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 25 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.
BLOOMINGTON – The 2025 Intercity Boys Basketball Tournament tipped off Monday night at Illinois Wesleyan University’s Shirk Center, delivering a mix of blowout dominance and down-to-the-wire intensity. The double-header featured cross-town rivals facing off in the annual Thanksgiving week tradition, with the Normal Community Ironmen and University High Pioneers securing victories to open the tournament.
In the evening’s first matchup, the Normal Community Ironmen made a resounding statement with a 67-39 victory over the Normal West Wildcats. The Ironmen controlled the tempo from the opening tip, utilizing a stifling defense to disrupt the Wildcats' offensive rhythm.
Normal Community’s balanced attack proved too much for West to handle. The Ironmen offense executed with efficiency, steadily building a lead that ballooned to 28 points by the final buzzer. The victory extended Normal Community’s recent dominance in the rivalry, marking another consecutive win over their district counterparts.
For Normal West, the lopsided loss highlighted early-season struggles on both ends of the floor as they look to regroup for the remainder of the tournament.
The nightcap offered a stark contrast in competitive balance, as the University High Pioneers defeated the Bloomington Purple Raiders 52-47. Unlike the earlier blowout, this game remained a tight affair throughout, with neither team able to pull away significantly until the closing minutes.
Defensive intensity defined the matchup, with points coming at a premium. The Pioneers managed to execute critical possessions down the stretch to secure the five-point win. Bloomington stayed within striking distance but could not bridge the gap in the final moments. The result moved U-High to 1-0 in tournament play, while the Purple Raiders dropped a hard-fought decision to open their campaign.
Alan Look Photography and Best Look Magazine continue to provide the best look in sports action photography for Bloomington-Normal. For those looking to relive the intensity of Monday night’s games, memorable moments from the tournament are preserved by the premier lens of the region. Capturing the soul of the heartland since 1999, their coverage ensures that every buzzer-beater and defensive stand is documented with professional precision.
Created through the Inflation Reduction Act, IRS Direct File was used in 25 states last tax season but will not return in 2026. Critics of the cancellation also note major tax preparation companies have opposed such programs for years.
Photo: Nataliya Vaitkevich/PEXELS
by Zamone Perez Public News Service WASHINGTON, DC - The Trump administration has announced it will cancel the IRS Direct File program for the 2026 tax filing season, a move which will result in many Americans spending more time and money to file their taxes.
Last tax season, 25 states opted into Direct File after it was created by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act in 2024. While Virginia did not enroll in the program the past two years, financial policy advocates find tax filers in the Commonwealth would have saved $500 million annually if the state did participate.
Adam Ruben, vice president of the Economic Security Project, said Direct File was valuable because tax filing software is often challenging for those who don't speak English, and cost-prohibitive for those with low income.
"The average taxpayer spends $160 and nine hours filling out their tax return," Ruben pointed out. "That’s just prohibitive for a lot of low-income families. Part of the value of Direct File would be to make tax filing simple and free, so that people don’t have to have money in their pocket in order to go out and claim those tax credits that they earn."
Trump administration officials have defended the move, claiming better free options exist for low-income filers, and private companies can do a better job for those who can pay.
One survey found nearly 75% of people who used Direct File would recommend the service to others over other tax filing options. Ruben rejected the argument Direct File costs too much to implement, highlighting how the system cut down on customer service costs and saves tax filers money.
"You’ll hear the opponents of Direct File complain about what it cost to build," Ruben observed. "But somehow, you never hear them talk about all the money that it saves for either taxpayers or for the federal government."
Direct File was also unpopular with large tax filing companies, which one analysis found spent nearly $40 million since 2006 to lobby against similar programs.
This story was produced with original reporting from Josh Israel for The Virginia Independent.
More Articles on Government
TAGS: IRS Direct File cancellation 2026, taxpayer cost savings analysis, Economic Security Project tax policy, low-income tax filing barriers, Direct File user satisfaction data
Normal - St. Joseph-Ogden's Ashley Runck snatches a loose ball away from Breese Central's Lauren Budde during their Class 1A state quarterfinal game at Redbird Arena on January 23, 2007. In the final year of the girls' two-class system, the Spartans fell to the eventual state champion Cougars 56-39 in the state quarterfinals. It was deepest post season run for SJO since the start of the girls' basketball program in 1973. Runck led the Spartans (29-4) in the loss with 12 points. Twelve years later, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball program returned to Redbird, finishing third in Class 2A.
