Week of November 20, 2024

  • One Ugly Argument Over Gladewood

    Dan Stevens

    Residents of the Gladewood subdivision along the Yellow Creek were seeing their main road continue to deteriorate, but when they went to the City of Freeport to see when the road was going to be redone as part of the expansive Freeport Road projects schedule that is expected to last for several years, the answer they got was one that nobody expected. “It’s not a Freeport City Street,” said City Manager Rob Boyer. “It’s a private street, so any and all repairs and maintenance are the...

  • Reigning In The Unruly

    Dan Stevens

    They’re trying. The Freeport City Council is making an honest attempt to make their meetings more productive, even though that attempt is being twisted by the mental minority as an attempt to “shut up” the voices they don’t want to hear, and stop members from, “asking questions”. The situation had gotten well beyond being out of control. The last two finance meetings were never held because Council members simply decided not to show up – even though the meetings are mandatory ...

  • On The Record

    Fatal Traffic Crash On 11/10/24 at approximately 11:40 pm, Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office personnel responded to the area of Illinois Route 26 North and Winneshiek Road in rural Freeport for a cellphone crash detection alert. Upon arrival, responding deputies discovered a scene involving a head-on collision between a semi-truck tractor/trailer and a 2005 Dodge Neon. The results of the preliminary investigation indicate that the 2005 Dodge Neon, driven by a 35 year old Freeport man, was traveling southbound on Illinois Route 26 in the...

  • Jo Daviess FFA Donates 15,000 meals

    Four FFA Chapters from Jo Daviess County worked together to pack 15,000 meals on November 7th in conjunction with "Meals from the Heartland." FFA members from Galena, River Ridge, Stockton and Warren worked together to pack the non-perishable meals which will be donated to food centers, schools and refugee camps where they are needed the most. Meals From the Heartland began in 2007 as a way to help those who are food insecure meet their basic human needs. They packaged and donated over 21...

  • Red Bird Bound

    Dan Stevens

    Over a year ago, Madie Mammoser lay writhing in pain on the floor of the Milledgeville gymnasium – not kn owing for sure if she'd ever play volleyball again. Eleven years ago, Maddie Pontius was still trying to get over the pain of having her volleyball dreams dashed by the recruiting machine known as Rockford Keith. And ten years ago, Kacy and Kaydra Wright were sitting in the bleachers, watching their older sisters playing volleyball – waiting for the day it would be their turn. Little...

  • Too Much Texas Roadhouse

    Dan Stevens

    The State finals did not start out too well for the Stockton Blackhawks. Going up against Hartsburg-Emden, last year's second place team, the Blackhawks were stepping out onto the Red Bird Arena floor for the very first time ... and it showed. "We thought we might have an advantage because they had never been here before," said the coach of the Staggs. "And we were right." Coach Pontius blew through her two time outs, but nothing was working, so she brought in Ireland Mensendike to try and...

  • Another Panther Run Away

    Dan Stevens

    It was supposed to be close. Gibson City had size, a wide-open offense, and had won state twice in 2A. So, when the Falcons recovered a Panther fumble on the second play from scrimmage at the Panther 19, an earie silence was coming from the Panther fans. But Lena-Winslow was well prepared. Head Coach, Ric Arand, had said the goal was to make the Falcons one dimensional, and said they had a tendency to throw on anything longer than third and five. So, after stuffing the first two run attempts,...

  • All Eyes On A Strong Start

    Dan Stevens

    The Eastland Cougars and Lena-Winslow Panthers opened up the Girls' Basketball season Monday night with a non-conference battle that was ... well ... typical of an opening game. For the Cougars, they are sporting a lineup of six varsity players, supported by some strong JV talent for depth. And while they were strong in the paint when senior Olivia Klinefelter was on the floor, when she wasn't ... it was a bit of a free-for-all on the boards. "Don't pick on me Dan, I'm not in basketball shape...

