Ashlee De Wit
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Ashlee De Wit is a freelance writer and a Lansing native. After starting her career covering high school sports in Iowa, she's excited to be back in her hometown, reporting the stories of her local community — such as the opening of Troost, the informal Lansing pickleball club, a TF South Homecoming game, and Common Ground, Lansing's experiment with healthy race relations.
Local history, local business: Class takes trip to Homewood Bat Company
by Ashlee De Wit
HOMEWOOD, Ill. (May 10, 2019) — A parked yellow school bus rumbled in front of the former Illiana Christian High School building in Lansing, awaiting its students: a group of 40 adults, taking Jeff White’s five-week local history class.
They’ve already been to Family Farms in...
Local teachers recognized for excellence
by Ashlee De Wit
CHICAGO, Ill. (March 27, 2019) — Local educators were among those honored with Teacher Excellence Awards from the Center for Christian Urban Educators (C-CUE). The awards were presented at C-CUE’s second annual iTeach Celebration last week.
Among the recipients were two Lansing Christian School (LCS) teachers...
Fans get rooftop view of Rebel win
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (April 1, 2019) — It was a cold day for baseball, but the TF South bats were hot in an 11-1 victory over TF North on April 1.
Fans and students watched from the stands—and from the roof across the street. The Rebels’ big...
Rooftop baseball returns April 1
First United Methodist Church hosts community for TF South game against rival TF North
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (March 17, 2019) — First United Methodist Church of Lansing invites TF South baseball fans once again to join them for the kickoff of the annual “rooftop” games when the Rebels...
Roundball Classic championship celebrates community
Organizers Reynolds and Seymour present trophies, checks at Village Board meeting
by Ashlee De Wit and Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (March 2019) – The Coolidge Cougars are the 10th annual Roundball Classic champions, defeating the Heritage Nationals by a score of 39–16 in the final game on Tuesday, February 26.
Sally...
Underground Railroad presentation draws a crowd
by Ashlee De WIt
LANSING, IL (February 27, 2018) — It was standing room only in the Lansing Public Library’s community room as more than 100 people gathered for the Underground Railroad presentation at the Lansing Historical Society meeting on February 25.
“We’re shocked,” Barb Dust said on behalf of the...
Coolidge claims Roundball Classic championship
Lansing community wins financial and food donations
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (February 27, 2019) - The Coolidge Cougars are the Roundball Classic champions this year, defeating the Heritage Nationals by a score of 39-16 in the final game on Tuesday night.
The Lansing community raised more than $5,000 and...
Scenes from the Friday night Roundball Classic games
photos and captions by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (February 25, 2019) - The tenth annual Roundball Classic began on Thursday, February 21, with fifth-grade boys basketball teams from Coolidge, Heritage, Lansing Christian, Oak Glen, Reavis, and St. Ann Schools competing. The tournament continued on Friday night and Saturday, and...
The Underground Railroad in our back yards
Local experts to present stories and photos—Monday, February 25, 6:00pm
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill (February 1, 2019) — In 1843, Caroline Quarlls was a 16-year-old who left Missouri with a bounty on her head. She spent some time in Crete, Illinois, and other local areas before becoming the first...
Sure to be a hit: Winterhoff Park gets music-themed addition
by Ashlee De Wit
LANSING, Ill. (January 18, 2019) - If new park equipment is music to your ears, you will love the recent addition to Lansing's Winterhoff Park.
A xylophone, drums, and chimes have been installed next to the playground equipment in a feature called “Symphony at Winterhoff Park.”
The Lan-Oak...