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Herrin High School hosts more than 180 athletes for the 2022 Special Olympics Region K Spring Games

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 04:08:46 GMT

HERRIN — The Herrin High School athletic complex was a busy place Thursday morning as the 2022 Region K Herrin Spring Games of the Special Olympics kicked off.

Opening ceremonies included a parade teams, a thank you to organizers and volunteers and recognition of sponsors in Olympic style.

Katrina Valient of Progress Port, one of the Special Olympians, sang the National Anthem.

Local police officers and athletes participated in a torch run to light the Special Olympics torch on the field. Marion officer T.J. Warren and Ashley Banks started the run, followed by Herrin Police Chief David Dorris and Ashley Jones and Trooper Tim Baker of Illinois State Police and Max Lair. Detective Salvador Thomas of Marion Police Department and Kayla Guinn finished the run and lit the torch.

During opening ceremonies, Derek Valerius of Carbondale Elks Lodge gave Special Olympics Region K a check for $1,000. He said the club helps provide support for the event.

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HerrinFesta Italiana to offer free entertainment

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 04:12:22 GMT

HerrinFesta Italiana will return to featured entertainment for this year’s Herrin festival, which will run from May 23-30 in downtown Herrin.

The enlarged Farmers State Bank Free Entertainment Tent will be on the north side of the Herrin Civic Center.

Music starts with two rock favorites in Southern Illinois on Friday, May 27. Jungle Dogs will open for the feature act of Hairbanger’s Ball. Both bands are past Festa favorites.

The 80’s cover band Hairbanger’s Ball has graced the Festa stage eight times between 2005 and 2013. Hairbanger’s Ball is one of the most sought-after “80’s Hair Rock Tribute Bands” in the United States and exhibit the same expert musicianship as their idols.

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Friends show some love to Santa Charlie in Herrin

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 04:19:40 GMT

HERRIN — Most people in Southern Illinois simply know Charlie Groves as Santa. Groves is one of Santa’s best helpers and stands-in, working events across the region during the holiday season.

Groves now faces a bigger challenge as he was recently diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

On Jan. 14, a post appeared on his Facebook page that gave his diagnosis and said he was not up to having visitors. By Jan. 15, he went home from the hospital on hospice care.

Groves was honored with a drive-by parade on Tuesday afternoon, organized by Christie Goodman.

More than 100 cars lined up in the former Maytag parking lot, not far from Groves’ home in Herrin.

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