The Panther tennis team shut out non-conference East Alton-Wood River Thursday, with all players getting wins. Winning singles were Kali DeSherlia, Katelyn Shively, Heather Goetten, Holly Woelfel, Maggie Best and Maria Thurston. Doubles' teams of Jenna Bechtold/Natalie Elliott, Best/Thurston and Shively/Woelfel all had wins. Jersey remains 2-0 in the MVC.

JCHS tennis coach Stote Reeder said that "all the girls are playing so well I can't single anyone out." He added that Bechtold is "playing some of the best tennis of her life" and Best and Thurston are playing "very good doubles".

"We have such good balance that it will take a good teams' best effort to beat us," he added.

VOLLEYBALL WINS, GOES TO 5-2

The JCHS volleyball team win Lovejoy High School in two wins Wednesday, 25-16, 27-25. The Panthers will be at the Alton Tournament Friday and play Civic Memorial at 4 p.m.; Roxana 5 p.m. Saturday. The team is now 5-2.

Ryan Todd, who won the IHSA State Championship 800 meter race last spring, was honored Friday at the JCHS/Granite City game, as he was presented the signs which will be placed and the north and south entrances to Jerseyville denoting his championship run. Todd, who is now a freshman at McKendree College, is flanked during the presentation by JCHS cross country and track coach Harold Landon, left, JCHS Athletic Director Cliff Kaminsky, Todd and his mother, Tammy Fraley. Todd will be a member of the track and cross country teams at McKendree. (Photo by Jacinda Jones)

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is disturbed by research showing our nation’s high schools are failing their students when it comes to instilling in them an appreciation for the First Amendment and civic issues.

“Civic education—and, with it, civic learning—has been in steady decline for decades,” she writes in the forward to Sam Chaltain’s new book, American Schools: The Art of Creating a Democratic Learning Community. “As a result, too many young people today do not understand how our political system works, or how to be seen and heard in meaningful, effective ways.”

Arguably, the best measure of a high school’s commitment to civic education is the nature of its student news media. A student newspaper can provide the most visible evidence of whether schools just preach or actually practice First Amendment principles, democratic learning and significant civic engagement.  

All high schools in America receiving Federal funds are required to hold an educational program about the U.S. Constitution every Sept. 17, the anniversary of the signing of the document in 1787. On Constitution Day schools will offer special lessons about the principles of democracy and the virtues of American freedom. But beyond that talk, how many schools are actually doing the walk?

The student press is a telling sign.

If school authorities recognize their student newspaper as a forum that serves the functions of authentic journalism, if they nurture free and responsible student news media and if they trust the student press to provide a meaningful and effective way for students to be seen and heard, chances are, democratic learning is at the core of the school’s culture.

However, if school authorities want to control the student press rather than cultivate it, if they want students to learn obedience rather than responsibility and if they want to silence rather than share diverse—sometimes unpopular—perspectives, chances are, autocratic administrators are impeding the school’s civic mission.

Too many school authorities are too quick to censor controversial student expression that they disagree with, find discomforting, consider overly critical or otherwise object to for additional reasons. By exercising clout rather than collaboration, administrators demoralize and alienate learners. They may control the learners, but they sure don’t convince them.

Good schools support authentic journalism and democratic learning when they strike a proper balance between the press rights of students and the pedagogic responsibilities of educators. Students are empowered but not emancipated; educators are authoritative but not authoritarian; and the school culture is collaborative and not autocratic.

Help has arrived for proponents of civic education. A new initiative by the McCormick Foundation, supported by the Illinois Press Foundation, can help resolve student expression controversies while inspiring students and administrators to engage in dialogue that should enhance civic education, community engagement and ethical development.

Protocol for Free & Responsible Student News Media is a handbook to guide scholastic journalism stakeholders in ethical decision-making. The Protocol process can be used in other school arenas as well. The Protocol is the

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Kali DeSherlia lost her first match of the season at #1 singles but the rest of the singles team members, Jenna Bechtold, Natalie Elliott, Heather Goetten, Katelyn Shively and Holly Woelfel won their matches.

The doubles team of DeSherlia and Bechtold lost their doubles match but the team of Elliott and Goetten and Maggie Best and Maria Thurston, won there matches.

In addition to parents of students currently at the high school, parents of 7th and 8th grades to come to the building for tours and to meet the faculty and staff members concerning programs and activities available at the high school.

Erica Smith, a faculty co-coordinator of the event, says this is a great way for parents of current students and incoming students to walk through the building and meet staff members.

"We have a number of different clubs, activities and programs available and we hope that a large number of parents will come out on Monday to visit the building," Smith said.

