The Sentinel

Under the spotlight with SJO seniors Tom Nichols, Jaiden Freeman & Payton Clements

Tom Nichols

Clubs & Activities

Cross Country, Chorus, Maroon Platoon

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two older brothers and a younger sister

Hobbies:
Bike riding, bird watching, and playing video games

Favorite SJO memories:
His greatest memories at SJO revolve around cross country. He enjoyed being a part of the team and the overnight trips for some of the invitationals.

Favorite class:
Journalism

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Pinne at CBCA Middle School, Mr. Steele at St. Joseph Middle School, and Mr. Kiel Duval at SJO.

Career Plans:
Enlisting in the United States Navy

Advice to future SJO students:
Cherish your teenage years and high school memories.

Jaiden Freeman

Clubs & Activities

Drama Club, Art Club

Hometown:
St. Joseph

Siblings:
Two younger brothers and one younger sister

Hobbies:
Reading, drawing, listening to music, and playing video games.

Favorite SJO memories:
She enjoyed participating in the drama production as a freshman, and she will remember all of the fun moments in Art Club over the years

Favorite classes:
Art, math, Earth and Life Science, and Biology

Favorite teachers:
Mr. Dunker and Mrs. Becky Ford at St. Joseph Middle School and Mr. Don Beckett and Ms. Susan Pensinger at SJO.

College Plans:
Parkland College and then transfer to a four-year university, majoring in Architecture.

Advice to future SJO students:
Please trust me on this: do not procrastinate.

Payton Clements

Clubs & Activities

Bass Fishing (4 years)
Football (3 years)
FFA

Hometown:
Ogden

Hobbies:
Fishing and working on cars

Favorite SJO memories:
His greatest memories center around being a part of the SJO football team and the SJO bass fishing team. He also really enjoyed Homecoming his senior year.

Favorite classes:
While thankful for all the teachers he had, he enjoyed all of his Agriculture Classes.

Favorite teachers:
Mrs. Maxwell and Mrs. Howard at PVO and Mr. Robert Glazier, Mrs. Stacey Kietzman, Mr. William Billman, and Mrs. Duitsman at SJO.

College:
Eastern Illinois University, majoring Environmental Science

Military training:
Enlisting in the Army National Guard and begin basic training at Fort Jackson on June 1.

Advice to future SJO students:
Be open about going to social events like Homecoming and et cetera.

Text & photos provided by St. Joseph-Ogden High School.

Viewpoint:
There is only one person that can really look out for you

By Michael Dilley, Guest Commentator

To my Law Enforcement friends,

I have always been a supporter of Law Enforcement. Having done that job, I am sympathetic and understanding to the positions officers are often put into. There are many good men and women who daily strap on their vests and stand against the wall for us. My perspective is one of experience and knowledge from being in or around the career for over 40 years.

This is meant as an encouragement and at the same time an admonition to our brothers and sisters in blue.

In a time of uncertainty, like what we are going through right now, it can be very difficult to navigate through situations and know what the proper decisions might be. It’s especially true given the pressure put recently on our Law Enforcement community.

I actually believe that the answer is clear and simple. All of us, as we began our career, in some fashion raised our right hand and swore to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States. Including The Bill of Rights and our citizens’ civil rights. It’s probably one of the most guiding documents that helps give us direction on our actions and behaviors.

Our loyalty is to the citizens we serve and not to untrusted politicians who decree and dictate policies and directives, ones that may themselves violate the Constitution. There are processes in place that govern how laws are made which include checks and balances. The processes protect the Constitution and us as a Law Enforcement Officers. Local Law Enforcement is not the Governor’s personal Police Force. That’s how Socialist Dictators in other Countries operate.

We should be very cautious about our actions and how they effect our citizens. Those very citizens who live in our communities, do business here. Friends that also have children that go to school with our children. Use caution because those actions could very well violate ones Civil Rights and the Constitution. Politicians who expect you to act on these dictatived decrees do not know who you are, do not care about you, and do know have your back. They will not be there for you if you get in a jam. There is a very good acronym in our profession specifically CYA. There is only one person that can really look out for you and that is you.

One should familiarize themselves with exactly what the Constitution says as well as Title 42, Section 1983. It is the statue that many use to bring legal action against Law Enforcement. You should be familiar with case law that identifies those very costly suits, which have been won against Law Enforcement Officers for violating rights. You should know that Officers can be sued personally, putting their homes and future finances at great risk. I personally would not trust that any organization would have my back if I violated ones Constitutional rights.

As good citizens are pushing back and fighting for their Constitutional rights, there is and will continue to be numerous legal actions against politicians and public officials. Imagine what the fallout will be when courts conclude or agree that these rights have been violated.

My hope and desire for the brave men and women is to follow the Constitution, CYA, and not become one of the legal causalities that might very well occur.