The Sentinel

IHSA reconfirms no high school sports until 2021

Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig Anderson reiterated in a statement yesterday that the Board of Directors for the organization has no expectation to begin any winter sports seasons until 2021.

Meanwhile, despite the state under the Governor J.B. Pritzker's Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation restrictions, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) reported 9,757 new confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Illinois, including 238 additional deaths yesterday. The statewide December 2 statistics marks the highest number of single-day fatalities from the disease in Illinois since May.

The statement comes as no real surprise as a large number of communities and counties around the state continue to resist adopting and following state health department's mandates and governor's guidance during a time when normal seasonal airborne viral infections flourish.

"To reiterate, the Board has no expectation to begin any winter sports seasons until 2021, but will remain agile in their preparation and willingness to adapt should a window present itself sooner," Anderson said.

He explained that the Board remains committed to creating as much opportunity as possible for all sports that remain to be played this school year and they ask that schools be adaptable in the coming New Year as more information and guidance becomes available from the IDPH and the governor. The start and ending dates are fluid depending on when the winter season can official resume.

"Given Governor Pritzker’s current mitigations, the Board has no expectation of starting low risk winter sports prior to January. The Board and IHSA staff will continue to monitor the Tier 3 Resurgence Mitigation in effect currently. When there is a timeline for the state to emerge from these restrictions, the Board is prepared to restart lower risk winter sports quickly," Anderson said. "In addition, the Board hopes to reestablish contact days in January for any winter sports that cannot begin, as well as spring and summer sports. The introduction of the contact days will be based on mitigations from the Governor and the Illinois Department of Public Health at that time. Further guidance on contact days limits will be established at a future Board meeting."

Photo of the Day - December 2, 2020

Angel Tree is back at the Apothecary in St. Joseph

With the help of staff members in the school district, St. Joseph Women's Community Club goes to work to help Santa spread the joy of the Christmas holiday and put smiles on the faces of kids in St. Joseph thanks to the warmth and generosity of their friends and neighbors. Last week, the local organization that has been serving the community for 68 years, set up the "Angel Tree" at the St. Joseph Apothecary in downtown St. Joseph hoping to make this holiday season a little brighter for families throughout the village.

"We get names of families from the schools, we talk to the family and get ideas for gifts and sizes on clothes, the community buys the gifts," Brooks Bennett-Miller told The Sentinel last week. "The Women's Club wraps the gifts and organizes for the families by child. We provide a ham and all the necessary items for the family to prepare a holiday dinner with sides and dessert. Plus, we buy each child a pair of holiday pajamas."

She said each family also receives an El Toro gift card and a Casey gift card for gas.

"The families are always so appreciative," she added. "When the parents come pick up their gifts and meals is so heartwarming as they are often overcome with emotion on what the community has come together to do to help a fellow neighbor."

The way the Angel Tree works is anyone willing to help can stop in the Apothecary and choose an ornament for a child who lives in the community. The donor purchases the item listed on the ornament and brings back to the store. The buyer simply deposits the unwrapped gift into a box next to the tree with the receipt and ornament attached to it by 1pm on December 12.

The Women's Club will take it from there. The ladies will sort and wrap the gifts for each family and deliver them along the food basket to enjoy a wonderful holiday dinner.

For those who would like help but are unable to shop, they can make a monetary donation for any unclaimed ornaments or towards the food baskets by calling Bennet-Miller (217) 474-1068. The Women's Club can also be reached by message via Facebook or by email at sjwcc61873@gmail.com. Any member of the Women's Club will gladly help collect your donation or answer any questions.

"This has been a tough year so what better time to be an Angel to someone else?"