Unity High School announced first semester honor roll students

The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School. Congratulations to each on their exceptional scholastic effort last semester.

Seniors

High Honors: Evelyn Albaugh; Connor Cahill; Analyse Carter; Rebecca Carter; Brenlee Dalton; Taylor Drennan; Natalie Ellars; Bailey Grob; Brooklyn Haas; Madison Henry; Shelby Hoel; Margaret Ingleman; Caroline Jamison; Eden Johnson; Cassidy Keller; Caelyn Kleparski; Jocelyn LeFaivre; Reagan Little; Tatum Meyer; Eric Miebach; Lauren Neverman; Dean Niswonger; Anna Polonus; Aiden Porter; Meredith Reed; Maci Richmond; Briana Ritchie; Aubrey Sanders; Tsihon Shotton; Logan Siuts; Carsyn Smith; Piper Steele; Lily Steffens; Brock Suding; Ruby Tarr; Andrew Thomas; Darren Weckle; Erica Woodard; Abigail Woolcott; Emberly Yeazel; Ava Price; Erin Sanders; Bayleigh Jones; Isaac Ruggieri; Jeremy Wells; Madysen York; Brooke Hewing; Kendra Cromwell; Emma Plackett; Alexis Ritchie; Lynndsay Talbott; and Henry Thomas.

Honor Roll: Emma Fish; Trevor McCarter; Keaton Roether; Bailey Wayne; Caedmon Cazares; Zachary Lorbiecki; Carly Scroggins; Elianna Duo; Matthew Short; Santiago Sanchez; Rylee Richardson; Bryson Weaver; Isabel Sellers; Dalton ONeill; Aubrey Schaefer; Bridget Vazquez; Kolten Wells; Nicholas Brown; Desire De Los Santos; Ava Holladay; Raegen Stringer; Hector Jimenez Gil; Aileen Vasquez Munoz; Tanner Chilton; Kamryn Edenburn; Gabriel Pound; Jay Saunders; McKayla Schendel; Breanna Weller; Addison Ray; Aidan Ward; Sophia Wozencraft; Anna Wood; Olivia Hosley; Gillian Rice; Kate Thomas; Riley FitzGerald; Tyler Gumm; Grant Siuts; Nathan Bleecher; Kaylin Owen; and Thayden Root.


Juniors

High Honors: Avery Alagna; Noah Bryant; Elle Cheely; Madelyn Darnall; Ashlyn Denney; Kade Dubson; Chloey Duitsman; Ava Fenter; Catharine Ford; Kadence Goff; Sophia Hartke; Dallas Hollingsworth; Wyatt Huffstutler; Alex Mowrer; Camryn Reedy; Rylee Reifsteck; Lydia Rossi; Savannah Rubin; Lauren Shaw; Daniel Stein; Avery Watson; Ashely Rennels; Jenna Adkins; Lindy Bates; Paige Brewer; Faith Hall; Lauren Hellmer; Ryan Rink; Josephine Cler; Emily Decker; Maegan Rothe; Estella Dodd; and Molly Baxley.

Honor Roll: Joseph Tempel; Oscar Boldt; Gracie Meharry; Gavin Weaver; Sophia Beckett; Paige Garretson; McKenzie Hart; Nolan Wishall; Jordan Daugherty; Logan Church; Hunter Eastin; Tessah Williams; Austin Mikeworth; Logan Zumbahlen; Bentten Cain; Franke Davis; Sophia Frye; Andrew King; Brady Parr; McKinley Weller; Lindsey Johnson; Sydney Jackson; and Nathaniel DeNeal.


Sophomores

High Honors: Anna Amias; Mylie Castle; Eli Crowe; Ella Darnall; Crewe Eckstein; Callie Ellars; Camden Fairbanks; Margaret Garcier; Collin Graven; Isabel Grob; Faith Lampe; Kallista Lancaster; Mylie Loftsgaard; Claire Meharry; Harry Polonus; Dallas Porter; Mackenzie Pound; Ty Rodems; Katie Ruggieri; Vanna Schriefer; Hunter Shike; Annalise Shunk; Caden Stierwalt; Ginna Stierwalt; Madelyn Stierwalt; Emma Swisher; Carter Tiemann; Anna Vasey; Lucille Wiesbrook; Paula Wilson; Lucas Hood; Deakin Moore; Isaac Neverman; Olivia Egelston; Olivia Rawdin; Claire Zorns; Kaylee Cooke; Caden Hensch; Logan Jeurissen; Bailey Tompkins; Savanna Cruz; Chason Daly; and Kenley Harris.

Honor Roll: Chloe Cousins; Samantha Gumbel; Ian Taber; Phoenix Molina; Mason ONeill; Shelby Smith; Aria Battaglia; Maddix Buchanan; Jillian Schlittler; Andrew Ray; Dane Eisenmenger; Anna Kuhns; Analea Popovics; Shelby Zoch; Brayden Henry; Tyler Henry; Desmond Winfrey; Johanna Langley, Ethan Mohr; Heath Stringer; Cameron Kaiser; Brody Osterbur; Kyla Reed; Kamden Schuckman; Olivia Tempel; Bryan Crosby; Abram Davidson; Tanner Gallivan; and Joshua Heath.


Freshmen

High Honors: Dominic Baxley; Clare Bryant; Caleb Coy; Lillian Daly; Hudson DeHart; Danika Eisenmenger; Allison Fenter; Journey Gabbard; Bailee Gadeken; Colton Harmon; Avery Kamradt; Kathryn Knoll; Audrey McDaniel; Emily Osterbur; Adam Reedy; Allyson Shaw; Evalyn Skibbe; Piper Staley; Grace Tempel; Jacob Ward; Leah Watson; Maggie Weckle; Grace Wherley; Rylan Wolf; Broderick Irwin; Cash McCann; Elizabeth Wayne; Grace Bickers; Max Rossi; Alex Bromley; Berkley Cloud; Lucy Kleiss; Cadence Chandler; Reese Frye, Brooklyn Mumm; Kendal Zerrusen; and Aidan Ellis.

Honor Roll: Addison Davis; Olivia Hall; Madison Spohn; Paige Bradley; Braedyn Dalton; Taylor Finley; Landrey Mohr; Addison Wyatt; Alyssa Shields; Isaac Siegwald; Ethan Schaefer; Nicole Paeth; Evan Puckett; Juan Acosta Toro; Noah Conde; Sadie Polonus; Ava Wolf Rice; Natalie Haas; Nicholas Montgomery; Elizabeth Farney; and Rush Little.


Unity first semester Honor Roll students recognized

The students named below earned recognition for their academic performance and attention to excellence at Unity High School. Congratulations to each on their exceptional scholastic effort in the first semester.

Seniors ~

High Honor: Lindy Bates; Molly Baxley; Kolton Black; Paige Brewer; Noah Bryant; Elle Cheely; Madelyn Darnall; Jordan Daugherty; Frankie Davis; Emily Decker; Ashlyn Denney; Estella Dodd; Kade Dubson; Hunter Eastin; Catharine Ford; Paige Garretson; Kadence Goff; Sophia Hartke; Lauren Hellmer; Caleb Hoewing; Dallas Hollingsworth; Wyatt Huffstutler; Alex Mowrer; Brady Parr; Riley Petkus; Camryn Reedy; Rylee Reifsteck; Nolan Remole; Ashley Rennels; Lydia Rossi; Maegan Rothe; Savanna Sellers; Lauren Shaw; Tsihon Shotton; Daniel Stein; Joseph Tempel; Avery Watson; Gavin Weaver; McKinley Weller; Tessah Williams; Nolan Wishall; and Logan Zumbahlen.

