Western Courier|December 6th, 2017

Opinions: Prepare for a greeen Christmas.

Sports: Wentz stands as top contender for MVP.

Sports: Leathernecks face the American University eagles today at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 - Vol. 118 Issue 41

K-9 sniffs out cocaine JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCTION MANAGER

By Isaiah Herard news editor

Over the course of the year Macomb has seen a bevy of drug arrests, however, the most prominent drug in McDonough County is known as Heroin.

In an interview with the McDonough County Voice, McDonough County Sheriff Rick VanBrooker said the Heroin epidemic is under control.

“I consider the heroin issue controllable at this point,” VanBrooker said. “Right now, I’d put both meth and heroin

around a four or five (on a scale of one to ten, with ten being worst).”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine, a natural substance taken from the seed pod of the various opium poppy plants grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia. Heroin is usually a white or brown powder, or a black sticky substance known as black tar heroin. Other monikers for Heroin include big H, horse, hell dust, and smack., and its use can be extremely

detrimental to individuals who choose to use it.

Michelle Renee, a law enforcement official in Cook County, said it is easy to identify a potential heroin user in the penal facility.

“I work inside lock up and not on the streets and I’ve witnessed nodding, needle marks, incoherence, itching skin, blank stares and vomiting,” Renee said. “They become dope sick if they can’t get (heroin) within a certain time.”

Heroin page 3

Council discusses 2018 tax rates

MCDONOUGH COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Jacob Grover (top) and Courtney L. Griffith were arrested and lodged in McDonough County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), possession of a hypodermic needle and possession of drug paraphernalia.

By Isaiah Herard news editor JASMYNE TAYLOR/COURIER STAFF

City Administrator Dean Torreson informs the council in Monday's meeting that pensions contribute cloes to $1 million which is extremely detrimental to the city's budget and deficit reduction plan.

By Isaiah Herard news editor

At the forefront of the Macomb City Council’s weekly meetings was an ordinance to provide for the levy and collection of taxes for the year 2017 made payable in 2018 for the City of Macomb McDonough County, Illinoito City Administrator Dean Torreson, pensions are the primary budget

busters of the city because they contribute close to $1 million on pensions alone, which is the leading cause of the deficit.

“The City of Macomb is under penal restrictions and what that means is that last year’s levied amount minus tax rates and add the inflation rate by the state of Illinois and that will give us a better levy rate,” Torreson said. “The 2.1 percent

increase due to the inflation results in $36,743. Altogether we have $178,452 in additional tax revenue for next year.”

The City Council then moved to consideration of a resolution for adoption of the McDonough County Public Transportation Reasonable Modification policy.

Council page 3

McDonough County Sheriff Rick VanBrooker reported the arrest of Courtney L. Griffith, 40, and Jacob M. Grover, 29, both of Clarksville, Mo. On Dec. 4 at 2:00 a.m. a McDonough County Night Shift Patrol Deputy conducted a regulation traffic stop on Highway 41 at the South end of Bushnell. The officer stopped the vehicle because it crossed the center line on two separate occasions. From the deputy’s assessment of the situation, the sheriff’s office K-9

was called to the scene and sniffed out the vehicle. The Deputy followed up the K-9 unit with a search of his own that led to the seizure of two grams of suspected Cocaine, two used syringes and other items with suspected Cocaine residue on them. Griffith was the driver, Grover was the passenger, and both were placed under arrest.

Both were also lodged in the McDonough County Jail charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a hypodermic needle and possession of drug paraphernalia.

2

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

NEWS

WesternCourier.com

Lahey uses SOAR to inspire students

JOSH DEFIBAUGH

Derek Lahey expresses happiness as a member of the Western Leader Recruitment Committee and a Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) leader striving to have a lasting impact on incoming students

By Emily Stieren assistant news editor

Sophomore Derek Lahey’s main goal as a Western Illinois University student is to influence incoming students through his position as a Summer Orientation and Registration (SOAR) leader.

“I was a SOAR leader over the summer, and not to toot my own horn, but I was a good leader,” Lahey said.

“For other people the job is over, but for me it is continuous. I talk to all my SOAR students when I walk around campus. People I don’t even know, know me, because I made some sort of impact on them.”

Lahey is now on the Western Leader Recruitment Committee because of his outgoing personality and outstanding performance as a leader. However, he was already content with how many students he had impacted through SOAR. “When I was at Camp Leatherneck everyone remembered me as being a cool leader,” Lahey said. “I mean I didn’t know these people. I only had like 30-second interactions with them, but I was the only guy

WC Located on the third floor of the Heating Plant Annex on the south end of campus across from Sherman Hall.

Mail: 1 University Circle, WIU, Macomb, IL 61455 Phone: 309-298-1876 Fax: 309-298-2309 Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays E-mail: micour@wiu.edu Member: Illinois College Press Association, National Association College Press

they interacted with on campus, so that meant I made an impact on their lives that made them remember me and appreciate me. That to me is awesome.”

Lahey’s appreciation for Western is what motivated him to advise firstyear students. According to Lahey, his devotion to the university is what made the job worthwhile.

“I think SOAR is the most rewarding position here at the university,” Lahey said.

“To me, I absolutely love Western. I will fight that this is the greatest school there is. There are incoming students that are coming here in the Fall, and it is my job in those 48 hours to get them pumped, excited and just ready to go to school. My goal when people left SOAR was for them to say, ‘I can’t wait to come back.’”

Lahey said that his main purpose was not to make a lasting impression on the students, but to prepare them for their future career at Western. In the end, he hopes that he encouraged the students to better the university.

“My SOAR leader, Kenny, is an amazing guy, and he was my inspiration for what I wanted to do,” Lahey said.

“He made me excited, he made me love this school and he made me ready to come here. I think SOAR is not about the school now, but Kenny inspired me, and I inspired others. Therefore, that transcends to the point where Kenny no longer goes to school here anymore, and there is going to be people leading this school based off of what Kenny did. It is not about the people who are here now, but it is about the future of our university.”

According to Lahey, joining clubs and participating in school events are essential for campus survival.

“Get involved,” Lahey said.

“It is the same thing I say to every SOAR group. No one admits it, but they’re scared their first year. There are so many student organizations.

There are over 250 on this campus, and they recruit people. The number one group of students that (organizations) recruit is freshmen or firstyear students because of the fact they are not committed to anything yet. The reason I say to get involved is because if you’re not involved and you just graduate and walk out of this university, no one is going to notice and no one is going to care.”

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu news editor Isaiah Herard IA-Herard@wiu.edu assistant news editor Emily Stieren EN-Stieren@wiu.edu opinions editor Shannon Norris SA-Norris@wiu.edu sports editor Mat McClanahan MD-McClanahanw@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu edge editor Alyssa Hohman AM-Hohman@wiu.edu copy editor Joshua Defibaugh JG-Defibaugh@wiu.edu proofreader Valerie Clemens VN-Clemens@wiu.edu

proofreader Alexis Lowe AL-Lowe@wiu.edu proofreader Tacuma Venzant T-Venzant@wiu.edu photo editor Angel Strack AE-Strack@wiu.edu assistant photo editor Pedro Avila PJ-Avila@wiu.edu production manager Jessie Matias JM-Garcia@wiu.edu business manager Faith Rucker F-Rucker@wiu.edu advertising manager Patryk Mazur P-Mazur@wiu.edu adviser Will Buss WJ-Buss@wiu.edu

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Council from front page

“The policy in its entirety is a catch and as the resolution states that the city of Macomb is a participant in the McDonough County Public Transportation,” said City Attorney Kirsten Petrie. “The Reasonable Modification policy as attached is in an effort to offer equal and effective opportunities and access to public transportation services for persons with disabilities in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.”

After careful considerations, the council moved to approve the engineering services agreement with McClure Engineering for the Southeast and Northwest water main projects.

“The Northwest water main is about 80 percent grantfunded and 20 percent funded from the city of Macomb,” said Public Works director Scott Coker. “The projects

Heroin from front page

Heroin users inject, sniff, snort or smoke heroin so they can obtain their “rush.”

Some people mix heroin with crack cocaine, a more dangerous method known as “speedballing.”

According to Mark Giese, Medical Director with a specialty in emergency medicine, Heroin enters the brain immediately and affects the receptors of the brain involved with feelings of pain and pleasure.

“There are many side effects from the usage of heroin.

There is both a physical and psychological addiction,” Giese said. “It is very hard to be treated for because of the two types of addictions.”

Giese also noted possible side effects including dry mouth, warm flushing of the skin, heavy feeling in the arms and legs, nausea and vomiting, severe itching,

Wednesday, December 6, 2017 are geared toward areas that have a lot of water main breaks. The water pipes are past their expected lifetime and we have a high priority to get the projects going.”

