Photo Gallery: Unity beats St. Joseph-Ogden, 50-7

St. Joseph-Ogden's Alex Funk is brought down during first quarter action by a Unity defender. After dropping their season opener on the road seven days earlier to Prairie Central, the Rockets (1-1) stunned the host Spartans at Dick Duval Field last Friday with a dominating 50-7 win. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


A Unity player celebrates the team's first quarter touchdown against the Spartans (1-1). The Rockets drew first blood on a 40-yard run from sophomore Garrett Richardson to go up 6-0 after the PAT failed. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Spartans' Logan Smith tries to outrun Rockets' senior Kyus Root later in the first quarter. Smith finished the game with just 2 rushing yards and completed 8 of 17 passes for 57 yards. One week earlier against Monticello in SJO's season opener, the junior signal-caller collected 165-yards (11-20) passing in their 21-14 victory. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


St. Joseph-Ogden's Bryson Helfrich blocks Unity's Hunter Duncan in the second quarter. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Senior Cale Rawdin scrambles in the backfield while looking for an open Unity reciever. Rawdin chewed 151 yards rushing and threw for another 93 yards, including a 34-yard touchdown pass to junior Jay Saunders in the second quarter. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Unity head coach Scott Hamilton throws up the U's after Jay's Saunders'34-yard catch second quarter catch against the Spartans. The snag plus the 2-point conversion put the Rockets up 28-0 with 6:41 left to go in the first half. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Spartan lineman Spencer Fitch holds off Unity's Mason Perry and a teammate while playing on the offensive line. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Spartan defensive backs Tyler Burch and Coy Taylor bring down Unity quarterback Cale Rawdin. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


With a commanding 28-7 lead on the scoreboard at the start of the second half, Cale Rawdin hands off the ball to running back Garrett Richardson. The sophomre took the ball 21 yards to chalk up his fourth touchdown of the game. In for an injured Matt Brown, Richardson capped off his varsity debut with one more TD in the 4th quarter. He finished the night with 239 yards on 29 carries. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Alex Funk finds open grass as he runs the ball down the field on kick return against the Rockets. Funk, a senior, finished the SJO's second game of the season with 23 all-purpose yards. His longest run came on 16-yard kick return. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Finding plenty of wide open turf in front of him, Unity's Cale Rawdin sprints down the field on his way to an 83-yard touchdown. The run accounted for more than half of his total rushing yardage of 151. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


SJO's Tyler Burch fields the last Unity kickoff of the game. Burch gained 5 yards on the play. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Spartans' Justice Wertz and Aiden McCorkle stop Unity's Cale Rawdin in the 4th quarter. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)


Guest commentary: Biden proves many Americans are dummies

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

If you worked hard for a scholarship, paid your way through school, paid back loans or your family sacrificed for you to go to school, President Biden has shown that you were a big dummy.

Don’t knock yourself out. Just sit back and the government will throw you some crumbs to take care of you.

In a move that Biden had promised during his campaign he erased between $10,000 to $20,000 of debt from millions of Americans college spending spree extravaganza. Years ago, Americans starting learning to spend money like it’s water. Maybe they thought, “I won’t have to pay it back”. Their dream has come true. You and I along with the rest of America’s tax payers will get to pay at least a half trillion dollars of this debt.

This is just what you had been hoping for! More taxes! Oh wait, just those rich people in America will have to pay this off, right? Every American on some level will share in this new financial burden.

Universities are legally raping America’s families because we sign up and agree to pay the tuition. We do it to ourselves. Universities don’t put a gun to the heads of Americans and make us pay. Americans foolishly agree to this debt. Yet, most universities are the last sector in America to feel the pain of the economy. In 2020-2021, most of them received millions of free government paycheck protection program money. This is more government money that will be eaten by you – the taxpayer. Millions of American businesses also received tens of thousands to millions of dollars of free PPP money in the last two years that will also slam all Americans in more taxes.

Some tenured professors are making over $200,000, a year. Many University Presidents across the country are making over one million dollars a year, plus major perks. Many coaches make a million or more a year. Universities spend money like its water. They are the ones who need to be lending and collecting or forgiving some of this debt. Not you.

You probably already paid once. Now we get to pay more for the students and the Universities who just kept spending money. Why are you responsible for the foolish people who borrow $50,000 to $100,000 and more?

