Guest Commentary | I'm ready for a break from all the bad news

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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I’m burned out watching the news. I don’t enjoy feeling like I want to throw up. There has to be more to life than taking in the world headlines every morning and every evening. However, I have to pause and give thanks because I’m not part of the news story. I don’t want to be because news is typically bad.

When you turn on the morning or evening news the first few minutes is filled with all the bad news in the world and your area. Innocent people in Israel being ripped apart by hate-filled religious terrorists. Innocent civilians in Gaza are dying every day. Another mentally ill gunman kills innocent people in Maine. A category five hurricane wipes out Acapulco. Congress finally agrees on a Speaker. Surely, we are glad if we are not part of the news story. Being in the news typically means something bad is going on. You don’t want to be in an active shooter situation or being attacked by terrorists.

A friend of mine has said, “I don’t watch the news, it’s too depressing.” Depressing is probably a reasonable word. Yet, be glad that you weren’t in the news because that would be more depressing.

If you are like me, you are probably ready for a break from all the bad news. You can turn off your television and your computer and move throughout your day. Just hope that along the way that nothing bad happens around you. There are crazy people almost everywhere it seems. Drugs are flowing in this country. Drug related deaths are rampant. Violent drivers are on our highways. Road rage violence happens somewhere every day in this country. The mentally ill have access to semi-automatic rifles. Hate-filled people live throughout our country. The desperate and hurting are everywhere. Hate-filled religious terrorists are not just isolated people living in the Middle East. Some of them probably live not far from you.

You can be minding your own business and living the good American citizen’s life and still have something bad happen to you. At every level there is a new devil. It just takes a crazy person to make news happen and unfortunately you can be in the right place at the wrong time to become part of the news story.

So, while many of us are tired of the bad news, let’s try to be grateful for every day that we somehow, by the grace of God, miss being a part of the news.

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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. 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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Too much Halloween sugar can lead to a scary future with diabetes

Photo: Denny Müller/Unsplash

KEWANEE - Halloween is here, and many Americans are looking forward to venturing out for Halloween festivities and trick-or-treating with kids.  While the holiday is all in good fun, one aspect of Halloween that experts have warned about for years is the overconsumption of candy and other high-sugar sweets.

According to the American Heart Association, kids ages two to 18 should have less than 25 grams (or about six teaspoons) of added sugar daily. Eating too much added sugar at an early age is linked to high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and increased risk for heart disease. Sara Umphfleet, RD, LDN, is a registered dietitian at OSF HealthCare Saint Luke Medical Center in Kewanee, Illinois. She says some of our favorite treats are often harboring more sugar than we might expect.

“There is a sugar model I like to use. It talks about things like the amount of sugar in half a cup of Jell-O, for example – and there is a lot of sugar in Jell-O (about 16 grams). Same with the amount of sugar that is in something like just one Pop-Tart (about 14 grams), and you get two in a bag. A big one is soda which has a lot of extra added sugar in it (about 39 grams). And these aren’t natural sugars like from apples and oranges and bananas. These are sugars that are added. Hershey’s candy bars are another example with a lot of sugar (about 24 grams),” explains Umphfleet.

However, according to Fortune, the average child consumes about three cups of sugar on Halloween alone, which is about 144 teaspoons and nearly 27 times the recommended daily amount. Furthermore, every year Americans purchase nearly 600 million pounds of candy for Halloween festivities and trick-or-treaters.

If you haven’t bought Halloween candy yet this year, Umphfleet recommends an alternative route.

“I typically recommend offering things like bubbles or bouncy balls – some of those little trinkets you can find at the dollar store instead of giving candy out. You also think of food allergies and they are going to get candy from a lot of neighbors and friends – so try to do something different,” says Umphlfeet.

You do not need to completely forego the Halloween candy. But if you do let your kids indulge, Umphfleet recommends doing so in moderation, as too much sugar on even just one day can result in increased exhaustion and headaches – or a “sugar crash.”

“I recommend to give them a couple pieces of candy and then putting the rest away. They definitely don’t need to be eating all of the candy the night of Halloween. And then offer it usually in the afternoons rather than at night time when they are getting ready for bed and less active. You don’t want all of that sugar to sit in their gut,” Umphfleet explains.

It is also important to make sure your child is drinking enough fluids on Halloween in between the festivities and candy consumption – but make sure their beverage of choice is not full of sugar. When it comes to hydration, plain old fashioned water remains the best option.

