Western Courier | May 4th, 2018

Opinions: Final words from senior editors.

Sports: Winners of the NFL draft.

Sports: Softball to take on North Dakota State.

Friday, May 4, 2018 - Vol. 118 Issue 86

Western students arrested in drug bust Three charged in dark web operation

MCDONOUGH COUNTRY SHERIFFS OFFICE

William Hirmonimous-Wendt (left), Zachary Barnett (center) and Jacob Nelson (right) were arrested following a postal service drug bust.

By Marc Ramirez news editor

Three Western Illinois University students were arrested the afternoon of April 30. Zachary Dean Barnett, pre-business finance major, William Carter HirmonimusWendt, cyber security major and Jacob Cole Nelson, exercise science major were all lodged at McDonough county jail later that afternoon.

Barnett, 18, was arrested in Morgan Hall after a package, headed to Barnett and Nel-

son’s apartment, full of drugs was intercepted by the Postal Service. Lieutenant Lindsey May stated that Barnett purchased drugs such as LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, ecstasy, Xanax, MDMA, Modafinil and steroids over the dark web.

After search warrants were obtained to search the residence of the three men they also discovered gummy bears infused with THC.

According to May, police have been working with the postal service inspectors on busting drug related pack-

ages before they arrive to Macomb and connect them to the residences they’re intended to arrive to. This bust was known to happen due to prior investigative work.

“This was a significant target for this area,” May said in reference to stopping the drug sales operation in an interview with TSPR. “They were the supplier for both locals and college students.”

Barnett is currently facing one charge of contributing to delinquency of a child in regards to providing alcohol to an un-

derage person earlier the prior day according to the belief of the Illinois State Police troopers. He also faces seven counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and seven counts of a controlled substance. Barnett’s bond for release was set at $5,000.

Hironimous-Wendt was arrested facing six counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, six counts possession of a controlled substance and manufacture/delivery of 30-500 grams of cannabis. His

bond for lease was set at $2,000 cash.

Nelson was arrested on two counts of possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $500 cash for the release of Nelson.

May believes that this is such a significant drug bust that more arrests could be possible. He also referred to this case as “the Amazon of drugs” in Macomb.

The three men are expected to appear in court on May 21 at 1:30 p.m. in the McDonough Country District Court.

Unconfirmed mumps outbreak hits Macomb

By Leah Murphy assistant news editor

Thursday, May 11th, an email was sent out to Western Illinois University students to notify the campus community of unconfirmed cases of mumps.

The McDonough County Health Department and Beu Health Center have received numerous reports of unconfirmed cases of mumps at the Western Illinois University-Macomb

Campus. The students who have been examined and appeared symptomatic have been isolated for the required five-day isolation period.

Beu Health Center will have extended hours this weekend. The health center will be open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 5-6.

In an attempt to maintain a healthy campus community, students, faculty and staff are encouraged to take the following

precautions to avoid the mumps virus: make sure your two-dose MMR vaccine is up-to-date.

Those students who have not received the required doses have been contacted; wash your hands well and often with soap and water; cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze; clean frequently touched surfaces with soap and water; do not share eating utensils and beverages with others; avoid close contact with

individuals who are sick.

Students, faculty and staff should watch for mumps symptoms, even if fully vaccinated. Initial symptoms include: muscle aches; loss of appetite; generalized discomfort; headache; low-grade fever.

After a one to two-day period, symptoms may progress to: swelling in one or both salivary glands in front of the ears and pain/tenderness along the jaw.

Students who have any symp-

toms of the mumps should isolate themselves and contact Beu Health Center immediately. Students are asked not to come directly to the health center without first calling. If a diagnosis for mumps is made, the student is encouraged to return home. Students who are diagnosed and choose to go home should not use public transportation. If that is not an option, Western has quarantine facilities available.