Honor: Jenna Adkins; Avery Alagna; Emmerson Bailey; Sophia Beckett; Brianna Blakley; Holden Brazelton; Michael Bromley; Bentten Cain; Keegan Cenzano, Josephine Cler; Ava Davis; Jaden Dene; Chloey Duitsman; Piper Farney; Ava Fenter; Sophia Frye; Alexis Gady; Faith Hall; McKenzie Hart; Kaden Inman; Andrew King; Gracie Meharry; Makayla Nonman; Mary OBryan; Ryan Pickett; Rami Ramahi; Garrett Richardson; Ryan Rink; Ryan Robinson; Braden Roderick; Brock Schlittler; and Grant Steinman.

Juniors ~

High Honor: Anna Amias; Aria Battaglia; Mylie Castle; Cameryn Cobb; Kaylee Cooke; Chloe Cousins; Eli Crowe; Ella Darnall; Callie Ellars; Camden Fairbanks; Margaret Garcier; Isabel Grob; Kenley Harris; Caden Hensch; Lucas Hood; Jaxon Jett; Miles Johnson; Cameron Kaiser; Faith Lampe; Kallista Lancaster; Mylie Loftsgaard; Claire Meharry; Deakin Moore; Isaac Neverman; Brody Osterbur; Harry Polonus; Dallas Porter; Mackenzie Pound; Katie Ruggieri; Vanna Schriefer; Hunter Shike; Annalise Shunk; Shelby Smith; Caden Stierwalt; Ginna Stierwalt; Madelyn Stierwalt; Emma Swisher; Carter Tiemann; Bailey Tompkins; Evan Vlahovich; and Lucille Wiesbrook.

Honor: Ryan Akers; Maddix Buchanan; Savanna Cruz; Natalia Cunningham; Abram Davidson; Shyenne Eaton; Crewe Eckstein; Olivia Egelston; Dane Eisenmenger; Tanner Gallivan; Collin Graven; Brayden Henry; Tyler Henry; Sophia Hewerdine; Logan Jeurissen; Anna Kuhns; Johanna Langley; Maxwell McCabe; Phoenix Molina; Mason ONeill; Analea Popovics; Andrew Ray; Ty Rodems; Jillian Schlittler; Kamden Schuckman; Liana Sheets-Cowan; Anna Vasey; Alexander Wells; Paula Wilson; Shelby Zoch; and Claire Zorns.

Sophomores ~

High Honor: Dominic Baxley; Alex Bromley; Clare Bryant; Caleb Coy; Braedyn Dalton; Lillian Daly, Addison Davis; Danika Eisenmenger; Allison Fenter; Reese Frye; Journey Gabbard; Bailee Gadeken; Olivia Hall; Colton Harmon; Avery Kamradt; Kathryn Knoll; Cash McCann; Landrey Mohr; Emily Osterbur; Adam Reedy; Ethan Schaefer; Allyson Shaw; Isaac Siegwald; Evalyn Skibbe; Piper Staley; Grace Tempel; Leah Watson; Elizabeth Wayne; Grace Wherley; Rylan Wolf; Addison Wyatt; and Kendal Zerrusen.

Honor: Juan Acosta Toro; Grace Bickers; Wyatt Blanchard; Paige Bradley; Emma Carrington; Cadence Chandler; Noah Conde; Hudson DeHart; Austin Drewes; Aidan Ellis; Elizabeth Farney; Natalie Haas; Walker Hall; Everest Harper; Dustin Harris; Broderick Irwin; Hailey Keck; Rush Little; Audrey McDaniel; Nicholas Montgomery; Brooklyn Mumm; Miles Owens; Sadie Polonus; Evan Puckett; Max Rossi; Gabrielle Spanglo; Jacob Ward; and Maggie Weckle.

Freshmen ~

High Honor: Patrick Baxley; Beckam Brown; Sadie Carpenter; Jackson Cheely; Soren Davis; Andrew Donovan; Tessa Durham; Tyson Durham; Cecelia Easter; Dillon Ellars; Kaylee Estes; Carson Fairbanks; Reagan Fisher; Jordan Harmon; Roman Hastings; Noah Hettinger; Tessa Horn; Karleigh Jamison; Lincoln Johnson; Joseph Kamradt; Khison Kern; Tatum Kirby; Bryan Kleiss; Izabella Mallast; Nolan Meharry; Dalton Moose; Rhianna Ocasio; Caleb Saxon; Carter Schmid; Caleb Siegwald; Kole VanSickle; Gavin Warren; Sawyer Weller; Logan Wells; Haley White; John White; Austin Wiersema; Elsie Wiesbrook; Adilynn Wilson; Olivia Witheft; and Cole Zorns.

Honor: Cameron Barnes; Cooper Beckett; Beckham Brink; Brilynn Cain; Madison Castor; Skyler Chilton; Danika Dhom; Kinzey Duitsman; Haley Ennis; Cohen Fincham; Shae Lin Fournier; Makayla Goff; Hallie Handal; Brady Harris; Joel Hoewing; Kane Knudsen; Clint McCormick; Payten Niles; Kandace Reed; Mia Reifsteck; Caden Rogers; Sophia Seidlitz; Ian Skibbe; Ava Sommer; and Olivia Williams.



Prep Sports Notebook | Area weekend wrap-up


Hoopeston Area falls to St. Anne

HOOPESTON - Kendrick Sigerill scored 22 points against St. Anne, but it wasn't enough for the Cornjerkers to slip past visiting St. Anne on Saturday. The Cardinals used a third quarter 17-10 burst to surge ahead of Hoopeston in a 68-60 finish.

Three other Conjerkers finished with double figures in the stat book. Owen Root tallied 14 points, Wyatt Eisenman had 11 points, and Mason Rush chipped in 10 more in the non-conference match-up.

Hoopeston Area (10-4) looks to rebound from the loss on the road in their final game of the year tonight at Iroquois West.


SJO girls win shootout game

ST. JOSEPH - Addisyn Martinie buried five three-pointers to finish with a team-high 21 points in St. Joseph-Ogden's 49-39 win over Arthur-Lovington-Atwood Hammond at the Country Financial Shootout on Saturday.

Martinie sunk the first bucket from behind the arc, and SJO never relinquished the lead, at one point by as may as 15 points, the entire game.

The Spartans utilized three other scorers besides Martinie in the victory. Senior Addison Seggebruch finished with 13 points, Addison Frick contributed 11 points, and Katie Ericksen rounded out the squad's scoring effort with four points.


URBANA - Coming off a huge 83-71 win over Sacred Heart Griffin last Tuesday, the Urbana boys' basketball team dropped a conference barnburner on the road to Normal West 53-49 in overtime.

Seniors Isaiah Robinson and Nate Moore led the Wildcats (3-6) with 15 and 16 points, respectively.

The Tigers dropped to 1-6 after the loss.