  • Football Playoff Results

    1A LeRoy 54 Aurora Christian 21 Rockford Lutheran 42 Kewanee Wethersfield 21 Ottawa Marquette 44 Rushville-Industry. 6 Galena 43 Stark County 42 Lena-Winslow 70 Clifton Central 32 Stockton 60 Princeville 30 Gibson City 38 Catlin Salt Fork 7 Sterling Newman 50 Chicago Hope 22 Belleville Althoff 60 Dupo 0 Carrollton (6-3) 44 Winchester 8 Casey Westfield 39 Jacksonville Routt 21 Mt. Sterling Brown County 18 Greenfield 16 Hardin Calhoun 38 Moweaqua Central 7 Sesser Valier 30 Bridgeport 6 Camp Point Central 34 Nokomis 6 Toledo Cumberland 28...

  • Mistletoe Walk & Holiday Tree Lighting

    The holiday shopping season begins in Downtown Freeport this weekend, November 23, continuing the tradition of Mistletoe Walk. In one very special day, experience all the shopping, dining, and holiday cheer the stores and businesses have to offer. Dozens of businesses, shops and boutiques open their doors with holiday music, treats and shopping specials on Saturday. Special live music appearances are scheduled throughout downtown with community carolers walking the streets to spread festive...

  • Natalie Henning Receives DAISY Award

    Natalie Henning, RN, SSM Health Monroe Hospital float nurse, is the newest recipient of the DAISY Award. The DAISY Award is an international program that celebrates the extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care delivered by nurses every day. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen based on specific criteria to receive The DAISY Award. Natalie was nominated by three different individuals. One of which was Nicole, a previous patient of...

  • Point To Ponder

    Dan Stevens

    So, be honest, what does National Newspaper Week mean to you? If you are like most people, the answer is simple, “Not a damn thing.” And I won’t lie, when I got all of the emails and downloadable columns, cartoons and ads from the Illinois Press Association, I ignored them for more than a few days. Part of the reason was that it’s a lot easier telling other people’s stories than your own. And along that same line of thinking – you, the person reading this column right now – are a...

  • Preacher's Piece

    Kevin Cernak

    There was a new preacher in town in need of a lawn mower. Someone in his congregation heard about it and brought him over one that was well used. When it came time to cut the grass, the preacher got the mower out and attempted to get it started. When he was unable to do so, he got on the phone and called the guy who gave it to him and explained his dilemma. “Oh,” the guy said, “I forgot to tell you that if you can’t get it going right away you have to cuss at it while you’re pulling...

  • From The Desk Down State

    Andrew Chesney

    On November 5, voters across the country went to the polls at near-record numbers. Early voting and vote-by-mail participation also reached historic highs. But amid this surge in voter engagement, there remains a significant divide in how states approach one of the most fundamental aspects of our elections: voter identification. According to a 2024 review by the National Conference of State Legislatures, nine states—Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio,...

  • Lighter Side

    The Holidays are exhausting – pretending to like you people is hard work. Every family has one weird relative … If you don’t know who it is, then it’s probably you. The 3 stages of man are 1) He believes in Santa Claus, 2) He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus, and 3) He is Santa Claus. What really scares me about Halloween is knowing that all of the family holidays are coming up. Every year I make sure to bring up politics at Thanksgiving dinner … it’s the easiest way to save on Christmas gifts. May none of your true feelings slip...

  • Holiday Centerpieces

    Gather your friends for an afternoon of fun as the University of Illinois Extension hosts "Holiday Centerpieces". This program is being held on Thursday, December 19 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 Vine Street, Elizabeth, IL 61028. There will be a $30 charge to attend, and attendees will leave with two projects to take home with them. Pre-registration is required by December 14. To register or for more information visit us online at go.illinois.edu/jsw or...

  • Obituaries

    Freeport Wayne Edward Artman, 73 Wayne Edward Artman, 73, Freeport --passed away surrounded by his family Monday November 11, 2024 at home, the result of a battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He was born November 1,1951, the son of William and Ruth (Flury) Artman. Wayne married Mary Martin on 2/12/1969. During their 55 year marriage they traveled to several European countries, Hawaii, Mexico, Jamaica, Ireland and for the past 2 winters spent time in Myrtle Beach, N.C. Wayne enjoyed life, loved to travel to new places, always searching out Craft... Full story

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