SECTIONAL TITLE – Fans mob the Richwoods Knights as they celebrate their 61-55 upset win over Metamora in the Class 3A sectional title game Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School.
SECTIONAL TITLE – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville, left, slam dunks past Metamora’s Ashton Grieves in the first half of their Class 3A boys basketball sectional title game Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Knights upset the defending champion Redbirds 61-55.
SECTIONAL TITLE – Metamora head coach Danny Grieves, foreground, and his assistants instruct their players as they battle Richwoods in the first half of their Class 3A boys basketball sectional title game Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Knights upset the defending champion Redbirds 61-55.
SECTIONAL TITLE – Metamora’s Matthew Zobrist (5) and Cooper Koch stop Richwoods’ Daquan Little at the basket in the first half of their Class 3A boys basketball sectional title game Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Knights upset the defending champion Redbirds 61-55.
SECTIONAL TITLE – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville, right, reacts after scoring and drawing a foul against Metamora’s Cooper Koch, left, in the second half of their Class 3A boys basketball sectional title game Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Knights upset the defending champion Redbirds 61-55.
SECTIONAL TITLE – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville shares some advice with teammate Daquan Little (0) in the second half of their Class 3A boys basketball sectional title game against Metamora on Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School. The Knights upset the defending champion Redbirds 61-55.
SECTIONAL TITLE – Fans swarm Richwoods star Lathan Sommerville after the Knights defeating defending champion Metamora 61-55 in their Class 3A boys basketball sectional title game Friday, March 1, 2024 at Pontiac High School.
STATE BASKETBALL – The Illini Bluffs Tigers gather around their Class 1A girls basketball state runner-up trophy after falling 48-36 to defending champ Okawville in the title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
STATE BASKETBALL – Illini Bluffs senior Jack Murphy sports a modified orange construction barrel in the student fan section as the Tigers face Okawville in the Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Tigers fell 48-36 to the Lady Rockets.
STATE BASKETBALL – Illini Bluffs’ Brenna Davis, middle, and Okawville’s Madisyn Wienstroer, right, chase a loose ball in the second half of their Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Tigers fell 48-36 to the Lady Rockets.
STATE BASKETBALL – Illini Bluffs Reese Cruit, left, Brooke Buchen, second from left, and Lily Luczkowiak, right, defend against Okawville’s Alayna Kraus in the first half of their Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Tigers fell 48-36 to the Lady Rockets
STATE BASKETBALL – Illini Bluffs’ Lily Luczkowiak battles the Okawville defense for a loose ball in the second half of their Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
STATE BASKETBALL – Illini Bluffs’ Reese Cruit (14) and Brenna Davis (25) try to maintain their composure as Okawville celebrates in the background as time runs out in the Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Tigers fell 48-36 to the Lady Rockets.
STATE BASKETBALL – Illini Bluffs’ Addy Clark (34) comforts teammate Annabelle Fortin after the Tigers’ 48-36 loss to Okawville in the Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
STATE CHAMPS – The Peoria Notre Dame Irish hoist their Class 2A girls basketball state championship trophy after their 48-46 victory over Nashville in the title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
STATE CHAMPS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Mya Wardle puts up a shot over the Nashville defense in the first half of their Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Irish defeated Nashville 48-46 for the title.
STATE CHAMPS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Kaitlyn Cassidy (21) tries to make a shot between Nashville defenders in the first half of their Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Irish defeated Nashville 48-46 for the title.
STATE CHAMPS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Emy Wardle (23) puts up the game-winning shot over Nashville’s Summer Brinkmann, top left, and Emma Behrmann in the final second of their Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The shot gave the Irish a 48-46 victory.
STATE CHAMPS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Mya Wardle, middle, walks off the court with younger sister Emy, left, and teammate Kaitlin Cassidy after Emy hit a game-winning buzzer-beater for a 48-46 win over Nashville in the Class 2A girls basketball title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
STATE CHAMPS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Mya Wardle, middle, and Kaitin Cassidy, celebrate with teammate Emy Wardle (23) show scored the game-winner over Nashville for a 48-46 win in the Class 2A girls basketball state title game Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
STATE CHAMPS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Kaitlin Cassidy, left, and Julia Mingus, right, hug Sister Agnes Paulin, a science teacher at the school, after the Irish defeated Nashville 48-46 for the Class 2A girls basketball state title Saturday, March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Fans from the student section mob the Richwoods Knights after their 58-52 win over top-ranked Harvey Thornton in the Class 3A boys basketball supersectionals Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Jared Jackson, top, blocks Harvey Thornton’s Chase Abraham in the second half of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville shows some passion as the Knights battle Harvey Thornton in the first half of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods fans try to distract Harvey Thornton’s Chase Abraham, lower right, as he attempts a pair of foul shots in the first half of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional game Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Tavie Smith, left, collides with Harvey Thornton’s Morez Johnson Jr. in the second half of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Daquan Little jumps for joy on a foul call against Harvey Thornton in the final seconds of their Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School. The Knights advanced to the state semifinals with a 58-52 win.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Jared Jackson (5) celebrates in the final seconds of the Knights’ 58-52 upset of top-ranked Harvey Thornton in the Class 3A boys basketball supersectional Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Jared Jackson gets a hug as fans mob the Knights after their 58-52 victory over top-ranked Harvey Thornton in the Class 3A boys basketball supersectionals Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School.