2

Friday, May 4, 2018

NEWS

WesternCourier.com

Former Macomb

Mayor Passes

Away

By Steven Barnum assistant news editor

Members of the Macomb community are mourning over the loss of their former, long-time mayor, Robert Anstine, who died last Friday in Springfield, Ill. After a short stint on the city council, the Industry, Ill. native was elected mayor of Macomb at the age of 36 in true wunderkind-fashion.

Anstine made himself at home in the mayor ’s chair, where he was eventually re-elected six times, and would become the longestserving mayor in the history of Macomb.

After his tenure as mayor, Anstine had the pleasure

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

of working under thengovernor Jim Edgar as an assistant in Springfield, Ill. He would later become the senior advisor at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, further showcasing his success in politics.

Edgar recalled Anstine’s passion and trustworthiness.

“Bob (Anstine) was a public servant at heart. He was on the front line of providing service and leadership to his community,” Edgar said.

“Bob was someone I relied upon for wise and common sense advice when dealing with issues involving local governments in Illinois.”

Anstine was responsible

for the inception of Heritage Days, a long-running tradition in the Macomb community. Additionally, he served as the president of the Illinois Municipal League, which was a group that included over 1,200 fellow Illinois mayors, while also helping start the Macomb Area Industrial Development Corporation, the Macomb Downtown Development Corporation, and the Macomb Public Building Commission.

The 1959 University of Iowa graduate was still active following his political days; he was president of the McDonough County Historical Society, co-founder of the Macomb Community

STAFF MEMBERS editor-in-chief Nicholas Ebelhack NA-Ebelhack@wiu.edu assistant news editor Marc Ramirez MA-Ramirez3@wiu.edu assistant news editor Steven Barnum SS-Barnum@wiu.edu opinions editor Ryan Zurek RP-Zurek@wiu.edu sports editor Devon Greene DJ-Greene@wiu.edu assistant sports editor Haley Richards H-Richards@wiu.edu edge editor Baylee Brynteson BM-Brynteson@wiu.edu copy editor Brie Coder B-Coder@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 Becca Langys RE-Langys@wiu.edu assistant photo editor Sara Remar SE-Remar@wiu.edu production manager Jimmy Pierson JM-Pierson@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

R.I.P.

Robert Anstine Jimmy pierson/production manager

Foundation, board member of the Friends of Oakwood Cemetery and the McDonough County Cancer Society, all while continuing to contribute to society as a civic leader.

He went back to work as a part-time pharmacist, circling back to a career he had decades prior. Anstine was a licensed pharmacist in three states and was recognized with the Bowl Hygeia award, designed to honor pharmacists with an exceptional community service record. He also served in the Air Force National Guard, where the crisis in Berlin forced President Kennedy to call Anstine to active duty

in 1961.

Mayor Mike Inman was impressed with Anstine’s work ethic when remembering the former mayor. “He never fully embraced this idea of retirement,” Inman said, emphasizing how committed and active Anstine had been in the community.

Reverend Dr. Howard White officiated Anstine’s funeral, which was held on Thursday, May 3, in the Oakwood Cemetery in Macomb. Those close to Anstine described him as “loving, thoughtful, and easy going,” and someone who always found time to contribute to society despite his busy and demanding career.

PUBLISHING AND CIRCULATION

ADVERTISING POLICY

The Western Courier is published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular school year, excluding holidays, finals week and semester breaks. The WC updates the website weekly during the summer. All content reflects the editorial discretion of the students operating the newspaper and must be interpreted as unofficial university communication. While every attempt is made to determine the validity of advertising contained herein, the advertising in the WC is not to be construed as endorsements of any specific products or services. The WC assumes no responsibility or liability resulting from the content of paid advertisements. Subscription price is $36 per year mailed third-class bulk rate from Macomb.

The WC is printed by The Galesburg Register-Mail in Galesburg, Ill.

COPYRIGHT 2017

No reproduction or reuse of material is permitted without written consent of the WC. All rights reserved. To request permission to reprint any material from this publication, please contact Nicholas Ebelhack or Will Buss at 309-298-1876.

The WC does not knowingly accept advertisements that discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, handicapped status, veteran or sexual orientation, nor does it knowingly print ads that violate any local, state or federal laws.