I believe in helping people, but Biden needs to pass some of this lending and collecting burden to the Universities. You the taxpayer keep giving the money. The universities want $30,000 to $50,000 a year and more. American families foolishly swallow the poison. Next, their financial insanity becomes everybody’s problem. Does this seem right to you?

Sadly, millions of Americans rack up college debt and never complete their degrees. Millions more get degrees they never use. You don’t need a college degree for a lot of jobs. Most jobs do require training that can be accomplished in far less time and money.

Congratulations if your debt is $10,000 to $20,000 lighter, but your debt will still have to be paid, by your friends, family, neighbors and others.

Consider spending the first two years in a community college or trade school. You can move on to the big-name school for your Junior and Senior years. The first two years are generally electives and classes you don’t enjoy that much anyway. You’ll save a lot of money and maybe grow up some before you land in a dorm room 200 miles away from home.


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Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, 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 The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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Illinois theater convention September 24

CHICAGO -- The Illinois Theatre Association will hold its 2022 ITA Annual Membership Meeting & Award Celebration at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel & Conference Center in Downers Grove on September 24. In addition to presenting annual excellence awards to Illinois thespians, the all-day event will include the induction of the 2022-2024 Board of Directors, workshops sponsored by the ITA, a special presentation on intimacy direction, and its Red Carpet Gala Award Luncheon.

The keynote address will presented by Michael Novak, Artistic Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Novak has danced in 57 roles in 50 Taylor dances, and created gigs for five of the Taylor Company Commission choreographers.

This year's award winners include Teatro Vista, a Chicago-based theater group created in 1990, Dr. David Allan Kuester director of the IVCC Theatre, Judy Ruzevich Klingner, and Marjorie Hillocks.

Hillocks won the award for Creative Drama/Theatre for Young Audiences and Klingner is the recipient of the Anne Thurman Mentorship Award.

Festival 56, a Princeton Theatre Group, that won this year's Award of Honor, along with Streator High School and the Vermillion Players, a community theater group, will also be honored with awards the gala.

Workshop sessions include "OUCH! Hits, Kicks, and Other Combat Tricks" by Kyle Cassady from the Society of American Fight Directors, "Creating the Best Audition Package for You" with Paul Stancato & Felicia Finley from the Timber Lake Playhouse, and "Collaborative 10 Minute Play Writing: Hearing Every Voice" presented by Friar Dominic Garramone from Saint Bede Academy.

For more information and registration to this year's event go to https://illinoistheatre.org/event-4897079.




Food & Dining |
Recipe-of-the-week: 3 Layer Arkansas Possum Pie

The star of your next spread can be hidden away in the refrigerator for a surprise delight for your guests. It's topped with chocolate syrup and chopped pecans, and your loved ones just may vote it to be their favorite dish.

It's an Arkansas Possum Pie, made with three delicious layers and crunchy toppings for a show-stopping dessert.




Recent study suggests childhood trauma could haunt Illinois adults for life
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 75% of U.S. high school students said they have had at least one adverse childhood experience, or ACE.

Research has shown ACEs can alter a child's brain chemistry and produce a prolonged toxic stress response. Experiencing at least one ACE as a child is linked to having alcohol and substance use problems in adulthood, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.


Op-Ed |
Tipped wage system isn't working, removing taxes won't save it
Both major presidential candidates have called for eliminating taxes on tips. But that won’t help most restaurant workers.

What will? Replacing the subminimum wages that tipped workers make with one fair wage nationwide.

The federal minimum wage for most workers is just $7.25. But for workers who get tips, employers are allowed to pay them $2.13 an hour. If tips don’t raise your hourly pay to at least the ...
Health & Wellness |
Is it depression, ADHD or bipolar disorder?
Lavender Zarraga, APRN, a behavioral health provider at OSF HealthCare, says it’s not uncommon for her patients to ask for a medication that isn’t the right fit.

The culprit? She says symptoms of common mental health issues like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and bipolar disorder can overlap. So, it’s important to stay in contact with your provider to make ...

In case you missed it |
America is ready for cheer, brightness and hope
When I was a child, I thought Christmas would never come. The weeks dragged by while I wore out the toy sections of the Sears and Penny's catalogs hoping Santa might stop by. I always looked for Santa Claus and tried to stay awake on Christmas Eve just to catch a glimpse of the jolly big guy.