URBANA -- Fifty-two K-8 students from the Urbana school district will be recognized on April 20 as the top entries in this year's Young Authors Awards contest. Each student will receive a certificate of achievement and a copy of the Young Authors book. The book contains each of this year's winning entries.
The top eight authors for the 44th Annual Young Author Awards include:
Haanya Abbasi, Urbana Middle School
Paio Sotomayor, Dr. Preston Williams School
Julian Rogers, Dr. Martin L. King Jr. School
Miles Rehfeldt, Wiley School
Arihant Sinha, Yankee Ridge
Rafael Lleras Buetti, Leal School
Clara Naveja, Leal School
Avery Ogolsky, Thomas Paine
Also recognized for submitting winning entries from Thomas Paine included Marie Knight-Broughton, Justin Lewis, Daniel McHenry and, Addy McHenry.
In addition to Leal's two overall winners, five other students earned recognition for their entries. Joshua Vazquez Benitez, Ivan Erickson, Diken Guevara, Maxime Guironnet, and Willa Sola will also be honored at the celebration in late April.
Other winners from Urbana Middle School included Karina Berceanu, Trinidad Cuahuey, Seth Fiscus, Alice Hauser, Muhammad Iftikhar, Harmony Lehman, Simone Marshall, Gwendolyn McLean, Austin Ogolsky, Kavinder Patel, Colton Ruud, Grace Tshimankinda, Ruby Waarala-Dugger, Christian Weiss, Nico Wiemelt, Rachel Wiley, and Andrea Williams.
Young authors recognized for their essays from Dr. Preston Williams included Gemma Douglas, Hayden Intravaia, Lucy Martin, Esmeralda Orozco, Jade Pineda Walker, Izzy Roegman, and Veronica Vargas.
Winners from Dr. Martin L. King were Pranisha Chaturvedi, Nylah McReynolds, China Endo Song, and Longhan (Alice) Xu.
Five other students from Yankee Ridge also submitted a winning entry. They include Janny Knutson, Benny Lerman, Gracelyn Lusk, Lydia Ruud, and Brianne Thurman.
Coraline Hauser and Isabel Tanner-Lane from Wiley school also earned recognition for their submissions.
The celebration program will also include a presentation from an author, who will be announced at a later date.
Urbana Kindergarten Connection to be held on April 5
URBANA -- This year's Kindergarten Connection will be held at Lincoln Square Mall from 11am - 5:30p on April 5. Families with children who will be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2022, can register their students for the upcoming 2022-23 academic year.
The future kindergartner does not need to accompany the parents to the event unless they speak a language other than English or a language other than English is spoken at home with the family. The child will need to undergo an English language screening.
Parents should bring a government-issued photo ID, the child's official birth certificate. and phone numbers for emergency contacts. Parents or guardians will need to provide a signed mortgage or lease as proof of residency. If a copy of the lease is not immediately available, two other forms of proof such as a driver's license, utility bill, voter registration, or a change of address notification from the post office can be submitted in place of a lease/mortgage contract.
Photo-of-the-Day | Miller pounds 3-run homer
St. Joseph-Ogden catcher Coby Miller (right) is greeted at home plate by teammates after hitting a 3-run homer in the Spartans' home debut against Centennial High School. The shot came on his first trip to the plate in the bottom of the first inning on April 12, 2021. SJO went on to win the non-conference ball game, 9-5. Weather permitting, Miller and the Spartans will play the first 2022 home contest tomorrow afternoon. Click this link to view more photos from this game.
Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks.
Are you eligible to claim the IRS saver’s credit?
NAPSI -— Here’s good news, for a change, from the IRS: It offers an incentive to lower your tax bill when you save for retirement. With pandemic-related employment disruptions last year, more taxpayers may be eligible to claim the Saver’s Credit but may not even know this tax credit exists. Also referred to as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit, the Saver’s Credit can reduce federal income taxes for eligible taxpayers who save for retirement through a qualified retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
The 22nd Annual Transamerica Retirement Survey finds that fewer than half (48 percent) of workers are aware of the Saver’s Credit.
"People who are saving for retirement may be able to claim the Saver’s Credit and reduce their federal taxes," says Catherine Collinson, CEO and president of nonprofit Transamerica Institute and its Center for Retirement Studies. "Perhaps people are confusing the tax credit with the tax-advantage treatment of retirement accounts. The idea of a double tax benefit may sound too good to be true but both are available to retirement savers."
