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winterpoem # 4
had to do something to cut the gloom and doom around here so proposed a hike to the cemetery to see the frozen raccoon my grandkids discovered yesterday it was still there still an object of fascination I could have taken them to see their dead...

LETTERS
I enjoyed Dusty Rhodes’ column about the amazing and amusing political reporter and columnist Rich Miller. She captured the essence of Rich — irreverent, foultongued, flawed and incredibly insightful and competent. I met Rich in 1993, when I was drawing locally-oriented political cartoons for Illinois Times.

A new day dawns in the state Senate
Illinois State Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago) said last week that the Senate Democrats will seek “feedback” from the Senate Republicans before making final decisions on new rules for the chamber. Steans was put in charge of devising new rules by Senate President John Cullerton several months ago.

Truth about rising tuition
Just about everyone applauded the enactment of Illinois’ so-called truth-in-tuition law. Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who signed the legislation in July 2003, said the bill, which freezes freshman tuition rates for four years, would stabilize the cost of education at state universities.

Springfield’s first certified green building
As Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park approaches completion and its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation, it follows the path cleared by another notable Springfield “green” design. Last month the new Illinois Municipal Electric Agency headquarters, located at 3400 Conifer Dr.

Making babies possible
When Dr. J. Ricardo Loret de Mola headed the MacDonald Fertility and In Vitro Fertilization Program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, he treated couples from around the globe. “People will go to the end of the world for a baby,” he says. “People will not stop until they’ve explored every avenue out there.

Impeachment journal
From Roland Burris’s testimony before the House impeachment committee, to the House impeachment vote, to Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s appearance before the Senate that will soon try him, dramatic events unfolded rapidly at the Capitol last week.

Memoirs of Judge Wood, our man at Wounded Knee
Although subtitled “the odyssey of a federal judge,” the bulk of the book focuses on the experiences of this favorite son of Illinois in his public service experience with the United States Justice Department rather than his role as a judge. It is our good fortune to have this memoir to rely on; Harlington Wood, Jr.

Look for the Lincolns at the theater
Here are some of the many Lincoln-related theater offerings coming up in the next few weeks: It’s always nice to drive over to Rushville, especially to see what’s playing at the historic Phoenix Opera House on the town square. On Saturday, Jan. 24, they are offering Lincoln Tales Tall and True.

It’s getting Nasty out
When we last checked in with Micky Shomidie and House of Nasty, it was July of 2008 and the band was off to Oklahoma to perform at Rocklahoma, the biggest hard rock/metal music festival in the country.

PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE UNDER ASSUMED BUSI- NESS NAME ACT STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF SANGAMON TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Notice is hereby given that on the 22nd day of December,2008 a Certificate of Ownership of business was filed in the Office of the County Clerk of...

THEADVICEGODDESS
My fiance, “Ted,” and I are planning our wedding and moving into a new house. He’s starting med school and I’m completing my master’s. Our problem is his 19-year-old sister, “Sue.” During Ted’s Army years, he moved three times. Sue transferred colleges to follow him every time.