Prairie Advocate_041223

NEWS BRIEFS

Toastmasters to meet April 18

The Inspiring Speakers Toastmasters Club will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18.

There will be a special workshop titled “Becoming a Person of Influence” that was created by John Maxwell.

Guests have an opportunity to win a free six-month membership.

Toastmasters builds communication and leadership skills for career and personal growth in a fun, friendly and supportive environment.

The club meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Meetings are hybrid – in person at the Freeport Public Library and online via Zoom.

For information, contact Tom Willison at 815-275-7111 or tomwillison3@gmail. com and visit toastmasters.org.

IMAGINE-a-bowl to benefit pediatric therapy at FHN

The FHN Foundation will present an evening of bowling in support of improvements to FHN Memorial Hospital’s pediatric therapy department.

IMAGINE-a-bowl will be Thursday, April 27, at 4 Seasons Bowling Center, 1100 W. Galena Ave. in Freeport.

Check-in begins at 5 p.m., with the first ball thrown at 6 p.m.

Teams of six bowlers are encouraged to bring out their inner child and dress up for the evening. Individuals may raise or donate the $50 entry fee. Those who raise at least $100 will receive a Striking Success for Children T-shirt, and individuals who raise $250 or more will receive a Striking Success for Children T-shirt and sweatshirt. Please submit your donations to the foundation by April 10 to receive

your shirt(s) the night of the event.

All proceeds raised will go toward room renovations, a new storage area and equipment for the pediatric therapy area at FHN Memorial Hospital.

For information or to register, visit www.fhn.org/strikingsuccess or contact the FHN Foundation at 815-599-6900 or cseal@fhn.org.

FHN presenting informational stroke program April 25

FREEPORT – Every 40 seconds, an American has a stroke, and strokes claim the life of an American every four minutes. May is Stroke Month, and FHN will present a program explaining strokes and treatment options in a special Speaker Series event this month.

FHN Stroke Program Coordinator Tracy Love, MSN, RN, CNL, will talk about risk factors and symptoms of stroke, as well as prevention, at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, at the FHN Family Healthcare Center – Burchard Hills, 1010 W. Fairway Drive in Freeport.

Stroke is a brain attack, cutting off blood flow and oxygen to the brain. Stroke can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of race, sex or age.

Love will talk about what to do in case of a stroke and the treatment options available at FHN. FHN’s teleneurology capabilities connect the FHN stroke team to a regional comprehensive stroke center partner for collaboration on care, including advanced treatment options.

The April 25 program is free, but registration is requested. Register online at www.fhn.org/stroke or by calling 1-877600-0346, ext. 901

McCombie sponsoring Rx drop-off in 3 counties

SAVANNA – House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, is hosting prescription drug drop-off events in partnership with local sheriffs to help ensure that unused, unwanted and expired prescriptions are properly disposed of.

Three events will be held at the end of April, in line with National Prescription Take Back Day, a movement backed by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency to help prevent medication misuse and opioid addiction.

Event details:

Stephenson County

German Valley Fire Department, 600 Church St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday April 22

Carroll County

McCombie’s District Office, 9317B Illinois Route 84, 8 a.m. to noon Saturday April 29

JoDaviess County

Elizabeth Community Center, 402 West St., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 29

McCombie will be joined by state

Rep. John Cabello, R-Machesney Park, in Stephenson County, as well as Stephenson County Sheriff Steve Stovall. She will be joined by Sheriff Ryan Kloepping in Carroll County and Sheriff Kevin Turner in Jo Daviess County .

“This is a great opportunity for residents to clean out their medicine cabinets and safely dispose of old medications. We have this opportunity to work alongside law enforcement to make our communities safer and I encourage everyone to do their part,” McCombie said. “We have our local sheriffs and law enforcement personnel to thank for their partnership on this event. They are relentless at working hard to keep us, our communities and our families safe!”

This is an outdoor drive-thru event. Residents will not have to leave their vehicles to drop off the materials.

For questions about any of the three events, call McCombie’s district office at 815-291-8989.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has been an ongoing effort to address the rising opioid epidemic.

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April ended up coming

I don’t think we wanted to have April come in like a lion. As I type this, it is Tuesday and we are getting a morning storm. I know a number of people are still cleaning up from the storms we had the previous Friday.

Hopefully, the Tuesday storms did not cause damage.

With that being said, have you checked your insurance coverage lately? I don’t know about you, but for me it is the perfect time to look at what you have and make sure you are covered for storms and hail.

It can be said time and time again, you only know how good your insurance is when you need it.

