Photo Gallery | Spartans notch first soccer win of the season

Logan Ingram St. Joseph-Ogden's Logan Ingram boots the ball down the field during second half soccer action against Meridian on March 22. After a well-played contest and a loss on the road at St. Thomas More, SJO rebounded to shoot down the visiting Hawks, 3-2.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Emily Elsbernd dribbles the ball down the field Moving from her usual role as defender, Emily Elsbernd dribbles the ball unchallenged toward the Meridian box playing in a forward position.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Jared Emmert passes the soccer ball Spartan Jared Emmert concentrates on making a pass in front of Hawk defender.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
SJO's Will Page lines up a pass SJO defender Will Page lines up a pass away from Meridian forwards during first half play on Monday.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Spencer Wilson takes great strides to push the ball down the field Running stride for stride with a Meridian player, Spartan Spencer Wilson pushes the ball across the field to change the game momentum.
PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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Village Crier: March 30, 2021

Killer in St. Joseph double murder convicted

A jury of six men and six women took just two hours on Thursday, March 11, to reach a mutual agreement that Jonathon Perry, 30, murdered his girlfriend, Kimberly Coyne, 54, and her daughter, Blair Coyne, 24, in their home on the north side of St. Joseph a year ago this past weekend.

Perry was quickly arrested after the incident after Champaign County sheriff’s deputies were informed of statements he made to a family member consistent with the crime. During trial, prosecutors for the state noted that Perry had said he had killed the "Antichrist and Satan" when he was taken into custody last year at 4am on Sunday, March 29.

Three months after his arrest, a court-appointed psychiatrist examined Perry and declared him fit for trial.

Found guilty of first degree murder of both women, Judge Randy Rosenbaum is left no leeway to hand down nothing other than a life sentence during the sentencing phase on April 22.

St. Thomas trivia night on April 9

St. Thomas Catholic School in Philo will host a Virtual Trivia night from 6-10pm on April 9.

There will also be a 50/50 raffle during the online ZOOM event. Each table package will include a Dead or Alive game sheet and one Mulligan to use for each trivia round. Reservations for tables are being accepted now.

"We are continually adding to our silent auction items, so make sure to check back often to see what has been added," it says on the event page. "Silent auction bidding will be open from 6 pm - 10 pm on Trivia Night".

For more information contact the event organizers at tcain@stthomasphilo.org

Franzen to take middle school reigns

The St. Joseph Consolidated Community School Board voted to hire Alisyn Franzen as the new principal at the St. Joseph Middle School starting this fall. Franzen, who will take over the position with the retirement of Chris Graham, currently teaches English at St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Nursery to host spring open house

Schuren Garden Center, located at 1709 County Rd. 2200E, St. Joseph, will host their annual spring open house on Saturday, April 10.

The open house will start at 8:30am and run through 5:30pm. In addition to door prizes and refreshments, shoppers will be able to save 20% off their entire purchase. The business will hold purchases until Mother's Day if needed.

Visit their website or call (217) 469-7962.


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St. Joseph Community Yard & Garage Sale next month

The St. Joseph Community Garage Sale is scheduled for April 8, 9 and 10.

The Sentinel is offering St. Joseph residents who would like to reach a broader audience with information about their sale the opportunity to list their yard or garage sale information at no charge.

Simply follow this link to submit your sale information by 5pm on April 6. Our complete list of area sales will be published Wednesday, April 7, on The Sentinel website as well as across our social media platforms to help send more buyers your way.

Premium listings with photos and an extended word count are available. Contact The Sentinel at advertising@oursentinel.com for details.

Observing the state's pandemic mitigation and public health mandates, shoppers are encouraged wear masks and maintain social distancing as much as possible to help keep friends and neighbors healthy as they visit various sales throughout the community.


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SJO 3rd Quarter Honor Roll

Yesterday, St. Joseph-Ogden High School announced the third quarter honor roll students. Thirty-eight members in this year's freshman class earned High Honor Roll recognition. Another 13 earned Honor Roll status.

