Latest news with #Thompsen
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Yahoo
Workers Memorial Day in Champaign honoring two Central IL State Troopers
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Dodds Park will be hosting a remembrance ceremony for Illinois State Troopers Corey Thompsen and Todd Hanneken. The Workers Day Ceremony will take place on Monday at 5 p.m. in Champaign. The event will honor troopers Thompsen and Hanneken, who both lost their lives while they were on duty. Families, friends and co-workers of both troopers will attend the ceremony. 'They're trying to go after us,' Candlewood Estates residents say they won't be charged for electrical issues Both Thompsen and Hanneken were both based at the Pesotum post and died after traffic accidents while on duty in rural Champaign County in 2024 and 2021, respectively. On March 25, 2021, trooper Hanneken was on patrol west of Champaign when his vehicle left the road and struck a pole and tree. 45-year-old Hanneken was from Long Creek and was the son of a retired state trooper. He spent 20 years with the state police and is survived by his wife Shelley and two sons, Ben and Nick. On Oct. 18, 2024, trooper Thompsen was finishing a traffic enforcement detail north of Champaign when another driver pulled into the roadway and struck his motorcycle. 28-year-old Thompsen lived and grew up in St. Joseph and is survived by his wife Chelsea, mother Susan, father Steve and brothers. Best Buddies Friendship Walk making a difference in Champaign 'Both officers made the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting our community,' said Matt Kelley, president of the AFL-CIO of Champaign County. 'We appreciate their bravery and selflessness and are eternally grateful for their service.' The local ceremonies are among hundreds of Workers Memorial Day events taking place across the nation. These events started in 1970 with the signing of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The AFL-CIO of Champaign County and East Central Illinois Building and Construction Trades Council have organized local ceremonies annually to call attention to the need for greater workplace safety for everyone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
St. Joseph community remembers Trooper Thompsen with volleyball game fundraiser
ST. JOSEPH, Ill. (WCIA) — In October, Illinois State Trooper Corey Thompsen tragically died in a motorcycle accident. Now, his hometown of St. Joseph is making sure his legacy is one of opportunity for others. On Monday, St. Joseph Middle School held a fundraising event during the school's volleyball game to support the Trooper Thompsen Scholarship Fund. Fallen IL State Trooper Thompsen remembered by loved ones Volleyball coach Jill Lubinski said Thompsen remains engraved and endeared within the St. Joseph community. 'He was a student at our school. His wife was a student at our school. His mother is a teacher at our school. So there are a lot of personal connections to our school family,' Lubinski said. 'So this is just a way that we are able to do something and give back to them.' 28-year-old Trooper Corey Thompsen was finishing a traffic enforcement detail in October when his motorcycle was hit by a truck. He later died at the hospital. People could support the scholarship in his honor in multiple ways, including participating in a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, buying t-shirts and more. Fallen ISP Trooper Thompsen honored in press conference For teacher and organizer Steve Svendsen, the community turnout was simply amazing. 'This is just showing us St. Jo and the kind of community we live in,' Svendsen said. 'When something like this happens, people step up.' All proceeds of the night will go directly to one graduating student from St. Joseph-Ogden High School who is planning to follow in Officer Thompsen's footsteps and study criminal justice in the future. 'These things happen. And as a result, we now have something that we can do to memorialize Corey,' Svendsen said. 'And I think that's just an amazing thing to do because he was such an important part of our community, and we can remember it this way.' Organizers are still working out how students will be able to apply and how the winner will be picked. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Fallen State Trooper remembered by helping others through scholarship
ST. JOSEPH, Ill. (WCIA) — The victim of an accident is being remembered by helping others. The family of fallen State Trooper Corey S. Thompsen is raising money for a scholarship. Thompsen died in a motorcycle accident this past October, now his loved ones and St. Joseph Middle School are putting together a volleyball fundraiser night. The goal of this event is giving back to Thompsen's hometown. Community Spotlight: Trooper Corey S. Thompsen Fundraiser Night The money will go to one graduating student from the school who is planning to study criminal justice. There are multiple ways to donate: They'll have a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, t-shirts and more. The middle school volleyball coach said they're doing this because Trooper Thompsen means a lot to the town. 'His mother is a teacher at our school, his grandmother is a retired teacher from our school and is still a Scholastic Bowl coach,' said Volleyball Coach Jill Lubinski. 'So, they're very much a part of our school family and near and dear to our hearts.' She said the scholarship will be given to one student each year. Right now, they have a few businesses who have already donated around $1,000. The event is on Feb. 24 at the middle school and doors will open at 4:15pm. Currently, organizers are still working out how students will be able to apply and how the winner will be picked. If you are interested in donating to the silent auction, call the middle school office at 217-469-2334. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
