We can do better

Terry Dickow
Posted 6/22/19

Pardon me while I rant.

What has happened to us?

I mean, we, people. Parents brawling at a baseball game for seven year olds, a former U of I grad assistant has been charged with the brutal killing of a foreign exchange student who claims 13 other killings, Nazis are openly marching in our streets, there are mass shootings. I don’t get it.

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We can do better

Posted

Pardon me while I rant.
What has happened to us?
I mean, we, people. Parents brawling at a baseball game for seven year olds, a former U of I grad assistant has been charged with the brutal killing of a foreign exchange student who claims 13 other killings, Nazis are openly marching in our streets, there are mass shootings. I don’t get it.
What happened to the smartest animals on Earth? We have created, inspired, cured, and as a group, we have worse behavior than a pack of wild dogs.
Sorry…sometimes the news is just too much for me.
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On a happier note, railroading fans have got to be looking forward to July 30. That’s when Big Boy 4014 is scheduled to stop at the Ken Wise Railroad Park. Big Boy 4014 is one of the original Big Boy steam engines and over the last two years has been restored. So mark your calendars for about 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, July 30. The engine is supposed to be here for 45 minutes for fans to take pictures. Be aware; however, sometimes trains don’t keep to a schedule.  Keep checking with the News-Leader and the city for updates.
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I’ve noticed weeds are pretty high at several spots in the outskirts of town, so be careful when entering an intersection. