We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1315
Lena-Winslow fans were treated to an overtime thriller Tuesday night in Lena as the Panthers rallied back late to force overtime against Winnebago, then did everything within their power to give the game back before stealing the 62-60 victory. Bago claimed a 28-24 halftime lead, and then never trailed in regulation. Lena-Winslow was able to tie the game twice in the fourth quarter, but each time they did the Indians had an answer to reclaim the lead again. The last go ahead basket looked like...
The RR/SM Lady Wildcats made a trip to Pecatonica to battle the Indians in a non-conference tilt that might be a Sectional sneak peak as both teams are ranked in the state, and both have the potential to claim Regional crowns. And while, on paper, it looked like an amazing match-up, turnovers were the story. Pecatonica gave the Wildcats a taste of their own medicine in a 41-31 thumping that really wasn't as close as the final score. "Wiegel is a good coach and his team plays hard for the whole...
Conference basketball got into full swing Thursday night, and while Eastland may never be challenged in the South, and it will be a four team race for second in the North, the NUIC West is going to be a season long battle among five major contenders. "You've got East Dubuque, Galena, Warren, us and the Ridge," said Scales Mound head coach Erik Kudronowicz. "So, yeah, being able to hold court and win on your home floor is huge. If we had lost tonight, we'd be playing catch up the rest of the seas...
Sorry if this column is pretty boring this week, but I promise there’s a funny at the end, so you can skip to that if you want to. Getting old sucks, and when it is complicated with diabetes and poor blood circulation … I have been having issues with my legs. In a nutshell, poor circulation has brought on swelling, a tough time getting wounds to heal, and it all progressed to what they call Lymphedema - those who care can look it up. Anyway, my doctor at the Wound Center in Freeport sent me to...
Each year the State Board of Education is federally required to assign summative designations to each public school within the state. There are four different designations that can be assigned: Exemplary, Commendable, Targeted, Comprehensive & Intensive. These designations are developed through a myriad of factors such as state testing results, chronic absenteeism rates, the results of the 5essentials Survey, graduation rate, individual class grades (G.P.A.), etc. In order for an individual...
Pearl City's Fallyn Endress should probably have scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast more often. "I was just feeling it," Endress said with a grin. "I was hot during warm up and just stayed that way." The senior guard tallied 24 points to lead all players in the Wolves' conference home win over Lena-Winslow 50-44. The first half was an offensive explosion for both teams. Pearl City repeatedly used their height advantage to score inside, and when Endress began forcing turnovers, she was...
River Ridge senior, Joe Winter, is quickly developing a reputation for freezing opponents out of the victory column. And behind a 27 point effort, Stockton learned the hard way what can happen when he, "decides to play." "Yeah, Joe can do just about anything he wants to when he sets his mind to it," said Wildcat head coach Jacob Green. At the outset of the game, Stockton looked to contain the Wildcat size advantage by playing a zone defense, but Winter repeatedly got the ball inside and either...
The Orangeville Broncos forced Pecatonica into 16 turnovers in the game, and held superstar Elaina Rager to 16 points on the night. So, you would think – seeing those stats – that the Broncos had a good night. You'd be wrong. The Broncos shot a paltry 28% from the floor, and only made 1 of 15 from behind the three point arc, as what was supposed to be the knock-down, drag-out, battle for the top spot in the North turned into an ugly 40-24 blow out that both teams were unhappy with. "Sixteen tur...
At halftime of their battle against Fulton in Lena, the Panthers were down only two after having shot horrendously in the first half. Athletic Director, Ryan Hahne called out to senior guard Jaylen Rakowska who was warming up for the second half and said, "Hey, why don't you make a shot?" "I'm trying to," Rakowska answered back. "He'll be fine," Hahne turned and said. "Sometimes you just have to piss them off." Sure enough, Rakowska hit the first three shots of the second half for the Panthers ...
The notification was sent to us by Freeport City Council member, James Monroe. And … well, we’ll let you read it for yourself first. On December 23, 2025, a coalition of concerned Freeport residents delivered 40 pages of petition signatures to the Stephenson County Circuit Court, seeking to place a referendum on the April 1, 2025, consolidated election ballot. The petition calls for the city of Freeport to adopt a Mayor-Council form of government, replacing the current City Manager system. Sou...
8 is behind us, and we look forward to the many things 2025 might bring to our local coverage. But our first issue of 2025 also means it is time to take one last look back at the previous year to determine – what were the biggest stories in 2024 that we covered? 10 Broshous Trial Delays Stephanie Broshous of Stockton was supposed to go to trial in Stephenson County for allegedly stealing money from the Lena Park District a long time ago, but the nature of our legal system has left a lot to b...
I’ve never been one for resolutions. On the one hand, I see myself kinda like the Calvin and Hobbs cartoon I saw a long time ago where Calvin is screaming, “Resolutions?!? What? You think I need to change?” I mean, it’s not that I think I’m perfect by any means, I have just come to accept my faults and limitations. I’m fat – I know that. I don’t exercise enough – Yup, agree to that one too. I don’t eat healthy – The minute they invent health food that tastes as good as a Saporito’s pizza or Rees...
