In 43 years covering high school football, the past 40 as sports editor at the BCR, Kevin Hieronymus has learned there’s a lot to watch for and hear from the sidelines.

There’s been a familiar voice for Annawan-Wethersfield football fans for nearly half a century. Rod Jackson of Mineral started doing the PA for Annawan in 1978 and picked up the same duties with the A-W co-op in 2008 and has been doing it ever since, 46 years and counting.

"Illinois has taken a major step to protect individuals and families from the financial shock that too often follows a medical emergency," writes Kim Godden of the Illinois State Ambulance Association

It was on Tieman's very first day as the Hall football head coach, Aug. 8, 2012, that the Red Devils and the Hall community suffered the unimaginable loss of Hall junior Daniel Lule.

Danny Kolb retired nine years before his son, Korbyn, 8, was born and wanted to give his son a taste of what his big league baseball career was like. He got got that opportunity in the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers’ stadium on July 25.

We all know one or two. There is an endless number of “Rynes” out there, young boys and middle-aged men alike, born to Cubs fans named after their parents’ favorite Cub, Ryne Sandberg. There's Ryne Vrana, Ryne Muehlschlegel, Ryne Bird, Ryne Chlum, Ryne Birkey just to name a few.

Former Bureau Valley golfer Justin Van Landuit, who was diagnosed with Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy at age 33, recently played in the U.S. Adaptive Open for golfers with disabilities.

This year’s state budget once again provides only $4.5 million in operational funding for the state’s 97 Soil and Water Conservation Districts – comparable to levels from the 1990s.

Illinois Farm Bureau has long championed new and diverse market opportunities while fighting to eliminate trade barriers that hinder the agricultural economy of Illinois and the nation.