We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
We don't write papers, we build scrapbooks
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Thank You I would like to thank everyone for the support they have shown me since my accident. Saturday February 5, I was sledding with a Scout Troop. When I hit my head on a tree putting me unconscious. An ambulance was called, and I was taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Peoria. Where they drilled two holes in the skull to release pressure on the brain. As my condition worsened, I was given last rites and put on a ventilator. I was in the hospital for three weeks. The first two weeks, I have...
When my wife and I were first married we bought a small, 13 inch portable television. To get reception we’d adjust a set of rabbit ears on the back, twisting and turning them to pick up the invisible signal. We got about three channels on that little thing. Since then, we’ve graduated up to larger models. That TV seemed very small at the time. That’s when they were first coming out with giant 60” large screen TV’s. Today, the average size TV screen in North America is 55 inches. According...
It was like something out of a dream … There I was, in an Apache attack helicopter, flying over a vast wooded area. Sitting next to me, with one hand on my thigh, was none other than Michelle Pfeiffer – not the Michelle Pfeiffer from Scarface who was attitudinal and too skinny – but the Michelle Pfeiffer from What Lies Beneath and Dangerous Minds. Now, admittedly, I love my wife dearly, but Michelle Pfeiffer … yeah, I’d be willing to burn in hell for her. Anyway, there we were flying over the...
Like clockwork as the weather begins to warm so does my desire to travel and experience new things. I love exploring new places whether it be a city, state park or even a new local business. I am fortunate that with my position with Stephenson County Farm Bureau I have the opportunity to host several bus trips throughout the year, three of which have upcoming registration deadlines and have several seats available. Our trips are a great way to explore somewhere new or old without the hassle of p...
Following are notes from my “diary” that I sent out to the people praying for me before, during, and after surgery to repair a hernia: I’m healing well, thanks for your prayers and concern. The doctor here is good. It was really a God thing. It might seem strange finding a doctor online, but it worked and that’s the way we do things in this present age. I had three requirements: No mesh, no mask, no “vaccine.” (I would have waived the mask requirement but I didn't have to). He is a D.O. - a doct...
Very few things can immediately instill a cold shiver down the spine, but in my household, the words “Stevens project” instantly creates that sense of impending doom. “Stevens Projects” got their name while I was growing up – there was the time my father through it would be a great idea to create a road through the 20+ acres of woods in the back of our property over to our neighbor’s house a quarter mile away who also butted up to the same woods. Of course, nobody but yours truly had ever ac...
Illinois Democrats passed a new state budget on April 9 full of election-year gimmicks and self-congratulations. With the federal spigot set to stop flowing, Illinois has to get serious about getting our budget right. Democrats’ priorities are out of whack. The so-called ‘higher than expected state revenues’ exist because of inflation, not because of real economic growth. It isn’t surprising when the state gets more sales tax dollars when the price of gas, groceries and consumer goods goes up...
Good morning, Dan Thanks for the explanation of your problem. In my opinion, you should dump the puzzle page and the court report. I like the lighter side but I could live without it. Also, Brian Stewart will be going away. I appreciate the fact that you want our input. The Urinal Standard would simply make changes that we would have to accept. just like J.B. Pritzger does. Editor; Save Lighter Side. Get rid of horoscope, Kids corner, Crossword. Save Sudoku if possible. Linda Simler Hi Dan, Cancel the court report. Not sure why people look at...
I’m sitting here tonight on the eve of going under the knife tomorrow. For the past few weeks I’ve been dealing with some lower abdominal pain. I found out this week I have what is called an inguinal hernia. The doctor considered my symptoms to be somewhat urgent and I have repair surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning. I’m not sure if this is major or minor surgery, but the nurse told me they were going to slice, snip, pull, wrap, tuck, and sew my innards back together again. (That’s my inte...
Ever feel like you’re a burden to your team? Normally, my evenings are spent covering a sporting event throughout the region. But that all changes in the Spring when Softball and Baseball tend to end before seven o’clock at night, so I actually get to see my wife and spend some time at home. And with bad weather canceling games … we actually had time to go out and “do” something – an activity which is normally relegated to the Summer months when school is not in session. Anyway, one of the event...
For the Christian living in the world today, things seem a little bleak. There is moral rot and decay all around us. The morality and teaching of the Bible is ridiculed and mocked in our culture and the exact opposite of what the Bible teaches is being practiced everywhere. Even some who call themselves Christians have adopted the ways of the world. We should not be surprised by any of this. The Bible says that in the end times there will be those who call evil good and good evil. There will be...
Whenever people talk to me about other local newspapers in the region, a criticism I keep hearing is how, “It’s so thin, there’s nothing in it.” Well, by now, that same sentiment is probably hitting you as you’re holding our paper this week – so let me explain the decisions we are facing. Inflation is hitting everyone – take one look at the price of gas, and every grocery shopper in the family can attest to how some products have climbed dramatically in price, or are simply too hard to find....
