In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 9 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
Featured photo on this day ~
Urbana University's Stefania Dzhaman runs to the finish line behind Eureka's Meika Bender in the Class 1A Cross Country State Finals on Saturday. Dzhaman, a senior, finished her run at 19:42.85. See more local athletes in action at the 2021 IHSA state cross country meet.
The Heyworth Hornets capped off an outstanding football season today, concluding their impressive playoff run against a formidable Stockton Blackhawks squad in the IHSA Class 1A Second Round. While the final scoreboard, Stockton 26, Heyworth 3, did not fall the Hornets' way, it cannot overshadow the tremendous accomplishments of this team and its community.
The Hornets fought hard, earning a valuable field goal and demonstrating the resilience and tenacity that defined their path to the second round. Playing against the number one seed is a testament to the level of success Heyworth achieved this year—a season marked by tenacity, skill, and the unified spirit of the entire town.
To the players, coaches, and the loyal Heyworth faithful: hold your heads high. You competed fiercely and represented your school with honor and pride. This deep run into the playoffs establishes a strong foundation and raises the bar for the program's future. The entire Heyworth community can look back on this season with immense pride. This is not an ending, but a springboard for even greater things to come.
Tags: GCMS Falcons Heart of Illinois Medium Division title, Ridgeview vs GCMS high school football highlights, Central Illinois high school football championship game, Alan Look Photography sports action shots, Senior Night high school football game
TOLONO - After shaking three Monticello tacklers, Unity Tre Hoggard looks for a path around Sages'Nolan Buehnerkemper during first half action. Later, as time ran out in the fourth quarter, Hoggard intercepted a pass on a Monticello two-point coversion attempt to punch the Rockets' ticket to a quarterfinal playoff game against Williamsville in a barn burning 21-20 win on Saturday.
Illini Prairie Conference scores
Monmouth-Roseville 29, Bloomington Central Catholic 28
Unity 21, Monticello 20
St. Joseph -Ogden 42, Roxana 32
Big Twelve Conference scores
Montini 47, Peoria Notre Dame 17
Oak Forest 34, Bloomington 14
Peoria 38, Morton 34
Simeon 36, Normal West 21
Wheaton St. Francis 41, Prairie Ridge 38
Chicago King 21, Chicago Corliss [Coop] 6
Belvidere North 30, Kaneland 25
Cary-Grove 55, St. Patrick 21
Washington 38, Mahomet-Seymour 14
Providence Catholic 35, Kankakee 25
Oak Forest 34, Bloomington 14
Peoria 38, Morton 34
CLASS 6A:
Nazareth Academy 28, Warrenville South 7
Lake Zurich 35, Antioch 0
Burlington Central 24, Harlem 14
Fenwick 45, Rolling Meadows 7
East St. Louis 53, Chatham Glenwood 14
Simeon 36, Normal West 21
St. Laurence 35, Bradley-Bourbonnais 21
Dunlap 28, Crete-Monee 21
CLASS 7A:
Hersey 42, Richards 21
St. Rita 31, Lincoln-Way Central 28
Batavia 42, Glenbard East 21
Glenbard North 22, Moline 14
Downers Grove North 19, Glenbard West 7
Lincoln-Way West 43, Kenwood 20
St. Charles North 26, Carmel 23
Brother Rice 46, Jacobs 0
CLASS 8A:
Mt. Carmel 48, Belleville East 29
Lincoln-Way East 55, Palatine 13
Fremd 45, Lyons 21
Bolingbrook 20, Warren 14
Barrington 38, Glenbrook South 20
Lockport 21, Homewood-Flossmoor 20
Maine South 33, Hinsdale Central 29
Oswego 45, Lane 10
St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball players Emerson Williams and Hadley McDonald celebrate a point for SJO during the third set of their regional championship game against the Unity Rockets. After a dominating 25-14 victory in the first set, the Spartans battled to the end in the final two sets, losing 25-21, 25-22. The volleyball team finished a tough campaign with a 13-21 record. Here are a dozen more photos from their best performance of the season.
This season's Spartan Volleyball Team included seniors Adelyn Childers, Katie Ericksen, Emma McKinney, Ally Schmitz, and Emma Wells. Juniors on this year's squad were Brynn Ikemire, Alivia Learned, Hadley McDonald, Addi Stevens and Emerson Williams. The roster rounded out with five sophomores, including Ava Alexander, Megan Kearney, Atleigh Miller, Vivian Smith and Raegan Wheatley.
