This “n” That
A
column dedicated to thought provoking non-essential
information
by
Rich StJohn
11-27-08
ARE WE #1 IN THE STATE?
Looks very probable. The Rebels are in sync and playing with a lot of heart and desire. Very likely, you may be reading this after the BIG event due to no mail on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. But folks, we have a bunch of Stark County kids that we can be really proud of. After being down 18-0 at the end of the 1st quarter this team took the game away from Milledgeville both in momentum and capabilities. Proves that the game is still played for 4 quarters. But this team is playing with a lot of unity, desire, and talent. Their achievements are both on and off the field. When Matt Mott was hospitalized nary a night went by without some players visiting. So let’s all trek down to Champaign to cheer this great team on to being #1. Game time is Friday at 10 A.M. All I know, at this time, is that Concord is undefeated but so was Milledgeville.
A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATIONS?
On Friday night was Wyoming’s Holiday kickoff with Moonlight Madness. The event was a great kickoff and other news of winners for various drawings and prizes is elsewhere in this newspaper. Then the HUGE victory by the Stark County Rebels on Saturday afternoon, followed by a BIG celebration at the high school on their return. The Rebels enjoyed a massive escort into Toulon with Police cars, Fire trucks and a caravan of cars. When they arrived at the school they were met by many fans plus a fireworks display courtesy of Jason Musselman. This kind of weekend keeps the blood pressure up while tiring this old man but the excitement and memories will last a long time. It’s great to be a Stark Countian!
AT LAST, AT LAST?
Although this is old news, I can’t let the re-opening of the Spoon River Bridge pass without at least a mention. It’s been a long time and one forgets the wonderful feeling of driving over this bridge without the barriers crowding passing traffic within inches of each other.
DO WE LIVE IN A POCKET OF PROSPERITY?
Dunno, but we just got back from a trip to Las Vegas last Friday and judging by things out there, we just could be. The economic downturn has hit there. Anne and I, could already testify a year or so ago to the housing bust. Housing values have dropped by about 40%+ or more and many of the building projects along or near the strip have been put on hold until at least 2010. The casinos seemed pretty meager compared to other trips although this is traditionally a slow time. At least one dealer confided in me that his tip income, which is the major portion, is down considerably. This does not bode well for he and his family according to him. So we have the old ‘trickle down’ economics working in reverse. Again, it’s great to be a Stark Countian!
ARE LARRY, CURLY AND MOE STILL ALIVE AND WELL? The three stooges of the domestic automotive world, traveled to Washington D.C. this past week to plead their case for an economic bailout, a loan, or any financial help. These ‘brilliant’ guys traveled by their private jets, at $3,800+ an hour cost, and pleaded for money without an idea of what it would be used for or any plan to repay. Is this for real? Try doing this with any of our local banks. Is this what our big companies have come to? No wonder they are in financial problems. The ‘stooges’ not only looked inept but provided a reflection of their respective board members as well.
Competition?
Looks like they are in lock step with each other. As is often the theme in this column, ‘Where’s our leadership in the USA?’ Good Grief!!!! GO REBELS!!!!
11-20-08
CAN WE MAKE THE FINALS?
The Rebels are in the Semi Finals. Based on this untrained eye, if we play like we have the last two weeks, we could easily win. So going to the State Finals is certainly within reach even though the competition gets tougher. GO REBELS!!
TOO EARLY FOR THANKS?
Next week’s SCN edition will be mailed on Wednesday and most of you will get it after Thanksgiving. We want to make sure our Thanksgiving wishes reach you before the holiday. This writer has a lot to give thanks for. Starting with my family, the SCN staff, the community, this great nation, and for the many supporters of the SCN. Enough cannot be said for the support of both our readers and our advertisers. Without you, we would not exist. We do not take this for granted and work hard to provide you with a newspaper that we trust is enjoyed. Though not openly said, it is always forefront on decisions made. We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and hope your family gatherings may be blessed. But equally important is to say thanks for your support.
ARE YOU READY?
This Friday night is the annual Moonlight Madness in Wyoming. The Christmas season kicks off, complete with a unique lighted parade, Santa Claus, and a host of specials and drawings. The Wyoming Chamber of Commerce has again worked hard to make this annual event be another success. Within this edition of The News, you will find both a schedule and chamber members who help sponsor this big event. This is truly an event for the whole family, come early, dine in one of Wyoming’s eateries and then browse the many sales and promotions in town.
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH GROWTH IN STARK COUNTY?
We are in the final stage of our Stark County Economic Development’s MAPPING session. This Thursday concludes the series, with the topic ‘Where do we go from here’ segment. This has been an exciting and fulfilling series of meetings dealing with the future of Stark County. So we are learning what strong points we have and how to utilize and promote those. This is a fun and extremely worthwhile endeavor with a broad cross section of people throughout the county.
The most pleasant surprise is recognizing the need, the opportunities, and the challenges before us. This is not an instant fix and the time frame is years. The SCEDP has been aware of this for some time, now many more of us are. But there remains urgency in starting, as time does not wait. But growth must be planned and accommodated for.
A couple of items that immediately rose to the forefront was beautification of the county and our quality of schools. These two (2) factors will contribute more than anything else to insuring our success. They also must be dealt with on a countywide level.
Although our taxes appear high compared to other states, our county, schools, and municipalities all struggle with budget problems. Costs, though, are relative to the returns expected.
In reality, thanks to the present economic group and supporters, we are ahead of other communities in Illinois. The entire county, not an individual town, is being treated as a community. This is quite unique. Barriers need to be broken and unity within the county needs to be reinforced. We firmly believe that this activity will provide a major influence in Stark County. We pray and hope that the emphasis will remain formidable long after the series concludes. It will take time, energy, patience, and perseverance.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
11-13-08
HOW ABOUT THOSE REBELS?
What a game last Saturday! A come from behind victory, allowing us to advance with another home game this Saturday against Polo. Let’s all give our kids a boost of support. Can’t ignore the great passing combo of Daum to Lewis, which helped us with the win. Illinois lost to nonconference Western Michigan, reducing chances of a bowl bid. Bears lose as well to a 9-0 team.
DID YOU VOTE?
The election is finally over and Obama was clearly the winner. Obviously this was an historic election and we wish the new President the best. We have serious problems before us and we need to support our new president. Our status on the world stage seems positive again, at least temporarily.
CAN OBAMA LEAD US OUT OF CHAOS?
I suspect many of the campaign promises and proclamations will be modified and/or ignored due to the huge problems. The USA is basically a centrist nation and as a leader, he may have to move more to the center. This might not set well with his extreme left supporters. This also may provide a great emphasis for him to be a great president. He is clever, smart and has the oratory skills to do so.
WHO WILL REPLACE OBAMA IN THE US SENATE?
Don’t know, but will the Governor appoint himself? Could be an escape from the Illinois mess and buy some time to regroup. Just speculating.
SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN/ GRANDCHILDRENS FUTURE?
Yes!! We, as a nation, must begin to realize the perilous financial situation we are in. George Bush never met a spending bill that he didn’t sign. We are contemplating another ‘Stimulus Package’ when the first one didn’t work and in addition to the recent massive bailout programs we just did. We owe a great deal of money to foreign interests such as: Japan $585.9 Billion, China $541 Billion, United Kingdom $179.8 Billion and so on according to Parade Magazine. As former Senator Everett Dirksen used to say “A billion here and a billion there and pretty soon it adds up to some serious money.” Back then it may have only been a Million.
IS STARK COUNTY A REPUBLICAN HAVEN?
Although both McCain and Schock garnered the most votes from Stark County, so did Democrat Dick Durbin. Obviously crossover voting was a major ingredient.
IS OUR ‘RIGHT TO VOTE’ BEING DILUTED VIA REGISTRATION ERRORS?
I don’t recall an election with so many potential voting fraud possibilities across this great nation. Having no apparent national database, can I move to another county while still coming back here to vote? Meaning I can vote twice. If you move to say Iowa, can you still come back here and vote? It seems so. Are people that die being purged from the voting roles? Having the electronic means, a national database seems rather simple. I am not implying that Stark County had voting improprieties, only that the whole system needs to be reviewed. This process is not only the backbone of our governmental process, but is our right and should not be tainted.
11-6-08
A TRIFECTA?
You bet! Not only did the Rebels pull an upset but Illinois and the Bears won as well. Things seem to go in 3’s.
WHICH REBEL TEAM PLAYED SATURDAY?
Unable to go to the game because of prior commitments, it appears that the Rebels put on their serious game face again. Yes, there was HOPE against Chicago Hope and the Rebels prevailed. Great job!! This apparently was quite an experience for our local rural kids. The field was not exactly in an upscale neighborhood. We heard that the Hope principal gave a very nice welcome speech prior to the game.
WHERE NEXT?
The good news is that we play at home. The opponent is the Orangeville Broncos. This school is similar to Stark County in size and is also a rural school. Stats and home field should give the Rebels a little edge. The game starts at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 at Gary Johnson Field in Wyoming.
AND THE WINNER IS?
Since this is written on Monday, this writer has not a clue as to who won the election. I suspect it will be Obama but then again, for those of us old enough to remember; Dewey Wins. This was the erroneous headline of the Chicago Tribune when it was presumed that Dewey had beaten Truman. Regardless of winner, I expect some changes that we may or may not like. But only time will tell. My fear is that there will be challenges that may drag on the election results. I hope not. But the repetitive and boring commercials will disappear. Yeah! Next week the News will highlight the races by precinct so make sure you get our next editions as well. This offers an insight to how Stark Countians voted. Might be a good idea to subscribe, if not so already.
