Tag: Chris Highland

NORMAL– One lucky grade school is getting a special visit from a music superstar. Justin Bieber will be coming to the twin cities to meet students from Epiphany Catholic Grade School.

Five girls from the grade school led the efforts to raise money for a charity called Pencils of Promise. The charity raises money to help build schools in third world countries. For every $25 raised by the school, their name was put into a raffle. The raffle was conducted earlier this week and the founder of Pencils of Promise, Adam Braun, announced today that Epiphany School has won.

It is still undecided as to when Bieber will make his appearance in Normal.

NORMAL— Two evenly matched teams showed why they are at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference inside Redbird Arena Thursday night. A back and forth battle in the first half came down to the wire with Alexis Jenkins hitting a game winning shot in the final seconds.

Only four Illinois State Redbirds scored points in the first half. Despite the scarce scoring, ISU only trailed Wichita State by three at halftime. Janae Smith kept Illinois State close in the first 20 minutes. Smith had 10 points and five rebounds before halftime. The Shockers also had trouble finding scoring, with only five players contributing points in the first half.

Wichita State came out of the locker room aggressively, taking a 10 point lead over the Redbirds within the first five minutes in the second half. While Illinois State was having trouble stopping the Shockers on the defensive end, ISU had their own trouble on the offensive end. The Redbirds made only one field goal during a five minute span early in the second half.

Illinois State continued to chip away at the Shockers lead the entire half. The Redbirds were finally able to tie the game at 50-50 with two minutes to play. Trailing by one with 34 seconds to play, Brianna Puni stepped to the line and sank two free throws to give the Redbirds a 55-54 lead. Chynna Turner tipped in a missed shot by a teammate with seven seconds to go, giving Wichita State a one point lead. Head coach Stephanie Glance opted not to take a timeout and Alexis Jenkins went the length of the floor putting in a fifteen foot jump shot with under a second to play, giving Illinois State the victory.

Illinois State improves to 19-8 (11-4) while Wichita State sinks to 19-9 (13-3).  The Redbirds next matchup is against Missouri State at home for Senior Night on Sunday.  That game can be heard right here on 103.3 WZND and wznd.com.

103.3 WZND’s The Red Zone had a special guest on Thursday night to talk some Missouri Valley Conference basketball before the Redbirds host the Southern Illinois this Saturday.  Saluki head basketball manager and theSPORTSfeast.com’s SIU insider Kyle Osbourne believes there is no reason to deny the thought of three MVC teams in the tournament come March.

Next week’s show will be live at the Visor Center in Manchester-Hewitt beginning at 7 pm, but be sure to tune into The Red Zone with Joe and Chris every Thursday night at 6:30 on  103.3 WZND or wznd.com.

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ISU’s Red Alert hosted their first ever Redbird Social Media Night Pep Rally Tuesday night.  103.3 WZND’s The Red Zone was able to get to talk to some of the players about their involvement on Twitter.

Make sure to tune into The Red Zone with Chris and Joe every Thursday night at 6:30.

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ISU’s Red Alert hosted their first ever Redbird Social Media Night Pep Rally Tuesday night.  103.3 WZND’s The Red Zone was able to get to talk to some of the players about their involvement on Twitter.

Make sure to tune into The Red Zone with Chris and Joe every Thursday night at 6:30.

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SPRINGFIELD– Motorists are being more cautious on the roadways today. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has data that shows vehicle fatalities were down 63 percent over this past holiday weekend. Only three deaths in two accidents were reported on the roadways.

“Illinois has made significant progress in recent years to improve traffic safety and reduce fatalities on Illinois roadways, and the Thanksgiving holiday weekend was no exception,” Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider said. “Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, statewide seat belt usage rates are at record highs and annual traffic fatalities appear on track to total less than 1,000 for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, major capital improvements under way for Illinois roads and bridges should continue to reap logistical and safety benefits for motorists in years to come.”

IDOT has recently started the “Drive to Survive” campaign. This effort is the state’s end-of-year drive to keep motorists safe while traveling through the holidays. The Illinois State Police and nearly 300 law enforcement agencies statewide were out in force implementing seat belt and DUI enforcement efforts during Thanksgiving weekend.

The “Drive to Survive” campaign focuses on nighttime hours, which data shows are the most deadly. Illinois drivers can continue to expect roadside safety checks, seat belt enforcement zones and other police saturation patrols looking for seat belt law violators and drunk drivers.

BLOOMINGTON– Bloomington Police have arrested two men in connection with a home invasion and armed robbery that occurred on Sunday night. David D. Duke and Kent D. Johnson are being charged with home invasion and armed robbery and their bail have been set at $100,000.

The two men entered a home on Goose Creek Drive where they ordered the victims into a back bedroom of the apartment and tied up while the men took property from the residence.

Johnson, who was arrested at an address on Orlando Drive in Normal, is also being charged with Manufacture/Delivery of Cannibis.

NORMAL– An autopsy was completed Monday afternoon for Lucas Stork, 24, who died Saturday night in an ATV accident. The coroner found “no fatal traumatic injuries” and said that Stork died from being trapped under the utility vehicle and was unable to breathe.

Stork, a Chatsworth resident, was found unresponsive in a ravine near Arrowsmith, Illinois. When rescue crews arrived on scene, Stork was trapped under the utility vehicle with no obvious signs of life.

Three other riders on the vehicle suffered non-fatal injuries. The survivors of the crash say they were not wearing seat belts, even though the vehicle was equipped with seat belts.

A toxicology report has been ordered for the deceased.

NORMAL– the multi-platinum rock band Matchbox Twenty is making a stop at Braden Auditorium on their upcoming tour. The band will perform on the campus of Illinois State University on February 6th.

Illinois State students can purchase tickets on Wednesday, November 14th, as apart of a special presale. Students who present a school ID will get a five dollar discount on tickets. Tickets will go on sale for the general public on Firday, November 16th. Reserved seat tickets ($75 / $55 / $39) will be available for purchase at Braden Box Office, all Ticketmaster outlets, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at Ticketmaster.com.

The 2013 tour celebrates the band’s blockbuster album NORTH. The album rose to number one on the charts; marking the first time the band has seen such rapid success.

NORMAL– This week Joe, Chris, and guest Adam Sparks talked a little NFL football. Listen below to hear their take on the Indianapolis Colts and their picks in this weeks Pick Six.

Pick Six Standings (As of 11/4)

Chris    27-10

Joe        24-13

Guest    24-13

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