Jill Boomer, Editor

The Southwestern Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross' Jersey County Service Center is once again partnering with the local elementary schools to raise funds to benefit the local Red Cross.

March is officially "American Red Cross Month" and the Jersey County Service Center is celebrating 93 years of providing Red Cross programs and services to local communities within the county.

The Jersey County Service Center in Jerseyville is conducting its annual Penny Drive competition in the elementary school classrooms to raise funds in support of disaster relief services delivered specifically in Jersey County.

"This year marks our eighth year for our Penny Drive held every March, " Chris Maness, board member with the chapter said, "we are so pleased that the schools, students and parents help us each year to raise funds for families displaced from their homes due to single family fires."

The annual Penny Drive is in its eighth year and in the previous seven years has raised exactly $33,823.60. Last year the students collected $6,760.64 in pennies.  This year the drive has a goal to raise $7,000 and the proceeds from the drive will be applied to the service center's budget for delivery of local disaster relief services.

The Jersey County Service Center staff has responded to five house fires within the county with seven people impacted in Delhi,  two people in Elsah, 12 people in Jerseyville, three people in Kane for a total of 22 people helped.

Tickets for the boy’s sectional basketball game Wednesday, March 10 in Centralia will go on sale in the main office at Jersey Community High School Monday (March 8) at noon.  Jersey has 429 reserved seats for sale and 200 general admission tickets as well.

All tickets are $5 with prices set by the IHSA.  Tickets will remain on sale until 2 p.m. Wednesday.  Jersey will play Centralia on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Centralia High School.

For those needing to mapquest directions, the school address is 2100 E. Calumet, Centralia, 62801.

For more information contact the athletic office (498-5521) at Jersey Community High School.

With the expectation that the Real Estate market is preparing to rebound, now is the perfect time for individuals looking for a full-or-part time job to start a career in Real Estate.

Lewis and Clark Community College is offering a Real Estate Transactions class in both day and evening eight-week sessions.

The first session is being offered 6:30 to 9:20 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning March 22. The second is offered 9 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning March 23. Both classes are on the Godfrey campus and taught by Kevin Botterbush.

Real Estate 132 examines the nature of real estate and its ownership, titles, legal descriptions, uses, contracts, leases, taxation and values. Upon successful completion of the course, students are qualified to take the Illinois Real Estate Salesperson Examination, which is the test required for state licensing as a real estate agent.

Students must be 21 years old to take the test and must posses a high school diploma or equivalent.

"If you're interested in getting in the real estate business, now is the time," Botterbush said. "Changes for licensure are expected in the future and taking this class and passing the state exam is a good idea before requirements change."

For more information contact Botterbush at 618-466-5000 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .