne

• In Germany, you are allowed to drive your car naked, but not get out of it naked.

• A high-school principal once disciplined a student by making him sit in the basement while reading the U.S. Constitution. The punishment must have taken effect, because said student (who also memorized parts

store and got to know the late Bill Roberts — no relation — who owned a Chrysler-Plymouth dealership in Wood River.

Bill Roberts moved his business to Broadway on Alton in 1963, and Sam went to work for him in 1965. Sam Roberts eventually bought the stock from the original Roberts family and became sole owner of the business.

As he did with Sam, Bill took John under his wing.

John recalls when Bill told him he didn’t think John would succeed as a sales representative. Later, Bill took him out to lunch and told him he was wrong.

“I really don’t think he ever meant that I would fail; I think it was a challenge,” John said. “He laid that out there for me to test me.

“Bill was a lot like dad. Neither one sugar-coated anything with me, neither one coddled me,” he said.

“They’d throw you out there; sometimes you’d sink, sometimes you wouldn’t, but

of the document) was Thurgood Marshall, who grew up to become the first Black Supreme Court justice.

• Male orb-weaver spiders give back rubs to their mates so they don’t get eaten.

• “Mbuki-mvuki” is a Bantu word for the irresistible urge to strip off your clothes while dancing.

• In 2002, Saddam Hussein’s campaign theme song for re-election was Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”

they’d always be there to pull you back up. To me, that’s how you learn.”

Sam Roberts said that approach has paid off for Roberts Ford.

“You do it because you don’t want them to fail,” he said. “John is a hard worker, and I’ve got to be real honest: we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him,” he said. “When you get too old for it, it takes youth to make it work.”

No matter how good you are, you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and we think we’ve got a great team up there.

John Roberts general manager, Roberts Motors

Changes have accelerated in the automotive industry during the internet era.

• For a single day in August 1998 and another in October 2018, Topeka, Kansas, renamed itself “ToPikachu” to mark the release of different Pokemon games.

• Pule, the world’s rarest cheese, is made from donkey milk, something that was widely believed impossible since the liquid doesn’t coagulate. However, Serbian cheesemaker Slobodan Simic discovered a solution and now sells his cheese for over $500 per pound.

Customers do most of their research online before arriving at the dealership.

“You basically have to build your relationship with the customer online,” John said. “They have to

• MLB pitcher Turk Wendell, “baseball’s favorite oddball,” would not only brush his teeth every inning, but at the start of same, would turn and wave to the center fielder and wait for him to wave back before proceeding.

• There are more English speakers in China than in the United States.

• In 1994, a man was arrested for dressing as the Grim Reaper and standing and staring into the windows of a home for the elderly.

come into the dealership knowing what to expect, and it’s got to be what they want. If it’s not, they’re probably not coming.”

Another big change is an aging vehicle fleet, leading to more demand for service. Finding qualified

• In 2008, PETA requested Ben & Jerry’s use breastmilk instead of cow’s milk to make ice cream. This was unanimously rejected by Ben & Jerry’s and La Leche League International.

• Sixty-five percent of test subjects had the urge to yawn after reading about yawning.

• From 1746 until 1996, English law considered bagpipes not as a musical instrument, but a weapon of war, used to “instill courage in soldiers and put the fear

technicians is just one of the challenges, John says.

“No matter how good you are, you’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with, and we think we’ve got a great team up there,” he said.

John said working in Alton has made him emphasize a straightforward approach to selling vehicles.

“We love our repeat, loyal customers — those are really important to us — but we don’t treat anybody differently,” he said. “If they come to our store, they’re going to get good service, they’re going to get good honest treatment. We don’t play games.”

His dad agrees.

“You’ve got to give to the community that supports you,” Sam said. “Our motto’s always been No. 1 is the customer, No. 2 is the employees and No. 3 is the dealer. As long as you value everyone that way, you’re going to come out ahead.” 3

of God into the enemy.”

• The kitchen dishwasher was invented by a politician’s socialite wife who was fed up with servants breaking her expensive dishes.

