The ironies are flowing thicker than crude oil in Iraq these days. First, the United States surreptitiously turns over nominal control of the country to a government appointed by outsiders — while leaving real power in the hands of U.S. military commanders — and calls it an exercise in democracy. And although the interim prime […]
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Fired up
Like a lot of little kids, Cecil Taborn Jr. always wanted to be a firefighter. Part of that dream was inspired by his neighbor, David Irwin, a Springfield Fire Department firefighter. Growing up on the East Side, Taborn lived half a block from Irwin, known to everyone as “Wolfman.” So when Taborn had the chance […]
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Competitive edge
More than 70 emergency homeless shelter agencies across Illinois will share state grants totaling $2.4 million. And the two biggest recipients, according to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s office, are Springfield-based Contact Ministries and Fifth Street Renaissance. They competed against nearly 100 other nonprofits for the money. “We are very pleased, because the more resources we receive, […]
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Mission accomplished
Last week, when John Dale Kennedy resigned from the top job at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, he sent friends an e-mail peppered with adjectives hinting — ever so artfully — that he just might be dancing a gleeful little jig on his way out the door. The 18 months he spent getting […]
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Grace about town 6-24-04
I went to the Route 66 Drive-In a couple of weeks ago, the first time this summer. Boy, the drive-in is the quintessential summer experience for me. When we were kids, we went to the drive-in, my brother David and I, in our pajamas with our pillows and blankets, and we watched the movie for […]
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Ryan’s hope
Jack Ryan’s bid for the U.S. Senate may be toast, as some Republican Party leaders began calling on him to quit the race after the release of his divorce files on Monday. The documents include allegations from Ryan’s ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, that he took her to sex clubs where he tried to force her […]
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Hero or hellion?
Some heroes have great talent. Others do great deeds and overcome enormous odds. Robert Pulliam was such a man, but what he is remembered for most is that he was the first Anglo settler of Sangamon County. The early city fathers admired Pulliam so much that they erected a marker near the site of his […]
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quick takes 6-24-04
NEW HISTORIC AREA On Tuesday, new Springfield historical markers began appearing west of the Capitol, designating the new Pasfield House Historic Area. The Pasfield House, part of a 40-acre estate that once was the city’s largest, served as the residence for three generations of George Pasfields after its purchase in 1841. The new designation encompasses […]
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Peace of paper
There was a graduation ceremony recently in Springfield. Nothing unusual about that, especially this time of year. But the setting — the back yard of 830 S. College Ave. — was remarkable, as was the school holding it. The occasion was the conclusion of the first year of the Heartland Peace Academy, sponsored by the […]
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Lincoln the poet
There should be no question that Springfield is a poet’s town. Since the days of the legendary Vachel Lindsay, the capital city has been replete with poets. Poetry readings thrill audiences at least twice monthly, and new chapbooks pop up more frequently than Section 8 housing, with any major new publication sending shock waves through […]
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Little big man
Stifling their yawns and wiping sleep from their eyes, a steady flow of slightly disheveled lawmakers shuffled into the Capitol. Most were still recovering from the previous night’s marathon legislative session that held them hostage past midnight. House Speaker Michael Madigan assumed the podium sporting a fresh haircut and dapper suit that countered the general […]
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Grace about town
I recently met Kevin Hughes, an officer with the Illinois State Police. He came to “Grace Talk #1,” and I felt well-protected, knowing there was a law enforcement official in the audience. In case there was a shoot-out. I keep thinking Kevin’s title is Grand Quartermaster Brigadier General, but that’s completely wrong. It’s Master Sergeant, […]
