Columnist

Never underestimate the water, the result may be death

Published by admin on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 10:09am

A few years back I was called to the South Island by a television reporter who was reporting on the death of an elderly woman and her relative who had both drowned in the river near the dam. They wanted a historians' take on it, asking me how many people have drowned there. I couldn't give them a number, nor had I kept track. But over the weekend I was out on the river watching hundreds of people zooming around in boats, rafts, jet skis, etc. It came to my mind again, so I did look back in my files. Warning, some descriptions in this article may not be for the faint at heart.

Welcome home Braidwood style

Published by admin on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 10:07am

Braidwood was in an in between time. Shaft mining was all but gone and the technology for strip mining was not yet available. Consequently, times were tough in the 20s. Many folks had moved on to greener pastures, but others stayed to help their town survive. Morale was probably not high, and a good celebration helped drive the blues away. Set the way-back machine for September 1920.

Cap off your night with a Brandy Manhattan

Published by admin on Tue, 08/04/2020 - 9:54am

Wisconsin loves Korbel Brandy, more so than any other state. Of the 272,869 cases of Korbel Brandy produced last year, over half of the total production, 148,041 cases were shipped to the Badger State.

House Democrats sticking with Madigan, for now

Published by admin on Sun, 08/02/2020 - 10:44am

The calls were mostly brief and to the point, recipients said. House Speaker Michael Madigan just wanted to know where his members stood last week after two of his members demanded he step aside as House Speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois chairman.
Did they agree with their fellow Democratic state Reps. Terra Costa Howard and Stephanie Kifowit that he should resign, he asked.
Enough said they did not agree that Madigan issued a statement hours later saying the feedback he received was positive and that he had "no plans to resign."

From a relic to a resort, the Stewart House

Published by admin on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 12:23pm

I have previously talked about the Stewart House and its role in the Underground Railroad, having been built by Peter Stewart, the famous abolitionist. It was built at a time when every small town had a hotel, reason being that in the age of the horse even small trips required an overnight stay. By the 1880s though it had become sort of run-down and shabby. But things would turn around for the old girl, it only took 40 years.

Summer time and circuses, a kid's dream

Published by admin on Tue, 07/28/2020 - 12:21pm

When I was very young, 4 years old I think, I went to see Barnum & Bailey's circus under the big top. It wasn't long after that they abandoned tents for large stadiums. It was magic. I got to ride on a real elephant, pet beautiful horses and gawk in the side show exhibits. I still remember some of that day after all these years. Circuses are passé these days, cruelty to animals and such. But time was when the circus was what a kid waited for all year long.

Build your own perfect Singapore Sling

Published by admin on Mon, 07/27/2020 - 11:11am

It's not every day that I crave a Singapore Sling, but I can't fight the urge to make a batch this time of year. The Singapore Sling doesn't taste like anything else in the entire mixology universe, so there's only one way to quench your thirst for the classic Sling. This week we'll shake and serve the genuine article, straight from Singapore's Raffles Hotel.

Madigan was quick to fire others, but not himself

Published by admin on Sun, 07/26/2020 - 11:25am

A couple of days after the July 17 disclosures in ComEd's deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office, House Speaker Michael Madigan called individual House Democrats to try and reassure them that all would be well.
According to multiple legislators, the House Speaker told his members that he had done nothing wrong and that he never did things like recommend unqualified people for jobs, and fully expected that if they were hired, they would actually show up for work.

The age of the auto, the roaring 20s

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 10:08am

When I think of the roaring 20s the image that comes to mind usually includes the automobile. Whether it's gangsters gunning down other gangsters from a speeding car, to Zelda with her long flowing scarf tooling around too fast for conditions. Today we look at the beginning of the age of the auto in Wilmington.

Shoving the queer, or how to defraud your neighbors

Published by admin on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 10:04am

I hope no one is thinking that the above phrase has anything to do with homophobia. In the 19th century “shoving the queer” meant passing counterfeit money. According to Wikipedia, people have been counterfeiting money since 500 years before Christ. It has even been known as the “second oldest profession.” Today we are following the money, the bad money.