Winning & pinning, Spartans and Tigers tangle at quad meet

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Urbana's Jaylan Goines ties up St. Joseph-Ogden's Corbin Smith during their 190-pound match at Saturday's Quad Meet at St. Joseph-Ogden High School. Goines scored six points for his team after securing the match by pin in 33 seconds on the Spartan junior. Despite the loss, SJO went on to win the match, 58-21.

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Dolly Parton's Imagination Library comes to Champaign County

URBANA - The Imagination Library, founded by Country music legend and humanitarian Dolly Parton, is now available to Champaign Country residents. Funded by Parton and the Dollywood Foundation, who cover much of the overhead costs and administration needs, the cost for books and postage is taken care of by local programs, the United Way of Champaign County.

Each month, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails a high-quality, age-appropriate book to all eligible registered children at no cost to the family. Books are carefully selected and mailed addressed with the child's name.

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Photo Cottonbro Studio/PEXELS

Parents who read to their babies and young children lay the neurological pathways in the brain for building effective language use as well as reading and writing proficiency.

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Eligibility is open to all children under the age of 5 who live in Champaign County, Illinois. Books are sent monthly until the child turns five years old and as long as they live within the covered geographic area.

Some titles include Baby! Talk!, Pudgy Pat A Cake, Who Says Quack?, and Look at the Animals for kids born this year to In Our Garden, Wild Horses, You Can Be ABC, Wonder Walker, and I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared for children in the the age four to five group.

The Champaign County program is funded by donors via the Community Impact Fund and The State of Illinois. Parton's initiative has gifted over 224,249,899 books since its start in 1995 in Parton's hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee.

Studies have shown that kids whose parents or guardians read to them regularly during their early years perform better academically as they progress through the educational system. It is never too early or too late to read to children.

Parents interested in registering the children can follow this link to register today. The first book should arrive approximately eight to twelve weeks after registraion and will arrive monthly.

St. Joe Santa 5K Run/Walk Race on December 16

Sara Meyer poses for a photo with The Grinch after running in the inaugural event called the "Ho Ho Ho 5K" in 2018. Hundreds of Santas are expected at this year's race, bringing a sleigh-full of holiday cheer.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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ST. JOSEPH - Fire up the hot chocolate. Once again, it is that time of year for the cheery faces of Santas making their way through the streets of St. Joseph. Over 380 runners and walkers participated in last year's event, and this year's event could be even larger, with 161 runners already committed to participate on December 16.

There is still plenty of time for runners to sign up online at https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/IL/StJoseph/Santa5kRaces. Race registration closes on December 13 at 11:59 CST.

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges helps hand out medals and greets runners crossing the finish line at the Ho Ho Ho 5K in December of 2018. There were more than 300 participants and nearly that number in spectators, family members and well-wishers along the 5k course the first year.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

The event's race swag will include a Santa hat and beard, red long sleeved Santa race shirt, and a commemorative race medal for all participants.

After the race, this family-friendly event features a lot of warm smiles, good music, milk & cookies, and delicious hot chocolate. There will also be plenty of opportunities to have a picture or two with Santa & The Grinch at the annual community holiday event.

The St. Joe Santa 5k Run/Walk is a non-profit organization that organizes fun events to raise money for benefit local charities, while promoting health and fitness.

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Related Sentinel articles
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1st annual Santa HO HO HO 5k Fun Run/Walk a success

On the way home from a marathon/half marathon race in Indianapolis, Max Painter and members of his running group lamented how the event was the last race they would run in 2018.

During the discussion fellow runner Brenda Hixon suggested the possibility of taking another road trip. Maybe to Chicago or running in Indy again at either city's Santa Hustle. The group of avid runner decided they would indeed run one more race before the end of the year.

Read more ...

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St. Joe Santa 5k is set for December 21

If you live in St. Joseph, don't be surprised if you wake up four days before Christmas and see hundreds of fit-looking Santas running through the village. No, these Kris Kringle knockoffs won't be looking for lost reindeer or handing out early holiday presents to those who've been extra nice this year. The red shirts will be running in the 2019 St. Joe Santa 5K run/walk on December 21.

Read more ...

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Third installment of holiday 5K held in St. Joseph goes virtual

While the Coronavirus pandemic has put the kibosh on a lot of events, it is not stopping Brenda Hixson from raising money for the St. Joseph Food Bank. The St. Joe Santa 5K will run on - online that is.

Proceeds from the race in past years was given to help support the local St. Joseph food bank pantry managed by the St. Joseph Methodist Church in partnership with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank.

Read more ...

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Photo Gallery | Urbana wrestlers try to earn a couple of wins

Malachi Hutchison wrestles Kendrick White during their 137-pound match at the St. Joseph-Ogden quad meet on Saturday. Despite a strong showing, Hutchison lost by pin and the Tigers went on to drop the early season match to their Big 12 rival. Official results were not available at this time.

All photos: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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National Labor Relations Board issues new rule that is hailed a win for workers

by Brett Peveto
Illinois News Connection

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CHICAGO - The National Labor Relations Board recently issued a rule change that may have wide-ranging impacts for workers and businesses.

The update to the joint employer rule would require parent companies to negotiate collective bargaining agreements with employees even when using a staffing agency or subcontractor.

It also means franchisors and franchisees can both be held liable for unfair labor practices.

This replaces a Trump-era rule change that made it easier for companies to avoid a finding of joint-employer status.

Brian Petruska - general counsel with the mid-Atlantic regional organizing coalition of the Laborer's International Union of North America - said the rule change is a win for workers.

"It means that the employees' right to organize still is meaningful," said Petruska, "even in this modern world we live in with layers and layers of LLCs and corporations who are now defining the workspace."

The rule change now faces legal challenges including from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which filed suit against the board in federal court.

In a statement on its website, the Chamber says the rule change will "create chaos and more legal confusion that will harm both employers and workers."

The NLRB rule establishes that two or more entities may be considered joint employers of a group of employees when more than one entity possesses the authority to control employees' essential terms and conditions of employment.

The board says this change is more in line with established common-law agency principles.

Petruska said he sees opposition to the updated rule coming from a number of industries including restaurants, construction and hotels.

He also said the franchise business model will no longer insulate the parent company from labor issues.

"Now," said Petruska, "the fact that they have that control may cause them to be embroiled in local labor disputes that the franchisees are having with their employees."

The new rule will go into effect next February.