The City Council approved the engineering services agreement with MaurerStutz, Inc. for the North Randolph and South Clay design.

“We have two street projects that we’re proposing for next summer,” Coker said.

“The first is North Randolph from Calhoun to University.

The tentative plan right now is a full overlay and some amount of work at the cemetery, where there’s riff raff along the side. The second part is for Clay Street, and it will be an overlay over there as well. We’ve reviewed the city and those are our two worst streets that we feel fits within our budget for next summer.”

Water Plant Manager Kent Cox was awarded the proposal for the replacement of the electrical motor control center for

Spring Lake pumps to AMP Electrical Services in the amount of $17,960.00. The pumps will be downsized from 600 to 400 amps.

Cox was absent in Monday’s meeting, therefore acting as his substitute was Coker who addressed the City Council.

“Kent (Cox) budgeted $100,000 for this year to do this work,” Coker said. “We came in with two bids, one being a low bid around $18,000 and these are at Spring Lake. We’re very dependent on this equipment and its way past its useful life and its something we feel we need to proceed with for a reliability standpoint and for electrical safety in our water treatment system.”

Finally, the City Council approved the 2018 City Council and Committee of the Whole meeting schedules to be changed to 5 p.m. universally.

The next City Council will be a meeting of the Committee of the Whole and will take place next Monday at 5 p.m. in City Hall.

insomnia, collapsed veins, damaged tissue inside the nose for people who sniff or snort it, infection of the heart lining and valves, and sexual dysfunction for men. People who inject drugs like heroin are also at high risk of being diagnosed with the HIV and hepatitis C viruses. The common misconception is that these diseases are solely transmitted through contact with blood and other bodily fluids, however, the transmission of bodily fluids can occur when sharing needles to inject drugs.

Giese said addiction to heroin can be treated like many other chronic addictions. Due to technological advances, medications are available to treat heroin addiction while reducing their addiction to drugs and withdrawal symptoms, increasing the chances of heroin purity altogether.

“Mostly benzodiazapines like Valium or Narcan are meds that reverses the effects of heroin,” Giese said. “Many

EMS and Police departments carry it with them now.”

Although medical improvements can aid a heroin addict, abusers of the drug often overdose. A heroin overdose occurs when a person uses enough of the drug to induce a life-threatening reaction, or worst-case scenario, death.

According to Giese, when people overdose on heroin, their breathing often slows or stops. This can decrease the amount of oxygen that reaches the brain, a condition known as “hypoxia.”

Hypoxia can have long term mental effects and effects on an individual’s nervous system, often inducing a coma or permanent brain damage.

“Heroin is highly addictive,” Giese said. “People who regularly use heroin often develop a tolerance, which means that they need higher and more frequent doses of the drug to get their desired rush. They develop a substance use disorder causing health problems and inability to perform their daily obligations.”

NEWS 3

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

4 OPINIONS

WesternCourier.com

White Christmas becoming less likely I’m sure we have all noticed that it is Dec. 6 and there is an obvious lack of winter weather. We have yet to have our first snowfall of the season, and we are not alone.

Most of America currently remains practically snowless.

So where is the snow? Its absence points me toward a topic I have discussed before: the effects of climate change on our planet.

According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association, several of the hottest years on record have happened within my lifetime. The winter of 2015-2016 was the hottest on record. A trend of increasingly warm winters is something I have been able to notice just as I have been growing up. It is a deeply concerning issue, seeing seemingly less snow every winter. Many people try to deny climate change, or even just say it is not a problem our generation will have to

face in our lifetimes. As comforting as those thoughts are, they are wrong. Although we here in central Illinois probably aren’t as concerned with rising sea levels, we should be concerned when we look out our window on Dec. 6 and see grass on the ground and people walking around in shorts. Within the last few days, the temperatures have climbed as high as the 60s.

This year especially, it seems the seasons have been delayed. Summer lasted into September and October. We still have leaves on the trees in December. So perhaps the current lack of snow is simply due to a delay of the seasons. Maybe if our winter lasts long into spring, there will be less concern since it will still be present. Or maybe there will be more because of the continued shift of seasons. I’m not a meteorologist, so I cannot tell you what the shift in seasons means.

Maybe it is just a fluke, or

maybe it is another effect of the changing climate. Either way, it is apparent something is changing.

