Tabitha Engel

For the average visitor, a five-minute drive through the Village of Lena will establish its identity as a football community. But the folks who live there know it's about so much more. Sure, the handmade Panther Football signs lining the streets serve as a love letter to a team that has brought home six Illinois 1A championships since 2010, punched consecutive tickets to state since 2019 and enter each season fielding questions about their chances of adding to the trophy case. Nobody...

Dan Stevens

There are a lot of area Boy's Basketball teams that won't even tip off their season until later this week, so trying to do a pre-season ranking or preview is a tad on the difficult side. Still, after sitting in on the Scales Mound Tournament, there are a couple of early observations that can be made. Everyone knows that Pecatonica and Eastland are expected to be the top two teams in the region. Most give a slight edge to the Indians, but ... we like Adam Awender a lot, and with Parker Krogman,...

Dan Stevens

I've always loved our area athletes. I really enjoy watching the maturation as they will go from timid freshman who are scared to be interviewed by me, up to the self-confident juniors who sometimes say more than they should so I have to cover for them, and finally culminate in the impressive young adult seniors who have a bright future lying ahead of them. It's impossible not to respect kids who work their butts off trying to be the best at something they love – whether it's sports, or...

Dan Stevens

They were badly overmatched, and on the third play of scrimmage they got to see first-hand the talent of Oregon recruit, Dierre Hill Jr, as he broke off a long touchdown run behind his massive 300 pound plus line. But in spite of the final outcome, there were several things worthy of merit that Lena-Winslow pulled off in the IHSA Class 1A State Championship game. On their very first drive, Lena-Winslow proved that they could move the ball against the much bigger, stronger and faster Crusaders....

Dan Stevens

The Dakota Indians are a very strong basketball team – long, big, athletic, and strong shooting from the perimeter – they made the competition look foolish at the Scales Mound Turkey Tournament during Thanksgiving week, and stood at 4-0 on the season. But they had never gone up against Spiderman, Venom and the rest of the Eastland Cougars. "You can't simulate that kind of speed in practice," said head coach Mike Bartell. "I mean, there are some teams that might have two quick guards, but...

Dan Stevens

While Nadalee Doyle is a force in her own right, area coaches all agree that the biggest threat on the Orangeville Broncos is senior guard, Laney Cahoon. Similarly, the RR/SM Wildcats have a lot of talented young players who are destined for the All-Conference teams, but right now – the conversation begins and ends with senior Laiken Haas. So, when you get a chance to see those two stars play against each other ... it makes for must see girl's basketball. And Tuesday night in Orangeville ...

Dan Stevens

Every coach knows that you don't stand a chance against them unless you stop Laney Cahoon and Nadalee Doyle. Lena-Winslow, for all practical purposes, did that – holding the pair down to a combined point total of only 21 in the game. They still got blown out. Alyse Cahoon and Kaylynn O'Haver went off – each of them hitting three long range three point bombs – as the senior roll players tied with eleven points each. "They kept sitting in that zone defense," Bronco head coach Jay Doyle...

Dan Stevens

The curse of having so much football success is that you tend to be late to the game in basketball. The Lena-Winslow Panthers finally opened their season Friday night at River Ridge, and it also marked the debut of new Varsity head coach, Mark Blakely. "People asked me, but I really wasn't nervous before the game," Blakely said. "To me, it was just another basketball game, and I trust my kids." That confidence was reinforced as the Panthers scored off of the opening tip of the game, and never...

The Greater Freeport Partnership is pleased to receive honors from the Illinois Main Street Lieutenant Governor Awards for Organizational Approach, Promotion, Economic Vitality, Volunteer of the Year, and Volunteer Recognition, at this year's conference in Batavia. The Pretzel Pickers won the award for Volunteer Recognition for their efforts to gather weekly and pick-up litter throughout the City of Freeport. Tim Connors received the award for Volunteer of the Year for his work uplifting the...

Honor a loved one by sponsoring an ornament on the Tree of Love. The Midwest Medical Center Auxiliary Foundation Tree of Love campaign is in full swing. We invite you to stop at the hospital at 1 Medical Center Drive in Galena to view our beautiful holiday tree. Enter at the Main entrance and the tree is on display in the lobby next to the Vista Cafe. While you are at the hospital, take time to enjoy our hospital expansion and visit the Galena Roasters Bistro. Enjoy your drink and treat by the...

What was a flat and grassy area outside of SSM Health Monroe Clinic Medical Group's Oncology department has been transformed into a beautiful Healing Garden. The Healing Garden features river rock, trees, bushes, boulders, lighting and more. The Healing Garden's location was purposefully selected to serve as a peaceful, healing view for the patients from within the clinic while also acting as a natural privacy screen from the sidewalk and parking lot. Now the chemotherapy and infusion patient...

Dan Stevens

It’s True, I confess, I am a Sneaky Pete. Now, I realize that most – if not all of you – have no idea what it is I’m talking about, so let me explain. You see, while growing up in Northwest Indiana, my brother, sister and I were all prone to seeing treats prepared by my mother left unguarded. Whether it was the tin of fudge “hidden” above the bread box, or the cookie jar left full without a padlock in place, these screamed to a growing boy, “Come and get me!” So, naturally, we...

Kevin Cernak

About twelve years ago or so, I read that within the next 10 years eighty percent of the general population would be getting their news from their smartphone. I didn't believe it then because I thought that was preposterous. Turns out they were correct. I used to get about 15 magazines a month. I love reading magazines. I also subscribed to a couple of newspapers for daily news. Trouble is, now, by the time the paper comes out, the news is old because I get it on my phone as it happens. But I...

Victoria Hansen

It’s hard to believe that 13 years ago I served as the McHenry County Farm Bureau intern. I served as their intern the summer between my Freshmen and Sophomore year in college. I learned so much during that summer not only about agriculture but also Farm Bureau. It is an experience I credit a lot to where I am today. It was my first taste of Farm Bureau and the more I learned the more passionate I became. One of my favorite parts of summer is that Stephenson County Farm Bureau offers a summer...