Randolph County briefs: Rec ball equipment swap; St. John kindergarten screening

<b>Rec ball equipment swap Thursday</b>

The Chester Rec League will hold its Rec Ball Play It 4-Ward Equipment Swap from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at the Cohen Complex.

<b>Kindergarten screening at St. John</b>

Kindergarten screening for the children planning to attend St. John Lutheran School for the 2022-2023 school year will be from 2-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6. Call the school office at (618) 826-4345 to make an appointment. Children planning on attending Kindergarten should reach the age of 5 on or before September 1, 2022.

The kindergarten program at St. John Lutheran School is taught by Laurie Anderson and will be in session five full days a week. St. John strives to educate the whole child. To enhance cognitive growth, our program includes math readiness, graphing, charting, phonics, and reading readiness activities, songs, finger-plays, body movement songs, as well as fine motor growth.

<b>Chester Library hosts author Jenny Lawson</b>

Chester Public Library is joining libraries across Illinois in hosting bestselling author Jenny Lawson in a virtual event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 30. The award-winning humorist will discuss her most recent memoir, "Broken (in the best possible way)." The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To register, visit www.chesterpubliclibrary.com/events. For more information, call (618) 826-3711.

</b>Next up for hikers: Thacker Hollow</b>

The River-to-River Trail Society announces its second hike of the spring season in the Thacker Hollow area Saturday, March 19. This hike is free and open to the public. This will be a hike of about four hours and five and a half miles, and is intended for people in good health who have done some hiking. Hiking sticks and boots or sturdy shoes are strongly recommended. Hikers should bring their own water and a snack. No dogs, please.

Hikers should meet at 10 a.m. at the pole barn a quarter-mile east of Double M Campground. Please do not park on the grass. Double M campground is located at 5320 Thacker Hollow Road, about a mile west of Route 1. For information or directions, call (618) 384-1321.