“It is very important to stay hydrated and get those beverages in, but try to stick to the sugar-free beverages. Choose 100% fruit juice rather than juice that has 10% juice which has a lot of extra added sugar. Also look on food labels to avoid things with high fructose corn syrup, so things like soda,” advises Umphfleet.

While you don’t necessarily need to skip sugary treats altogether, Umphfleet emphasizes that you should not let your kids deter too far from their normal daily eating habits on Halloween. Enjoy a piece of candy or two, and spend some time over the holiday weekend enjoying other Halloween traditions as well, such as watching a Halloween movie, looking at local decorations, and carving pumpkins.

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Diabetes is a silent killer because people tend to ignore symptoms

Photo: Sweet Life/Unsplash

by Shelli Dankoff
OSF Healthcare

Evergreen Park - During the winter months there is typically a spike in seasonal illnesses such as common colds, flu, and pneumonia. While there are tips and tricks forkeeping seasonal illnesses at bay, they are sometimes unavoidable. And for those with other health conditions a simple cold can be so much more than that.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), when someone who has diabetes gets sick with things like colds or the flu, the illness and stress cause their body to release hormones that raise blood sugar (blood glucose) levels, making it harder to keep their blood sugar in their target range. The ADA adds that while having diabetes in and of itself does not necessarily make someone more likely to get a cold or the flu, it does raise the chances of getting seriously sick. Some people may not even know they have diabetes until a severe illness occurs.

“If you have poorly controlled or undiagnosed diabetes and develop symptoms of something like the flu, you will have increased risk factors of severe illness. I would encourage those people to get quickly examined at an urgent care or their primary physician,” says Mohammed Khan, M.D., an OSF HealthCare family medicine physician.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that nearly a third of people with diabetes do not know they have it, and someone can go years before getting a diagnosis. The reason diabetes can fly under the radar is because the symptoms can be minor, especially early on.

“When patients have certain symptoms like more frequent urine and going to the restroom more often, losing weight, having lack of energy, having dry mouth, feeling thirsty and drinking more often, having recurrent infections like skin and urine infections – those are the things that indicate a screening for diabetes,” explains Dr. Khan.

He adds, “People who have diabetes sometimes ignore the symptoms and think they are not affected which is why it is a silent killer. The body is getting destroyed from the inside and many do not notice it unless you go to regular health exams or are screened for it. Diabetes is also one of the most common causes for chronic kidney disease. For a lot of people who develop problems like kidney failure or needing dialysis, the root cause for that most of the time is diabetes.”

Dr. Khan advises people who do have diabetes to keep it under control as best as possible, as well-controlled diabetes helps manage seasonal illnesses when they do occur. However, serious illness can still occur.

“With diabetes, your immune system goes down which is a risk factor. If you have diabetes, you want to make sure you are fully vaccinated and get the flu shot and are up to date on COVID vaccinations. If they are at a higher risk factor due to age and are in the age group to receive the pneumonia vaccination, we encourage get that as well, Dr. Khan advises.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a pneumonia shot for anyone age two or older who, because of chronic health problems (such as diabetes) or age, has a greater chance of getting pneumonia, and urges all eligible individuals who are six months and older to get their annual flu shot.

If you have diabetes, have a kit on hand with the following items in it: A glucose meter, extra batteries, supplies for your insulin pump or continuous glucose monitor, ketone test strips, a week’s worth of glucose-lowering medication (but don’t store these longer than 30 days before use), glucose tabs or gels, and flu or cold medications that won’t disrupt your diabetes management.

If you do end up with a seasonal illness, keep track of your symptoms and let your primary doctor know if they get worse. If your symptoms become severe or unmanageable, go to the nearest urgent care or emergency department.

If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes but are exhibiting any possible signs and symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor.

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SAD: Do you get the seasonal blues, here's a tip on what might help

Shorter days throughout them are thought to be linked to a chemical change in the brain and may be part of the cause of seasonal affective disorder or more commonly known as SAD. Exposure to artificial UV light have shown effectiveness in limiting the changes brought less sunlight.

Photo: Yuris Alhumaydy/Unsplash

by Shelli Dankoff
OSF Healthcare

BLOOMINGTON - Now that Labor Day has come and gone, so have the days of summer sun into the evening hours. While this is a typical sign of changing seasons, it can also come with a change in mood for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD.

It’s estimated that SAD affects 5-million to 8-million people a year in the United States, particularly in late fall and colder, winter months when days are shorter and nights are longer.

It is thought to be related to the lack of available sunlight, leading to a deficiency of Vitamin D. This can disrupt a person’s natural sleep cycle, and the effect on the brain can cause a person to function differently.

