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Hat trick
“Hello, I’m Rodney Davis. In 2015, I voted for a $1.1 trillion budget bill that exceeded spending limits by $66 billion. Barack Obama called it a Christmas present for the American people. Donald Trump blasted Republicans for cooperating with Democrats, but I took that vote, regardless of political consequences, because it was the right thing to do.

What does it mean to be an American?
Despite our differences, there are some traits that I think we and our predecessors would recognize – characteristics to being an American that resonate with most of us, regardless of our age or our political beliefs.

What if we made voting fun?
In a concerted effort, these rabidly partisan officials have targeted African-Americans, students, Latinos, the elderly, union households, the poor, immigrants and other communities of qualified voters to shoo them away on Election Day. Why? Because such citizens tend to vote for Democrats and progressive ballot initiatives.

LETTERS
SO LONG, SEARS So long, Sears. What? Too soon? Actually it’s Kmart that’s filing bankruptcy. Kmart bought Sears and changed the name to improve their image. Sort of like Southwestern Bell with the worst reputation in telephones buying AT&T with the best name and changing its name to .

A good starting point for Pritzker
Back in December of 2015, House Speaker Michael Madigan was asked what the income tax rate should be. It had automatically rolled back almost a year earlier and the state was in the throes of what would become a two-year standoff over what that rate should be and what anti-union measures Rauner could extract in exchange.

Catch the colors in Calhoun County
When I was growing up, I loved going to my mom’s cousin’s house for Sunday dinner. Iva Rose would serve seemingly endless platters of chicken, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, garden vegetables and rolls. To top it off, she would bake several homemade pies and cakes filled with deliciousness and served with love.

HEMP
The Illinois Industrial Hemp Act was signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner this summer. It allows farmers to obtain state licenses to grow hemp for use in a wide range of products, from natural remedies to clothing to insulation. Chad Wallace of rural Ashland is one of the farmers looking to cultivate hemp in 2019.

Soups for the freezer
Now that cool fall temperatures have finally arrived, my soup pot will be in regular use. We eat soup several nights a week in my house, and I honestly wouldn’t be able to feed my family made-from-scratch meals so consistently were it not for the arsenal of soups I’ve stashed away in the freezer.

Gun is a worthy swan song for Redford
It’s always at the top of the pile in my dresser drawer and it is the one I grab when I need something comfortable to wear under another shirt or just want to be casual around the house. If you hold it up to the light you can see through it. It is starting to fray at the ends.

All over town
Thursday night starts us off with a one-of-a-kind performance at Buzz Bomb Brewery enticingly entitled Pistol Pete’s Existential Crisis (7-9). Pistol Pete is Pete Midtgard, a lead singer on the upright bass who is/was the driving force behind the Twistin Tarantulas, a Detroit-based, rockabillypunk trio that survived 25 years of life on the road.

PUB CRAWL
Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Stuart Smith
Give a guy a guitar, let him learn to play it, then watch as he knocks out some songs as a singer-songwriter. Next thing you know, he’s got a killer recording out on CD and LP. That would be the short story of Winchester native Stuart Smith, out on a tear in support of his record War Horse,.

THE CALENDAR
Extreme Haunted Hayrides and Zombie Paintball.

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS | You’ll have nightmares for weeks
Peoria Road. During the Extreme Haunted Hayrides, hearse-pulled thrill-seekers will travel along the Sangamon River and through the woods. During the Zombie Paintball Rides, guests will be carried through the woods on a custom-built paintball trailer while shooting 300 paintballs at zombies and targets (you shoot zombies; zombies will NOT shoot you).

MUSIC | Opening night for the ISO
Don’t miss the performance that kicks off the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s 2018-2019 season on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Sangamon Auditorium.