Addison Township was once king of the state’s Republican hill. The Illinois Senate President (James ‘Pate’ Philip), House Republican Leader (Lee Daniels) and state attorney general (Jim Ryan) all lived in the eastern DuPage County township. When people talked about the power of DuPage County Republicans, they were really speaking of Addison’s enormous strength. But […]
Opinion
Posted inOpinion
Your Turn. . . 10-23-03
On the line I was surprised to see among the list of ten censored news stories your inclusion of number six, “closing access to information technology” [Kari Lydersen, “Censored!” Oct. 9]. Telecommunication company representatives have been quoted as saying they “missed the boat” on the Internet boom of the ’90s and intend to control and […]
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Reality bites
A fascinating month-long political standoff may finally be coming to a close in Kankakee County. The trouble started when Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised state Rep. Phil Novak (D-Bradley) a seat on the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Rep. Novak, who has specialized in environmental and utility issues during a House career that has spanned three decades, […]
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Your Turn . . . 10-16-03
Corrections We changed a word and made an error in Peter J. Wagner’s Sept. 11 letter to the editor. Wagner wrote us to say CWLP’s proposed rate increase “may not be in the best interests of Springfield citizen-ratepayers.” The telephone number for the Bluestem Bake Shop in Elkhart, the subject of a review in the […]
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Your Turn . . . 10-9-03
All our best I especially enjoyed how took your turn and gave your choices [in the “Best of Springfield” issue, September 18]. Your decision, in my opinion, was like a teacher grading a student’s paper. My personal choices (although I did not compete in your contest this year) are: Dusty Rhodes (Illinois Times) for best […]
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What I did on vacation
I can only take so much of Illinois politics before I begin to go a little crazy. Don’t get me wrong, Illinois politics is my life. I truly enjoy my job. But, eventually, the bickering, the corruption, the pettiness starts to infect my soul and I gotta stop for a while. The last real vacation […]
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Collateral Damage
The University of Illinois at Springfield’s Abraham Lincoln Presidential Center for Governmental Studies was the latest victim of the governor’s own style of politics. In July 2003, the Center was stripped of its $1.5 million state appropriation to carry out academic programming in conjunction with the soon to open Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum […]
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Roadside attraction
I spent much of my childhood on a farm in rural Iroquois County. One of my most pointless chores was mowing the ditches. It was dangerous work. The mower–or the tractor, depending on the ditch–could tip over while you were negotiating the steep inclines. I heard lots of harrowing stories about farmers (my granddad included) […]
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Your Turn . . . 10-2-03
Article in poor taste Dear editor, I must say I did not appreciate the recent article on the 233rd M.P. Battalion stationed in Iraq [“Wrong moves, right moves,” September 18]. To compare Infantry with Military Police is like comparing the Boy Scouts with the Girl Scouts. First of all, I am ex-infantry and very proud […]
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Your Turn . . . 9-25-03
Half the loaf To the editor: My Illinois Times “Best of Springfield” issue [September 18] is still warm from the printing press as I hammer out this letter of protest. I’m sure you’ll be besieged with letters of outrage complaining about the people’s choice for “Best Fire Hydrant” or “Best Snow Plow Guy,” but this […]
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Wrong moves, right moves
FALLUJAH, IRAQ – “Ego Buster” was painted clearly on the side of an American tank that rumbled past the Fallujah police headquarters. Below the tank’s name, its crew had painted a motto: “1-2 to the head.” The tank was part of a convoy of heavily armored U.S. infantry vehicles patrolling Fallujah, while a handful of […]
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Your Turn . . . 9-18-03
Hats off to Gentleman Joe Dear sir: Thank you very much for the wonderful article on Mr. Joe Bonefeste [“Il Professore,” September 11]. This gentleman, who is 81 years young, is a fascinating conversationalist whom we consider a dear friend. This past Fourth of July we had the honor of enjoying a band concert with […]
