Category Archives: Uncategorized

Obituary: Dennis

  Marilyn Dennis FAIRBURY – Marilyn E. Dennis, 88, of Fairbury, died at 2:40 p.m. on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 11, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church of Fairbury with Pastor Dan Robertson officiating.  Cremation rites have been accorded. …MORE

Obituaries: Emery, Haberkorn, Ruff

Obituaries: Emery, Haberkorn, Ruff

Phillip G. “Skip” Emery Phillip G. “Skip” Emery, 79, of Bloomington, passed away peacefully at 9:15 p.m., Monday, November 27, 2017 at his home surrounded by family. Skip was born September 8, 1938 in Bloomington, the son of Albert and Lucille Auth Emery. He married his high school sweetheart Ruth Ann Potter on November 3,…MORE

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…