“People in the winter time, particularly in northern, far northern latitudes or far southern latitudes, farther away from the equator will tend to get kind of sluggish and maybe depressed, they start to have carbohydrate cravings, and it may be enough that it’s really a significant problem for them,” explains Dr. Scott Hamilton, a psychiatrist with OSF HealthCare Behavioral Health in Bloomington.

As a behavioral health psychiatrist, Dr. Hamilton works with people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. He says there’s a difference between SAD and a case of the occasional winter blahs. If you find your mind and mood are impacting your relationships, ability to work, or social activities, it’s something that needs to be addressed.

There are a number of treatment opportunities for Seasonal Affective Disorder. Dr. Hamilton says one of the most effective is bright light therapy.

“These have a UV shield, full spectrum light, 30 minutes in the morning is how most studies were done with pretty good results. Pretty uniformly positive results in people that have wintertime depression, and people that don’t have winter depression, they do sometimes still help, but they’re not as likely to be helpful.”

Dr. Hamilton says these light boxes are available online, often for less than $50. He also says that simple behavior modification can help with SAD symptoms. He says eating well and exercise can have a tremendous effect on depression symptoms, but if a person is having a tough time functioning on a day-to-day basis, he or she might want to see a therapist for professional help.

“I think trying that and getting more exercise and doing some healthy things first does make sense,” said Dr. Hamilton. “If they get to the point where they can’t function or they get suicidal thoughts, things like that, then they ought to talk to somebody. Those would be the real red flags.”

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St. Joseph-Ogden fall 2023 Honor Roll students

ST. JOSEPH - At the end of October, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the first quarter Honor Roll and High Honor Roll recipients. Nearly 300 members of this year's school population earned first-quarter Honor Roll recognition.

To receive honor roll recognition at SJO, students must earn a grade point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students whose GPA soared above 3.74 are recognized as High Honor Roll students.

Freshman High Honor Roll

Lillian Ahart
Zhou Barbee
Zachary Benoit
Alec Bowlin
Colin Burnett
Elizabeth Clark
Abigail Crider
Hayden Dahl
Iris Davis
Nick Ditchfield
Justin Downs
Madison Farber
Nathaniel Farney
Nolan Franzen
Skyler Graham
Anna Hammond
Mark Harbourt
Nicholas Harris
Tyler Hess
Maggie Hewkin
Mia Jones
Alivia Learned
Chase Mabry
Hadley McDonald
Finnegan Miller
Maddux Musselman
Mason Olinger
Mason Ramm
Peighton Reim
Kiah Riesel
Dennis Rineberg
Isa Santiago
Sophie Schmitz
Ava Smoot
Adeline Stevens
Ani Stine
Isabella Turner
Brayden Waller
Jack Wear
Kaden Wedig
Emerson Williams

Freshman Honor Roll

Yadiel Acosta-Reyes
Samuel Albrecht
Brenda Castro Gutierrez
Jameson Ennis
Leah Gaines
Elijah Garrett
Gunnar George
Morgan Huls
Aiden Hundley
Brynn Ikemire
Faith Jackson
Waylon Jones
Jaydon Lewis
Avrianna Lyttle
Tripp Palmer
Shelby Warns
Cameron Wright
Tyler Wright
William Yeazel
Declan Yohnka

Sophomore High Honor Roll

Trevor Ames
Kylie Barrowman
Lexie Barrowman
Tim Blackburn-Kelley
Kaitlyn Beyers
Emily Bird
Aiden Bonny
Addison Brooks
Sara Bytnar
Shelby Campbell
William Carlson
Rudra Chaudhary
Adelyn Childers
Christopher Coffey
Katherine Ericksen
Callie Evans
Abigail Getty
Camden Getty
William Haley
Zachary Harper
Claire Hartman
Lydia Huckstadt
Adalyn Jannusch
Sophia Kasper
Madilyn Kelley
Kylan Kincaid
Cooper Kietzman
Alexis Lackey
Ryker Lockhart
Mackenzie Loschen
Emma McKinney
Michael McDaniel
Danny McGinnis
Kodey McKinney
Patrick McMahon
Ava Midkiff
Ashlyn Miller
Hannah Mock
Delaney Nekolny
Allison Ochs
Brennan Oleynichak
Kayla Osterbur
Colton Overstreet
Garrick Page
Branson Pearman
Kaleb Peoples
Asher Pruemer
Ainsley Rhoton
Lily Rice
Landon Roberts
Amber Ruppel
Cameron Schlueter
Allison Schmitz
Landon Smith
Lucas Smith
Tao Smith
Quinn Stahl
Sydney Steinbach
Hadley Sweet
Carlee Taylor
Luke Tranel
Sophia Vliet
Madeline Wells
Wyatt Wertz
Logan Xiao
Cyrus Zadeh

