Campaign for Hope

Children are entertained by deaf puppeteer Rebecca Muzzarelli and Joy, her hard of hearing puppet, while watching the Jacksonville High School drumline perform during the Campaign for Hope at Jefferson School in Jacksonville. Children’s activities, food and nationally known hip-hop artist Bone Crusher were all a part of the event, which was an effort to increase awareness of the importance of being an organ donor. The campaign combined its efforts with the Central Illinois chapter of Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network to put on the celebration. June 22, 2011

Cheer up!

Members of the Turner Junior High School cheerleading team support Taylor Ervin during the squad’s practice.  Coach Emily West said the team is preparing for its trip to cheer camp later this summer. June 22, 2011

TIred out

Dalton Schippel (from left), Max Willner, Tommy Schiell and Thomas Coats help lift a tire during the Team Speed sports enhancement program at Turner Junior High School in Jacksonville. Team Rehab athletic trainer Kris Schwiderski said lifting the tires is great for the participants mainly because it’s an all-body strength workout. June 22, 2011

Blocked

Blaize Stewart (left) attempts to block an attack by Jake Lonergan during a game of sand volleyball at the Moose Lodge in Jacksonville. June 21, 2011.

Deep Trouble

More than six inches of heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding around the Jacksonville area last weekend. Dozens of Jacksonville residents were evacuated from their homes and the damage has been extensive.  The city is still under a strict boil order since the water treatment plant flooded, leaving the water supply contaminated.  The following photos are part of the Journal Courier's flood coverage.  

 

 

 

  

    

 

All-Stars

The North's Blake Luttrell, of Auburn, looks toward the South's quarterback during the 23rd Annual West Central Illinois All-Star Football Game at Illinois College. June 18, 2011.

Setting up camp

Erik Kuhn of the 6th Illinois Dismounted Cavalry Regiment stokes a fire next to his camp on the opening evening of Gen. Benjamin Grierson Days in Jacksonville's Community Park. June 17, 2011

Achieving full hydration

Jacob Atwood, 12, guides his bicycle through a wall of water coming from an open fire hydrant along East Lafayette Avenue in Jacksonville. Firefighter Brian Gillespie of the Jacksonville Fire Department, who was testing hydrants, said the department will be doing regular tests throughout the summer. June 16, 2011

In Sight

The following images were taken during a Murrayville Youth League game at Wright Athletic Field in Murrayville. June 16, 2011

The rain in the Plains

Junior Birdsell drives his Minneapolis-Moline tractor through a patch of grass flooded from the previous night's rainfall at his family's business, Birdsell's Machine Shop & Ornamental Iron on West Independence Avenue in Jacksonville. June 15, 2011

Renovation ready

Trey Pellerin carries a ladder up a back staircase at the Illinois Theater in Jacksonville. Pellerin, who has worked at the theater for nearly two years, was stripping old paint and clearing trash in preparation for renovations and expansion of the theater expected to take place later this summer and into fall. June 15, 2011.

 

Inspecting the damage

Larry Brennan (left) and Jeremy Young of Stewart's Auto Body inspect a Dodge minivan that rolled over on Old State Road outside of Jacksonville. The driver, Herbert Smith, 71, of Meredosia, was reported to have fallen asleep or suffered from a medical problem which caused him to leave the roadway. He was taken to Passavant Area Hospital where he was treated and released. June 14, 2011

Pre-season prep

Logan Carter dives across the goal to block a shot while practicing with his brother at Community Park in Jacksonville. Logan, a junior at Jacksonville High School, will be returning to the soccer team later in the fall. June 10, 2011

Camp Invention

Brody Stambaugh braces himself before being splashed by a bucket of water during Camp Invention at Jacksonville High School. Students were gathered together outside to observe a recent game invention by area resident Eric Davis. The game utilized Alka-Seltzer tablets that would dissolve after being sprayed with water. The last player to dissolve his or her tablet would be dunked with a bucket of water connected to the other player's PVC pipe. This year, 75 local students gathered at the high school for the week-long event which allowed them to experience hands-on, creative learning and problem-solving activities. June 11, 2011

T-bird inspection

Judge Richard Lyons inspects the front of a 1966 Ford Thunderbird during the Plaza Car Show on the square in Jacksonville. The Thunderbird is owned by Terry and Dusty Fletcher of Jacksonville. The event was held by the Heart of Jacksonville organization. June 11, 2011

