News Briefs from Rockton & Roscoe: 2/24/2022

Basketball win this time

Hononegah and Guilford faced off Wednesday night, and Hononegah won 58-47, at the boys basketball regional semi-finals playoff game at Jefferson High School. When they met in the regular season, Guilford won two times. Earlier that evening, Auburn defeated Harlem 69-52. So Hononegah and Auburn will go to the regional finals, again at Jefferson, on Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:00 p.m.

Basketball win another time

In Tuesday's Class 4A girls basketball sectional semi-finals, Hononegah played with excellence befitting their 18-0 league record and NIC-10 championship. But South Elgin turned around the game and won the game 57-48.

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New billboard

The Amish and Mennonites have a message for Roscoe, and you can read it on a billboard. The new billboard on northbound 251, which says, "Genuine Christians obey Jesus’ teachings," offers a toll-free number, 83-FOR-TRUTH [833-678-7884], where you can ask a peaceful, plainly-dressed man at Christian Aid Ministries about what their billboard is saying. The group's website (yes, they do have websites) says they "strive to be a trustworthy and efficient channel for Amish, Mennonite, and other conservative Anabaptist groups and individuals to minister to physical and spiritual needs around the world." You may have heard how 17 aid workers from the group were taken hostage in Haiti last year and ended up not being killed. The ministry has placed more than 1,200 billboards across North America, with about 500 active at a time.

Chocoholic Frolic

Sugar Britches and After the Vine in Rockton are participating today in the Chocoholic Frolic, which benefits the The Arc of Winnebago, Boone and Ogle Counties. The event is sold out this year, but you can still bid in the silent auction.

Mask appeal

As expected, Gov. JB Pritzker appealed his school mask mandate to the Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday. The 4th District Court of Appeals declined to overturn the temporary restraining order issued earlier this month that led to masks becoming optional at Hononegah, Prairie Hill, Rockton, and Kinnikinnick.

Scholastic Bowl (no pins)

Hononegah's Varsity Scholastic Bowl team earned 2nd place in the Regional Masonic Bowl on Saturday, February 19, coming away with a plaque, a certificate, and $300. The team consisted of seniors Ethan Butler, Sarah Yeager, Joseph Kasel, Grant Gouwens, Sebastian Wysocki, and junior Shane Levi.

Best Special Event?

Old Settlers Days has been nominated on the Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) People's Choice ballot under Best Special Event.  You can vote your preference until Mar. 19, 2022.

Two instead of four

The Kinnikinnick Board of Education will hold a public hearing on March 15, 2022 to hear  testimony from the community on the proposal to hold up to two full-day,  rather than four half day, school improvement in-service days.

More News from Roscoe

• Melissa Stucky will never be forgotten Melissa was a speech language pathologist at Ledgewood and Stone Creek Schools in Roscoe, IL.
• Whiskey Hotel Barbecue’s grand opening is a smokin’ success Roscoe's new barbecue business at 5522 Elevator Road is open from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday - Sunday.