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Unity East Elementary fall school calendar announced
PHILO - Administrators from Unity East Elementary released the school's first-semester calendar for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year. Registration for the upcoming year is scheduled for July 31 and August 1, with Back to School Open House from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on August 12. The first day of classes for students, first through fifth grades, starts on August 14. Dates for parent-teacher conference days, PTO meetings, and days with no scheduled class are listed in the calendar are provided below. This year's Winter Break will start on December 20, with early dismissal at 2:05 p.m. Students return to classes on January 6....
Third quarter Honor Roll for Unity Junior High School
Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period. 6th Grade Honor Roll Audrey Claire Akers Ashlyn Nicole Alt Rya Jolee Bialeschki Isaac Mathew Boitnott Bradley Roger Bruhn Brailey Marie Cain Greyson Zachary DeHart Luke JR Dougherty Brady Gallagher Eckstein Collin Daniel Eckstein Kenzlee Rae Evans Libbey Marlene Ethel Griffin Natalie May Gumbel-Paeth Jessica Marie Hamilton William Timothy Huntington Finnegan Samuel Bowie Isberg Matthew Stephen Kroes Adeliah June Little Jack Thomas Ludwinski Finn Alexander Merkle Caylynn Josie Parker Ellie Rose Parker-Johnson Maxwell Tyler Pound Raelyn Marie Prosser Jordan William Pruitt Makena Jade Pruitt Riker Alan Rogers Kyle Sean Roosevelt Jonah...
Unity Junior High Third-Quarter High Honor Roll
Unity Junior High School announced the names of students who achieved high honor roll status during the third quarter. Congratulations to all the students who earned the requisite grade point to qualify for recognition during this period. 6th Grade High Honor Roll Maylie Rose Bates Nora Kristina Blanchard Viola Ayame Carman Lydia Grace Crowe Kylee Paulette Cunningham Elizabeth Irene Davidson Bronson Edwin Davis Savannah Jo Drewes Quentin Xavier Dykeman Beau Richard Eisenmenger Tinsley Layne Elliott Alarik Byrum Ellison Cooper Alexander Fairbanks Nadia Grace Fairbanks Hayden Marie Gabbard Lena Anne Guild Borchers Harper Quinn Harris Addilynn Mae Hatfield Dylan Paul Holladay Mason James Holladay Gabriel Heinrich Jahnel Allie Rose Kamradt Molly Kathryn Lydia Kleiss John Isaac "Isaac" Leaman Adelyn Jolene Maxwell Owen Thomas Menacher Graham Charles...
Friday Flashback: Unable to summon the beast inside, SJO suffers home loss on to Trojans
ST. JOSEPH - Jared Altenbaumer unloads a pitch, getting another taste of varsity action during St. Joseph-Ogden's home baseball against Maroa-Forsyth in April of 2023. The sophomore went to the mound replacing senior Jack Robertson in the 8-4 loss to the visiting Trojans. The Spartans went on to finish the season 28-8 and second in the Illini Prairie Conference with a 8-1 record. In his 66 trip to the plate last season, Altenbaumer struck out just eight times and finished the season with a .347 ERA. Six games into the current season he has produced ten hits and 11 RBI...
Urbana Board of Education seeks to fill open board seat
URBANA - The Urbana Board of Education #116 is taking applications to replace former member Dr. Ravi Hasanadka, who resigned at the Feb. 26 special board meeting. The prospective board member must live in Illinois and Sub-District #2 for at least one year to be eligible. The individual appointed to the seat will serve until April 2025. The sub-district primarily includes the areas surrounding Urbana High School and Blair Park in Urbana. "Applicants should show familiarity with the Board’s policies regarding general duties and responsibilities of a School Board and a School Board member, including fiduciary responsibilities, conflict of interest, ethics, and...
Opinion |The end of Anti-Woke politics?
from Jim Hightower Well, well, well — look who’s waking up and raring to go: Mr. and Ms. Woke! We so-called “woke” people have been the target of far-right politicos and front groups that are frantically trying to ban us and our ideas from America’s political discourse. In the past few years, such thuggish gubernatorial demagogues as Ron DeSantis have perverted the power of Big Government to attack teachers, librarians, public agencies, and even beer. Beer! Why? Because such people and organizations make educational efforts to reduce bigotry, hatred, and exclusiveness in our society. “That’s woke,” screech the ultra-rightists,...
Commentary |Cash bail is unfair and violates the right to due process
Photo: Sasun Bughdaryan/Unsplash Election years are a scary time for people of color in the U.S. They are marked by race-based voter suppression efforts, a rise in racist political rhetoric, and even a surge in racist hate crimes. by Sonali Kolhatkar Many Americans haven’t heard of cash bail. But the idea is central to an election year battle over racism, policing, and mass incarceration. When arrested on suspicion of committing a crime, everyone in the United States has the right to due process and to defend themselves in court. But in a cash bail system, when judges set bail amounts, those...
Area runners finished in the top spots at the Mountain Goat race
OAKWOOD - One hundred and thirty-nine runners took part in this year's KRR Mountain Goat trail race last Saturday. The 37th installment of the race featured three separate events. Runners could choose to run a 15K (3 loops), 10K (2 loops), or 5K (1 loop) race. Daniel Chen runs down Washington Ave in Urbana during the 2023 Illinois Half Marathon. Chen finished in 39th place overall at the Mountain Goat 15K race on Saturday, completing the course at 1:40:48. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks Justin Jones of St. Joseph won the 15K run, finishing his three laps in 54 minutes...
Urbana Park District hosting high school basketball tournament
URBANA - The Urbana Park District is sponsoring a seven-week basketball tournament for high school age students starting March 26. There is no registration fee and trophies will be awarded at the end of the 14-game open gym schedule. Games will be played at Brookens Gym from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Teams can play in one or on all 14 dates. For more information, email Joe Manning at jamanning@urbanaparks.org or call (217) 368-1544. High School Kids! Sign up for a #FREE Open Gym Basketball Tournament starting March 26! Call (217) 255-8601 for more information or read more at: https://t.co/OMjTH5WNtz#OpenGym #Basketball #HighSchool #YouBelongHere pic.twitter.com/4XvWqMq2hE— Urbana Park District (@urbanaparks) March 18, 2024 "
Unity's fifth inning rally crushes Mahomet-Seymour in softball opener
MAHOMET - Up 7-5 on the scoreboard at the top of the fifth inning, the Unity softball team loaded their side of the scoreboard with 11 runs before host Mahomet-Seymour could finally put a stop to the carnage from last season's Class A Sweet Sixteen team. Three Bulldog fly balls later, the Rockets celebrated their first win of the season with an 18-5 victory. Lindy Bates and Ruby Tarr tallied three hits each. Bates smacked a two-run homer to center field in the fourth inning and pounded a two-run double in the fifth inning. She finished the game with five RBIs...
Guest Commentary |Congress must demonstrate what it takes to succeed
by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator Life is fragile and doesn’t last very long, so we should try to enjoy every day. Be good to yourself and be good to other people. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. Speak to people in a manner that you would like for them to speak to you. Treat motorists on the highway the way you want others to treat you. If you can help someone in some way, then don’t miss the opportunity of being blessed by doing an act of kindness. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Extend...
5 reasons to move your family to Illinois
Photo: Jonas Ferlin/PEXELS SNS - If you are planning to relocate to Illinois with your family, you will not be making a mistake. If you're curious about what makes the Prairie State perfect for settling down, keep reading and learn all about the benefits of moving there. You will discover five reasons why you should plan to move your family to Illinois. Prepare for the move Before you relocate, take your time to familiarize yourself with this state. Learn what it offers to families, find a new home, and discover the best places to raise your children. Along with that, you should also...
