Week of December 17, 2025
Week of December 17, 2025
Enright Pleads Guilty We heard about the on-going trial of a Kathryn Enright on charges of embezzling money from the Winneshiek Playhouse in Freeport. And, sure enough, the story was true. But we are happy to report that it has already made the lengthy trip through our legal system, and according to Judici.com, she has already begun to pay the restitution ordered by the court. According to the documents we found, Enright embezzled $57,927.49 – a charge to which she pled guilty on December...
Every single High School student learns in their government class how a typical governing body is run. Yes, the process of sitting through a meeting can be boring, but it is effective – especially when followed correctly by a local government, school board or any other governing entity. Unfortunately, Freeport City Council member, Larry Sanders, is convinced that nobody should ever prepare the agenda other than the Council itself. And that Freeport, in particular, needs to elect a Chair, to...
The winter holidays can turn deadly as research shows that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year. While being aware of the signs of a heart attack and taking steps to reduce your risk are important all year long, the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of healthier lives for all, says that’s especially critical during the next few weeks. And, in rural communities, where EMS responses can be delayed and minutes matter, it’s important to be...
Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie was recently named a Prairie State Policy Champion by Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL). The award was given to key lawmakers from across the state who have been leading advocates on reining in government spending, easing Illinois' state tax burden, and protecting homeschoolers in the Land of Lincoln. Leader McCombie is honored to be recognized for her work advancing policies that help push Illinois forward. "I'm committed to delivering...
The Lena-Winslow Panthers have only had two games now, and in many cases, were lucky to survive their conference opener at Pearl City Tuesday night against a Wolves team that already had six games under their belt. “Hey I’ll take a win any way I can get it,” said head coach Mark Blakely. “We were missing some people, and struggled squaring up and finishing at the basket early, but both Miles Mahon and Brady White got hot.” Pearl City jumped out to the early 6-1 lead, in a game that...
The Warren Warriors have been the living definition of inconsistency so far this basketball season. They would win a well played game against a squad like Pearl City, only to go up against another squad like Galena and lay an egg. At the Eastland Shoot Out, the Warriors came out smoking against Hinckley Big Rock, only to implode after the first quarter and see the game get away from them. So, there was a bit of focus coming into their non-conference battle at home against the Durand Bulldogs,...
When Pearl City first hooked up against RR/SM at the Dakota Turkey Tournament, the Wolves played a strong contest and took advantage of bad Wildcat shooting to claim a one point win. Wednesday night in Pearl City was the rematch – but the outcome was vastly different. In the first three possessions of the game, Pearl City had three turnovers. But in their first three possessions of the game, RR/SM scored five points. PC head coach Chad Johnson burned two of his time outs in the first 3:05 of...
West Scales Mound 1 - 0 6 – 1 Warren 0 - 0 8 – 4 Galena 0 - 0 7 – 4 Stockton 0 - 0 3 – 4 East Dubuque 0 - 0 4 – 7 River Ridge 0 - 0 3 – 8 West Carroll 0 - 1 6 – 3 North Lena-Winslow 2 - 0 5 – 2 Dakota 1 - 0 8 – 1 Pecatonica 1 - 0 3 – 4 Durand 0 - 1 4 – 4 Forreston 0 - 1 3 – 5 Pearl City 0 - 1 5 – 7 Orangeville 0 - 1 2 – 10 South Eastland 0 - 0 7 – 1 Amboy 0 - 0 3 – 2 Polo 0 - 0 2 – 5 Milledgeville 0 - 0 3 – 7 Morrison 0 - 0 1 – 4 Fulton 0 - 0 1 – 6 AFC 0 - 0 1 – 10 Last Week’s Results North Boone 67...
Lena-Winslow/Stockton 59.0 Sherrard 12.0 113: Carson Hill (LWS) win by forfeit 120: Keller Otto (LWS) over Braiden Krahl (S) (Fall 5:02) 126: Brandon White (LWS) over Will Harland (S) (Fall 1:41) 132: Luke Werner (S) over David Prater (LWS) (Dec 11-10) 138: Mauricio Glass (LWS) win by forfeit 144: Arrison Bauer (LWS) win by forfeit 150: Andrew Knox (S) over Reece Demeter (LWS) (Dec 4-0) 157: Mark Detwiler (LWS) over Quinn Zimmerman (S) (Dec 8-1) 165: Sam Sikora (LWS) over Kaden Dutton (S) (Dec...
West East Dubuque 0 – 0 11 – 1 RR/SM 0 – 0 5 – 6 Warren 0 – 0 5 – 7 Galena 0 – 0 4 – 6 Stockton 0 – 0 4 – 7 West Carroll 0 – 0 3 – 9 North Dakota 2 – 0 5 – 2 Lena-Winslow 2 – 0 4 – 9 Pecatonica 1 – 0 8 – 3 Durand 1 – 1 6 – 4 Forreston 0 – 1 6 – 7 Orangeville 0 – 2 6 – 6 Pearl City 0 – 2 5 – 9 South Eastland 2 – 0 12 – 1 Polo 1 – 0 8 – 4 Fulton 1 – 0 5 – 3 Milledgeville 1 – 1 4 – 5 AFC 1 – 1 2 – 9 Amboy 0 – 2 5 – 5 Morrison 0 – 2 0 – 11 Last Week’s Results North...