The Forreston Cardinal 2-3 zone defense was limiting opportunities for the Eastland Cougars in the second half, and suddenly what had been a comfortable 29-18 halftime lead was in jeopardy when the Cardinals cut it to 31-27 with 3:59 to play in the third quarter. Eastland had forced nine Cardinal turnovers in the first half, but after Adam Awender hit the first basket of the second half, Forreston went on a 9-0 scoring run that brought their fans into full voice, and forced the Cougars to...
Stephenson County Sheriff, Steve Stovall, pushed for his special Crime Suppression Unit when he first took office. And while money was limited, he was still able to persuade the County Board to approve enough money to get the program started with two deputies hired specifically to handle the special assignments. "The plan was to stop being reactionary to crime, and try to be proactive," Stovall explained. "This unit went through special training to help address the major increase in crime we...
The Dakota Indians are a very strong basketball team – long, big, athletic, and strong shooting from the perimeter – they made the competition look foolish at the Scales Mound Turkey Tournament during Thanksgiving week, and stood at 4-0 on the season. But they had never gone up against Spiderman, Venom and the rest of the Eastland Cougars. "You can't simulate that kind of speed in practice," said head coach Mike Bartell. "I mean, there are some teams that might have two quick guards, but their e...
Every coach knows that you don't stand a chance against them unless you stop Laney Cahoon and Nadalee Doyle. Lena-Winslow, for all practical purposes, did that – holding the pair down to a combined point total of only 21 in the game. They still got blown out. Alyse Cahoon and Kaylynn O'Haver went off – each of them hitting three long range three point bombs – as the senior roll players tied with eleven points each. "They kept sitting in that zone defense," Bronco head coach Jay Doyle said. "When...
While Nadalee Doyle is a force in her own right, area coaches all agree that the biggest threat on the Orangeville Broncos is senior guard, Laney Cahoon. Similarly, the RR/SM Wildcats have a lot of talented young players who are destined for the All-Conference teams, but right now – the conversation begins and ends with senior Laiken Haas. So, when you get a chance to see those two stars play against each other ... it makes for must see girl's basketball. And Tuesday night in Orangeville – nei...
The curse of having so much football success is that you tend to be late to the game in basketball. The Lena-Winslow Panthers finally opened their season Friday night at River Ridge, and it also marked the debut of new Varsity head coach, Mark Blakely. "People asked me, but I really wasn't nervous before the game," Blakely said. "To me, it was just another basketball game, and I trust my kids." That confidence was reinforced as the Panthers scored off of the opening tip of the game, and never lo...
Maybe it was the holidays and the packed schedule I have been dealing with. Or maybe the grind of doing hard news was getting to me – I mean, I truly hate sitting in and listening to the idiocy at the Freeport City Council meetings. Or maybe, well, who knows – whatever the reason, I had lost a bit of pep in my step as of late. Now, one of the major benefits of doing my job is getting to know the really impressive young adults in our region. Yeah, I know they are technically still students, but...
It kind of goes without saying, but a comparison of the Stephenson County Board and the Freeport City Council is an example of just how extremely different our local government can be. Both held a meeting last Monday night, but the differences between the two are in a word ... staggering. The County Board needed to elect a new County Board Chairman, Vice Chairman, and assign members to their respective committees – all of them a standard process that takes place after each election. Drama was e...
Practice is great, every coach will tell you that, but sometimes the lessons that sink in the quickest are the ones that take place during a game. The Warren Lady Warriors passed their test with flying colors Tuesday night with an impressive 44-37 non-conference win over Milledgeville in which they led from start to finish. At the opening tip, both teams were full court pressing each other, but Warren used their press to jump out to the early lead thanks in large part to a transition basket...
The Pearl City Lady Wolves had a slow start to their season. There were some early injuries that limited the roster, and according to coach Brock Musser – they just finally got to full strength last Saturday. But Wednesday night in Pearl City, the Wolves showed what they are capable of doing as they completely dismantled the AFC Raiders 46-29. The game really wasn't that close. In the first quarter, AFC only took five shots in the entire period, while they committed 14 turnovers. The Wolves w...
The Stockton Blackhawks and Polo Marcos were locked into a very competitive one point affair at halftime of their non-conference match up. But ... in spite of three time outs and every attempt to inspire his players, Stockton fell flat in the second half as Polo ran away with the 57-34 victory. In the first quarter, Stockton was playing a 3-2 zone defense, but Polo effectively shot them out of it as Mercer and Gus Mumford both drained three point bombs in jumping the Marcos to a 17-10 lead....
The Lena-Winslow Panthers and Dakota Indians got their basketball rivalry off to a strong start Friday night in Dakota as the only NUIC game on the schedule due to the opening of tournament play the next day. And it is a safe bet that there will be more than one meeting between these two area powers this season – another conference battle in Lena, and then the chance of meeting in the Forreston Tournament or even post-season play. But Friday night belonged to the Indians. Dakota caught the P...
It’s True, I confess, I am a Sneaky Pete. Now, I realize that most – if not all of you – have no idea what it is I’m talking about, so let me explain. You see, while growing up in Northwest Indiana, my brother, sister and I were all prone to seeing treats prepared by my mother left unguarded. Whether it was the tin of fudge “hidden” above the bread box, or the cookie jar left full without a padlock in place, these screamed to a growing boy, “Come and get me!” So, naturally, we did. In my house g...