The Holiday Food Drive runs through Nov. 26, accepting non-perishable items at the Champaign office. Each donation supports pantries and households across the county. Even small contributions can make a big difference this season.
CHAMPAIGN - There’s something about the sound of a can dropping into a donation box - a small, metallic note that carries a quiet kind of hope. Each clang, each thud of a box of pasta or bag of rice, echoes louder this time of year when neighbors start thinking less about what’s on their own tables and more about how to fill someone else’s. That’s the spirit behind the University of Illinois Extension SNAP-Ed Holiday Food Drive, which is now underway to help stock pantry shelves across Champaign County before the holidays arrive.
Photo: Jacob McGowin/Unsplash
From Monday, November 10, through Wednesday, November 26, community members are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the Extension office at 801 North Country Fair Drive in Champaign. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. All contributions - from a single can of soup to a full grocery sack - will go directly to local pantries and families who could use an extra helping hand this season.
“We know that the holidays can be a challenging time for many families,” said Tracy Bowden, University of Illinois SNAP-Ed educator. “Every food item donated helps ensure that our neighbors have nutritious meals to enjoy during the season.”
The most helpful items are shelf-stable staples: canned vegetables and fruit, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, and other non-perishables. A few simple items from one household can easily turn into a warm meal for another.
For many in the community, the food drive isn’t just about generosity - it’s about connection. It’s about slowing down long enough to remember that even a small gesture can ripple outward. As grocery costs rise and pantry shelves grow thin, every donation becomes a message that says, you’re not forgotten.
If you’re able, take a moment this week to drop something off. It may not seem like much, but to the family unpacking that bag later this month, it will mean everything.
For more information about the Holiday Food Drive, contact Tracy Bowden at tbowden@illinois.edu.
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — honoring veterans, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, sports, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 8 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
In a thrilling finish, senior Lucas Smith drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired to lift St. Joseph-Ogden over previously undefeated Benton. Quarterback Kodey McKinney threw for 194 yards and a touchdown to lead SJO’s offense. The Spartans now head to Roxana for their second-round playoff game.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden kicker Lucas Smith kicks a PAT in the Spartans' road game against Bloomington Central Catholic back in October. The senior's 4th quarter heroics propelled SJO into a second-round playoff game at Roxana.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Lucas Smith watches his kick against Pontiac.
SNS - Before the bus even pulled out of St. Joseph last Saturday, there was a question hanging in the air — could the Spartans win a playoff game without a true field goal kicker? Turns out, the answer was waiting three hours south in Benton, on the right foot of senior Lucas Smith. With the score tied and the clock drained to its final second, Smith’s 43-yard field goal cut through the wind and through Benton’s perfect record, sending St. Joseph-Ogden home with a 17-14 upset over the third-seeded Rangers.
For three quarters, it looked like the Spartans had found their stride at exactly the right time. Senior quarterback Kodey McKinney led a crisp opening drive, finishing with a 46-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Kaden Wedig. Late in the second quarter, senior running back Wyatt Wertz muscled through the Benton defense for a three-yard score, giving SJO a 14-0 halftime lead. But Benton, who came in averaging over 40 points per game, wasn’t going to stay silent. Two fourth-quarter touchdowns evened the score and tightened the crowd’s pulse — setting up Smith’s defining moment.
The story of the game, though, may have been SJO’s defense. Benton’s offense, which had racked up 418 points during the regular season, was bottled up for most of the day. The Spartans allowed just 14 points and forced the Rangers to work for every yard on their 62 offensive plays. Logan Rosenthal and sophomore Logan Umbarger each finished with seven tackles, while Brayden Waller and Lane McKinney helped anchor a defense that collected five tackles for loss — a season high.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Landon Smith (right) is blocked by a Pontiac offensive lineman. Not afraid of contact, the senior's physicality and confidence has grown since the start of the season, making him a valuable asset on defense.
McKinney finished with a steady hand under pressure, completing 16 of 19 passes for 194 yards. Wedig was his top target, pulling in 10 catches for 169 yards, while Tim Blackburn-Kelley added three more receptions. On the ground, Wertz and McKinney each chipped in 36 rushing yards, helping chew the clock and keep the Benton defense guessing.
