Prep Sports Notebook: Bachert scores for Rockets, SJO soccer notches another victory

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Saunders makes 10 saves for Rockets

Unity Keeper Cole Saunders had 10 saves during his team's home match on Saturday against Abington/Avon. Teammate Brendan Bachert scored the team's only goal in the Rockets' 3-1 loss.

Unity plays at home again on Tuesday hosting St. Joseph-Ogden at 4:30p.

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Christie Clinic Shootout schedule released today

The St. Joseph-Ogden athletic department released the schedule for the next Christie Clinic Shootout on Saturday, January 7, 2023. Fourteen varsity teams will square off in the main gym starting at 11:00 am. The final game of the day, a matchup between Peoria Notre Dame and the Kays of Kankakee, will tipoff at 8:00 pm.

The Shootout will feature three Illini Prairie Conference programs, with Monticello, Unity, and SJO hitting the hardwood one right after the other starting at 3:30p.

2023 Schedule

11:00 AM - Beecher vs. BHRA
12:30 PM - Addison Trail vs. Champaign Centennial
2:00 PM - Mt. Zion vs. Bloomington
3:30 PM - Newton vs. Monticello
5:00 PM - Normal U-High vs. Unity
6:30 PM - Nashville vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM - Peoria Notre Dame vs. Kankakee

Junior varsity action for all 14 teams will start at 9 am, on Saturday in the high school's practice gym.

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Spartans post shutout on Senior Day

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team scored two first-half goals and got a third from sophomore Alex Acosta in the second half.

Senior Jackson Greer delivered the first goal of the game courtesy of an assist from Collin Thomey for the Spartans. Thomey added another goal on the scoreboard via a feed from Aiden Cromwell to give SJO a 2-0 lead at the half.

Hunter Ketchum needed to make only six saves, while backup keeper Carter Mabry came in to make a pair of saves of his own in the program's 7th win of the season.

The Spartans honored the accomplishments and contributions of 12 senior players. This senior class includes Olivia Baltzell, Will Childers, Aiden Cromwell, Zach Dahman, Emily Elsbernd, Jackson Greer, Hunter Ketchum, Aaron Lane, Carter Mabry, Teagan Miller, Garrett Siems, and Will Page.

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Attention area high school coaches

If you are a coach at Unity, Urbana Uni-High, Urbana High School or St. Joseph-Ogden, send us your box scores, statistical leaders for each game, and other info via email to sports@oursentinel.com or editor@oursentinel.com.

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County search and rescue team hosts open-house this Saturday

URBANA -- The Champaign County Search and Rescue Team will host a 10th Anniversary celebration this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the grounds of the ILEAS Training Center, 1701 E. Main in Urbana.

Champaign County Search and Rescue (CCSAR) membership is open to volunteers 18 years old or older. Regular training is provided so that each member is a valued asset when CCSAR is needed in the field. Certified instructors teach members how to assist in search and rescue operations, help in the recovery of bodies, and aid in evidence recovery. Team members also support disaster area operations when needed; and promote public safety to county residents.

"In the past ten years, CCSAR has participated in several searches in Champaign County, as well as assisting with searches across central Illinois," it said in today's press release announcing this weekend's festivities.

Saturday's family-friendly event will several giveaways and prize drawings. Kids can learn how to survive in the woods if they become lost through the Hug-A-Tree presentation, a program specifically designed for children between the ages of 7 and 11, developed to educate children with a few of the most basic and vital survival principles. The program is also valuable for slightly younger and older children as well.

The open house will also offer various observational skill tests, valuable information on what to take on the trail with you on a hike, and a live demonstration by a tracking dog. A display with the equipment and tools used by the CCSAR team will also be available.

For more information on the event or about Champaign County Search and Rescue, contact John Dwyer at the Champaign County EMA by phone at 217-384-3826 or by email at jdwyer@co.champaign.il.us.

Guest Commentary: Abbott & DeSantis have the right idea

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

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Nearly five million foreign nationals have entered the United States since Biden became President. Some people call them undocumented immigrants, some call them unauthorized immigrants, many call them illegal immigrants. If they were entering the country legally with proper documentation then we would call them documented immigrants or legal immigrants.

