St. Joseph-Ogden families encouraged to meet teachers for fall conference

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With report cards going home October 24, SJO parents will have an opportunity to connect with teachers during fall conferences on October 30. The school encourages families to schedule times early to ensure availability.

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It’s that time of year again when backpacks get a little heavier with report cards, and parents get a chance to check in on how things are going in the classroom. St. Joseph-Ogden High School will host Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 30, from 3 to 5 p.m. and again from 6 to 9 p.m.

Parents are encouraged to schedule a conference time with their student’s teachers or counselor by contacting the school office at (217) 469-7321 or by emailing fallsn@sjo.k12.il.us no later than October 28.

First-quarter grades will be sent home with students on October 24, providing a great starting point for conversations about academic progress and goals. Families with questions about scheduling or conference details are invited to call the high school office for assistance.

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How to ease cold symptoms: Expert advice from OSF HealthCare’s Dr. Kimberly Walker

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Family medicine physician Dr. Kimberly Walker of OSF HealthCare offers practical ways to manage seasonal colds and ease symptoms. She reminds parents that most colds resolve within a week or two but advises seeing a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.

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by Matt Sheehan
OSF Healthcare

Dr. Kimberly Walker

BLOOMINGTON - Runny noses, sore throats and coughs are back in season.

For parents, it’s a yearly dance with kids at school and family gatherings that help spread germs, colds and viruses. Since it’s impossible for every person to avoid this, how can we minimize the severity of your symptoms? That’s where Kimberly Walker, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, comes in with some helpful advice.

Over-the counter options

Not every symptom calls for a doctor’s visit, and if you address your signs early enough, Dr. Walker says the length of your cold can decrease drastically.

“Within the first 24 hours, you can take Zinc lozenges,” Dr. Walker says. “That helps inhibit the amount of the virus that’s getting into your cells and body. But it’s only working within that first 24 hours.”

For children and adults alike, Dr. Walker offers another easy to find alternative that can provide relief.

“We’ve used this for many years, the Vick’s VapoRub. Luckily, it doesn’t sting or burn as much anymore. They have the creams and rubs which are a great source to use for your children to breathe easier and to sleep easier.”

Another option that has some health benefits? Celery.

“It has properties where it will numb the back of the throat and helps with sore throats. So, you can give them celery and peanut butter, ants on a log, right? It’s a good treat and helps with their sore throat,” Dr. Walker adds.

How to treat children with a cold

First and foremost, hand hygiene is key. Turn it into a fun game with your children at home. Remind them to cough into their sleeve and not out into thin air, spreading viral particles around.

“In children we want to make sure they’re well hydrated. Make sure they’re drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water and not sugar beverages. For any body aches or fevers they may have, given them Tylenol,” Dr. Walker says. “You can also do children’s Motrin, and cycle that with the Tylenol. Usually those are weight-based dosing, so make sure you know how much your child weighs and pay attention to the directions on the medication boxes.”

For babies, medicine isn’t always an option. Dr. Walker offers some advice for caregivers to provide comfort to infants with a cold.

“The biggest thing is going to be nasal irrigation with saline and making sure their airways are clear of mucus,” Dr. Walker says. “Really suctioning and getting those airways clear is very important for them.”

How can decongestants help?

“This is going to be a self-limited illness. Decongestants are going to help you breathe better,” Dr. Walker says. “You can also use an antihistamine with the decongestant, something like Claritin-D. It is something that will help you breathe better and rest better.”

But when you’re walking the pharmacy aisle seeing a bunch of different options, how can you choose? Dr. Walker has some tips.

“Afrin is a good decongestant to use, but you can only use Afrin for three days. Flonase is an intranasal steroid, but Flonase has been proven in studies not to help in the common cold. It is helpful with allergies, though,” Dr. Walker adds.

Colds and viruses tend to last one to two weeks. If your symptoms are more serious or linger on much longer than that, reach out to your primary care team and schedule an appointment.

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Tagged: how to treat children’s colds at home safely, best over-the-counter remedies for cold and sore throat, OSF HealthCare cold and flu prevention tips, Dr. Kimberly Walker family medicine advice, natural ways to ease congestion and cold symptoms

The Sentinel On This Day | October 25

Archived articles published on October 25 in previous years from The Sentinel. Topics include local news, sports, community events, politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints.

