By WMBD-TV NORMAL – Coach Steve Paxson will always remember the 2024 season for reaching a hallowed milestone, his 500th career win. Paxson said, “It’s been a good thing because I’ve been able to connect with a lot of guys I’ve coached over the years and that’s been really fun. But I’m sure excited to…… MORE
By Jake Fogal CHAMPAIGN – After the best season for the program since 2015, Normal Community boys basketball came up just short of hoisting the IHSA Class 4A State championship Saturday night in Champaign, falling to Homewood-Flossmoor 60-48. Three Vikings scored in double figures, as Bryce Heard poured in 21 points. Jayden Tyler had 15,…… MORE
By Jake Fogal CHAMPAIGN – Normal Community took the court at the State Farm Center in Champaign for the first time Friday under long time head coach Dave Witzig, but the Ironmen are no stranger to this type of success. Community picked up the victory over Palatine in the IHSA Class 4A State Semifinals, 58-38…… MORE
By Jake Fogal FAIRBURY – The high school boys basketball season gets underway tonight for many school’s in Central Illinois, including the team up at Prairie Central High School. Prairie Central one season ago went 31-3, and hoisted the regional championship trophy before falling in sectional play to Pontiac. This season the Hawk’s play for…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – A back-and-forth contest at Dick Tharp Field Saturday night led to hot heads and heighted tempers as the Normal Community Ironmen eked out a win over Bradley Bourbonnais in overtime, 31-30. Both teams were knotted at 24 apiece as the fourth quarter culminated, sending the second round matchup to overtime.…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – Despite a cold front and a soaked playing field from several days of rain, the Ironmen at Normal Community cruised to a first round victory over Argo 43-0. The shutout marks the fourth consecutive game where Community has held a team to zero points, as the Ironmen offense piled on…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – A field goal was the first score of the game put on the board early in the first quarter by the Purple Raiders, but what came to follow left fans packing up and heading for the exits early as Decatur MacArthur put a beating on Bloomington 54-10. Bloomington challenged the…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – It has been 8 years since U-High last took the field for a playoff game, but the third season under Head Coach Brody Walworth has propelled the Pioneers back to the promised land after a Week 8 victory over fellow Central State Eight Conference foe Lincoln 49-28. Coach Walworth spoke…… MORE
By Jake Fogal LEROY – Seven weeks, seven wins. That’s the definition of LeRoy’s 2023 football season thus far as the Panthers continued their winning ways in Week 7, beating up on fellow Heart of Illinois Small Conference foe Heyworth, 40-19. “A testament to these kids and how hard they have worked with and for…… MORE
By Jake Fogal STANFORD – A 40-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter Friday night from Olympia Spartan’s senior Nic Olsen gave life to a Stanford crowd as the Spartans sat two points behind a Class 2A #1 Maroa-Forsyth team with 11 minutes to play. The two point conversion attempt that followed came up…… MORE
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…