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The JV team also finished fourth after losing to Chatham Glenwood 3-0.

The varsity squad had two losses at Carlinville, but beat Roxana 1-0 (goal by Tate Bohannon), beat Staunton 2-1 (goals by Bohannon and Max Straubhaar, assist by Bohannon) and beat Carlinville 1-0 (goal by Tyler Lumma, assist by Marcus Franklin). Bram Blackwell played goal for all minutes and made 22 saves.

The junior varsity team beat Carlinville (both goals by Matt Rogers, one assist Eric Hecker) with Matt Johnson in goal with five saves. The JV also tied with Civic Memorial 0-0; Johnson had four saves.

The freshman beat Mascoutah with goals by Matt Rogers and Alec Beutel; assists by Grant Fry and Rogers  and two saves by Matt Johnson.

The 2010-2011 JCHS Theatre season will open with the fall play, "You Can't Take it With You", to be performed Thursday, October 7 and Saturday, October 9 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 10 at 2 p.m. in the JCHS Auditorium.

Tickets have been reduced to $5 (from $9) per person for general seating. For more information call the JCHS office at 498-5521 and ask for Deanna. The show is directed by Brett Beauchamp and Martha Harpstrite.

The following weekend, Saturday, October 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 17 at 2 p.m. in the JCHS auditorium, the department will present its first student-directed play, "The Lottery". The play is being directed by senior Haley Disterhoft.

Tickets are $5 for general admission. During one of the two shows, judges from the Illinois High School Theatre Festival will be in attendance to determine if the show can be performed at the 36th Annual Theatre Festival in January at the University of Illinois.  The Theatre Department performed, "Our Town" at the 30th Festival in 2005.

Calhoun County and Jersey County 4-H members converged on Springifield August 16 to participate in 4-H general projects conference judging held during the Illinois State Fair.

The 4-H members were chosen at their respective summer shows in Calhoun and Jersey counties earlier this summer. A project chosen for State Fair is considered to be exceptional not only in workmanship but also in how well the 4-H member explains his or her project to the judge.

Jersey County delegates Kristen Springer, Courtney Carpunky and Hanna Moore received superior ratings for woodworking, visual arts and photography respectively. Connor Ashlock, Samantha Burns, Caitlyn Carpunky, Natalie Drainer, Anna Fessler, Kristin Hall, Ryan Kanallakan, Jessica Maag, Aimee Pelletier, Cory Rowling, Robert Speidel, Ruth Speidel, Lydia Stemmler, Natalie Stemmler and Taylor Wendle all received Awards of Excellence.

For more information about the 4-H programs in Calhoun and Jersey counties, contact Judy Benz at benz@illinois.edu or call 576-2293 or 498-2913.

Jersey quarterback Mitch Kimble scored on a 14-yard run towards the end of the first half. Granite City scored twice in the second half to claim the non-conference victory at the Snyders Sports Complex.

Nik Casper and Garrett Jones each rushed for 57 yards; Kimble, who completed 3 of 7 passes for 51 yards, and Luke Brown rushed for 35 yards. (Photos by Jacinda Jones)

Low net for Jersey was AJ Plach, 39; followed by David Velsor, 41, Matt Murphy, 42 and Kelyn Cope, 46. Par was 36; low net was 37 by Jacksonville's Erickson.

Thursday's match at Civic Memorial (Spencer T. Olin Course) showed the Panthers losing to Mascoutah (157) and CM (160). Par was 36, Mascoutah's Welch shot at 35 and CM's Duncan, 36.

Low net for the Panthers was Flach, 40; Murphy, 39; Velsor, 42 and Mitch Madson, 43.  Other finishers were Cope, 48 and Garrett Brangenberg, 49.

Winning for the Panthers was: at #1 singles, Kali DeSherlia; #2 singles, Jenna Bechtold; at #3 singles, Natalie Elliott; at #5 singles, Heather Goetten and Holly Woelfel at #6 singles.

All Jersey doubles' team marking wins were: DeSherlia/Bechtold; Elliott/Goetten and Maggie Best/Maria Thurston.

Rochester High School's Jeffrey Surbeck was first with a time of 15.40 on the three mile course. Jersey's Troy Pace was the first over the line for Jersey with a time of 16.31 giving him fourth place. Other Panther runners were Sam Welbourne, 6th, Tyler Lacy, 7th, Zach Hunter, 11th, Dan wendell, 13th, Ned Nilsson, 25th, Matt Wendell, 34th, Alex Croxford, 35th, Xane Peters, 50th and Billy Loellke, 60th.

Following Jersey were Carlinville, third, Auburn, fourth and Marquette , fifth.