Past Photos of the Day
TAGS: Photo of the Day, St. Joseph-Ogden girls basketball team, SJO girls' basketball at state, Breese Central Cougars,IHSA basketball state finals
The Toyota of Danville Classic returns to St. Joseph-Ogden next week where basketball fans can enjoy the mix of high-energy basketball, strategy, and fast breaks.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Ryker Lockhart fights to snag a rebound with McNamara's Callaghan O'Connor under the rim during the Toyota of Danville Classic championship match in 2024. The Fightin' Irish defeated the 2023 champion Spartans in a fierce battle 57-48. O'Conner finished with seven points, while Lockhart led SJO with 12 points. The two juniors and their teams are projected to square off again in the title game on December 6.
ST. JOSEPH - St. Joseph-Ogden High School will welcome some of the region’s top teams next week for the annual Toyota of Danville Classic, an early-season basketball tournament that promises five days of fast-paced action and intense competition. Known as The Leader Classic for nearly three decades before being renamed in 2018, this year’s tournament runs Tuesday, Dec. 2, through Saturday, Dec. 6.
Last year’s champion, Bishop McNamara, who edged St. Joseph-Ogden 57-48 in the title game, returns along with all seven teams from the previous field. Pool A features Cissna Park, Charleston, PBL, and Bishop McNamara, while Pool B includes Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond, Oakwood, host St. Joseph-Ogden, and Watseka.
Fans can look forward to 16 games over the course of the tournament, highlighted by the 35-second shot clock and the usual mix of high-energy play and early-season matchups. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students per night, covering all three games scheduled each evening. Tournament play opens Tuesday at 5 p.m., kicking off what promises to be another memorable edition of the Classic.
2025 Toyota of Danville Classic Schedule
Pool A:
Cissna Park
Charleston
PBL
Kankakee Bishop McNamara
Pool B:
Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond
Oakwood
St. Joseph-Ogden
Watseka
Tuesday, 12/2/25:
5:00 PM: Kankakee Bishop McNamara vs. Charleston
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. PBL
Wednesday, 12/3/25:
5:00 PM: Watseka vs. Oakwood
6:30 PM: PBL vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. Cissna Park
Thursday, 12/4/25:
5:00 PM: Oakwood vs. ALAH
6:30 PM: Watseka vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
8:00 PM: Charleston vs. PBL
Friday, 12/5/25:
5:00 PM: Cissna Park vs. Kankakee Bishop McNamara
6:30 PM: ALAH vs. Watseka
8:00 PM: Oakwood vs. St. Joseph-Ogden
Saturday, 12/6/25:
1:00 PM: 7th Place Game
2:30 PM: 5th Place Game
4:00 PM: 3rd Place Game
5:30 PM: 1st Place Game
More SJO Sports Articles
TAGS: Toyota of Danville Classic 2025, St. Joseph-Ogden basketball tournament schedule, Bishop McNamara high school basketball, IHSA early-season basketball games, high school basketball 35-second shot clock, St. Joseph-Ogden basketball tickets, Charleston vs Cissna Park game, Oakwood vs ALAH matchup, Watseka vs St. Joseph-Ogden, PBL vs Bishop McNamara
Small decorating changes can make your home feel more cheerful during the holidays. Cozy lighting, blankets and seasonal media invite relaxation. Personal projects and heirloom pieces bring emotional warmth. Scents, textures and outdoor decorations round out the festive experience.
StatePoint Media - As the holidays creep closer and the to-do lists grow longer, many women find themselves craving something simple—a space that feels comforting, festive and entirely their own. With just a handful of affordable, creative tweaks, you can transform your home into a place that sparks joy the moment you walk through the door.
Tip #2: Pile on personal touches. Science says that decorating with handcrafted pieces can evoke a sense of both accomplishment and connection. Display beloved childhood holiday crafts and family heirlooms, like ornaments or glassware. Then, carve out time to make your own unique focal point. With a little imagination and duct tape, you can DIY your own Instagram-worthy decor. Consider cutting red and green Color Duck Tape into letter shapes to personalize a festive banner for your fireplace, then use duct tape to make holiday-themed frames to display family photos from over the years.