What Is the Saver’s Credit?
The Retirement Savings Contributions Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for contributions an eligible taxpayer makes to a 401(k), 403(b) or similar employer-sponsored retirement plan, a traditional or Roth IRA or an ABLE account. In this context, "non-refundable" means the credit cannot exceed a person’s federal income tax for the year. The maximum credit is $1,000 for single filers or individuals and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly.
Tips for claiming the Saver’s Credit
1.Check Your Eligibility
To be eligible, the maximum Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for single filers is $33,000 in 2021 and $34,000 in 2022. For the head of a household, the AGI maximum is $49,500 in 2021 and $51,000 in 2022. For those who are married filing jointly, the AGI maximum is $66,000 in 2021 and $68,000 in 2022.
You must be 18 years or older by January 1 and cannot be a full-time student or be claimed as a dependent on another person’s tax return. Consider using the IRS’s online tool to help determine if you are eligible for the Saver’s Credit.
2.Save for Retirement
To claim the Saver’s Credit for 2021, you must have contributed to a 401(k), a 403(b), a similar employer-sponsored retirement plan or an ABLE account during 2021. Contributions to traditional or Roth IRAs are also eligible and you have until April 18, 2022 to make an IRA contribution for tax year 2021. Roll-over contributions are not eligible for the credit.
3.File Your Tax Return and Claim the Saver’s Credit
Let the IRS help you file your federal taxes with its Free File program. The program’s eight partners offer online tax preparation tools free to taxpayers with an AGI of $73,000 or less. More at www.irs.gov/FreeFile.
•When using an online tax preparation tool, be sure to answer questions about the Saver’s Credit, also referred to by the IRS as the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit and Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions.
•If you prepare your tax return manually, complete Form 8880, Credit for Qualified Retirement Savings Contributions, to determine your exact credit rate and amount. Then transfer the amount to line 4 on Schedule 3, which is used with Forms 1040, 1040-SR, and 1040-NR.
•If you use a professional tax preparer, be sure to ask about the Saver’s Credit.
"Consistently saving for retirement is fundamental to helping achieve financial security in retirement,” says Collinson. “Another way to help boost your retirement savings is to directly deposit any tax refund into an IRA. Saving more now could help you reap more later."
Learn More
For more details and resources on the Saver’s Credit in English and Spanish, visit Transamerica Institute at www.transamericainstitute.org/SaversCredit or the IRS at www.irs.gov.
Study finds firefighters’ risk of irregular heartbeat linked to the number of fires they fought
Photo: Matt C/Unsplash
DALLAS —- Among firefighters, the risk of having an irregular heart rhythm, known as atrial fibrillation (AFib), increases with the number of fires they respond to, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.
Compared with people in other occupations, firefighters are known to have a disproportionately high risk of heart disease, and almost half of fatalities in on-duty firefighters result from sudden cardiac death – when the heart suddenly stops beating and pumping blood to vital organs. An increased risk of an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmias from the ventricles, the bottom chambers of the heart, has been documented in firefighters, however, prior to this study, little was known about AFib, which is an arrhythmia involving the top chambers of the heart. According to the American Heart Association, AFib is the most common type of irregular heartbeat with at least 2.7 million people living with it in the United States. People with AFib have an increased risk of blood clots, heart failure, stroke and other heart complications.
"A few years ago, I treated a local firefighter for atrial fibrillation, and he felt dramatically better with the treatment, so he referred other firefighters to me for care, all with AFib. I decided to methodically examine AFib in the firefighter population, as it may shed light into the cause of atrial fibrillation in non-firefighters as well," said Paari Dominic, M.D., senior author of the study, the director of clinical cardiac electrophysiology and associate professor of medicine and molecular and cellular physiology at LSU Health Shreveport in Louisiana.
Participants were recruited through five professional firefighter organizations. The study was conducted from 2018-19 among active firefighters throughout the U.S. They completed a survey about their occupational exposure (number of fires fought per year) and about their history of heart disease. Of the 10,860 firefighters who completed the survey (93.5% male, and 95.5% were age 60 or younger), 2.9% of the men and 0.9% of the women reported a diagnosis of AFib.
"Among adults in the general population younger than age 60, there is a 0.1-1.0% prevalence of having AFib. However, among our study population, 2.5% of firefighters ages 60 or younger had AFib," Dominic said. "Of the few respondents who were 61 or older, 8.2% reported a diagnosis of AFib."
When occupational exposure was factored in, the researchers found a direct and significant relationship between the number of fires fought and the risk of developing AFib. The analysis found:
2% of those who fought 0-5 fires per year developed AFib;
2.3% of those who fought 6-10 fires per year developed AFib;
2.7% of those who fought 11-20 fires per year developed AFib;
3% of those who fought 21-30 fires per year developed AFib; and
4.5% of those who fought 31 or more fires per year developed AFib.
After adjusting for multiple risk factors for AFib, such as high blood pressure and smoking, researchers found a 14% increased risk of atrial fibrillation for every additional 5 fires fought annually.
"Clinicians who care for firefighters need to be aware of the increased cardiovascular risk, especially the increased risk of AFib, among this unique group of individuals. The conditions that elevate their risk further, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, lung disease and sleep apnea, should be treated aggressively. In addition, any symptoms of AFib, such as palpitations, trouble breathing, dizziness and fatigue, should be investigated promptly," Dominic said.
According to the researchers, multiple mechanisms may be involved in the association between firefighting and AFib. "First, and foremost, are the inhalation and absorption through the skin of harmful compounds and substances produced by the combustion of materials during a fire, including particulate matter, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and benzene. Exposure to these substances, especially particulate matter in air pollution, even for a short time has been previously linked to an increased risk of AFib. In addition, firefighters are exposed to high physical and psychological stress together with long work hours, all of which can increase their adrenaline levels and cause an imbalance in the mechanisms that maintain heart rate. Finally, heat stress (exposure to high temperatures) can cause an increase in core body temperature and severe dehydration, both of which increase the demand for a higher heart rate, and may subsequently trigger AFib," Dominic said.
"Studying firefighters, who personally make sacrifices for the safety of us all, is essential to prevent disease and death in this population that makes a big impact on the well-being of our communities," Dominic said.
The study is limited by basing the presence of atrial fibrillation and all other medical conditions on the firefighters’ survey responses. However, the researchers were able to corroborate the self-reported responses by linking them to well-established associations between atrial fibrillation and the presence of risk factors such as high blood pressure and sleep apnea, suggesting that the self-reports were accurate.
The researchers are currently analyzing the survey data to investigate the association between the annual number of fires fought and the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis is a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries that can thicken blood vessel walls and reduce blood flow to the heart muscle, brain, kidneys or extremities.
Based on the results of this study, researchers suggest future studies systematically screen firefighters for AFib to detect asymptomatic or new cases to evaluate the relationship between fire exposure and stroke risk in firefighters with AFib to allow a better understanding about which of the components of occupational exposure to fires plays a key role in causing fibrillation. They should also examine the reluctance of firefighters with AFib to use blood thinners. Blood thinners are a standard treatment for AFib; however, the medication carries an added risk of bleeding and firefighters are concerned about their increased risk of bleeding injuries due to low-visibility firefighting situations.
Guest Commentary | Unfortunately, the world is a difficult place for peace
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Most of us simply want peace in our lives, nation and world. We enjoy resting in a warm or cool house, with something to eat, free from worry and stress. Peace is not always easy. This winter, chances are that your heating bill was chomping on your checking account and taking a huge bite out of your income. You may have turned your thermostat down and wore extra layers hoping to cut back on literally burning up your money.
People have reported gas and electric bills from $500 to over a $1,000 for one month of trying to stay comfortable in their homes.
While you are attempting to stay warm or cool, you are wondering if you can afford to start your car. Americans are seeing gas prices dance between $4.00 and over $6.00 for one gallon of gas. Filling up my old truck is pushing toward $150 at a time. When my wife goes to the grocery store the same staples seem cost more every time she goes.
The current inflation is not only expensive but is chipping away at our peace. Peace? It’s hard to have peace if you go into cardiac arrest every time your utility bill arrives, you buy gasoline or go to the grocery store. If you are renting a place in America then you have a further burden as some Americans are paying over $2,000 a month to rent a house. If they can find one to rent.
Russia has destroyed Ukraine and has become a major player in driving up our cost of living. We were already experiencing inflation but the entire planet is reacting to what Russia is doing to Ukraine. Do you remember when we heard the news that Osama Bin Laden had been shot by one of our seal teams? When and how will the murderous rein of Vladimir Putin end? We must hope and pray for an end to this evil.
Unfortunately, the world is a difficult place for peace. The Bible assures us that in the last days there will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be pestilence, famine, and our hearts will fail us from fear. Thus, our peace must come from God who is greater than our problems. There is an internal strength and peace that comes when we focus our minds on Him. Currently millions of Ukrainians have nothing left but the shirts on their backs and whatever internal resolve and fortitude that is keeping them going.
Our peace in America is very unsettling but compare your situation to millions of Ukrainians today.
Pray for them and let us all give thanks for what we have.
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Most of us simply want peace in our lives, nation and world. We enjoy resting in a warm or cool house, with something to eat, free from worry and stress. Peace is not always easy. This winter, chances are that your heating bill was chomping on your checking account and taking a huge bite out of your income. You may have turned your thermostat down and wore extra layers hoping to cut back on literally burning up your money.
People have reported gas and electric bills from $500 to over a $1,000 for one month of trying to stay comfortable in their homes.
While you are attempting to stay warm or cool, you are wondering if you can afford to start your car. Americans are seeing gas prices dance between $4.00 and over $6.00 for one gallon of gas. Filling up my old truck is pushing toward $150 at a time. When my wife goes to the grocery store the same staples seem cost more every time she goes.
The current inflation is not only expensive but is chipping away at our peace. Peace? It’s hard to have peace if you go into cardiac arrest every time your utility bill arrives, you buy gasoline or go to the grocery store. If you are renting a place in America then you have a further burden as some Americans are paying over $2,000 a month to rent a house. If they can find one to rent.
Russia has destroyed Ukraine and has become a major player in driving up our cost of living. We were already experiencing inflation but the entire planet is reacting to what Russia is doing to Ukraine. Do you remember when we heard the news that Osama Bin Laden had been shot by one of our seal teams? When and how will the murderous rein of Vladimir Putin end? We must hope and pray for an end to this evil.
Unfortunately, the world is a difficult place for peace. The Bible assures us that in the last days there will be wars and rumors of wars. There will be pestilence, famine, and our hearts will fail us from fear. Thus, our peace must come from God who is greater than our problems. There is an internal strength and peace that comes when we focus our minds on Him. Currently millions of Ukrainians have nothing left but the shirts on their backs and whatever internal resolve and fortitude that is keeping them going.
Our peace in America is very unsettling but compare your situation to millions of Ukrainians today.
Pray for them and let us all give thanks for what we have.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, 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 The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
Chicago-area colleges work to enroll more students
by Jonah Chester
Illinois News Connection
Illinois News Connection
Since the pandemic began, enrollment in Illinois community colleges has declined to its lowest point in years, and now, one school is working to keep students on track to graduate. City Colleges of Chicago already has launched two major initiatives to get folks who may have left college during the pandemic to return, or to keep folks in school who are considering leaving. Veronica Herrero, chief of staff and strategy for the schools, explained the Fresh Start program forgives debts for returning students, and the Future Ready initiative offers free education for high-demand fields. "We want to make sure that these students, especially if they're doing well and want to complete, that we're making completion accessible and possible for them," Herrero noted. According to the Illinois Community College Board, enrollment in community colleges across the state dropped from more than 271,000 in 2019 to about 230,000 in 2021, a decline likely partially attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to the new programs, which are largely designed for current or returning students, City Colleges is working to attract students who graduated from Chicago Public Schools in 2020 and 2021 but did not enroll in higher ed. Herrero pointed out efforts include financial support, free laptops, Wi-Fi connectivity for virtual education and additional academic aid. "You know, we do everything we can to get the students enrolled in college as they're graduating high school," Herrero observed. "But we saw with the pandemic that many of our students were not able to because of family obligations or the issues brought upon them by the pandemic." Harry S Truman College, one of City Colleges' schools located in northern Chicago, is also partnering with the Center on Education and Labor at New America to develop new strategies to re-enroll students who put their education on pause during the pandemic.
Unity Junior High 3rd Quarter Honor Roll
This week, Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll and high honor roll status during the third quarter. Two hundred and twenty-two students earned the requisite grade-point average to be recognized as an honor student.
6th Grade Honor Roll
Cameron Barnes
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Madison Grace Castor
Garrisan Martin Cler
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Nolan Myles Elliott
Haley Elizabeth Ennis
Cohen Louis Fincham
Zoe Margaret Fish
Nathaniel Howard Hammer
Brady Cullen Harris
McKenzie Kathryn Heiple
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Payton Nicole Kinney
Jax Hunter Logsdon
Tysen Mac McConaha
Clint Michael McCormick
Nolan Mark Meharry
Payten Renee Tempel Niles
Clayton Wyatt Pruitt
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Rainer Arizona Robinson
Caden Del Rogers
Riley May Schendel
Ian James Skibbe
Bradley Scott Jr Smith
Sawyer Allen Franks Weller
Cole Thomas Zorns
Sadie Jo Carpenter
Madison Grace Castor
Garrisan Martin Cler
Kinzey Nicole Duitsman
Nolan Myles Elliott
Haley Elizabeth Ennis
Cohen Louis Fincham
Zoe Margaret Fish
Nathaniel Howard Hammer
Brady Cullen Harris
McKenzie Kathryn Heiple
Brooke Raelynn Henson
Payton Nicole Kinney
Jax Hunter Logsdon
Tysen Mac McConaha
Clint Michael McCormick
Nolan Mark Meharry
Payten Renee Tempel Niles
Clayton Wyatt Pruitt
Mia Lynn Reifsteck
Rainer Arizona Robinson
Caden Del Rogers
Riley May Schendel
Ian James Skibbe
Bradley Scott Jr Smith
Sawyer Allen Franks Weller
Cole Thomas Zorns
6th Grade High Honor Roll
Joseph William Willard Baird
Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brilynn Creola Cain
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Soren Lovell Davis
Dillon Michael Ellars
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Mackinzee Brooke Gumm
Hallie Lynn Handal
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Roman James Hastings
Tessa Lynn Horn
Eve Oksana Isberg
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Khison Able Reifsteck
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Caleb ArthurSaxon
Carter Charles Schmid
Sophia Grace Seidlitz
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Lillie Jean Vanderpool
Kole David VanSickle
Gavin James Warren
John William White
Austin James Wiersema
Olivia Ann Williams
Adilynn Michelle Wilson
Olivia Ruth Witheft
Patrick Benjamin Baxley
Cooper Charles Beckett
Beckam Krystopher-Wayde Brown
Brilynn Creola Cain
Jackson Christopher Cheely
Skyler Andrew Chilton
Soren Lovell Davis
Dillon Michael Ellars
Kaylee Grace Estes
Carson David Fairbanks
Reagan Elizabeth Lisle Fisher
Mackinzee Brooke Gumm
Hallie Lynn Handal
Jordan Stephen Harmon
Roman James Hastings
Tessa Lynn Horn
Eve Oksana Isberg
Karleigh Grace Jamison
Lincoln Banner Johnson
Joseph Brooks Kamradt
Tatum Anne Kirby
Bryan Michael Kleiss
Dalton Robert Moose
Rhianna Olivia Ocasio
Kandace Lachelle Reed
Khison Able Reifsteck
Lillian Yvonne Ring
Caleb ArthurSaxon
Carter Charles Schmid
Sophia Grace Seidlitz
Caleb Joshua Siegwald
Lillie Jean Vanderpool
Kole David VanSickle
Gavin James Warren
John William White
Austin James Wiersema
Olivia Ann Williams
Adilynn Michelle Wilson
Olivia Ruth Witheft
7th Grade Honor Roll
Andrew David Berkey
Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Kydie Cain
Emma Rose Carrington
Cadence Marie Chandler
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Elizabeth Lynn Farney
Ava Nicole Grace
Dustin Rose Harris
Ava Fay Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Miles Spencer Thomson Owens
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Malakai Roth
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Madison Amanda Spohn
Maggie Jean Weckle
Tayleigh Sue Wilson
Ava McKenna Wolf Rice
Joel Mitchell Yergler
Wyatt Leon Blanchard
Aiden Jacob Sharples Brooks
Kydie Cain
Emma Rose Carrington
Cadence Marie Chandler
Braedyn Lucas Dalton
Addison Tyler Davis
Elizabeth Lynn Farney
Ava Nicole Grace
Dustin Rose Harris
Ava Fay Jones
Rush Matthew Little
Miles Spencer Thomson Owens
Nicole Elizabeth Paeth
Sadie Jane Polonus
Evan Alexander Puckett
Malakai Roth
Isaac Benjamin Siegwald
Gabrielle Marie Spanglo
Madison Amanda Spohn
Maggie Jean Weckle
Tayleigh Sue Wilson
Ava McKenna Wolf Rice
Joel Mitchell Yergler
7th Grade High Honor Roll
Dominic Russell Baxley
Grace Michele Bickers
Paige Nicole Bradley
Aelyas Brito
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Ronin Carman
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Austin Michael Drewes
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Colton Ray Harmon
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Cheyenne Jean
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Cash Cohen McCann
Carson Wesley McCune
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Adam Lucas Reedy
Max Warren Rossi
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Alyssa Renae Shields
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Jacob Michael Ward
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Rylan Kade Wolf
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Kendal Lea Zerrusen
Grace Michele Bickers
Paige Nicole Bradley
Aelyas Brito
Alex Martin Bromley
Clare Faustina Bryant
Brody Ray Butler
Ronin Carman
Berkley Jane Cloud
Caleb Benjamin Coy
Hudson Lee DeHart
Austin Michael Drewes
Danika Ann Eisenmenger
Allison Renee Fenter
Reese Bella Frye
Journey Maddison Gabbard
Bailee Mae Gadeken
Olivia Ashlyn Hall
Walker Dale Hall
Colton Ray Harmon
Broderick Wayne Irwin
Cheyenne Jean
Avery Nicole Kamradt
Kathryn Clara Knoll
Cash Cohen McCann
Carson Wesley McCune
Audrey Claire McDaniel
Landrey Michelle Mohr
Brooklyn Marie Mumm
Adam Lucas Reedy
Max Warren Rossi
Ethan Daniel Schaefer
Lane Edward Sexton
Allyson Lynn Shaw
Alyssa Renae Shields
Evalyn Alexandra Skibbe
Piper Estelle Staley
Grace Lynne Tempel
Jacob Michael Ward
Leah Marianne Watson
Elizabeth Johnna Wayne
Grace Ann Wherley
Rylan Kade Wolf
Addison Danielle Wyatt
Kendal Lea Zerrusen
8th Grade Honor Roll
Athea ElizabethBaird
Athea Elizabeth Baird
Graydin Martin Cler
Chloe Noelle Cousins
Chason Robert Daly
Taylor Renee Daly
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Korina Mary Finical
Tanner Elizabeth Gallivan
Samantha Nicole Gumbel
Kenley Jo Harris
Joshua Todd Heath
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Reed Huntington
Anna Maeve Kuhns
Coleton James Langendorf
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Coleson Thomas Miller
Leah Jolynn Nickle
Andrew Neal Orr
Brody Michael Osterbur
Kyla Lanae Reed
Theda Marva Roether
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Kamden Michael Schuckman
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Maddix Douglas Sutherland
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Desmond Mychel Winfrey
Athea Elizabeth Baird
Graydin Martin Cler
Chloe Noelle Cousins
Chason Robert Daly
Taylor Renee Daly
Dane Robert Eisenmenger
Korina Mary Finical
Tanner Elizabeth Gallivan
Samantha Nicole Gumbel
Kenley Jo Harris
Joshua Todd Heath
Brayden Jonathon Henry
Tyler Reed Huntington
Anna Maeve Kuhns
Coleton James Langendorf
Johanna Ilene Langley
Isabelle Joy Levingston
Maxwell Cort McCabe
Travis Lane McCarter
Coleson Thomas Miller
Leah Jolynn Nickle
Andrew Neal Orr
Brody Michael Osterbur
Kyla Lanae Reed
Theda Marva Roether
Jillian Brooke Schlittler
Kamden Michael Schuckman
Lauren Patricia Stratton
Maddix Douglas Sutherland
Ian John Taber
Olivia Danielle Tempel
Sophia Louise Jean Toney
Desmond Mychel Winfrey
8th Grade High Honor Roll
Anna Carolyn Amias
Aria Eve Battaglia
Maddix Buchanan
Mylie Lynn Castle
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Eli Samson Crowe
Ella Jean Darnall
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Margaret Rose Garcier
Collin William Graven
Isabel Grace Grob
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Tyler Jason Henry
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Faith Lyn Lampe
Kallista Jean Lancaster
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Sade Jean Lybarger
Claire Lynn Meharry
Ethan Lee Mohr
Phoenix Sky Molina
Deakin Frederick Moore
Isaac Julian Neverman
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Dallas Jordan Porter
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Ty Steven Rodems
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Liana Grace Sheets
Hunter James Shike
Annalise Rose Shunk
Shelby Lynn Smith
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Tyler Jackson Styan
Emma Marie Swisher
Bailey Nicole Tompkins
Anna Vasey
Alexander Lane Wells
Paula Louise Wilson
Claire Morgan Zorns
Aria Eve Battaglia
Maddix Buchanan
Mylie Lynn Castle
Cameryn Dayle Cobb
Kaylee Marie Cooke
Eli Samson Crowe
Ella Jean Darnall
Annaliese Birtukan DeNeal
Crewe William Gene Eckstein
Callie Marie Ellars