7-0 Rockets are all-systems-go

Pleasant Plains - The Unity basketball team continues to fly high above the competition this season, picking up their seventh win cruising past Pleasant Plains 56-33.

Unity out-rebounded the Cardinals 27-24 and logged 12 steals, remaining undefeated. The Rockets are on the road with six more games to play before the new year.


Rockets misfire at Mt. Zion

MT. ZION - Raegen Stringer scored Unity's only field goal in the second quarter during their road game with the Lady Braves on Saturday. The hiccup allowed Mt. Zion to prevail, 41-28.

Stringer then went on to score 11 points in the second half, finishing with 15 points. Addison Ray chipped in six points, Reagan Little hit two buckets in the first quarter for four points, and Lauren Haas coverted three free throws to round out the Rockets' scoring effort.

Little led the team's rebounding effort with seven boards.


Tigers win two on Saturday

Carbondale - The Urbana basketball team started a two-game win streak on Saturday at the Carbondale Showcase. Despite a 29-point spree by Commanche freshman Donald Collier, the Tigers won their opener over Cahokia, 78-68.

Later, Urbana knocked off Carbondale, 68-66. Terriers' Decarl Payne led his team's scoring effort with 31 points against the Tigers (3-5).

The Urbana boys basketball team plays their next game on January 5 when they host Bloomington High School in a Big 12 match-up.


Area high school coaches
We need your help covering your team this season to help keep fans, college recruiters, and area readers informed.

If you are coaching at Unity, Uni-High, Urbana High School, or St. Joseph-Ogden, please send us your game or meet results for our Prep Sports Notebook and weekly stats leaders for our All-Area team selection after the season. The best way to send us box scores and other info is via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

Do you have a player on the verge of breaking a school record, signing an LOI, or have a story idea? Don't hesitate to email us.


3rd quarter Unity Junior Honor Roll students named


Today, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to the 91 students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor. See the names of UJHS students who made the quarter's High Honor Roll list here.


6th Grade Honor Roll

Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Paige Nicole Bradley
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Cadence Marie Chandler
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Dustin Rose Harris
Mackenzie Michelle Jones
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Rush Matthew Little
Carson Wesley McCune
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Max Warren Rossi
Lane Edward Sexton
Alyssa Renae Shields
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Jackson Leo Smith
Madison Amanda Spohn
Jacob Michael Ward
Maggie Jean Weckle
Grace Ann Wherley
Kendall Grace Wysong
Joel Mitchell Yergler

7th Grade Honor Roll

Aria Eve Battaglia
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Collin William Graven
Kenley Jo Harris
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Jason Henry
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Tyler Reed Huntington
Faith Lyn Lampe
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Deakin Frederick Moore
Carter Matthew Pieczynski
Dallas Jordan Porter
Kyla Lanae Reed
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Liana Grace Sheets
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Evan Eugene Vlahovich

8th Grade Honor Roll

Avery Jean Alagna
Elizabeth Marie Anderson
Emmerson Matthew Bailey
Michael Allan Bromley
Bentten Matthew Cain
Josephine Rose Cler
Jacob Ivan Davidson
Ezekiel De Los Santos
Nathaniel Gojam DeNeal
Hunter Michael Eastin
Alexis Rae Gady
Faith Marianne Hall
McKenzie June Hart
Caleb James Hoewing
Andrew Jason King
Elias Anthony Eugene Lawlyes
Isabella Cassandra Matthews
Maliyah Marie Ortiz
Taylor Aiyana Marie Prough
Oliver Mason Hyeok Joon Rawlings
Korben Dale Ray
Nolan Scott Remole
Ryan James Robinson
Brock Jacob Schlittler
Grant James Steinman
Owen Michael Taylor
Jacob Howell Thomas
Gavin Henry David Weaver
Maddie Hillary Kay Wheeling
Jordan Jeanne Whittington
Teaguen Andrew Williams
Tessah Rae Williams
Lauren Anne Williams-Scroggins


Get out and vote, and then back to the usual

By Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


Occasionally, we all feel like we are living in a rut. Our days and weeks are filled with the same activities and schedules.

We mow grass, rake leaves, clean the house, sweep out the garage and do the same jobs. We go to the same grocery store on a certain day, wash our car at the same place and see the same people along the way. We go to the same place of worship, and read the same daily or weekly newspaper. Our lives are made up of routines, schedules and the usual.

Occasionally we get bored with the usual and do something different. We enjoy the change briefly. There is always a rush of adrenaline with something different. For example, you may change grocery stores for the week or even drive out of town to try out a restaurant. You may even take a trip to a distant part of the state to see something different. While the unusual is stimulating it often makes us tired and we pine to return to the usual.

The usual is the known and the expected. We've done it so many times and usually have the same results. The same results are good if they make us happy. You know what to expect at the little coffee place you frequent and that's why you keep returning. The grocery store has what you need and you know where to find everything. Unless they change everything around in the store and this drives us crazy until we learn our way around again.

We visit with the same people and often have the same types of conversations because those conversations are within our comfort zone. The usual things we do are all about our comfort levels. With Covid-19 you may not feel comfortable doing a lot because of the unknown.

People's comfort levels have changed over the last year. Worship attendance has dramatically changed. Work places have changed. Community gatherings have changed or don't exist.

Whatever your usual is, try to continue to enjoy the familiar and the routine. Keith Urban sings a song about "All that wasted time." One line in the song says, "The best years of my life was all that wasted time."

We seldom see the usual we do as wasting time. Usually it's moving forward with the routines of life. It's going to school. Doing our homework. Going to work. Earning a paycheck. Saving some money. Paying our bills. Maintaining our houses and cars. Going to the doctor and caring for ourselves. When you really think about it, we're very fortunate if we have daily and weekly routines. The best of life is often what we do every day.

We don't vote often. Once or twice a year we may go to the polls. Break with your routine and do something great for your local, state and national government.

Go vote. When the election results come in then you'll know you did your part when you return back to doing your usual.

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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of American Issues, Every American Has An Opinion and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

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This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of PhotoNews Media. We welcome comments and views from our readers.


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Don't toss that 'junk' out, it may be valuable

Photo: Margarita Marushevska/UnSplash

StatePoint - From baseball cards and sports equipment to postcards and photographs, is that “junk” in your attic or basement dusty treasure or just dusty? We’ve all heard of families getting rich from the sale of rare memorabilia they found when spring cleaning.

A little time spent determining if items are valuable and where to sell them can pay off in the long run.

“The sale of older sports cards, postcards and photographs can yield thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands or more for the right ones,” says Al Crisafulli, Auction Director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that helps families identify and sell valuable sports cards and memorabilia.

Crisafulli has assisted people in selling tens of millions of dollars of baseball card collections, autographs, sports equipment and more. Such sales can be life changing. In one instance, he researched a family’s old baseball bat and proved it was game used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. His Love of the Game Auctions sold it for almost half a million dollars, a figure which would top a million dollars today.

Here are some of his tips to determine if your sports collectibles are valuable:

The Older, the Better with Cards

Vintage sports cards from the early periods of sports are collectible, especially Hall of Famers. Do you have stars from the 1960s, 1950s or earlier? Look for names like Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb. Even non-star cards can be valuable, especially in nice condition with sharp corners and no creases.

Really early cards from the 1880s through the 1930s are particularly desirable, such as those by tobacco, gum and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, American Caramel, Goudey or Diamond Stars.

