This Viewpoint page is the right place for people in our county to share their opinions and I appreciate the diversity of opinions. What is not cool is people in our county stealing political signs in people’s yards. This has happened a few times with Harris/Walz signs being destroyed or stolen, and if it has happened to Trump/Vance signs it’s equally wrong.
I’m not an activist, but I am a Democrat. I actively participate in the election process and for the last number of years I worked for the Ogle County Clerk as an election judge. I’ve worked side-by-side with Republicans and Democrats doing my civic duty.
Seems in the world today everything is public and the word privacy appears to vanish into thin air. I’ve watched over the decades how government and their agencies disregard folks’ private property rights to the tune that now even our neighbors think they have some right over your property.
We Americans see ourselves as a deeply-divided nation. 81% of respondents said so in a recent survey by the polling company, Ipsos (April 29, 2024). This election’s heated language and prophesies about the death of democracy reflect that belief.
The talk of the college football world this week? Northern Illinois University, of course.
Streaking through summer and just a few weeks away from Fall. Seems as I get older it takes me longer to do things but there’s less time to do ‘em in. Not sure my internal clock has caught up with real time yet.
What did we learn from the first weekend of high-school football?
As the 2024 election looms, campaign rhetoric is reaching a fever pitch. One particular campaign slogan that cuts through the cacophony and resonates with me simply asks the question: Have you had enough?
The Ogle County Fair Board would like to thank everyone who attended the fair this year. The 2024 fair was a success with our attendance slightly above last year.
Back at it for a 28th year of covering sports. As I write this, it is one of those 100-degree days and the practice fields are empty as teams adhere to the IHSA heat guidelines.
Our former Congressional Rep. Adam Kinzinger spoke on the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention. I want to thank him for his words – they were powerful.
No, I’m not talking about a beautiful sunset, I’m talking about America’s bright shining light of hope and freedom.
The LIFE had two interesting articles, an Aug. 12 column by Lowell Harp and the Aug. 26 Letter to the Editor by Linda Pottinger. Both of these are anti-Trump opinions. The general theme seems to be “Trump will become a dictator”. Mr. Harp closes his column with “this election is about the survival of democracy”. Mrs. Pottinger’s letter had three disingenuous “facts” and a comparison of our times to Orwell’s 1984. There are indeed some facts of our times that need deep consideration.
Just a few weeks away from clicking the ol’ age counter up to 67. The other night I was sitting at home pondering over things and suddenly realized I’ve spent over half my life in Ogle County. Not too shabby for a kid who grew up in central Illinois and tended to migrate more to the south growing up.
Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center has served children and teens affected by child abuse and violent crimes in Ogle and Lee Counties since 2002.
Christmas in July indeed! In many more ways than one. Jim Durand has an interesting perspective – he admits that Trump is a liar and science denier, but so are Biden and Democrats? I do agree that my letter and Mr. Harp’s piece were beautifully timed. I would also add that in the same paper there was a great piece by Ron Kern spelling out in wonderful detail some great government programs for farmers.
Trade, it’s something we’ve all done in our lives. I remember as a kid trading baseball cards, marbles or anything else you had as value that you could transform into new riches. And as often the case sometimes both parties won, sometimes on party lost; it’s how the game gets played.
The Mt. Morris Community Library Foundation thanks everyone who enjoyed our pie and ice cream fundraiser on July 31 during the Kable Band’s closing season performance.
It’s hard to believe that summer is racing to a close as we turn the calendar on July. Kids only have a about three weeks until school starts and the carefree summer days end.
Both sides in this presidential election proclaim that it’s a battle for the survival of democracy. In that case, we need to be clear about what American democracy is. It’s not just that the people vote. There are also safeguards against the abuse of power by the government, or by the people themselves.
Crops are growing and I’m sure plenty of farmers out there are looking for a good yield. Only a few months away from harvest with combines running in full gear and grain bins filling up.
Summer means one thing...it’s fair season!
Both of my parents’ funerals, visitations and memorials were heartbreaking. The planning was uniquely different because the COVID-19 outbreak was finally acknowledged as a pandemic by the World Health Organization in March 2020. Cases worldwide had been detected before this in 2019.
Wow, Christmas in July. A guest column and a letter to the editor both in need of serious clarification. I am referring to the Mr. Harp and Ms. Pottinger’s writings in the July 15 edition of the OCL. Both addressed the same issue – Donald Trump as a threat to our country’s democracy.
Moving past Independence Day our next holiday won’t occur until September on Labor Day. We will just have to sweat out the next two months of summer before we can take another break. Maybe that’s why they call them the dog days of summer.