We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
Sorted by date Results 1 - 20 of 20
Ever since the days of Rose Black and Kristy Pierce, the volleyball showdown in the region was almost always between the Lena-Winslow Panthers and Eastland Cougars. Last Tuesday night in Lena, that classic rivalry seems to have returned, although the two teams have switched their traditional positions. Today, Lena-Winslow is the major power – with a senior dominated lineup, the Panthers opened up the match in impressive style as Eastland got rattled – not realizing what they had run into. Gra...
An unforced error in volleyball is sometimes unavoidable. A pass is shanked, a ball comes right at your head without enough time to adjust your hands, or your jersey brushes the net just enough to get the call. So, while the very best teams limit their errors, they all make them. But service errors are a whole different ballgame. Typically, the more aggressive the server, the more errors – but they usually balance out with some aces. So, on average, a bad serving night might see a team make f...
It was supposed to be a big reunion match, where former Aquin assistant coach Maddie Pontius brought her Stockton team to Freeport to challenge her former mentor, Robyn Stovall of Aquin. But instead, it turned into a display of two teams working to smooth out the wrinkles. Stockton came out in game one playing exceptional volleyball. They did not have the big hitters to smash the ball down, but were playing excellent defense – digging up everything Aquin threw at them – and simply not mak...
Officially, Lena-Winslow fullback, Gage Dunker, is listed at 6'0" tall and weighing 211 pounds. But anybody who watched him run roughshod against the Fulton Steamers Friday night, would swear those numbers must be wrong. There were several big things to talk about in the Panther's 32-8 conference victory, but the story has to begin with Dunker. The kid ran over, through, around and past Fulton defenders all night. When he couldn't avoid being hit by one, he would lower his shoulder and make...
It truly was a team effort in every sense of the word Friday night as the Stockton Blackhawks rolled to an impressive 47-13 win versus their opponent from long distance the Heyworth Hornets. No less than five Blackhawks on offense found the end zone on the night all contributing to their first win and improving to 1-1 on the season. Perhaps it was the 3-hour bus ride from their home-base near Bloomington that had the Hornets tired when the game began, but Stockton jumped out quickly to a lead they would never give up scoring on only their...
While it is the advantage of hosting a tournament that you get to put together the pools in which teams compete, the very best tournaments – like the Forreston Basketball Tourney – does not play favorites, and has the coaches help seed the teams to ensure that the best ones meet in the finals – as they are supposed to. Well, the same cannot be said for the Oregon Volleyball tournament where the host Hawks wanted to be sure to make it into the final four – so they placed themselves in a pool th...
Stephenson County 4-H Ambassadors held a Food Drive in Stephenson County to help fight hunger in their own communities. This community service project was created by youth who saw an immediate need right in their own backyards. In a season where food prices are rapidly increasing, the 4-H Ambassadors were looking to help make a difference by giving and sharing with those in need. "From the time we started planning this community service project in the spring all the way to delivering the proceed...
Dan, I am very confused on why Freeport needs to raise their taxes for road work. My father-in-law lives in Freeport. He’s 89 and lives alone. His water bill was $80 every month. Mine is $30-$40 for a family of 4. $20 of his was for water and sewer. Garbage was maybe $15. The rest was add-ons. I don’t remember the exact figure, but at least $20 was for roads and they had been charging that for years. Every time my father-in-law talks about it, he gets mad because they “never fix the roads.” He’s not far off on that. I think what upset me...
Lena The downtown pavilion is starting to take shape, and will be completed very soon. You will see some other changes over the next couple of months. The work on Shippee Road north of Highway 73 has begun. The repairs to Leet Street, School Street and Williams Street are scheduled to start any day and should be completed by the end of October. The widening of Dayton Street is set to be completed by the end of November. Regular maintenance of grinding and replacing blacktop, and curb and inlet repairs will also be happening throughout town. We...
1. Lena-Winslow 7 – 1 Panthers fell to 2A Kingston, but so did everybody else, so with no head to head comparison ... 2. Fulton 3 - 0 Fulton just keeps on rolling. Have some big matches coming with Eastland in the near future. 3. Galena 6 - 1 Pirates look back on track by winning their own tourney and then beating a strong Byron squad. 4. Durand 12 - 2 Bulldogs wanted to play Aquin or Lena-Winslow at Oregon, but ... it never happened, so they stay put. 5. River Ridge 6 - 2 Wildcats got a huge w...