However, hope may be on the horizon. Reportedly, a big storm is supposed to come through the Midwest sometime next week. It is unfortunate that this storm has to come at a time where everyone will begin traveling home after finals, but it is some hope that we may perhaps have a chance at a white Christmas after all. For me, Christmas just doesn’t feel like Christmas without the glistening snow blanketing the ground.

While I hold on to hope that the snow will make its appearance in time for the holidays, I am hoping more that the increasing temperatures will really show doubters that climate change is real and it is affecting us today. I do not have the knowledge to tell you whether or not the damage we have done to our planet is reversible, but I can tell you that if we don’t change our ways, it will continue to get worse. For our children, a white Christmas could be nothing more than a dream.

JESSIE MATIAS/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Macomb screams for ice cream You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. This cold, sweet, delicious treat has been a staple of many American dessert tables for decades. Although commonly advertised as the perfect refreshing summer treat, don’t let this fool you; it is wonderful in the winter as well.

Ice cream, although cold in temperature, is a dessert to be enjoyed all year around. Ice cream is often categorized as a “happy food.”

This is even more of a reason to be eating it during the winter.

In the winter the days seem to get shorter, darker and the bitter cold of outside makes it an easy season to fall into a slumber type of mood. The winter blues are the idea of that “blah” feeling you sometimes feel during the winter months. Eating ice cream

might not completely wipe away that feeling of winter sadness, but using food as a way to feel better isn’t all that foreign to us.

Comfort foods, food generally high in fat content, are what many people eat when feeling down as a way to try to improve ones mood. A lot of you are probably just thinking comfort foods are a myth and just an excuse to eat fatty foods and say you feel happier, but there is in fact a science behind it.

A team of researchers at the University of Lueven in Belgium, put on a study to test if comfort foods really do help “soothe the savage in us.” They took 12 individuals and used an MRI to scan their brain activity before eating and then while consuming certain foods. They quickly found that the individual’s brains response

to sadness were dramatically reduced when they were given fatty foods instead of the salty alternative. The fatty products are also known to be more filling and humans have a higher feeling of satisfaction when they feel that they are substantially fed.

Besides being just a sugary comfort food to get you through your winter blues, ice cream also has a few other good wintery bonuses. Ice cream melts a whole lot slower in the winter than it does in the summer, so it is much easier to enjoy for a longer period of time. Surprisingly, ice cream is also packed with some important nutrients. Ice cream may not be high on your list of dieting foods, but it does contain a good amount of D and Omega-3 vitamins.

Luckily for all of us ice cream lovers, ice cream isn’t seasonal so it is also very easily available all year around.

With the Baskin Robins recently opening up here in town, swing by and get yourself a scoop because in fact, ice cream is more than just a summer treat.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

@WesternCourier

Dear University Community, It is always my goal to be forthright and transparent in my communications with the university community. I have held 13 town hall meetings and two brown bag lunch discussions this semester alone, where individuals had the opportunity to voice their concerns and where I have answered questions regarding a variety of topics, including the university's proposals during the negotiations process.

Despite these efforts, it has been brought to my attention that there continues to be a great deal of disinformation regarding items proposed by the administration in negotiations. Allow me to set the record straight.

The Mediation Process A current rumor circulating is that the administration has no intention of reaching a contract agreement and will declare an impasse in December and

Letter to the editor

then implement the university’s last best offer. Let me be clear, we are not running out the clock. There is no deadline.

The university is dedicated to moving forward. We are concentrating on mediation and a positive outcome for both sides.

Timetable for Negotiation The university does not have a timetable for declaring an impasse. We intend to continue focusing on the mediation/negotiations process and working toward a contract resolution. To state otherwise is deceitful and misleading.

Faculty Teaching Workload It has also been stated that the administration intends to impose mandatory increased faculty teaching workloads across the board. Concerns and misinformation about workload have persisted despite Dr. Russ Morgan and I stating on numerous occasions since June 2017 that the university has

proposed keeping the status quo on this item. The university’s intention is for the faculty teaching workloads to remain as dictated by the last collective bargaining agreement.

The administration is not insisting upon across the board mandatory increased faculty teaching workloads. Anyone who states otherwise is misstating the facts. UPI (University Professionals of Illinois) is the only party that has an on-the-record, formal proposal related to workload, in which they are requesting a reduction from the status quo.