The JCHS girls team finished third in the Carlinville meet following Rochester in first and Carlinville, second. Other teams were Saunton, Litchfield and Williamsville.

Victoria Quarton of Litchfield was the first place finisher with a time of 19.32. Out of 57 runners, JCHS's  Terri Wendell was the top finisher at 13th, Carissa Pointer, 16th, Kathleen Wendell, 17th, Connie Young, 18th, Allison Guerra, 23rd, Greta Meisner, 25th and Emalie Thornton, 40th.

The five-year-old daughter of Joshua A. and Chelsey R. (Barnes) Murphy, she died September 4 at Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis.

She was born April 2, 2005 at St. Mary's Hospital in Richmond Heights and touched so many people in her short life, but it has been the most wonderful and precious gift to all of us. Our princess is now out of her pain and suffering and is now with the Lord, but will remain in our hearts for a lifetime.

In addition to her parents, survivors include a sister, Jordan Renee Murphy; and her twin brother, Jace Allen Murphy, both of Carrollton; grandparents, Richard and Yvonne Harp and Helen Barnes, all of Carrollton, Vera Murphy and Bennie and Donna Morris, all of Jerseyville, Doris and Raymond Thompson of Fieldon, Dolores Harp of Roodhouse, Randy and Amy Morris of Alton and Kim Murphy of Missouri; many aunts, uncles and cousins who loved her deeply.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be made to the family in care of the funeral home.

Mrs. Diuguid, 78,  died September 1, 2010 at Alton Memorial Hospital.

She was born on August 12, 1932 in Chesterfield, IL, the daughter of John H. & Maude (Huff) Abeln. She married Lawrence E. Moran in 1949; he died in 1981.  She later married Willis Diuguid in 1998.

She was a homemaker most of her life and a member of the Cottage Hills Baptist Church.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her two sons and two daughters-in-law, Larry and Raye Nell Moran of Heber City, Utah and Mike and Jennifer Moran of Glen Carbon; her step children and their spouses, Jeff Diuguid of Wood River, Rebecca and Kendal Nolle of Alton and Amanda and Bart Bouman of Greenville, Michigan; 14 grandchildren; 24 great grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Gwillim of Alton and Peggy Hurt of Pekin; four brothers and three sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Vena Freer and Peck and  JoAnn Abeln, James “Jim” and Harriet Abeln and Bobby Abeln, all of Athens, IL and a step brother and his spouse, Charles “Edward” & Bea Dixon of Medora.

Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Memorials may be made to Cottage Hills Baptist Church Building Fund.

An online condolence and guest book may be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.

Against Highland, Panthers with low scores were AJ Flach, 36, Mitch Madson, 38, Garett Brangenberg, 40 and Kelyn Cope, 42. Total score 156. Highland scored 161.

In their loss to Waterloo, Madson's score was 40, Matt Murphy, 41, Flach, 41 and David Velsor, 44. The Panthers totaled 166 strokes to Waterloo's 154.

Against Metro East Lutheran, Kali DeSherlia went undefeated at #1 singles, Jenna Bechtold went 6-0, 6-2 at #2 singles, Natalie Elliott lost in three sets, Katelyn Shively won at #4 singles along with Heather Goetten at #5 singles and Maggie Best at #6 singles.

The doubles teams of Bechtold/DeSherlia, Elliott/Goetten and Best/Maria Thurston were all undefeated.

Against Alton Tuesday, the Panthers blanked the Redbirds with all singles and doubles teams' winning their matches.

She was born June 1, 1916.  Survivors include one daughter, Virginia Whitlock Johnson of Gainsville, Florida; two granddaughters, Nancy Martin of Augusta, Kansas and Susan Rowland of Gainsville; three great-grandchildren and a sister, Dorothy Roady of Jerseyville.

Burial will be in Rose Lawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto at a later date.

The Panthers won three matches last Monday and on Saturday, lost to Gillespie in three games. They then went on to defeat Roxana in the third place match.  Leading the way for the Panthers against Roxana were Maddie Steckel, Katie Blotna, Jessie Kirbach and Arielle Tewell.

The Panthers will be at home September 8 and take on Lovejoy.

A funeral Mass will be held Friday at Holy Ghost Catholic Church at 10 a.m. with the Rosary prior to that at 9:50 a.m. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery in Jerseyville.

Besides his parents, survivors include two sisters, Jessica and Jenna Kuebrich at home; three brothers, Jared, Justin and James Kuebrich at home and his grandparents, Rodney and Margaret Allen of Jerseyville, John and Rita Kuebrich of Paducah, Kentucky and Bobbie and Red Seivers of Alton.

Memorials may be made to the family. Alexander & Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.