Tip #3: Refresh your hosting hotspot. For family and friends who are visiting over the holidays, cement your kitchen as a go-to gathering space with a quick makeover. Cheer up countertops with a display of holiday mugs, hang festive towels and spruce up cabinet shelves and other surfaces with removeable, patterned shelf liner like EasyLiner Removeable Adhesive Shelf Liner. For a non-committal DIY that lasts only as long as you want it to, use the weathered wood pattern on a backsplash or kitchen island to add charming texture.
Photo: Ara/Unsplash
Tip #4: Engage the senses. Select seasonal scents to infuse into your surroundings. For a DIY alternative to candles, boil water with aromatic ingredients, like cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange slices and vanilla, in a simmer pot for a nostalgic scent, or place bags of dried pinecones in bathroom and coat closets. And of course – baking cookies will create a fantastic aroma in your home, too.
Tip #5: Bring the spirit outside. As you make your holiday updates, don't forget about the exterior. Try adding simple touches to high-traffic areas, like placing decorative trees or poinsettias on the porch, hanging a wreath on the front door, tying garlands to beams or hanging lights on the patio or garage.
One family discovers Thanksgiving far beyond the holiday table. Together, they reveal how gratitude can unfold long before Thursday arrives.
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator
Glenn Mollette
We can and should celebrate Thanksgiving every day. Jesus told the story about the man cleansed of leprosy who returned to give thanks. He pointed out there were nine who experienced the same healing of their physical problem, but did not return to give thanks.
The Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving. They gave thanks for the rain, their harvest, health and the kindness of the local native Americans. They also gave thanks to God for their new life in America.
We know the difference between a thankful person and someone who complains all the time about anything and everything. It’s more fun to be around a grateful person than someone who can find something bad to say about anything and everything that is good.
There is a painting I love that displays a man with a bowed head, hands clasped and before him what appears to be a bowl of soup. In the painting he is giving thanks.
Our children and grandchildren all have a lot to learn in life and so do all of us adults. Two words that seem to be absent from many vocabularies are “thank you.”
We should say “thank you,” a lot. Say thank you to God and to all those who do even the smallest things for us and around us. It doesn’t hurt to say thank you two or three times.
Where did you learn to say thank you? Did your parents teach you? Did you learn it in school? Did you learn it from hearing someone else say it often? Or, have you yet to learn the importance of those two special and sacred words.
Thank you goes a long way. Saying thank you builds bridges, tears down walls and overcomes a lot of sin, evil and bad feelings. Thank people for being your friends, for their kindnesses, for their service, their faithfulness, their patriotism and all the big and small things from A to Z.
Don’t wait until Thanksgiving to say “thank you.” Give thanks to God, our public servants, your family, co-workers and more today and as often as possible.
I’ve already had several days of Thanksgiving. Last week we sat in my sister’s family room and spent time talking to one of our own who survived an aortic aneurism. We talked about the miracle of the many people who were involved in saving his life. We gave thanks and have many times.
We spent time eating chili soup and sloppy joe sandwiches and casually hanging out as family. They were precious hours of Thanksgiving. My wife and I spent an hour or so another day with my sister, her husband and son eating some early turkey, dressing mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. You don’t have to wait until Thursday to have turkey and family fellowship. One evening we sat with my brother and his son and family just talking around the table while they were having hamburgers. It was a nice time of fellowship. On another day we got to volunteer with others to distribute Thanksgiving food to over 800 people and again we experienced a blessed time of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving can be any day, with any meal and a variety people. Whatever the day, meal or occasion, see the blessing of the moment and give thanks.
About the author ~
Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.
More Editorial Viewpoints
The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. 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.
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 24 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.
Ambition, then, is the fire that can both create and consume. It becomes dangerous when it blinds the heart and mind.
byKamlesh Tripathi Guest Commentary
To quote Mark Antony in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar:
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
Hath told you Caesar was ambitious.
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer'd it”.
Ambition is highly incendiary. It can show the path to greatness or burn everything in its heat. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Caesar’s ambition is both political and personal. He is neither a clear villain nor an innocent victim. His rise to power threatens to jeopardise the balance of the Roman Republic.
