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 Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Central Catholic Saints relied on their field general in Week 5 to defeat a conference rival, but not in the way you may think. Senior quarterback for the Saints Colin Hayes beat the Rockets with his legs instead of his arm, finding the end zone for six rushing touchdowns…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – The Ironmen have not only survived the gauntlet through four weeks of the regular season, but instead have proven that they belong at the top after defeating Peoria High in Week 4 63-42. The Ironmen are up to 4-0 on the season and have also added wins over Sacred Heart…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – The expectations have been met through three weeks of play as the Normal Community Ironmen have charged through three opponents with relative ease this season. Week 3 featured Community picking up not only a regular season win, but also a trophy that signifies a victory over a cross-town rival. The…… MORE
By Jake Fogal NORMAL – Flags littered the field at Wildcats Stadium Friday night as Normal West had it’s first home game of the season, renewing it’s rivalry with Bloomington. Unsportsmanlike penalties were a theme for both sidelines, as the two team’s were eager to gain an edge in this intercity clash, though the Wildcats…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – It was a night to forget for the University High Pioneers as Sacred Heart Griffin came to the Twin Cities and picked up a 49-7 win. The number one team in Class 4A shutout the Pioneers 41-0 through the third quarter, before U-High was able to strike for it’s first…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON – The Saints are marching to 3-1 in the Illini Prairie Conference after a 42-28 win over Monticello in Week 4 of the high school football season. Colin Hayes was the catalyst for Central Catholic, as the junior quarterback was responsible for five touchdowns, two through the air and three on…… MORE
By Jake Fogal BLOOMINGTON-The High School Football Extravaganza on WJBC, sponsored by CEFCU, not a bank, better, featured the Normal Community West Wildcats blanking Champaign Central 42-0. Wildcats Jayden Mangruem led the way with 68 yards through the air, also tallying 3 passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown. The defense stifled the Champaign Central Maroons…… 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
The Normal CornBelters are introducing a new Field Manager and Bench Coach with local ties for the 2022 season.… 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…