Clinton County Relay For Life this Friday at Central
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
Last year's Clinton County Relay For Life committee members: Tiffany Jansen, Maggie Gerstner, Alison Gregory, Michele Maue, Michelle Kalmer, Amanda Gerstner, Barb Gerstner, Dana Timmermann and Charlee Dixon; not pictured are Deb Dressel, Deb Koetting, Jordan Becker and Kari Becker. Ready … Set ... Relay!
This Friday, the Clinton County community will gather together at Central High School in Breese to celebrate the lives of those who have had cancer, remember those who lost their battle with cancer and fight back against a disease that takes too much.
This year is the 26th anniversary of Clinton County Relay For Life.
Relay For Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event, bringing communities together to celebrate survivors, remember those lost, and fight back against cancer. Since its founding in 1985, Relay For Life has raised over $5 billion to fund cancer research, patient care services, and educational programs.
Since its inception in 2000, Clinton County Relay For Life has raised over $3.5 million for the American Cancer Society, funding research, patient support programs, and cancer prevention initiatives.
The evening begins with the Survivor Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. inside Central Community High School. Cancer survivors are invited to attend.
Activities will then move outdoors, with the opening ceremony and Survivors Lap beginning at 7 p.m. Relay For Life celebrates those currently battling cancer as well as those who have overcome the disease.
Last year the relay was around the circle drive due to some track improvements. They will do that again this year, which will allow vendors to be close.
The traditional Luminaria Ceremony, honoring those who have been affected by cancer, will take place at sunset, approximately 8 p.m., followed by the event's final lap at 9 p.m.
A snack truck will be available throughout the evening.
Participants are encouraged to join a team, raise funds and help support the American Cancer Society's mission of funding cancer research, patient support services and prevention programs.
Community members can visit the Relay For Life of Clinton County Facebook page to register a team, make a donation, purchase a luminaria or learn more about the event. A special memorial luminaria bag also is available to honor loved ones who have lost their battle with cancer, are currently fighting the disease, or are cancer survivors.
Donations may be mailed to: Relay For Life of Clinton County, P.O. Box 22, Breese, IL 62230.
An addition to this year is the Relay For Life event shirt. Those who ordered a shirt can pick them up at AVH Ink and Vinyl in Breese. A shirt can still be received online once a $100 donation is reached.
There are a couple raffles that are available for a Taste of Clinton County raffle basket with gift cards from many businesses. Another raffle is for a motorized scooter or Stanley backpack cooler filled with goodies and scratch-offs.
Event organizers invite the community to come together to celebrate, remember and fight back in the ongoing battle against cancer.
Clinton County Relay For Life also thanked this year's corporate sponsors:
relayforlife.org
•Diamond Level ($2,500+) — Poettker Construction and Dairy King
•Gold Level ($1,000+) — Lebanon Optometric Center/Breese Family Vision Center, HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital-Breese, Davis Charitable Foundation/Jim's Formal Wear, TrailSmiths Mobile RV Repair, Breese Journal and Publishing, Rehkemper and Son, Inc., Janet Bone/Raymond James and Associates, Inc., Beckemeyer Sons/Auxiliary/Legion, Ken and Julie Maschhoff, Meyer Electric and Farm and Metro-Ag Inc.
There are numerous Silver, Bronze and Copper sponsors as well.
"The support, encouragement, and generosity of Clinton County has shaped our journey in ways we could only dream of," said co-organizer Dana Timmermann.
For more information, check out their Facebook group, Relay For Life of Clinton County. You can also scan the QR code to learn more.
Breese Journal sports editor wins first place in IPA's annual contest for editorial inspired by Maci McCabe's journey
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- Written by: Kelly Jo Ross - Breese Journal News Editor
Breese Journal sports editor Jeremy Chawgo won first place in the Local Editorial - Division C category at the Illinois Press Association’s annual convention held in June at Peoria. Chawgo won the award for his editorial "Maci's journey and strength should inspire us all to be better." Pictured are (in front) Maci McCabe, and (back, from left): Preston Baker, Jeremy Chawgo and Griffen Becker. Breese Journal sports editor Jeremy Chawgo's words of compassion to the community for wanting to be better have earned statewide recognition from the Illinois Press Association (IPA).