To Brutus and the conspirators, Caesar’s growing influence signals a danger to Rome’s liberty and its soul. They believe that if Caesar’s ambition is left unchecked, it would transform a free republic into a monarchy. But according to Shakespeare, Caesar’s ambition is as much perceived as proven. He refuses the crown three times. He speaks for the people and wins their loyalty. His “fault,” perhaps, lies not in the greed for power but in his pride. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more,” says Brutus. Ambition must be punished before it turns into tyranny. But Shakespeare refuses to make the judgment easy. Caesar’s ambition is not that of a usurper. He is neither the villain nor the saint of the play.
In Mary Shelley’s book Frankenstein, the central character, Victor Frankenstein’s ambition is intellectual in nature, rather than political. Obsessed with creating life, he defies natural laws and unleashes a monster he cannot control. His thirst for scientific glory brings about the destruction of everyone he loves including himself. His ambition to play God ends with his own ruin.
In the Indian mythology, there are several characters whose fate resembles that of Caesar’s. Ravana, the mighty king of Lanka, was a scholar, warrior, and devotee of Lord Shiva. Yet, his depraved ambition to be unconquerable and possess Sita led to his downfall. As a result, his strength metamorphosed into self-destruction.
Finally, it wasn’t only Rama’s arrows that destroyed him, but his own unchecked ambition. The same holds good for Duryodhana in the Mahabharata. His craving to rule Hastinapura resembles Caesar’s political hunger. He could not bear to see the Pandavas prosper. His refusal to grant even five villages, as suggested by Krishna, led to the catastrophic Kurukshetra war. Like Caesar, Duryodhana believed power to be his birthright.
Karna’s story offers a fine parallel to Caesar’s personal ambition. Born into secrecy and raised in anonymity, Karna’s entire life is driven by a longing for recognition and respect. His ambition is noble. He wishes to prove his worth against Arjuna and rise above the stigma of his birth. Similarly, Caesar’s early life is marked by political struggle and a fierce determination to climb the ranks of Roman power. Yet both men get entangled in loyalties that blur moral boundaries.
Karna’s devotion to Duryodhana, like Caesar’s trust in Antony and others, leads him to defend causes that conflict with dharma. Ambition without a noble cause, Shakespeare and Vyasa both suggest, can make even noble men pawns in larger tragedies.
Hiranyakashipu’s ambition to rule the three worlds and attain immortality resembles Caesar’s own belief that he was beyond human intervention, as he proudly declares himself “as constant as the Northern Star.” Caesar’s rise disrupts the harmony of the Roman Republic. Their arrogance invites downfall—one at the hands of Narasimha, the other at the daggers of Brutus & co.
Mythology offers a counterpoint in the case of King Mahabali. Mahabali desired to rule heaven, earth, and the underworld. But when faced with Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar, he chose humility over defiance, surrendering his kingdom and ego. Unlike Ravana or Duryodhana, Mahabali’s humility redeemed him, earning divine grace and immortality in memory.
Here lies a profound contrast with Caesar: where Mahabali bows, Caesar refuses to yield. Shakespeare’s Caesar, standing tall against the soothsayer’s warning, “Beware the Ides of March”, becomes the very image of a man too proud to listen, too ambitious to step back.
Ambition, then, is the fire that can both create and consume. It is political when it seeks power, personal when it seeks recognition, and tragic when it forgets restraint. From Caesar to Ravana, from Duryodhana to Macbeth, the pattern endures; the greater the climb, the greater the fall.
As Shakespeare and the epics remind us, ambition is not inherently evil. It becomes dangerous when it blinds the heart and mind. To be ambitious is human. To be over-ambitious is to challenge the divine. The lesson of Caesar and his mythological counterparts is eternal. Ambition must be guided by wisdom, or it becomes a double-edged sword. One that wins glory in one stroke and brings ruin in the next.
From Caesar’s Rome to Ravana’s Lanka, from Duryodhana’s Hastinapura to Macbeth’s Scotland, the story remains unchanged. Ambition is both the sculptor and the destroyer of greatness.
Kamlesh Tripathi is someone who values a life grounded in satisfaction and simple joys. Originally shaped in part by connections to the United States, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, he carries a blend of cultural influences that guide his perspective. He often recalls his mother’s rice and lentils as a favorite comfort dish. Among the stories that inspire him, he holds a particular fondness for the on-screen presence of Amitabh Bachchan.
TAGS: Ambition can be a path to greatness, Transforming a free republic into a monarchy, Indian mythology, Ambition is not evil, Tobe ambitious is human
President Trump is now threatening federal transit funding — which could hit small urban and rural transit agencies hardest.
byLeeAnn Hall OtherWords
Despite the government reopening, Americans are still suffering from the chaos of an administration that is out of touch with the needs of the people.
Though federal workers are back on the job and agencies are resuming their work, countless essential programs are stalled or at risk, costing all of us by failing to invest in the services we need, like health care, housing, and transit.
Photo provided
LeeAnn Hall
Reopening the government is not the same as restarting the economy — and if Congress and the White House want to turn relief into momentum, they need to put real investment behind one of the strongest engines of growth we have: public transportation.
Public transportation is one of the best economic investments a government can make. Every $1 billion invested in public transit creates and supports more than 50,000 jobs, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Strong transit networks attract businesses, get people to their jobs, and revitalize downtowns. Cities like Denver, Dallas, and Seattle have already seen how modern transit systems can spur billions in investment around new rail lines and stations.
Transportation also lies at the heart of our affordability crisis. It’s the second highest cost burden for most American households, just below housing.
But instead of addressing this head on, the administration is reneging on its funding obligations for projects of all types and threatening to further deplete investments that would give us more affordable options to get around. Across the country, bus lines are being cut, subway systems are aging, and commuter rail projects are stalled because federal funding remains uncertain or insufficient.
Which is why it is so troubling that the Trump administration is threatening to take the unprecedented step of gutting federal transit funding altogether in the next funding fight.
While this move may have the politically motivated goal of impacting larger transit systems in cities like New York and Los Angeles, what the administration does not realize is that the communities that would suffer the most are those with transit agencies who rely the most heavily on federal funding:.
These include small urban and rural agencies like the ones you’ll find in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Flagstaff, Arizona, or Rocky Mount, North Carolina, where students rely on transit to get to class, warehouse workers rely on transit to get to work, and older adults rely on transit to remain independent and stay connected to their communities.
Washington’s next move should be clear: reject Trump’s plan to gut transit funding and pass a long-term, fully funded transit package.
That means investing in operating funding, supporting maintenance and modernization, and putting resources towards expansion, so that local and state partners aren’t left to carry the burden alone. The return on that investment isn’t abstract — it’s faster commutes, stronger local economies, and cleaner air.
But this will require political will from our leaders. It means resisting the easy allure of short-term fixes like formula funding for highway expansion and narrow discretionary grants for transit, and instead delivering the long-term funding for the infrastructure that makes cities thrive.
Federal and state governments must prioritize sustained, predictable funding for local transit agencies. At the local level, cities should redesign streets for buses, bikes, and pedestrians — not just cars.
The government is open again. Good. Now let’s keep the country moving — literally.
A nation that invests in its people’s ability to move freely and affordably is a nation that’s investing in its own growth. And we need that more than ever.
LeeAnn Hall is the Executive Director of the National Campaign for Transit Justice. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
A Conservation Victory and a Photographer's Paradise
There are few sights in nature more stirring than the white head of an American Bald Eagle gleaming against the slate-grey winter sky of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. For decades, this sight was nearly lost to us. Today, however, thanks to one of the most successful conservation efforts in history, the "King of Skies" has returned to the Heartland, reclaiming its throne along the icy waters of the Mississippi—specifically around the engineering marvels of the locks and dams.
This is the story of their comeback, and your guide to witnessing it firsthand near Gladstone, Illinois.
From Silence to Soaring: The Comeback Story
In the mid-20th century, the American Bald Eagle was teetering on the brink of extinction. The widespread use of DDT, a pesticide that caused eggshells to become dangerously thin, decimated populations across the lower 48 states. By 1963, there were only an estimated 417 nesting pairs left.
The road to recovery began with the banning of DDT in 1972 and the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act. It was a slow, steady climb, but nature is resilient. In 2007, the bald eagle was officially removed from the endangered species list—a monumental victory for conservationists.