Salary Minima Lanes/Professional Achievement Awards (PAAs) Salary minima lanes have been characterized as being eliminated. However, this does not reflect the entirety of the conversation. The university's on-the-record salary proposal included a revamped system that was comprised

of enhancing salary increases at promotion and restructuring PAAs. The reality is that salary minima lane discussions continue between the parties.

Merit/Promotion/Salary The university continues to provide merit and promotional increases for faculty. Despite the fact that the current faculty contract has expired, this year the university will provide approximately $1 million for promotions, minima lane salary increases and PAAs. The university’s current on-the-record proposal is for faculty base salaries to remain at FY18 levels over the course of the contract.

Administrative Salaries Another inaccuracy that has been shared is that administrators have received salary increases. This is based on misinterpreting the Fiscal Year 2017 Western Budget Book. The Fiscal Year 2017 budget column does not reflect furloughs and

Tackle finals like a professional Everyone is painfully aware of the horrors of finals, which are the toiling days ahead of us. Resulting in eye bags, studying for long hours and not getting enough sleep.

Not to mention other priorities in your life that can amplify your stress too. So, it’s important to know how to cope and deal with your stress accordingly.

Not everyones is the same when dealing with stressing times, such as the ones we’re dealing with now. But it’s important to acknowledge and straightforwardly deal with your stressors in order to have some stability.

Personally, I have already felt the fatigue and pain of studying. I get distracted easily too,

so it’s hard not to procrastinate.

And when I tread into the loop of studying for a few seconds then on to watching something on Netflix, it only amplifies my stress.

Then I’m in a cycle of wanting to study four hours straight and we all know, that’s not what’s most likely going to happen. So, then again the stress comes again.

But I don’t just immediately give up after a few fails, because I’m here for a reason.

Just like you, to get an education and fill this world with what I have to offer.

Which leads me to creating an effective system for not getting off track and making the most out of finals week.

I study 25 minutes for each

subject with a five minutes break, four times in a time span of a day. I try to do this twice a day but usually after a day of class, sleep is the priority.

It has surprisingly helped reduce my stress and created a more focused aura around my study habits, although it is something that I needed to practice; I’m slowly getting better. And with just altering my study habits, I found that my stress level feel a bit reduced.

Studying and engaging your mind aren’t the only ways to get out of this rut of stress. It’s also important to be physically active and mindful of what you eat.

It’s difficult to not eat junk food while studying along with on your free hours, laying in bed for hours.

It sometimes helps with the stress to have an hour or two to yourself, getting caught up in your phone but

it’s not very helpful during finals week.

Getting at least 30 minutes of doing something outside actively or just some cardio inside your dorm will definitely lift your mental and physical state.

The 30 minutes you could be watching something on Netflix can definitely be paused for the greater good of yourself.

Next up would be something I would most highly reccomend for the reduction of stress. Cutting out sugars and processed foods is the best decision you could make these upcoming weeks. I know eating healthy sucks but when you’re running on a bag of hot Cheetos and some Dr. Pepper at 12 a.m, you’re gonna feel your bad decision. At least cutting out one bad item a day just for this week, your body will thank you immensely.

And we all could use a little bit more energy to get through the week.

OPINIONS 5

voluntary pay decreases. Administrators have not received raises since FY15 (Fall 2014) and continue to participate in furloughs.

Moving Forward I will reiterate that the university's focus at this time is on mediation and hopes of attaining a positive outcome. This is where members of the university's mediation team are concentrating their efforts.

In an effort to continue to be transparent, I will hold additional discussions during the Spring 2018 semester and Contract Administrator Russ Morgan will continue to provide updates to the University community. As we continue to work together, I am hopeful the administration and the UPI will arrive at an equitable and mutually beneficial resolution.

Sincerely, Jack Thomas President

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

6 SPORTS

Men’s Basketball from back page

The Leathernecks had a very high scoring percentage during their previous game against Miami.

They plan to continue earning these high numbers throughout their game tonight against the Eagles.

From a defensive standpoint, junior center Brandon Gilbeck continues to dominate in blocks, maintaining his 22 blocks this season so far.

The Leathernecks need to watch out for a strong defensive presence coming from American University as they approach this game. The Eagles' Jessie Little has raked up a total of 11 blocks this season so far, making him not as esteemed as Gilbeck.

The Leathernecks plan to push this win in order to maintain good momentum and a positive record as they approach their final week of gameplay before winter break.

