Southern Illinois News

State Rep. Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis) has donated a total $500 to the bass fishing teams at Harrisburg High School and Century Senior High School in Ullin.

“As a member of the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, I have the opportunity to contribute scholarships totaling $500 each year to area youth-oriented outdoor activities,” Windhorst said on Facebook. “This year, the Harrisburg High School Bass Fishing Team and Century High School Bass Fishing Team each received $250 donations.” 

Harrisburg High School’s co-ed varsity bass fishing team is scheduled to participate in the Galatia High School invite at 6:30 a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022, at Lake of Egypt, according to its schedule. Century High School’s bass fishing is a fall sport, according to its athletic handbook.

“Thank you to Patrick Windhorst and the Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus for their donation to the Century Bass Fishing Team,” Century Schools said on Facebook.

Among the original 21 legislative sportsmen’s caucuses organized in 2004 under the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses, the Illinois Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus supports legislation that benefits Illinois’ sportsmen and women, a fact sheet said.

“Guided by bipartisan leadership, the Caucus remains engaged in issues that affect the nation’s original conservationists by protecting and advancing hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping within the Prairie State,” the fact sheet said.

The World Shooting and Recreation Complex near Sparta was supported by the caucus.

“The Prairie State's 1,309,000 hunters and anglers spend $2.34 billion and support 31,597 jobs annually while generating $277 million in state and local taxes,” the fact sheet said. “In 2020, Illinois' sportsmen and women generated $57.28 million through the American System of Conservation Funding to support conservation efforts in the state.”