Wyoming has 581,075 people. Have you ever been to Yellowstone National Park? Vermont has a population of 623,251 people. The District of Columbia has a population of 714,143 people. Alaska’s population is 724,357. North Dakota has 770, 026. South Dakota’s population is 896,581. The population of Delaware is 990,334. (Stats from populationreview.com). These seven states combined have a population of under 5.5 million people. To get a more accurate count I suppose we could drop off Wyoming and that would put us closer to the total number of foreign nationals who have illegally without documentation entered crossed our borders. In other words, our country has grown the population of at least six of our smallest populated states in six years.

However, there are no worries because densely populated states won’t remain that forever. We cannot add 4-5 million illegal immigrants every two years without having serious population issues in our nation.

What would a half million of these new unauthorized immigrants do to the state of Wyoming? What about Vermont? Would Vermont like to have a generous helping of a few hundred thousand people begging for housing and food?

The population of Kentucky is about 4.5 million people which is somewhere very close to the number of illegal immigrants. Where can Kentucky add a half million people? There are no jobs in East, Kentucky but a lot of devastation from the recent flooding. West Kentucky is still trying to rebuild from the worst tornadoes in history. What about Lexington or Woodford County? They still have a nice ten mile stretch of horse farms that could easily accommodate one-half million foreigners. Put these people to work giving bourbon tours.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Florida Governor Ron Desantis have the right idea, share the love. Open borders should never mean that Texas and other border states get all the love and joy of these millions of people coming illegally into America. Texas already has 30 million people. Florida has 22 million people. Plus, Texas and Florida get hot. Hot weather and crowds are not a good combination. Martha’s Vineyard has less than 20,000 people. The climate is cooler. The water is pretty and there is some good fishing in the area as well. I can see where immigrants would be content in this part of America. Rehoboth in Delaware would also be a nice spot for the undocumented foreigners. Rehoboth is where Joe Biden likes to stroll along the Boardwalk in this quaint costal Atlantic community of fine restaurants, shops and summer vacationers. The illegals could certainly transform this little community.

California has a population of 40 million people. New York has almost 20 million and Illinois has almost 13 million with Chicago exploding with its own problems. Do any of them really have the financial ability to care for another million people?

If we do not get control of our border and regulate the flood of people who are coming into this country illegally, soon we will not have a country.

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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.

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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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Photo of the Day | Spartans declaw the Sabers

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Members of the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team celebrate a point after a kill against visiting St. Thomas More last week. The Spartans won the conference match, 2-0. Tonight, SJO hosts the Marshall volleyball team with JV action starting at 6pm.

Photo Gallery: Unity soccer suffers loss to GRFC on home pitch

Unity's Mason Davis makes a pass down the field around Buffaloes' Ryley Heck in the first half. The Rockets gave up three first-half goals and one in the second to fall 4-0 at home to visiting Georgetown-Ridge Farm-Westville. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Rockets' Brendan Bachert races with the ball down the field in the first half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Nolan Wishall settles the ball at midfield for the Rockets. Unity had several opportunities to score but could not get the ball around the keeper to light up the scoreboard. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Unity defender Mary Bryant lines up a pass after intecepting a GRFW pass in the first 90 minutes of the game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Unity's Caden McCaskill dribbles around GRFW's Coy Potter. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Rockets' Gabe Pound heads the ball away from Georgetown-Ridge Farm-Westville's Nathan Blue. Blue, a junior, notched a first-half assist on his team's third goal. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Unity keeper Cole Saunders makes a second half save. The junior goalkeeper let all but four balls past him. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Goalkeeper Cole Saunders makes another second half save. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Teaguen Williams pushes the ball across the field on a run late in the second half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Sophomore Nolan Remole battles for control of the ball in the last 30 minutes of the Rockets' match. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Mathew Hollett settles the ball in the second half. Hollett and the Rockets, despite several opportunities, were unable to produce a score in either half. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Unity's Nolan Remole (right) challenges a Georgetown-Ridge Farm player for possession in final minutes of his team's home game. Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Photo Gallery: Unity volleyball team survives three-setter to beat Westville