• Author Roger Highfield’s 1999 book “The Physics of Christmas: From the Aerodynamics of Reindeer to the Thermodynamics of Turkey” detailed a darker side to Rudolph’s famously red nose -- not alcoholism, but some kind of parasitic infection. 3

John and Sam Roberts

Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey

honors Students of the Month

Clancy Maag of Marquette Catholic High School and Paige Ontis of Alton High School were honored as Students of the Month for November at the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Alton-Godfrey at Gentelin’s Restaurant.

Maag, daughter of Shannon and Vicky Maag of Jerseyville, is taking on a plethora of extracurricular activities, including varsity golf all four years of high school, winning regionals each time and going to state three out of those four times; Breast Cancer Awareness, Student Council, Students for Soldiers, Students Offering Support, and National Honors Society with her 4.3 GPA out of four. She was named first team for golf this year as well. She also played basketball her freshman and sophomore year.

Clancy represents Marquette inside and outside of the classroom. Inside, she is the parliamentarian of the National Honors Society, and through this she is

Maag Ontis

able to support students to achieve better grades.

Clancy plans to attend a college close to home on a golf scholarship, but is undecided on what she wants to do.

Ontis, daughter of Chris and Nicole Ontis of Godfrey, is ranked 14th in the senior class of 2022 and is an officer of two student organizations.

She has a 4.55 GPA and is the treasurer of National Honor Society. She has also competed in the Excellence Math competition and is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the math honor society. Through Mu Alpha Theta, she has tutored a fourthgrade and an 11th-grade student. Additionally, she is

a member of the Interact Club, the Redbird Nest and the Sign Language Club.

Ontis’ primary extracurricular activity is the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, or FCCLA.

Alton High School consistently has one of the largest chapters in the state and she has been an officer for each of her four years. She is currently the president. Through this organization, they have the opportunity to compete with their projects at the section, state and national levels. She has done each of these and won a gold medal at the National Conference, even though it was done virtually. She has also been a part of the FCCLA Fashion Show, which raised more than $1,000 for the Oasis Women’s Center. After high school, she plans to attend college and major in accounting, with the goal of eventually becoming a forensic accountant. 3

SIU dental students attain 100 percent pass rate on national exam

The Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine is celebrating students in the class of 2022 for achieving a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the new Integrated National Board Dental Exam. This is the second consecutive year for students to attain this achievement.

The integrated examination for dental licensure, first administered in 2020, replaces the NBDE Part I and Part II, and covers the basic, behavioral and clinical sciences. According to the Joint Commission

on National Dental Examinations, the new exam combines content from several disciplines, requiring test takers to “integrate their knowledge of science with the clinical know-how involved in the safe practice of dentistry.”

“The SIU SDM Class of 2022 has worked tremendously hard to excel in their coursework and exams while also effectively caring for their patients,” SIU SDM Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Saulius Drukteinis said. “We are so proud of them.”

HAWKLAND ESTATES

Now accepting applications for 2 and 3 bedroom homes in Carrollton, IL, close to hospital, grocery store and restaurant. Mini-playground area, nice neighborhood. Rent varies based on income.

Homes include: Large landscaped lots, Paved driveways, One (1) car attached garage, Patios in back. Washer/dryer hook-ups, Fully equipped kitchens (stove, refrigerator & dishwasher), Central air & Garbage removal furnished.

Applications may be obtained at the o ce of the Housing Authority of Greene County, 325 N. Carr St., White Hall, IL, or you may call 217-374-2128 between the hours of 8am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

Shelly K. Mason • Executive Director

The class of 2022 has endured the particular challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting both their third and fourth year of dental clinical education.

“We are incredibly proud of this class, knowing how difficult these last two years have been,” SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter said.

“We especially thank the faculty and staff for working under tough circumstances to continue to deliver our highest standard of education.” 3

Saturday, Jan 8: 8am

Sunday, Jan 9: 1pm (HALF PRICE)

Fairmont Subdivision, Alton IL State Street to Danforth, pass guardhouse into Fairmont Subdivision turn

OPEN SUNDAY, JAN. 16, 23 & 30•124PM

25726 Walnut Creek Dr., Dow (Eagle Crossings Subdivision)

MOMENTS IN TIME

The History Channel

• On Dec. 30, 1803, Francis Lewis, signer of the Declaration of Independence, dies in New York City at age 90. Lewis’ patriotism came at a high cost: The British army destroyed his Long Island estate and took his wife prisoner in 1776.

