Spartans stall in semifinal
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Photo of the Day - October 20, 2020
Scouts to rake leaves in St. Joseph
St. Joseph resident Owen Yohnka is organizing a leaf raking service project for the community. Between now and October 30, Pack 40 and Troop 40 will rake leaves for homeowners who would like their assistance.
The service is being offered to anyone who need help raking their leaves. Yohnka said residents are encouraged to send their name and address or contact information for someone who would appreciate the help via email at pack40stjoseph@gmail.com. Questions regarding the raking services can be sent to this email address, too.
"It's always good to help out your neighbors," Yohnka said. "The Troop used to do this years ago. This is my first time doing this."
The scouts have done similar service projects including garbage pick up along the Trail Rail and clean up after the Fall Community Festival. They also place the flags at the high school and cemetery for Memorial Day, the 4th of July and Veterans Day.
The service is set up to be a contact-less service for homeowners or residents. After receiving an email request, a scout and their family will visit the property over the next few weeks to rake leaves for the village to vacuum away.
"We will just show up during the date range provided and rake the leaves in a nice straight pile along the road," Yohnka wrote in a post on Facebook announcing the service.
Photo of the Day - October 19, 2020
Victory!
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Easter-ween this Saturday in Ogden
The Old High School Park at 300 North Market Street in Ogden will be the site of Easter-ween this Saturday starting at 10am.
The egg hunt, originally scheduled for April 11, was postponed until this weekend due to the Shelter-in-Place Executive Orders issued by Governor Pritzker to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
In late March, Ogden trustee Sue Esposito told The News-Gazette that the village had no intent in canceling the event.
"We are going to just delay it, " she said. "So if we have an egg hunt in November or even December, whatever. ... There’s $700 worth of candy, eggs and money. That’s a lot. We’re not just going to give it up."
The Village of Ogden will provide Halloween bags to egg hunters.
Sentinel area trick-or-treat hours for Halloween 2020
Below are the hours set for trick-or-treating for Halloween 2020 in the communities The Sentinel covers.
Ogden:
Saturday, October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Philo:
Saturday, October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Sidney:
Saturday, October 31 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tolono:
Saturday, October 31 from 5 to 7 p.m.
This story is amended or updated as The Sentinel receives information from village officials. Updated 10/21/20
Maybe Halloween will provide relief from the insantity
By Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Halloween is typically a relaxed day for America's kids to fill their coffers with candy. Children and adults often don their favorite wacky attire for a day of comic relief.
America needs a day of some kind of relief and maybe Halloween will provide some insanity or terror relief. Because nothing about Halloween is as scary as what America and the world has been experiencing.
We have buried over 220,000 Americans from Covid-19. Over eight million have been sick. Nursing homes and Intensive Care Units have become horror wards. The projections for more sickness and death scare most Americans. We are afraid to go to church, out to eat, and to the grocery store. The airplane, hotel and restaurant industries are in peril as many have already closed or are on the verge of closing. Over 12 Million Americans are now unemployed and many in financial devastation because of Covid-19.
Congress continues to haggle over what and how much the government can further indebt our nation to keep us afloat for the present. With an approximate 28 trillion-dollar deficit and growing when will America file for bankruptcy? What will it take to keep Social Security and Medicare going? More taxes for a broader range of Americans and increased payroll taxes are on the near horizon, most Americans fear. It's more than a little scary.
On top of Covid-19, job loss, business failures and increasing poverty Americans are masked fatigued.
Children are tired of being home from school. Adults miss the comaraderie and social dynamics of their workmates. Working at home first felt good and welcomed but has become old for many Americans. The thought of this going on for another six months or even a year or longer is more than scary - it's terrifying.
On top of all this, we have a major election in front of us. Americans are terrified about the election. We are frightened about who will be elected. Trump being reelected terrifies millions, while millions are terrified Joe Biden will be elected. We are horrified of what may come as the result of this election and what either of the candidates may bring to America the next four years.
We are further scared by each other. The hostility of Americans toward people with different views is out of hand.
Hurting people, cursing people, destroying property are not hallmark qualities of a civilized society. We have sadly stopped being civil in America. Rude and crude are no longer shy in this nation. Pushing, shoving and outright fighting with people is becoming too normal. This is not what the average American wants and is disdained by most of us.
Let's face it, people who act this way scare most Americans.
It's Halloween time in America and there is plenty of fright to go around. The best treat we can give our country is treating each other the way we would like to be treated.
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Halloween is typically a relaxed day for America's kids to fill their coffers with candy. Children and adults often don their favorite wacky attire for a day of comic relief.
America needs a day of some kind of relief and maybe Halloween will provide some insanity or terror relief. Because nothing about Halloween is as scary as what America and the world has been experiencing.
We have buried over 220,000 Americans from Covid-19. Over eight million have been sick. Nursing homes and Intensive Care Units have become horror wards. The projections for more sickness and death scare most Americans. We are afraid to go to church, out to eat, and to the grocery store. The airplane, hotel and restaurant industries are in peril as many have already closed or are on the verge of closing. Over 12 Million Americans are now unemployed and many in financial devastation because of Covid-19.