One copy of the Western Courier is free.

Additional copies $1.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The WC needs your help to maintain accuracy. If you find a factual error, call the WC office at 309-298-1876 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Please ask to speak to an editor to ensure the inaccurate information can be corrected as quickly as possible.

@WesternCourier

Commencement

Friday, May 4, 2018

NEWS 3

Ceremonies

to take place

next week

By Steven Barnum assistant news editor

Over 2,200 students will be receiving degrees in the commencement ceremonies set to take place next weekend in Macomb and Moline.

Kicking off the weekend’s events on Friday, May 11 is the Academic Honors Convocation in Western Hall at 2 p.m. During this ceremony, students with high grade point averages will be awarded with medallions for their academic achievements. President Jack Thomas, graduating senior Molly Marie Cameron will be the Convocation speaker, while Samantha M. Anderson will perform the national anthem.

At 3:45 p.m., the Army will have its ROTC Commissioning in the Heritage Room at the University Union. A Graduate Hooding and Commencement Ceremony will take place in Western Hall and round out the day at 5:30 p.m. Amanda Jane Ensign will sing the national anthem for this ceremony.

Moving onto Saturday, May 12, the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies will take place at Western Hall starting a 9 a.m. The day will begin with candidates in the College of Business and Technology, College of Fine Arts and Communications, and numerous College of Education and Human Services’ departments being recognized. The rest of the candidates in the College of Education and Human Services departments will be recognized at 1 p.m.

Zachary Douglas Palmer will sing the national anthem.

A ceremony honoring candidates in the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program will take at 4:30 p.m. Jordan Mance, from Savanna, Ill., will sing the national anthem for the ceremony, which will recognize the Interdisciplinary Studies Program and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Taking place in the Quad Cities on Sunday, May 13 is the Honors and Combined Ceremonies. The TaxSlayer Center in Moline will host the ceremony.

This ceremony will also feature an honors convocation, where students with high grade point averages will be given medallions. President Jack Thomas will be delivering remarks, while graduating senior Rebecca N. Graham will be the convocation speaker. At 1:30 p.m., the WIU-QC combined graduate and undergraduate commencement will take place. Kathleen Neumann, Interim Provost, will be the master of ceremonies for each ceremony, while Benjamin Adam Rogers will deliver the national anthem.

Additionally, the Western Illinois University Brass Ensemble will perform for the WIU-QC ceremonies and will be led by School of Music Professor Randall Faust.

Western will proudly display flags from 36 different nations in order to represent its Spring 2018 graduating class.

Follow

on Facebook to stay up to date with

News, Entertainment, and Sports.

The Courier will resume regular publication on

August 20, 2018

4 OPINIONS

Friday, May 4, 2018

WesternCourier.com

Thanks for all the memories

After well over 300 issues, hundreds of articles and countless late nights behind the desk, my time at The Western Courier ends today.

It’s a tad bittersweet to leave after running the news desk for the better part of the last three years, writing for four, serving as editorin-chief for my final year and only managing to tick off a handful of students and staff, an admissions director and a division one swim coach.

I’m moving to Charlotte, North Carolina to work for Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity as a Leadership Consultant in less than a month, but I’d be remised to not thank everyone who has had an impact on me while working here.

I’d first like to thank all the editors that helped me get my start back in September of 2014. To Katie Gassman, Cody Rivera, Lucas Whitten, Jacqueline Covey, Kacie Klinge, David Vallandingham and Justin Kozar, thank you for being the friendly faces

that brought me through the yellow (now purple) door my freshman year.

Nick Stewart, thank you for being an inspiration to me my freshman year. If it wasn’t for you I don’t know if I would of made it past my second semester as a writer. Thank you for sticking up for me when someone didn’t like what I wrote, that was the definitive moment where I decided that I wanted to leave Western as the editor-in-chief.

Rich Moreno, thank you for your advice even in the limited time that I had access to you. I’m the last student who would have been around while you were the adviser, know that your influence has lasted long after you have left.

