Each day, we revisit stories that shaped our community — from thrilling high school sports moments and heartfelt local events to coverage of state politics, healthcare developments, and opinion pieces that sparked conversation. Explore archived stories published on October 30 from previous years, offering a snapshot of life in Champaign County and beyond by The Sentinel.
by Clark Brooks
Each day, we revisit stories that shaped our community — from thrilling high school sports moments and heartfelt local events to coverage of state politics, healthcare developments, and opinion pieces that sparked conversation. Explore archived stories published on October 29 from previous years, offering a snapshot of life in Champaign County and beyond by The Sentinel.
Each day, we revisit stories that shaped our community — from thrilling high school sports moments and heartfelt local events to coverage of state politics, healthcare developments, and opinion pieces that sparked conversation. Explore archived stories published on October 28 from previous years, offering a snapshot of life in Champaign County and beyond by The Sentinel.
by Maggie Dougherty
"What is happening in Gaza is genocide because the level and pace of indiscriminate killing, destruction, mass expulsions, displacement, famine, executions, the wiping out of cultural and religious institutions...and the sweeping dehumanization of the Palestinians — create an overall picture of genocide, of a deliberate conscious crushing of Palestinian existence in Gaza."
Other genocide scholars who have reached this conclusion include Martin Shaw, author of the book What is Genocide?; Melanie O'Brien, president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars; and Dirk Moses, senior editor of the Journal of Genocide Research.
The United Nations Genocide Convention placed prevention at the center of international law. By rejecting credible evidence of genocide, the U.S. is betraying its promise of "never again."
This year’s convention theme centers on leadership, innovation, and positive change — ideals that have shaped the SJO chapter’s own activities throughout the fall. Chapter members have spent much of October working on personal development, community engagement, and ways to improve their group’s presence both locally and online.
The busy month began with a trip to the University of Illinois Greenhand Conference on Oct. 1, where newer members learned more about FFA’s mission, leadership opportunities, and agricultural careers.
A week later, on Oct. 8, the chapter held an all-committee meeting to brainstorm ideas for improving its digital outreach. Members discussed redesigning their online platforms and even considered launching a YouTube channel to share projects and community updates — an idea still under review.
By their Oct. 20 meeting, the discussion shifted toward community impact. Members reflected on how FFA has supported the St. Joseph area through service projects and leadership development.
Just days later, on Oct. 25, the chapter put that spirit of service into action by volunteering at the Ogden Harvest Fest. Members helped run various games and activities for festivalgoers, adding a fun, family-oriented presence to the local celebration.
Each day, we revisit stories that shaped our community — from thrilling high school sports moments and heartfelt local events to coverage of state politics, healthcare developments, and opinion pieces that sparked conversation. Explore archived stories published on October 27 from previous years, offering a snapshot of life in Champaign County and beyond by The Sentinel.
The Lady Hawks dropped a tight 2-0 decision to the visiting Minutemen, falling 25-19 in the opener and 27-25 in a second-set nail-biter that could’ve gone either way. For head coach Kirsten Smith’s squad, it was one of those early-season games that reveal a team’s character as much as its record.
“We came out a little slow tonight but we were able to get some energy as we went on,” Smith said. “The second set was exciting but Lexington got us on a five-point run that swayed the momentum in the opposite direction. Lexington played solid defense and played scrappy when it mattered, keeping our hitters from getting the kills we wanted.”
Prairie Central had its share of bright spots in the loss. Charlee Popejoy led all servers with six service points and two aces, while Kinley Elliott paced the attack with seven kills. Setter Kyah Creek distributed the ball efficiently, finishing with 17 assists, and sophomore libero Paige Young showed her defensive chops by collecting 18 digs. The front line saw contributions from Mia Elliott, who recorded two assisted blocks to slow Lexington’s momentum when the Hawks needed it most.
The loss comes on the heels of a two-set defeat to Illini Prairie Conference rival Pontiac (25-23, 25-18), but it follows a solid showing in the early-season tournament, where Prairie Central swept both Dwight and Tri-Point in straight sets. Those results, paired with Smith’s steady focus on growth and chemistry, suggest a squad capable of tightening up as the season wears on.
“We’re proud of our JV team as they really came alive against Lexington today,” Smith said, noting that the younger groups continue to make big strides. The JV earned a solid 2-0 victory (25-20, 25-16), while the freshman team battled through three sets before falling 25-15, 15-25, 15-6.
The court will be buzzing Dec. 13! The SJO Girls Basketball Shootout brings top programs like Pleasant Plains, Eureka,...