Here are a few more of our scholarship winners. Each recipient receives $1,000 from the Carroll County Farm Bureau Foundation.

• Delana Erbsen, daughter of Kevin and Wendy Erbsen of Lanark.

Delana is an Eastland High School graduate who attends Iowa State University, where she is pursuing a degree in dairy science. During high school, she was very active in FFA, where she served as vice president

AT A GLANCE

Chastity Heeren

and Section 1 vice president, along with being part of the National FFA Dairy Judging Team. Delana is a member of the Iowa State Pre-Vet Club.

• Olivia Charles, daughter of Terry and Christy Charles of Mount Carroll. Olivia graduated from West Carroll High School in May 2021. She is attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and studying agricultural communications. Olivia was involved in FFA and 4-H during high school. She is the University of Illinois 4-H House Treasurer and ACES Council External Relations.

•••

The deadline for pollinator seed has been extended through today. Don’t delay if you want to get your seed order placed.

Carroll County Farm Bureau members can place up to two free classified ads per week, with a limit of 250 characters per ad (not including spaces). Ads are limited to personal or farm items for sale/wanted to buy, or farm labor or services available or wanted. No ads for the sale or rental of real estate, garage sales or commercial businesses will be accepted. To place an ad, call the Farm Bureau office at 815-244-3001 by 3 p.m. Thursday to get your ad in the following week’s paper. Shaw Media is not responsible for the ads and any errors or corrections need to be made to the Farm Bureau office.

To giveaway together: 3 outside male neutered cats, 815-291-7651.

For Sale: Round bales of mixed alfalfa hay, net wrapped, 815-273-2273.

For Sale: Old small solid wood desk, china cabinet 40”w by 18”D, 58”H, glass top patio table, older wooden patio set, free standing metal frame porch swing, 13 ft. swimming pool cover, new in box. All items – make offer. Lanark area, 815-821-2172.

Once Mother Nature gets things squared away with our weather, farmers will be eager to get into the fields. We want to stress again the importance of being aware of large equipment on the road. Sometimes it isn’t even large equipment but a pickup pulling anhydrous tanks. These will move slower than you think, so you need to be alert and ready to slow down.

Be sure to keep an eye out for field

entrances they may be pulling into. April is Distracted Driver Awareness month. We shouldn’t think about road hazards only in the spring and fall when farmers are on the roads. We should think about it all the time.

Our minds are constantly going and we are just one thought away from not seeing something and causing an accident.

See FARM BUREAU, page 6

Marshalls, Old Navy, Five Below coming to Sterling

By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

STERLING – Three national discount retailers – Marshalls, Old Navy and Five Below – will open in Sterling Crossings, the former Kmart building, this fall, the developer announced April 4.

That will leave one 15,000-square-foot space in the main building and four outlying buildings, three yet to be built, for restaurants, offices or other retailers, developer Chris Williams said at a short groundbreaking ceremony.

Williams is in negotiations with three or four other national chains and said he also hopes to hear from local and regional businesses that are interested in opening at the Crossings.

“This will be a great addition to Sterling and the surrounding area,” Williams said. “The mayor and the council have been excellent to work with, and this is a perfect example of a successful private-public partnership.”

Williams, owner of Highlands Development LLC of Kansas City, Missouri, bought the building at 2901 E. Lincolnway for $1 million about three years ago.

On Aug. 1, 2022, the City Council passed economic incentives for Williams, who plans to spend $14 million to redevelop the 100,000-square-foot site in the East Lincolnway business corridor.

Incentives included creating a tax increment finance district and a business development

district that include Sterling Crossings.

Almost all revenue derived from the TIF and BDD is to be used to reimburse Highlands for costs incurred to redevelop and improve the site. In addition, Highlands will get a share of the 1% sales tax revenue raised there for 15 years – in most cases, a 50-50 split, but in some cases with some of the retailers, 85-15.

In addition to creating a new facade, Highlands will re-roof, add energy-efficient upgrades

to the lighting and the plumbing, completely redo the parking lot and landscaping, repair and replace damaged concrete and sidewalks and add the new buildings.

The existing outlying building on the west side of the parking lot is getting an addition; one building will be constructed on the east side and two on the north side, closest to Lincolnway.

Barring any problems getting materials or other construction-related delays, the new stores are set to open in the fall, although Old Navy may be pushed to early 2024, Williams said.

Williams does not own the vacant Beef-A-Roo building adjacent to Sterling Crossings, and it is not part of Highlands’ redevelopment project.