WILL STARK COUNTY VETERANS COME FORTH?
Tonight the SC High School American History class will host a dinner for all Stark County veterans. This is a worthwhile and noted endeavor. Veterans are asked to bring pictures or any memorabilia for the years in service for display. Let’s offer a round of applause for this group’s civic effort.
10-30-08
IS IT OVER?
Dunno, but if the last half of the season for the Rebels is an indicator, it probably is. What began as a promising season turned rather ugly in the last few games. The team’s motto might be; “Is there HOPE against the Chicago Hope?” Let’s hope so this weekend.
REBEL REPORTS?
Last week I asked for comments regarding the Rebel football fortunes. John Ballentine wrote in (see letter elsewhere) with some interesting insights. Also got some telephone calls and web site has seen a lot of action. Read on.
FREE SPEECH?
Stark County Communications/News provides a web site which includes a chat room. This service is provided free-of-charge for people to post various comments about local events and subjects. This is our answer to not being a daily paper while allowing the community to voice their opinion on various subjects in a timely basis. The web site is becoming ever more popular. We are proud of this and it reinforces our belief in our community.
The negative side is that it is not designed to be a censored format. We do have rules and we do our best to enforce them. It is fine to pine or ridicule but not on a personal basis. Personal attacks are banned and recently we deleted certain comments due to crossing this line. There are also valuable items that are posted to advise the community. As an example, the ‘Care Packages’ for the trip to Chicago this weekend is not only helpful but also informative.
Freedom of speech is the theme until and unless it becomes personal. The old adage of ‘your freedom ends where my nose begins’ is practiced here. High profile positions are always subject to criticism. Being in a high profile position, one should understand that decisions made can and will be discussed both negative and positive. A high profile person generally has various media outlets, including The News, to defend and/or explain the positions taken. This may mean a little ‘thicker’ skin or better communicating skills.
Recently our web site has had a great deal of discussion on the Stark County High School football team/program. The countyenews.com web site is merely the vehicle used for those pro and con. We defend and respect that right and applaud the community for caring, either way. BUT again, we do not nor will not allow any personal derogatory comments. A recent telephone call stated they were thinking of a libel suit. The person would not identify himself or herself and we are curious on what grounds any legal action can be taken against anyone or us.
Again respecting their position, we remain on the free speech theme; after all, it is your community! Feel free to be pro or con on a subject but keep it in within the rules. I know it’s a fine line. If you think it probably shouldn’t be said, don’t say it and vice versa. IS IT ALMOST OVER? At this time of the year there is a crying out for the campaigning to end. Everyone seems really tired of the rhetoric, commercials and other news coverage of the election campaign. Very soon you, the voters, will decide, but not soon enough, at least not for me.
10-23-08
IS IT ABOUT TO HAPPEN?
Appears the bridge over Spoon River on Rt. 17 is being repaired, finally. Steel beams were unloaded and crews working underneath the bridge should mean the dangerous situation would be reopened soon. Just in time for snow removal this winter.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THE REBELS?
Couldn’t go to the game this past weekend but something seems amiss with our beloved Rebels. Reports coming in indicate that we are on a downward spiral in fundamentals. A good team that showed promise early in the season seems to be unraveling. Playoffs are not looking good based on recent performance. Problem?
Dunno, but would love to hear your explanation.
LOCAL CREDIT CRISIS? A local merchant recently reported that he got a business credit card with single digit interest rate. After a few short months and paying about 3 times the minimum and on time, his interest on his balance seemed quite high. A phone call exposed that he had not purchased enough, so they raised the interest rate to over 31 percent! Now that is creative financing. Perhaps we should all practice this. If you don’t buy enough, we will simply add a surcharge to compensate for your low purchase amount. Also heard reports that credit limits are also being lowered. Seems the credit crunch is beginning to affect all of us. Only reinforces that we read the fine print.
AMTRAK GAINING FINANCIALLY?
Had a call from Bob DeBolt regarding the increased ridership on Amtrak trains. Bob is an avid train buff. He reports that with the system we operate under, it is virtually impossible for Amtrak to ever break even. Costs, including the maintaining and replacement of very old equipment, will always exceed any revenue generated. Routing and scheduling will also play a role in hindering cost reductions and/or revenue generated. Another Washington pork? But then again Illinoisans know too well the costs of public transportation. Just ask Gov Blago. As always if it were profitable, private enterprise would be operating. For those old enough to remember when cities had privately owned transportation systems. No profit = exit the good system. Now everyone pays, via taxes, whether we use them or not.