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

Freshman Honor Roll

Sophomore High Honor Roll

Sophomore Honor Roll

Junior High Honor Roll

Junior Honor Roll

Senior High Honor Roll

Senior Honor Roll

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Food | Easter Bunny rolls with spinach dip

(Family Feature) If you are enjoying this Easter with loved ones and family you may not have seen much of over the past 12 months, these Easter Bunny Rolls with Spinach Dip, as eye-catching as they are delicious, make a great appetizer or mid-day snack.

Not only will the kids love its shape, but the layers of taste will wow your guests or bring praises from your hosts if you are taking a dish to dinner on Sunday.

Eyeing the table, you notice all the colors popping off the dishes. Fruits and veggies make the feast come to life, but a warm Easter dip paired with rolls is a perfect way to start.

While visiting and catching up with family and friends, there is nothing better than diving into a marvelous Easter spread while enjoying warm conversations about life over the past year and what the future holds.

Here's a quick look at how to put this on your table for Easter or anytime during the year.

First, you will combine a 16-ounce package of frozen spinach, cream cheese and garlic in a skillet. Once heated, add mayonnaise, salt, onion powder, chili powder and Italian seasoning. And then add in Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses then stir until thoroughly mixed.

Next, roll out crescent rolls. Stretch the dough and cut into 24 rolls.

Form the bunny shape and scoop your spinach dip mixture into the center of the bunny and its ears. Sprinkle the spinach dip with mozzarella cheese before baking at 375º F for 18 minutes.

This dish is made for a crowd, served warm and full of cheesy goodness. You can watch as your family dips into the spinach and one-by-one, before you know it, the rolls will have disappeared and the dip will be devoured.

Easter Bunny Rolls with Spinach Dip


Serves: 24

16 ounces frozen spinach, thawed
8 ounces cream cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 crescent roll tubes (8 ounces each)

Heat oven to 375º F.

In skillet, over medium heat, cook spinach, cream cheese and garlic 3-4 minutes until cream cheese is melted. Stir in mayonnaise, salt, onion powder, chili powder, pepper and Italian seasoning. Stir in Parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Cook until cheese is melted. Keep skillet on burner over low heat.

Remove dough from tubes. Leaving dough intact, roll and stretch into 18-inch ropes. Cut each rope into 12 pieces for 24 total.

On baking sheet with parchment paper, form bunny head by placing one piece of dough in middle then surrounding it with six more pieces. Use 13 pieces to form round body. Use remaining pieces to form ears on top of head.

Scoop hot spinach dip into center. Spoon small portions on each ear. Sprinkle ears and belly with remaining mozzarella cheese.

Bake 18 minutes, or until crescent dough is golden brown and thoroughly cooked.

Find more Easter recipes at Culinary.net.

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Community Poll | How worried are you about recent COVID uptick?

Locally, after enjoying a nearly two week period of 32 or fewer active cases, that number surged to 69 one week ago. Today, The Sentinel area has returned to its pre-outbreak level down to 29 active cases. The daily average of new cases has also returned to its two per day average.

Meanwhile, it has been more than a week and the state has not met the governor's metrics to enter the Bridge Phase Reopening. The increase in hospitalizations and positivity in Chicago, Cook County, and Region 1, which includes the Rockford area, has been trending upwards there as well as in a few other parts of the state. The uptick in the spread has led to the creation of state Rapid Response Vaccination Teams that will handle mass vaccinations in five counties and the expansion of vaccine eligibility in those 'trouble' areas around the state.

"Since March 8, Illinois has seen 10 days of increases in the seven-day rolling average for hospital admissions. The COVID-19 test positivity on March 10 was 2.5%. Today’s reported test positivity is 3.3%. While these rates are certainly significantly lower than the peak, they represent a potential early warning sign about a possible resurgence," the Illinois Department of Public Health said in a release on Friday. "Chicago has seen its daily case rate increase by nearly 50% since last week, along with six days of increases in test positivity. Suburban Cook County has seen its daily case rate increase more than 40%, along with nine days of increasing hospital bed usage. Region 1, the Northern portion of the state including Rockford and surrounding communities, has seen eight days of increasing hospital bed usage and six days of increasing test positivity."