When determining where to sell cards and memorabilia, focus on a specialty auction house, such as Love of the Game, which employs trained experts in researching sports ephemera, and maintains bidder lists of sports collectors. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

Don’t Overlook Memorabilia and Equipment

Cards aren’t the only potentially valuable things. Look for older promotional and advertising ephemera spotlighting sports stars, especially items that promote sporting goods, food or tobacco brands. Ads from magazines aren’t valuable, but store displays, signs and premiums can be pricey.

Old sporting goods and equipment, such as balls, bats, gloves and uniforms, can also be valuable, especially if you had a family member who played minor or major league sports. Note that items from before the 1960s are highly collected. Also look for equipment endorsed by star players. Condition matters, but game-used equipment from professionals can be valuable in almost any condition.

Save Postcards and Photographs

If you have old photographs, cabinet cards or postcards of sports stars or ballparks, they should be evaluated. Those from pre-1960 can be expensive. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs.

Popular stars are key, meaning original images like Babe Ruth or early ballparks can be valuable, as opposed to images of your family members playing sports or of popular vacation destinations. When examining photographs, look for markings on the back, such as photographer, publication and date stamps. Also set aside cabinet cards, which are photographs from the 1880s through the 1930s adhered to cardboard stock.

“A good rule of thumb is that the older a sports item is, the more valuable it might be, especially from before the 1950s going back to the 1880s,” says Crisafulli.

This spring cleaning season, don’t rush to haul “junk” to the curb. Examine it first.


Read our latest health and medical news

8th Grade Honor Roll announced from Unity Junior High School


TOLONO - Unity Junior High School announced the 8th grade recipients achieving Honor Roll and High Honor Roll status for their academic performance during the third quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor.


High Honor Roll

Dominic Russell Baxley
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Cadence Marie Chandler
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Colton Ray Harmon
Dustin Rose Harris
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Evan Alexander Puckett
Adam Lucas Reedy
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Rylan Kade Wolf


Honor Roll

Grace Michele Bickers
Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Paige Nicole Bradley
Matthew James Brady
Maddix Jacob David Briggs
Kydie L Cain
Berkley Jane Cloud
Noah Seyha Conde
Ryan Joseph Cunningham
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Austin Michael Drewes
Reese Bella Frye
Ava Nicole Grace
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Ava Fay Jones
Hailey Anne Keck
Rush Matthew Little
Cash Cohen McCann
Carson Wesley McCune
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Sadie Jane Polonus
Max Warren Rossi
Austin Paul Scott
Alyssa Renae Shields
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Jacob Michael Ward
Jonathan Dean Warren
Maggie Jean Weckle
Camden William Wood
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Joel Mitchell Yergler
Kendal Lea Zerrusen

He's pumped to play college soccer, Spartan Spotlight with Brayden Grimsey

If you know Brayden Grimsey, sports, and more specifically soccer, is a huge part of his life. He loves the rush of dribbling and passing, mounting an offense attack while pushing the ball down the field.

The soccer, a sport he has been playing since the age of 5, will continue to be a large part of his life. For the next four years he will play at the collegiate lever at Illinois College starting this August.

But, when asked to choose between having a Prom, a spring sports season or graduation his senior year, sports took a back seat.

"Well, I wont lie," the player from last fall's soccer team that was probably most underappreciated asset on the pitch. Grimsey, who also runs track, was sentimental about his choice. "I want to say sports but there is nothing more important than graduation and walking across the stage with my class."

The St. Joseph native enjoys playing video games, being outside, and playing basketball and soccer. He also has a creative, artistic side, although he said he has done much with it other than what he has produced for his art classes at SJO.

Like most students at the high school, finishing his senior year at home through electronic conferencing was less than satisfying, certainly not ideal.

"I dont like it! (I) miss my teachers, friends and the atmosphere," he explained. "Being home is nice for a while because you can sleep in and do homework whenever."

Understandable. It is hard to make lasting teenage memories quasi-trapped in quarantine-like confinement.

His greatest memories at SJO include playing soccer with his friends on the field, going to home football games, and qualifying for the IHSA Track and Field State Competition during his junior year.

Hoping to make a repeat, consecutive trip to the state meet, Grimsey competed in three indoor meets this spring before the COVID-19 pandemic forced athletic events around the country to a unwelcomed halt. Out of the eight events he ran in his final season as a Spartan, his 4x200-meter relay squad placed first at the UNI Indoor meet on February 21.

Now that track is over and high school classes done for the semester today, he can focus on the next chapter of his life. He is jazzed about playing soccer at the next level.

"I'm PUMPED!" he exclaimed. "I'm looking forward to playing at this level, a dream of mine for a long time. I'm hoping to contribute to a new team and coach with a winning season."

You will be able to get a glimpse of Grimsley in his new uniform on August 23 in Decatur when the Blueboys take on Millikin University in a preseason scrimmage.

Majoring in Human Services, the two-sport athlete isn't sure what he will do after college.

"I hoping to be a a part of an athletic team," he said. "Graduate school is something I'm open to."

However, his dream job would working with a professional soccer team. He said it would be great to work around so many amazing players that he idolizes.

The four-year veteran has a little advice for teammates he leaving behind: "Keep your heads up, never give up and always play with your heart," he says. "I'll be back to watch!"

Meanwhile, for incoming freshmen students, he said they should enjoy their time in high school because it goes by so fast.

Grimsey's favorite classes at SJO were all of his science-related classes with Mrs. Jeanna Kerner and Mrs. Stacey Kietzman, two of his favorite teachers. He also enjoy every class he he ad with Mr. Don Beckett. He singled out Mrs. Kirk at St. Joseph Grade School and Mr. Steele at St. Joseph Middle School as two other teachers he really liked before entering high school.

"Mrs. Kietzman is a very sweet kind teacher who has always encouraged me and supported me," he said. "Mrs. Kerner, I wont lie she is pretty relaxed and very honest, and her sarcasm and humor matches mine."

As mentioned earlier, Grimsey like to play videos games in his free time. He likes Call of Duty, FIFA and NBA2K. If e-gaming was an IHSA sport and there was a state trophy at stake, he left no doubt his Spartan gaming team would bring home hardware like every other sport at SJO. With his five-man special ops team comprised of himself along with covert buddies Zac, Downing, Trevon, and Wes, they would be a superior gaming force for the competition to reckon with.

"We are Call of Duty gods. We'd take 'em down."


8th grade Honor Roll students named at Unity Junior High


TOLONO - Unity Junior High School announced the 8th grade recipients achieving Honor Roll and High Honor Roll status for their academic performance during the second quarter two weeks ago. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor.


High Honor Roll

Dominic Russell Baxley
Grace Michele Bickers
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Allison Renee Fenter
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Colton Ray Harmon
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Adam Lucas Reedy
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Leah Marianne Watson
Grace Ann Wherley
Rylan Kade Wolf


Honor Roll

Andrew David Berkey
Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Paige Nicole Bradley
Matthew James Brady
Brody Ray Butler
Kydie L Cain
Cadence Marie Chandler
Berkley Jane Cloud
Ryan Joseph Cunningham
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Austin Michael Drewes
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Reese Bella Frye
Ava Nicole Grace
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Brandi Harper
Dustin Rose Harris
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Ava Fay Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Cash Cohen McCann
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Aiden Meado
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Max Warren Rossi
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Madison Amanda Spohn
Jacob Michael Ward
Jonathan Dean Warren
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Maggie Jean Weckle
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Kendal Lea Zerrusen

The new Covid vaccine has been approved, why you might not want to rush out to get it yet

by Arthur Allen and Eliza Fawcett, Healthbeat
Rebecca Grapevine, Healthbeat

Because viruses evolve as they infect people, the CDC has recommended updated covid vaccines each year.

