15-year-old Melinda Rode from Alhambra won The Junior Stars Competition on Channel Four earlier this month by singing Martina McBride's song "Happy Girl".

Rode told WGEL about the contest saying that it is a TV show from Channel 4 called Junior Stars and sponsored by St. Louis Community College. Rode said she and her friend auditioned and made it on to a tapping. Rode's friend competed, but did not win while Rode competed and won the contest.

Rode is a sophomore at Highland High School and will be on Channel 4 on April 1 at 6:30 p.m. Rode said that she is extremely excited to be on TV.

 

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MARCH IS NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

March has been designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer, if detected early colorectal cancer is treatable. Dr. Peter S. Kim of Greenville Gastroenterology says that the key when dealing with colorectal cancer is early detection. Dr. Kim points out that the average risk of colorectal cancer is fairly low until the age of 50 and rises with advancing age. When a person reaches the age of 50 you should have a colonoscopy performed. Colonoscopies have become largely the primary screening method in the detection of colon cancer. For more information on colorectal cancer and colonoscopies, contact your primary care physician. Screenings are conducted at Greenville Regional Hospital.

STATE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR WARNS OF SLIGHT INCREASE IN TB

In conjunction with World Tuberculosis Day Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public health director, announced the number of TB cases in Illinois increased slightly in 2005 after the state saw a record low in 2004. This is the first increase in tuberculosis cases in Illinois in nine years. Almost 45% of the TB cases in the state are among individuals born in other countries where TB is common such as Mexico, India, and the Philippines. Tuberculosis is a contagious and potentially life-threatening disease that is transmitted from person to person by tiny airborne particles of bacteria; TB can be cured however. TB affects any part of the body like the brain, lungs, and kidneys or spine. Symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, fever and night sweats. If TB is in the lungs a person may experience a persistent cough that can produce blood and chest pains.

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PRECISION METALIZE SPOTLIGHTED IN KASKASKIA COLLEGE SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

Kaskaskia College Small Business Development Center recently spotlighted Precision Metalize, Inc. in Greenville. Todd Tracy of the Kaskaskia College Small Business Development Center told WGEL why Precision Metalize was spotlighted saying that at the Small Business Development Center they look for about six or seven businesses per year or about every two months. They look for businesses they have helped to start up or expand or that they have provided services to that seem to be having some degree of success. Tracy said that Precision Metalize fits that category. Tracy said that they have expanded sales and grown over the last three years. Tracy said it hilights the services they have at the Small Business Development Center in getting businesses started through the planning process and helping them along the way.

The Kaskaskia College Small Business Development Center occasionally reviews successes of small businesses located in the Kaskaskia College District in order to recognize a variety of business options and successful business ventures.

If you would like to attend a "How to Start A Business Class, preparing a business plan, developing a new business idea, or for specific consultation needs, prospective or established business owners and/or entrepreneurs can call Todd Tracy at the Kaskaskia College Small Business Development Center at 548-9001 ext. 4006.

GREENVILLE WATER DEPARTMENT GIVEN FLUORIDE HONOR

The Greenville Water Treatment Plant is one of 461 community water systems recently honored for maintaining fluoride levels. That announcement was made last week by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Each year, water systems that maintain state mandated levels for all twelve calendar months are recognized. Fluoride in drinking water is said to improve the quality of life through less tooth decay and less money spent to restore, remove, or replace decayed teeth. The city of Greenville received a certificate in recognition of the water department’s achieving the “highest standard of compliance in accordance with the Illinois Fluoridation Act.” Jeff Leidner is the Greenville Water Plant Superintendent.

OBITUARIES

ALBERTA WILLIS

90-year-old Alberta Willis of Greenville, formerly of Shiloh passed away today (Friday) at Cardinal Hill Healthcare. Funeral services for 90-year-old Alberta Willis will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Young Funeral Home in Greenville. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery in Fairview Heights. Friends may call after 11:00 a.m. on Monday at Young Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to The Greenville Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Alberta was the sister of Betty Holt of Greenville.

 

Paul W. Reed

Paul W. Reed, age 80 of Greenville and formerly of Lawrenceville, Illinois, passed away at 6:25 a.m. Friday, March 24, 2006 at Fair Oaks Nursing Home in Greenville.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Emmons-Macey-Steffey Funeral Home in Lawrenceville with Rev. John Lefler, officiating. Interment will follow in Lawrenceville City Cemetery. Friends may call in Lawrenceville from 1 p.m. Monday until service time.