Will Buss, thank you for your guidance and company during my terms as news editor and editor-in-chief. I’ve greatly appreciated all the help and advice you have given me, and I know the paper will continue to do great things with you as adviser.

Mom, Dad and Katie, thank you for your support over the last four years, and everything you have done for me prior to that point.

It’s been a great four years, but I’ve missed you greatly, can’t wait to see you guys at graduation.

To Shannon Norris and Kirsten Edmunds, thank you for being amazing assistants during my time as news editor. The office has gotten a lot quieter since the two of you have left, you guys brought more spirit and energy than I can remember and I miss you both greatly.

To Pedro Avila, thank you for being one of my greatest supporters, and to Angel Strack, thank you for being one of my greatest critics. It’s important to have both of those kinds of people in your life and I appreciated your work at the photo desk.

Collin Cochran, thank you for being a great edge editor and the first roommate I actually enjoyed being around. Baylee Bryntesson, thank you for your friendship and work at the edge desk as well. I wish the both of you the best in your coming marriage.

Marc Ramirez, Leah Murhpy, and Steven Barnum, the news section is all yours now. Know that there are a lot of people

Keep it cool Western In the short two years that I have been attending Western Illinois University I have created so many memories, as well as learned countless life lessons.

As a freshman I was over eager to take in all the experiences I could, which is the reason I found myself involved with a few too many organizations on campus. I learned that as great as it is to be involved on campus, it’s important that you don’t spread yourself too thin when first adapting to a new environment.

When I came to the realization that I needed to cut back on my involvement I found myself really enjoying the

freedom that came with living on my own for the first time. One of the best organizations that I kept around was my sorority, Delta Zeta.

I have been a part of greek life since the beginning of my freshman year and I can honestly say that it was the best decision I made here at WIU. Being involved with greek life has opened so many doors for me both here on campus as well as back home. I have had the opportunity to be around great charity events that truly make a difference while having fun with the campus community.

My favorite thing about Western has been the sense of

community that the students create. Western students have this unspoken camaraderie that envelops you in genuine love. Whether you are walking on campus, eating at the union or enjoying yourself at a local establishment, there is always hospitality between the student population. I have loved meeting all the different types of students and becoming friends with people who I never would have imagined being friends with strictly because of the diverse backgrounds we come from. Some of my closest friends are the ones that live the farthest away from me.

Western Illinois has been a grand adventure, but the reason adventures are so fun is because they were not meant to last. With that I say goodbye to the school that has shaped me into the person I am today. Neck up!

who will look to discredit and deny you, but stay vigilant and watchful. Western’s student body needs you to continue to report the stories they otherwise wouldn’t hear.

I want to also thank the professors and other faculty from the history department in the journalism program, especially Teresa Simmons, Virginia Boynton, Ute Chamberlain, Virginia Jelatis and Jennifer McNabb.

To the men of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, thank you for helping me develop into a leader and a better man over the last two years. My biggest regret is never joining sooner. Keep doing great things and defying the fraternity stereotype, especially in a time where single-sex organizations receive disproportionately negative media coverage.

If I could thank all my brothers by name I would, but I’d like to just name a few that have had more than a substantial impact on my life: Kyle Colson, Zack and Brad Young, Tristan Morrow, Wil Gradle, David Dunn, Patrick Quinlan, Tom Bryson, Austin Spa and of course my three little brothers: Nathan Simon, Preston Bubb and Justin Brown.

Finally, thank you Erika Ward.

Thank you for being my cowork-

er, boss, formal date (twice), wine buddy and one of my best friends over the last four years and for many more to come, I’m glad that our friendship started at The Western Courier. You’ve gotten to travel the country for the last year and now it’s my turn, I can’t wait to finally have some adventures to talk to you about the same way you have for me for the last year.

Devon Greene, The Western Courier is yours now. Enjoy it while you have it, even as it makes you lose sleep, hair and patience. The building looks like it’s about to collapse, and it’s a little bit haunted, but you’ve got some of the people you will be closest with in college right here.