The FDA has approved an updated covid shot for everyone 6 months old and up, which renews a now-annual quandary for Americans: Get the shot now, with the latest covid outbreak sweeping the country, or hold it in reserve for the winter wave?

The new vaccine should provide some protection to everyone. But many healthy people who have already been vaccinated or have immunity because they’ve been exposed to covid enough times may want to wait a few months.

Covid has become commonplace. For some, it’s a minor illness with few symptoms. Others are laid up with fever, cough, and fatigue for days or weeks. A much smaller group — mostly older or chronically ill people — suffer hospitalization or death.

It’s important for those in high-risk groups to get vaccinated, but vaccine protection wanes after a few months. Those who run to get the new vaccine may be more likely to fall ill this winter when the next wave hits, said William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

On the other hand, by late fall the major variants may have changed, rendering the vaccine less effective, said Peter Marks, the FDA’s top vaccine official, at a briefing Aug. 23. He urged everyone eligible to get immunized, noting that the risk of long covid is greater in the un- and undervaccinated.

Of course, if last year’s covid vaccine rollout is any guide, few Americans will heed his advice, even though this summer’s surge has been unusually intense, with levels of the covid virus in wastewater suggesting infections are as widespread as they were in the winter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now looks to wastewater as fewer people are reporting test results to health authorities. The wastewater data shows the epidemic is worst in Western and Southern states. In New York, for example, levels are considered “high” — compared with “very high” in Georgia.

Hospitalizations and deaths due to covid have trended up, too. But unlike infections, these rates are nowhere near those seen in winter surges, or in summers past. More than 2,000 people died of covid in July — a high number but a small fraction of the at least 25,700 covid deaths in July 2020.

Partial immunity built up through vaccines and prior infections deserves credit for this relief. A new study suggests that current variants may be less virulent — in the study, one of the recent variants did not kill mice exposed to it, unlike most earlier covid variants.

Covid rapid tests will no longer be free

Alexandra Koch/Pixabay

Public health officials note that even with more cases this summer, people seem to be managing their sickness at home. “We did see a little rise in the number of cases, but it didn’t have a significant impact in terms of hospitalizations and emergency room visits,” said Manisha Juthani, public health commissioner of Connecticut, at a news briefing Aug. 21.

Unlike influenza or traditional cold viruses, covid seems to thrive outside the cold months, when germy schoolkids, dry air, and indoor activities are thought to enable the spread of air- and saliva-borne viruses. No one is exactly sure why.

“Covid is still very transmissible, very new, and people congregate inside in air-conditioned rooms during the summer,” said John Moore, a virologist and professor at Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Medicine College.

Or “maybe covid is more tolerant of humidity or other environmental conditions in the summer,” said Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University.

Because viruses evolve as they infect people, the CDC has recommended updated covid vaccines each year. Last fall’s booster was designed to target the omicron variant circulating in 2023. This year, mRNA vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer and the protein-based vaccine from Novavax — which has yet to be approved by the FDA — target a more recent omicron variant, JN.1.

The FDA determined that the mRNA vaccines strongly protected people from severe disease and death — and would do so even though earlier variants of JN.1 are now being overtaken by others.

Public interest in covid vaccines has waned, with only 1 in 5 adults getting vaccinated since last September, compared with about 80% who got the first dose. New Yorkers have been slightly above the national vaccination rate, while in Georgia only about 17% got the latest shot.

Vaccine uptake is lower in states where the majority voted for Donald Trump in 2020 and among those who have less money and education, less health care access, or less time off from work. These groups are also more likely to be hospitalized or die of the disease, according to a 2023 study in The Lancet.

While the newly formulated vaccines are better targeted at the circulating covid variants, uninsured and underinsured Americans may have to rush if they hope to get one for free. A CDC program that provided boosters to 1.5 million people over the last year ran out of money and is ending Aug. 31.

The agency drummed up $62 million in unspent funds to pay state and local health departments to provide the new shots to those not covered by insurance. But “that may not go very far” if the vaccine costs the agency around $86 a dose, as it did last year, said Kelly Moore, CEO of Immunize.org, which advocates for vaccination.

People who pay out-of-pocket at pharmacies face higher prices: CVS plans to sell the updated vaccine for $201.99, said Amy Thibault, a spokesperson for the company.

“Price can be a barrier, access can be a barrier” to vaccination, said David Scales, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Without an access program that provides vaccines to uninsured adults, “we’ll see disparities in health outcomes and disproportionate outbreaks in the working poor, who can ill afford to take off work,” Kelly Moore said.

New York state has about $1 million to fill the gaps when the CDC’s program ends, said Danielle De Souza, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health. That will buy around 12,500 doses for uninsured and underinsured adults, she said. There are roughly one million uninsured people in the state.

CDC and FDA experts last year decided to promote annual fall vaccination against covid and influenza along with a one-time respiratory syncytial virus shot for some groups.

It would be impractical for the vaccine-makers to change the covid vaccine’s recipe twice every year, and offering the three vaccines during one or two health care visits appears to be the best way to increase uptake of all of them, said Schaffner, who consults for the CDC’s policy-setting Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

At its next meeting, in October, the committee is likely to urge vulnerable people to get a second dose of the same covid vaccine in the spring, for protection against the next summer wave, he said.

If you’re in a vulnerable population and waiting to get vaccinated until closer to the holiday season, Schaffner said, it makes sense to wear a mask and avoid big crowds, and to get a test if you think you have covid. If positive, people in these groups should seek medical attention since the antiviral pill Paxlovid might ameliorate their symptoms and keep them out of the hospital.

As for conscientious others who feel they may be sick and don’t want to spread the covid virus, the best advice is to get a single test and, if positive, try to isolate for a few days and then wear a mask for several days while avoiding crowded rooms. Repeat testing after a positive result is pointless, since viral particles in the nose may remain for days without signifying a risk of infecting others, Schaffner said.

The Health and Human Services Department is making four free covid tests available to anyone who requests them starting in late September through covidtest.gov, said Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response, at the Aug. 23 briefing.

The government is focusing its fall vaccine advocacy campaign, which it’s calling “Risk less, live more,” on older people and nursing home residents, said HHS spokesperson Jeff Nesbit.

Not everyone may really need a fall covid booster, but “it’s not wrong to give people options,” John Moore said. “The 20-year-old athlete is less at risk than the 70-year-old overweight dude. It’s as simple as that.”

KFF Health News correspondent Amy Maxmen contributed to this report.

Healthbeat is a nonprofit newsroom covering public health published by Civic News Company and KFF Health News. Sign up for their newsletters here.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.

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Over 180 students at Unity Junior High make Honor Roll

Seventy-nine students at Unity Junior High School earned High Honor Roll recognition for their academic performance during the second quarter of the 2020-21 school year. Meanwhile, the school administration announced another 108 students across the same three grade levels to achieve Honor Roll status.

