The Sentinel

SJO Fan Club fundraiser orders due November 24

There are just four days left to take advantage of the annual St. Joseph-Ogden High School fan club $10 T-shirt sale. If you haven't ordered yours yet, order today to help support all the athletic programs at the high school.

"It's the only fundraiser fan club is doing this year. Because of Covid and the uncertainty of sports seasons, there was no good way to do the all athletic fundraisers that we've done the past few years," Tammy Vallee said. "I know I'd never be able to complete the list of what the funds are spent on, but each sport receives funds to spend on items they need. The fan club purchases larger items as they become needed as well, such as weight room updates and equipment that were added this past year."

With Christmas just around the corner, Spartan fans can email their name, email address, cell phone number and shirt sizes to tammyvallee@comcast.net or via Facebook Messenger. Payment can then be mailed or dropped off at 800 East Lincoln, St Joseph, IL, 61873. Checks must be made payable to SJO Fan Club. All payment and orders must be received by Tuesday, November 24.

Shirts can also be ordered with a student at the high school, who can submit orders and deposit payments at the check-in doors when they arrive at school in the morning.

The fan club expects T-shirt orders to be available for pickup the week of December 14.

The $10 T-shirts are available in sizes from youth through adult XL are available for $10 each. Extended sizes are also available at slightly higher prices with 2XL at $12 each and 3XL at $13 apiece. The fan club reminds fans who order to make sure to specify YOUTH in their email or messages when ordering a children's sizes.

The SJO Fan Club is an organization of parents, staff and community members who actively help every athletic program at the high school with fundraising and volunteers when needed.

Mean Mugz Bar & Grill opens in Ogden

Mean Mugz Bar and Grill opened for their first full day of business today at their new location in Ogden on 121 S East Avenue. The establishment will be open until 9pm today.

Moving into the location formerly home of The Vault in the old bank, the establishment features a Cajun inspired menu complete with catfish, shrimp and, of course, alligator. They also offer hamburgers, Philly Steak, chicken sandwiches, salads and variety of side dishes.

Carry-out is available. For more information call (217) 582-8029. Hours this weekend are Saturday 11am - 9pm and Sunday 12pm - 9pm.

Advertise with the Sentinel

This story was later updated with the hours of operation at 9:40p.

Photo of the Day - November 18, 2020

SJO's Kiel Duval tries to turn a double play — After securing the forced out at second, St. Joseph-Ogden's Kiel Duval attempts to throw the batter out at first during his team's championship game at the Spartan Invite on May 8, 2004. The Spartans won the four-team baseball invite after beating Tuscola in the title game. The former three-sport athlete, now a mathematics instructor at the SJO, is school's head basketball coach.

PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

Winter sports season takes a pause across the state

The high school basketball was suppose to start on Monday. St. Joseph-Ogden, Unity and basketball programs from around the state were suppose to begin team practices to prepare to play competitive games starting on November 30.

Hoping to "flatten the curve" of a surge in COVID-19 cases that started nearly a week ago, Governor JB Pritzker announced yesterday that the state would enter a level three of the state's resurgence mitigation plan on Friday. Some of the restrictions that go into effect that will affect athletics at all levels until the state's positivity numbers regress include:

• Pause all indoor group sporting and recreational activities including youth and adult recreational sports, individual training may remain (with facility reservation)

• This includes park districts and travel leagues play

• Locker rooms should be closed

Under the plan outdoor sports and recreation activities may continue. Groups and practices outdoors is limited to 10 persons or less with social distancing, face coverings required for all activities at all times and locker rooms should be closed to the public.

The pause also applied to high school sports putting basketball, wrestling, dance and competitive cheerleading activities on hold until sometime after the start of the new year or perhaps beyond.

"The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recognizes that today’s announcement by Governor Pritzker will temporarily pause the IHSA’s winter sports season," said in a statement from IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. "We remain optimistic that these new mitigations, coupled with the emergence of a vaccine, will aid in creating participation opportunities in the New Year for IHSA student-athletes in winter, spring, and summer sports."

Anderson and the IHSA Board of Directors will meet tomorrow, November 19, 2020, to consider how to proceed for the remainder of the academic year. While they won't be at the upcoming meeting, the IHSA extended invitations to to Deputy Governor Jesse Ruiz and Dr. Ngozi Ezike to future meetings with the hope of developing a plans so that high school sports and activities can resume as soon as possible.

"IHSA schools have been exemplary in adhering to state regulations throughout this pandemic," Anderson said. "We hope that non-school programs will hold themselves to the same standard as we all put the long-term health and safety of our fellow citizens ahead of short-term athletic competition."