Guest Opinion | Thursday, May 20,2004

On guard

Sgt. Kathy Krusz has been an Illinois conservation agent for 26 years. Her life's work is protecting the state's abundant natural resources, including its wildlife. She's dealt with some of the

Feature | Thursday, January 8,2004

The Return of the Roxy

By John Jermaine

Bob Boarman has 16 grandchildren of his own, but to hear him talk, he's the surrogate grandfather of all the kids in town. And it bothered the 62-year-old businessman that all of his kids had to leave

Feature | Thursday, November 20,2003

The burger king and queen of Mattoon

By John Jermaine

Gene and Betty Hoots bought a successful ice-cream stand in Mattoon in the early 1950s. A few years later, the young couple decided to expand the business by adding hamburgers, french fries and

News | Thursday, August 21,2003

The lingering storm

Recalling the Cantrall Twister of 1995

By John Jermaine

The afternoon of May 9, 1995, was clear, hot, and humid. A tornado watch had been issued, but Charles Bishop, an engineer at Garrett Aviation, continued to mow his lawn. At 4:45 p.m. he suddenl

News | Thursday, May 22,2003

The need for speed

By John Jermaine

Donnie Beechler knows what it's like to whip past a cheering crowd at 200 miles per hour. In the basement of his Springfield home, the three-time Indy 500 veteran has a mini museum documenting his rac

News | Thursday, May 8,2003

Homeless in winter

By John Jermaine

The homeless are often called "lazy" or "crazy." Writer John Jermaine spent last weekend in the freezing cold, talking to homeless people as they tried to stay warm. He says there is no one type. "I h

News | Thursday, April 24,2003

War stories

By John Jermaine

"War is Hell," according to William Tecumseh Sherman. Ovbiously, he knew what he was talking about. Watching the invasion of Iraq on television, writer John Jermaine wondered about the naivete of the

News | Friday, April 4,2003

Highwayman

By John Jermaine

Writer John Jermaine has long heard about speed traps in the towns of Edinburg and Rochester, located south of Springfield on Route 29. With the route expanding from two to four lanes, the highway wil