Illinois 4-H volunteers empower and prepare youth for success as the program relies on its more than 6,000 volunteers to fill key leadership and mentoring roles. Lisa Simpson a volunteer and former Extension Employee in Wayne County, was recently honored by Illinois 4-H for their selfless dedication to the University of Illinois Extension 4-H youth development program.

In 2024, 70 individuals were inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame.

Illinois 4-H honors and celebrates extraordinary 4-H alumni, volunteers, and former 4-H staff. Those inducted have a track record of exemplary service to 4-H or outstanding career and community achievement and were nominated by county University of Illinois Extension staff. Each inductee receives a commemorative Hall of Fame medallion at the Illinois State Fair 4-H Alumni & Volunteer Celebration events.

“Lisa’s staff member and volunteer role in Wayne County 4-H was crucial, combining her exceptional organizational skills with compassionate leadership. Her expertise was instrumental in the success of county fairs and creating memorable experiences for 4-H youth and their families. Lisa’s dedication extended beyond her professional duties, as she actively supported her children’s 4-H involvement and volunteered in various aspects of the county extension program, embodying the true spirit of 4-H through her unwavering commitment and genuine care for others.” Said Ryan Littlejohn, Wayne County 4-H Extension Program Coordinator.

Illinois 4-H programs in Wayne County reach nearly 500 youth each year through 4-H clubs, camps, educational programs, workshops, and conferences held in communities, schools, parks, and homes. Volunteers fill key leadership and mentoring roles throughout the state.

The Guardian obtained police audio that features someone at the scene, possibly a deputy, saying Massey’s wound was “self-inflicted.” The family said at a press conference that police initially told her loved ones that she had either died by suicide or was killed by an intruder.

The body camera video shows deputies initially having a seemingly normal conversation with Masset. However, the situation turned deadly when Grayson asked Massey to drop a pot of hot water, and then fatally shot her in the face. Prosecutors believe Massey did not pose a threat to the deputy.

‘How do you get that confused?’

“They tried to make me believe that a neighbor had did it,” said Jimmie Crawford Jr, Massey’s former partner who is the father of one of her children. He added that law enforcement told nurses at the hospital Massey had been taken to that she had “killed herself.” “How do you get that confused?” Crawford Jr added.

“They said it was being investigated, then they said they told the physicians at the hospital she had committed suicide—and then they revised it,” Massey’s mother, Donna, said, stressing the importance of an investigation.

“We’re going to get justice for sure. I know. We are for sure,” she added. Donna is set to meet with vice president Kamala Harris, and has already visited Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois. Joe Biden has extended his condolences and expressed his anger.

The family said law enforcement started classifying Massey’s death as a police killing only after a doctor said it was a homicide. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the victim’s family, said that an investigation has been launched by the US Department of Justice. The DoJ told The Guardian that it “is aware of and assessing the circumstances surrounding the tragic officer-involved death of Ms Sonya Massey and extends condolences to her family and loved ones. The department will continue to track the criminal case opened by the Sangamon county state’s attorney.”

Sonya Massey’s son breaks silence

The teenage son of Massey has broken his silence days after the incident. Malachi Hill-Massey, 17, told CBS News that the 36-year-old was “a good mother” and was “very smart and always helped everybody but herself.” “Just a ball of love, honestly, to me. She cooked me the best food. I love her food, honestly,” Malachi said.

“She’s just the most loving person ever. I don’t know. That’s the person that made me just feel so loved,” he said, adding that he just could not bring himself to see the video of the shooting. “I don’t have any words for this,” he said.

Grayson has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and official misconduct, and faces life in prison if convicted of murder. He is now at the Menard County Detention Facility, as per records.

INDIANAPOLIS – Luke Fickell said he wasn’t trying to bend any rule.

During Big Ten media day Tuesday, Wisconsin’s football coach was asked about the rule change that appeared to be inspired by the Badgers’ game-winning touchdown at Illinois last season.

Braedyn Locke threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nolan Rucci on a tackle-eligible play with 27 seconds left to complete a 14-point, fourth-quarter comeback. UW won, 25-21.

Rucci, listed as No. 66 on the roster, wore No. 93 in the game, a change that gave him the potential to be an eligible receiver. When UW lined up after breaking the huddle, Rucci was a tackle. He became an eligible receiver after the two tight ends who were lined up next to him shifted to other spots in the formation.

After faking a block, Rucci ran to the flat and used all of his 6-foot-7 frame to catch the game-winner.

The play was legal. What bothered Illinois coach Bret Bielema, who contacted the Big Ten about the play, was that Rucci wore a different number during the game than in warmups.

Fickell said the number switch wasn’t an attempt to be deceptive.

“The numbers thing was as unintentional as anything else I’ve ever done,” Fickell said while noting there were other more pressing rules matters that needed attention.

The rule in question wasn’t clear. Now it is spelled out more specifically. It says if a player enters the game after changing a jersey number or wears a number different from what is listed on the game day roster then he must report the change to the official, who then informs the opposing sideline. Failure to do so results in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

The new language covers the individual who changes a jersey number during the game as well as the player who doesn’t change his number during the game but appears in a contest wearing something other than his listed number.

Fickell said Rucci, who transferred to Penn State after the season, had been given two jerseys on game day for weeks in case he was needed as an extra tight end.

“I had been saying to do that for four weeks just for goal line purposes to have bigger guys out there,” Fickell said. “It wasn’t intentional in that they said we didn’t warm up in the number and then went inside (and changed). … The jersey was in his locker from the get-go. It wasn’t like we were like, ‘Warm up in a different number (and then) switch it.”

More: Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell says leadership is No. 1 thing he will stress to his team

More: Why Wisconsin’s Jake Chaney changed his jersey number, other highlights from Big Ten media day