SHUT UP!!!!
If you tell someone something long enough and often enough, they tend to believe it. Imagine repeatedly telling your child they are worthless and no good. Well, the press is having a feast on the current economic crisis. They and the politicians are telling us that bad times are ahead and we should all act accordingly by reducing spending, traveling, dining out and other doomsday predictions. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. By acting upon these suggestions, we will have a recession or worse. The Wall Street dishonesty and greed coupled with corrupt and/or stupid politicians are forcing us to alter our lifestyles. Yes, a great deal of investment money has been lost, and yes we do have a crisis, but with some leadership, we will survive. Couple this with an election year and the rhetoric is both loud and annoying. Let’s hope in less than 2 weeks, some normalcy might return.
10-16-08
FOOTBALL ANYONE? What a disastrous weekend. Rebels, Illini, and Bears all lose! The ‘W’ streak for the Rebels came to an end last Friday against a very good Princeville team. Defense did an admiral job except during the Princes scoring drive when tackling became extinct. Offense spurted and seemed lackluster to me. It was an exciting but a disappointing game for the many fans.
TIRED OF THE POLITICAL RHETORIC?
I certainly am. Writing before the final debate, hopefully this debate will show some differences and guidelines. Same old stuff being espoused. Mainstream media seems content to report only what they deem important. Ever wonder why newspapers and major networks are in financial trouble. I contend they quit reporting and now only give opinions. USA is still a centrist nation with values remaining steadfast in goodness and fairness.
IS OBAMA DESTINED TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT? Polls indicate this may very well be true. I worry not about his ability but his creditability. Many past connections concern me. If his past connections are only partly true, there remains enough to be concerned.
WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?
The State of Illinois has enough problems both internally and nationally with our political scene. But where is the outrage of the University of Illinois employing, in a teaching position, William Ayers? William Ayers is a non-repentant terrorist back in the 60’s along with his wife. Does diversity on our college campuses permit this type of individual to influence our kids? Not in my book! Sounds like the good ole Chicago politics is alive and well. Interesting, Jim is currently writing a book about corruption in Illinois politics. He deems our state to be the worst, regardless of party.
IS THE CURRENT FINANCIAL MELTDOWN AFFECTING STARK COUNTY?
Our agriculture base seems somewhat temporarily immune although the commodity markets are down. But then they are traditionally down at harvest time. From reports coming to The News, there seems to be a tightening of credit that affects some auto sales. Also some retirees report their nest egg has taken a major hit via stock prices.
10-9-08
DO YOU FOLLOW FOOTBALL?
This weekend was great for Illinois football fans. Rebels continue winning! This weekend is the biggest Rebel weekend in the 2008 season, hosting Princeville. The Rebels need all the support they can muster. Get there early, should be a great crowd on both sides of the field. Illinois dominated Michigan, and the Bears easily handled the Detroit Lions. What a football fan weekend!
ANOTHER NEWSPAPER? You may have read that Stark County Communications, parent company of The Stark County News, recently acquired the Chillicothe Independent newspaper. Both papers are eerily similar in size, circulation, staff, and local coverage of the community. The value lies in the ability to combine news coverage, cross stories, (2 reporting staffs), advertising coverage including some efforts into the Peoria market, and administration efficiency. The only change you may see in the SCN is improvements. The day of owning a single newspaper is over. Costs and requirements needed to staff for a single newspaper, can support more than a single paper, and override any revenue generated. Owning two (2) or more newspapers improves both the content and the financial stability of both. We are both excited and look forward to this task of aiding our local communities.
CANDY ANYONE?
This Friday and Saturday is the annual Candy Day held at our various communities for your local Lions clubs. This event is sponsored to aid each Lions club with the necessary funds to aid in their support of sight and other community functions. Please stop and buy some candy for this worthwhile effort the many dedicated volunteers help raise.
ARE YOU HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE NEWSPAPER?
We seem to be encountering a great deal of problems with our out-of-the-area subscribers. Frankly we are at wits end. This is one of the main reasons we offer on-line subscriptions. The seemingly culprit is the Post Office sorting centers. Recent postal increases and other harmful changes of postal regulations have not only dramatically increased costs while providing less service. We are investigating thoroughly but not coming up with definitive answers so far. Be assured that we will continue to seek answers. We did change printers back in August, so we are still seeking if this may be some cause or just a coincidence. Additional efforts were put forth to improve the labeling system and we still deliver to Toulon post office, so what has changed? The postal regulators also had some changes, too complex to review here, but we do know this had a negative effect. So, we are trying to get some real answers for solutions to no avail, yet.
HOLIDAYS, PLAYOFFS, AND ETC?
