Spring seems to come earlier every year

If you feel like spring comes earlier every year, you're right. Or, at least you're right this year.

That's because, for the first time in more than a century, the vernal equinox falls on March 19, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Usually, it has been March 20 or March 21.

The vernal equinox is the technical name for the time of year when the sun is directly above the equator and day and night are equal lengths.

After this point, the season begins its march (pun intended) to summer, with the amount of daylight ever growing.

Speaking of March, or perhaps, "march," Saturday is the start of the River-to-River Society's spring hiking season. The first hike starts at High Knob in Gallatin County, and the March 14 hike is in Saline County. View the complete schedule online at www.rivertorivertrail.net/river-to-river-trail-society-announces-spring-2020- hiking-schedule/.

We'll see an extra hour of daylight starting this Sunday. That's right, Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. March 8.

If you suspect that, like spring, it seems earlier, you're sort of right. It's not a new development, but fairly recent.

The Energy Police Act of 2005 moved the starting date for DST to the second Sunday in March and moved the end to the first Sunday in November. That change went into effect in 2007, and depending how the calendar falls, it means we get an extra four to five weeks of DST.

Some people like having more daylight and others lament losing an hour of sleep. Either way, it's been popular enough that Illinois is one of 39 states to see legislation proposed to make DST permanent.

The bill was approved by the Illinois Senate, but still requires passage by the Illinois House and the governor's signature.

That alone won't make it official, though. Any such bill requires either an exemption from Congress or Congress establishing a new nationwide standard for DST.

Littering, part II

I received quite a bit of positive feedback regarding my column about our litter problem in Saline County, and it turns out a lot of folks already have been doing their part.

One of those is a young man from Harrisburg named Walker Dale. For some time now, Walker and his mom, Jaci, have been picking up litter scattered about Harrisburg.

Numerous local businesses have been kind enough to let Walker put that trash in their Dumpsters. Keep up the good work, Walker!