Sixth Grade
High Honor Roll
Dominic Russell Baxley
Alex Martin Bromley
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Colton Ray Harmon
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Carson Wesley McCune
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Adam Lucas Reedy
Max Warren Rossi
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Jacob Michael Ward
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Rylan Kade Wolf
Kendal Lea Zerrusen

Honor Roll

Andrew David Berkey
Grace Michele Bickers
Paige Nicole Bradley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Cadence Marie Chandler
Addison Tyler Davis
Aidan Dean Ellis
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Keegan Patrick Germano
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Dustin Rose Harris
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Rush Matthew Little
Cash Cohen McCann
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Skylar Osheania Sanders
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Alyssa Renae Shields
Jackson Leo Smith
Madison Amanda Spohn
Baileigh Marie Thomas
Grace Ann Wherley
Kendall Grace Wysong
Joel Mitchell Yergler

Seventh Grade
High Honor Roll
Anna Carolyn Amias
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Eli Samson Crowe
Ella Jean Darnall
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Margaret Rose Garcier
Isabel Grace Grob
Caden Maddox Hensch
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Claire Lynn Meharry
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Ty Steven Rodems
Theda Marva Roether
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Hunter James Shike
Annalise Rose Shunk
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Emma Marie Swisher
Paula Louise Wilson

Honor Roll

Aria Eve Battaglia
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Olivia Breann Egelston
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Collin William Graven
Kenley Jo Harris
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Joshua Todd Heath
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Jason Henry
Sophia Katherine Hewerdine
Lucas Alexander Hood
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Faith Lyn Lampe
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Deakin Frederick Moore
Isaac Julian Neverman
Dallas Jordan Porter
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Olivia Grace Rawdin
Kyla Lanae Reed
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Liana Grace Sheets
Shelby Lynn Smith
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Ian John Taber
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Alexander Lane Wells
Claire Morgan Zorns

Eighth Grade
High Honor Roll
Jenna Blair Adams
Avery Jean Alagna
Lindy Marie Bates
Molly Kay Baxley
Paige Leeanne Brewer
Noah Michael Bryant
Elle Makenna Cheely
Josephine Rose Cler
Madelyn Rae Darnall
Jordan Kathryn Daugherty
Ashlyn Brielle Denney
Kade Ryan Dubson
Ava Maureen Fenter
Catharine Elizabeth Ford
Sophia Safrona Frye
Sophia Ruth Hartke
Lauren Mellissa Hellmer
Dallas Anthony Hollingsworth
Alex Nathaniel Mowrer
Brady James Parr
Camryn Elizabeth Reedy
Ashley Lynn Rennels
Lydia Claire Rossi
Maegan Denise Rothe
Savannah Renee Rubin
Lauren Anne Shaw
Joseph Robert Tempel
Avery Elise Watson
McKinley Mae Weller

Honor Roll

Elizabeth Marie Anderson
Emmerson Matthew Bailey
Sophia Cathryn Beckett
Kolton Andrew Black
Michael Allan Bromley
Dakota Michael Brown-McClain
Bentten Matthew Cain
Logan Reid Church
Jacob Ivan Davidson
Ava Jane Davis
Ezekiel De Los Santos
Nathaniel Gojam DeNeal
Chloey Ryanne Duitsman
Piper Ann Farney
Paige Ann Garretson
Kadence Lynn Goff
Faith Marianne Hall
Caleb James Hoewing
Wyatt Matthew Huffstutler
Sydney Marie Jackson
Andrew Jason King
Elias Anthony Eugene Lawlyes
Kaitlynn Christine McEvoy
Avery Jarrod McGraw
Gracie Marie Meharry
Maliyah Marie Ortiz
Reigna Jolie Price
Taylor Aiyana Marie Prough
Oliver Mason Hyeok Joon Rawlings
Korben Dale Ray
Nolan Scott Remole
Garrett Francis Richardson
Ryan Benjamin Rink
Ryan James Robinson
Braden Allen Roderick
Brock Jacob Schlittler
Abigail Ruth Smith
Daniel Christopher Stein
Grant James Steinman
Owen Michael Taylor
Jacob Howell Thomas
Gavin Henry David Weaver
Jordan Jeanne Whittington
Tessah Rae Williams
Lauren Anne Williams-Scroggins
Nolan Allen Wishall

Unity Junior High 2nd quarter Honor Roll


Yesterday, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll status during the second quarter. Congratulations to the students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor.


6th Grade Honor Roll

Joseph William Willard Baird
Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brayden Michael Burke
Madison Grace Castor
Garrisan Martin Cler
Shamya Merari Davis
Andrew Patrick Donovan
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Dillon Michael Ellars
Nolan Myles Elliott
Haley Elizabeth Ennis
Shae Lin Fournier
Peyton Leanne Goyne
Hallie Lynn Handal
McKenzie Kathryn Heiple
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Eve Oksana Isberg
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Jax Hunter Logsdon
Tysen Mac McConaha
Clint Michael McCormick
Larissa Marie Parr
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Journee Lynn Ring
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Riley May Schendel
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Bradley Scott Jr Smith
Kole David VanSickle
Gavin James Warren
Sawyer Allen Franks Weller
Adilynn Michelle Wilson


6th Grade High Honor Roll

Cameron Barnes
Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Brilynn Creola Cain
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Soren Lovell Davis
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Mackinzee Brooke Gumm
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Roman James Hastings
Tessa Lynn Horn
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Nolan Mark Tempel Meharry
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Khison Able Reifsteck
Caleb Arthur Saxon
Carter Charles Schmid
Sophia Grace Seidlitz
Lillie Jean Vanderpool
John William White
Austin James Wiersema
Olivia Ann Williams
Reece Earl Winfrey
Olivia Ruth Witheft


7th Grade Honor Roll

Andrew David Berkey
Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Paige Nicole Bradley
Maddix Jacob David Briggs
Aelyas Brito
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Austin Michael Drewes
Ava Nicole Grace
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Dustin Rose Harris
Ava Fay Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Carson Wesley McCune
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Malakai Roth
Alyssa Renae Shields
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Madison Amanda Spohn
Jacob Michael Ward
Maggie Jean Weckle
Tayleigh Sue Wilson
Addison Danielle Wyatt


7th Grade High Honor Roll

Grace Michele Bickers
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Ronin Carman
Cadence Marie Chandler
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Walker Dale Hall
Colton Ray Harmon
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Cash Cohen McCann
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Adam Lucas Reedy
Max Warren Rossi
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Rylan Kade Wolf
Kendal Lea Zerrusen


8th Grade Honor Roll

Andrew Kenneth Bryan
Maddix Buchanan
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Chloe Noelle Cousins
Taylor Renee Daly
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Olivia Breann Egelston
Tanner Elizabeth Gallivan
Samantha Nicole Gumbel
Kenley Jo Harris
Joshua Todd Heath
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Jason Henry
William Robert Hoggard
Lucas Alexander Hood
Tyler Reed Huntington
Cameron Elise Kaiser
Anna Maeve Kuhns
Coleton James Langendorf
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Sade Jean Lybarger
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Coleson Thomas Miller
Phoenix Sky Molina
Leah Jolynn Nickle
Brody Michael Osterbur
Dallas Jordan Porter
Kyla Lanae Reed
Theda Marva Roether
Connor Charles Sheppard
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Heath Edward Stringer
Tyler Jackson Styan
Maddix Douglas Sutherland
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Anna Vasey
Evan Eugene Vlahovich
Desmond Mychel Winfrey