Journalism has become more important at Western than ever over the last year, and now it’s your turn to ensure the students, staff and community.

Western, I can’t say I’ve always liked being here, that purple and gold runs through my veins or that I’ll ever give you money once you give me that degree, but thank you for the opportunities to lead and develop while earning my education.

Goodbye to most, see you soon to a few, and ODH to those I will always be with.

It's been good, Courier Last semester, when I first started writing at the Courier, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I just wanted to get paid to be opinionated.

But as the semester went on, I started to realize how amazing it was to have a platform for my views. Although I caught some flak at times, I’m still proud to have been able to make my voice heard.

I learned a lot writing for the opinions section. For instance, sometimes people are going to take what you say in the worst way possible. If you’re going to

write, you have to make sure you write clearly, and make yourself understood.

When the time came, I decided to apply for the opinions editor position, and I was thrilled to hear the news that I was accepted. This semester has been stressful, but I have enjoyed it immensely. The Courier has given me a lot of fond memories, and for that I will forever be grateful.

To Mark, who comes to this job after me, good luck. This job is a good one, and you will make a lot of memories, and learn a lot.

Friday, May 4, 2018

@WesternCourier

Bye-bye

by Baylee baylee brynteson Entertainment Editor @bayleeBrynteson

I had a wonderful time working as the entertainment editor for the Courier. I never thought I would ever do anything that involved writing, because I am not very good at it, but I enjoy entertainment news and it just kind of clicked.

I was able to work with some great student writers who kept giving me awesome content for the paper and some wonderful editors who made work more fun.

I have always been terrible at anything that has to do with writing. Whether it be MLA or APA I am just bad… or I thought I was. Being an editor gave me a little more confidence in my abilities.

Thank you to all of my amazing co-editors for being so entertaining and helpful, I

was nervous coming into the print side of things and you all made me feel welcomed. I will miss having my Sundays taken up by all of you.

Thank you Nick for giving me this position even though I constantly give you a hard time about everything and anything, you are a great Editor-in-Chief.

I wish I had taken this job sooner so I would have more memories, but I’m thankful for the ones I have even in the short amount of time I was around.

To my successor, John, good luck. This job is rewarding and fulfilling, and I know you are going to do a wonderful job. Make the best of the time that you have here, because it goes by quickly.

Make me proud.

Editorial Policy The editoral views of the Western Courier shall be confined to this editorial and are to be separate from news coverage otherwise noted. The editoral presented is based on the ideas and views of the WC editoral board.Columns are the opinions of the columnists alone and should not be construed as the opinions and beliefs of the WC staff as a whole.

Letters & Local Forum Policies E-mail letters to the Editor and Local Forum messages to micour@wiu.edu.

Letters should not be more than 350 words in length. The author’s name and phone number must be included for verification purposes. Failure to include such information will lead to the letter being discarded. The WC staff will edit letters in cases of timeliness, obscenity length and grammer, and we do not guarantee publication of all letters.

2018 Spring Semester Editorial Board Editor-in-Cheif - Nicholas Ebelhack Edge Editor - Baylee Bryntesson Opinions Editor - Ryan Zurek

OPINIONS 5

Friday, May 4, 2018

6 SPORTS

Baseball from back page

Leading the Leathernecks offensively is freshman pitcher Alex Dorethy. He has a batting average of .303. Following him is junior utility player Bailey

Emily Ira pitching for the Purple and Gold.

Softball from back page

NDSU has a lineup worth sweating over. To start at the plate NDSU has senior Bre Beatty. Ranked seventh in conference for average at .345, she is the leader for this team.

She was the Summit League Tournament MVP last year, and is hoping to prove she is the best in the conference here this weekend. Her leadership has brought the Bison to the NCAA RPI ranks at number 56. She leads her team with 16 multiple hit games and seven multiple RBI games.

The real strength for NDSU comes at the mound. The ace for NDSU is Jacquelyn

Montgomery with a .282 batting average. C.J. Schaeffer comes in at third with an average of .269. Thompson leads the Purple and Gold with18 RBIs and closely behind him is Montgomery with 17.

