By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Student athletes, coaches and teams from around the area were recognized Tuesday night during the 13th annual State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet. It was the first banquet since 2019 due to COVID. Over 100 people attended the event at The Chateau Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington. Speakers during the…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – Central Catholic High School has announced the hiring of Nate Thomas as its next athletic director. Thomas begins his duties in July, succeeding Hud Venerable, who retires on June 30 after five years with the Saints. “Nate brings with him experience at the collegiate level and is committed to Central…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet is returning to McLean County. The banquet, which has been hosted since 2008, recognizes high school athletes, coaches, and teams for their accomplishments on and off the field. The State Farm Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet committee has revealed…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Illinois State Athletics selected it’s group of Redbirds into the 2022 Percy Family Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Marshaun Coprich ’16 (football), 2014 and 2015 All-American and two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Heather Forsyth ’06 (soccer), two-time MVC Player of the Year and four-time All-MVC selection Abby Olson…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – Illinois State has filled another vacant head coaching position, as Athletic Director Kyle Brennan announced the hiring of Wisconsin assistant coach Marisa Kresge to be the next soccer coach at ISU. Kresge spent one season as a Redbird in 2016, before heading north to join the coaching staff at Wisconsin.…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) established Murray State as the 12th member of it’s conference on Monday. “With Murray State becoming the 12th Missouri Valley Football Conference member, we have stabilized and strengthened FCS football in the Midwest and cemented the MVFC’s position as the premier FCS football conference…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Ryan Pedon has hired his second assistant coach to his staff, as Andrew Dakich joins the Redbird program departing from Elon University. “I’m really excited about adding Andrew to our staff,” said Pedon. “Andrew played for us in his graduate year at Ohio State, and I was able to see firsthand his…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-Walter Offutt is the first man to join newly acquired head coach of the Illinois State men’s basketball team Ryan Pedon’s coaching staff. Offutt comes from the University of Toledo, where he has worked as an assistant for the rockets since 2019. Pedon and Offutt worked together at the University of Illinois…… MORE
By Neil Doyle BLOOMINGTON – After 45 years in education administration, Central Catholic High School Athletic Director Hud Venerable announced that he will retire July 1. Venerable took over the Saints athletic programs in 2017. During that time, the Saints added girls swimming and boys lacrosse to their roster of athletic opportunities and hosted several…… MORE
By Neil Doyle NORMAL – “A rich tradition of athletic success” is one of the reasons Allie Matters accepted the volleyball coaching job at Illinois State University. Matters was introduced to the community Monday morning on the Scott Miller Show on WJBC. Matters comes to ISU after spending the last four seasons as the head…… 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…