Ken Leonard named USA Today High School Sports Awards Boys National Coach of the Year. Coach Leonard won over 400 games
@SHGFootball1
. He retired after the 2022 season.
#SJRBreaking
@YaleLawSch
professor
@mearest
conferred valedictorian honor from Springfield (Ill.) that eluded her in 1984. Scholarship at SIU School of Medicine also named in her honor.
#SJRBreaking
A plaque commemorating Pres. Obama’s run for the White House and his selection of Joe Biden as VP is now up at the Old State Capitol in Spfld, Ill. Dedication Wednesday.
#SJRbreaking
Legendary
@SHGFootball1
coach Ken Leonard, who retired after the 2022 season as the winningest HS football coach in Illinois history, joins the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame Monday. Induction ceremony is at the Bank of Springfield Center.
Springfield, Illinois! Sixteen years ago today, Barack Obama announces his presidential run on the Old Capitol Plaza. Signs on the plaza commemorate that day, along with his announcement of Joe Biden as his running mate.
Condolences to the family of former Illinois Senate Democratic staffer Nia Odeoti-Hassan, who passed away.
@bschoenburg
wrote that Sen. Emil Jones Jr., got her to stay on staff to work with new state Sen. Barack Obama. “I think he’s going places,” Jones told Odeoti-Hassan.
Tracey Meares gets valedictorian title at Springfield High School, an honor denied her in 1984.
@schooldist186
Supt. Jennifer Gill makes presentation following premiere of documentary No Title for Tracey.
#SJRBreaking
On June 16, 1858, Abraham Lincoln delivered this speech right here in Springfield, Ill. 'A house divided against itself, cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half slave and half free...'
Louise Harrison died Monday. She was the sister of Beatle George Harrison & lived in Benton, Ill., where he visited in 1963 before the Beatles hit it big in the U.S. She was a promoter of the band here and a southern IL station became the first to play their records regularly.
Protesters in front of the county building in Springfield, Illinois, on Friday morning. They are in part calling for the release body cam footage, involving the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey at the hands of sheriff’s deputies at her home last Saturday.
Learning about the passing today of Allan Metcalf, a scholar of English and author and the former executive secretary of the American Dialect Society. In that role, he was often quoted for the 'word of the year.' He was also journalism prof at MacMurray College.
#SJRBreaking
How cool is this? At 99, Evelyn Brandt Thomas (one of Brandt's founders) is the official starter for Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona.
@J_Allagaier
is in the No. 7 car in the race, which airs on FS1. Brandt Thomas is the 2022
@SJRbreaking
First Citizen.
James Wilburn, the father of Sonya Massey, said, without bodycam footage, the
@Sang_Sheriff
’s department would have ‘lied its way’ out of the case. Wilburn again called Sheriff Jack Campbell to resign. Massey was fatally shot in her home on July 6.
#SJRBreaking
What can one say? It breaks my heart to see Justin go. One of the smartest, most insightful, most talented and most caring individuals I know, ever known. The conscience of The State Journal-Register.
Words fail this writer.
-30-
As we near the finish line for 2021 I gathered some of my favorite images for the State Journal-Register's Year in Photos. This one is bittersweet as it will be my last, my time State Journal-Register is coming to an end. 🧵1/4
An incredible experience working with the talented
@USATODAY
team these past couple of weeks on the Sonya Massey story. Springfield, Ill., is my community. Sonya Massey is the most important story I've covered in 40+ years of reporting. I hope we continue to deliver.
#SJRBreaking
A touching tribute as Bob Vose’s funeral procession goes by the site of the family’s corn dog stand at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Wednesday.
#SJRbreaking
Mike Chamness, former State Journal-Register sports editor, before induction ceremonies for the Springfield Sports Hall of Fame Monday. Chamness was inducted as a Friend of Sport.
#SJRbreaking
Ken Leonard, who retired after leading Springfield's
@SHGFootball1
to a sixth state championship, is a candidate for the USA Today High School Sports Awards National Coach of the Year. The winners will be announced at 7 p.m. Sunday.
.
@UISedu
cross country & track and field assistant coach and Springfield firefighter Tyler Pence competes in the U.S Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando on Saturday. It will be his second time competing in the trials. The race will be streamed live on Peacock.
#SJRBreaking
My profile of K.C. Chiefs asst. coach Brendan Daly from Springfield, Ill. (
@SHGCyclones
) through the eyes of his family. Do not make your Super Bowl wagers based on this story.
#SJRBreaking
Sacred Heart-Griffin HS principal Kara Rapacz to the graduating class of 2021: You will go down in history as the class that accomplished the unthinkable.
#SJRBreaking
If you saw the 'Muffler Men' episode on
@CBSSunday
this morning, you briefly saw this indelible image from The State Journal-Register. This is from the SJ-R's coverage of the 2006 tornado that struck Springfield, Ill.
#SJRBreaking
About 50 to 60 people gathered at the Springfield NAACP building where the family of Sonya Massey is expected to view the body cam footage of her July 6 shooting.
#SJRBreaking
Sam Montalbano has passed away. A stalwart around Little Flower parish and the SHG Mostaccioli Dinner, Sam long organize the Veterans Day parade in downtown Springfield. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as a demolition man. RIP
How about the work of
@DeanOlsen
,
@BenSzalinski
, Zach Roth and
@justinlfowler
covering the Illinois legislature for The State Journal-Register in some trying circumstances this week. Well done!
One hour after the Black Lives Matter car procession stepped off in Spfld, Ill., the parking lot at Ninth and Adams street is still full. Route has been lengthened. Estimates by SPD of between 3,000-4,000 vehicles taking part.
#SJRBreaking
Bob Vose’s funeral procession is coming by the Illinois State Fairgrounds Wednesday morning. There is a memorial to the longtime Korndog King and former Springfield city council member who died last week.
#SJRbreaking
It's Ron Riggle Day at
@loggerbaseball
on Friday. Riggle, the head baseball coach and athletic director at
@LincolnLand
, ends a 34-year coaching career this season. He has 700+ wins and nine players under him have advanced to play professional baseball.
#SJRBreaking
That's Olympic sprinter
@itsgabbyt
after her win in the 200 in Paris Tuesday. At the far right (giving the peace sign), Springfield, Ill., folks will remember sprinter Kahlil Wassell from New Berlin. He and Thomas were at Harvard University at the same time. H/t
@DaveKaneSJR
.
Two former Springfield, Ill. high school players were part of the
@JALCollege
team that won the NJCAA national basketball tournament: James Dent of Southeast & K.J. Debrick of Lanphier. Representing
@schooldist186
.
#SJRbreaking
Bob Vose's granddaughter told
@SJRbreaking
that Vose's funeral procession on Mar. 1 will go through the Illinois State Fairgrounds where Vose has had a concession stand since 1966. The 'Korndog King' died Monday at age 94. He formerly served on the Springfield city council.
Reid Detmers of Chatham Glenwood to the Los Angeles Angels with the 10th pick in the MLB Draft. Pitched at the University of Louisville. Third player from the Springfield area to be picked in the first round and second from Glenwood.
#SJRBreaking
Springfield's Kenni Burns (
@SHGFootball1
) reportedly headed to Kent State as head coach. He is running backs coach at Minnesota. He played collegiately at Indiana.
#SJRbreaking
Are there two harder working newspaper people in the area than
@brendenmoore13
and
@justinlfowler
? Agreed, good to work with Justin one more time and always nice to see Brenden. Happy landings!
The
#IL99
House District appointment also happened to be
@justinlfowler
’s last assignment for
@SJRbreaking
. It was my privilege to work alongside him one last time. Godspeed, my friend!
A copy of the Gettysburg Address, written out by President Abraham Lincoln, will on display at the
@ALPLM
on Nov. 18 thru Nov. 28. Lincoln delivered the two-minute-or-so speech on Nov. 19, 1863. The ALPLM's copy has been owned by the state since 1944.
#SJRbreaking
Meanwhile, in Springfield, Ill.: Today’s concert is canceled. The carillonist got stuck for over half an hour in the 10 degrees F cold elevator. He was just rescued by the Springfield fire department and is currently trying to get his body temperature back to normal.
Staunton Schools Superintendent Dan Cox, who becomes Rochester's new superintendent on July 1, gets a shout-out from Gov. Pritzker Friday at his COVID-19 briefing.
#SJRBreaking
District 186 president Scott McFarland: you have the IDPH and the IHSA. "Only one of them employs an epidemiologist," McFarland said, siding with the IDPH guidelines concerning basketball.
#SJRBreaking
Meet your Grand Champion Steer, Bill, from Atkinson, Ill. Shown by Kashen Ellerbrock ahead of the Governor’s Sale of Champions at the
@ILStateFair
#SJRBreaking
If you read one thing about the Sonya Massey protests, read this from organizer Tiara Standage: "There's all kinds of people protesting for the justice of Sonya Massey. It's not a race thing, it's not a gender thing, it's not a sexual orientation thing. It's a justice thing."