That building is owned by Sterling businessman Scott Wolber, owner of Arthur’s Garden Deli in Sterling, Rock Falls and Dixon and Don Pedro’s restaurant in Sterling. Wolber said April 4 that he has no immediate plans for that site,

which the original owners closed 12 years ago on April 3, 2011, citing poor sales.

Marshalls is a discount department store that gets most of its stock from excess inventories. Old Navy, owned by Gap Inc., along with Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, sells clothing for children and adults. Five Below sells toys, games, home decor, beauty products, pet supplies, art and crafts and seasonal items, most for less than $5.

The Sterling VA Outpatient Clinic, part of the VA Iowa City Healthcare System, opened in 17,600 square feet of leased space in the east end of the building in January 2022. It moved there from a smaller site at 406 Avenue C downtown.

The main building turns 50 this year. Kmart opened in July 1973 and closed on Jan. 11, 2014.

Those interested in leasing space in Sterling Crossings can reach Williams at 913-372-7270 or Chris@Highlandskc.com. Go to highlandsdevelopmentkc.com for information on the company.

Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com

Investor Chris Williams (left) speaks outside the former Kmart building. Williams is redeveloping the site. Old Navy, Marshalls and Five Below have signed to lease space at the shopping center.

EDUCATION

West Carroll adds interim administrator, reinstates superintendent

the record.

Board members agreed to reevaluate their decision before the next school year begins.

By KATHLEEN A. SCHULTZ kschultz@shawmedia.com

MOUNT CARROLL – The embattled West Carroll superintendent is back on the job, but with fewer duties.

The West Carroll School District 314 board voted Sunday, April 2, to reinstate Superintendent Julie Katzenberger and to hire former Stockton Superintendent David Gilliland as interim assistant superintendent of human resources and student discipline.

Gilliland, 65, a Mount Carroll native living in Stockton, will report directly to the board and not to Katzenberger.

A call to Gilliland on April 4 seeking an outline of his duties was not returned by this newspaper’s deadline. Only one school board member returned emails seeking comment and that person declined to speak on

A nearly sixhour closed meeting was held March 29 after Katzenberger, 51, was put on paid administrative leave March 23, the same day Principal Jessica Love resigned and about half of the high school teachers failed to show up for work.

The walkout was in protest of Katzenberger’s management style and to try to force the board to act on ongoing staff complaints, the union said.

When no decision was made March 29, the board agreed to meet again April 2 at the district office.

West Carroll Education Association presidents Kris Yingling and Jeff Holley issued a statement April 3:

“We are glad the school board has committed to addressing the concerns the West Carroll Education

Association raised regarding Superintendent Katzenberger. The school board heard our statements, understood our concerns and realized that they were legitimate.

“The decision to add an assistant superintendent for the rest of this school year and pledging to reevaluate the situation for next year is a step in the right direction.

“We look forward to working with the new assistant superintendent and the board to continue to ensure the best education possible for all of our students.”

Gilliland, a 1976 Mount Carroll High School graduate, was the Stockton Community Unit School District 206 superintendent in nearby Jo Daviess County for 10 years, the last three in a part-time capacity. Gilliland retired in May 2018.

He also served as principal at the elementary and high schools.

Gilliland helped launch the district’s education foundation.

Gilliland was named by the Illinois High School Association as the Illinois Official of the Year in boys basketball in February 2022. He’s been a

referee since 1978.

It’s been about a month since the teachers union passed a vote of no confidence in Katzenberger. In a previous statement, the union said Katzenberger is not keeping parents in the loop about student issues and regularly rejects input from staff when it comes to addressing students and school issues.

The release also cited the loss of professional staff, support staff and building administrators because of “micromanaging and constant conflict with Katzenberger,” which, according to the release, showed the district is struggling to attract and retain top-quality educators.

Teachers also fear retaliation from Katzenberger for bringing up concerns at board meetings or to board members, according to the release.

Katzenberger has been superintendent since July 2018.

Before that, she was the West Carroll Middle School principal for 10 years.

Katzenberger told the board earlier this year that she plans to retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year.

Julie Katzenberger

Katzenberger taken off leave; assistant superintendent will report directly to the board

Continuance in Safranek case after defendant refuses to appear for the hearing from jail

By EARLEEN HINTON ehinton@shawmedia.com

OREGON – A 36-year-old woman who is accused of killing her son in 2021 refused to appear via video for a court hearing April 5, prompting a continuance to April 26.

Sarah Safranek, 36, of Oregon was scheduled to appear via video conference from the Ogle County Correctional Center when court officials learned she was refusing to appear.

