Third quarter Honor Roll for Unity Junior High School

Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period.

6th Grade Honor Roll

Audrey Claire Akers
Ashlyn Nicole Alt
Rya Jolee Bialeschki
Isaac Mathew Boitnott
Bradley Roger Bruhn
Brailey Marie Cain
Greyson Zachary DeHart
Luke JR Dougherty
Brady Gallagher Eckstein
Collin Daniel Eckstein
Kenzlee Rae Evans
Libbey Marlene Ethel Griffin
Natalie May Gumbel-Paeth
Jessica Marie Hamilton
William Timothy Huntington
Finnegan Samuel Bowie Isberg
Matthew Stephen Kroes
Adeliah June Little
Jack Thomas Ludwinski
Finn Alexander Merkle
Caylynn Josie Parker
Ellie Rose Parker-Johnson
Maxwell Tyler Pound
Raelyn Marie Prosser
Jordan William Pruitt
Makena Jade Pruitt
Riker Alan Rogers
Kyle Sean Roosevelt
Jonah Ryan Schriefer
Layla Marie Scott
Aria Marley Shafer
Daisy Mae Stierwalt
Silas Richard Swim
Jaycob David Tatman
Justin Michael Tempel
Meah Ann Tieman
Owen Robert Vasey
Colby Aaron Weaver
Lucy Jeane Weaver
Levi Nelson White
Kadence Ryleigh Wiese
Phoebe Ashlynn Witheft

7th Grade Honor Roll

Sawyer Michael Abrahamson
Grace Bailey
Ty Craig Benedict
Elizabeth Joanne Berkey
Carter Ryan Bickers
Ella Addyson Bromley
Alec Joseph Daly
Jase Charles Eisenmenger
Ian Robert Gaines
Jaxson Edward Glad
Aubrie Paige Gumm
Owen Dean Hottman
Holly Marie Howey
Cora Dee Leonard
Owen Michael Lighty
Jauniyah Rosemarie Lisanby
Liam Hayes Logsdon
Russell Patrick McCabe
Addyson Jo McIntosh
Lane Lucas Meharry
Baeden Edward Millsap-Moore
Lillian Calen Mohr
Jaxon David Pendleton
Logan Harvey Reimer Couch
Henry Scott Ritchie
Grace Catherine Schriefer
Jaylan Serczyk
Jasper Lee Souza
Cade Robert Styan
Virgil Laurence Summitt
Jayden Michael Terven
Nicholas James Thomas
Quentin Stephen Webber
Hallee Ann Weber Patterson
Lucas Neal Williams

8th Grade Honor Roll

Joseph William Willard Baird
Cameron Pierre Barnes
Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brayden Michael Burke
Brilynn Creola Cain
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Madison Grace Castor
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Garrisan Martin Cler
Devlin Davis
Soren Lovell Davis
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Nolan Myles Elliott
Haley Elizabeth Ennis
Cohen Fincham
Zoe Margaret Fish
Shae Lin Fournier
Hallie Lynn Handal
Brady Cullen Harris
Roman James Hastings
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Joel Ryan Hoewing
Kane William Knudsen
Jax Hunter Logsdon
Payten Renee Niles
Larissa Marie Parr
Clayton Wyatt Pruitt
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Journee Lynn Ring
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Ian James Skibbe
Ava Sommer
Bodie Springer
Gavin James Warren

Unity Junior High Third-Quarter High Honor Roll

Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved high honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period.

6th Grade High Honor Roll

Maylie Rose Bates
Nora Kristina Blanchard
Viola Ayame Carman
Lydia Grace Crowe
Kylee Paulette Cunningham
Elizabeth Irene Davidson
Bronson Edwin Davis
Savannah Jo Drewes
Quentin Xavier Dykeman
Beau Richard Eisenmenger
Tinsley Layne Elliott
Alarik Byrum Ellison
Cooper Alexander Fairbanks
Nadia Grace Fairbanks
Hayden Marie Gabbard
Lena Anne Guild Borchers
Harper Quinn Harris
Addilynn Mae Hatfield
Dylan Paul Holladay
Mason James Holladay
Gabriel Heinrich Jahnel
Allie Rose Kamradt
Molly Kathryn Lydia Kleiss
John Isaac "Isaac" Leaman
Adelyn Jolene Maxwell
Owen Thomas Menacher
Graham Charles Moore
Ashley Ann Mumm
Nicole Nava Palomares
Avery Elizabeth Remole
Matias Alberto Rios Toro
Camdon Levi Schmid
Nora Julianna Shields
Drake Alan Siuts
Clementine Lucille Summitt
William Ross Wetherell
Alexis LeAnn Wolken
Alivia RaeLyn Wolken
Brendan Kurtis Zerrusen