Sweet stuff

Penny Austin uses a cone to collect cotton candy during the second annual House of Worship Community Outreach BBQ in Jacksonville. June 11, 2011

Taking direction

Josh Stewart helps direct a blindfolded Lily Little, 6, through an obstacle course meant to resemble downtown New York City traffic Friday during the final day of Vacation Bible School at Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville. The children's day of recreation was fittingly titled “Big Apple Adventure” and also included a lifesize memory game featuring iconic NYC symbols. June 10, 2011

Horse Rescuer

Earlier this spring I worked on a special project for the Journal Courier's supplement "Modern Farmer" tab that we produce twice a year.  This issue focused on the Central Illinois Horse Rescue organization founded by Steve Alexander in 2003.  The rescue center, based at Alexander's Roodhouse, Ill. home, accepts and reassigns horses that have been confiscated due to neglect, abuse or some other form of detriment to the animal's well-being.  After the government takes possession and relinquishes the horses to Alexander, it is the job of CIHR to find suitable foster homes and monitor their progress. CIHR does not take a salary for their work, and 100% of the donations received go towards rehabilitating the horses.

-The following photos were taken at Alexander's home in rural Roodhouse, Ill. 

                                    

     

  

Demanding defense

Jacksonville's Taten Griffith blocks a strike from Jatre Harris at the Beatdown at the Bowl II mixed martial arts event in Jacksonville. Harris, also of Jacksonville, later won the match and remains undefeated. June 4, 2011

TKO

Jessie Crosby rejoices after defeating Jacksonville's Brandon Hatfield at the Beatdown at the Bowl II mixed martial arts event in Jacksonville. Crosby, from Chicago, won his bout in the first round on a TKO. June 4, 2011.

Water slide

Shaun Stone, 8, slides into a pool of water after a water gun fight with neighborhood friends in the backyard of an East College Avenue residence in Jacksonville. June 4, 2011

Animal Contol

Alanda White is pulled back by a neighbor after having a heated argument with Lyle Walker, senior warden for Morgan County Animal Control alongside police officers at her residence near the corner of West Lafayette Avenue and North Fayette Street in Jacksonville.  Both Jacksonville Police and Animal Control were called to the residence after reports came in that Alanda's pet pit bull was running loose in the neighborhood. June 2, 2011

Pool prep

CJ Northrop applies a final layer of non-slip coating paint to the children’s section of Nichols Park Pool in Jacksonville in preparation for opening day. June 1, 2011

The leaguers

Jacksonville's Drew Lacy runs the bases with his fellow teammates during a little league game — Mets vs. Pirates — on the grounds of the Jacksonville Developmental Center.

Super-Sectional

The following photos are from the Hardin Calhoun softball team's 4-2 Super-Sectional victory over Griggsville in Raymond, Ill.  May 30, 2011

"Rockets lose heartbreaker"

The following photos are from Routt High School's sectional final game against Hartsburg-Emden in Virginia, Ill. Routt was seeking its fourth straight sectional title, but unfortunately couldn't continue the record this year. May 28, 2011

He's No. 1

Matt Newton lifts his arms in celebration after finishing first in the 5k during the 2011 Passavant-Powerade 5k and 10k race in Jacksonville. Newton is a 2011 graduate of Jacksonville High School. May 28, 2011.

Hail, yes!

A large piece of hail lands in a patch of ivy during an afternoon storm in Jacksonville. May 28, 2011

Off road

An abandoned Ford F100 Custom rests beside an old building still displaying a Myers Brothers sign Thursday along Illinois 78 in Jacksonville.

Out of reach

Jacksonville's Rudy Pate watches the ball bounce away after failing to make a catch during the regional game against Chatham Glenwood. 

The watering hole

Lexi Lane, 7, lifts up Levi Pyland, 2, so he can reach the spout of a drinking fountain at Godfrey Park in Jacksonville. May 27, 2011. 

To the rescue

Illinois College student Joe Gaines pulls his instructor Dee Arendt from the water during a Lifeguard Challenge re-certification course at the YMCA pool in Jacksonville. The Challenge is a test of the skills taught in the Lifeguard Training course involving a written examination as well as a set of different rescue scenarios and techniques. May 26, 2011