Chawgo recently received first place in the Division C Local Editorial category in the IPA's 2025 Excellence in Newspaper Contest for his editorial, "Maci's journey and strength should inspire us all to be better," following the serious crash involving then-Mater Dei High School student Maci McCabe and the heroic actions of then-Central Community High School seniors Preston Baker and Griffen Becker.
The award was announced June 4 during the Illinois Press Association's annual convention at the Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria, where nearly 80 daily and nondaily newspapers competed in 39 editorial categories.
More than 1,600 editorial entries, judged by the Hoosier State Press Association, were submitted from newspapers across Illinois.
Chawgo's editorial — published in the Feb. 20, 2025, edition of the Breese Journal — recounted the devastating Feb. 9, 2025, two-vehicle crash on Old Route 50 near Breese, following a basketball game and focused on the extraordinary kindness displayed in its aftermath.
According to Chawgo's editorial, McCabe was on her way home, lost control of her vehicle, and collided with a Sugar Creek Ambulance, sending McCabe into a ditch in front of Central High School with life-threatening injuries.
Baker and Becker, who heard the accident on impact while getting off the bus following a Central basketball game victory, immediately rushed to McCabe's aid.
Baker, then a probationary firefighter with the Beckemeyer Fire Department, assisted emergency responders and remained by McCabe's side (along with Becker) until additional help arrived, offering reassurance that she was not alone.
Chawgo used the incident to highlight how the long-time rivalry between Mater Dei and Central disappeared in a moment of crisis as the entire community united in support of McCabe and her family.
"Let's use Maci's heart, fight and love for life to get us as adults back to a loving rivalry from our great student athletes," Chawgo wrote. "A couple things that I’ve learned over the years is that life is too short to be petty and evil. I’m a die hard Central AND Mater Dei fan, you don’t have to be both, but we have to be supporters of these kids and their ventures in life."
The editorial also detailed the severe injuries McCabe suffered, including collapsed lungs, internal injuries and multiple fractures. She was airlifted to St. Louis University Hospital, where she underwent extensive treatment as the Clinton County community rallied around her recovery.
"If there is one thing we can learn from (the) terrible accident is that these three student athletes have life figured out at an early age and we should be proud of the way they are all representing Clinton County," Chawgo wrote in his editorial.
"Keep fighting Maci, you have a whole county behind you, and you have inspired each and all of us to be better and stronger human beings," Chawgo concluded.
Since the accident, McCabe has undergone nine surgeries. Although she has no memory of the crash itself, she has made remarkable progress and is now attending Lindenwood University, and is a cheerleader at the university.
Chawgo recently reunited with McCabe, Baker and Becker at the crash site near Central High School, reflecting on the events that forever connected their lives.
Today, Baker works in the concrete industry while continuing to serve as a volunteer firefighter with the Beckemeyer Fire Department. Becker is playing football at McKendree University and working at Poettker Construction, with plans to follow in his family's footsteps by becoming a firefighter after college.
The editorial drew high praise from the contest judges.
"Mr. Chawgo's editorial epitomizes what I love to see in local editorials — addressing a community problem while speaking to the larger, universal truths of humans, culture and the associated pitfalls," one of the judges wrote. "This compelling narrative inspires me to do better, be better and spread the message to others. His impassioned pleas hit the mark at every turn. Well done, sir!"
In addition to Chawgo's first-place honor, the Breese Journal earned two fourth-place awards in the Illinois Press Association's Illinois Newspaper Advertising Contest — one for its Wessel's Market Ice Cream food advertisement and another for an advertisement for D Tours & Travel Service.
Aviston steals game one over Trenton with a run in the ninth inning
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- Written by: Jeremy Chawgo - Breese Journal Sports Editor
Strong start — Aviston righty Reed Braundmeier sends in a third-inning pitch in the Aces’ 5-4, come-from-behind victory at Trenton on Sunday. Braundmeier went seven innings and allowed four earned runs with eight punch outs and one walk. Trenton controlled much of their opening round game of the Clinton County League Championship Series on Sunday only to see Aviston score the final four runs of the game for a 5-4 win over the host Miners at Pete Schumacher Field.