Safranek’s attorney, Ogle County Public Defender Kathleen Isley, and the prosecutor, Ogle County State’s Attorney Mike Rock, were in the courtroom for the 1 p.m. pretrial hearing when Judge John Redington asked jail

• FARM BUREAU

Continued from page 3

We also are in that time of year when in the morning and at night there are times when the sun is literally blinding.

You would be amazed if you knew how many cars, trucks and semis fly through the intersection near the office. I would say there are at least

staff to have Safranek brought to the jail’s area where video conferencing is done.

“She is refusing,” the correctional officer said.

Redington asked Isley and Rock if they wanted him to order correctional staff to bring her to the hearing even if she was “unwilling.”

Both Isley and Rock declined, with Rock adding he would use a continuance to respond to motions recently filed in the case.

“OK, we will waive her presence for

three a day. And then there are our phones. Even when it doesn’t need to be charged, I keep it plugged in in my vehicle so I can easily use voice prompts for calls, etc.

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Did you know our kitchen is a certified commercial kitchen through the health department? If you are looking for a commercial kitchen to rent, give me a call and we can discuss your needs.

today. We will reset this for April 26 at 1 p.m. for further status and ... we will try again,” Redington said.

Safranek has pleaded not guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery for the suffocation death of her 7-year-old son, Nathaniel Burton, in February 2021.

On Nov. 3, 2022, Redington ruled Safranek fit to stand trial for the offenses after reviewing a mental health evaluation requested by the defense. The case was continued to February after a hearing in December.

Nathaniel, a first grade student at Oregon Elementary School, was found unresponsive and not breathing in his bed at his home in the 400 block of South 10th Street about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 17, 2021. He was pronounced dead at KSB Hospital in Dixon later that day.

An autopsy showed the boy also suffered a ruptured liver.

Safranek was arrested two months later, April 21, 2021, and indicted May 4, 2021. She pleaded not guilty May 6, 2021, and remains in the Ogle County Correctional Center on a $2 million bond.

She has appeared in court numerous times since her arrest, sometimes in person and sometimes via video conferencing.

She faces 20 years to life in prison if convicted of murder and six to 30 years if convicted of aggravated battery.

According to records obtained by Shaw Local News Network in a Freedom of Information Act request, the Department of Children and Family Services had visited the Safranek/ Burton household about a dozen times over two years, following up on five reports of suspected abuse and neglect. Each time, DCFS closed the case after finding no indications of parental wrongdoing.

Nathaniel was 4 when the allegations first surfaced.

Sarah Safranek Nathaniel Burton

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Baseball

Eastland 4, Milledgeville 3: The Cougars scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past the Missiles for a walk-off NUIC South win.

Ethan Kessler’s two-out, bases-loaded single drove in Hunter Miller with the winning run to cap the seventh-inning rally for Eastland. Max McCullough started the inning with a walk and went to third on Allyn Geerts’ single, and they both scored on Peyton Spears’ base hit. Tanner Stern was hit by a pitch and Cole Huber singled in Spears to tie the score 3-3. Miller hit into a fielder’s choice, then Trevor Janssen walked to load the bases. Stern was thrown out at home on Camron Huber’s ground ball for the second out, but Kessler came through with the walk-off hit.

Spears gave up three runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking four. Janssen gave up one hit and two walks in 1/2 innings of shutout relief, recording a strikeout. McCullough got the win, striking out two in a hitless, scoreless seventh inning.

Connor Nye and Cayden Akers had two hits each for Milledgeville, and Spencer Nye and

SPORTS ROUNDUP, Page 8

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

Polo’s Billy Lowry slides safely into second base as Forreston’s Kendall Erdmann lays down the tag during an April 6 game in Polo. See

ROUNDUP

Continued from Page 7

Jace Urish drove in runs. Connor Nye, Spencer Nye and Wyatt Meiners scored for the Missiles.

Connor Nye gave up four hits and two walks while striking out 13 in five innings of shutout ball. Bryson Wiersema gave up three runs and two hits in one-plus innings of relief, with two strikeouts and one walk.

Karter Livengood gave up one run and two hits in two-thirds of an inning, walking one and hitting a batter.

Fulton 12, West Carroll 0 (5 inn.): The Steamers scored 10 runs in the second inning in an NUIC West win over the Thunder at Drives Park.

Kole Schipper led Fulton with two hits and two RBIs, while Payton Curley, Ryan Eads, AJ Boardman, Ethan Price, Reed Owen and Dom Kramer all had a hit and an RBI. Eads, Boardman and Owen each scored twice, and nine players scored runs for the Steamers.

James Crimmins and Brayden Dykstra combined on a no-hitter for Fulton. Crimmins struck out 10 and walked one in four innings, and Dykstra struck out all three hitters he faced in the fifth.