Each day, we revisit stories that shaped our community — from thrilling high school sports moments and heartfelt local events to coverage of state politics, healthcare developments, and opinion pieces that sparked conversation. Explore archived stories published on October 25 from previous years, offering a snapshot of life in Champaign County and beyond by The Sentinel.

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Week 9 IHSA football scores from around the state

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

URBANA - St. Joseph-Ogden's Brennan Oleynichak and three teammates stop Pontiac running back Jayden Reed from advancing during the first quarter of their Illini Prairie Conference game. The Spartans scored 14 points in each quarter on their way to a much needed victory to solidify a spot in the 2025 IHSA football postseason. SJO won the home game at Dick Duval Field 56-21.

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Illini Prairie Conference scores

Unity 55, Mt Vernon 37
St Joseph-Ogden 56, Pontiac 21
Central Catholic 41, Prairie Central 0
Illinois Valley Central 30, Rantoul 27
Monticello 14, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 6

Big Twelve Conference scores

Normal West 57, Urbana 15
Bloomington 37, Centennial 6
Champaign Central 55, Peoria Manual 16
Peoria Notre Dame 54, Danville 13
Peoria 36, Normal Community 14
Mahomet-Seymour 63, Richwoods 14

Scores from around the state

AddisonTrail 35, Willowbrook 0
Alden-Hebron 26, Ashton-Franklin Center 8
Arthur 49, Villa Grove/Heritage 26
Athens 55, Riverton 13
Aurora Waubonsie Valley 49, DeKalb 28
Aurora West Aurora 52, Streamwood 8
Bartlett 48, Elgin 0
Batavia 45, Wheaton Warrenville South 12
Benton 42, Harrisburg 7
Bishop McNamara 56, St Edward 0
Bolingbrook 26, Yorkville 21
Bradley-Bourbonnais 53, Andrew 41
Byron 38, North Boone 26
Byron Center, Mich. 38, Morris 26
Canton 50, Bartonville Limestone 28
Carmel 38, Fenwick 24
Carterville 55, Anna-Jonesboro 7
Cary-Grove 44, Algonquin Jacobs 29
Central 42, Dundee-Crown 6
Central 49, Salt Fork 30
Central Catholic 41, Prairie Central 0
Centralia 21, Effingham 16
Chester 29, Nashville 19
Christopher 50, Albion Edwards County 25
Crete-Monee 27, Kankakee 14
DePaul 35, Benet 6
Deer Creek-Mackinaw 50, Kelly, Mo. 13
Dixon 58, Genoa-Kingston 20
Downers Grove North 47, Proviso East 0
Du Quoin 47, Murphysboro 20
Dunlap 30, Metamora 23, OT
Dwight 41, Oregon 8
El Paso-Gridley 37, Shelbyville 6
Eldorado 42, Carmi-White County 30
Fairfield 44, Hamilton County 25
Flanagan-Cornell 64, Bushnell-Prairie City 20
Flora 29, Red Hill 6
Galena 26, Fulton 7
Galva 55, West Prairie 22
Geneseo 45, Quincy 7
Geneva 45, St Charles East 20
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 55, Lexington 27
Glenbard East 45, Riverside-Brookfield 43
Glenbard North 39, Wheaton North 20
Glenbard South 35, Larkin 7
Glenbrook South 45, New Trier 0
Glenwood 38, Springfield 28
Grayslake Central 41, Round Lake 7
Herscher 35, Peotone 28
Highland Park 49, Maine East 0
Hinsdale Central 35, OPRF 15
Homewood-Flossmoor 50, Aurora (Metea Valley) 8
Illini West 34, Elmwood 24
Johnston City 36, Sesser-Valier 18
Joliet Catholic 30, Providence 27
Knoxville 55, Stark County 14
Lake Zurich 49, Stevenson 9
Lanark Eastland-Pearl City 53, Dakota 22
Lena-Winslow 40, Durand-Pecatonica 20
Leyden 21, Hinsdale South 19
Lincoln Way Central 49, Rich Township 0
Lincoln Way West 49, Stagg 0
Lockport 41, Neuqua Valley 17
Lyons 34, York 26
Macomb def. LCSRV, forfeit
Mahomet-Seymour 63, Richwoods 14
Manteno 33, Streator 6
Marion 49, Mattoon 21
Marist 42, Notre Dame 14
Maroa-Forsyth 44, New Berlin 34
Marshall 32, Newton 15
Minooka 15, Oswego East 14
Moline 63, Galesburg 6
Momence 29, Georgetown-Ridge Farm 20
Monmouth-Roseville 40, Newman 7
Montini Catholic 23, St. Laurence 0
Mt Carmel 35, Loyola 24
Mt Prospect 56, Elk Grove 28
Mt. Carmel 42, Lawrenceville 15
Naperville North 21, Naperville Central 15
Nazareth 42, St. Francis 16
Niles West 20, Maine West 14
Nokomis 63, Arcola 21
Normal West 57, Urbana 15
Oakwood 21, BHRA 13
Olney 43, Robinson 21
Oswego 37, Plainfield North 7
Ottawa Marquette 66, Morrison 23
Palatine 35, Hoffman Estates Conant 7
Paris 22, Casey-Westfield 17
Plainfield East 53, Plainfield Central 7
Prairie Ridge 54, Crystal Lake South 26
Princeville 47, United 8
Quincy Notre Dame 49, MacArthur 7
Reavis 42, Oak Lawn 0
Richards 51, Evergreen Park 0
River Ridge 46, Christian Life 8
Rochelle 27, Waterloo 6
Rochester 31, Sacred Heart-Griffin 28
Rockridge 48, Hall 21
Salem 32, Charleston 23
Sangamon Valley 34, Tri-County 0
Seneca 48, Carlyle 13
Southeast 26, Eisenhower 18
St Anne 61, Blue Ridge 12
St Charles North 35, Lake Park 16
St Joseph-Ogden 56, Pontiac 21
St Rita 38, ICCP 21
Sterling 42, Rock Island 14
Stockton 44, Forreston 6
Sullivan 34, Argenta-Oreana 27
Tremont 40, Clinton 0
Tuscola 38, Le Roy 28
Unity 55, Mt Vernon 37
Warren 49, Libertyville 21
Warrensburg-Latham 22, Fieldcrest 14
Washington 49, Morton 21
Wauconda 31, Lakes 14
West Carroll 43, Kirkland Hiawatha 26
West Chicago 44, Bensenville (Fenton) 34
Westville 52, Iroquois West 13
Wheaton Academy 42, Christ the King 0
Wilmington 44, Coal City 21
Pana 43, Carlinville 26
Greenville 42, Staunton 7
Hillsboro 56, Southwestern 20
North Mac 32, Gillespie 12
Vandalia 49, Litchfield 14
Calhoun 21, Brown County 12
Carrollton 35, Concord Triopia 12
Greenfield 47, Mendon Unity 44
Camp Point Central 70, North Greene 8 (Thursday)
Pleasant Hill 22, Jacksonville Routt 14
West Central 46, Beardstown 13
Highland 34, Alton 24
St. Louis De Smet 30, Edwardsville 15
Taylorville 24, Civic Memorial 17
Jersey 49, Columbia 21
Roxana 41, Marquette Catholic 7
Dupo 69, East Alton-Wood River 24
Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 14, East St. Louis 13 (OT)
O’Fallon 34, LaSalle-Peru 0
Belleville East 27, Jefferson City (Mo.) Capital City 10
Belleville West 21, St. Louis Vianney 19
Collinsville 16, Triad 7
Rochelle 27 Waterloo 6
Mascoutah 47, Carbondale 28
Maple Park Kaneland 55, Belleville Althoff 28
Breese Central 55, Herrin 6
Ottawa 52, Granite City 0
Sycamore 30, Cahokia 28
Wesclin 70, Madison 32
Mount Zion 52, Breese Mater Dei 14

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TAGS: Roxana crushes Marquette by 34 points, Illinois high school football scores in October, Week 9 IHSA football results, Camp Point Central runs up 70 points on North Greene, Central Catholic wins IPC with perfect record