In order to be successful during their last few games before break, the players must all focus on not only playing well on the court, but also put an emphasis on getting enough sleep and eating well in order to keep their energy up during these several hectic weeks.

Twitter: hayfourrr

Track and Field from back page

The point is, the Panthers have had the upper hand on the Leathernecks for a while now, and Western is out to change that.

Either way, it will be a great meet, but who are some names needing to be looking out for?

Well, let’s start off by saying that Eastern lost a ton of great seniors that held them together throughout the season. This is a pretty young group, while the Leathernecks are fairly diversified in class rank.

With that being said, let’s start off with the Leathernecks; there’s three ladies you need to be looking out for: freshman Alexis

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Danner, junior Khalyia Lawson and sophomore Allison Richter.

Expect to see Danner and Lawson on the 4 x 400 together a lot this year. Danner took her team to state in three events, and this was one of them. Lawson clocked in a nice 4:06.08 back in April. Allison Richter on the other hand focuses on field events, with her specialty being javelin. She has the secondbest all-time record for Western with a throw coming in at 40.08 meters. She came to Western as a freshman with a conference championship in shot put, discus and the 4 x 100 relay.

Of the men from EIU, sophomore Bryce Billings is looking to come back and improve on his 100 and 200-meter times. Last season he recorded a time of 11.2 seconds

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for the 100 and 23.35 for the 200.

Alongside him you have Marcus Skinner, a returning sophomore who ran a season best 25:17.7 for the 8K. He specializes in long-distance events, participating in the 3K, 5K, 8K and 10K. Lastly, for the Panthers you have Ashton Wilson, a junior high jumper, who made the 2nd Team All OVC (Ohio Valley Conference) with his best score being 6' 7.75" Expect all of these athletes to be tallying up some points for their respected teams.

Once again, the meet is this Saturday, December 9th in Charleston, Illinois. Field events start at 2 p.m. and track events start at 4p.m.

Twitter:bradjp08

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For Rent Available now: Close to campus, clean studio apartments, excellent condition, reasonable rent, and partly furnished.

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Semester leases offered. Call 309 837 4369 and leave your phone number if not there. Email: MandKhousing@gmail.com ALL APARTMENTS - ALL INCLUSIVE Get control of your budget. Know exactly what you are spending each month. Each apartment includes free a/c, free heat, free electricity, free water, free cable tv, free hi speed internet, and free off street parking. Laundry on site.

No noise policy. Bus stop across the street. Close to campus. Well maintained. Studios are $460/mo, One bedrooms are $620/mo. Call Doug at 309-255-8179 for an appointment.

Westen Investments still has affordable 1-4 Bedroom Apartment/Houses available. Be sure to check out our website (www.westeninvest.com) to see our available listings, and call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to win prize giveaways!

APARTMENT FOR RENT: FOR QUIET PERSON. ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT FOR RENT LOCATED AT 314 West Carroll ST Macomb, Ill 61455. Available end of August 2017-new carpeting yearly lease SMALEST FURNISHED IN MACOMB $345.00/month - HEAT & AC INCLUDED private entrance, off-street parking included call for appointment309-837-4748 or 255-5075 woodburning fireplace, ask for Paul.

For Rent: Little Swan Lake, 30 min from campus. 2br, 2bth, heated double car garage with work area. $600 per mo.

(309) 335-2206 after 6:00 pm, may leave message anytime.

Spacious 3 Bedroom Upper in Duplex close to campus and Jackson St. All utilities furnished and appliances Includes cable and internet 18/19 school year $375.00 per Br Ph 309 255 8086 Please leave message

@WesternCourier

Sports 7

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Wentz is the NFL’s next big thing There are plenty of young quarterbacks in the NFL that have begun to tear up the league with their baby arms and legs against the chiseled, experienced monsters among men that oppose them on the defensive end. There is one quarterback in the NFC East, however, that has separated from the pack.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ sophomore quarterback Carson Wentz has undergone a renaissance in his second year of the league. Wentz is first in touchdowns among quarterbacks this season and has thrown only six interceptions. This sets him far ahead of the Dallas Cowboy quarterback Dak Prescott who Fox Sports personality Skip Bayless treats like Tom Brady 8.0. Prescott has only passed for 19 touchdowns and 8 inter-

ceptions this year without his crutch Ezekiel Elliot to hold his hand through the spooky haunted house that are the NFL defenses.