Hello! I always enjoy reading your paper because it provides plenty of local stories and information that very few papers do anymore around this part of the state. All the sports coverage by Dan Stevens is done very well, and that includes the latest coverage of the Scales Mound boys’ basketball team. What a heck of a year!! However, reading the March 16th article on the Hornets great season, Dan failed to recognize that one other small school in Northwest Illinois did have a better finish than 3rd place in the 1A State Finals. And that was t...
For the last several weeks the fighting between Russia and Ukraine is front and center on the world’s stage. (Step aside Covid). But the struggle we all share is - how can we help? We are so limited in what we can do. I’m haunted by pictures of bombed out buildings lying in piles of rubble. I see pictures of people digging through debris in search of lost belongings and treasures. One picture is that of a blonde-haired mother holding the hands of her two young daughters who look to be about 6 o...
A long time ago, back when I was writing this column for a different publication, I did a piece on “Woman Speak” which somehow made it to the point where it came back at me several years later over the internet as many people altered, or tweaked it, then posted it online. So, while I’m sure many of you might have read some version of this, here is the original column that got the whole thing started. I think it’s fair to say that women are complex creatures. But until I got married, the levels...
Lately I’ve been reporting on the story of a ministry in Romania that has been taking in Ukrainian refugees as they flee their war torn country. The work of this mission has been on-going. The pastor in Romania, who is a personal friend of ours, opened his campus to receive these refugees. A group of 70 children were first to come. A few days later they moved on to a safe home in Germany. Within hours, another group of children, moms and grandmothers arrived totaling about 50 people. Some of t...
What you are reading right now is both my greatest treasure, as well as the biggest bane of my existence. “I love your column!” If I had a dollar for every person who said that … well … I might be able to buy lunch. (At least a Happy Meal) But, in all seriousness, I know a lot of people read this, and it is for that very reason that it causes me so many headaches – I don’t want it to suck. (Admittedly, it often does – I know that.) I have used my column to go off on a personal tirade agains...
Public trust in Illinois state government is at an all-time low following the recent indictment of former House Speaker Mike Madigan on 22 counts of federal racketeering charges that detail how he used his official simultaneous positions as Speaker of the House, Chicago’s 13th Ward Democratic Committeeman and Chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois to run a criminal enterprise for more than a decade. I was one of the three original petitioners to begin the process of investigating the c...
OK, so last week I went through the ten worst foods known to man. (Correction, the ten foods Dan is too juvenile to eat!) Seriously, you have to participate in this column too? (Hey, as long as you are going to represent yourself as some sort of authority on food, it is my responsibility to point out that you are full of crap.) Uhm, are you speaking metaphorically, or literally? (I could make an argument for both.) Well, with the – rather intrusive – opinion of my wife not-withstanding, I now...
Dear Dan, I just wanted to reach out to personally thank you for all of the coverage throughout the years and for the very nice article that you wrote about my teammates and I upon the conclusion of our season. You have always been so supportive of local athletics and this area is very, very lucky to have you there to document some of the best moments that we will be able to look back on for years to come. It is because of people like you that this corner of the state is the best place to live and grow up. I hope that you will continue to do...
In last week’s column, I wrote about how our church got involved with helping Ukraine refugees escape the war zone of their country and find sanctuary at a Bible camp in Romania. That story continues today with the following diary entries by me. March 8, 2022 Dear Martintown Family, We have some new developments in the Ukraine refugee situation. Following is the message sent from Romania last night: Good evening, Tonight, the children that were housed at our camp have headed to Germany. Kyiv aut...
The last few days we’ve had some excitement here at good ole’ Martintown Community Church (MCC) in Martintown Wisconsin. The eyes of the world have been on Russia and the Ukraine. For some deranged reason, Vladimir Putin decided he needed to invade Ukraine and attempt to start World War III. I’ve chronicled below, a string of letters I sent out to our Congregation this past week. (It’s a sensitive situation over there, and with social media being a global phenomenon, I’ve changed the name of t...
Undoubtedly, the best comment about food that tastes bad came from George W. Bush when he said,” I don’t like broccoli, I’ve never liked broccoli, I’m President of the United States and I don’t have to eat broccoli ever again!” It was direct, to the point, and carried a ton of weight behind hit. Unfortunately, I’ve never held that kind of power - although I have uttered many comments about the food people have tried to force down my throat. My first one as a kid, or so I have been told, was whe...
Coming at you, Dan! :) A few years ago, I wrote you a letter for overlooking the importance of the Libero on the volleyball court and said without your first good pass, there is no set and certainly not a kill. After reading your very nice article on the Scales Mound Hornets, I have to say that I think you overlooked the contributions of, most specifically, the seniors on the team who don't start but have committed their time/talent to the development of that team. They have put in the same work and most likely would be starters off the bench...
I get to meet some very interesting people. Recently I met a gentleman who is 74 years old and still driving a cement truck for a living. He has been driving one for more than 35 years. He loves his job but according to him, it is time to retire. I asked him then what? He said he would then devote his time to helping his two sons in their businesses. One was a contractor who built houses, the other had a trash can cleaning business. That intrigued me. I pictured a guy chasing the garbage truck...