Congress continues to haggle over what and how much the government can further indebt our nation to keep us afloat for the present. With an approximate 28 trillion-dollar deficit and growing when will America file for bankruptcy? What will it take to keep Social Security and Medicare going? More taxes for a broader range of Americans and increased payroll taxes are on the near horizon, most Americans fear. It's more than a little scary.
On top of Covid-19, job loss, business failures and increasing poverty Americans are masked fatigued.
Children are tired of being home from school. Adults miss the comaraderie and social dynamics of their workmates. Working at home first felt good and welcomed but has become old for many Americans. The thought of this going on for another six months or even a year or longer is more than scary - it's terrifying.
On top of all this, we have a major election in front of us. Americans are terrified about the election. We are frightened about who will be elected. Trump being reelected terrifies millions, while millions are terrified Joe Biden will be elected. We are horrified of what may come as the result of this election and what either of the candidates may bring to America the next four years.
We are further scared by each other. The hostility of Americans toward people with different views is out of hand.
Hurting people, cursing people, destroying property are not hallmark qualities of a civilized society. We have sadly stopped being civil in America. Rude and crude are no longer shy in this nation. Pushing, shoving and outright fighting with people is becoming too normal. This is not what the average American wants and is disdained by most of us.
Let's face it, people who act this way scare most Americans.
It's Halloween time in America and there is plenty of fright to go around. The best treat we can give our country is treating each other the way we would like to be treated.
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.
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.
Photo of the day - October 18, 2020
Spartans drop home game to PBL
ST. JOSEPH - Ty Pence dives after a loose ball with Paxton-Buckley-Loda senior Dalton Busboom. Pence, a freshman starter, finished the non-conference game with six points. The St. Joseph-Ogden boys squad drops the home game, after leading by one at the half, 51-42 to the Panthers on January 14, 2019.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Photo of the day - October 17, 2020
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Wolken scripts decisive SJO win
Photo of the Day - October 16, 2020
Spartans post 2-1 victory in STM road win
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
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.
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.
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.
Kickball league forming in Tolono
A newly formed adult kickball league in Tolono is looking for teams next month.
Games will be played every Sunday during the month of November at the Small Diamond in Tolono. Teams can be co-ed with players no younger than the age of 16. The official schedule will be released once the number of teams have been set.
Teams will play 7 inning contest or for 55 minutes, whichever comes first.
The registration fee for each team is $300, which will cover the cost of lights, umpires and balls.
For more information contact Ashley Kolakowski via messenger on Facebook.
Photo of the Day - October 15, 2020
Blaase qualifies for title race at state
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Photo of the Day - October 14, 2020
Up & Over
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
St. Joseph resident to send care packages to US troops abroad
Sarah Czerwinski, from St. Joseph, has a heart of gold.
Their mission is part of ongoing efforts by the U.S. to contribute to Ukraine’s long-term military reform and is provided at the request of the Ukrainian government. Observing a "train-the-trainer" approach, the Urbana based unit along with NATO allies and partners, are in-country to advise and mentor the Armed Forces of Ukraine Observer Controller / Trainers at the Combat Training Center located near Yavoriv.
A close friend, Alyssa Artola, deployed with the Urbana-based Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team to the Ukraine in June. Artola and her unit of approximately 165 soldiers are part of a Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine deployed to support U.S. European Command operations.
They will not be involved in conflict operations.
Raised in a military family, Czerwinski, whose father retired at major after 20 years of service in the Army, wanted to send her friend a care package several weeks ago. In a conversation with Artola she learned that troopers "get excited when they get mail", no matter what it is.
"I thought it was sad that people don't get mail," said Czerwinski, who decided not only to send her friend a care package, but one to every trooper in the brigade. "I thought it would be nice, something for them to look forward to."
She hatched a plan to gather as many items and boxes as she could through the month of October and then ship them out in time for to be received on Veteran’s Day.
"I wasn't really sure where to start," Czerwinski admitted. She posted a couple of messages on Facebook asking for donations and was pleasantly surprised by the response. "It's been a wonderful experience so far. The number of people willing to donate has been touching."
A member from the high school student council reached out and after receiving approval from the school administration, boxes will available at St. Joseph-Ogden High School starting this week to collect donated items.
There is also a box at Chris Booth State Farm, where she works, on the corner of Fox and State in Champaign, for donations. Czerwinski has also had people drop off items at her home.
Suggested items include:
Snack bars
Ramen
Seasoning salt
Hot sauces
Flavor packets for water
Energy bars
Beef jerky
Instant rice/Mac-n-cheese
Tea
Coffee
Small toiletries
Shower items
Board games
Playing cards
Pens
Paper
Ramen
Seasoning salt
Hot sauces
Flavor packets for water
Energy bars
Beef jerky
Instant rice/Mac-n-cheese
Tea
Coffee
Small toiletries
Shower items
Board games
Playing cards
Pens
Paper
If residents have any extra holiday decorations or working lights lying around, she would love to ship them to the American men and women serving our country.