8th Grade High Honor Roll

Anna Carolyn Amias
Aria Eve Battaglia
Mylie Lynn Castle
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Eli Samson Crowe
Chason Robert Daly
Ella Jean Darnall
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Margaret Rose Garcier
Collin William Graven
Isabel Grace Grob
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Caden Maddox Hensch
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Faith Lyn Lampe
Kallista Jean Lancaster
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Claire Lynn Meharry
Ethan Lee Mohr
Deakin Frederick Moore
Isaac Julian Neverman
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Ty Steven Rodems
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Liana Grace Sheets
Hunter JamesShike
Shelby Lynn Smith
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Emma Marie Swisher
Bailey Nicole Tompkins
Alexander Lane Wells
Paula Louise Wilson
Claire Morgan Zorns

Recipe |
Make your St. Patrick’s Day spread green with envy


Culinary.net - Freshen up your St. Patrick’s Day menu with easy, light sandwiches inspired by the traditional color of the festivities. These open-faced noshes can be perfect for lunch, snack time or even as an appetizer for get-togethers with friends and family.

Layered with a smooth cream cheese and mozzarella mixture then topped with crisp cucumber and a stem of green bell pepper, these St. Patrick’s Day Sandwiches are easy and cute, which makes them a fan favorite at nearly any green gathering. They’re also sprinkled with lemon juice to add a little acidity and create a nice, light bite.

Plus, this recipe is quick to make. When you’re in a rush to get everything on the table for the party, it’s easy to throw together and get on the platter in next to no time.

The sandwiches pop off the plate with their bright, seasonal garnishes. While sure to attract attention and have your loved ones asking “Where did you get this idea?” they’re also an easy way to sneak a few vegetables into your kids’ diets.

For more festive recipes and ideas at Culinary.net.


St. Patrick’s Day Sandwiches
Yield: 8 sandwiches

8 ounces plain cream cheese spread, softened
1 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
salt
4 English muffins
24 slices cucumber
8 thin slices green pepper
fresh cilantro leaves
lemon juice
lemon slices, for garnish (optional)

In bowl, mix cream cheese spread, mozzarella cheese and salt well.

Split English muffins in half. Cut each muffin half into shamrock shape.

Spread cheese mixture over each muffin half.

Place three cucumbers on each “shamrock,” one on each “leaf.” Use green pepper slice as stem. Place cilantro leaf on top of each sandwich.

Sprinkle sandwiches with lemon juice and add lemon slices, for garnish, if desired.


Creatine: Kicking your fitness level up a notch or two, it can work for you

Photo: Alora Griffiths/Unsplash

by Matt Sheehan
OSF Healthcare
In the sports world, victory can be just inches or seconds away.

Photo provided
Dr. Karan Rai

BLOOMINGTON - Think about ‘The Longest Yard’ in Super Bowl 34 between the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams. In the final play of the game, one yard was all that stood between the Titans and the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Or look at the 2024 Summer Olympics! Noah Lyles earned the United States a gold medal after winning by just five thousandths of a second in the 100-meter final.

Athletes look for game changers to help propel themselves ahead of the competition, and creatine has entered the chat.

Who does creatine work for?

“Creatine, when used appropriately, can improve your max power. It can help with muscle growth in certain individuals, it typically does not have as significant of an impact when you're doing more endurance-based sports," says Karan Rai, MD, a sports medicine physician with OSF HealthCare. "If you're a weekend warrior or CrossFit athlete trying to get a little extra boost, while practicing appropriate hydration and dietary intake, I think creatine has benefits.”

Dr. Rai adds that in the realm of supplements, creatine has been “decently studied over the years.” He says football players, power lifters and track sprinters could benefit from the supplement. However, if you’re training for an upcoming Ironman or triathlon, it’s really not necessary.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!

It’s no surprise that extreme exercise increases the amount we sweat. With or without creatine, that’s reason enough to up your water intake. But Dr. Rai says with creatine, there’s an added reason to why water is so important.

“Commonly I'll find someone who is new to using a supplement and they'll come see me and talk about muscle cramps or excessive fatigue after their workouts,” Dr. Rai says. Oftentimes it's because of an imbalance in their intake, whether that's food intake or hydration."

If you already cramp constantly or are not as experienced in weight training, Dr. Rai would recommend caution in using creatine. He says to talk to your primary care physician or a sports medicine physician to see if creatine is a beneficial option for you.

Best times to use creatine

Before and/or after your workouts are times Dr. Rai recommends taking creatine. He says like most dietary changes, don’t rush it.

"When someone is using creatine, I recommend they start slowly. Typically, utilizing it before the workout and making sure your workout is power based vs. endurance-based matters," Dr. Rai says. “Just starting off, depending on the serving size, use one to two scoops.”

Careful with the caffeine!

Avoid a ton of caffeine consumption if you're using creatine. Caffeine can elevate the heart rate and creatine can cause cramping, so combining those things could lead to "adverse outcomes," Dr. Rai says.

"Supplements are meant for augmentation," Dr. Rai adds. “A healthy diet, hydrating appropriately while cultivating your goals, whether you're a power or endurance athlete, gives the max benefit. Really we should be looking at creatine or sports drinks as a way to augment and get that extra 5-10% we are pushing for, based off our goals.”

If you’re looking to add creatine to your lifestyle, Dr. Rai recommends creating an individualized plan with your doctor or sports medicine team.

Due to limited data, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend creatine for kids under 18.


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231 Unity Junior High students make first quarter Honor Roll


Earlier this week, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll status during the first quarter. Congratulations to the students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor.


6th Grade Honor Roll

Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brayden Michael Burke
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Garrisan Martin Cler
Shamya Merari Davis
Andrew Patrick Donovan
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Nolan Myles Elliott
Zoe Margaret Fish
Shae Lin Fournier
Makayla James Goff
Nathaniel Howard Hammer
Brady Cullen Harris
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Kane William Knudsen
Tysen Mac McConaha
Clint Michael McCormick
Payten Renee Niles
Larissa Marie Parr
Clayton Wyatt Pruitt
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Caleb Arthur Saxon
Riley May Schendel
Sophia Grace Seidlitz
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Lillie Jean Vanderpool
Austin James Wiersema
Adilynn Michelle Wilson
Reece Earl Winfrey
Cole Thomas Zorns


6th Grade High Honor Roll

Joseph William Willard Baird
Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Brilynn Creola Cain
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Soren Lovell Davis
Dillon Michael Ellars
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Mackinzee Brooke Gumm
Hallie Lynn Handal
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Roman James Hastings
Tessa Lynn Horn
Eve Oksana Isberg
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Nolan Mark Tempel Meharry
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Khison Able Reifsteck
Carter Charles Schmid
Bradley Scott Jr Smith
Kole David VanSickle
Gavin James Warren
John William White
Olivia Ann Williams
Olivia Ruth Witheft


