Columnist

Does anything ever change? Politics

Published by admin on Tue, 11/24/2020 - 10:12am

The results of the U.S. presidential election were a mess. A Democratic candidate had emerged with the lead in the popular vote, but 19 electoral votes from four states were in dispute.
A severe economic downturn in had plunged the country into its severest depression to date, with widespread unemployment. The nation's economic woes, and allegations of rampant corruption presidential administration, helped Republicans win.

An under-appreciated spirit and a fascinating story

Published by admin on Mon, 11/23/2020 - 10:20am

There are cocktails that are popular on both sides of the generation gap, think Martini, Manhattan, and the venerable Old Fashioned. Some cocktails aren't so lucky, and two of those cocktails are made with one of the most under-appreciated spirits on the planet, sloe gin.
There is a bit of confusion among casual imbibers as to what sloe gin is, and what it is not.

Feds indict Madigan’s closest associates

Published by admin on Sun, 11/22/2020 - 10:33am

On Page 9 of last week's federal indictment of four people accused of conspiring to bribe House Speaker Michael Madigan with favors from ComEd is this heading: "Defendants and Relevant Individuals."
But the first person listed is not one of the defendants. "Public Official A was the Speaker of the House of Representatives," the list begins.

On both sides, teens and crime

Published by admin on Tue, 11/17/2020 - 10:40am

I have heard many adults describe the wild times of their youth and murmur, “That's when I was young and stupid.”
We were all young and stupid at one time, some of us were lucky and our stupidity did not reach to the level of calling law enforcement. Today we look at teenagers and the law.

To catch a thief, one lucky horse thief

Published by admin on Mon, 11/16/2020 - 5:12pm

So many times, in the past I have written about the murders, robberies, etc. that took place in Braidwood. But I don't want to give you the idea that all other places in the county were without crime. So today our story takes place in the northern part of the county near Lockport and Naperville, where justice came almost too swiftly.

The one person who could turn the tide against Madigan

Published by admin on Sun, 11/15/2020 - 4:29pm

With the announcement by Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) earlier this month that he will not vote to reelect Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan in January, the opposition numbered eight House Democrats, with at least a few more privately leaning their way.
They'll need 13 or 14 Democrats, depending on final general election results, to deprive Madigan of the speaker's gavel. So, they may need some help to get over the hump.
And there's one person outside the House who may have enough votes to tip the balance either way.

The mad stone myth, believe it or not

Published by admin on Tue, 11/10/2020 - 12:14pm

One of the most common complaint in small towns was the great number of stray and owned dogs that were allowed to run loose. Besides the gifts they leave behind, many of them contracted rabies, a huge health issue in the day. If bitten there was no cure, or was there?

From peddler to postmaster, Charles Smith

Published by admin on Tue, 11/10/2020 - 11:48am

Driving south on I-55 you cannot miss the Mobil refineries on the east side of the road. Your imagination does not drift to history when looking at that technology. But it is the site of some very interesting history and the home to a very interesting man with a very plain name – Charles Smith.

For Democrats it may get worse with Madigan in charge

Published by admin on Sun, 11/08/2020 - 10:21am

Illinois Democrats were hoping for some big election night wins last week, but now everything has devolved into finger-pointing chaos.
Gov. JB Pritzker's graduated income tax proposal was in some doubt for a while. The governor's campaign chose not to advertise early because of the delicacies of politics during a pandemic, so they passed up a chance at total dominance of the playing field during crucial months.

November 1880, prosperity and peace – almost

Published by admin on Tue, 11/03/2020 - 11:36am

This month 140 years ago, was almost the most pleasant, least deadly month that I have researched in my decades long study of Braidwood. Part of the reason might be that the mines were working to capacity, but with that usually came a few murders in saloons at least. Whatever the reason, set the way back machine to November 1880.