Moving 'onward and upward' to the IHSA Class 1A State Track and Field Finals after winning both the long jump and 100 meter dash on Friday at the Newton Girls' Sectional is Jennie Block of Flora High School.
And 'oh, so close' was several third places turned in by the Wolfgals at a Sectional meet where the winner and runner-up receive State Finals bids.
Easily winning the long jump, Block cleared 16-feet-1-inch, more than one full-foot better than the runner-up finisher, Lexie Davidson, of Newton.
PAUL KNAPP IS now a Trailblazer, as the Flora High School Senior (second from left seated) signed a national letter of intent to play college basketball next season for Vincennes University, on Wednesday, in Conley Gym, on the FHS campus. Also pictured are (seated from left) Wolves head basketball coach Phil Leib, and Vincennes University head basketball coach Todd Franklin. Back (l-r) grandmother Jane Knapp, mother Linda Knapp, father Andy Knapp and grandfather Bill Knapp. Vincennes University is a junior college located in Vincennes, Indiana, known for developing players for major college/Division I programs. Knapp is the all–time career basketball scoring leader for the Flora Wolves, totaling 2, 125 points. For the 2011-12 season, the 6-foot-1 point-guard was Associated-Press Second Team Class 1A All-State.
The Flora High School 2012 Sweetheart Dance will be held this Saturday, February 11, 2012.
The theme of the dance is “Wild at Heart,” with a leopard print and red color scheme.
Coronation will begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening to the public at 7:45 p.m
What's the expression – 'keepin' up with the Joneses …'
CAREER COACHING VICTORY No. 200 for Phil Leib, Boys’ Varsity Basketball coach of Flora High School, came Tuesday night versus Hutsonville/Palestine in the Little Illini Conference Tournament, played at Red Hill High School, Bridgeport.
The Wolves rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter for the 54-48 win over the Tigers. Now Leib goes for win No. 201 on Friday, in the LIC Tourney Championship Game, versus rival Marshall, at 8 p.m. at Red Hill. The Wolves take a 20-2 record into that game.
See related article and photos on Page 12 of the Thursday, January 26, Advocate-Press.
FOLLOWING A THRILLING 42-35 upset win over rival Olney, of East Richland, on Monday, the Lady Pups of Floyd Henson Junior High School, of Flora, hoist the championship trophy of the 2012 Class L SIJHSAA Regional, played at McGrew Gym. On Saturday, the Lady Pups take on Sparta, at 10:45 a.m. in the SIJHSAA State Finals Tournament, at Rend Lake College, in Ina, Illinois. The Flora team takes an 18-3 record into the finals. See related article and photos in the January 19 edition of the Advocate-Press.
The Lady Pups will play in the State Championship game this Saturday, January 28, in Ina at Rend Lake College versus Carterville.
ON FRIDAY NIGHT, at Conley Gym, the Wolves of Flora High School defeated Edwards County 58-54 in a thrilling come from behind victory to notch the 1,500th win in the history of the boys varsity basketball program at FHS.
On the Wolves team that won that milestone victory are front (l-r) Brenden Thomas, Conner Earleywine, Bryson Beckham, Cory Moore, Bryce Pearce, Clayton Walden, Preston Price, Dexter Burgess and Varsity Coach Phil Leib. Back (l-r) Managers Jessica Gaither and Helen Leib, JV Coach Louie Lusk, Blake Gocey, Ast. Coach Adam Cartwright, Christian Taylor, Blake Shehorn, Robert Casolari, Ethan Leib, Nick Painter and Paul Knapp.
For the full details of the win, check out the Tuesday, January 10, 2012 edition of the Advocate-Press
VANDALIA – 'Just enough …!'
Speaking of the championship game of the 40th Annual Vandalia Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament, played Thursday night between Flora and Pana high schools, Flora Varsity Coach Phil Leib said. “We missed some free-throws down the stretch – but we made enough. We gave up some easy points down the stretch – but we stopped them enough. That was the difference in the game.”
And those few free-throws and stops made proved just enough for one big win for the Wolves, 75-69, over Pana for the 2011 championship, Flora's second in three years, and eighth Vandalia Tourney title overall.
January
A brisk December of 2010 lead into a slightly balmier January when...