• On Jan. 1, 1863, farmer Daniel Freeman submits the first claim under the new Homestead Act for a property in Nebraska. By the 1890s, many homesteaders found that farming 160 acres of such dry land was nearly impossible, and at least half the original claims were abandoned.

• On Dec. 27, 1944, during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt gives orders to seize properties belonging to the Montgomery Ward company because it refused to comply with a labor collective bargaining agreement. Roosevelt said strikes in wartime cannot be condoned. 3

GREENE COUNTY HOMES L.P.

325 NORTH CARR ST., PO BOX 33 WHITE HALL, IL 62092

Now accepting applications for brand new 1, 2, 3, and 4 bedroom homes in Roodhouse & Greenfield, IL. Homes include: Large landscaped lots, with front & backyards. Paved driveways, Two (2) car attached garage, Patios in rear of home. Washer/dryer provided, Fully equipped kitchens (stove, refrigerator & dishwasher), Central air & Garbage removal furnished. Rent is based on income. In addition, you may be eligible for rental assistance.

Applications may be obtained at the o ce of the Housing Authority of Greene County, 325 N. Carr St., White Hall, IL, or you may call 217-374-2128 between the hours of 8am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

Shelly K. Mason • Executive Director

Have you been wanting to build your dream home? Come see us with your plans/ideas/wish lists. You will also want to be sure to check out our latest Photovoltaic solar system! It can enable you to have net zero energy by producing your own power. Wooded 1 acre lots available in this subdivision or we can build on your land. Let’s get started making your dreams come true!

Host: Ralph Paslay 618-531-3377

CUST OM HOMES

paslay.com•508 E Bethalto Dr, Bethalto

Two Bedroom Apartment Sorry, NO PETS & 1-year lease

Located one block north of Farm & Home, on the corner of George & Wabash Streets

FOR RENTFOR RENT Call 618-498-9596

FOR RENT JPJ Real Estate, Inc. 618-779-0376

2-3 BEDROOM HOMES & APARTMENTS IN JERSEYVILLE

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONs FOR HOUSING

The Housing Authority of Greene County will be accepting applications for 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments

• Rent based on 30% adjusted monthly income

• All utilities furnished

• Lawn mowing & garbage removal furnished

• Stove

Applications may be obtained at the o ce of the Housing Authority of Greene County, 325 N. Carr St., White Hall, IL, or you may call 217374-2128 between the hours of 8am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

Shelly

Walnut Estates

Now accepting applications for 2 and 3 bedroom homes in Carrollton & White Hall, IL. Mini-playground area, nice neighborhoods. Rent varies based on income. In addition, you may be eligible for rental assistance.

Homes include: Large landscaped lots, Paved driveways, Two (2) car attached garage, Patios in back. Washer/dryer provided, Fully equipped kitchens (stove, refrigerator & dishwasher), Central air & Garbage removal furnished.

Applications may be obtained at the o ce of the Housing Authority of Greene County, 325 N. Carr St., White Hall, IL, or you may call 217-374-2128 between the hours of 8am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

Shelly K. Mason • Executive Director

Unexpired, any type, any brand, will pay up to $10/box. Helping diabetics since 2009. Call Ron, leave message. 217-556-3398

Help your New Year’s resolutions stick

DEAR DAVE: I thought I was going to get control of my money and make a lot of other positive changes in my life this year, but very few of the things I wanted to accomplish happened. I started strong, and began with serious intentions, but somewhere along the way I lost focus. Can you give me some advice for making and sticking to my resolutions in 2022? -- Isaac

DEAR ISAAC: Lots of people make big promises with the best intentions on December 31st. It seems everyone comes up with a laundry list of New Year’s resolutions, but research shows very few people actually achieve their goals.

If you’re ready — and I mean really ready — to reset your life and succeed with your New Year’s resolutions, here are a few simple, proven steps that’ll help.

gatherings about religion, finances and other things. With Christmas coming up, I would like to avoid conflict and try to handle things a little better with them. Do you have any advice? -- Cam

Southside Auto 1499 S. State, Jerseyville 618-498-4028

First, write down your top goal. Pick the resolution that means the most to you and write it down. You’re more likely to succeed if you can focus on a single goal, and you have a greater chance of achieving it if you write it down — on paper, on purpose. And make sure the resolution you choose is very important to you. Writing down a goal just because it’s what someone else is doing, or because it sounds like a good idea, isn’t good enough. If your goal isn’t yours, it won’t happen.

