Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Running over obstacles, Swanson finishes season at state meet
Dwight's Meister leads the pack in state shot put
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Book Review | I Fuel, How Energy Powers Our Busy World
I Fuel is a breath of fresh air in the category of children’s books on energy sustainability.
by Esther Aardsma"As dinosaurs thump about, my life begins," opens I Fuel, Kelly Rice Schmitt’s attempt to explain to children the complex web of energy topics. Where do gasoline and jet fuel come from? How do our lights turn on? Why do we seek alternative energy sources? These questions are answered at a young child’s level in this 2024 picture book. Schmitt starts by describing the formation of crude oil, then delves into the harvesting, refining, and delivery processes, and finally explores alternative energy sources, hinting at possibilities for the future. Several pages of notes at the end of the book provide additional resources for older kids and adults interested in facts about different types of fossil fuels and descriptions of various careers in the energy industry.
State-Bound: Local tennis players ready for IHSA Finals this weekend
St. Thomas More’s Hunter Madigan wins sectional title; leads local field to IHSA state tennis finals.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
CHAMPAIGN - Three singles players and three area doubles teams are set to represent the Champaign-Urbana area at the IHSA Boys Tennis State Finals, which begin Thursday across the Chicago suburbs. St. Thomas More junior Hunter Madigan headlines the local contingent after capturing the Class 1A sectional singles title last weekend at Centennial High School. Madigan cruised through the bracket, dropping just two games in three straight-set victories. He opened with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Luke Abadeer of Cornerstone Christian Academy, then handled Urbana University's Swapnil Kumar 6-2, 6-0 in the semifinals. In the championship match, Madigan faced University High’s Jameson LaFave in a highly anticipated battle between two of the area’s top four singles players. Madigan prevailed 6-3, 6-1 to claim the sectional crown. "My opponent played very well," LaFave said recounting the championship match. "Hunter Madigan hit some great shots, stayed consistent, and ran me out of the match." Despite the loss, LaFave showed maturity beyond his years after the loss. "It was a good fight in the opening set. He was just the better player that day. It was a tough loss," he said. "You got to learn from them and move on to state." LaFave, a freshman in his first varsity season, still secured a state berth along with three U-High teammates. Senior Robert Gao and junior Kyle Fan qualified for the doubles draw, while Kumar advanced with a third-place singles finish. Madigan will open state play against Dunlap's Harmin Patel. LaFave, seeded No. 15 in the 1A bracket, draws Brother Rice freshman Nathan Miller. Kumar faces Andrew Mumford of Marmion Academy in the first round, while Gao and Fan will take on Wauconda's Sean Lenhart and Marshawn Gallego.
Chargers' doubles team joins area players at state
Centennial seniors Tyler Luchinski and Ryder Perry also punched their ticket to state, placing second in doubles at their home sectional. They begin the tournament against Althoff Catholic seniors Joe Hamilton and Braden Gasawski.Three Maroons ready to battle for a podium spot
Central senior Abel Vines enters the tournament with momentum and a sparkling 29-1 record. Vines dominated the Springfield sectional without dropping a game in eight sets and opens his state run against Oswego East's Pranav Kannan. Rounding the list of high school players heading to state are Central’s doubles team of Daniel Canivez and Sohum Gurrapu, who also secured a spot at state after winning the sectional title. They’ll face Minooka's Eli Chavez and Evan Lundeen, who finished third at the Lincoln-Way East sectional.
Officials find first instance of West Nile virus in Illinois
Public health officials are highlighting the importance of taking action to "Fight the Bite" during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which runs from June 18-24.
Photo: Mohamed Nuzrath/Pixabay
by Mark RichardsonIllinois News Connection
CHICAGO - The Illinois Department of Public Health said the first positive test for West Nile virus in 2025 has been detected in Winnebago County near Rockford. Health officials warned people in the infected area and elsewhere to take precautions to avoid the mosquito-borne disease, which is expected to spread across the state. Last year, Illinois reported 69 cases of West Nile, with 13 reported human deaths. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, said evidence of the disease usually emerges this time of year.
Most people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes do not contract the disease.
"In Illinois, we typically see the first environmental positive test for West Nile in mid- to late May," Vohra explained. "Mosquitoes typically emerge in the spring and are active until the first hard frost of the year." Vohra noted West Nile virus is an endemic disease in Illinois, meaning it is commonly found in the state. Public health officials are highlighting the importance of taking action to "Fight the Bite" during National Mosquito Control Awareness Week, which runs from June 18-24. Vohra pointed out most people who are bitten by infected mosquitoes do not contract the disease but one in five will show symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to a serious and possibly fatal illness. "Right now, there's no treatment for West Nile virus," Vohra emphasized. "But supportive care is really important, especially if you're developing symptoms or you're that one of 150 people that can develop severe illness." Public health officials have advised Illinoisians to wear long sleeves and pants outdoors, use Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellent and stay indoors during peak mosquito hours at dawn and dusk. They also recommend trying to keep mosquitoes from breeding. "One way to do that is to dump any standing water," Vohra advised. "Examples of that include flowerpots, children's toys, pet bowls, bird baths, buckets, used tires, abandoned swimming pools, any place where you can get standing water."
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