1 • Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018 - Shopper’s Guide
Serving the communities in Stephenson County
Shopper’s Guide
VOL. 80 • NO. 51
Since 1896
ROCKF ORD M U TU AL I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y
815-369-4225
Putting Lives Back Together
Angie Ferguson Tom Stadermann
Since 1896
ROCKF ORD M U TU AL I N S U R A N C E C O M P A N Y Putting Lives Back Together
SM
Raders Insurance Agency 2018 Holiday Drawing Winners Kevin Weaver Leland Lang
www.radersinsurance.com • www.westpointmutual.com
240 W. Main St., Suite A, Lena, IL 61048
333704
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, 2018
Orangeville contingent shines at Rochelle Speech Tourney
speech competition stories, Le-Win/ Orangeville and other small local teams have to compete against schools whose football teams are in classes 7A and 8A, and the Rochelle tournament was no exception. Said Le-Win.Orangeville assistant coach Tom Fore, “This is my 17th year coaching competitive speech, and I’ve seen no movement on breaking Speech into classes. There have been proposals here and there, but it all boils down to a lack of schools that have speech teams. There may be a couple of classes someday, but not in the foreseeable future.” However, don’t tell that to the kids from Lena-Winslow and Orangeville. Small enrollment notwithstanding, Justin’s second place award was in a category that featured 38 other competitors, which included 11 novices (first-year speakers), of which Ronan was tournament champ. Emma’s Poetry Reading category sported 44 contestants, 17 of which were novices. The Le-Win/Orangeville team will host its 12th Annual Tournament on Saturday, January 5, followed by tournaments at River Ridge, Downers Grove South, and Jefferson (Rockford). The IHSA State Series begins in early February.
SM
PMS Version
YOUR FREE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
Orangeville preschool
COURTESY PHOTO Shopper’s Guide
Miss Ellingson’s preschool class enjoyed making Gingerbread Play-Doh as a holiday project.
Regional Spelling Bee requests financial support By: Aaron Mercier
REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT
The Pearl City School gymnasium will be filled with anticipation and nervous energy Feb. 19, as the top spellers from schools in Carroll, Jo Daviess, and Stephenson Counties compete in the Regional Spelling Bee. Historically, the area spelling champion and one chaperone has received an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., where the winner has had the opportunity to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Aaron Mercier, Regional Superintendent of Schools, is asking for your support in continuing this time-honored tradition. Over the past years, area employers, community service organizations, and individuals have generously donat-
PR SRT STD US POSTAGE PAID ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHINGLLC
To say that Orangeville freshman Ronan O’Brien and Rochelle Township High School get along would a slight understatement. Competing in the radio speaking category at the Rochelle Speech Tournament, held Saturday, December 8, Ronan captured his third consecutive 1st place award in as many tournaments this young speech season, two of them coming from Rochelle (the first was at the Rochelle Novice Tournament on November 18). On the other hand, to say that the Lena-Winslow/Orangeville Speech team was a bit shorthanded at Rochelle would also be an understatement. As is typical so many times, other activities and medical issues took their toll on the squad which has yet to field a full team after its first three tournaments. A few of Le-Win/Orangeville’s “heavy hitters”, all Lena-Winslow High students, were missing that day, students that usually garner awards for their performances. The coop team still came away with three individual prizes, all of which were won by the Orangeville contingent of the team. In addition to Ronan’s first place novice ribbon, the other two speaking awards were captured by senior Justin Malone, a 2018 State Finalist in Radio, who got second in, you guessed it, Radio Speaking, and up-and-coming sophomore Emma Beightol, winning fourth place in Novice Poetry Reading. However, even with the shortages, the team still finished at respectable 14 out of 22 teams. Actually, the total was 23, but because of time-honored tradition and professional courtesy, the host school does not include itself in what is referred to as the Team Sweepstakes. First-year coach Meredith Schoonhoven is doing quite an admirable job in fielding a team week after week, even with personnel shortages. Out of the 14 speaking categories, LeWin/Orangeville still filled 11, with the other three, Humorous Duet Acting, Informative Speaking, and Original Comedy expected to be on board shortly. As has been written about in other
West Point Mutual 2018 Holiday Drawing Winners
CMYK Version
ed funds, making it possible for the winner to participate in the national contest. Mercier feels strongly about the importance of continuing this tradition and is asking local communities for their continued support. “As society becomes more and more technologically oriented, a Spelling Bee may seem old-fashioned,” Mercier states. “However, a solid mastery of the English language still gives people a strong advantage in educational settings and later in employment situ-
ations.” The cost of sponsoring the Regional Spelling Bee and sending a contestant and their chaperone to Washington D.C. is approximately $5,000. “If we all pitch in, we can make this a successful regional event. Even if our winner doesn’t make it to the final rounds in the national contest, the experience itself is invaluable,” says Mercier. Individuals and businesses wishing to donate may send their contributions to the Regional Office of Education #8
– Spelling Bee Fund, 27 S. State Ave, Suite 101, Freeport IL 61032. Mercier will be happy to answer questions and can be reached at 815-599-1408. All donors will be recognized in the Regional Spelling Bee program as well as in the area newspapers. The public is encouraged to attend the Regional Spelling Bee, which will be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Pearl City School small gymnasium. In case of inclement weather, a “snow date” is scheduled for Feb. 21.
EXPERIENCE YOU CAN COUNT ON 301 Dodds Drive, Lena, IL
815-369-4148
g Free Estimates g Certified Technicians g Free Pickup & Delivery g All Insurance Welcome g Free Car Rental* g Competitive Rates g Lifetime Guarantee 335167
Postal Customer **ecrwss