January 2011

First-year Anna-Jonesboro Community High School wrestling coach Kevin Stephens is optimistic for the upcoming season.

“If we can keep everybody healthy and fill a couple of weight classes, we look like we’ll do well,” Stephens said. “The conference championship as well as the regional championship could be in our grasp.”

The squad won the Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference last sesaon under retired coach Rick Bittle, who remains as a volunteer coach.

The weight classes have changed this season at A-J:

The Jonesboro City Council took a few minutes during its regularly scheduled meeting on Nov. 7 to honor Mike Hunter for his 21 years of service to the Jonesboro Fire Department.

Hunter started with the fire department in April 1992 as a volunteer firefighter. Jonesboro Mayor Ken Blandford appointed Hunter as fire chief on Nov. 6, 2006.

The Jonesboro City Council appointed Tim Bowen as the new fire chief, effective on Nov. 1.

Jonesboro went 3-1 in recent junior high school girls’ basketball action.

Jonesboro 44, Lick Creek 34: Jamie Hammond scored 22 points, pulled down 19 rebounds and blocked 6 shots to lead visiting Jonesboro to the win Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Jaycee Pender added 12 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and a blocked shot. Madi Calhoun had 13 rebounds and 2 assists and Aliah Delgado added 2 assists.

Pender scored 10 points, had 3 assists and a blocked shot to lead Jonesboro to a 37-15 win over Lick Creek in the junior varsity game.

The Anna-Jonesboro Community High School girls’ basket ball team split in recent action.

A-J 56, West Frankfort 48: Kim Mixen scored 21 points to boost the host Lady Wildcats to the win Thursday, Dec. 8.

Jessi Stone added 20 points for A-J. Katie Grant scored 6, Brooke Chamness 5 and Valerie Pender 4.

The Lady Wildcats made a big third quarter run in the win. A-J led 13-8 after one quarter and 22-19 at halftime. A-J outscored the Lady Redbirds 21-11 in the third quarter to take the lead 43-30 heading into the final frame.