I have often lamented here the continuing decline in the population of Illinois’ rural parts. (See “Devoid of life,” July 14, 2011.) Like a great many readers, I have roots in central Illinois that go deep.

Today one in two marriages will end in divorce, so, if you are married, you have a 50/50 chance of making it “until death do us part.” My parents were married 55 years. They had something figured out. My sister and I were not so lucky.

After enduring years of insatiable greed by the slick-fingered hucksters who run these gambling houses; after watching in dismay as their ineptness and avarice drained more than $19 trillion from America’s household wealth since 2007 and plunged our...

POT SMOKERS GET SLEEPY In response to Sheldon Richman’s column [“When will Obama evolve on the drug war?” GUESTWORK, May 24], I agree. Marijuana should be legalized. In the late ’80s I worked as a correctional officer in a men’s work release facility. Most of the inmates were 18- 35, serving the last few years of their felony sentences.

What do children need to know when parents divorce? 1. I love you and I will not leave you. 2. You can talk to me and I will listen. 3. I am okay and I will take care of you and myself. 4. You still have a family that loves you. 5. This is not your fault and you did not cause this.

Aides to Gov. Pat Quinn claim that they’ve learned from the mistakes of their predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, and won’t drag legislators back to the Statehouse for a grueling overtime session to find a solution to the pension problem, which has already overwhelmed the state budget.

When Walden’s partner of nine years, Curt Sills, was diagnosed with cancer in 2002, Walden and Sills drew up documents giving Walden power of attorney and placing Walden in Sills’ living will.

Thirty years ago, on June 7, 1982, the Central Illinois Foodbank started its outreach with just one ton of apple cobbler in an empty warehouse. Today, the Springfieldbased charity reaches 21 counties, distributing more than 8.5 million pounds of food to more than 100,000 people in 2011.

The Peoria physician with a history of sixfigure lawsuit settlements and a trail of tragedy allowed his license to lapse last month in the Sooner State.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Stirmell by the Sangamon County state’s attorney and the state attorney general has spread from Jerome to Divernon, which employed Stirmell as a police officer before he was hired in 2009 by Jerome, where his father is mayor and, until recently, oversaw the police department.

On May 31, the last day of the legislature’s spring session, the Illinois House approved Senate Bill 2621, which builds on the state’s previous framework for awarding “sentence credits” to inmates as a reward for compliance, service to the state or community, or successful completion of programming such as educational courses.

Shane, the new owner and CEO of the Springfield Sliders baseball team, grew up in Farmington, Minn. – a rural suburb of Minneapolis – in a gray tri-level house with black shutters located at the end of a cul-desac which only had two houses on it when the Martin family moved in.

“Good morning! Today is Thursday, May 17,” said St. Joseph’s School principal Linda Tusek into the intercom one recent morning.

Many years ago, I bought sea scallops. It was a cool day. I came home directly from the store and refrigerated them, but when I opened the bag to start cooking, a nauseating smell hit my nostrils. Even now, remembering that smell makes my stomach turn. I resealed the bag and stuck it back in the fridge.

These plot elements are familiar as are the dynamics between the crew. There’s an android among them, Michael Fassbender’s David, who models himself after Peter O’Toole’s portrayal of T.E. Lawrence, a veteran captain with common sense in the person of Idris Elba’s Janek and an icy, pragmatic corporate stoolie with Charlize Theron’s Meredith Vickers.

According to SOHO organizer Eric Welch, this “was the most successful event by far we’ve ever had.” The success, always tied to the weather, reached higher numbers this year thanks to clear skies and the amount of folks who came to support the festival in concept as well as to enjoy, proving a popular belief in the event.

Bent Life, Another Mistake, Life in Vacuum, Pig Champion, Strangers Now.

Last seen in Springfield on stage at the Hoogland for a Bedrock 66 Live! concert on Oct. 1, 2011, Zoe Muth has since continued on a veritable rampage of critical acceptance and festival appearances. Her soulful and bare bones country style captured the heart of purists who like for the music and the show to be real without pretension.

PondicherryLodge/ Sherlock Holmes Society.

MacART Fest features two new fine art events from the folks at The MacArthur Boulevard Association set to double your weekend pleasure Friday, June 8 and Saturday, June 9.

Legendary rock band Chicago plays in Springfield for one night on Wednesday, June 13 at Sangamon Auditorium, UIS. Sited as #13 on Billboard Magazine’s.

Luminous Ground: Artists with Histories.

month. 546-5021. First Christian Church, 700 S. Sixth St..

The Prairie Art Alliance offers an exclusive and interesting peek inside five of its members’ studios and their gardens. Sites include a ceramics and firing studio, a glass studio, and painting and pastel studio. You can see the sites in any order you’d prefer and work will be available for purchase.

Jun 08-10, Walk through camps, interact with soldiers and prisoners, watch activities as Old Northwest Volunteers portray 52nd Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 413 S. Eighth St..

Registration 5 p.m. springfieldfirst.com. First Church of the Nazarene, 5200 S. Sixth St..

The popular musical, Josepeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,.