We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
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Friday, October 25 was a big day around northwest Illinois. First, the excitement kicked off with Lisa Corp being announced the 2025 IAITC Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Corp is a 2nd Grade teacher at Open Bible Learning Center, Freeport, Stephenson County. Not only does Mrs. Corp shine in the classroom integrating agriculture, she also is an avid learner attending multiple professional development workshops at the local, state and national level. She is also an integral part of the Stephenson...
Normally, a questionable call in any sport might happen, but is not worthy of mention because one call typically does not decide the outcome of a game. I've also come to realize that while things might appear one way to me – sitting in my corner of the gym – a referee typically has a better angle, or viewpoint – so, again, I never mention it. But Tuesday night in Polo, the teams fighting in the Sectional were exceptional, while the officiating – specifically one line judge – had a really ba...
Letter to the Editor To the voters of Jo Daviess County District 7-Nora, part Warren & part Rush – I urge you to strongly consider your vote for John Creighton. John has been a strong advocate for you over the years! He is very fiscally responsible and has done his best to stretch your tax dollars as far as they can go. John has made sure that there is no wasteful spending in this county as he commits to keeping the budget in a surplus. He has been very active in trying to generate income through other means of revenue to keep property taxes f...
This time of year, motorists share the road with a special group of people who measure time by the acre rather than by the hour. Its harvest season in Illinois! Agriculture is the top industry in Illinois and a key driver of our state’s economy. This is due to the rich, fertile soil, and temperate climate during growing season. According to the IL Department of Agriculture, about 75% of the state’s total land mass— 27 million acres, is dedicated to agriculture, and 96% of Illinois’ farms a...
As a seasoned pastor of over 30 years, I have received a variety of comments and advice on how to do my job. Most of it has been positive and encouraging. In fact, October is Pastor Appreciation Month and last Sunday our Board of Elders colluded with our congregation and together they dedicated time at both of our services for people to express their love and gratitude to my wife and me. It was fun and encouraging. Every year as election season closes in, I have found that the vast majority of p...
This column is coming with a warning: “Unwanted mental images may be formed by the reading of this column, so anybody eating, or operating heavy machinery might want to wait until near a bathroom before continuing.” As many people are aware, I have been dealing – as many of us are – with the payment of my sins regarding diet as I have been added to the roles of people in America with type two diabetes. The number of pills needed each day makes me feel like I’m a walking pharmacy, and the need...
Every week for the past 18 years or so this column has appeared in this publication. I am grateful Dan Stevens gave me this opportunity so many years ago. It was a dream of mine since high school English class to have a weekly newspaper column. (This is not goodbye). Dan has always encouraged me to exercise my right to free speech and to freely express my opinions. When I first “signed up” he gave me the choice of a weekly column, bi-weekly, or monthly. He told me at that time that he would hol...
OK, I thought everybody knew this story, but after mentioning it in last week’s column I got a ton of phone calls asking me about it, so … I figure I might as well tell the story again. We need to go back to 2005, when the White Sox were battling the Anaheim Angels in the American League Championship series for the right to go to the World Series. On Thursday, October 12th, the White Sox tied the series at a game apiece with a 2-1 victory that was controversial. You see, A.J. Pierzynski was at...
My wife had a class reunion last weekend. She got to ride on her class float along with several of her classmates during the Homecoming Parade and later we all got a tour of the high school we both attended. It was quite interesting walking the halls of the old high school. Everything was so much larger back then. A lot has changed, but then again, it all seemed the same. That night her classmates and their spouses gathered for dinner and a time of reminiscing. The stories began to flow and...
OK, fair warning, you might not want to read this column because it deals with politics. I was taught at an early age that there are two things you should never argue about – religion and politics. Because what people believe in regard to their religion or political leanings is what they believe – you’re never going to change their mind. So, if you’re anything like me, as soon as someone starts going into a political conversation – I tend to tune them out. You’ve been warned. Personally,...
I am sure this is common with others as it is for me: as a kid, tween and teen I often became involved with things because someone in my family had done them previously. I joined 4-H because my mother had been a member and my grandma a local club leader. During my time in 4-H I showed dogs, rabbits, participated in childcare and development and did cooking projects. For those who are not familiar, “4-H is delivered by Cooperative Extension- a community of more than 100 public universities a...
With all this nice weather, my wife and I decided it was time to finish up the garden for the year. We picked the few remaining tomatoes, and the peppers, turnips, carrots, and green beans. We pulled all the plants out by the roots and loaded them in the truck for the burn pile. I got the ladder out, and climbed as high as it would take me and reached out as far out as I could possibly reach, and picked the last of the apples and dropped them one at a time to my wife, who was standing below to...
Speaking from experience, it is far better being the grandfather than being the father. Now, the biggest reason is obvious – you get to enjoy your grand kids, and as soon as they become crabby, or in massive need of a diaper change or some other maternal comforts, you can immediately pass them off to their parents. In addition, while they do tend to wipe you out whenever they come to visit – due to incredible energy levels that the Energizer Bunny can never hope to match – they will leave … eve...