No offense is intended to either the Eastland Lady Cougars or Galena Lady Pirates, but the non-conference battle they got caught up in last Monday night ... well ... calling it "basketball" would even be a bit of a stretch. Nursing a bad knee, and sitting out to give it some much needed rest, the Cougars were without their star – Trixie Carroll – for the first time this season, and it showed. Meanwhile, Galena has been hampered all season in waiting for their star – Leah Heller – to...
Robin Wilhelms Saar announced Cassandre R. Mlakar has been promoted to Senior Vice President, FSB Wealth Group. Cassandre joined FSB Wealth Group and First State Bank Shannon Polo-Lake Carroll in 2009. Mlakar helps clients across the country and is based in Northwest Illinois, providing comprehensive wealth management services, including: investment management, retirement planning, tax planning, charitable giving, and estate planning. Mlakar is affiliated with LPL Financial, the nation's...
Northwest Illinois Economic Development (NWILED) has announced their session line up for their 2026 BUILD IT GROW IT (BIGI) program, an entrepreneurial boot camp designed to empower aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs throughout Jo Daviess and Carroll counties and beyond. Now in its third year, the annual program offers a series of concentrated and accelerated seminars that help equip entrepreneurs with knowledge and skills to kick start their businesses, while also offering something new and substantial to more established business...
I’ve always loved Christmas. There again, what fat man doesn’t? I mean, the frosted cookies, the peanut butter balls, all of the candy – and I haven’t even gotten to what’s for dinner. But the other day, while sitting in my chair by myself one evening, the thought popped into my head – Which Christmas was my favorite? I think whenever we ask that question, the first thought that pops into our heads is from our childhood. Back when the girls were still in Elementary school, I know...
I recently had the pleasure of attending the Northern Illinois Council of Governments’ Legislative Luncheon. This annual meeting brings together eight state lawmakers from Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, and Stephenson counties, along with local leaders and stakeholders, to discuss regional issues and the state’s legislative agenda. I always appreciate opportunities to meet with the people I represent—Democrats, Republicans, and everyone in between. It matters when we can sit down in the same...
Christmas Traditions When I was a child, we never opened presents before Christmas morning. Some of my friends got to open theirs on Christmas Eve, but we always had to wait that extra sleepless night. Actually, we did open one present on Christmas Eve – a homemade one that we wrapped in old newspaper or brown paper bag wrapping. That may well be one of my most cherished traditions of all. There were 8 of us children in the family who exchanged gifts of all kinds, the only requirement was...
During the month of November, our fourth grade classes took the lead in organizing a schoolwide cereal drive to support our local food pantry-and the results were nothing short of extraordinary. Through the generosity and enthusiasm of students, families, and staff, the school collected an impressive 1,077 boxes of cereal. From planning and advertising to organizing donations, the fourth graders were involved every step of the way. Their leadership helped energize the entire school community...
I’ve been getting a lot of calls and texts in regard to people’s Pigskin Picks results, so figured I’d post them online here. With only one week left in the contest, the top 20 looks like this … 1 Jim Schiffman 203 M.E. Kaser Steve Grindey 4. Ken Buske 202 Steve Czerniak 6. Gregg Sowards 201 Tim Buske 8. Cal Wescott 200 David Schwartz Jan Shields 11. Bill Gerloff Jr 199 Sue Kuhlmyer Virginia Franke 14 Blaine Streckwald 198 Ed Pitterle Joan Kent Joe Hallstrom 18 Gregory Sager 197 19 Garrett Buske 196 Kathy...
There once was a teenage kid growing up in northwest Indiana, who was a good son who did all of his chores, rarely got into any serious trouble, did well in school, and his parents were both proud of him. But, while he often joined his family every Sunday for church, he had one serious issue when it came to his religious beliefs ... he had a hard time accepting Jesus as being the Son of God. "It just doesn't make sense," he would argue whenever the topic came up. "God could write a message in...
I’m not sure how old I was, but many, many years ago, I can remember sitting in our living room watching the local news on television with my parents when the weatherman announced to everyone that their radar had picked up a strange object over the Atlantic Ocean. Now, these were the days of really bad graphics, but they showed us a radar screen with a small black silhouette of Santa in his sleigh being pulled by reindeer. I mean, it was obvious what it was, but the weatherman kept saying,...
Wednesday, December 17 In 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieve the first successful powered, controlled flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Thursday, December 18 In 1865, Secretary of State William Seward proclaimed the adoption of the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in the U.S. Friday, December 19 In 1777, George Washington's army reached Valley Forge for winter quarters; Thomas Paine published his first "American Crisis" essay. Saturday, December 20 In 1946, The film It's a Wonderful Life premiered in New York to mixed reviews....
Pearl City Joyce E. Kempel, 83 Joyce E. Kempel, age 83, of Pearl City, IL passed away Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at home. She was born in Freeport, IL on April 11, 1942 to the late Orville and Mae Ellen (Baumgartner) Barkow. Joyce married Terry Kempel on February 2, 1963 in Fort Gordon, GA. She was a 1960 graduate of Pearl City High School and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pearl City where she was active in the Women’s groups. Joyce worked as a Dietary Aide for Parkview. She was great in the kitchen and no one ever left... Full story
