Freeport is home to a lot of Chicago Cubs fans. And two of the biggest sat down to talk about a gem of the Freeport area: Little Cubs Field.
Freepod host Tim Connors speaks with Denny Garkey, the man behind Little Cubs Field, about the history of the park and the potential that lies unlocked in this beautiful, one of a kind landmark here in the Pretzel City.
Freeport RIF
Freeport School District 145 announced a layoff of staff in an effort to address a more than $11 million budget deficit.
This process — called a reduction in force, or RIF — was announced to staff at the beginning of the month.
The budget deficit stems from rising costs for building maintenance and providing health insurance for staff. Additionally, less money is coming in from state and federal governments to help offset these costs. At this time, the school board is unwilling to raise property taxes to increase revenue.
According to FSD 145, all positions are being reviewed, and nothing is off the table.
A statement from the district office said, "We did not wait for things to get worse before acting. At the start of this school year, every department, including the superintendent's office, was asked to reduce its budget by 20 percent in the first round, followed by an additional 22 percent reduction shortly after. Those were not easy cuts, but they were necessary ones."
Freeport Education Association President Kelly Everding spoke to the board at its regularly scheduled meeting on March 3. Everding called for transparency in the process. She also urged the board to review all positions for elimination, not just classroom, custodial, or transportation staff.
"The fact that we are even having this conversation — the fact that the financial stewardship of this district has led us to a place where reducing the number of staff directly serving students every day is considered a necessary evil — is a critical failure," Everding said.
The district said staff will be notified by the end of the month whether they will be laid off, before the plan goes to the board for approval in early April.
Pickleball courts renovations and lights
Krape Park will receive more than $500,000 in upgrades by the end of next year, thanks to a new grant.
The park will add a scenic nature overlook, an ADA-accessible fishing pier, two new playgrounds, a rock-climbing boulder, disc golf equipment, and new lighting for the pickleball courts.
Work begins this summer and is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
Pickleball players at the high school are looking forward to the new lights.
"If there were lights, I’d probably just play all night until my mom made me come home, or until everyone else left," said Sydney Rackow.
Steven and Kam Meet the Governor
Two Freeport journalism students, Steven Van and Kamryn Bradbury, recently interviewed Gov. J.B. Pritzker in January.
The students drove to Lena and were eager to practice their interviewing skills. Bradbury asked about the Rockford Teachers Union potentially going on strike, while Van asked about increasing economic development in Stephenson and Jo Daviess counties.
The students said it was a rare opportunity to experience a professional journalism setting and meet the governor.
Governor in the Area
Gov. Pritzker was in town visiting Kolb in Lena, Illinois in January to announce that 50 new jobs were coming to the area because the cheese manufacturing factory will be expanding.
Academic Interventions — ACT
Selected juniors had the opportunity to prepare for the ACT with Tried and True, a test-prep company, through Upward Bound.
These students were close to being proficient on the pre-ACT, so Principal Sarah Hasken hopes the extra practice will help them become college-ready for the actual test.
Students spent one week practicing strategies for reading, English, math and science. FHS students will take the ACT on April 9.
Academic Interventions — Grades
The high school is also working to improve graduation rates by providing targeted support to students struggling with their grades.
This semester, FHS hired an English interventionist to help students with reading and writing, while math teachers pull students from advisory to work on math assignments and related skills.
These interventions helped the high school achieve its highest freshman-on-track levels ever, indicating the number of freshmen on track to graduate within four years.
Journalism MN Field Trip
Journalism students are heading to their first national conference this year in Minneapolis.
Selected Media Production pathway students will attend an overnight conference to learn more about journalism. Teachers Jena Kleindl and Haley Kurtz said the trip will allow students to learn from industry professionals and other schools' programs.
Dylan Colberg Star Farmer
Freeport FFA President Dylan Colberg was recognized as this area's Star Farmer and Beef Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award winner. He will compete at the state level.
Colberg earned these honors through scholastic achievements, active FFA participation, beef cattle management, and record-keeping skills.
He will represent Freeport FFA of Section 1 and has a chance to earn the highest award in his Supervised Agricultural Experience area. His final state-level interview will be at the end of March.
"Star Farmer is just the title. You're the best of the best," Colberg said.
"I would say that I am really proud of Dylan, but this is really a win for Dylan, and it’s just a testament to how much work he's put into his project," said FFA advisor Brittani DeVries.
Keondre Jackson Visit
Keondre Jackson, a current NFL player and 2020 graduate, visited Freeport High School to speak with students and donate a jersey.
Jackson held meet-and-greets during lunch periods, gave interviews in Jena Kleindl's Video Production class, and spoke to the entire school during an assembly.
He encouraged students to pursue their dreams and never give up.
"Don't give up. There are a lot of teachers, principals, and resources here giving good advice," Jackson said. "Dedmond told me, especially with my background, I can't let my situation dictate my future. I can't let that control where I want to be. That always stuck with me."
Treyden Diduch Champion
Freeport High School again has a state wrestling champion.
Treyden Diduch placed first in the Class 2A 106-pound division in Champaign last month.
Diduch went nearly undefeated in the regular season before becoming regional and sectional champion. He is the first boys' wrestling champion since Markel Baker in 2022.
1000-point Athletes
Three FHS athletes scored more than 1,000 points this past winter basketball season: Andrew Seward, KZ Morehead, and Aaliyah Martin.
Coaches and teammates said all three are talented shooters who consistently scored throughout high school, leading to their 1,000-point milestone.
Girl Soccer F/S Team
The girls' soccer team has its first freshman/sophomore team in more than 15 years.
Nearly 45 girls tried out. Coach Matt Janosik said the team has a lot of new talent.
"It's going to help us meet the girls where they're at, especially those who have never played before," Janosik said. "It also lets us coach experienced players in a way that benefits them too."
Boys Tennis
The Freeport boys' tennis team returns for spring after back-to-back undefeated NIC-10 titles in 2024 and 2025 — the first conference titles in 30 years.
The team has lost more than half its varsity roster but hopes to succeed with nearly 20 freshmen rebuilding depth for future seasons.
Girls Track Returners
The girls' track team is back with all of its star state-qualifying runners returning.
Last year's state-qualifying relay team — McElroy twins Ta'leiah and Ta'niah, Angela Meighan, and Kanijah Fletcher — is preparing to break new records.
During the indoor season, Ta'Leiah already placed first at a meet and broke a school record.
Showtime Update
Freeport High School's varsity choir and jazz band are preparing for the 46th annual Showtime performance.
They will leave soon for tour in Nashville, Tennessee.
Showtime Director Ryan Jensen said, "Showtime is on track to be a great show. I feel we will honor the tradition of the past 45 years while giving students the opportunity to showcase their talents."
The performance will run April 9–12 at 7 p.m. in the Jeanette Lloyd Theatre.
Probation Presentation
The League of Women Voters will host a presentation on probation in the criminal justice system.
Dr. JoAnn McGee, director of the Stephenson County Probation Department, will explain how probation works to prevent crime and reintegrate individuals into the community.
The program will be Tuesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the Freeport Public Library.
Copy Edited by Eryn Lent