Don’t forget to keep us posted on upcoming events for the community calendar on our web site, www.countyenews.com. This popular feature is read by thousands of people each month and it’s FREE! Just drop us an email or give us a call.
10-2-08
FOOTBALL WEEKEND?
What a weekend for football! The Rebels continue on their winning ways albeit not real pretty. They obviously remain undefeated and at the top of their conference. Congratulations! Many collegiate and professional upsets, while Illinois demonstrated why their ratings are not higher. On the other bright side, the Bears did win while barely holding on, again, in the 2nd half.
LET’S CELEBRATE?
Longevity is an admiral trait. Connie’s Country Kitchen is celebrating its 25th year of being in business in Toulon. Twenty-five years is a long time for a business, especially the restaurant business. Think about another restaurant in our area that has achieved this feat. Our congratulations to Connie on her achievement! Good job!
HOW ABOUT THE BAILOUT?
As of this writing, there appears to an agreement but yet to be voted on. This is a tails, you lose, and heads, you don’t win! What a debacle. Although apparently necessary, the trail of errors stretches through various administrations and a liberal method of attempting to make housing affordable to all. Of course the natural laws of economics were totally ignored, but it did eventually raise its head albeit all at once and powerfully. Certainly the people running these organizations can, and should, be blamed but equally to blame are our Washington leaders. (LEADERS?) Can you say another tax burden?
FUEL IMPACT?
Had an occasion to take our granddaughter to the train on Saturday and pick up on Sunday. The convenience and cost overrode our driving her to Quincy for an event. Appears to me that Amtrak should be getting on its feet and maybe a little less government support. The trains were on time and had plenty of passengers; especially the trip from Quincy to Kewanee (eventually Chicago) was packed. Apparently the fuel impact and time has made people rethink their travel modes. In my opinion this is not all bad.
HARVESTING YET?
The weather is not cooperating with our farmers harvesting. Although a decent growing season both spring rains and fall rains are playing a little havoc for our farmers. Seems things are going to be a little late this year, especially the corn. Let’s hope the weather doesn’t turn nasty early.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKING?
Read recently that the Galesburg Economic group is looking at funding cuts. Supporters feel the perceived inaction does not warrant the financial commitments. As usual, there is probably more to this story than reported. Stark County should be very proud of our group and its efforts. Although not flawless, it is without a doubt the premier economic group in Central Illinois, at least. Many other areas visit here to see how and why we are accomplishing so much, especially in such a small county. A lot of thought and support has made this happen. Our method of supporting is unique and very effective.
Economic Development is a very slow process. A 5-year time frame, as a minimum, is needed to truly evaluate its effectiveness while costs are ongoing during this period. Stark County has many resources that are uniting behind these efforts. In this age of ‘instant pudding’, most don’t have the patience or tolerance to sustain. New efforts of ‘mapping’ our needs both now and in the future are results of years of formative data. Identifying those needs should accelerate the progress of both growth and efficiency.
9-25-08
DRESSED UP?
Stark County is sprucing up. The new Pelz Insurance building is taking shape and a major improvement in Bradford. In Toulon, a lot of painting and face lifting. Franklin building has new windows and paint, Dad’s Pizza repainted his store front, while the Turnbull’s are really changing the face of the building housing Connie’s Country Kitchen. Power washing, tree and vine removal with new paint and awnings to come (which may be on as you read this). In Wyoming the city has spruced up Thomas Park via minor repairs, paint and some new roofs. It looks great and adds to a very utilized park. Kudos to all that have made these things happen. Proves again that Stark County is the place to live.
FALL FESTIVAL SUCCESS?
Reports are not in as of this writing but appear that it was a success. This is in spite of scattered rain, high gas prices and some economy woes. Speaks volumes about the volunteer efforts and hard work by many throughout Stark County. Tracy Thorne and Sheri Copple deserve many thanks for their tireless efforts in heading up this event.
HOW’S YOUR PORTFOLIO FARING?
With the financial upheaval on Wall Street, the news is not good. I have learned not to look at mine. What a mess! Bailouts here and bailouts there, we taxpayers and investors seem to be the payees. There is enough finger pointing to go around and much too detailed for this column but is a worrisome scenario. Again, as I have said repeatedly, there is far too much political and governmental involvement. Where are real leaders?
NEEDED BAILOUTS?
Supposedly, but when did the government bail you out in a time of need? Hear tell that the reported bailout of $700 Billion (that’s with a B) is larger than the military budget. The alternate to not providing the funds appears to be catastrophic but the money pit does have a bottom. I do not believe that taxes alone will provide the funds, but hopefully growth will. Raising taxes will not resolve the problem, but actually compound it.
WILL THIS ECONOMIC PROBLEM AFFECT YOU?