Paul Warren Reed, the son of John Linch Reed and Lillian Irene Strange Reed, was born September 17, 1925 in Lawrenceville, Illinois. He was raised in Lawrenceville, attended the Bridgeport High School and graduated with the class of 1943. Paul served our country in the United States Army 1943-1945. He then attended Greenville College, graduating with a Bachelors Degree. He then attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, getting his Master's Degree in 1970 in Science Education. He was an educator for 34 years serving as principal for two different schools. Earlier in life he had served as minister for the Free Methodist Church in many pastorates in southern Illinois and Indiana. The family retired to Greenville in 1996.

Paul and Marjorie Anne Calvert were united in marriage on July 3, 1945 in Lawrenceville and enjoyed over 60 years together, she survives as do their three children: John Paul Reed and wife Jennifer of Greenville, Richard Oran Reed and wife Bonnie of Duncanville, TX and Judith Camilla Anne, Mrs. Thomas Diver of Winchester, Mo, 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, brothers Morris E. Reed of Florissant, MO., Robert E. Reed of Cordova, IL, and sisters: Donna Faye MacMillan, of Clearwater, Florida, Eleanor R. Biehl of Bakersfield, CA, and Doris Carswell of New Jersey.
Paul is preceded in death by his parents, brothers John Robin Reed age 16, Connell M. Reed, and 2 grandchildren.

Paul was a former member of the Kiwanis Club, retired Teachers Assn., helped found and was the first President of the Sign of the Kingdom East, served on the Board of the Senior Citizens Club, former President of the Ambraw Federal Credit Union, and a faithful member of the Lawrenceville Free Methodist Church where he served on the Board and was a Delegate to Conference.

 

Bobbie George Gordon

Bobbie George Gordon "Piccolo" Smith Sr. passed away at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Greenville Regional Hospital. Graveside Funeral Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday at Brown Cemetery with Rev. Tom Hoffmann, officiating. The family will receive friends at Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home in Greenville from 10 a.m. Tuesday until 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. For those who desire memorials may be made to the Bond County E.M.S.

Bobbie George Gordon "Piccolo" Smith Sr. the son of Ernest and Zella Hagler Smith, was born on April 28, 1932 in East St. Louis. He grew up there and attended the public schools.He raised his family in the Belleville area working out of Labor Local # 100 of East St.Louis. He also did home improvements. He moved to Pocahontas in 1984.
Piccolo and Anna Mae Ralls Smith were united in marriage on March 3, 1951 in Pocahontas, Arkansas and enjoyed over fifty years together. She preceded him in death on May 27, 2001. He is also preceded in death by his parents, sisters; Anna Mae Smith, Sevah Davis, Alene Carnahan English, brothers: Ardell Smith, Gerald Smith , Hiram (Lolly) Smith, and grandson Zachary Smith.

Piccolo is survived by their three children: Kathy, Mrs. Allen Husmann of Greenville, Tammy, Mrs. Jerry Calvin of Pocahontas, and Bobbie (Ethel) Smith Jr. of Pocahontas, sister Catherine Mrs. Rollio Burgdorf of Fairview Heights, and Ernest Smith of Belleville, sister in law Lou Youngman of and brother in law Bill Ralls of southern, Illinois. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren; Tracy and Jessi Smith, Bobbie and Angel Smith, Tommy and Cindy Smith, Robbie Bates, D.J. Kent, Barry and Brandie Smith, Shannon Bates, Chris Kent, Charles Legg, Sean and Kerri Bates, Tommy and Bertha Muertz, Ashley and Mike Huff and Angela Tubbs, and 33 great-grandchildren; Joshua Smith, Kirkland and Madison Bates, Jordan and Jada Collins, Donovan and Dominique Bates, Savannah Davis, Jessica , Levi, Bobbie, Randa, Cooper, Joleena Borders, Corey , Samantha and Stacey Kent, Karen, Kayla, Kyle, Keith, Keenan, and Kevin Kent, Brittany and Kyle Phillips, Aaron Jackson, Bobby Joe Smith, Christopher, Andrew and Bradley Huff, Sarah , Benny, Cody.