Mater Dei girls golf squad heading to State meet
- Details
- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor and Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Regional champs - The Mater Dei girls golf team won the Class A Regional at Governors Run Golf Course in Carlyle. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON The Mater Dei Lady Knights keep crossing unchartered waters with their first-ever regional and sectional crowns last week as they will venture to Decatur this weekend to participate in the Class 1A State meet at Red Tail Run Golf Course on Friday and Saturday. Central did not qualify as a team, but senior Maya Kampwerth advanced as an individual after she was runner-up with a round of 75.
Class 1A Roxana Sectional: The Mater Dei Lady Knights continued to rewrite the girls record book at MD with their first ever sectional title on Monday at Belk Park in Roxana.
Eighth place - Mater Dei sophomore Chloe Musenbrock tied for eighth place during the girls golf regional at Governors Run Golf Course in Carlyle. PHOTO BY MATT WILSON Mater Dei won the event with ease, shooting a 316 which was 18 shots better than Okawville who also advanced. Alton Marquette was the third and final qualifier with a 341. Central was in seventh with a 352.
Mater Dei had a pair of golfers with fine showings with seniors Abilene Winkeler and Finley Meyer each carding 77s for a fourth-place effort. Winkeler birdied hole six while Meyer birdied hole one and 11.
Sophomore Bryn Winkeler was 12th overall with an 80 while Chloe Musenbrock was in 19th with an 82. Elena Winter was 61st with a 93.
Central senior Maya Kampwerth will advance to the state meet in Decatur as she was second overall with a 75, one shot behind the leader. Kampwerth had birdies on holes seven, nine, 10 and 13 as she advanced as an individual.
City of Breese hosts second town hall meeting for proposed nature amphitheater at park
- Details
- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Breese Mayor Kevin Timmermann speaks during the second town hall meeting on Sept. 30 at the Breese American Legion Photo by Matt Wilson The City of Breese hosted their second town hall meeting for the proposed new Breese Nature Park Amphitheater on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Breese American Legion.
The City of Breese is applying for an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help fund the proposed amphitheater that will be placed at Northside Park. The City of Breese is required to have three town hall meetings as part of the OSLAD grant application.
The proposed nature amphitheater will replace the old stage at Northside Park that had to be condemned due to structural concerns.
The first town hall meeting was in August and was well attended. The second town hall meeting gave more description and drawings of the proposed amphitheater.
The proposed amphitheater will be an all inclusive, ADA-compliant outdoor performance venue designed to provide equitable access and participation for individuals of all ages and abilities. It would be the location for various community organizations, center stage for Christmas festivities and community theater productions.
Cost for the entire project is $1,254,500. The City is Breese is applying for a 50% OSLAD grant.
The dimensions of the stage area are 50 feet by 60 feet and 40 feet by 40 feet is covered roof. The ADA ramps are in the back of the stage.
There will be a back elevation and a side elevation. There is a 16-foot clearance in the front of the stage and a 12-foot clearance in the back.
The area will feature native plant beds to provide food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife and help enhance the natural environment. There will be bio-swales and a rain garden for stormwater management, native plant beds for conservation and habitat, tree planting plan and educational signage.
The existing parking area will be oiled and chipped and they are going to try and put a concrete parking lot in the area.
Whispering Pines hosts Veterans Appreciation Day
- Details
- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
Angie Zahn speaks during Veterans Appreciation Day on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Whispering Pines of Clinton County. Whispering Pines of Clinton County (WPofCC) honored all veterans and their families with a Veterans Appreciation Day ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 4.
Angie Zahn and Greg Riechman were the keynote speakers.
Zahn talked about the book "The Van of Valor," which is a nationwide mobile memorial project created by Dr. Kevin Wallace and Lauren Wallace to record and preserve stories of sacrifice from Purple Heart recipients and Gold Star families across the United States. The Wallaces are taking the next step in preserving the stories and are creating longer versions of those stories that will help bring the people and their experiences more fully to light.
"They didn't simply collect these stories and put them on a shelf," Zahn said. "They are making sure these stories live on."
Zahn encouraged all veterans to tell their stories. She said veterans are sometimes scared to tell their stories because it takes them back to a place that they don't want to revisit. And the Vietnam veterans came back to a country that wasn't always ready or willing to listen.
Greg Riechman addresses the crowd during the Veterans Appreciation Day ceremony at Whispering Pines of Clinton County. "Telling stories is a cure, but it is something that anyone shouldn't be forced to do," Zahn said. "But sometimes being heard can be very important. That is why projects like 'Van of Valor' matter. They don't just preserve history, they preserve people. They remind us that history isn't simply a date in a textbook."
About 2.7 million Americans served in Vietnam. Fewer than an estimated 850,000 are still alive. Zahn said every time we lose one of those veterans without hearing their story, we lost a witness to history.
"I want all of the veterans to tell their stories when they are ready," Zahn said. "They don't all have to be about combat. Talk about the friends you made. Tell us about what made you laugh. Tell us about the worst food you ever ate."
Zahn told the families to listen. They don't have to have the perfect response and sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone who shared a story they have been carrying for decades is to simply say "thank you for trusting me with that."
Riechman said the day was about honoring the veterans who stood watch when our nation needed them, sacrificed time and family, endured hardships and accepted risks so that our freedoms remain secure.
Veterans and their families stand to receive gifts during Veterans Appreciation Day at Whispering Pines of Clinton County. Photos by Matt Wilson Riechman also recognized the veterans' families.
"Behind every veteran is an extensive support system of spouses, parents, children, siblings and friends," Riechman said. "We thank all of them for their unwavering love and support."
Riechman said everyone should listen to veterans' stories, learn from their experiences and ensure they know that their service mattered. All veterans and their family members stood and were given an ovation.
"I ask you to always not only remember the service, but remember the families that are behind that," Riechman said.
Following lunch, the veterans listened to music by Orzo Miller and took tours of the WPofCC property.
There are other upcoming events at Whispering Pines.
The Hunters' Prayer service is on Sunday, Oct. 11, starting at noon. The Disabled American Veterans women's retreat is Oct. 9-11. There will be a craft and vendor fair on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. They have 30 vendors signed up for the event. The annual raffle will be on Nov. 11 following the Veterans Day parade in Breese.
The Enduring Freedom event at Kaskaskia College is on Tuesday, Nov. 10. The event starts with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and that will be followed by a program
There will be a virtual honor flight on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. at Standin' Proud Museum in Bartelso.
Page 2 of 3
