THR auctions items in bankruptcy
Here’s a sampling of what’s on the auction block from the failed empire of Jeffrey Parsons, proprietor of THR and Associates, which is now in bankruptcy. Goods range from taxidermy to pregnancy tests to dog costumes to baseball memorabilia to toys to Parsons’ desk. Photos by Bruce Rushton.
Stratton on hot seat
Springfield Park District executive director Michael Stratton is under scrutiny for taking $2,600 in unauthorized payments from district accounts, according to multiple sources. Meanwhile, a park district board member says he will resign in the wake of an unpublicized meeting of the board on the matter that was held Monday behind closed doors. “I just…
OBESITY BE GONE
For people who are morbidly obese, weight loss can seem impossible. It’s easy to prescribe diet and exercise, but it’s not always as simple as that. Eating healthy is often out of reach for people with small incomes, and exercise isn’t so easy for people with arthritis or other mobility problems. Left unmitigated, morbid obesity…
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Son of the legendary accordion player and Zydeco master Rockin’ Dopsie, Sr., Dwayne “Dopsie” Rubin comes into his heritage honestly and avidly. Always a party when he comes to town with the New Orleans and swampy Louisiana sound, this Saturday’s show infuses the excitement of Carnival and the upcoming Mardi Gras celebrations to make for…
strange sight poem #1
our river flooded and frozewhen the water receded thekids and I winter-hiked inthe sangamon bottomlandeach tree, thick and ancientto sapling slim, was circledabout waist high with a whiteice tutu a vast corps de balletsleeping beauties stilled by acold enchantress or perhapswaiting for the cue of swan lake
A beloved teacher, counselor and activist commemorated
One day while she was a professor at what was then Sangamon State University, Dr. Caryl Moy came upon a woman standing in front of a frosty window. The woman had cleared a space and was gazing out at the wintry scene. “Are you looking for somebody?” Caryl said. The woman turned. “Yes,” she said.…
Scratching an itch
If Abraham Lincoln were alive, would he need Head and Shoulders? The answer could settle whether a hat on display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum actually belonged to Abe. The hat is believed to have been Lincoln’s lid, but there is no proof. As first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, an affidavit…
Hansel & Gretel a bloody mess
The pedigree behind Tommy Wirkola’s Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is an odd one and speaks to the disjointed nature of the movie. Produced by Will Ferrell’s company, one wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that this update on the tale of the brother and sister, who escaped the clutches of a witch by burning her…
HOW TO AUDITION
Do you find yourself belting out songs and dancing? Or have you ever imagined yourself on stage? Before you audition for the next big hit, why not have the proper training? The Springfield Municipal Opera will hold an Auditions Workshop in preparation for their upcoming auditions for the 2013 season. The free workshop is planned…
Love links
It’s almost Valentines Day so I thought I’d share some link love. If you’re looking for most any service in Springfield here it is. I love the Salvation Army’s comprehensive list of “Community Resources” posted on their website. They list services and contacts for adult day services, clothing and furniture, counseling, dental, disability, emergency travel,…
Polls peg Madigan above Quinn and Daley
You probably won’t be surprised to learn that a poll taken last Wednesday, Jan. 30 of 1,255 likely Illinois Democratic primary voters shows Attorney General Lisa Madigan leading Gov. Pat Quinn by a very large margin. Madigan also leads Quinn and former White House chief of staff Bill Daley in a three-way contest, according to…
Punk-rock spirit
WUIS Bedrock 66 Series rolls in another winning musical act at the Hoogland Center for the Arts on Feb. 9. Paul Collins Beat features Paul Collins, who got his start in The Nerves whose claim to fame includes touring with The Ramones and having their song “Hanging on the Telephone” become a Blondie hit. Collins…
Jamie gets punished
If you are sensitive to stories of human suffering and economic hardship, let me warn you that the following report contains material that could be upsetting, so discretion is advised. It’s about a fellow named Jamie. He lives in New York City, and he has recently had a very rough go with a large financial…
Touching testament
Begin your Valentine celebrations a little early by attending Love Letters at The Legacy Theater this weekend. The heart-warming award-winning play by A.R. Gurney features local actors Don and Linda Schneider as Andrew and Melissa. The childhood friends and teen lovers maintained a 50-year correspondence. In this characters study, the two discuss the hopes, fears,…
MMA mania
In an unassuming beige garage on the edge of town, two muscular, tattooed young men circle around and around, punching, kicking and grappling with one another with all the intensity of a dogfight. A lightning-fast back kick misses its mark, blocked instinctively by the other fighter. Though he avoids a potentially devastating kick to the…
Will he or won’t he?
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock says he hasn’t decided whether to run for governor next year, but the Republican from Peoria is sounding and behaving like a candidate. Consider a press availability session held last week after a luncheon meeting of the Sangamon County Republican Network at Saputo’s restaurant in downtown Springfield last week. The meeting…
Stallone glowers toward grace in old-school Bullet
At first glance, Walter Hill’s Bullet to the Head seems to be a standard exercise in action, a film loaded with mayhem but short on plot. Sporting a stripped down story that’s constructed around various set pieces, it sports a retro vibe harkening back to the action movies of the 80s, which seem to be…
What was that again?
Wait a minuteMaybe my hears are clogged or somethin’Maybe I’m not understanding the English language”– “My Life Is Good,” by Randy Newman I have concluded, after not very much thought, that books ought to come with warning labels. They should read, “Words in print do not necessarily sound the way they appear.” I should explain.…
State auditor general suspected of DUI
Illinois auditor general William G. Holland was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving. Details of the arrest by Illinois State Police were not immediately available, but records at the Sangamon County circuit clerk’s office show that police cited Holland for improper lane usage in addition to arresting him for driving under the influence. Holland…
Presidential proceedings
Postville Courthouse in Lincoln and Mt. Pulaski Courthouse in Mt. Pulaski are celebrating Lincoln’s birthday a few days early on Saturday, Feb. 9, with refreshments, speakers and tours. Mt. Pulaski will have a children’s area and Abraham Lincoln Scavenger Hunt from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Brian “Fox” Ellis will portray William Herndon at an 11…
Yoke of yesteryear
The University of Illinois Springfield is holding more than a dozen events in February to celebrate Black History Month. Highlights this week are a Celebration of Gospel on Sunday, Feb. 10, from 6-9 p.m., in Brookens Auditorium showcasing the history of gospel music and its artists and musicians. Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7 p.m., is Engaged…
Side Effects effective on two fronts
Though it is difficult to get a solid number, it is estimated that over 10 million Americans are currently being treated for depression through the use of prescription drugs. Counseling and exercise play a large part in treatment as well, however, prescription drugs have the most profound and direct effect on patient behavior. That most…
Letters to the Editor 2/7/13
MARRIAGE EQUALITYOn behalf of ourselves and the religious community we serve, the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Springfield, we wish to publicly add our voices in support of the legislation in favor of marriage equality that is to be considered by the Illinois General Assembly. We are heartened that representatives from both parties recognize…
School safety is larger than Newtown
On Dec 14, 2012, the nation was stunned and sickened by a senseless tragedy that took the lives of 26 innocent people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. This horrific act has again brought the issue of school safety to the forefront across the country. President Obama has outlined an aggressive school safety…
RIP Hostess
They’re gone. Kaput. Fini. When the Hostess corporation, maker of Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Ho Ho’s, announced last November that it was filing for bankruptcy and closing its factories, the anguished howls were as intense as the hand-wringing over the impending “fiscal cliff.” Overnight, Hostess snack cakes disappeared from stores nationwide. Boxes of Twinkies sold…
