Michael Urbanec

Streator

Morris Herald-News editor. Retweets are not endorsements. @michaelurbanec for stupid jokes, puns and bad sports takes. Northern Star & Top Shelf Sports alum.

Articles

Meals on Wheels recruiting volunteers as it keeps up call for funding

5 days ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

Meals on Wheels of Grundy County hosted an open house Thursday morning at Saratoga Towers, 1700 Newton Drive, Morris, where it showed off its services, and also shared its need for more volunteer drivers. Nutrition Director Pat Strahan said she currently has 37 volunteers, around 2/3s of which are drivers. She could use between four and six additional drivers, but there’s always a need for more volunteers, in general.
Morris Hospital, YMCA nutrition seminar focuses on meals for weight loss

5 days ago | bnd.com | Michael Urbanec

May 8-Morris Hospital and the YMCA are hosting a free nutrition seminar from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at the Morris Hospital YMCA, 2200 W. Dupont Ave., Morris, called "Build Balanced Meals for Weight Loss."A Morris Hospital registered dietitian will discuss how to create a balanced plate by incorporating all food groups. Weight loss and weight management tips through balanced eating are also covered, according to a May 5 news release.
City of Morris to host paper shredding event

6 days ago | bnd.com | Michael Urbanec

May 8-The city of Morris is hosting a paper shredding event for residents from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at Morris City Hall, 700 N. Division St.The city said in a Thursday news release that this event is to help residents protect personal information and reduce clutter by securely shredding old documents like bank statements, tax records, medical bills and other paperwork that contains sensitive or confidential information.
Morris receives $771,263 community revitalization grant

6 days ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

The City of Morris announced Tuesday that it is receiving a $771,263 Rebuild Illinois Downtown and Main Streets (RDMS) grant. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) awarded a total of $20 million to 16 different community revitalization projects, according to a Tuesday news release.
Creativity, connectivity and following in footsteps: ICS’s Johnson approaches 25 years teaching

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

Rhonda Johnson, who teaches at Immaculate Conception School in Morris, has been teaching fifth grade students for 25 years, following in the footsteps of some of her favorite teachers. Johnson is in her 31st year of teaching, starting out at Saratoga Elementary before moving to Immaculate Conception. “What is different is we can bring our Christian values into every class, whether it’s reading or science,” Johnson. That connection is always there, and my students now ask what the connection is.
Dwight’s Gettinger has old school approach popular with kids

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

Every student coming through Dwight Elementary School over the last 32 years has been able to attend one of the more creatively planned third or fourth grade classes with Stinnett Gettinger. Superintendent Josh Delong said Gettinger is the most unique teacher he’s ever seen, and Gettinger said it’s because of the connection he has with the students. It’s not just about grades and what he can teach them academically.
Love of learning led ICS’s Mary Gile to return to the classroom

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

For all the hats Mary Gile wears teaching junior high students at Immaculate Conception School, it would be hard to guess that she came to teaching later in life. “I have an algebra one group of eighth graders, and then I teach seventh grade math, and I also teach seventh and eighth grade science, and eighth grade social studies,” Gile said.
ICS’s Hemmersbach hooked on teaching from the start

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

Kristen Hemmersbach didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life until a friend asked her to take an early childhood education course at Joliet Junior College, and that course reminded her of all the good teachers she had as a student in Shorewood. Now she’s teaching first grade students at Immaculate Conception School, and has been for 23 years. “When I was in high school, I wanted to be an accountant,” Hemmersbach said. “Then I took a class in high school and hated it, just hated it.
Morris Elementary’s Blatti shows kids the value of a well-written letter

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

Lauren Blatti’s journey toward teaching was inspired by one of her childhood teachers, although she knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age. Her room now is surrounded by white boards and writing advice, reminding students of the proper format for essays and giving grammar advice, but the teacher who inspired her was Chaney-Monge math teacher Deb Thiakos. “She became like a second mom to me,” Blatti said. “We just spent hours talking, and she really encouraged and pushed and motivated me.
Morris High School’s Custer uses soccer, surroundings to teach new students English

1 week ago | shawlocal.com | Michael Urbanec

Teachers, by trade, are constantly busy, but Steven Custer takes that to another level with all the hats he wears at Morris Community High School. He teaches U.S. history, English as a second language, world history for those speaking English as a second language, and coaches both varsity girls soccer and junior varsity boys soccer.