Today's question:


bike trails


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Unity Student Council to host pork chop lunch
order a signature announcement
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Spartan football seniors recognized

Kathy and Nathan Buss escort their son, Brady (center), down the track before the start of St. Joseph-Ogden's home football game against Pontiac. Brady, who is averaging 75 receiving yards per game, later helped the Spartans shutout the Indians, 28-0. This week, SJO (1-1) travels to Charleston for a week 3 non-conference game with the Trojans on Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm. See more Senior Night photos here.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
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Spartans football improves to 1-1 after Pontiac shutout

Spartans shutout Indians

Keaton Nolan heads for the end zone after taking a hand off from quarterback Evan Ingram during the Spartans' first home game of the season last Friday. For a second consecutive meeting the St. Joseph-Ogden football team posted a shutout against the Indians posting a 28-0 victory. Improving to 1-1 on the season, SJO travels to Charleston on Thursday to take on the Trojans in a non-conference contest.

(Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Photo Gallery | SJO soccer drops 3-0 decision at St. Thomas More

Midfielder Carter Mabry boots the ball down the field in St. Joseph-Ogden's road soccer game at St. Thomas More on a windy Friday on March 19. Despite playing a disciplined game against the Sabers forcing them to earn every goal, the Spartans fell 3-0 in the conference battle.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
SJO's Jackson Greer settles the ball in the second half. Like the majority of the players on this year's squad, Greers passing and ball control skills have notably improved going into this year's pandemic delayed season.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Deflecting the ball off the foot of St. Thomas More's Blake Staab, Logan Ingram takes a shot to the legs for the Spartans during second half action.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Senior Logan Ingram dribbles the ball away from STM's Jack Aubry in the first half.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks
Mason Behrens races across the field with the ball during second half action against the Sabers. The senior starter was held scoreless both quarters.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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SJO basketball 2021: SJO gets road win at Pontiac

Using their signature balanced scoring attack as they have almost all season, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team defeated Pontiac on the road 60-45 on February 22.

Indians' three-sport star Addison Masching led all scorers with 20 points, but it wasn't enough to tilt the scales from ten scoring Spartan players.

Making all four of her free throw attempts, Ella Armstrong was the only SJO player in double figures with 11 points. Payton Jacobs and Peyton Jones, who hit three treys, added nine points apiece. Meanwhile Ashlyn Lannert and Taylor Wells chipped in another eight.


Box Score

Pontiac 10 10 13 12 - 45
St. Joseph-Ogden 12 15 20 13 - 60

St. Joseph-Ogden
Ashlyn Lannert 1 (2) 0-0 -- 8, Hope Rajlich 1 (0) 0-1 -- 2, Nora Walden 0 (0) 1-2 -- 1, Taylor Campbell 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Payton Jacob 3 (1) 0-0 -- 9, Taylor Wells 4 (0) 0-0 -- 8, Atleigh Hamilton 3 (0) 1-2 -- 7, Taylor Hug 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Abby Behrens 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Isabell Smith 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Peyton Jones 0 (3) 0-0 -- 9, Alyssa Hamilton 1 (0) 0-0 -- 2, Payton Vallee 1 (0) 1-2 -- 3, Ella Armstrong 2 (1) 4-4 -- 11.

Pontiac
T. Einhaus 2 (1) 0-0 -- 7, J. Einhaus 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Hartfield 0 (2) 1-2 -- 7, Fox 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, B. Masching 2 (0) 1-2 -- 5, Coates 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, A. Masching 3 (3) 5-10 -- 20, Fletcher 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Hilleary 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Foster 0 (0) 0-0 -- 0, Johns 1 (0) 0-0 -- 2.
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