SUPERSECTIONAL WIN – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville gets a hug from his dad, former Bradley star Marcellus Sommerville after the Knight’s 58-52 victory over top-ranked Harvey Thornton in the Class 3A boys basketball supersectionals Monday, March 4, 2024 at Ottawa High School.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville, right, battles for a rebound with DePaul College Prep’s Jaylan McElroy in the first half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Knights fell to the Rams 52-41.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville celebrates a dunk against DePaul College Prep in the first half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Knights fell to the Rams 52-41.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Tavie Smith passes around DePaul College Prep’s Rob Walls in the first half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Knights fell to the Rams 52-41.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville shows some emotion as the Knights battle DePaul College Prep in the first half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Knights fell to the Rams 52-41.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville blocks a shot by DePaul College Prep’s Jaylan McElroy in the second half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Knights fell to the Rams 52-41.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods fans show some excitement as the Knights battle DePaul College Prep in the second half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Knights fell to the Rams 52-41.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Jared Jackson, right, and Jernell Etherly sit dejected on the bench as time winds down in the Knights’ 52-41 loss to DePaul College Prep in the second half of the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
STATE SEMIFINALS – Richwoods’ Lathan Sommerville stands next to the Knights’ bench as time runs out on their 52-41 loss to DePaul Colleger Prep in the Class 3A boys basketball state semifinals Friday, March 8, 2024 at the State Farm Center in Champaign.
BUSY CORNER – America’s Best Restaurants host J Russell, left, chats with Derek Vollmer, owner of the Busy Corner, a local landmark restaurant at 302 Eureka Street in Goodfield, while filming an episode of America’s Best Restaurants on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Goodfield.
BUSY CORNER – Videographer Michael Dick, left, records Busy Corner restaurant employee Brady Lenover preparing a tenderloin Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Goodfield for an episode of the America’s Best Restaurants web show.
BUSY CORNER – A two-man video crew from the online show America’s Best Restaurants filmed an episode at the popular Busy Corner restaurant Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Goodfield.
BUSY CORNER – Busy Corner at 302 Eureka Street in Goodfield in probably best known for its wide selection of homemade pies.
BUSY CORNER – Videographer Michael Dick snaps the clacker for an episode of the online show America’s Best Restaurants at the popular Busy Corner restaurant Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Goodfield.
BUSY CORNER – Busy Corner owner Derek Vollmer, right, chats with J Russell, host of America’s Best Restaurants, during taping of an episode at the popular restaurant Wednesday, March 13, 2024 in Goodfield.
BASKETBALL POY – Peoria senior Mya Wardle saw her four years of hard work come to fruition when the Irish defeated Nashville 48-46 for a Class 2A girls basketball state championship March 2, 2024 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. Wardle is the 2024 Journal Star Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
BASKETBALL POY – Richwoods’ imposing power forward Lathan Sommerville helped lead the Knights to a third-place finish in the Class 3A state tournament. The future Rutgers Scarlet Knight is the 2024 Journal Star Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
WINTER JAM – Christian singer/songwriters Katy Nichole performs in front of a giant screen during the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center. Nichole hails from Tremont and debuted in 2022.
WINTER JAM – Weston Evans, guitarist for Christian rock band Seventh Day Slumber, gets up close and personal with the crowd during a performance at the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
WINTER JAM – Newsong’s Russ Lee, right, and Billy Goodwin team pu on the trumpet and trombone during the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
Grammy-winning Christian rapper Lecrae performs on the catwalk during the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
WINTER JAM – Logan Cain of the Christian country pop bad CAIN does a flip for the crowd during the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
WINTER JAM – Taylor Cain Matz of the Christian group CAIN smiles as confetti falls during the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
WINTER JAM – Texas-born contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Crowder performs during the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
WINTER JAM – A trio of backup singers are silhoutted against a giant video screen during Crowder’s performance at the Winter Jam 2024 tour Thursday, March 14, 2024 at the Peoria Civic Center.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria’s Zach Wilkie, facing, and Joe Drapluk (7) celebrate Wilkie’s short-handed empty-net goal moments after Drapluk did the same in the third period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, March 15, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Rivermen defeated the Storm 3-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria’s Cale List (5) and Quad City’s Hayden Hulton (79) battle for the puck in front of Rivermen goaltender Nick Latinovich in the first period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, March 15, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria head coach Jean-Guy Trudel directs the Rivermen as they battle Quad City in the second period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, March 15, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Rivermen defeated the Storm 3-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria’s JM Piotrowski, left, and Joe Drapluk celebrate Drapluk’s short-handed empty-net goal against Quad City in the third period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, March 15, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Rivermen defeated the Storm 3-0.