"They may not have a tree, but the decor and lights would be great," she said.
The cost of shipping a box weighing up to 10 pounds is $20. Czerwinski is also accepting monetary donations to help cover the postal fee. She plans to deliver all the boxes and parcels she can to the post office in St. Joseph on October 30.
For more information on you can help, residents can contact Czerwinski via Facebook or send an email to sendingwithsarah@gmail.com
"I really appreciate all the support from people."
Photo of the Day - October 13, 2020
Rockets blast the Bombers for playoff victory
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Spartans finish in top 3, Rockets in 4th at IPC meet
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Illini Prairie Conference meet results:
| 4 | Brandon Mattsey | SJO | 16:07.43 |
| 8 | Charlie Mabry | SJO | 16:22.22 |
| 9 | Carson Maroon | SJO | 16:25.25 |
| 10 | Connor O'Donnell | Unity | 16:29.35 |
| 11 | Jarrett Cox | Unity | 16:32.92 |
| 16 | Benjamin Gravel | Unity | 16:54.41 |
| 19 | Elijah Mock | SJO | 17:08.02 |
| 20 | Luke Stegall | SJO | 17:08.73 |
| 22 | Logan Wolfersberger | SJO | 17:16.19 |
| 28 | Nolan Miller | Unity | 17:40.45 |
| 31 | Thomas Cler | Unity | 17:48.72 |
| 44 | Spencer Wilson | SJO | 18:23.18 |
| 46 | Clayton Jamison | Unity | 18:46.65 |
| 50 | Bryson Denny | Unity | 19:33.67 |
Progressive income tax would put heavy burden on small Illinois business
by Bryce Hill, Senior Research Analyst
Illinois Policy
COVID-19 and state-mandated restrictions already damaged Illinois small businesses, but the extra challenge of a 50.3% marginal income tax rate awaits if Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s "fair tax" is added to their state and federal income tax burdens.
Originally published by Illinois Policy on October 8, 2020. Published by permission.
Photo of the Day - October 12, 2020
SJO piles on the TD
(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)
Village sewer rate increase goes into effect in St. Joseph
At the beginning of this month a scheduled sewer rate increase went into effect for the Village of St. Joseph. The new rates will be reflected on residents' upcoming November billing.
The schedule rate increase, approved in April 2019 by the St. Joseph Board of Trustees and put on hold due COVID-19 pandemic, will pay for upgrades as the aging plant nears its maximum operating capacity according to a release from the village.
The 15-year plan created last year is a detailed road map to ensure costs, operating expenses and plant capital maintenance needs are met to keep pace with the community's growth. The plan included incrementally increasing rates, which will be determined annually by the board, on a yearly basis rather of one or more large jump in monthly fees.
While the increase will impact low volume users minimally, heavy users will see likely see a noticeable change on their statements.
The new rate, starting on October 1, is $17.50, up from $15.00, for the first two units. Each additional unit used will be billed at at $1.75 more then the previous amount of $5.25 at $7.00 each.
Unity takes 2nd at conference meet, SJO girls 5th
Unity's Taylor Joop runs the first lap around the course at the 2019 IHSA cross country state meet. Joop finished in 9th place at Saturday's Illini Prairie Conference meet in St. Joseph.
Photo: PhotoNews Media
Individually, Rockets' Erica Woodard paced all area runners around the course closing out her race in 18 minutes, 18 seconds for a fourth place overall finish. Nearly a minute later, teammates Caelyn Kleparski (8th) and Taylor Joop (9th) crossed the finish line at 19:12 and 19:15, respectively.
Ava Knap let the Spartan contingent finishing the 3-mile course with a time of 20:19.21. She was followed over the line by Helene Jones and Chloe Burkholter to round SJO's top three finishers. Jones finished two spots behind Knap in 23rd place overall. Meanwhile, Burkholter ended her run 30th out of 56 runners on Saturday.
This year's meet champion was Monticello with 29 points. Olympia won third place honors with a score of 90 points.
Illini Prairie Conference meet results:
| 4 | Erica Woodard | Unity | 18:18.00 |
| 8 | Caelyn Kleparski | Unity | 19:12.99 |
| 9 | Taylor Joop | Unity | 19:15.09 |
| 11 | Elizabeth Hulick | Unity | 19:26.23 |
| 13 | Olivia Shike | Unity | 19:38.08 |
| 16 | Malla Fairbanks | Unity | 19:55.97 |
| 20 | Ava Knap | SJO | 20:19.21 |
| 22 | Helene Jones | SJO | 20:28.93 |
| 26 | Audrey Remole | Unity | 20:45.34 |
| 29 | Chloe Burkholter | SJO | 20:58.85 |
| 31 | Malorie Sarnecki | SJO | 21:03.39 |
| 34 | Kailyn Ingram | SJO | 21:11.77 |
| 35 | Addie Allen | SJO | 21:22.56 |
| 39 | Ashlyn Lannert | SJO | 21:49.06 |
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