Page 1

It’s time for a Lake Springfield maintenance plan
Lake Springfield is the crown jewel of the City of Springfield. It is the most valuable and most important asset the city owns. It is our only water supply, the coolant for the power plant and host to more than 600,000 annual visitors who fish, boat, swim and use the parks.

Editor’s note
At noon on March 29 an ecumenical group of Springfi eld Christians will assemble in front of the Illinois Supreme Court building at Second and Capitol, as they do every Good Friday, to begin their Way of the Cross walk through downtown Springfi eld.

Unplugged
We all live in a brave new world, but the future is happening sooner in some places than in others. As you might expect, the planet is home to many nations where connections to the Internet, the highway to that future, are slow or costly compared to the advanced nations, if they are available at all.

Blanket of PR to make you want to hug a drone
I hate to interrupt when one Republican solon is hammering another, but I’m siding with Paul. While I do think that plenty of the tea party senator’s extreme right-wing stands are wacko, this isn’t one of them.

LETTERS
FOLLOWING FRANCIS Seeing as how a significant majority of Springfield’s Catholics oppose the destruction of Griffin Woods, I’m curious as to why a coalition of progressive Sacred-Heart Griffin students, faculty and parents haven’t organized to...

The trustee fight fumes onward
Quinn replaced three members with close ties to the university’s Edwardsville campus, which is near St. Louis. For years, governors followed a “gentleman’s agreement” which gave the Edwardsville campus three of the governor’s seven nominated members.

Man featured in 2006 story wanted for Mattoon killing
Back then, O’Dell had all the signs of a reformed criminal. While he was free during the state’s appeal, he passed regular drug tests, got a job and lived with an electronic monitoring device on his ankle without committing any infractions that would result in a return to prison.

Shortchanging Illinois children is a choice
Voices for Illinois Children, a nonpartisan advocacy group which uses policy analysis and research to advance the lives of children, families and communities in Illinois, hosted its annual Illinois Kids Count Symposium March 22 in Chicago. The program examined statistical findings in areas of children’s education, poverty, health and trauma.

Park board campaigns short on substance
Sgro’s position isn’t up for election this year, but three seats are and, once again, the field is not a crowded one for seats traditionally seen as stepping stones to higher office. Just one of the four candidates won’t win, which might explain the paucity of punch in their campaigns.

THE COST OF FRACKING
Nearly a mile below the surface of southern Illinois, a vast reserve of oil and natural gas sits locked in thick shale rock. While Illinois has a long history of tapping into its enormous fossil fuel resources, unlocking the shale reserve takes a new approach that could bring both economic windfall and potential for environmental disasters.

Ham or lamb it up
For many Americans, ham is the traditional centerpiece of their Easter dinner. In other homes – ours included – it’s roast leg of lamb. Lamb’s natural association with spring makes it a favorite this time of year with people of many beliefs and cultures.

Change is good in The Croods
You really can’t blame the teenage cavegirl Eep (voice by Emma Stone) from wanting to breakaway from her close-knit family.

Carefully crafted poems of imagery
Brian Jackson, along with fellow poet John Knoepfle (Shadows and Starlight), will sign copies of their books on Wednesday, April 3 from 5-7 p.m. at Holy Land Diner, 107 W. Cook St. Both books will be available at the special price of $12 each or $20 for both.

PUB CRAWL
Soap Scum, Chain’s Gang, Caterpillar Club, Gas Up Yr Hearse.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | In This Moment
From an introduction through friends, Maria Brink (lead vocals, piano) and Chris Howorth (lead guitar, vocals) got together in August of 2005 and immediately formed a common bond of music through songwriting.

The sounds of spring
Oh, I can close my eyes and hear those wonderful sounds of music played out-ofdoors as the weather breaks and spring returns to take us into summer.

HOLIDAY | Sweet search
Brought to you by Springfield’s downtown merchants and Downtown Springfield, Inc., the first annual Old State Capitol Easter Egg Hunt promises to be a fun place to bring the youngsters, ages 1-12, Saturday, March 30. The hunt will take place on the Old State Capitol lawn.

THE CALENDAR
Mason City Limits Comedy Club, 114 E. Chestnut, Mason City, 482-5233..

MUSIC | Neotraditional country
Traditional Country music’s new-guy-in-town debuted in 2009. And he’s coming to our town to show you what he’s got at the Prairie Capital Convention Center on Saturday, March 30. Is there a twang of Buck Owens in there, Mr. Easton Corbin? Whether or not, after just one album, Corbin has secured two No.

PETS | Four-legged fun
Ani-mall Pet Expo and Mega Adoption is being held at the Expo Building within the Illinois State Fairgrounds Saturday, March 30.

BOOKS | Star bards
Two local college writing professors, one retired and one not, playfully post on their book-signing invitation “Two Poets Journey to The Holy Land.” You’re invited to this journey where you can get one of John Knoepfle’s books, Shadows and Starlight,.