Second, set benchmarks. Let’s say you want to pay off your credit cards before July. You need to make that goal measurable throughout the year by setting benchmarks. If you owe $5,000 on your credit cards and want to pay them off in six months, you need to pay about $833

towards them every month. Write your benchmark down beneath your goal, and make a plan for how you’re going to get it done. Three, find an accountability partner. A great accountability partner isn’t afraid to ask how your goals are coming along, and they’ll call you on it when you’re slacking. If you set a financial goal, a good accountability partner isn’t going to be the friend who always asks you to go shopping. Studies have shown that having a strong accountability partner increases the likelihood of achieving a goal dramatically. And finally, make sure you reward yourself along the way. It’s tough to stay motivated when hitting your goal takes a while. Lots of folks start out at full speed, only to see the momentum disappear over time. You might treat yourself to a night at the movies when you’ve paid off the first $1,000 on your credit cards, or maybe a nice, new shirt when you’ve paid off half the card.

Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we think it will, Isaac. Our priorities can change, and our goals may change, too. If that’s why you didn’t make your resolutions happen this year, that’s fine. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s too late to change and improve your life!

Keep things as pleasant as possible

DEAR DAVE: I don’t really see eye-to-eye with my dad and older brother on many things. This is not a new realization on my part, but over the last few years it has led to hard feelings and various arguments at family

DEAR CAM: It takes a strong, level-headed person with a good heart to want to approach a situation like this with maturity and love. I’m proud of you for trying to create better relationships within your family. My initial advice would be don’t take discussions too deep, and make a conscious effort to stay away from any hot button topics you know already exist. I’m no family counselor, but the chances of you changing a lifetime of differences and toxic behaviors, or bringing them around to your way of thinking, in one brief interaction are probably pretty small. Don’t tell them you think what they’re doing is wrong or that you feel they’re bad people if things get a little tense. My best advice is to be a model of sanity and reason if you feel a confrontation brewing. Situations like this are hard to deal with, especially when the conflict is between a father and son or two brothers. It’s hard on you and them, plus it has a negative impact on the rest of the family during what is supposed to be a joyful and loving time of year. These are people you love and care about, even if they are hard to get along with or understand sometimes. Pray for them, Cam. And ask God to give you guidance, patience and understanding in this situation, too.

What’s the best thing?

DEAR DAVE: My wife and I are trying to help our son and daughter-in-law. They are both 29-years old, and they have been married for three years. They have good jobs, but the problem is they ask for money on a regular basis. Helping them out hasn’t been a strain,

because we’re in good shape financially, but we have started encouraging them to live on a monthly budget. They always say they will try, but it never seems to happen. At this point, it feels like we may be enabling them instead of helping. How can we make sure we are doing the best thing?

-- C.M.

DEAR C.M.: The first thing you and your wife need to do is sit down and have a loving, but serious, talk with these kids. If they’ve asked for money before, and this is something that has turned into a habit, you have every right to know more about their spending and other circumstances.

Don’t be surprised if they act defensive, or maybe even get angry. People are often embarrassed to admit to, or talk about, their mistakes. They may even tell you these things are none of your business. If they do, that’s fine. But they should understand you two won’t be opening your checkbook again if they don’t open up about their financial behavior. This isn’t about mom and dad being controlling or snooping around, it’s about you and your wife making sure you’re not enabling what you consider to be bad behavior going forward.

It always hurts parents to see their kids go through things like this. But if they’re acting irresponsibly with money, they need to suffer the consequences of their actions. Who knows? That, along with your love and guidance, might help put them on the right track to win with money! 3

Dave Ramsey is a seventime #1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, which airs 1-3pm weekdays on WBGZ 107.1FM / 1570AM

Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives.

@DaveRamsey

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TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

By Keith Roach, M.D.

Dumping Syndrome and Obesity

DEAR DR. ROACH: A friend was given a test to see how long food stayed in her stomach after eating. She was told that it stayed only a short time before continuing its journey, a much shorter time than the average person. This was given as a reason for her obesity, that she experienced hunger sooner than most people. Does this really happen, and is there a way for her to manage it so that she can lose weight? -- G.J.

ANSWER: A gastric emptying study is usually used to look for delayed gastric emptying, also called gastroparesis. It can be the result of several different types of nerve diseases, but especially diabetes. An abnormally rapid gastric emptying is also called dumping syndrome, and is often a problem after some types of gastric bypass surgeries.

I did find a paper from the 1980s suggesting that obese people have shorter gastric emptying times. This was confirmed in a trial from 2015 looking at the diabetes drug exenatide (Byetta), which is sometimes used to help people lose weight, even if they do not have diabetes. Interestingly, exenatide was more likely to cause people to lose weight if they had faster gastric emptying times.

We

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I do not mean to suggest that fast gastric emptying is the only reason for your friend’s (or anyone else’s) weight problems. Obesity is a complex problem with no single cause or solution in most people. I am glad you wrote. I did not know about this research before, and it may be worth it for your friend to discuss a trial of exenatide with her doctor.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have thin skin on my arms and lower legs due to aging, sun damage and blood thinner (warfarin). My skin is constantly bruised and unattractive. Is there a body lotion you can recommend to help reduce the impact of trauma to my skin? The slightest “thump” leaves its trace. I’m very active, so I always look as if I’ve been in a wrestling match and lost!

-- J.M.A.

ANSWER: Easy bruising is a common problem with many potential causes. Warfarin, which prevents the body from making some blood clotting proteins, is certainly a cause, but many older adults have this problem. Occasionally it can be a serious issue, so it is worth a discussion with your doctor, who may get some blood tests to help eliminate

concern of leukemia and von Willebrand’s disease, among other diagnoses. Fortunately, it’s much more common for problems to be benign.

As people age, they do get drier, thinner skin, which can bruise more easily. If your bruises are found most often on the tops of your forearms, that’s a common place for senile purpura. “Senile,” in a medical context, just means older.

The term “senile dementia,” a nonspecific term formerly used to mean Alzheimer’s disease, was sometimes shortened incorrectly to “senile.” “Purpura” are dark, purple/brown marks on the skin.

If there is no specific cause

for the bruising, and the appearance of the skin is consistent with senile purpura, then this advice may be helpful: Keeping the skin out of the sun can prevent future damage. Regular moisturizers can help with dry skin. An oral supplement of bioflavonoids was successful in one study. For more severe cases, some dermatologists use topical vitamin A derivatives to combat the skin atrophy (these are by prescription). 3

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual questions, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Email questions to toyourgoodhealth @med.cornell.edu.

ABOB fundraiser draws crowds to Alton High School

By Jason White Big Z Media

A holiday shopping mecca greeted visitors to Alton High School on Dec. 4.

The Olde Alton Arts and Crafts Fair, canceled in 2020 amid the pandemic, returned for the first time in two years. It was mostly a return to normal for the Alton Band and Orchestra Builders fundraiser, organizer and Alton School Board President Dave Fritz said.

“I think it’s been pretty well-received,” he said.

“I think the crowds are showing up today to show their support for

the program as well as the crafters.”

The fair raises money for ABOB to buy and repair instruments for the school district’s instrumental music program, including the Marching 100 and orchestras. Paula Fritz, Dave’s wife and a Eunice Smith Elementary School teacher, said ABOB serves an important role in the district.

“The kids here in Alton don’t have to pay to be a member of the band,” she said. “ABOB is a way to take care of that payment so that the kids, no matter what their status, can enjoy music.” 3

Jena Theisen talks to Denil Mueller and Rebekah Mueller of Dennary Designs. The business offers quilted and sewn items made from colorful fabrics. [photo by Jason White]

2. The Tymes, in 1975. The song was a hit in the U.K. while not getting much notice in the U.S. -- until it was discovered by Carolina beach shag dancers and became a popular staple.

3. None. “Down in the Boondocks,” however, reached No. 1 in Canada.

4. The Go-Go’s, the only female group to write their own material and play their own instruments.

5. “Doctor, My Eyes,” by Jackson Browne in 1972. The song was written with a third verse that wasn’t recorded but can be found on bootleg copies of the demo.