District 12 teacher named 2027 Illinois Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
Breese District 12 teacher Sandra Jansen, 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year, is pictured with (from left) Robert Gerstenecker, Clinton County AITC Committee; Jansen; Brad Conant, Clinton County Farm Bureau manager; Susan Kleiboeker, Clinton County AITC coordinator; Kevin Daugherty with Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, and two students holding the banner — Manning Petterson (left) and Keegan Agin (right). A Breese Elementary School teacher received quite the surprise Friday afternoon when she learned she had been named the 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) Teacher of the Year.
Sandra Jansen of Breese District 12 Elementary School was selected for the statewide honor in recognition of her dedication to inspiring and engaging students through agricultural education.
Jansen, who teaches social studies, was surprised Friday afternoon with a special celebration that included third- and fourth-grade students, her family, and representatives from the Clinton County Farm Bureau and Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom.
Students were in on the surprise, cheering and congratulating Jansen as she received the recognition.
Breese District 12 teacher Sandra Jansen is pictured with her family when she was announced as the 2027 Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Teacher of the Year. "I'm still in shock," Jansen said. "I'm a little overwhelmed. I wasn't ready for this."
For Jansen, agriculture is more than just an occasional classroom lesson. It is something she incorporates into her teaching on a regular basis, helping students understand the important role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.
"We do a lot of talking about agriculture in the classroom," Jansen said.
Carlyle Animal Hospital breaks ground on new facility
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- Written by: Matt Wilson - Breese Journal Reporter
There was a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Carlyle Animal Hospital on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2027. Photo by Matt Wilson Carlyle Animal Hospital staff took the first step toward the building of their new facility on William Road in Carlyle on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
They hosted a ground-breaking ceremony for their new facility. After a rainy morning, the skies cleared and the sun was shining for the ground-breaking.
"This is a super exciting day for us," Carlyle Animal Hospital owner Michelle Scott said. "I'm really glad the weather cleared up and it turned into a great day. My family is in town to support me on this adventure."
Construction has already started and dirt is being moved. The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2027.
The property has access to an enterprise zone fund and Tax Incentive Financing funds. That is making it possible for Scott to move forward with the project and bring the new facility to Carlyle.
The building will be a little over 5,000 square feet. It will be exclusively veterinary services and there will be no boarding or grooming.
Carlyle Animal Hospital currently is located on Ridge Street. Scott said the business has been so successful that they need a bigger space.
Clinton County to be represented by all four schools in the IHSA playoffs
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Playoff bound — Wesclin senior running back Landyn Kerns runs upfield in the Warriors’ 43-8 victory over Madison on Friday. Kerns was strong for the Warriors with eight carries for 91 yards in the Warriors’ second win of the season. PHOTO BY BETH HOLLENKAMP For the first time since Wesclin started football in 2003, all four Clinton County football teams have punched a ticket into their respective classes into the IHSA football playoffs.
For this season, the IHSA increased the total qualifiers from 256 football teams to 384 that make the playoffs, allowing two-win teams to qualify.
In Class 4A, the Central Cougars earned a bye after a 42-16 win at Herrin ended their regular season at 8-1 and earned them a 5-seed. They will play next weekend against the winner of the Alton Marquette at Metamora game at 7 p.m. this Friday.
In Class 3A, the Mater Dei Knights clinched a playoff spot, despite dropping their regular-season finale, 40-0 at Mt. Zion. The Knights come in at 5-4 and the 20-seed while they will travel to the 13-seeded Sparta Bulldogs on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs enter the game at 7-2.
Great season — Mater Dei wide receiver Bentley Nicklin and the Knights enter the Class 3A playoff on Saturday when they travel to Sparta for a 3 p.m. kickoff. Nicklin is third in the Metro-East area in receiving. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The cinderella story of the field is the Carlyle Indians, coming off an 0-9 campaign, earned a home game after beating Alton Marquette on Friday. The Indians are 6-3 and are the 14-seed. They will host the 19-seed Nokomis on Saturday at 1 p.m.
In Class 2A, Wesclin got their second win of the season with a road rout over Madison on Friday to punch their ticket as they will play at Chester who is 5-4. They will tango on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Central 42, Herrin 16: The Cougars clinched their opening-round bye, with a rout over the host Tigers on Friday night.
The Cougars wasted no time, getting the opening kick for once and needing just one play to reach the scoreboard when junior Owen Kehrer hit senior Alex Athmer on a 62-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead after the Athmer PAT.
The Cougars added to that lead a couple possessions later when junior Manny Velazquez crossed from 16 yards out for a 14-0 lead with 3:07 left in the opening 12.
After the Cougars’ defense forced a punt, the Cougars got on the board when Kehrer connected with Cole Huegen on a 23-yard touchdown completion and a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Ending strong — Central wide receiver Cole Huegen and the Cougars ended the regular season with a 42-16 win at Herrin on Friday. The Cougars earned the five-seed in the Class 4A State playoffs and received an opening-round bye. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Cougars’ special teams got in on the fun when Payne Lynch got a punt block and set the Cougars’ offense up in prime scoring position late in the half.
Central cashed it in when Velazquez ran it in from two yards out with just 50 seconds left as Central led 28-0 at the half. Kehrer was strong with 167 yards passing in the opening 24 minutes.
The Cougars’ bench got in on the scoring fun in the third quarter when Kylr Shirley crossed from eight yards out for a 35-0 lead with 7:32 left.
The Tigers solved the Central defense on their next drive when Kainon Boyer ran in from 75 yards out to get the game within 35-8 with 7:19 remaining.
Central expanded the lead four minutes later when August Reeves rambled in from two yards out to lead the contest 42-8 with 3:44 left in the third quarter.
Herrin got the final score of the contest when Rylan Lattuada ran the ball 60 yards for a touchdown to end the scoring with a 42-16 win for Central.
Kehrer was 14-of-23 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Athmer had four catches for 94 yards while Carson Weber made four grabs for 53 yards.
Cooper Martin had five carries for 32 yards while Velazquez had five carries for 56 yards and two scores. The Cougars had 205 yards on the ground and 215 through the air for 420 yards of offense.
Lynch had seven tackles and a punt block while Liam Koetting added six tackles with one for a loss.
Two scores — Central junior running back Manny Velazquez ran in for two touchdowns in the Cougars’ 42-16 win over Herrin on Friday night. The Cougars ended the regular season with an 8-1 record and a bye in the opening round. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO Mt. Zion 40, Mater Dei 0: The Knights were their own worst enemy on the road Friday night with six turnovers in the loss.
Mater Dei owned the time of possession in the contest with 31:12 while the Braves had the ball for 21:15. MD had 158 yards of total offense compared to 372 for the home squad.
The Braves had 189 yards rushing while they added 183 passing with just one turnover in the victory.
Mater Dei took the opening drive for an eight play drive with the aide of a roughing the punter call. The Knights had a bad snap that ended the drive.
Mt. Zion needed five plays before Noah Schmahl found Sam Toth to the right for a 37-yard completion for a 7-0 lead with 5:53 left in the opening frame.
Mater Dei had an offensive pass interference stall their second drive before Mt. Zion answered with another scoring drive.
The Braves needed two plays before Schmahl connected with Jaxon Good for a 65-yard touchdown to the right side for a 14-0 lead with 3:57 left in the quarter.
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