Fort Massac State Park in Metropolis, Ill., hosted its annual encampment Saturday and Sunday for the 38th year, giving visitors a look into what the historic fort was like in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The fort on the Ohio River was used during the French and Indian War as well as in the War of 1812. It had a role in the Revolutionary War when American General George Rogers Clark led about 175 men across the river at the fort on their way to overthrowing the British strongholds of Vincennes and Kaskaskia.

Officials with the festival estimate about 18,000 people visited the encampment this weekend.

Symsonia girl adds football

to list of activities

Emma Kate Irions is going where few girls have gone before: as the kicker for a football team. Irions, 11, is the kicker for the Symsonia Elementary School football team. While Irions also plays soccer, basketball and long-distance running, playing football is relatively new.

Football has typically been a sport reserved for boys and men, with no version available for girls and women. Steadily, though, girls are finding their way on the rosters of all-male football teams. Irions often kicks against Lowes Elementary, which also has a female kick. Christian County High School in Hopkinsville also has a female kicker for it’s varsity football games.

Frymire’s forecast released

Legendary weather forecaster Dick Frymire, along with help from his family, has released his annual winter weather predictions based on readings from gauges the self-described “treeologist” keeps within a Japanese maple tree. Frymire predicts the Ohio Valley could receive snow flurries on Nov. 21 with a 3-inch snow coming on Dec. 23.  He predicts a 7-inch snow to come on Jan. 16. Frymire claims the dates are accurate up to a day or two.

Teen of the Week

Brandon Wrye is the Mid-Continent University Teen of the Week. The senior is a multi-sport athlete at Community Christian Academy where he is involved in political clubs, student council, yearbook and other organizations. Wrye would like to go into physical therapy. In May, a Teen of the Year will be chosen from the weekly winners, earning a four-year, $2,500 scholarship to Mid-Continent University.