Today, the Upper Mississippi River acts as a critical wintering corridor. As northern waters freeze, thousands of eagles migrate south, seeking open water to hunt. This migration funnel brings them directly to our backyards in Illinois.
Why Locks and Dams? The Dinner Bell
You might wonder why these majestic raptors congregate around industrial structures like Lock and Dam 18. The answer is simple: it’s an all-you-can-eat buffet.
The turbulence created by the roller and Tainter gates prevents the water from freezing, even in the dead of winter. This provides eagles with constant access to the river.
As fish pass through the dam's gates, they often become disoriented or stunned by the pressure changes and turbulence. They float near the surface, making them easy pickings for the eagles waiting in the cottonwood trees lining the banks.
Destination: Gladstone, Illinois (Lock and Dam 18)
While many flock to larger cities for eagle watching, the area around Gladstone, Illinois, offers a more intimate, rugged experience. Located just north of Burlington, Iowa, Gladstone serves as the gateway to Lock and Dam 18.
Unlike the crowded festivals in larger Quad Cities locations, the Gladstone area is often quieter, allowing for a more reflective experience with nature.
The lock is situated roughly in the middle of the river, accessible via long embankments. During peak migration (December through February), it is not uncommon to see dozens—sometimes hundreds—of eagles roosting in the tall trees or riding the ice floes.
The best viewing is often from the Illinois side, where the "Great River Road" offers scenic pull-offs. The earthen embankments provide elevation, giving you a near eye-level view of eagles soaring over the river.
Capturing the soul of the heartland, photo tips for the amateur
For those looking to document this spectacle, the Upper Mississippi offers a masterclass in wildlife photography. The interplay of industrial steel, flowing water, and wild biology creates a unique visual narrative.
Bring the Reach: A 300mm lens or longer is standard. Eagles are large, but they respect their distance.
Watch the Exposure: The white head of an eagle can easily "blow out" (lose detail) against a dark background. Underexpose slightly to preserve those feathers.
Patience is Key: Wait for the "stoop"—the moment an eagle dives from its perch to snatch a fish.
Tips for planning your trip ~
Best Time: Mid-January to early February.
Time of Day: Early morning (active feeding) or late afternoon (roosting).
Gear: Binoculars, warm layers (wind chill on the river is unforgiving), and a camera.
The return of the bald eagle to Gladstone and the Upper Mississippi is more than a biological success; it is a symbol of hope. It is proof that with care and effort, we can restore the soul of our wild places.
For over 25 years, Alan Look has documented the soul of the Midwest — from Friday night lights to roaring chrome, from agricultural grit to locomotive legends. See more of more thoughts and photos from Alan Look on his blog at Best Look Magazine.
Tags: American Eagle comeback, Gladstone IL eagle viewing, Lock and Damn #18, Upper Mississippi River eagle watching, tips for shooting photos of bald eagles
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 23 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.
Editor's pick ~
Stuffing, infused with turkey drippings and a healthy dose of butter, is one of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes.
My grams would make two batches for our family dinner, one batched baked inside the turkey and the other on one of the burners of her gas stove. Ripping up pieces of toasted bread and leaving out overnight, even as she aged, was her preferred method of preparation. If it was in a box, can or package, it wasn't good enough for my grandmother and especially so for the family's Thanksgiving meals.
Unity topped St. Joseph-Ogden 51-44 in a playoff thriller loaded with big plays. The Rockets capitalized on two second-quarter interceptions to build a crucial lead.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Members of the Unity football team celebrate their win over St. Joseph-Ogden. Winning the semifinal game, the Rockets earned the right to face Byron next Friday for the Class 3A title.
ST. JOSEPH - Unity earned its ticket to the IHSA Class 3A championship game with a 51-44 win over St. Joseph-Ogden on a bright mid-November afternoon at Dick Duval Field. The matchup between two of central Illinois’ most consistent football powers delivered everything expected from a playoff showdown, with both teams trading big plays and momentum swings before the Rockets closed the epic battle out.
St. Joseph-Ogden struck early behind senior standout Wyatt Wertz, who found the end zone twice in the first quarter. Wertz continued to power the Spartans’ offense throughout the game, finishing with 94 rushing yards on 16 carries and adding a game-changing 99-yard kick return for another score in the third quarter. His 210 all-purpose yards fueled SJO’s effort to keep pace in a contest that rarely slowed.