7th Grade High Honor Roll

Kelsey Marie Adcock
Kenny Wayne Adcock
Lilly Annabelle Bailes
Brooklyn Blair Bates
Ethan Earl Bent
Katherine Elaine Berkey
Konnor Lewis Bletscher
Kale Boden Cowan
Trevor Daniel Coy
McKenzie Lynn Deakin
Emma Nicole Denney
Evan Matthew Donaldson
Steven Gambill
Amelia Marie Good
Hayden Bradley Grussing
Jordan Elizabeth Hamilton
Kynedy Ashlynn Hoel
Samuel Bentley Hollett
Alivia Krall
Adeline Marie Marinelli
Lilly Madelyn Meharry
Tatum Faith Meharry
Jacklynn Kay Alexandra Moore
Kelvin Justus Moose
Holden William ONeill
Marley Rae Parks
Carolina Maria Pagaduan Popovics
Luc Sandor Marcelo Popovics
Maxwell Douglas Powers
Marina Ray Price
Maya Alexis Rawdin
Bella Rose Robbins
Madelyn Olivia Roth-Robertson
Skylar Grace Savona
Sophia Isabella Schuckman
Connor Allen Schwartz-Rouse
Austin David Shafer
Vivian Rosalie Shunk
Hayden Dale Smith
Abigail Elise Spomer
Dylan Robert Stierwalt
Tucker Douglas Stierwalt
Olivia Jane Styan
Jack Christopher Terven
Deklyn James Thomas
Hayley Olivia Thompson
Cassandra Pearl Thweatt

8th Grade High Honor Roll

Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Andrew Patrick Donovan
Dillon Michael Ellars
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Tessa Lynn Horn
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Khison Able Kern
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Clint Michael McCormick
Nolan Mark Tempel Meharry
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Caleb Arthur Saxon
Carter Charles Schmid
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Kole David VanSickle
John William White
Austin James Wiersema
Olivia Ann Williams
Olivia Ruth Witheft
Cole Thomas Zorns

Friday Flashback: Unable to summon the beast inside, SJO suffers home loss on to Trojans

ST. JOSEPH - Jared Altenbaumer unloads a pitch, getting another taste of varsity action during St. Joseph-Ogden's home baseball against Maroa-Forsyth in April of 2023. The sophomore went to the mound replacing senior Jack Robertson in the 8-4 loss to the visiting Trojans. The Spartans went on to finish the season 28-8 and second in the Illini Prairie Conference with a 8-1 record. In his 66 trip to the plate last season, Altenbaumer struck out just eight times and finished the season with a .347 ERA. Six games into the current season he has produced ten hits and 11 RBI on his 18 at bats.

See more photos from the 2023 game below.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Photo Gallery

Urbana Board of Education seeks to fill open board seat

URBANA - The Urbana Board of Education #116 is taking applications to replace former member Dr. Ravi Hasanadka, who resigned at the Feb. 26 special board meeting. The prospective board member must live in Illinois and Sub-District #2 for at least one year to be eligible. The individual appointed to the seat will serve until April 2025.

The sub-district primarily includes the areas surrounding Urbana High School and Blair Park in Urbana.

"Applicants should show familiarity with the Board’s policies regarding general duties and responsibilities of a School Board and a School Board member, including fiduciary responsibilities, conflict of interest, ethics, and gift ban. The Board’s policies are available on the USD #116 website," says a press release released today.

Candidates for the position are required to complete a statement of interest, submit a current resume, and a letter that addresses their reasons for wanting to serve on the district school board. Applications materials should be placed in a sealed envelope to the attention of School Board President Paul Poulosky by 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3 at 1101 E. University in Urbana. Application materials can be submitted via email to Board Recording Secretary, Lori Johnson at lajohnson@usd116.org.

Follow this link for more information.

Opinion |
The end of Anti-Woke politics?

from Jim Hightower

Well, well, well — look who’s waking up and raring to go: Mr. and Ms. Woke!

We so-called “woke” people have been the target of far-right politicos and front groups that are frantically trying to ban us and our ideas from America’s political discourse. In the past few years, such thuggish gubernatorial demagogues as Ron DeSantis have perverted the power of Big Government to attack teachers, librarians, public agencies, and even beer. Beer!

Why? Because such people and organizations make educational efforts to reduce bigotry, hatred, and exclusiveness in our society. “That’s woke,” screech the ultra-rightists, demanding that any talk about racism, sexism, gender discrimination, or other ugly realities in America must be suppressed.