In last week's story regarding the potential sales tax increase in Freeport, I tried to make the point that instead of constantly looking to raise taxes, maybe the City Council should look at ways in which they might be able to cut – and threw out the Freeport Fire Department as an example. The last time I had ever confirmed numbers regarding the Freeport Fire Department, there were 55 full time employees, and my first mistake was in assuming that number was still accurate ... it's not. C...
School is back in session for the most part. Which makes me think of my own school days in the public school. I was smart enough to skip a grade right off the bat - kindergarten. At six years old I was plunked down into first grade, but it didn’t settle well with me. I missed the carefree days of being home and hanging out with mom and dad on the farm. There was some adjustment required but I muddled through and eventually came to accept the fact that this was my new normal. I was a bit d...
I’ve told you about my dog, Bucky. He’s incredibly smart, but is definitely my wife’s dog. I can be gone for ten days, but when I finally come home, he will lift his head off of his bed, see who it is, then with a look that says, “Oh, it’s just you,” he promptly returns to his ever-important slumber. But my wife can be gone for ten minutes, and when she comes back in the door, you’d think it was the second coming of Christ as he bounces and dances all excited and happy that “Mommy’s Home!” Now,...
Pearl City Beatrice Woodruff, 98 Beatrice Woodruff, age 98, of Pearl City, IL passed away Monday, August 28, 2023 at Lena Living Center. She was born in Kent, IL on April 15, 1925 to the late Lloyd and LeOra (Mammoser) Kempel. Beatrice married Wales Woodruff on January 16, 1946 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Kent. Wales passed away in 2004. Beatrice was a graduate of Pearl City High School. She was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church of Pearl City. She was also a member of the Pecatonica VFW Auxiliary. Beatrice was a farmer’s wife. S... Full story
Let’s pretend shall we? I’ll pretend to like cooking, ad you pretend it tastes good. My wife’s cooking is so fabulous, even the smoke alarm cheers her on. I read recipes the same way I read romance novels. I jump to the end and think, “that’s not going to happen.” Either my cooking has improved, or my family’s immune systems have gotten stronger. I love cooking with wine. Sometimes, I even put some in the food. According to Pinterest, all I need to be a great chef is a crock pot. My husband’s cooking is so bad that whenever he cooks, we pray...
Join University of Illinois Extension Jo Daviess County Master Gardener Volunteers Laurie Zueger and Linda Helgeson for this program on Grapevine Wreaths. The program will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at the Jo Daviess County Extension Office, 204 Vine St. Elizabeth, IL. There will be a $20 fee to attend this make and take program and pre-registration is required by October 1. To register or for more information visit us online at go.illinois.edu/jsw or call us at 815-858-2273. Jo Daviess County Master Gardener...
1. Lena-Winslow 2 – 0 Blowing out West carroll is one thing, but dominating Fulton on their home field? Panthers are legit. 2. Forreston 2 – 0 Dakota gave them a game, so props to the INdians, but Cardinals still hold on to the #2 spot. 3. Du/Pec 2 – 0 Rivermen flexed some muscle after Stockton scare by pounding EPC in Lanark. 4. Galena 2 – 0 Praites stand at 2-0 on the season, but there are still some serious questions - who have they beaten? 5. Stockton 1 – 1 Blackhawks totally destroyed...
The Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) has called the Village of Elizabeth's Main Street home since the organization first opened its office in 2003. Recently, JDCF found itself in need of more space to house its growing stewardship staff and equipment and, wishing to stay in Elizabeth, turned to their Tax Increment Financing (TIF) program for help. "Elizabeth is a one-stop shop for our 17 staff members," says Steve Barg, JDCF Executive Director. "We can go to the post office and banks, h...
In an effort to keep dangerous drugs out of the hands of potential abusers and out of the water supply, State Senator Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) is partnering with Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall for a prescription drug drop-off event on September 9 in Lena. “By properly disposing of unused and expired medications, we are preventing accidental poisonings or misuse of drugs, and we are also protecting the environment,” said Chesney. “I think we all have items in our medicine cabinet that we no longer need, so this is the perfect oppor...
Illinois’ annual celebration of agriculture just ended with the closing of the Illinois State Fair on August 20th. We had some livestock participants and winners in various categories from the 45th District, and I want to thank all the FFA, 4-H, and other livestock exhibitors who took the time to raise, groom, feed, and prepare their animals for the show. I am sure it was a great experience. Our area was on the receiving end of another distinct honor this year, as the State Fair’s coveted “Bu...