Chance Schnitzler allowed 10 runs (five earned) and six hits in 1 2/3 innings, striking out two, walking four and hitting two batters

for West Carroll. Jackson Bess allowed two runs (one earned) and three hits in 2 1/3 innings, with a strikeout and a walk. Forreston sweeps Polo in doubleheader: The Cardinals beat the Marcos 14-1 and 12-2 in an NUIC South doubleheader in Polo. In Game 1, Alec Schoonhoven went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, Patrick Wichman went 3 for 3 and scored four runs, Kendall Erdmann went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, and Ayden Book added three RBIs for the Cardinals. Erdman

and Schoonhoven each hit a double. Owen Greenfield pitched four innings for Forreston, allowing two hits and one run, striking out five and walking three, and Erdmann pitched the final inning, striking out two and walking one without allowing a hit.

Nolan Hahn and Scott Robertson had one hit each to lead Polo in the opener, and Carter Merdian scored the only run. In Game 2, Schoonhoven and Brendan Greenfield had two RBIs apiece to lead

Forreston. Greenfield and Erdmann led the team with two hits each. Schoonhoven pitched three innings, allowing one hit and two unearned runs, striking out four and walking three. Carson Akins threw two scoreless innings for the Cardinals with one hit, one strikeout and no walks.

Nolan Hahn drove in both Polo runs in the nightcap.

Eastland 17, Tuscola 2 (4 inn.): Trevor Janssen, Hunter Miller and Allyn Geerts each had three RBIs as the Cougars rolled to victory after a long road trip to Tuscola.

Miller singled and doubled and scored three runs, and Janssen also doubled for Eastland. Peyton Spears singled, doubled, drove in a run and scored twice, and Ethan Kessler and Cole Huber each had two RBIs. Kessler also scored two runs. Max McCullough had two hits, three runs and an RBI, and Tanner Stern also had an RBI and scored twice.

Geerts got the win on the mound, allowing two runs and three hits in four innings, striking out eight, walking one and hitting a batter.

Bureau Valley 10, Polo 0: The Storm scored two runs in the first inning to take the lead over the Marcos, then used a five-run third to pull away in the six-inning nonconference win.

See SPORTS ROUNDUP, Page 9

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media

ABOVE LEFT: Pearl City third baseman Jorjia Johnson throws to first for an out during a game with Galena on April 8. ABOVE RIGHT: Pearl City’s Brea Musser pitches.

Continued from Page 8

Gage Zeigler and Dawson Foster had one hit each for Polo. Foster’s hit was a double.

Sullivan 7, Eastland 6: Sullivan grabbed a 6-3 lead with a five-run third inning, then added an insurance run in the sixth to finish off Eastland.

Cole Huber racked up four RBIs on two home runs, and Trevor Janssen doubled on both hits for the Cougars.

Softball

Milledgeville goes 1-2 at Pearl City Tournament: The Missiles beat West Carroll 14-2 and lost 14-7 to Galena and 8-1 to Pearl City in NUIC road games.

Against the Thunder, Kendra Kingsby was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle, going 4 for 4 with six RBIs, including two doubles and a triple.

Teammates Emma Foster and Lily Smith added two hits and two RBIs each.

Addison Janssen earned the complete-game win against West Carroll, allowing five hits and two runs (zero earned), and striking out six with no walks.

Abbey Skiles went 2 for 3 to lead the Thunder against Milledgeville.

Freshman Makayla Meier drove in Kendra Hutchison for the only Milledgeville run

against Pearl City.

Maliah Grenoble had two hits and Marissa Sturrup had two RBIs against the Pirates.

Fulton 7, West Carroll 6: The Steamers built a 5-0 lead through three innings, then added runs in the fourth and seventh to fend off a Thunder comeback at Drives Park.

Parker Sanderson went 4 for 4, Madyson Luskey and Emily Kane drove in two runs apiece, and Kira Wilson and Addison Hartman added two hits apiece for the Steamers. Hartman hit a triple and Luskey hit a double.

Hartman struck out 14 and walked five in a complete game for Fulton, allowing seven hits and six runs.

Lacey Eissens went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, including a double and a triple, and Dominique Lego chipped in two RBIs for West Carroll. Maddison Eppenstein pitched 2 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and one run and striking out one batter.

River Ridge/Scales Mound 19, Eastland

15: The Cougars surged to an 11-9 lead with a five-run fourth inning, but gave up nine total runs in the sixth and seventh to lose the game in Lanark.