Aviston’s Reed Braundmeier and Trenton’s Brady Maltbie each pitched well in the starts for their respective teams while Aviston was out hit by Trenton 10-7 and Trenton had two of the three fielding errors.
After a scoreless first inning, that included Braundmeier striking out the side, the Miners got to the hurler in the bottom of the second inning.
JD Barnes and Logan Doll each singled with one out in the frame before Conlan Haar reached on a fielding error at short to load the bases.
Phillip Berberich drew a seven-pitch walk for a 1-0 lead before Peyton Bittle singled in Doll for a 2-0 lead.
Aviston got a run back in the top of the third inning when Griffin Thomas led off with a walk and scored on a two-out single to left field from Chase Lewis as they trailed 2-1.
Trenton got that run back in the bottom of the inning when Barnes earned a two-out walk and Doll singled to the right side. Haar poked a double to left field for a 3-1 lead for Trenton heading to the fourth inning.
That’s a steal — Trenton leadoff hitter Peyton Bittle slides in with a stolen base at second base with Aviston shortstop Conner Freeze doing his best to keep the ball on the infield in Sunday’s game one of the CCL Championship Series in Trenton. After Aviston stranded two runners on in the top of the fourth inning, the Miners got their final run of the contest in the bottom of the inning.
Bittle led off with a walk and stole second base before a two-out single up the middle from Harrison Rakers made it 4-1.
The next 18 hitters were retired in order by Braundmeier and Maltbie sending the game into the top of the eighth inning with a 4-1 lead for the Miners.
The Aces got back in the game in the top of the eighth inning when Austin Rakers reached on an infield single before the second out of the inning was retired.
Brent Timmons followed with a walk before Drew Potthast was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carter Truong hit a bloop to the right side that was misplayed in right field as all three runs crossed the plate to tie the contest at 4-4. Maltbie got a strikeout to end the damage.
Trenton went in order in the bottom of the inning as Aviston stole the win in the top of the ninth inning.
With Ethan Wheelan on the mound, the righty got the first batter to strikeout before Thomas singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Conner Freeze picked up his first hit of the game, a big one that chased pitch runner Collin Adams to the plate for the eventual game-winning run.
Trenton got two runners on in the bottom of the ninth inning but never reached second base with one getting picked off of first base.
“I’m definitely happy with the victory today,” said Aviston manager Ryan Kuper. “It felt like we hit the ball well today but nothing was really falling for us and same on the opposite side. Reed was throwing great, but things seemed to just be going their way. It was great to see Griffin and Conner step up in a big spot and then have Ty come in and shut it down for the last two innings. Really proud of these guys for grinding that win out.”
Thomas had two hits for the Aces while Timmons walked and scored. Lewis had a single and a run scored. All seven of Aviston’s hits were singles.
Ty Kueper was the winner in relief as he went two innings and allowed no runs on no hits, two walks and one punch out. Braundmeier went the first seven innings and allowed four earned runs on 10 hits, three walks and six strikeouts.
Lay it down — Trenton shortstop Drew Frey attempts to put a bunt down in the Miners’ 5-4 loss in game one of the Championship Series on Sunday at Pete Schumacher Field. Frey was 1-for-5 with a stolen base. Rakers and Doll each had two hits in the loss for the Miners while Haar had the game’s only extra-base hit with a double. Frey had a hit and a stolen base while Bittle was 1-for-3 with two walks, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.
Wheelan took the loss in relief as he allowed one earned run on two hits, no walks and one punch out. Malbie went eight innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in 122 pitches.
“We played well but not well enough,” said Trenton head coach Alex Elsing. “Great effort on the mound by Brady. As a pitcher I know how tough that is. We left way too many runners stranded which is what cost us more than anything. Brady is going to have to do it again and the offense will have his back.”
Game two will be this Saturday in Aviston with a 1 p.m. game time. Braundmeier and Maltbie are the expected starters.
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