For six years I’ve written poems for this publication. Many have included my daughter, Damaris Lee Jackson, born Jan. 15, 1954, in Oxford, England. She lived with me these past two years, while
On Thanksgiving evening 2010, Rita and Ryan Lytle cradled their son at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. They read his favorite books and sang his favorite song – “Frere Jacques&rd
Raymond Edward Ohl was born July 23, 1928, in Parkersburg, W. Va. Dad served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Robert H. Smith, and was awarded several medals for his efforts of which we were all very p
I first met Pat Hauversburk of Springfield more than 12 years ago at the Illinois State Archives, where I spent my Saturday mornings researching my own family genealogy. Pat had the patience of a sain
Mary Frances Lavin (affectionately known as Aunt Mary Fran) left an impression on thousands of young people in central Illinois over her 30-year teaching career. For 34 years she was a public school t
It always seemed to take Albert Link a little longer than most to break down and make a part of his life the simple conveniences of everyday modern life. As often as he told his family, “I love
When the radio is on, his familiar voice is absent. Ed Ruebling embodied all that was good about WQNA: Play lots of music and speak only as needed. It was an approach that harked back to his experienc