Gracie Steidinger went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs and two RBIs, while Vanessa Allen and Allison Kessler drove in two runs apiece for Eastland. Allen also

See SPORTS ROUNDUP, Page 10

Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media Milledgeville’s Kendra Kingsby pitches against Pearl City during an April 8 tournament hosted by the Wolves.

• SPORTS ROUNDUP

Continued from Page 9

scored twice. Morgan McCullough, Jocelyn Green and Kennidee Bryant each had two runs and an RBI, Olivia Klinefelter also drove in a run, and Mallory Misiewicz score twice for the Cougars.

Sarah Winter had two hits and four RBIs for RR/SM.

Fulton 16, West Carroll 4 (5 inn.): The Steamers followed a two-run first inning with a seven-run second, then kept the runs coming in a five-inning NUIC West win.

Madyson Luskey went 3 for 5 with four RBIs, Haley Smithers went 2 for 3 with four RBIs, Resse Germann chipped in two RBIs, and Kira Wilson and Brooklyn Brennan scored three runs each for Fulton.

Addison Hartman earned the complete-game win, allowing four runs and four hits and striking out seven with two walks.

Lacey Eissens went 2 for 3 and Kendal Asay drove in two runs for West Carroll.

Forreston sweeps Polo in doubleheader: The Cardinals beat the Marcos 14-2 and 14-3 in an NUIC South doubleheader in Polo.

In Game 1, Rylee Broshous went 4 for 4 with two RBIs, Alaina Miller went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, and Hailey Greenfield went 2 for 2 with a walk and three RBIs to lead Forreston. Miller and Broshous each scored three runs. Aubrey

Sanders earned the complete-game win, allowing two runs and six hits, striking out eight and walking three.

Cheyenna Wilkins hit a home run for Polo.

In Game 2, Miller went 4 for 4 with two RBIs, and Brooke Boettner went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Miller scored three runs and Boettner scored two. Miller earned the complete-game win, allowing three runs and four hits, striking out four and walking two.

Wilkins hit a double for the Marcos.

Milledgeville 10, Eastland 4: The Missiles outhit the Cougars 16-1 in the game and scored eight runs between the second and fourth innings on their way to a NUIC win.

Milledgeville’s Kendra Kingsby went 3 for 4 with a home run and two RBIs, and she also pitched seven innings, allowing three runs and one hit, striking out 13 and walking three.

Emma Foster went 3 for 3 with a walk and an RBI and scored three runs, Kendra Hutchison singled and hit a solo home run, and Lily Smith and Brinley Hackbarth added two RBIs each for the Missiles.

Jocelyn Green had two RBIs, while Olivia Klinefelter had the only hit for Eastland.

Oregon 17, Eastland 3 (5 inn.): Ava Hackman struck out nine Cougars in three innings in the circle to lead the Hawks to a nonconference win at Oregon Park West.

Ella Dannhorn had three hits, stole three bases and scored three runs for Oregon (7-1), and Hackman added two hits and two RBIs.

TOLL FREE (866) 493-2300 110 W Carroll, Lanark 815-493-2323 24490 Payne, Shannon 815-864-2390 Amy Barnes, Designated Managing Broker www.BarnesRealtyInc.com

Emma Schlichtmann had four strikeouts in two innings of relief.

Winnebago 7, Forreston 6: The Cardinals gave up four unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a nonconference loss in the second game of the Indians’ split doubleheader.

Rylee Broshous singled, homered, scored twice and drove in a pair of runs for Forreston (8-2), and Alaina Miller had two singles and scored two runs. Brooke Boettner and Aubrey Sanders both doubled for the Cardinals. Sanders allowed seven runs (three earned) and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking five. Miller gave up one hit in relief.

Girls track and field

Thursday Night Under the Lights: Milledgeville-Eastland won a five-team meet hosted by Morrison, scoring 158 points to top Fulton (126), Riverdale (122), Stockton (45), and the host Fillies (22).

Quinc Haverland swept the throws for the Missiles, taking the shot put (9.27 meters) and the discus (26.20 meters). Lynn Stringini won the 300 hurdles (53.41 seconds) and took second in the 100 hurdles (18.53 seconds), Skyler Hartman won the 3,200 (14:05.37), and Macey Schryver took the high jump (3 feet, 4 inches). The team of Kennedy Burkholder, Arianna Bush, Audrey Sundquist and Violet Diehl won the 4x800 (12:57.27).