After this three-game series,

Western Illinois will only have seven more games until the conclusion of their season. The Summit League Championship starts on May 23, and will be played in Tulsa, Okla.

Twitter: hayfourrr

BECCA LANGYS/PHOTO EDITOR

Sertic. She leads the Summit League in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and ERA with 1.47. The senior is having an amazing year and hopes to bring the Bison to the top of the Summit League this weekend.

Only one school has gotten double digit hits on her, and that school was Arizona State. Her caliber as a pitcher is unmatched in the Summit League and will be hard to overcome.

The three game series starts with a double header on Saturday in Fargo, N.D. followed by one more game on Sunday. These are the final matchups before the Summit League Tournament in Fargo starting May 9.

C.J. Schaeffer ready to throw down the runner.

CLASSIFIEDS

WC

For Rent

For Rent

Submit a classifieds ad to Micour@wiu.edu

1 & 2 bedroom apartments, new $250 signing bonus on 10 and 12 month leases. Two blocks from campus. Bus stops nearby. Free water, garbage and parking. Laundry onsite. Clean, well maintained and secure. Call Ted 309-837-5600 or visit markertrental.com.

Spacious 2-5 bedroom homes for rent. 10 month lease available. Great locations, close to bus stops, plenty off street parking, all new windows, AC, energy efficient furnace, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, free washer/dryer. Well maintained (24 hrs.) by local landlord.

Call 309-255-1233.

Houses for Rent 2016/2017: A&D Real Estate has several 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses for rent, all with at least 2 bathrooms, recently rennovated and located close to campus. Call for a tour or visit our website at www.wiucollegerentals.com. Local landlord with a focus on clean and updated housing with personal service for your college housing needs. 309-313-1122.

FALL INTO SAVINGS with Charleston Boulevard Apartments! Now offering SPECIAL RATES through Dec. 2017! Call for specific details 309-833-4545!.

NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2016-2017 Our houses have hard wood floors, ceramic tile, central air, washer and dryer and are close to campus with plenty of parking. We offer a ten month lease so you don’t pay for the months you aren’t here. Please call 309-255-1959 for a showing.

Now showing for 2017 & 2018 year 2, 3, and 5 bedrooms homes all close to campus. Call 309-331-4565.

Westen Investments has only two 4-Bedroom brich houses available. Call our office at 309-833-5995 to schedule a showing! We will show to 2-3 person groups as well!

STC Investments now leasing for the 18/19 school year. We have 1-6 bedroom apartments/houses ready for you to call home! Check out our selection at www.stcinvestments.com.

You can also find us on Facebook to see daily posts!

.

WesternCourier.com

LARGE STUDENT RENTALS 5 and 6 Bedroom Homes are still available!! Ask for our $1000.00 Discount program! Firsrt come first serve for the last large homes that are open for the fall.

NICE, CLEAN, WELL MAINTAINED 1 TO 6 BEDROOM HOUSES FOR 2017-2018 Our houses have wood floors, ceramic tile, W/D, central air, and are close to campus with plentry of parking. We offer low rent and a 10 month lease to save you money! Call 309-255-1959 for a showing.

Small 1BR apt near campus and downtown. All utilities included. (Electric, Water, DISH, Garbage) $500/month, $300 deposit. Available immediately. Also have 2BR, you pay electric. $600/month, $350 deposit available September 1st. Please contact 309-255-4367 for a showing.

CLEAN, REMODELED, AND WELL MAINTAINED HOUSES AND APTS FOR RENT IN GREAT LOCATIONS. UTILITIES PAID FOR APARTMENTS. RENTING NOW FOR FALL 2017.

ALSO RENTING TWO APTS FOR SPRING 2016. CALL JASON AT 309-221-3985.