Prescott has looked like the worst quarterback to ever play in the NFL, Jamarcus Russell the past few weeks without the second best running back in the league while Wentz has become a knight in shining armor for the city of Philadelphia. Wentz has a quarterback rating of 102.0 through the first 14 weeks of the season which is only 7 points behind Brady who seems like he watched the “Curious Case of Benjamin Button” too many times and has finally inherited the disease from Mr. Button. It seems like I remember watching black and white highlights from 1906 and Tommy Terrific

was slinging passes in the old padded helmets. His NFC East counterpart Prescott has had a far worse season with a quarterback rating of 87.9 that seems like it will just keep on plummeting to the depths of the Dead Sea Depression.

Wentz has shown ability this season to make plays appear out of thin air that we only see the best players in the league make this season. He’s not the best at this because literal warlocks like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson exist in the world.

Wilson has established himself as the second-best scrambling quarterback of all time, behind the freak of the human that was Michael Vick.

I was watching Michael Vick’s highlights for the 768th time of my life the other night at 3 a.m. and I was still amazed just as much as I was the first time I ever watched him play. Vick was faster than every person on your defense. He was so fast he made defenders look like they forgot that they had legs, and

decided to crawl in some sand on the beach while they tried to pull a couple skyscrapers or planets behind them. He could also pass the ball better than any quarterback with that type of mobility we had seen before him. In Vick’s second stint with the NFL after the dogfights, he played with Desean Jackson and the Eagles. Vick nailed Jackson on an 88-yard touchdown pass that looked easy. Sometimes I try to throw some trash in my trashcan from less than 5 feet away and the trash ends up in another zip code somehow.

Wilson was playing the Eagles defensive unit on Sunday night that had been giving opposing quarterback night terrors for weeks in advance. He made them look like some newborn infants that were just learning how to walk. Wentz does not have that type of mobility. He is mobile enough to make lineman and linebackers look silly out on the field, and then make some passes that I don’t think more than two or three pass-

ers in the league can make. On that same Sunday night game, Wentz was scrambling outside the pocket and got sacked by Seahawk defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson. He decided to not go down, backhand the laws of physics and complete a 50-yard pass to wide receiver Nelson Agholor.

Wentz has a legitimate shot at MVP and I’d go as far to say that he’s the favorite. Wentz has put on his saddle, thrown the entire Eagles’ roster on his majestic back, and continues to soar with the song “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly blaring so loud the entire world can hear it. The one chink in the armor that I see dimming the shining light of Wentz’s MVP hopes are grandpa Brady and his bionic arm in New England.

Wentz is the new Moses for the young quarterbacks in the league with others like Titans’ Marcus Mariota, Buccaneers’ Jaemis Winston, Rams’ Jared Goff, and Cowboys’ Prescott following his lead.

Clemson back for seconds The stage is set for the College Football Playoffs. The alleged four best teams fought their way to play on the biggest stage in college football. On the first day of the year, the All-State Sugar Bowl will host the University of Clemson Tigers, who are the one seed, and the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, who are the fourth seed. The same day the Rose Bowl hosts second seed Oklahoma University Sooners and the third seed University of Georgia.

If you read my previous column about the CFP, you will see I got caught up in the hype about the University of Miami Hurricanes and their turnover chain. In my defense, Clemson played the best game of their life in the ACC Championship game. However, it really would not have mattered because

Miami looked slow, uninterested, and they got worked.

Another matchup that I fell in love with was Auburn University against Georgia. This game was much closer than the ACC championship, but I fell in love with a two-loss team that had a couple big wins. I will be the first to say, I am an Alabama hater. I think the Tide’s sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts is the most overrated player in college football. I will not jump on Bama’s bandwagon just yet.

I am sticking to my guns and will say, again, Alabama does not belong in the CFP. The Rose Bowl will have a phenomenal game between Georgia and Oklahoma. Fans will get a chance to watch the future Heisman winner take on one of the most complete teams in the country. Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield will be

the headline, but Georgia’s running back Nick Chubb, will be the difference maker in their matchup. Chubb is quietly having a phenomenal season and will end up being the difference under the brightest lights.

Unfortunately leading Heisman candidate Mayfield will overshadow Chubb. Watch for the Favre-esque quarterback to throw three touchdowns and rush for one. After this matchup, the NCAA will be forced to change the name from the “Rose Bowl” to the “Baker Bowl” because he is going to dominate, and prove he is worthy of the Heisman trophy and first round draft choice in 2018. Mayfield and the Sooners will squeeze past the Bulldogs, 35-31.