For sure, but would like to hear from readers as to what you feel it might be? How do you feel it will impact you?
ARE OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SOLID?
Yes, we are fortunate that our local banks are above this foray and remain solid by both nature and good management. But we will feel the government-forced impact via tighter lending regulations, tighter credit and etc will have an impact on all. As the politicians say, Change is coming!
HOW ABOUT THOSE REBELS?
Another great game with an overall great record of 4-0 and only one quarter short of shutting out all opponents. Homecoming is this week so be sure to see the parade and game. Parade is in Toulon this year on Friday. Let’s support our local team.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOSSIP OR RUMORS?
Been getting a lot of emails forecasting a major political change. THIS IS ONLY A RUMOR. Emails are not a good source for factual information, so I reluctantly will share it with you for purposes of gossip, anticipation, fun, and to watch for any truth. The rumor itself could impact its validity. Supposedly Joe Biden will resign as VP candidate on or about Oct 5, for health reasons. At that time Hillary Clinton will then be given the VP slot. This could easily be either fiction or fact. But if true, this could swing the election toward the Democrat ticket. Therein lies the main reason for mentioning it, while finding it very interesting. I REPEAT, THIS IS ONLY AN EMAIL RUMOR!!! BE SURE TO ATTEND THE OKTOBERFEST IN BRADFORD THIS WEEKEND!
9-18-08
Did it rain at your house?
Stupid question! I was trying to find Noah. We spent the weekend in the Chicago area, actually Joliet area, and it rained starting on Thursday and when we came home on Sunday late afternoon it finally stopped. Trip home was an adventure due to water over the road and some detours. Closer we got to Stark County, the better (less severe) it got. Either didn’t have the rain here or it stopped earlier and had a lot of run off. But all that water has to pass through central Illinois via the Illinois River.
Pickin Corn?
Heard of at least one farmer that started picking corn last Thursday. That will be halted for a few days awaiting some much needed drying conditions. Haven’t had an opportunity to travel around so don’t know of damage, if any, yet.
How bout those Rebels?
Haven’t been scored on yet, but Friday’s game was a water logged mess, am told. A ‘W’ is a ‘W’ regardless of how the game was played and regardless of conditions.
Schock for Congress?
Sources tell me this was a successful event, held at The News Room Bistro, with good food and good wine. Sponsors Mike Bigger and Jim Nowlan report a good and enthusiastic crowd. This was a local republican fundraiser for Aaron Schock’s campaign for the 18th congressional district. Two good candidates make an interesting race.
Education?
Been awhile since I have been in a big school but Saturday we attended my wife’s high school reunion of Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park and the school tour was an eye opener. When Anne went to school the enrollment was about 1,200 and the only high school in district. Now there are three high schools and enrollment alone is almost 3,800 with a faculty and staff of over 350. The school is overwhelming, 4 gymnasiums, large pool, a state of the art performing arts center, dance studio, untold classrooms, etc. With a cost of about $11,000 per student, this represents a large budgeted operation. Assemblies and other events have to be done in shifts to accommodate all.
Is it Fall yet?
Don’t forget to get out and around the county this weekend. It’s time for our annual Fall Festival. Great time to get out and view all county attractions. Good weather promised. GO REBELS!!
9-11-08
Are you ready?
Now that the conventions are over, it is time for the intensive advertising, bashing, and rhetoric of the candidates. Kinda interesting that regardless who wins, it will be history in the making.
Is McCain’s choice for VP a good one?
Aside from being sort of a shocker, it appears she might be a good choice. Certainly will rev up the campaign. Should provide some good theatrics.
On other side, will Biden help Obama?
Probably, but traditionally senators usually don’t win. Compound that by having both candidates being senators makes me wonder. Time will tell. Again this election will make history so this may not be an issue with voters.
How ‘bout those Rebels?
Not only are they 2-0 but also nary a point has been scored against them. However competition gets a little stronger starting this weekend. We expect them to rise to the occasion.
Have you stocked up on home grown and homemade items?
Time is running out on the Stark County Farmers Market held each Thursday in Wyoming. Only have three more weeks then it is over for 2008. Reports tell us that it has been overall a good year. However, this time of year it gets a little slower, so just remember time is very short. Only about three more weeks left so get there and stock up.
New sign?
Couldn’t help but notice the sign on Diagonal St. (Rte 17) in Wyoming has been changed. It formerly read Stark County Jr. High but has been replaced with Stark County Athletic Complex. May congratulations go to whomever did this good deed.
Are you ready?
In a little over a week (Sept 20 & 21) is the annual extravaganza of Stark County Fall Festival with nearly all communities participating. Make sure to pick up the magazine which highlights events and locations, more important get out and see the various activities within your county. The Oktoberfest in Bradford follows this. Couple these with football, homecoming, harvesting and who knows what else and this becomes a very busy time. A great time of the year just too bad it is followed by winter.