Sophomore Honor Roll

Caroline Aden
DeAva Barnett
Josiah Beals
Jacob Carlson
Wade Clark
Parker Fitch
Charles Hale
Erica Hardimon
Bryson Houchens
Amelia Huckstadt
Jordan Johnson
Kaelyn Jolley
Sami Kelso
Vance McComas
Graham Ray
Lance Retz
Logan Rosenthal
Trevor Sexton
Gracyn Sjoken
Karleigh Spain
Lucas Truong
Hayden Utley
Hunter Van Meenen

Junior High Honor Roll

EJ Beckett
Sul Bonny
Holden Brazelton
Landon Brown
Arely Castro Gutierrez
Richi Chimal
Preslee Christians
Madison Clampitt
Ella Dietiker
Luke Ditchfield
Jackson Ennis
Savanna Franzen
Addison Funk
Tayton Gerdes
Olivia Getty
Makennah Hamilton
Lauren Harris
Maebree Houston
Kendrick Johnson
Dylan Jones
Sara Kearney
Amilliya Kindle
Madison Lankster
Logan Mills
Gabriel Mortlock
Grace Osterbur
Sonia Patel
Nathan Phillips
Audrey Ruppel
Charles Schmitz
Tanner Siems
Kyler Swanson
Collin Thomey
Reese Wheatley
Charley Wright
Fiona Xiao

Junior Honor Roll

Jared Altenbaumer
Audrey Benoit
Will Besson
Chaz Bowlin
Landen Butts
Hayden Coffey
Joshua Courter
Aerolyn Davenport
Lauren Dewese
Nolan Earley
Lyla Frerichs
Kaiden Gaines
Joe Griebat
Haley Hesterberg
Paige Johnson
Owen Knap
Logan Lackey
Gabe Mata
Brenden Maury
Chayse Palmer
Logan Patton
Sydney Reitmeier
Haley Rudolph
Samuel Shonkwiler
Corbin Smith
Coy Taylor
Samantha Uden

Senior High Honor Roll

Edward Alewelt
Logan Allen
Kaden Allinger
Aden Armstrong
Samantha Beetz
Chloe Burkhalter
Payton Carter
Garrett Denhart
Samantha Downs
Sadie Ericksen
Joseph Frasca
Mia Frederick
Alana Frerichs-McCurry
Addison Frick
Grace Getty
Chloe Harper
Rachel Harris
Brody Hausman
Annabelle Hueber
Tanner Jacob
Kya Jolley
Helene Jones
Tori Kibler
Lauren Lannert
Quinn Lewis
Taylyn Lockhart
Seth McBride
Shannon McMahon
Talan Miller
Isaiah Mock
Rowan Musselman
Caleb Ochs
Cole Pruitt
Macy Reed-Thompson
Addison Roesch
Addison Ross
Daniel Santiago
Lucas Skelton
Aescton Slowikowski
Logan Smith
Dylan Smoot
Drew Thurman
Emma Thurman
Braxton Waller
Elissia Ward
Colin Wayland
Brody Weaver
Corbin Wells
Hayden Williams
Peyton Williams
Spencer Wilson

Senior Honor Roll

Chloe Allen
Owen Baltzell
Mya Bott
Halle Brazelton
Kyler Brown
Tyler Buss
Maya Chahine
Cameron Dressen
Chloe George
Grace Goldenstein
Amaya Gula
Ray Gutierrez
Jayci Hayes
Emmitt Holt
Ella Jones
Holden Jones
Ryan Kroll
Luke Landrus
Hayden Lewis
Connor Little
Grace Mabrey
Carson Maroon
Ethan McElroy
Kaydence Reynolds
Addison Seggebruch
Madison Stevens
Zoey Sweet
Mitchell Wright

Round 1 and movin' on, Spartan determination sacks Carlinville

ST. JOSEPH - Braxton Waller celebrates his sack in the second half after putting Carlinville quarterback Rex Reels into the turf at Dick Duval Field on Saturday. After a slow first half, St. Joseph-Ogden rallied in the second putting four additional TDs on the scoreboard to win their first-round playoff game, 38-15. "I thought our defense did a tremendous job adjusting as the game went on," said head coach Shawn Skinner. "They did a super job." The Spartans advance to the second-round and will travel to Roxana to take on the Shells at 3pm. More PhotoNews photos from this game coming soon.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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