Buy early to get the freshest Christmas tree

by DAVID ROBSON

Most fresh Christmas trees are harvested weeks before they appear locally. So the earlier you buy your tree, the fresher it is likely to be. You can maintain the freshness by keeping it in water, which is something retailers can’t do.

Updated: 11:13 am | Loading…

Travelers can keep a close watch on their homes with help of new gadget

By Melissa Kossler Dutton, The Associated Press

This holiday season, many travelers will be able to keep a close eye on home.

Nov 19, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

Accumulating wealth shouldn’t be your main financial goal

By Joe Plemon

I love writing financial tips to help you better manage your money. I want you to get out of debt, have a sound emer-gency fund and a plan to retire with dignity. I want you to be so smart with your money that you will, over time, build wealth. But I don't want wealth to be your goal.

Nov 19, 2009 | 12:30 am | Loading…

Thanksgiving: We do the math, you do the cooking

BY J.M. HIRSCH, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Preparing Thanksgiving dinner is enough of a pressure cooker, never mind having to do on-the-fly math to get it right. Here are all the numbers you need to have a safe, worry-free and delicious Turkey Day dinner.

Nov 18, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Hold the wheat

by William Atkinson,for the southern

Gluten intolerance: The condition you might not know you have

Nov 17, 2009 | 1:15 am | Loading…

Suicide: It’s a different kind of grief

By Judy Ashby

Nov 17, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

• Related: FOR HELP

Applying for college

BY BETH J. HARPAZ, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

If you're throwing around the term "app" a lot but it has nothing to do with iPhones, you must have a high school senior in the family working on a college app.

Nov 15, 2009 | 1:15 am | Loading…

Hoops 101

BY JOE SZYNKOWSKI, FOR THE SOUTHERN

The regular basketball season has begun for the SIU men's and women's basketball teams.

Nov 15, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

• Related: More on fouls and free throws

Driving age is more convenient for parents, less safe for teens

By John Rosemond

My oldest grandson, not yet 15, is already taking driver education. In fact, he's already been behind the wheel with his instructor, on an interstate highway no less. I'm resigned to his obtaining his license in a little more than a year. I'm not happy about it. I'm resigned. Mind you, he…

Nov 15, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

How vaccines work

BY MARSHALL BRAIN, MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS

Vaccines are big news right now. All over town you can find places delivering the normal, seasonal flu vaccine - everywhere from the county health clinic to the local drugstore. There is also a lot of buzz around the special H1N1 vaccine - millions of people are being vaccinated. There is…

Nov 15, 2009 | 12:00 am | Loading…

Having true perspective is a wonderful thing

By Jim Davidson

In these tough times when thousands of people are being kicked out in the street because of foreclosure and automobiles are being repossessed because the owners can no longer make the payments, it's sometimes hard to keep perspective. It's been said that a recession is when you lose your …

Nov 14, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

Audio Bible CDs took 600 actors to record

By Rick Kogan, McClatchy-Tribune News

JoBe Cerny, most famous for being the voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, was on one recent rainy morning sitting in a studio at his Cerny/American Creative, a production company/recording studio on Illinois Street in Chicago. He was drinking coffee and nibbling at some doughnuts and lis-ten…

Nov 14, 2009 | 1:00 am | Loading…

The Southern to publish “Reason for the Season”

THE SOUTHERN STAFF

The Southern Illinoisan will be publishing a special section highlighting sacred and religious events and programs related to the Christmas season. The section will publish Thursday, Dec. 10.

Nov 13, 2009 | 1:30 pm | Loading…