Lydia Rossi (left) and Lindy Bates leap above the net to block a kill during Unity's junior varsity game against Westville. Rockets won their match in straight sets, 2-0. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Kara Young pummels the ball during set one of Unity's home match against Westville. The Rockets dropped the first set, 27-25. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Junior Piper Steele attempts to put the ball away for a kill through Westville's Maddison Appl during set one. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Unity's McKayla Schendel puts the ball in play during set 2. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Ruby Tarr serves during second set action against the Tigers. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Junior Ruby Tarr passes the ball during second set. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Reagan Little passes the ball in the second set. Little led the Rockets' offense with 22 kills and chalked up 10 digs (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Unity libero (center) receives a Westville serve in the second half. The Rockets won the set, 26-24. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Jayci McGraw passses the ball to the front row during the third set action. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Ruby Tarr, Kara Young, Kaitlyn Schweighart, Reagan Little and members of the Unity volleyball team celebrate a point during the third set. The Rockets pulled out a 26-24 win to take the match, 2-1. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Had Covid and lost your taste or smell? You are not alone

Photo: Steve Harvey/Unsplash

Paul Arco
OSF Healthcare

Ottawa -- One of the most common symptoms found in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic was the loss of smell and taste.

While many people rebound quickly from the loss of smell (most recover within 30 days), others have not. In fact, according to a recent study in the BMJ, (the medical journal of the British Medical Association), about 27 million people in the world are experiencing long-term effects of loss of smell or taste.

"There is a subset about 5%, where we're seeing the loss of smell and taste remaining longer than six months," says Angela Vezzetti, PA, a physician's assistant at OSF HealthCare, specializing in otolarynogology (the study of the ear, nose and throat). "Some studies have looked at different gene mutations in patients where they're seeing certain mutations impact the sense of smell and the recovery rates. There are a lot of studies going on right now to determine why these patients are not recovering their sense of smell and taste. One other study did note that there was a loss of tissue in the olfactory bulb of the brain that could potentially be causing this prolonged sense of loss of smell."

The study also revealed that women were less likely to regain their sense of smell and taste than men, which Vezzetti attributes to women having a higher perception of smell than men. People who suffer from nasal congestion were also slower to recover from the loss of smell and taste.

The loss of smell has also been shown to have a significant impact when it comes to emotional and psychological well-being, especially among older people. Loss of smell can cause many emotions. It can make people feel disoriented, detached, anxious or worse.

"I don't think a lot of people really realized the impact of loss of smell and taste, the sense of smell in general, people kind of took for granted to an extent and a lot more people have seen the really importance of smell when it comes to just taste in general," says Vezzetti. "Without the sense of smell and taste you can have aversions to certain foods, which for elderly people can lead to either a lack of desire to eat, or nutritional deficiencies, even malnutrition, because they're not getting those vitamins that they need because the food either tastes bad, or they just can't taste it at all."

As time goes on, the medical community has developed a better understanding of how COVID-19 impacts the sense of smell and taste. That includes treatment options which have provided relief for some patients.

"The number one protocol that we recommend is something called olfactory or smell retraining, which we recommend patients take some essential oils which are a nice concentrated scent," says Vezzetti. "There are four of them that we recommend. They are a lemon, clove, eucalyptus and Rose and they smell those scents for maybe 15 seconds a day, once or twice a day and we've have seen some patients regain some of that loss of smell or diminished smell, retraining their sense of smell with these essential oils."

This is just another reminder about the importance of getting the COVID vaccine. Medical experts believe that the vaccine may protect people from losing their sense of smell even if they get infected.

"I think people can be reassured to know that the good majority of patients with loss of smell or taste from COVID do recover either completely or partially," says Vezzetti. "And there are some things that can be done in the meantime while they're experiencing their symptoms to try to help such as smell retraining, maybe trying intranasal steroid spray to try to relieve some of that inflammation and hopefully bring back those senses. But I think that the fact that the good majority of patients have improved and are improving is a really good thing."

Did you have COVID and lost your sense of taste and/or smell? Tell us about your experience and we'll share it with our readers. Email us your story to editor@oursentinel.com.

Getting a handle on bank overdraft fees

Photo: Andre Taissin/Unsplash

Overdraft fees can break your piggy bank. To help their customers, some financial institutions have increased their flexibility with regards to how and when overdraft fees are accessed and when funds are unavailable in an account.

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StatePoint Media -- When your bank account balance is low, life can be stressful. For example, when it’s time to pay large expenses that can’t wait, like car loan payments or monthly rent, it’s all too easy to overdraft a bank account. This is especially true if you don't have a ready line-of-credit or a savings account you can dip into in an emergency. The current rate of inflation in the United States doesn't make it any easier either.

In fact, U.S. consumers pay billions of dollars a year in overdraft fees for covering all types of purchases, both large and small.

There is no doubt that overdraft fees serve as a pain point for many consumers, and as the issue of overdraft continues to be discussed and debated, several banks have taken different approaches in response.

Some have taken steps to address overdrafts, mostly by eliminating fees or eliminating the ability to overdraft completely.

Alternatively, PNC Bank now offers a solution that provides customers with greater control in these circumstances. Low Cash Mode, a tool that offers transparency and choices to help customers avoid fees by managing low-cash moments or mistimed payments, is a feature available in the PNC Virtual Wallet account through the PNC Bank Mobile app.

The feature notifies you when your available balance is near or below zero and gives you at least 24 hours (and often more) to bring a negative balance to at least $0 through a deposit or funds transfer before incurring a fee. It also gives you the choice of whether to pay or return certain pending checks and electronic payments when your balance is nearing negative territory.

The Value of Overdraft

The ability to choose to overdraft can help consumers avoid bigger repercussions like credit impacts and loss of access to banking that unpaid bills or late payments can cause. Allowing customers to make their critical payments – albeit for a small fee – sometimes makes a difference that helps allow them to stay in the banking system.

For example, if you opt to pay your rent or car payment – and avoid a penalty or a negative impact to your credit score by simply paying an overdraft fee – then the option to overdraft has provided a value.

“Removing the ability to overdraw an account doesn’t address the fact that many customers need to pay bills, even during temporary cash shortfalls,” says Alex Overstrom, head of Retail Banking at PNC Bank. “The key is that the consumer should be making the decision to incur or avoid fees, not just the bank.”

Control Pays Off

This level of control has demonstrated real results. PNC reports that 64% of customers who have a negative-balance event cure their account in time to avoid incurring a fee.

“Sometimes people just need a little more time to cover important expenses,” says Overstrom. “And in these moments, they should have choices to make things right.”

Photo-of-the-day: September 16, 2022

St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team crush visiting Spartans in second half run

St. Joseph-Ogden's Will Page pressures a Stanford Olympia forward get control of the ball during thier non-conference soccer game on Thursday. Tied at 1-all at the end of the first half, SJO put the ball between the post four more times to win, 5-1. Page's defensive effort was key in the Spartans' improving their record to 6-2-1. Today, he and his fellow seniors will be honored during a pregame Senior Day celebration before the start of St. Joseph-Ogden's home match against Illinois Valley Central.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

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Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, here's how they are different

Photo: PhotoNews Media

StatePoint Media -- As fall sports heat up for kids, so do 5Ks, marathons and golf tournaments for adults, leading to ankle sprains for athletes of all ages.

"Both serious athletes and weekend warriors often underestimate how serious a sprain can be, and they rush back into action without taking time to rehabilitate the injury properly," says Michael J. Cornelison, DPM, FACFAS, foot and ankle surgeon and president of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS). "While no one enjoys being sidelined from the physical activities they love, quickly diagnosing and treating an ankle injury expedites the healing process. It also reduces the chances of long-term, chronic ankle pain."

To help people manage this painful injury properly, the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons is sharing some important insights and facts:

What is an ankle sprain? An ankle sprain is an injury to one or more ligaments, usually on the outside of the ankle. The severity depends on whether the ligament is stretched, partially torn or completely torn, as well as on the number of ligaments involved. Ankle sprains are not the same as strains, which affect muscles rather than ligaments.

What are the causes of ankle sprains? Sprained ankles often result from a fall, a sudden twist or a blow that forces the ankle joint out of its normal position. Sometimes ankle sprains occur because of congenital conditions or previous injuries.

"I always recommend that those who’ve suffered sprains and injuries in the past get their ankles checked for chronic instability as they start new fitness routines," says Dr. Cornelison.

Do ankle sprains require a doctor’s visit? Those with ankle injuries should see a foot and ankle surgeon any time there is bruising or the inability to bear weight on that foot. Receiving a correct diagnosis is essential as different injuries require different treatment. An examination can determine if there is a fracture — which involves a crack or break in the bones that form the ankle joint. It can also differentiate between a high ankle sprain and a lateral ankle sprain.

Can an athlete play through the pain? Whether training for a 5K or quarterbacking for a high school team, getting back in the game is often a patient’s top concern, and athletes may experience pressure from teammates and coaches to play through pain. But rehabilitation of a sprained ankle needs to begin right away. If rehabilitation is delayed, the injury may be less likely to heal properly, and may lead to chronic ankle instability, which is not only painful, but can increase the risk of additional ankle sprains down the line.

How are ankle sprains treated? Most ankle injuries require no surgical intervention, according to Dr. Cornelison, who stresses that foot and ankle surgeons will always choose the most conservative treatment for the best long-term outcomes. In addition to rest, ice, compression and elevation, (also known as RICE) doctors may also recommend physical therapy to promote healing and range of motion, as well as NSAIDs to reduce pain and inflammation. In more severe cases, or in cases where the injury was initially neglected, surgery may be required to repair the damaged ligaments. The foot and ankle surgeon will select the procedure best suited to the type and severity of the injury.

For more ankle sprain information and to find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the patient education website for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Playing a critical role, American farmers are stepping up to help solve global hunger

Noah Buscher/Upsplash

StatePoint Media -- With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain problems stemming from the global pandemic, and the world struggling under escalating inflation and a rapidly changing climate, the global hunger crisis has reached new levels.

Every night, more than 800 million people go to bed hungry, with the number of severely food-insecure people more than doubling from 135 million before COVID-19 to 345 million today, according to the World Food Program. At the same time, American agricultural exports of farm and food products shattered records in 2021 to total $177 billion, according to the USDA, demonstrating the instrumental role American farmers play in the U.S. economy, and in feeding the world.

"It’s more important than ever that the United States continues to lead globally to protect food systems abroad and our citizens at home from supply chain disruptions and rising prices," said Dan Glickman, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Senior Advisor at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. "As we face growing threats and crises on the global stage from wars, drought, climate change and food insecurity, farmers are part of the solution and will play a key role helping to save lives."

This is the driving idea behind a newly-launched initiative: Farmers for Prosperity. This network of agribusiness leaders is committed to U.S. global engagement by harnessing American resources to feed the world. Convened by the USGLC, Farmers for Prosperity will also shine a spotlight on both the role farmers play in solving critical global issues, and on why U.S. global leadership is essential to protect the security, health and economic interests of American families.

The launch of Farmers for Prosperity recently took place at USGLC’s Heartland Summit, hosted in Minnetonka, Minnesota, West Lafayette, Indiana, and Wichita, Kansas. The Summit, an annual event, convenes leaders this year from across the heartland with the aim of unpacking how strategic investments in agriculture, digital technology and global development help create jobs, feed the hungry, reduce poverty and keep America safe. Advocates are highlighting this year’s biggest takeaways:

• When communities are food insecure, it can lead to instability, slowing economic growth, perpetuating conflict, impacting child development and worsening malnutrition. Working with partners around the world, American farmers can help feed the world and save lives.

• U.S. leadership on the global stage is vital to advancing national economic and security interests, and agriculture is a part of that equation. Farmers have unique and important views on what it takes for the United States and the world to prosper, making it important for them to help shape foreign policy by educating policymakers on the challenges on the ground.

• Ensuring that American farmers have access to developing and emerging markets around the world is critical for the domestic economy. U.S. agricultural exports support over 1.3 million jobs on the farm and in related industries such as food processing and transportation.

To watch the 2022 Heartland Summit or learn more about Farmers for Prosperity, visit heartland.usglc.org

"Farmers around the world are not all that different. Together, they grow the food that sustains communities. At a time of global crisis, American farmers can lead the effort to tackle hunger and food insecurity," says Glickman.