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VOL. 87 • NO. 24
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Pearl City students try out their STEM skills Pearl City Junior High School students put their creative thinking, problem solving and critical reasoning skills to work recently as the University of Illinois Extension hosted STEM Day activities for seventh- and eighth-graders. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. Students were separated into five groups to rotate through STEM activities, including making geodesic domes out of gumdrops and toothpicks; learning about hydroponic gardening and planting vegetable seeds; crafting robotic arms out of cardboard, string and straws; discovering ways to make plastic cup towers using only string and rubber bands to lift, move and stack the cups; and studying how water moves up flower stems in the “thirsty stem races,” according to an Extension news release. “This was a really fun and challenging way to get students to think outside of the box,” Brenda Heimann, Stephenson County 4-H and youth development program coordinator, said in the release. “It was also really great to get back into the classroom and reach out to area youth.” For more information about 4-H and youth development in Stephenson County, contact Heimann at 815-235-4125 or bheimann@illinois.edu.
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Lady Wolves earn regional championship
By Trenten Scheidegger CORRESPONDENT
The Pearl City Wolves’ softball team had an impressive regular season in 2021. After starting out 2-2, the Wolves went on a run for the remainder of the season to finish with an overall record of 13-4 and propelling their momentum into the postseason. On June 3, the Wolves faced off with a 6-8 Warren-Stockton Warhawks team in regionals. It was a tight matchup, as the game went scoreless through the first three innings. The Warhawks would score the first run of the game with a home run in the top of the fourth, leaving the Wolves trailing 1-0. Pearl City would quickly respond, however, as they tied the game with a run in the bottom half. With two outs, a double by Cheyenne Handsaker set the Wolves up with a scoring opportunity. Brianna Stager then came through with a single to right, bringing in Handsaker to score. The Wolves would take their first lead of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Sydney Wright got the momentum started with a double to center field to lead off the inning. Following a sacrifice bunt by Mattie Schauer, Kenzee Evans hit into a fielder’s choice groundout that allowed Wright to come in to score, putting Pearl City up 2-1. The Wolves would go on to tally an insurance run in the top of the sixth when Schauer hit into another fielder’s choice that allowed a run to score. With the 3-1 lead, Pearl City was able to hold on and pick up the regional win over Warren-Stockton. Stager led the way offensively, going 2-for-3 with one RBI. Handsaker finished the game going 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Wright finished with a stat line of 1-for-2 with a walk and one run scored. Pearl City relied on Handsaker’s pitching performance to get them their first postseason win of 2021. Handsaker pitched all seven innings, while allowing
BECKY GOCKEN PHOTO Shopper’s Guide
Pearl City Junior High School students Brandon Hille, Lane Kempel, Max Frier, Will Birchen and Xander Krolow work on a cup-stacking challenge during the recent STEM Day at the school. University of Illinois Extension personnel provided a variety of hands-on activities for students. BRENDA HEIMANN PHOTO Shopper’s Guide
(Right) Kailyn Christiansen, Sienna Lewis and Megan Snetcher combine the geodesic domes they crafted into one giant dome during STEM Day activities at Pearl City Junior High School. The day, organized by the University of Illinois Extension, included five different hands-on activities incorporating science, technology, engineering and math concepts.
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Voting rights advocates had urged waiting for census data By Peter Hancock CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a pair of bills June 4 that redraw state legislative and appellate court districts, despite the fact that official U.S. Census data needed to ensure equal representation has not yet been delivered. In a statement, Pritzker said he signed the measures after reviewing the maps to make sure they complied with state
and federal law by ensuring minority representation. “Illinois’ strength is in our diversity, and these maps help to ensure that communities that have been left out and left behind have fair representation in our government,” Pritzker said in the statement. “These district boundaries align with both the federal and state Voting Rights Acts, which help to ensure our diverse communities have elec-
toral power and fair representation.” Reaction to Pritzker’s announcement was swift. House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch called the signing “a win for the people of this great state.” “With Governor Pritzker’s signature, people of Illinois can be confident in a legislative map that is reflective
See PRITZKER, Page 12
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