The University of North Georgia (UNG) and Zachary Hawkinson (
@SHGCyclones
) are headed to the NCAA Division II men's basketball championship, which starts March 26 in Evansville, Indiana. North Georgia faces West Texas A&M in the first round.
#SJRBreaking
Very pleased and honored to interview Aaron Schneider, director of the new Tom Hanks movie Greyhound. Aaron is a native of Springfield, Ill. We talk all things Springfield & what it's like to work with Mr. Hanks. Check out for the story Sun.
#SJRBreaking
Chicago is a fitting cap to
@POTUS
’s political career. In 2008, in Springfield, Ill., 200 miles to the south,
@BarackObama
introduced Biden as his vice presidential running mate.
#SJRBreaking
Greg Bishop (
@BishopOnAir
) leaving his 6 to 9 a.m. show on WMAY. He said he will devote more time to Center Square and Illinois Radio Network. In his announcement Wednesday, Bishop reiterated he wasn't fired. Last day on the air in that capacity is Friday.
#SJRBreaking
Gettysburg Address delivered by President Abraham Lincoln 160 years ago today, four and a half months after the Battle of Gettysburg.
@ALPLM
's 'Everett Copy' of the address is on display until Nov. 28 in Springfield, Ill.
Former Springfield Mayor Karen Hasara, the city's first female mayor, was named a recipient of the Order of Lincoln by Gov. JB Pritzker. It is the state’s highest honor for professional achievement and public service. The convocation is at the State Capitol Apr. 29.
#SJRbreaking
If the new development agreement gets passed by the Springfield (Ill.) City Council on Apr. 18, construction will begin within 90 days. The 'sweet spot' for beginning is May 15-June 15.
#SJRbreaking
Illinois Press Association President and CEO Don Craven references Elijah Lovejoy in his letter to the Marion (Kansas) Police Chief over the recent raid of the Marion County Record. Strong stuff.
FB post from Routt Catholic in Jacksonville IL: school is canceling sports and extracurricular events scheduled for weekend "due to unforeseen circumstances. In this holiday season please remember to keep all family, friends and loved ones in your thoughts & prayers.
#SJRbreaking
There is a book sale and signing by Ken and Derek Leonard at Knights of Columbus
#364
, 2200 S. Meadowbrook Rd. in Springfield from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 2. Proceeds from the sale will benefit FCA.
#SJRBreaking
'We just thank God for being alive today.' On March 12, 2006, two F-2 struck Springfield, Ill., damaging businesses, homes, radio towers and school buses. The tornadoes caused 24 injuries, including 19 in Springfield, but no fatalities.
Springfield, Ill. and Atlanta, Ill. featured on a CBS-TV segment Sunday on fiberglass 'Muffler Men.' That's Mark Lauterbach talking about the Lauterbach Man at his tire shop on Wabash Avenue.
That’s Jamarion Bardwell of
@SHGCyclones
being recognized by the
@Springfield_IL
at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Bardwell won the IHSA 2A triple jump with a personal best.
#SJRBreaking
David Joens, Director of the Illinois State Archives, wrote the text for the plaque commemorating the launch of President Obama’s White House run. It stands on the SE corner of the Old State Capitol Plaza in Springfield, Ill. Dedication is Wednesday.
#SJRbreaking
On a day, when there was a pretrial hearing for a former sheriff’s deputy accused of murdering a Black mother of two in Springfield, Illinois, I am covering the first day of a trial of a DCFS worker who was murdered. She was also a Black woman and a mother of two children.
Sangamon County Department of Public Health announced Wednesday that bars and restaurants can operate for indoor dining at 25% capacity beginning Sunday. Operation hours are 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
#SJRBreaking
Cafe Moxo is now 'closed indefinitely,' according to a post from owner Mark Forinash. It was just west of the scene of a fire in the 400 block of East Adams Street in downtown Springfield Wednesday afternoon.
#SJRBreaking
Shouts of Justice for. Earl at a unity march in Springfield Illinois.Earl Moore Jr. was a homicide victim on December 18. Two EMS workers of been charged first-degree murder.
#SJRbreaking
Sangamon County Board member Marc Ayers calls for
@Sang_Sheriff
Jack Campbell's resignation after the Sonya Massey shooting by former deputy: 'We're human beings before we're county board members, and if this doesn't rattle you to your core, I don't know what will.'
#SJRBreaking
Tim Wilkerson of Springfield won the Funny Car competition at the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK Performance in Joliet on Sunday.
#SJRBreaking