Like the witch hunters of old, today’s pious puritans of ideological conformity have demonized such basic values as diversity and equity, calling them “toxic.” DeSantis outlawed any teaching of them in Florida universities, and then he cut sociology from the core curriculum of the state’s educational system — essentially cutting out “us,” the study of humanity.

If ignorance is bliss, the DeSantis clique must be ecstatic, for they are eliminating crucial lessons in the art of tolerance, community, sharing, collaboration, and getting along together. You can have a society that works for the benefit of all — or a DeSantisWorld, where the few rule, and everyone else is forced to conform to their biases.

But the great majority of Americans are rebelling and saying: “We are woke!”

Even Republicans flatly rejected DeSantis’ presidential campaign that promised to “Floridize” America with anti-woke nonsense. And far from wanting to reverse efforts to increase diversity and inclusiveness, a recent poll found that 70 percent of Americans (including half of Republicans) say our country “needs to do more to increase social justice.”

About the author ~

OtherWords columnist Jim Hightower is a radio commentator, writer, and public speaker. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.

Commentary |
Cash bail is unfair and violates the right to due process

Photo: Sasun Bughdaryan/Unsplash

Election years are a scary time for people of color in the U.S. They are marked by race-based voter suppression efforts, a rise in racist political rhetoric, and even a surge in racist hate crimes.

by Sonali Kolhatkar

Many Americans haven’t heard of cash bail. But the idea is central to an election year battle over racism, policing, and mass incarceration.

When arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, everyone in the United States has the right to due process and to defend themselves in court. But in a cash bail system, when judges set bail amounts, those who cannot pay the full amount remain jailed indefinitely — a clear violation of their due process rights — while the rich can pay their way out of jail.

A 2022 report by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights examined the impact of cash bail and found that between 1970 and 2015, the number of people jailed before trial increased by a whopping 433 percent.

There are currently about half a million such people stuck in jails across the nation who haven’t been tried or convicted of any crimes. The report also found “stark disparities with regards to race,” with Black and brown men most often subject to higher bail amounts.

Thankfully, many states and cities are moving to reform this unfair practice.

In 2023, Illinois became the first state to entirely abolish cash bail. Other states, such as New Mexico, New Jersey, and Kentucky, have almost entirely ended cash bail requirements in recent years. In California, Los Angeles County has also similarly eliminated cash bail for all crimes except the most serious ones.

But in this election year, Republicans are rolling back these efforts — most recently in Georgia.

The state recently passed a bill expanding cash bail for 30 new crimes, some of which appear to be aimed at protesters, such as unlawful assembly. Further, it criminalizes charitable bail funds — and even individuals — that bail out people who can’t afford to bail out themselves.

Marlon Kautz, who runs the Atlanta Solidarity Fund, called cash bail “a loophole” in the criminal justice system, allowing courts to indefinitely jail people without charges if they cannot pay exorbitant bail amounts.

“Police, prosecutors, and politicians want a bail system that allows them to punish their political enemies, poor people, and people of color without trial,” said Kautz, whose fund has bailed out people protesting a massive new police training facility opponents call “Cop City.” Kautz was one of three people affiliated with the fund to be arrested on apparently politicized charges last year.

Reversing progress on bail reform is a new flashpoint in the GOP’s culture wars. “It could be a sign that Republicans intend to bash their Democratic opponents as soft on crime,” the Associated Press reported. Alongside Georgia, Republicans in Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin have introduced numerous bills expanding the use of cash bail.

Expanding the racist criminal justice system is a cynical GOP election-era ploy, one that has little to do with public safety.

“It is exceedingly rare for someone who’s released pretrial to be arrested and accused of a new offense that involves violence against another person,” said Sharlyn Grace, an official at the Cook County Public Defender’s office in Illinois. “Fears about public safety are in many ways greatly overblown and misplaced.”

“National studies contradict” the claim, the AP adds, that people are any less likely to show up for a court date if they’re released without bail.

Election years are a scary time for people of color in the U.S. They are marked by race-based voter suppression efforts, a rise in racist political rhetoric, and even a surge in racist hate crimes. The expansion of cash bail laws is yet another attack on Black and brown communities — one that must be exposed and confronted.

We shouldn’t let reform efforts fall victim to election year politics.

Sonali Kolhatkar is the host of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. This commentary was produced by the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute and adapted for syndication by OtherWords.org.

Editorial |
The color of compassion

Khalil Bendib / OtherWords.org

Is the U.S. government showing its true colors when it comes to sympathy for war victims?