Political corruption undermines and erodes public trust in government. There should be no place in our political landscape for those who would use their elected position for personal gain. On this, there should be full bipartisan agreement. This week, the highest profile political corruption trial of our time will take center stage in a federal courtroom in Chicago. Former Illinois Speaker of the House Michael Madigan will face 22 counts of racketeering conspiracy, attempted extortion, and wire...
As election day draws nigh yet again, one can’t help but notice that the emotion level in the political realm is reaching new heights. Every four years election tension rises to new levels. I have read that 80% of Americans consider themselves to be Christians. If that number is accurate, that should mean that most of us are in agreement with the Bible, God’s Word to man. In Daniel’s book of prophecy, it says that Daniel prayed to the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for...
I don’t know about you, but one of the best investments my wife and I ever made at our house is the addition of a fire pit in the back yard. There is nothing like sitting around an open fire with friends, enjoying a beverage or two and solving the world’s problems on a bright summer night underneath the stars. With the weather beginning to turn, we are nearing the end of the summer fire pit night season. Now, when it comes to the fire pit, I realized that while some nights are a lot of fun, the...
During the month of August Illinois Farm Bureau Served its members by: - A state appellate court sided with Illinois Farm Bureau and landowner groups, reversing the certification or the Grain Belt Express Project, a statewide high-voltage direct current transmission line. - Seven county Farm Bureaus hosted field days supported by IFB’s Nutrient Stewardship Grant Program, highlighting Illinois farmers’ contributions to goals in the State’s Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy. - The 2024 Summe...
There’s a business I frequent on occasion that used to have a crash dummy sitting on the counter next to where you paid your bill. The dummy was wearing dark sunglasses, had a cigarette in his mouth, was wearing an orange t-shirt and a red MAGA hat. He didn’t say a word, but he spoke volumes. Sometimes, one can tell a lot about a company by checking out the paraphernalia around the business and reading the notes they have up on the wall. Another place I do business with, has Bible verses and ins...
Many years ago, when we found out the hard way that I was allergic to Morphine, I had my brush with death and was lying in an ICU bed in Freeport. Now, as a patient, I have always done what I was told – no matter how much it might hurt – so my ICU nurse, who. I knew personally and was a friend, used the joke for many years that she knew first-hand how “good in bed” I was. That nurse was LuAnn Jordan. For the longest time, my wife even teased that I like LuAnn more than I liked her, and used Lu...
Can you believe September is almost over? It is hard to believe, that is for sure. During the month of September, the Stephenson County Agriculture in the Classroom program will see roughly 1,200 students. Students have learned about apples, agriculture’s role in back to school and football. Students range from pre school to 5th grade. With the increase of students we are seeing on a monthly basis, we are trying something new. On Wednesday, October 2 we are inviting community members to help u...
At a recent series of town-hall-style events I hosted across the 45th Senate District, residents took advantage of the opportunity to voice their opinions on various topics. Events were held in Genoa (DeKalb County), Rockton (Winnebago County), Machesney Park (Winnebago County), Savanna (Carroll County), Freeport (Stephenson County), Elizabeth (Jo Daviess County), and Oregon (Ogle County). Local mayors, county board chairs, and other elected officials co-hosted these Community Connections...
People are an interesting lot. We live in a time where surveys are taken for just about everything. Most of the time when you buy something online, immediately after you send your order in, a survey arrives in your inbox asking a bunch of questions about your experience in making the purchase. Sometimes there are surveys on top of surveys. I remember reading about the marketing strategy for a certain laundry detergent. The company put together an impressive set of commercials in an effort to con...
What’s In A Name? A Rose, by any other name, would still smell just as sweet. OK, my apologies for going back into teacher mode during the unit on Shakespeare, but the reason for the quote popping into my head was because I was sitting at my desk late last night, spacing off, when it suddenly occurred to me just how many “names” I’ve got. I mean, my name is Dan Stevens, but when at the eye doctor this past week, they repeatedly called me “Daniel” – which I guess is in an attempt to not offend...
FYI - Humpty Dumpty was pushed. My wife and I had the opportunity to spend last weekend in Nashville, Tennessee with our daughter. We made arrangements to stay at an Airbnb. Before we booked, we read the comments section on their website and it was full of nothing but great comments and five-star ratings. Nonetheless, we were a bit skeptical. When we got there, everything was exactly as advertised. Our suite was an upstairs bungalow complete with snacks, water, juice, antiques, and homey-ness....
Every once in a while, we will be going through our normal routine when suddenly something comes up that sparks a memory in our hearts. For me, it just happened this past week when a girl I used to date back when I was living in New York City popped back into my head. Her name was Joan Labisi, and she was the best friend of the girl who did the books for the Wall Street head-hunting firm I was working for back in 1986 when I first moved to New York City after graduating college. Now, to be...
