Cover Story
Back to school
It’s the first school year since the pandemic began that all students are to be in classrooms full time. Schools have planned ways to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and its potentially more contagious variants, as the delta version is proving to be. As of Aug. 18 the community transmission level was high in nearly…
Camp Care-A-Lot competing for $25,000 State Farm grant
You can help provide a life-changing experience for children living in poverty who have never experienced a camp or a summer vacation. Simply vote online for Camp Care-A-Lot from Aug. 18 to 27. Camp Care-A-Lot is the only cause in Springfield that made the cut for an opportunity to receive a $25,000 grant through the…
New census data will affect legislative districts
In the wake of last week’s Census numbers release, the news media has widely reported a seeming reduction in the number of white people, both nationally and here in Illinois. “Census shows US is diversifying, white population shrinking,” the Associated Press reported. “Overall, in the five collar counties, the white population declined by 183,869 over…
Leafy green versatility
This has been an odd year in my garden. I started dozens of plants from seed in late winter and have watched them grow from tiny seedlings in my basement to lush, vigorous plants covered with huge green tomatoes and dozens of tiny peppers. They’ve been weeded and watered and lovingly fed while I’ve waited…
More than fair
Greetings, fellow travelers, and welcome to our wonderful world of live music made right here in central Illinois. As we round the last lap of the Illinois State Fair, let’s see what’s happening on the fairgrounds and in town. There are plenty of opportunities to encounter music at the fair, from national touring shows at…
What to do about rent
A federal moratorium on evictions has tied landlords’ hands and led to tenants simply refusing to pay rent. That’s according to Stella Dean, a board member of the Springfield Area Landlord Association. Rental assistance has been made available and many Springfield-area tenants are availing themselves of it in cooperation with their landlords. But Dean said…
Editor’s note 08-19-21
Wars are easy to get into and hard to get out of. I remember the Sunday morning, Oct. 7, 2001, when President George W. Bush launched an intense bombing attack on Afghanistan’s major cities. It was inexplicable except as a retaliation for the Sept. 11 attacks, though no case had been made that the attackers…
Leland Grove is now just The Grove
Last week Illinois Times reported that demolition of the historic old Leland farm house on the corner of Willemoore and Wiggins in Leland Grove appeared to be imminent. By Thursday, Aug. 12, heavy equipment was on site. The ground was scraped clean as vegetation was cleared from around the home. Yellow tape circled the large…
Letters to the editor 08-19-21
CHOOSE WISELY The article on the destruction of Leland Farm House broke my heart (“Historic Old Leland Farm House scheduled for demolition,” Aug. 12). I grew up in Clinton. In 1940, Fortune magazine covered that then-thriving and energetic town in a lengthy article, complete with photographs and beautiful illustrations. The buildings and places featured are…
Another shooting in my neighborhood
There’s been another shooting in my neighborhood; this one is fatal. Three people were killed Aug. 9 in a house on South 10th Street, in the middle of a block full of families, less than three blocks from Harvard Park Elementary School. These killings are not isolated incidents in our city. Citizens in older neighborhoods…
Smart Guy is rewarding, Night House and Protégé miss the mark
Night House a murky mystery Like settling for a bowl of cereal of dinner, David Bruckner’s The Night House left me wanting more. Though effectively atmospheric and featuring a compelling performance from Rebecca Hall, the film falls short where fleshing out its plot is concerned. The actress is Beth, a woman who’s suddenly widowed when…