Now, the Spartans (7-3) head into the second round with momentum and belief. They’ll travel to Roxana (7-3) for a Saturday afternoon showdown at 2 p.m. The matchup is a reunion of sorts — the two programs last met in the postseason two years ago, a 48-47 shootout that ended with Roxana on top. The Shells rely on a deep backfield led by sophomore Mekhi Shorter, who has topped 100 yards three times this season, and wideout Sean Maberry, who has a knack for turning receptions into touchdowns.
But this Roxana team hasn’t faced the kind of gauntlet SJO just survived. Every team that beat the Spartans this year — Unity, Monticello, Bloomington Central Catholic and Seneca — is still alive in the playoffs. All four Illini Prairie Conference qualifiers won their openers, strengthening the argument that no one in Class 3A is more battle-tested than SJO.
If the Spartans can push past Roxana, they’ll earn a quarterfinal matchup against either Vandalia or Greenville — and, for the first time this postseason, a playoff game at Dick Duval Field.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO's Will Franklin plays defense for the Spartans in their road game at Bloomington Central Catholic.
More SJO Sports Articles
TAGS: St. Joseph-Ogden football playoff win, Lucas Smith field goal, Roxana Shells vs Spartans, IHSA Class 3A playoffs, Illinois high school football news
The relationship between weather and migraines are not fully understood yet. Rapid weather changes, especially shifts in barometric pressure and extreme temperature swings, can trigger migraines for some people.
by Colleen Reynolds OSF Healthcare
Weather changes can play a major role in triggering migraine headaches for some people, according to specialists who treat the condition. In fact, for some people, weather can play a huge role in migraine headaches.
Photo provided
Ashley Workman
Ashley Workman is an advanced practice registered nurse with OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute (OSF INI). She works in the headache and cranial facial pain program and explains, “Specific weather changes that we see influence some of our patients’ migraine patterns are changes in barometric pressure, which we identify as any fluctuation or drop in the atmospheric pressure around us in our environment, extreme temperature shifts — so not only extreme heat waves, but also those cold snaps, or any more extreme shift in temperature from high to low.”
Workman says Illinois weather has offered recent examples of those quick changes when it was 90 degrees just a few weeks ago, but now it’s dropping into the 30s and most people have turned their heat on. While scientists understand parts of the migraine process, Workman stresses the relationship between weather and migraine isn’t fully understood.
Migraines are a complex disorder, and there are some theories out there that weather changes influence migraines. Workman points out that researchers have one theory in particular that is centered around the influence of barometric pressure.
“Does that shift in atmospheric pressure actually have an influence on the pressure within our skull? And that can then further influence how our blood vessels constrict and dilate. And those specific changes then can trigger those neurons and nerves signaling the pain process, which then leads to inflammation and causing that migraine headache for patients.”
Photo: Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash
Testing those theories can be difficult because the brain and the nervous system are so complex.
“These neurons that we’re talking about are so teensy, tiny and can be influenced by so many factors, migraine being one of those that the sky is somewhat the limit on what triggers them and it’s very individualized to the person so that really adds a layer of complexity of giving someone sometimes a straightforward answer of why they have migraine or what their triggers are, because it can differ so much across the board,” Workman suggests.
There is no cure for migraine headaches, so Workman says it truly is all about education and managing the condition by being prepared. Here are some approaches:
Tracking headaches on a calendar can help identify weather-related patterns. She says that’ll help better identify triggers.
Having medication readily available is also key. Workman emphasizes the importance of always having your medication with you in case a migraine comes on, especially unexpectedly.
Managing stress and routinely getting enough sleep are important.
Focusing on a better diet and drinking more water to avoid dehydration is also a key to better management of migraine.
Ultimately, Workman advises that there are things providers can do to help patients live a little better lifestyle, knowing that they have migraine headaches including prescriptions, including acute medications or preventative medications.
She adds, “A lot has evolved in the migraine world over the last five to seven years, with newer treatments on the market that we haven’t had that have been really, really so impactful for patients and leading to better migraine control.”
If you have been struggling with migraine headaches, Workman says there’s no need to suffer without support. Make an appointment with your primary care provider.
More Healthcare Stories
Tags: struggling with migraine headaches, the brain and the nervous system are complex, weather changes can play a role with migraines
The 2025 All-IPC soccer honors highlight the best players from the Illini Prairie Conference season. St. Joseph-Ogden, Bloomington Central Catholic, St. Thomas More and Illinois Valley Central each earned first-team selections.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess and Illinois Valley Central's Brody Garceau battle for ball control during their regular season match in September. Both players earned recognition from the Illini Prairie Conference coaches and named to this year's First Team.