Clay County receives news that Flora’s retired Police Chief and ESDA veteran Edwin L. Guyott, had passed away in Texas.
After an accidental severing of a fiber optic line, much of the County is left without phone, Internet or even 911 service.
Ready for so good a time, it’s scary? Come out to Fright Night, sponsored by Flora High School Post Prom.
The spooky event is held at Charley Brown Park in the deep dark of night (8 p.m. until midnight), on Saturday, October 22 and Friday, October 28.
Flora’s homecoming game might not have gone so great, after the Wolves posted a 20 to 13 loss versus Red Hill on Friday evening (Click Advocate-Press Sports here, for the recap), but that’s no reason for the students not to have some “Fun in the Sun” at the dance on Saturday night.
The summery theme lent itself to some bright pastel colored decorations as the homecoming court was announced to the crowd at Conley Gymnasium just after 8 p.m.
The student body voted and saw their choices, Seniors Nick Painter and Hannah Fox, crowned homecoming King and Queen.
The Board of the Flora Academic Foundation has released a revised entertainment schedule for the Appleknocker Festival.
The September 24 festival will begin at 8 a.m. and will run into the afternoon.
Zach E. Thomas of Flora was honored for his achievements during the May, 2011 Honors Day ceremony at Murray State University.
Zach, a Technology & Engineering Education major, received the “Outstanding Senior in Career and Technical Teacher Education” award.
This award is presented to a senior in Career and Technical Education based on academic achievement, leadership, campus activities and professional commitments.
Zach is the son of Troy and Sandy Thomas of Flora, brother to Brenden Thomas of Flora; Grandson of Don and Rena Thomas, of Flora, and Bob and Barbara Gill of Cisne; Great Grandson of Edna Gill of Clay City and Helen Shew of Newton.
There are plenty of people that complain that they see a lack of pride in our country among the younger generations today. Nobody will be making that claim against the young ladies of the Shooting Stars Drill Team of Clay County.
The Shooting Stars is a patriotic drill team and they are sponsored by the Illinois Women Veterans group based here in Clay County, who have previous put on the P.O.W./M.I.A. Recognition Days.
The Shooting Stars is made up of eight dedicated girls between first and sixth grade. There are also two boys who are the group’s banner bearers.
Graduation is a step on to the next part of a student’s life. In High School, what comes next can be unsure. In Junior High, the details may be fuzzy, but these students know where they’re headed: to high school and back to the bottom of the pile as freshmen.
Flora, North Clay and Clay City Schools all held their ceremonies for the end of eighth grade: a promotion in Flora, a commencement at North Clay and a graduation in Clay City.
Whatever the title, the gist of it is the same, these kids are headed on.
A new chapter of life has begun for the seniors of all three Clay County High Schools this weekend, as all of the school's held graduation exercises.
Clay City started the weekend out with its High School Graduation held Friday night at 8 p.m. Next was North Clay High School at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Finally, Flora High School's graduation tied the weekend up at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Clay City's class of 2011 featured Cassandra Lybarger as their salutatorian and Katelyn Hosselton as their valedictorian.
Hosselton's speech centered around around sticking with your dreams through thick and thin.
With more an more things out there to take the focus away from the youth of America, it has never been harder to resist the kinds of influence that can lead to destructive behavior.
Despite all this, The sixth grade students who graduated from DARE class at Floyd Henson Junior High on Friday afternoon have been prepared to resist those things and make the tough choice though.
The ceremony began at 1:30 p.m. Parents were invited and the bleachers were filled with family members of the students.
Presiding over the ceremonies were Floyd Henson Principal Janette Schade, Flora Police Department DARE officer Assistant Chief Geb Borders and Odd Fellows Past State Grandmaster Rich Herring.
Four years of hard work began to pay off for dozens of Flora High School seniors Monday morning as they were honored for the school’s annual senior awards day.
The seniors, dressed for the field day that comprised their Wednesday after the ceremony, could be excused if they thought back to all of the effort that brought them here, to the end of their time at FHS and being prepared for what’s next.
This class’ two students joining the military, Darren Henson, bound for the Army and Kelton Young, to the Marines, lead the assembly in the Pledge of allegiance.