9-4-08
What happened?
The sports scores of Friday night’s Rebel game did not make the web site, www.countyenews.com. A breakdown in communications, but as of this writing we don’t know where. Rest assured it will be corrected.
Is this true Morrissey Appliances?
Recently heard that appliance sales are down but that freezers sales are up 7 percent. Seems both are due to economy and fuel prices. People are apparently stocking up for both cheaper bulk purchasing and saving fuel with fewer trips to store.
Are you an out of area subscriber?
Postage rates and regulations have changed in the last couple of years. For those of you in Stark County, this does NOT apply. But those out of the area it MAY. We are reviewing both internally and with postal people what the rates are by certain zip codes. We currently charge extra for those outside the area. We must first define area that is outside Stark County. Some of our subscribers mailing costs are over $.60 per week. Charging only $40 per year means after printing and other costs we are losing a lot of money. There will probably have to be some adjustments in subscription costs for those far away in other states.
Do you mean my subscription costs are going up?
Not for the vast majority. There will be no subscription cost increase to over 90 percent of our subscribers. Probably increase only to those that live far away. BUT, there is an alternative for those far away, plus anyone else that wants to save money.
Is there a cheaper way to subscribe?
Yes. We now offer the ENTIRE newspaper, including all photos for downloading on our web site. You can get it on Wednesday at the earliest and read it online. The cost of this subscription is only $20 per year. The web site still has the regular headlines and features but with an online subscription, you get the entire paper. This should be important to our far away folks. Full coverage, on time, and less money! I do not recommend it you only have dial-up Internet connection.
Lower Yields?
Rumors are telling us that due to a cold, wet spring that the corn on the ear has not fully developed. This translates to less corn per ear, not a good sign; but driving by, the corn looks good.
When, oh When?
Is the Route 17 Spoon River Bridge ever to be repaired and fully reopened?
8-28-08
Why am I getting The Stark County News?
Because we really like you? Well we do, but not that well. We are distributing the Rebel Reporter monthly and as such we decided to send the News with it. Hopefully you will get to enjoy what others get weekly. We cover a lot of local news, sports, school news and other pertinent news that you may enjoy. We are the only newspaper covering Stark County. This edition also has the Fall Sports Special highlighting the upcoming high school sports. We invite and encourage you to subscribe.
I want to subscribe, how can I do it?
You can call, mail, email, or stop by. We take cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards, so payment can be done many ways. You will find it very easy. School news alone is worth the subscription. Details are also on our web site, countyenews.com.
How much does it cost?
Our yearly subscription price is only $30 per year. That is 52 issues mailed to your mailbox. Wanna save more, subscribe for 2 years and the price is only $52. Either way, we know that this is less than a cup of coffee per day for a month. So DO IT TODAY!
I now live out of town and out of state; can I get the newspaper on a timely basis?
Well, we hope so. We mail them timely and regularly but we get reports that they arrive often late and even in bunches. We now put the entire newspaper on our web site and you can subscribe and get it weekly for less money. Only online subscribers can get this feature. This does not mean our web site has changed radically but rather this feature does provide the ENTIRE paper to come to you electronically immediately/
I missed last night’s game, who won?
Great news, you are now able to get the scores of last night’s game on our website, www.countyenews.com. Starting this week, our sports reporters are providing our web site person with the scores to view the next morning. Yes, it’s free but while on the web site browse around a little, there is more than you think.
Is the Stark County Economic Development group still alive and well?
YOU BET! The group remains very active even with the loss of Dede Rice. Some wondered what might happen with last week’s announcement. Efforts are underway to replace Dede but the main focus hasn’t lost a step. Denny Rewerts remains ‘on the job’ and agendas are still ongoing. Rest assured that the Stark County group is very much ahead of surrounding counties and it will remain so.
For this we should be proud. Is round 2 of another circus about to begin?
With the democrat convention now in the history books, along with the Olympics, we now await next week’s Republic National Convention. Since this is written prior to publication, I have no knowledge of what took place this week with Dems. But I know that all problems will be solved and we will live happily ever after! Don’t ya love all those promises!
Speaking of politicians?
How about those Illinois folks. Recently read where the Dems held their annual day at the Illinois State Fair. But unity was not the theme nor occurrence. The Gov and some of his crew did show, but a lot of absences among the party. Missing was the Madigans, Michael and Lisa, Sec of State Jesse White, and Lt. Gov Quinn. Comptroller Dan Hynes addressed the crowd but not necessarily in sync with Gov. Gotta love our state political system. Kinda brings a tear to your eye.
Go Rebels – win the 1st one!
