Letters to the Editor

ILLUSTRATION BY SHARON OKADA/MCT NURTURING FUTURE LINCOLNS In 1832, our own Mr. Lincoln called education “the most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.” Mr. Lincoln’s words have never been timelier. Quality of education, and the degree to which children are taught to love learning and to pursue it throughout their […]

An innocent Tim Robbins (pictured) plays a character accused of killing his wife in the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption. He is in prison with Morgan Freeman’s character who is less than innocent. Another innocent in this movie, a bird, heard in the background during the film. BIRD PHOTO BY PAUK VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG BIRD’S-EYE VIEWIn […]

Native American descendants from Illinois participated in the “Gomo, Chief of the Potawatomi” historical marker dedication in Chillicothe last October. The marker was sponsored by the French Heritage Corridor and the Illinois State Historical Society. PHOTO BY WILLIAM FURRY CHIEF GOMO MARKER In James Krohe Jr.’s column last week (“A new Dawn at the Statehouse?” […]

In 2011, students of The Hope Institute for Children and Families enjoy guitar playing and songs with former music therapist Rachel Rambach. PHOTO BY DAVID HINE   HOPE THRIVESI am writing in support of The Hope Institute for Children and Families and the caring, compassionate staff that care for the children there. A few years […]

Helping the homeless in Springfield is as easy as filling out and returning a Round Up insert in your CWLP bill. PHOTO BY OLIVIER DOULIERY/MCT HELP THE HOMELESSLast week we experienced bone-chilling sub-zero weather. Those who suffer the most when the thermometer drops below zero are our homeless brothers and sisters. This month, there’s an […]

Local residents Karen and Court Conn own Obed & Issac’s Microbrewery and Eatery, the Inn at 835, Conn’s Catering and the soon-to-open Wm. Van’s Coffee House. PHOTO BY GINNY LEE CONNS’ EXCELLENT VENTURES Let’s start this letter off with some background history that defines the determination and adeptness of Court and Karen Conn to move […]

Samuel Johnson of Springfield says he was pulled over by Springfield police because he is black, a practice known as racial profiling. Traffic stop data shows Springfield police pull minority drivers over proportionally more than white drivers. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE DRIVING IT HOMEI would like to make a comment about your article “Driving while […]

PENSION PLANNING I don’t know Mr. Krohe so there is nothing personal in this reply to his rant about state employee pensions (“Promises, promises,” Dec. 12). However, as someone who worked half a century in both the private and public sectors, I couldn’t resist responding. I worked for the state for about 30 of those […]

BARNEY FIFEReading the article by Phil Bradley (“The cop was right to ticket me,” Dec. 5) about the Illinois State Police captain he called “straight arrow” because he would “ticket his own mother,” I was reminded of TV Deputy Barney Fife throwing the whole town of Mayberry in jail for chronic jaywalking while Sheriff Andy […]