RIVERMEN VS. QUAD CITY – Peoria goaltender Nick Latinovich stops a shot at Quad City’s Tommy Tsicos moves in during the third period of their SPHL hockey game Friday, March 15, 2024 at Carver Arena in Peoria. The Rivermen defeated the Storm 3-0.
WASHINGTON VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Peoria Notre Dame goalkeeper Sydnee Wharton, right, dives to stop a shot by Washington’s Tori Aberle in the second period of their girls soccer match Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 2-0.
WASHINGTON VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Peoria Notre Dame’s Alli Stickelmaier, middle, and her Irish teammates celebrate her goal against Washington in the first period of their girls soccer match Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 2-0.
WASHINGTON VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Peoria Notre Dame’s Abigail Chaddock, right, heads the ball over Washington’s Tori Aberle in the second period of their girls soccer match Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 2-0.
WASHINGTON VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Washington’s Katherine Woods, left, and Peoria Notre Dame’s Ava Lafollette battle for the ball in the first period of their girls soccer match Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 2-0.
WASHINGTON VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Washington players stay warm behind a large blanket at the Panther battle Peoria Notre Dame in the first period of their girls soccer match Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 2-0.
Beth Houlihan, left, stands with her parents Bill and Edie Kidder at the family’s longtime music store, Kidder Music, at 7728 N. Crestline Drive off Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. Jim and Edie started the business 50 years ago.
A line of violins hangs on a wall at Kidder Music in Peoria.The business sells and rents a wide variety of musical instruments in addition to offering repairs and lessons.
Music teacher Tina Cramer-Hollaway puts young saxophone performer Nathan Anders, 12, through his paces during a private tutoring session at Kidder Music in Peoria.
Kidder Music technician Aaron Mills tests out the sound of a saxophone under repair at the longtime Peoria music store.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – Bradley’s Duke Deen is overjoyed as time runs out on the Braves 74-62 win over Loyola Chicago in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – Bradley’s Darius Hannah (35) shoots over Loyola Chicago’s Miles Rubin in the first half of their first-round NIT basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – Bradley’s Malevy Leons, right, and Connor Linke, left, stop Loyola Chicago’s Philip Alston at the basket in the second half of their first-round NIT basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – Bradley’s Malevy Leons (14) tries to knock a rebound away from Loyola Chicago’s Dame Adelekun in the first half of their first-round NIT basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – Bradley’s Connor Hickman (10) eyes the basket as he maneuvers through the Loyola Chicago defense in the first half of their first-round NIT basketball game Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – Bradley’s Duke Deen high-fives fans at courtside as the Braves defeat Loyola Chicago 74-62 in the first-round of the NIT on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
BRADLEY VS. LOYOLA – The Bradley Braves, including Malevy Leons (14) and Christian Davis (5) acknowledge their fans after their 74-62 win over Loyola Chicago in the first-round of the NIT on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at Carver Arena.
TORQ FITNESS – Kyle Piraino, owner of Torq Fitness & Performance, shows Washington volleyball player Aubrey Hurckes the proper form for a test on a Proteus machine during a training session at his facility at 109 Harvey Court in East Peoria. The Proteus is a state-of-the-art motion testing machine for measuring power and performance.
TORQ FITNESS – A group of young athletes work out at the Torq Fitness & Performance facility in East Peoria under the supervision of owner and trainer Kyle Piraino.
TORQ FITNESS – Young basketball players practice on the basketball court at Torq Fitness & Performance, 109 Harvey Court in East Peoria.
TORQ FITNESS – Peoria Notre Dame multi-sport athlete Kaitlyn Cassidy leaps over a bar during a training session at Torq Fitness & Performance in East Peoria.
Whitney Calvert is working toward renovating the former 8-Bit Arcade Bar at State and Water Street in Peoria into a new cocktail spot called Matilda’s Lounge. 8-Bit moved a couple doors down to 619 SW Water Street in 2023.