8-21-08
What are you doing Monday night?
Monday, 8/25, is the beginning of the circus…oops, I mean the Democratic National Convention. Conventions, regardless of party, usually bring out the political bragging and how much they are going to do for YOU! Oh, for the joys we will see forthcoming, no worries, and plenty for all. So just rejoice and enjoy the warm fuzzy feeling.
Are the Clinton’s gone and part of history?
Probably not in my lifetime. Look for a lot of domination by the Clintons during the conventions. With both Hillary and Bill scheduled to speak, you can be assured that their presence will be felt. Never expect the Clintons to leave, let alone quietly. I suspect one might feel this convention is about them. Although everything is planned and staged, I get this deep feeling that maybe something unexpected is possible. Just a nagging feeling.
Will we be able to see through the haze for some tell tale signs?
As with the upcoming Republican convention, I seek to see if I can locate the ‘behind the scenes’ leanings. Will the ultra left contingency have much voice and/or influence? Is the candidate beholden to certain groups? Words and actions might detect this, so just not only listen to what is being said but how and why. Makes interesting TV.
Who will be the successor?
With the recent announcement that Dede Rice is leaving the Stark/Henry County Home Extension and Stark County Economic Development, will there be an immediate successor? We wish Dede the best in her new position at Black Hawk East. Replacing her requires a heavy dose of evaluation of the job description in our book. The experience gleaned should provide some insight as to whom and what type of person should be in this position and the duties better defined. We wish Dede well.
Mental health anguish?
Neal Post reports that the recent question I asked regarding what the community is wanting of this group was disappointing. Only had one anonymous reply and it only related to not seeing anything new in the newspaper. Neal is eager to know what the area is expecting of his group’s activities. Feedback is critical to their ability to aid.
Wanna go skateboarding?
The recent discussion at the Wyoming City Council meeting regarding the possibility of installing a skateboard area in Thomas Park raises some questions. I loudly applaud the efforts of the City and it’s council members in providing activities. Thomas Park is beautiful, well maintained, equipped and is enjoyed by many. However, in my humble opinion, there may be some other activity other than Skateboarding to investigate. This may be similar to buying an 8-track player, in that the skateboarding phase appears to be over. But I am of another generation and not fully aware of what the kids may be doing. However, for the monies being spent, I feel that something else would be enjoyed and used by more citizens. The new basketball court is much more utilized than the old volleyball court. Could this be a repeat? Let us, or more importantly, your council representatives know your thoughts.
ENJOY THE OLYMPICS FINALS AND DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
8-14-08
How do you like the ‘NEW’ look?
This week is the 1st edition of our new newspaper format. We are interested in knowing your thoughts about it. Write, call or email us with your comments.
Why did we change?
A number of technical reasons, but also to improve our readability for our readers. It is much easier to handle and you won’t knock over your drink when opening. We offer crisper print and more vivid photos. Also added were two (2) additional pages of color. The Stark County News is the most read newspaper in Stark County and this is but one of the improvements we made to provide the best.
We trust you will agree.
Did this change offer other improvements?
Yes, but mostly behind the scenes. We upgraded our software; improved(ing) our photography, and other changes to complement the change. The software upgrade also included our web page, www.countyenews.com. Watch for more sports coverage in both our print and web editions.
How will sports be improved?
It is planned that soon all sports scores and highlights will be available online the following day. We will keep you posted but keep going online to see continual improvements. Details will also be in the newspaper as always.
Enjoying the hot and dry summer?
If you recall, I forecasted a very hot and dry summer. Well, fortunately I was wrong! It has actually been a very nice one. Of course my sources were a little dubious and probably should have been more thorough in my research. Gotta blame somebody!
Is Bradford enjoying some resurgence?
We decided to go to Bradford for dinner last Friday night. At about 6 p.m. the street was lined with autos and had to park in a lot next to the post office. Main Street seemed to be fairly busy with a lot of establishments now open, The Kaiserhoff, My Place, the new Country Café, and Bradford Xchange. Bodes for places for people to go in the evening.
Is Stark County enjoying some business growth?
Seems to me that it just may be. Booming, well not that far, but business seems to be on the upswing. Maybe it’s just the weather, or price of fuel, or maybe the ice cream outlets, but whatever it is seems to be working. I reported on Toulon a couple of weeks ago, Wyoming still has some carry over from Wacky Wednesday along with the Stark County Farmers Market and Bradford seems to be enjoying this as well.
Is Kaiserhof outgrowing its Stark County (Bradford) roots?
Rumors and now The Shoppes of Grand Prairie web page confirm that Gary is opening a second establishment there. Proves again that Stark Countians can still provide a needed service that extends beyond its borders. We wish Gary and crew the best.
HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE OLYMPICS
