The Red Bud softball team got their week off to a great start, pounding out 13 hits in an easy 11-2 win over Granite City.
 Ciara Schaeffer hit a double and two singles, Dany Gargac had three singles, Jessica Snyder hit a triple and a double, Amy Koester had a double and a single, Tara Hubert had two singles and Bianca Durbin added one single.
 Schaeffer was also the winning pitcher. In five innings she gave up only three hits, walked one and struck out eight.

 Continuing an annual tradition, the Sparkling SparTils Relay for Life® team will host a lasagna dinner to benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS). The dinner will be held 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 21 at Sparta Eagles at 112 E. Main Street in Sparta. In addition to lasagna, the meal includes salad, bread, beverage and brownie sundaes. The cost is: adults $7.00, children 5-12 years $3.50. Additional donations are welcomed. Circle of Hope bracelets will also be available for sale.

If you are in the market for a job, then come by the Southwestern Illinois College Red Bud Campus, 500 W. South Fourth St., from 2:30-5p.m., Wednesday, March 31.
The campus will host more than 10 employers in search of highly-motivated individuals to fill vacancies in their companies. The SWIC Career Activities and Employment Center is hosting the event.

A number of special services are scheduled at St. John Lutheran Church in Chester in observance of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday, March 28, through Easter Monday, April 5.

All Chester High School senior parents are encouraged to meet this Sunday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the CHS cafeteria to discuss the 2010 CHS Project Graduation.

Do you feel like everyone in the world knows how to use a computer but you?

AARP & AFSCME Retired Union Sub-Chapter 56 of Chester will hold a Defensive Driving class

The Jaycees are once again putting together the activities and events for this year's Oktoberfest which will be held October 10 & 11, 2008