Storm's Macie Russell to further running career at EIU
Salt Fork's Macie Russell run the second lap around Detweiller Park in Peoria during the 2024 IHSA State Cross Country Meet. The senior signed her National Letter of Intent to continue her running career with Eastern Illinois University. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks CATLIN - Salt Fork senior Macie Russell, a five-sport athlete during her time at Salt Fork High School, inked her commitment to run track at Eastern Illinois University on Sunday. The three-time state qualifier in the 800-meter run chose EIU over Heartland Community College, Indiana State, and Olivet Nazarene. Macie Russell runs a lap at O'Brien Stadium during...
Photo Gallery |Vikings win 4A basketball title, crushing Ironmen at state
CHAMPAIGN - With Homewood-Flossmoor's Donald Hagemaster, Caleb Chavers, Gakobie Mcneal and Bryce Heard looking on, Normal Community's Nico Newsome dives after a loose ball during their Class 4A championship game at the IHSA Boys' Basketball State Finals on March 9. The Ironmen finished runner-ups after losing to the Vikings, 60-48. Newsome finished the title game with five points in his 11 minutes on the floor at the State Farm Arena on Saturday. Photo:Sentinel/Clark Brooks Photo Gallery ...
6 questions with Jason Zumwalt
CHAMPAIGN - We caught up with the Centennial head coach Jason Zumwalt over spring break to get the scoop on the upcoming boys' tennis season. Zumwalt, a veteran player, competitor, and tennis instructor in the Champaign-Urbana community is entering his second season as head coach for the Chargers. Sentinel: How long have you been involved in tennis? Jason Zumwalt celebrates a point while playing in the annual Champaign Park District Labor Day Tournament in 2016. Photo: PhotoNews/Clark Brooks Zumwalt: "I started playing when I was a little kid. I played at Dunlap High School and went to state...
St. Joseph-Ogden Athletic Schedule March 18-24
Addison Frick takes a swing at a Salt Fork pitch during the Spartans' first home game of the season. SJO prevailed, 6-3. The St. Joseph-Ogden varsity softball team has four games on this week's schedule. Meanwhile, the baseball team will have very little time to practice this week with their five-game campaign over the next seven days. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Spartan softball team wins first game of the season
Over one hundred St. Joseph-Ogden softball fans filled the stands and the fence line at Randy Wolken Field to watch the Spartans win their first game at the newly renovated softball facility. See more photos from season opener here ... Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks ST. JOSEPH - Grace Osterbur had a stellar performance in the Spartans' first win of the season against Salt Fork last Monday, collecting three hits and scoring twice in four at-bats. The Storm put a tick on the scoreboard in the first inning after Alexa Jamison scored on a walk with bases loaded and two outs. Facing Sailor Pacot...
Sunday Sports Rewind; SJO rallies big in two innings to beat visting Pontiac
Jake Schlueter winds up for a pitch against visiting Pontiac during their regular season game in 2018. Sentinel/Clark Brooks ST. JOSEPH - SJO plated four runs in the fourth inning and six in the sixth after going up 1-0 in the bottom of the second to beat visiting Pontiac 11-1 six years ago this coming April. The Spartans went on to finish the season 19-15 and fifth in the Illini Prairie Conference with a 7-5 record. Members of the team included: Drew Coursey, Brayden Weaver, Adam Rose, Blake Primmer, Cody Kern, Crayton Burnett, Nicholas Boggs,...
Commentary |Free tax filing: A crucial step toward unrigging our economy
from Susan Harley Each year many Americans pay a steep cost when doing their taxes. It’s not just the money people shell out to use software to file taxes online, but also the time spent and the stress that comes with worrying an honest mistake will be held against them. Luckily, change is in the air this spring. Eligible filers in a dozen states will finally have a true public option this tax season: a new free, online, mobile-friendly software from the IRS called Direct File. Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich/PEXELS ...
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