The Sugar Bowl will not be pretty for anyone besides Clemson and everyone who hates Alabama. The Crimson Tide’s offense is going to be exposed. Everyone who knows sports will ridicule Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban.

Alabama will go down.

This is going to be no surprise

to Clemson, especially after their victory over Alabama last year in the National Championship.

Clemson’s junior quarterback Kelly Bryant is going to remind all college football fans that he can lead a team, just like his mentor and former Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Bryant and the Tigers will shred Alabama. Similar to what they did to Miami. I will take Clemson by 24.

The National Championship will be between Oklahoma and Clemson in a shootout for the ages. The combined score between these two teams will be over 90 points. Bryant and Mayfield will respectively throw for 350 yards and 400 yards. As much as I am pulling for the savior of college football, Mayfield, to win his first National Championship and cap his senior season with a Heisman and victory in his final game, they will not be able to overcome the Tigers. Clemson will win, 54-45. Clemson will be the first team to win two National Championships in the CFP era.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Leathernecks prepare to hunt Eagles

By Haley Richards courier staff

The Western Illinois University men’s basketball team (5-2) are scheduled to face the American University Eagles (2-5) this Wednesday in Western Hall at 7 p.m. The Leathernecks aim to add yet another home win under their belt as they prepare for their upcoming matchup against the Eagles.

Western has had a very strong start to their season, maintaining a positive record and only losing one of five home games this season thus far. Last year ’s matchup between the Eagles and Leathernecks resulted in an AU win, and this year Western plans to bounce back from that loss in order to even the score between the two schools.

Not only are the Leathernecks fired up because of their intentions to avenge themselves against the Eagles, but with their previous game ending in a suspenseful, heartbreaking loss to Miami University, Western needs to bounce back during their upcoming game against the eagles to not only maintain their positive record,

but to re-boost the morale of the team coming back from such a close loss.

Statistically speaking, the Leathernecks and the Eagles, although not having similar records, are very similar teams from a statistic standpoint.

Western currently averages a total of 77.7 points per match while American University averages about 68.7 points per match, meaning that the Leathernecks should expect the Eagles to come out hot on Wednesday with their shots.

As for current stat leaders for the Leathernecks, they have senior guard and forward Dalan Ancrum as Western’s top scorer on the season so far, earing a total of 139 individual points for the Leathernecks.

Trailing Ancrum is freshman point-guard Kobe Webster who has raked up a total of 99 points so far this season. Ancrum and Webster were both also the top scorers in their previous game against Miami, collectively earning over half of the 73 points earned.

Men’s Basketball page 6

Kobe Webster ducks and dives past a defender in a home matchup.

PEDRO AVILA / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR

Track and Field kick off in Charleston

By Bradley Piros courier staff

Michaela Bush dashes down the track over the hurdles.

GOLEATHERNECKS.COM

MACOMB Ill. – The Western Illinois University track and field teams kick off their season over in Charleston, Ill. to take on their rivaling Eastern Illinois University Panthers. It’s the start of a new season for both teams, and it won’t be easy for either one of them.

While the Panthers aren’t a Summit League foe, the Leathernecks are still looking to take this one seriously.

Their first meet of the season is an important one because it lets coaches and players know where they stand against the competition. The Panthers are a good team to go against, especially because of the rivalry, and they look to be a tough opponent for Western.

Western was recently ranked No. 5 in the Summit League Indoor Pre-Season Polls.

Above them is South Dakota State University as well as South Dakota University, but ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row was the North Dakota State University Jackrabbits. While none of that really matters in this season

opener, it just means that the Leathernecks are starting at the bottom giving them room to grow.

With those rankings published, Western is out to prove everyone wrong and get this early season victory against the Panthers.

Western is also looking to do something they haven’t done in a while, which is beat the Panthers.

The last time these two teams met was when the Panthers hosted the Big Blue Classic back in March of this year. A total of 11 teams competed out at O’Brien Field that weekend including some solid competition such as Illinois State University, Indiana State University, the University of Illinois and Bradley University, just to name a few. The Redbirds finished first for the women, followed

by Eastern in second and then Western at fifth. EIU came out on top though in the men’s department while the Leathernecks settled in at 8th.

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