UPDATE: ISU’s DeJong headlines 2018 Cardinals Caravan

Posted on January 4, 2018

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Former Illinois State University baseball star Paul DeJong is the headliner for this year’s Cardinals Caravan stop in Bloomington-Normal.

DeJong had a standout first season in the majors, finishing second in National League Rookie of the Year balloting, and he hit a home run in his first major league at bat.

DeJong is among a half-dozen current and former Cardinals who will appear January 13th at the Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center at 1413 Leslie Drive, on Bloomington’s east side.

Doors open at 3:30 p.m. The event starts at 4:30 p.m.

Cardinal broadcaster and former pitcher Ricky Horton is the emcee for the program. Ex-Cardinal pitcher Alan Benes will also be there, along with former Cardinal Randy Flores, and current players Oscar Mercado, and Andrew Knizner.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…