SNS - With the season over until next August, the Illini Prairie Conference has announced its 2025 All-IPC soccer team, selected by coaches from member schools.
This year’s first team includes seven seniors, four juniors and one freshman among the honorees who showcased their skill and talent throughout the season, which began in August.
Following a thrilling regular season, three players from St. Joseph-Ogden, the Williamsville Sectional runner-up, made this year’s top team. The Spartans finished the season as conference champions with an impressive record of 24 wins, two losses and two ties.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Spartan's Zach Harper celebrates his game-winning goal against the Grey Ghost in September. The senior, who averaged 2.3 goals per match was St. Joseph-Ogden's most-prolific scorer this season.
Bloomington Central Catholic, whose only loss came against SJO, finished the season 9-11-3 and second in the Illini Prairie. The Saints had three players named to this year’s first team.
Meanwhile, coaches agreed that two players each from St. Thomas More and Illinois Valley Central, instrumental to their teams’ success, also deserved recognition for their talent and contributions in downstate Illinois’ toughest small-school conference.
Here is the list of this year's conference teams.
1st Team All-Conference
Jack Wyse - Junior, #7, Central Catholic Lucas Beck - Junior, #2, Central Catholic Sam Allen - Senior, #8, Central Catholic Andrew Scheirer - Junior, #5, Illinois Valley Central Brody Garceau - Senior, #4, Illinois Valley Central Oscar Valera Echeverria - Junior, #8, Rantoul Township Zach Harper - Senior, #24, St. Joseph-Ogden Tyler Hess - Senior, #77, St. Joseph-Ogden Lucas Stevens - Freshman, #10, St. Joseph-Ogden Riley Hogan - Senior, #4, St. Thomas More Owen Yeager - Senior, #17, St. Thomas More Matthew Hollett - Senior, #25, Unity
2nd Team All-Conference
Benjamin Dappen - Junior, #10, Central Catholic Mason Clark - Junior, #11, Central Catholic Jonathan Blankenship - Junior, #1, Central Catholic Ryan Urbanc - Senior, #8, Illinois Valley Central Drew Marquis - Senior, #3, Illinois Valley Central Sully Beccue - Junior, #7, Monticello Issack Ocadiz - Junior, #11, Monticello Steven Newman - Junior, #21, St. Joseph-Ogden Quinn Stahl - Senior, #22, St. Joseph-Ogden Will Grissom - Sophomore, #16, St. Thomas More Raphael Enzo Dongo Kengue - Junior, #10, St. Thomas More Nicholas Ribeiro O’Grady - Junior, #00, St. Thomas More Jacob Yeager - Junior, #11, St. Thomas More Caden McCaskill - Senior, #26, Unity Tyler Huntington - Senior, #35, Unity
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Leo Triveno - Freshman, #14, Central Catholic John Urbanc - Senior, #10, Illinois Valley Central Jackson Lopotko - Junior, #12, Illinois Valley Central Logan Sullivan - Senior, #7, Illinois Valley Central Channing Morris - Senior, #11, Illinois Valley Central Chris Clavey - Sophomore, #12, St. Thomas More Alex Kessler - Junior, #30, Monticello Walter Saiger - Sophomore - Monticello Waylon Jones - Junior - St. Joseph-Ogden Chris Clavey - Sophomore- St. Thomas More
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Unity's Matthew Hollett dribbles the ball down the field in the Rockets' postseason match against St. Joseph-Ogden. The senior and two other teammates earned spots on this season's all-conference list.
Tags:
2025 Illini Prairie Conference All-IPC soccer selections,
High school soccer all-conference team Illinois,
St. Joseph-Ogden Illini Prairie soccer champions 2025,
Top Illinois high school soccer players 2025 season,
Bloomington Central Catholic and SJO All-IPC honorees
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — honoring veterans, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, sports, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 7 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — local sports state championship runs, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, features, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 9 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
In a month marked by remembrance and gratitude, we revisit stories that defined our region — honoring veterans, celebrating Thanksgiving, and spotlighting moments of unity, resilience, and spirited debate.
From local news, sports, and community events to politics, and Opinion-Editorial viewpoints, discover archived posts published on November 8 in previous years, offering a rich tapestry of life in Champaign County and the broader community, curated by The Sentinel. Here are the headlines from local news, sports, community events, and editorial viewpoints in and around Champaign-Urbana.
