Cover Story
Rebounds against racism
“I think we’re more polarized now than we have been for a while as a society, especially when it comes to race,” said Al Klunick, co-organizer of the upcoming Community Unity 2 On 2 Tournament, which aims to pit integrated basketball duos against each other in an attempt to bridge racial gaps. Klunick coached high…
Timely Self-Defense a dark comic delight
Casey Davies is a loner. Not by choice, mind you. The young man is socially awkward and has an unpopular job at the firm he works at – as the company’s accountant, he audits his co-workers expense reports. He lives in a small apartment with his dachshund and seems, if not happy, secure in the…
Hard times at Goodwill
Life’s too short to look like a homeless person. That’s why I shop at Goodwill. Norwegian split-toe bluchers by Alden. Shell cordovan. Ben Silver button-downs, Brioni trousers and oxford cloth from Brooks Brothers. Spend enough time shopping at Goodwill and you can look better than the president, which these days isn’t saying much. I didn’t…
Hotel land deal set to close
Ryan Bandy, owner of Club Station House, says he has a July 31 closing date to sell the site of Springfield’s oldest gay bar to developers of a proposed hotel. Bandy said that he has identified a site downtown that he declined to identify for the bar’s new home. “The lease is going to be…
Gregory named Ward 2 alderman
April 2 aldermanic elections are finally over, with Shawn Gregory, a political newcomer, becoming the Ward 2 alderman after the Springfield City Council tonight declared a tie. After a tie was declared, City Treasurer Misty Buscher pulled one of two ping pong balls, one representing Gregory, the other his rival Gail Simpson, from a cloth bag.…
import test
Whale of a sale THR assets up for auction COURTS | Bruce Rushton What’s bigger than a Hummer but smaller than an elephant? Dregs from the empire that was once THR and Associates, an erstwhile buy-and-sell Springfield outfit that declared bankruptcy seven years ago, with its founder Jeff Parsons facing criminal investigation and lawsuits galore.…
Hard times at Goodwill
UPDATE: After the below story was posted online, Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries reversed itself and has announced that Nicholas Braun and other former employees who lost their jobs this month will be rehired.In a written statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Sharon Durbin, the agency’s president and chief executive officer apologized for firing Braun and about…
What happens when you cross your own party?
For the second time this year, House Republican Leader Jim Durkin has stripped one of his member’s access to a House communications staffer. Rep. Chris Miller (R-Oakland) is the most recent to lose his state-funded communications staff member. Earlier this year, Rep. Dave McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) lost his comms staffer for criticizing fellow Republican Rep.…
Letters to the Editor 7/18/19
BUY LOCAL WORKS BOTH WAYS I went to a locally owned music store hoping to purchase. I walked in and down one side then across the entire back wall to find the instruments I was looking for. Three people around the counter ignored me the whole time. I fumbled with out-of-tune instruments. No one offered…
Editor’s note 7/18/19
Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. continues to say what needs to be said. Here’s part of his statement issued July 15: “Do not be afraid of that man behind the curtain in the White House. It’s only Donald Trump, the Distractor in Chief, pushing the ‘send’ button on his computer, spreading division and pain across the…
You think this weather’s bad? Illinois in the Depression was worse.
The Great Depression was a dark time in Illinois history, with mind-numbing unemployment, homelessness and wage losses. State residents also had to contend with horrific weather. Though climate extremes are a hot-button issue today, the weather of the 1930s was some of the most severe in American history, particularly in the Land of Lincoln. Unfortunately…
How sweet it is
It’s finally back – the annual opportunity to fling desiccated dung of the cow variety. The Chatham Jaycees Sweet Corn Festival just wouldn’t be the same without the familiar flat trailer loaded with local, freshly harvested dry cow chips all waiting for their moment in the sun – to be a part of the Illinois…
Dana-Thomas House Foundation
Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and designer of the Dana-Thomas House, enjoyed the occasional nip of bourbon and even has a bourbon drink named in his honor. With that in mind, the Dana-Thomas House Foundation is hosting The Wright Bourbon, Brisket and Blues fundraiser for an evening of sipping bourbon, enjoying a good meal and listening…
Camp Compass, where learning is fun
The yellow buses pull up to the southeast side elementary school and children pour out, laughing and running and twirling as they head into the building for another day of school. In the middle of July. The enrollment has tripled, the programs have been expanded, and a new partnership with Springfield School District 186 means…
The King and The Bard
All Shook Up at Theatre In The Park is a constantly entertaining Elvis Presley “jukebox musical” with surprising depth. From the rousing “Jailhouse Rock” opening to the “Burning Love” finale, it’s a fantastic way to spend a midsummer evening. All Shook Up is not an Elvis Presley biography but a magical fairy tale combining The…
Leaves and grass
Yard waste disposal costs would more than double under a deal between the city of Springfield and Evans Cartage, which holds a contract to find a final resting place for yard waste. The city council next week is scheduled to vote on a new contract for Evans, which makes mulch from waste and spreads it…
Racing board falls short
The Illinois Racing Board hasn’t kept proper track of either money or drugs at horse racing courses, according to a report by the state auditor general. The report released last month came after lawmakers approved a landmark expansion of gambling that could boost the racing board’s workload by increasing the number of races at tracks…
Crawl a B-movie delight
After having seen the trailer for Alejandro Aja’s Crawl, I realized this was the movie I had been for waiting all summer. I never thought I would suffer from superhero film fatigue, but that certainly has set in. With all of the lackluster sequels and reboots I’ve been subjected to, this summer movie season has…
Abe, corn and more
This weekend you will be forced to make choices, simply because there are so many things to do. And yes, it’s wonderful to have such entertainment issues in our community. Thursday, the Levitt AMP music series continues on the Y-block stage with Liz Cooper (not that Liz Cooper, Morris) and the Stampede, known for “combining…
Ross Sermons
A native of North Carolina, this rock-solid, deep-roots musician of the finest degree travels far and wide to make his music matter. Ross spent time in Nashville touring and recording with some well-known and respected country business names for years. He soon migrated up to Sparta, Illinois, on a regular basis, playing on several recordings…
Oops! I did it again.
Overcome by the zeal of spring gardening, I planted way too many cucumber plants and am once more inundated with daily harvests of bright green fruit. In addition to filling out my dinner table from June until frost, cucumber plants are much loved by pollinators, from fat, fuzzy bumblebees to homely moths and wasps. Each…
some things you don’t forget #7
some things you don’t forget #7 we lived in the country the end of a long lane a car sped up a stranger saw us four kids playing on the lawn spied the iron rabbit sitting in the grass grabbed it by its metal ears said here’s a dollar shoved the rabbit into his trunk…