7th Grade Honor Roll

Andrew David Berkey
Paige Nicole Bradley
Jackson Robert Dylan Briggs
Maddix Jacob David Briggs
Aelyas Brito
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Brody Ray Butler
Ronin Carman
Addison Tyler Davis
Austin Michael Drewes
Elizabeth Lynn Farney
Reese Bella Frye
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Ava Nicole Grace
Ava Fay Jones
Mackenzie Michelle Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Carson Wesley McCune
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Evan Alexander Puckett
Max Warren Rossi
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Maggie Jean Weckle
Andrew Jackson III Weller
Ava McKenna Wolf Rice
Rylan Kade Wolf


7th Grade High Honor Roll

Dominic Russell Baxley
Grace Michele Bickers
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Cadence Marie Chandler
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Walker Dale Hall
Colton Ray Harmon
Dustin Rose Harris
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Cash Cohen McCann
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Sadie Jane Polonus
Adam Lucas Reedy
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Madison Amanda Spohn
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Jacob Michael Ward
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Kendal Lea Zerrusen


8th Grade Honor Roll

Athea Elizabeth Baird
Derilynn May Behm
Andrew Kenneth Bryan
Matthew Parker Chavira
Graydin Martin Cler
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Chloe Noelle Cousins
Taylor Renee Daly
Olivia Breann Egelston
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Lilly Ann Griffin
Kenley Jo Harris
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Jason Henry
William Robert Hoggard
Matthew Eric Hollett
Tyler Reed Huntington
William Ryan Hutson
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Cameron Elise Kaiser
Connor John Kleiss
Anna Maeve Kuhns
Coleton James Langendorf
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Sade Jean Lybarger
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Isaac Julian Neverman
Brody Michael Osterbur
Reagan Lynn Paceley
Olivia Grace Rawdin
Kyla Lanae Reed
Theda Marva Roether
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Shelby Lynn Smith
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Maddix Douglas Sutherland
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Anna Vasey
Evan Eugene Vlahovich
Kadince Rilee Wells
Paula Louise Wilson
Austin Stephen Winters


8th Grade High Honor Roll

Anna Carolyn Amias
Aria Eve Battaglia
Mylie Lynn Castle
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Eli Samson Crowe
Chason Robert Daly
Ella Jean Darnall
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Tanner Elizabeth Gallivan
Margaret Rose Garcier
Collin William Graven
Isabel Grace Grob
Samantha Nicole Gumbel
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Joshua Todd Heath
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Faith Lyn Lampe
Kallista Jean Lancaster
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Claire Lynn Meharry
Ethan Lee Mohr
Phoenix Sky Molina
Deakin Frederick Moore
Leah Jolynn Nickle
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Dallas Jordan Porter
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Ty Steven Rodems
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Liana Grace Sheets
Hunter James Shike
Annalise Rose Shunk
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Emma Marie Swisher
Bailey Nicole Tompkins
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Alexander Lane Wells
Desmond Mychel Winfrey
Claire Morgan Zorns

Unity Junior High list 4th quarter honor roll students


Today, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to the 76 students who earned the requisite grade point average to celebrate the honor. See the names of UJHS students who made the quarter's High Honor Roll list here.


6th Grade Honor Roll

7th Grade Honor Roll

8th Grade Honor Roll


Unity Junior High 3rd Quarter Honor Roll


This week, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll status during the third quarter. Two hundred and twenty-two students earned the requisite grade-point average to be recognized as an honor student.


6th Grade Honor Roll

Cameron Barnes
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Madison Grace Castor
Garrisan Martin Cler
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Nolan Myles Elliott
Haley Elizabeth Ennis
Cohen Louis Fincham
Zoe Margaret Fish
Nathaniel Howard Hammer
Brady Cullen Harris
McKenzie Kathryn Heiple
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Payton Nicole Kinney
Jax Hunter Logsdon
Tysen Mac McConaha
Clint Michael McCormick
Nolan Mark Meharry
Payten Renee Tempel Niles
Clayton Wyatt Pruitt
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Rainer Arizona Robinson
Caden Del Rogers
Riley May Schendel
Ian James Skibbe
Bradley Scott Jr Smith
Sawyer Allen Franks Weller
Cole Thomas Zorns


6th Grade High Honor Roll

Joseph William Willard Baird
Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brilynn Creola Cain
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Soren Lovell Davis
Dillon Michael Ellars
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Mackinzee Brooke Gumm
Hallie Lynn Handal
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Roman James Hastings
Tessa Lynn Horn
Eve Oksana Isberg
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Khison Able Reifsteck
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Caleb ArthurSaxon
Carter Charles Schmid
Sophia Grace Seidlitz
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Lillie Jean Vanderpool
Kole David VanSickle
Gavin James Warren
John William White
Austin James Wiersema
Olivia Ann Williams
Adilynn Michelle Wilson
Olivia Ruth Witheft


7th Grade Honor Roll

Andrew David Berkey
Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Kydie Cain
Emma Rose Carrington
Cadence Marie Chandler
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Elizabeth Lynn Farney
Ava Nicole Grace
Dustin Rose Harris
Ava Fay Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Miles Spencer Thomson Owens
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Malakai Roth
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Madison Amanda Spohn
Maggie Jean Weckle
Tayleigh Sue Wilson
Ava McKenna Wolf Rice
Joel Mitchell Yergler


7th Grade High Honor Roll

Dominic Russell Baxley
Grace Michele Bickers
Paige Nicole Bradley
Aelyas Brito
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Ronin Carman
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Austin Michael Drewes
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Colton Ray Harmon
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Cheyenne Jean
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Cash Cohen McCann
Carson Wesley McCune
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Adam Lucas Reedy
Max Warren Rossi
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Alyssa Renae Shields
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Jacob Michael Ward
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Rylan Kade Wolf
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Kendal Lea Zerrusen


8th Grade Honor Roll

Athea ElizabethBaird
Athea Elizabeth Baird
Graydin Martin Cler
Chloe Noelle Cousins
Chason Robert Daly
Taylor Renee Daly
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Korina Mary Finical
Tanner Elizabeth Gallivan
Samantha Nicole Gumbel
Kenley Jo Harris
Joshua Todd Heath
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Reed Huntington
Anna Maeve Kuhns
Coleton James Langendorf
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Coleson Thomas Miller
Leah Jolynn Nickle
Andrew Neal Orr
Brody Michael Osterbur
Kyla Lanae Reed
Theda Marva Roether
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Kamden Michael Schuckman
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Maddix Douglas Sutherland
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Desmond Mychel Winfrey


8th Grade High Honor Roll

Anna Carolyn Amias
Aria Eve Battaglia
Maddix Buchanan
Mylie Lynn Castle
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Eli Samson Crowe
Ella Jean Darnall
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Margaret Rose Garcier
Collin William Graven
Isabel Grace Grob
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Tyler Jason Henry
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Faith Lyn Lampe
Kallista Jean Lancaster
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Sade Jean Lybarger
Claire Lynn Meharry
Ethan Lee Mohr
Phoenix Sky Molina
Deakin Frederick Moore
Isaac Julian Neverman
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Dallas Jordan Porter
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Ty Steven Rodems
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Liana Grace Sheets
Hunter James Shike
Annalise Rose Shunk
Shelby Lynn Smith
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Tyler Jackson Styan
Emma Marie Swisher
Bailey Nicole Tompkins
Anna Vasey
Alexander Lane Wells
Paula Louise Wilson
Claire Morgan Zorns


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