Village Voices - We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks

On paper, the Stockton Blackhawks are supposed to be in the middle of a rebuilding year. They have no six foot power hitter, or any massive high jumping stud they can turn to in a pinch, they don't...

There are some exceptional volleyball hitters in the region that hammer the ball with thunderous power ... and then there is Galena's Gracie Furlong. As the Galena Pirates went to warm up for their...

The Galena Golf Club played host to the 1A Boys Golf Regional, where the top three teams all advance on to the Sectional, along with the top ten individual golfers whose team did not advance. Final...

It was supposed to be the match of the season – the top two ranked 1A teams in the state of Illinois according to MaxPreps. Aquin against Dakota – for the game that, in all likelihood, would decid...

It's getting to the point where the biggest challenge the Lena-Winslow Panthers are facing is convincing themselves to take opponents seriously. Woodstock Marian Catholic is currently listed as a 4A...

I am not a morning person – never have been. Typically, my daily routine involves covering a game somewhere, getting home around nine or nine thirty, downloading the photos, writing up the story,...

The Lena-Winslow Panthers were coming off of a tough stretch in their schedule after falling to both Durand and Dakota, but a weekend road trip down to Mount Pulaski for one of the most prestigious...

The River Ridge Wildcats have improved to the level of being seen as a major contender in volleyball this season – when you beat a major power like Durand, it changes how people look at you. But the...

All week you were hearing it ... "Lena's good, but who have they played?" "Fulton's the real deal." "We'll see how well they handle the Steamers on Homecoming." And, yes, the Panthers heard it too....

I’ve never been a baby fan. When people would all fawn over a cooing baby, I had no interest. I mean, until they got past the “Squeaker Leaker” stage of life, I couldn’t care less. It’s...

Every month the Stephenson County Board argues over the County Nursing Home – Walnut Acres – and how it is a gigantic financial drain. But no matter how heated the debate, or what numbers are...

1. Lena-Winslow 5 – 0 Panthers got a huge conference win over Fulton, but now play 4A Marian Catholic - tough test. 2. Fulton 3 – 2 Yes, Lena blew them out, but that is the most complex 1A...

1. Aquin 17 – 1 Bulldogs had an impressive week, not allowing either opponent to reach double digits in any game. 2. Galena 18 - 1 Pirates continue to blow past the competition, no matter who steps...

On paper, the Lena-Winslow Panthers were better than the Durand Bulldogs, but ... on paper, the San Francisco 49ers are better than the Chicago Bears. And while the Panthers did not have to deal with...

Coming into their conference battle in Milledgeville Wednesday night, the Missiles had to be considered the favorite. They stood at 7-4, while Eastland was only 5-5, and Milledgeville was also...

Aquin's Lucy Arndt was only three kills away from the 1000th of her career – a feat that was mastered in game one with Aquin up 5-1 on a tip kill over the double block by the Aquin senior. In all...

The Galena Pirates and Stockton Blackhawks have squared off in some epic football games over the years, and when Jo Daviess County bragging rights typically came down to the winner of their annual bat...

With Pumpkin Fest, Pigskin Picks, and a week packed with sports and news, I need to keep this one short. You know how they always say that a dog is man’s best friend? Well, our dog Bucky is a...

By now everyone has probably heard about the home explosion on Business 20 near Harlem Center Road Tuesday night of last week. The home, owned by Al and Bonnie Bawinkel, exploded around 7:00 pm while...

When news broke out that Eastland would be hosting a Super Sectional in Volleyball, and that both Pecatonica and Forreston were hosting Sectionals, excitement built over who might be sent where as it...

The first official state rankings by MaxPreps came out recently, and while many people know how dominant Northwest Illinois is in football, you better expand that to volleyball too. The Class 1A...

Throughout the winter and spring sports seasons, the female athletes from Scales Mound and River Ridge are teammates – whether in basketball or softball, they work together and have built some...

Student cheering sections are there – usually – to support their team, and also have some fun. But sometimes the desire to "have fun" can lead to ... well ... stupidity. The Dakota Indians were...

And David picked up a stone and slung it, and as it hit right on the line, the referee paused ... and paused ... and paused, then called it out of bounds. Make no mistake, the Lena-Winslow Panthers...

The Galena Pirates have a solid football program – anybody thinking otherwise is kidding themselves – but even good teams can have the walls cave in on them, and the Lena-Winslow Panthers have...