Timbercrest Apartments 1587 Riverview Drive Now showing 1 & 2 Bedroom Units. Very clean, close to WIU campus with bus stop in front of building. Washer/dryer available in most units, all other appliances included, FREE INTERNET, ceiling fans in every room, pet friendly. All units have off street parking and private decks overlooking campus. Both 10- and 12-month leases are available. Openings for Summer 2017 and school year 2017/2018. Deposit required. Phone (309)833-3192 and leave message.

Westen Investments has just one 3-Bedroom ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED (Water, Sewer, Trash, Gas, Electric, and Internet) Apartment left! That’s right you just pay for rent, and the rest of it is on us! Call our office at 309-833-5995 to check it out.

Looking for 2 roommates to share a 3-bedroom furnished house beginning in August for 2018-19. 10- to 12-month contract. New carpet, air, garage w/ storage, laundry. $300 each per month, plus utilities. Call Sharon at 309-338-3888.

The nicer apartments are going fast, excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. Reasonable prices. Studio, 1-3 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

JOSH PURNELL/COURIER STAFF

RATES $5.50 per issue (open rate) $4.00 per issue (campus rate)

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

Ceiling fans and a/c. Professionally maintained. No pets.

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 Still have some nice large locations available at reasonable prices. Excellent service- 24 hour emergency maintenance. 1-8 bedrooms, locations on/off campus available ‘18-’19 school year. Pets at some locations. Check us out at rentcollegepads.com. If interested, please call F & H Rentals 309/837-1705.

Sports 7

Friday, May 4, 2018

@WesternCourier

JIMMY PIERSON/PRODUCITON MANAGER

Roughly a week after the NFL draft, I have been able to let the picks marinate in my mind.

Last month, if I would have told you that Baker Mayfield was going to go first overall to the Cleveland Browns and Denzel Ward would be the fourth overall pick, you would have scolded me.

However, all that did happen, I am here to tell you my favorite picks and my not so favorite picks from the 2018 NFL Draft.

Since I am a nice guy, I will give you the good news, a.k.a. my favorite picks, first.

The first winning team from the draft has to be the New York Jets. In my lifetime, the Jets have predominantly been awful; think about it, the best

span that the team had was with butt-fumble himself, Mark Sanchez. In Sanchez’s first few years in the league, he took the Jets to a pair of AFC championship games, but then it all fell apart. The Jets stole one of the top two players in the draft because Cleveland’s last good pick was LeBron James. Sam Darnold will carry New York to a near playoff birth in his first year, great job New York.

Another winner from day one of the draft was the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins somehow got Minkah Fitzpatrick to fall all the way back to them.

Minkah is going to be a better version of Tyran Mathieu in the league. He has been playing for Nick Saban since

Russell Wilson heading to the sidelines

he was a freshman and when the Dolphins hit a home run.

Heading up to Baltimore, the Ravens had one of the best steals of the draft. The 83 overall pick was not the sexiest, but it’s going to pay off for their sexy first round pick that capped the first round. Orlando Brown, who I thought was a topfive lineman in the draft, fell to the third round because his combine numbers were in the same conversation as Rich Eisen, an ESPN reporter for those of you who don’t know. Brown is going to lose about 20 pounds of fat and be a dominant lineman for the Ravens in the future years to come.

Lastly, the most obvious winner, was the Los Angeles Chargers. They were able to get the best safety in the draft at 17. Just like everybody else, I thought Derwin James was going to get drafted by the Buccaneers seventh, but they passed

on him at seven and also at 12. Passing on James two times was the worst decision that franchise has made in a long time.

On the flip side of all the winners, there were just as many losers in this draft. A sneaky loser that a lot of people will hate me for is the New York Giants. The Giants lost when they took Saquon Barkley, not because he is going to be a bad player, but because he was not what they needed. Running backs are interchangeable, you can find ways to use runningbacks' strengths and make them versatile. The Giants should have taken Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen; if one of those two had been drafted, they would have gotten one comfortable year to sit behind Eli Manning to develop and learn how to be a quarterback in the NFL. The future quarterback draft classes will not be as bright as this one, and the Giants

will pay.