Camden Michael Fairbanks
Margaret Rose Garcier
Collin William Graven
Isabel Grace Grob
Brooke Autumn Hartman
Tyler Jason Henry
Caden Maddox Hensch
Lucas Alexander Hood
Logan Phillip Jeurissen
Miles Kennedy Johnson
Faith Lyn Lampe
Kallista Jean Lancaster
Mylie Emily Margaret Loftsgaard
Sade Jean Lybarger
Claire Lynn Meharry
Ethan Lee Mohr
Phoenix Sky Molina
Deakin Frederick Moore
Isaac Julian Neverman
Mason Robert ONeill
Harry Matthew Polonus
Dallas Jordan Porter
Mackenzie Rose Pound
Ty Steven Rodems
Katie Marie Ruggieri
Vanna Lee Schriefer
Liana Grace Sheets
Hunter James Shike
Annalise Rose Shunk
Shelby Lynn Smith
Caden Alexander Stierwalt
Ginna Mae Stierwalt
Madelyn Rose Stierwalt
Tyler Jackson Styan
Emma Marie Swisher
Bailey Nicole Tompkins
Anna Vasey
Alexander Lane Wells
Paula Louise Wilson
Claire Morgan Zorns
Recipe: Smoked Sausage Jambalaya
Photo provided
NAPSI —- While Fat Tuesday this year was back on March 1, Jambalaya is an excellent savory recipe that can be enjoyed any time of the year. You can try your hand at the classic New Orleans dish, using the "trinity" (onions, bell pepper, and celery), tomatoes, chicken' and Zatarain’s Smoked Sausage available at Walmart and Kroger food stores. Crunched for time? Use the quick and easy Zatarain’s Jambalaya mix instead.
"Many people outside of New Orleans don’t realize that Mardi Gras is really a family holiday," said Claude Davis, Principal Scientist for Zatarain’s and a native of New Orleans’s Tremé neighborhood. "This time of year is as much about the food as it is about anything else and Zatarain’s Smoked Sausage is the perfect ingredient to bring home the flavor of New Orleans, no matter where you live."
Jambalaya is inspired by paella from Spain and West African Jollof. You can even add other cuts of pork, rabbit, and/or seafood, such as shrimp or crawfish, to this dish to give it your own signature flavor.
Smoked Sausage Classic Jambalaya
Prep Time: 15 minutes / Cook Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8
Heat oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken and sausage; cook and stir 5 minutes. Remove from skillet. Add onion, bell pepper, celery and garlic; cook and stir on medium heat until onion is softened. Stir in tomato, Creole Seasoning and cayenne pepper. Return chicken and sausage to skillet. Add rice and stock; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 25 minutes or until rice is tender, stirring occasionally.
Davis, Miller vote in favor of trade suspension with Russia
WASHINGTON -- Last week, U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL 13) and Mary Miller (R-IL 15) voted supported legislation to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus for their unwarranted war of aggression against Ukraine. Their votes, along with 200 other republican representatives, were in favor of the measures that suspended preferential tariffs applied under “normal trade relations” treatment for the products of the Russian Federation and Belarus.
It also subjects products of the Russian Federation and Belarus to non-preferential tariff rates on the date of enactment as well as empowers the President, until January 1, 2024, to proclaim even higher tariff rates for particular products from the two countries.
"We should inflict maximum financial pain on Russia, Putin, and his oligarch cronies for their war against Ukraine and the atrocities that are a result of their war," said Rep. Davis. "That’s why the United States should suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus by raising tariffs on them. We should not allow Putin to indirectly finance his war in Ukraine by trading with our country. We should use every financial tool at our disposal to make it as costly as possible for Putin to wage war against Ukraine."
The new legislation also empowers the President to raise tariffs after advance notice to Congress and an explanation of the basis for and potential impact of the increases.
After a large scale build-up on the border of the two countries, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to attack on February 24.
The foreign minister of Ukrainian said the incursion of nearly 200k Russian troops into his country was the "most blatant act of aggression in Europe since" World War II.