Quarterback Kodey McKinney added two rushing touchdowns on runs of 16 and 18 yards while also throwing for 210 yards. The senior led the Spartans on the ground as well with 119 rushing yards, helping SJO briefly capture momentum as the teams traded long drives and explosive plays.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
SJO's Kodey McKinney moves the ball closer to the end zone for a SJO first down in the third quarter.
Unity’s offense matched the challenge with a productive day from Crewe Eckstein, who was a force between the tackles. Eckstein piled up 161 yards and scored twice on short runs of 2 and 5 yards, helping the Rockets keep the chains moving and maintain balance as the game tightened.
But the true difference came from the Unity defense, which delivered back-to-back lightning strikes midway through the second quarter. With St. Joseph-Ogden driving, Brayden Henry jumped a pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. Just 78 seconds later, Caden Hensch intercepted another ball and sprinted 28 yards to the end zone, pushing Unity to a 25-17 lead that swung the game’s momentum for good.
St. Joseph-Ogden, the No. 14 seed entering the postseason, wrapped up a strong run with an 8-5 finish.
Unity (12-1), which has reached the playoffs 33 times and owns six runner-up trophies, now moves on to next Friday’s championship game at Illinois State University’s Hancock Stadium. First-year head coach Tony Reetz has his program one win away from its first state title.
Standing in the Rockets’ path is undefeated Byron (13-0), which advanced with a 44-10 win over Richmond-Burton. The Tigers have reached the postseason 31 times and carry three state championships and two runner-up finishes into the matchup. The teams last met in the 2021 title game, when Byron won 35-7, two years after falling 24-20 to Monticello in the 2018 final.
Photo Gallery
Unity's Crewe Eckstein celebrates his 5-yard TD run with the help of lineman Coleson Miller in the third quarter. He scored the Rockets' first touchdown of the game with a two-yard plunge to make up a 7-0 first-quarter deficit.
LEFT: SJO's Ryker Lockhart and Coy Hayes help Kodey McKinney bring down Unity running back Crewe Eckstein. MIDDLE: Unity's Brayden Henry tries to juke his way around Spartans' Logan Rosenthal on a kick return play. RIGHT: A SJO Maroon Platoon member leads the student section in a cheer during first half action.
LEFT: Spartan senior Ryker Lockhart breaks up a pass play on a Dane Eisenmenger pass to Tyler Henry. RIGHT: SJO's Ennis Jameson tries to fight his way past Rocket lineman Coleson Miller in the first half.
LEFT: Jonathon Moore records a tackle for a loss for the Spartans, putting Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger on the turf in the fourth quarter. MIDDLE: Eisenmenger leaps happily over the goal line, sealing the Rocket's victory on a 25-yard run to give Unity a 51-37 advantage with 2:28 left in the ball game. RIGHT: Feeling the agony of defeat, SJO center Brennan Oleynichak and quarterback Kodey share a hug after the game.
Spartans Wyatt Wertz runs the ball past the 50-yard mark on his way to a 99-yard kick return against the Rockets.
All photos: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
More Unity Athletics Articles
More SJO Sports Articles
Unity vs St. Joseph-Ogden Class 3A semifinal recap,
IHSA 3A football state championship preview Unity vs Byron,
Unity Rockets football playoff history and results,
St. Joseph-Ogden postseason football performance analysis,
Illinois high school football semifinal game highlights
Taking on one of personal care's least-talked-about problems
(PRNewswire) Chicago -- There are products for sweaty armpits, sweaty feet and sweaty faces. But when sweat shows up somewhere a little less comfortable to talk about, the options get limited fast.
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Cheek Sheets today announced the launch of its namesake absorbent sheets, an ultra-thin, dry and discreet personal-care product designed to help absorb sweat and manage unwanted moisture between the cheeks before it becomes uncomfortable, embarrassing or funky.
Discover the headlines published on each of these days from our news and sports coverage from Champaign‑Urbana and the wider community. From local news and sports to community events, politics, and opinion pieces, The Sentinel archives capture the stories that shaped life in Champaign County year after year.
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 25 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 24 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.