Another team that just missed was my beloved 49ers. San Francisco drafted Mike McGlinchey, which was not a dire position needed for them. I thought that the 49ers should have taken Minkah Fitzpatrick or traded back.

After one of the best drafts I have seen in a long time in 2017, the 49ers dropped the ball in 2018.

Lastly, the biggest loser was once again the Browns.

Cleveland makes it extremely hard to feel bad for them.

The Browns have yet to learn, college skill does not always translate to the NFL, and there is absolutely no reason that they should have taken Baker Mayfield before the rest of the quarterbacks in the draft.

The Browns are shooting their shot and hoping they get Russell Wilson out of their first pick, but unfortunately they might get Johnny Manziel.

WIKIMEDIA.ORG

Softball heads to Bison country

By Michael Harms courier staff

ANGEL STRACK/PHOTO EDITOR

Hailey Duwa prepares for a ball at the plate.

FARGO, N.D. — Western Illinois University is looking to finish the season on a strong note in the final series of the season when they go up up against the North Dakota State University Bison.

Western looks to hold its place at first in the conference before going into championship season. With a 9-3 record in conference NDSU is at third with a 7-3 record.

Western’s recent performance has been sub-par. Going up against SDSU over the previous weekend, they only won one game out of three, allowing the Jackrabbits to get in closing distance of the number one position in conference.

They are 1-4 in their last five matchup’s and have struggled in more ways than one. In the last five games they only combined 10 runs and gave up 38. This last series will be a grueling fight for the top positions. The silent bats will have to change.

There is hope with junior Hailey Duwa, who is currently ranked fifth in the Summit

League, with a batting average of .372 and 31 in RBIs. Alongside her is sophomore Jasmine Lara. She is ranked 10th, with an average of .330 and ninth OBP at .430. Their talents at the plate will need to uphold against NDSU in order to get a win.

In the pitching category, look no further than Western’s own Emily Ira. The junior pitcher out of Iowa City has been shining bright this season. She is fifth ranked in conference for saves with nine, fourth for ERA at 3.51 and second in strikeouts with 149.

This weekend will show just how much talent she brings to Western’s lineup. She has struggled as of late. In her last three matchups she has posted an ERA above seven every time out. Luckily her hitting has made up for it. In the last three matchups she has been hitting an average of .500. Hopefully she will turn things around on the mound this weekend.

Softball page 6

Necks continue Summit League stretch

By Haley Richards sports editor

MACOMB, Ill. — The Western Illinois baseball team will take on Fort Wayne for the second time this season. It will be a three-game series starting on Friday, May 4, with first pitch at 3 p.m.

The Leathernecks currently sit at 10-25 on the season and are 7-10 in conference.

The Mastodons are 10-27 overall and 6-15 in Summit League play.

The last series between these two teams was at the end of March and the Purple and Gold lost the series 2-1. The first game of the series was a close 3-1 loss, in the second game, Western Illinois defeated Fort Wayne 9-3, and in the last game, the score was 6-1.

The Mastodons are currently in last place in the Summit League standings, and lost the series to South Dakota State University this past weekend. Senior infielder Shannon Baker leads the Fort Wayne offense and is ranked third in the League for batting average at .321. Of the top five averages in the con-

ference, Baker is the only player from a school other than Oral Roberts University.

As for pitching, Brandon Phelps is tied for second in the conference with four wins on the season.

Amongst the ranks of the Summit League stats for Western is junior pitcher Ian Koch with an ERA of 3.24, this places him at third.

Senior pitcher Ryan Dunne currently has the most strikeouts in the conference with 66 and Koch is in third with 60. Junior infielder Deion Thompson also ranks third in the League for stolen bases at 14.

Western is currently coming off of a series loss against Oral Roberts. ORU is number one in the conference with a record of 16-5. In second is South Dakota State, followed

by University of NebraskaOmaha and North Dakota State. The Leathernecks are sitting at fifth in the conference currently.

Baseball page 6

Deion Thompson awaits a ball in the infield.

JOSH PURNELL/ COURIER STAFF