Americans will survive the pain at the pumps
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
America is no longer buying energy or vodka from Russia. Russians can no longer buy a McDonald’s hamburger. They can’t pay for their gasoline with a Visa, Mastercard or even an American Express card. One thousand Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants have ceased operations in Russia. How tough can life become?
For a better picture of a tough life watch some of the news clips played daily on most television stations. See what the Russians are doing each day to Ukraine. Hospitals are bombed. Babies are murdered. Cities no longer exist. Tens of thousands have been killed by the Russian army.
Speculations continue to be expressed among politicians and journalists that Russia may be guilty of war crimes. This seems like a bad joke. Russia has been guilty of war crimes from day one. They don’t care who they kill or how they kill the innocent people of Ukraine. They will use any kind of bomb or chemical to accomplish President Vladimir Putin’s evil whim to bring Ukraine under Russian rule. They will even accept weapons from China.
Hopefully we will never buy another thing from Russia. In the meantime, the remnant still battling the Russian Army needs the full support of NATO in weapons, money and humanitarian aid. Sadly, for the thousands who have already been killed it’s too little too late.
While we are unplugging trade with Russia we must act accordingly toward China. China is not our friend. Just like Russia, we have made China rich with billions of dollars in trade each year. Plus, America is in debt, over a trillion dollars, to China. Stores across America must put American businesses back to work by buying as many American made products as possible. China has been eyeing Taiwan the same way Russia has been eyeing Ukraine. If Russia successfully takes Ukraine and can survive the aftermath look for China to invade Taiwan. China will then control most of the chips made that runs our cars, phones and computers.
The next scenario is what happens to us when Russia and China combine their efforts toward the United States? Are we able to withstand an attack from Russia and China? It’s more than we want to comprehend today. This is why we must become energy independent. Why not use our gas, oil and coal until we have the infrastructure in place to run electric cars?
In my local community of 250,000 people, I do not know of one electric car charging station. Local car dealers say it will be two to three years before they will have electric cars to sell. Most American communities are the same and we need time for the infrastructure to catch up. In the meantime, we should use the resources we have to run our country independently.
Gasoline prices and inflation are hurting America but consider what Russia is doing to Ukraine. Americans will survive the pain at the pump if America will go back to our own sources to supply our needs.
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America is no longer buying energy or vodka from Russia. Russians can no longer buy a McDonald’s hamburger. They can’t pay for their gasoline with a Visa, Mastercard or even an American Express card. One thousand Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants have ceased operations in Russia. How tough can life become?
For a better picture of a tough life watch some of the news clips played daily on most television stations. See what the Russians are doing each day to Ukraine. Hospitals are bombed. Babies are murdered. Cities no longer exist. Tens of thousands have been killed by the Russian army.
Speculations continue to be expressed among politicians and journalists that Russia may be guilty of war crimes. This seems like a bad joke. Russia has been guilty of war crimes from day one. They don’t care who they kill or how they kill the innocent people of Ukraine. They will use any kind of bomb or chemical to accomplish President Vladimir Putin’s evil whim to bring Ukraine under Russian rule. They will even accept weapons from China.
Hopefully we will never buy another thing from Russia. In the meantime, the remnant still battling the Russian Army needs the full support of NATO in weapons, money and humanitarian aid. Sadly, for the thousands who have already been killed it’s too little too late.
While we are unplugging trade with Russia we must act accordingly toward China. China is not our friend. Just like Russia, we have made China rich with billions of dollars in trade each year. Plus, America is in debt, over a trillion dollars, to China. Stores across America must put American businesses back to work by buying as many American made products as possible. China has been eyeing Taiwan the same way Russia has been eyeing Ukraine. If Russia successfully takes Ukraine and can survive the aftermath look for China to invade Taiwan. China will then control most of the chips made that runs our cars, phones and computers.
The next scenario is what happens to us when Russia and China combine their efforts toward the United States? Are we able to withstand an attack from Russia and China? It’s more than we want to comprehend today. This is why we must become energy independent. Why not use our gas, oil and coal until we have the infrastructure in place to run electric cars?
In my local community of 250,000 people, I do not know of one electric car charging station. Local car dealers say it will be two to three years before they will have electric cars to sell. Most American communities are the same and we need time for the infrastructure to catch up. In the meantime, we should use the resources we have to run our country independently.
Gasoline prices and inflation are hurting America but consider what Russia is doing to Ukraine. Americans will survive the pain at the pump if America will go back to our own sources to supply our needs.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, 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 The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
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