Leslie Mayne was second in both the 1,600 (6:38.65) and 3,200 (14:08.43) for Milledgeville-Eastland, while Natalie Colehour was runner-up in the triple jump (9.21 meters), and Trixie Carroll (4.63 meters) and Shelby Groezinger (4.62 meters) went 2-3 in the long jump. The Missiles also took second in three relays: the 4x100 (54.34) with the team of Groezinger, Carroll, Paige Joiner and Abi Sturrup; the 4x200 (1:57.14) with the team of Groezinger, Carroll, Schryver and Sturrup; and the 4x400 (4:42.01) with the team of Sturrup, Groezinger, Carroll and Stringini.

the triple jump (8.62 meters), and Kayla Lamm was runner-up in the 800 (3:14.81).

Emma Randecker was a triple-winner for West Carroll, taking the 100 (13.14 seconds), the 200 (26.60) and the 400 (1:03.75). Sienna Young won the 800 (2:59.59), and teamed with Randecker, Drusiana McIntyre and Atlantis Kerkove to take second in the 4x400 (4:54.44). The Thunder also ran to second place in the 4x100 (1:00.33) with the foursome of Norah Brigham, Ciara Henson, Domynique Lego and Kyaria Kerkove. Boys track and field

Thursday Night Under the Lights: Morrison hosted a five-team meet and took second. Riverdale took the team title with 136 points to top the Mustangs (112), Fulton (100), Milledgeville-Eastland (85) and Stockton (54).

The Missiles swept the two hurdles races, with Kacen Johnson winning the 110 highs (16.45 seconds) and Parker Krogman taking the 300 intermediates (45.22). Kacen Johnson joined Konner Johnson, Draven Zier and Bryce Aude to take second in both the 4x100 (46.51) and 4x200 (1:35.62), while Krogman, Zier, Kacen Johnson and Hudson Groezinger placed second in the 4x400 (3:45.70).

Zier took second in the long jump (5.83 meters), and Groezinger was runner-up in the 800 (2:15.48) and teamed with JJ Prowant, Jameson Pannkink and Landon Frederick to take second in the 4x800 (9:19.71) for Milledgeville-Eastland.

Cardinals third at home: Forreston-Polo finished with 91 points to finish behind Galena-East Dubuque-River Ridge (108) and Lena-Winslow (100), but ahead of West Carroll (38) and Pearl City (12) in a five-team meet in Forreston.

CHADWICK - $62,500

MILLEDGEVILLE - $139,900

SAVANNA - $169,900

Forreston-Polo 152, G/ED/RR 102, West Carroll 55: The Cardinals won a three-team meet at home, winning seven events and taking second in seven more to top Galena/ East Dubuque/River Ridge and the Thunder.

Letrese Buisker won the 300 hurdles (55.43 seconds) and the high jump (5 feet, 2 inches), and took second in the 100 hurdles (19.20 seconds) behind teammate Courtney Grobe, who won in 18.82 seconds; Grobe took second to Buisker in the 300 hurdles (55.99). Buisker teamed with Elsa Monaco, Ennen Ferris and Autum Pritchard to win the 4x100 (55.42), while Monaco, Hannah Harvey, Ramsie Grenoble and Courtney Davis won the 4x200 (2:06.79) for Forreston-Polo.

Michael Taylor won the 100 (11.70 seconds) and the high jump (6 feet) for the Cardinals, and also teamed with Delo Fernandez, Noah Dewey and McKeon Crase to take the 4x200 (1:36.29). Jace Engbert won the long jump (5.45 meters) and joined Brock Soltow, Peyton Crase and Avery Grenoble to take second in the 4x100 (46.93 seconds).

McKeon Crase was runner-up in the 100 (11.77 seconds), Lucas Nelson took second in the 110 hurdles (18.16), and Dane Setterstrom was second in the 300 hurdles (46.75) for Forreston-Polo. Setterstrom, Payton Encheff, Micah Nelson and Carson Jones ran to second in the 4x400 (3:52.74).

THOMSON

Alayna Young (30-8) and Sydni Badertscher (30-6) went 1-2 in the shot put, and Badertscher also won the discus (98-9) for the Cardinals. Ferris was second in the high jump (4-10), Monaco took second in the long jump (3.91 meters), Bekah Zeigler placed second in

Zaiden Smith won the 400 (53.49 seconds) for the Thunder, and Raef Pickard-Schintgen won the triple jump (11.20 meters) and took second in the long jump (5.32 meters). Joseph Blasen was runner-up in the 3,200 (12:55.41), and West Carroll also took second in the 4x800 (10:20.00) with the team of Roscoe Davies, Connor Knop, Roger Laborn and Daniel Mitchell.

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Full Time 3rd Shift Production Operators

Join our Team ! Grow your career with a Wor ld-Class automotive supplier in a fast- paced, opportunity- filled environm ent! BorgWarner will be accepting applications for the positions of Production Associate on our Third shif t (11:15pm to 7:30am)

Qualifications: High School diploma or GED, pass background check , Functional Agility Assessment which includes lifting 35 lbs in various body postures, fine dexterity and manual handling capabilities, the ability to stand for 8 hours and good visiondistance, close and color Complete a post offer physical, drug and alcohol screening.

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

Xena International Inc in Polo is urgently hiring!

TANKER DRIVE RS

with hazmat endorsement. Sign on bonus and excellent drivers p ackage. Apply in person to Xena International Inc 910 S. Division Ave., Polo, IL 61064 815-946-2626 or email resume: xenaemp@ gmail.com

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

We offer a ver y competitive compensation and outstanding benefits pack ag e, including a savings and investment plan with company match. Professional development is supported through a generous educational assistance policy. We are a Tobacco Free Property. Closed Campus break period. Safety Glasses and Safety Shoes are required. No Cell phones are allo wed on the production floor

Overtime is mostly required on Friday night / Satur day morn ing. Must have reliable transportation.

ONSITE JOB FAIR 1 Day Only!

All wishing to be considered must complete an application and screening process ONSITE at BorgWa rner , 1350 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon, IL on Saturday, April 15th, 2023 from 8:30am to 12:30pm No phone calls please.

EMPLOYMENT

Sterling Steel Company

EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT

invites job-oriented hard-workers to start an exciting, challenging & rewarding career!

We are currently hiring for our UTILITY POSITIONS

What is a Utility position?

Entry level labor work in loud, dirty environment at extreme temps on 9 - 12 hour swing shifts including nights & weekends.

What are the qualifications for this job?

Construction, manufacturing, labor, heavy equipment; hand & power tools experience helpful but not required.

Attendance, attitude & ability to learn are keys to getting & succeeding at this job.

What do employees get in return?

$25+ production-based incentive pay

OTJ Training & Apprenticeships

Promotion Opportunities

Retirement Investments

Affordable Insurance

How do I apply for Utility? Applications available 24/7 SSC - 101 Avenue K, Sterling

SSC is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veteran/Disability Employer.

Of Routine VEHICLE MAINTENANCE

The last few years have not proven the most advantageous times for new car buyers. According to the Consumer Price Index Summary from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, buyers paid 12.2 percent more for new vehicles in January 2022 than they had in January 2021. Faced with such a significant increase in price, many drivers understandably want to keep their current cars longer than they might have initially planned.

Data released by S&P Global Mobility in early 2022 indicated that the average vehicle on the road is 12 years and two months old, which marked the highest number in the 20-plus years such information was tracked. A host of variables affect how long drivers keep their cars, but the rising cost of new vehicles has undoubtedly compelled many drivers to aspire to keep their

cars for longer periods of time.

Aging cars may require a little more TLC than vehicles that are right off the dealership lot. But the following are three simple tips that can help drivers keep their cars running longer.

1. Become a more careful driver. A careful approach when behind the wheel is safer than aggressive driving and beneficial for your vehicle. When starting, avoid revving the engine, which needlessly wears it down. When out on the road, avoid rapid accelerations, which also contributes to needless wear and tear. Even excessive idling can adversely affect the engine, so keep winter warm-ups to around 30 seconds to prevent damage to engine components.

2. Know when and how to fill up. Every driver has likely visited a filling station when an oil tanker

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is busily filling the tanks. That’s traditionally been considered a less than ideal time to fill up, as the theory is that filling the tanks stirs up sediment that could then find its way into consumers’ gas tanks, adversely affecting their vehicles. However, that’s often dependent on the station itself and how much its owners prioritize maintenance of the tank and filtration systems. Drivers who trust their local station owners can likely fill up when the tankers are present without worry. In addition, avoid topping off once the nozzle clicks when filling up. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that topping off is harmful to the planet and the vehicle, as gasoline needs room to expand. When you top off, the extra gas may damage the vapor collection system and cause the vehicle to run less efficiently.

3. Change oil more frequently as the vehicle ages. It’s true that modern vehicles no longer require oil changes for every 3,000 miles driven. However, as vehicles age, drivers and their vehicles’ engines may benefit from more frequent oil changes than the owner’s manual necessarily recommends. Oil changes remove dirt and metal particles from the engine, potentially contributing to a longer life expectancy. More frequent changes can be especially beneficial for vehicles that are routinely driven in stopand-go traffic.

Rising vehicle costs have compelled many drivers to keep their cars longer than they initially planned. Some simple strategies can help drivers achieve that goal.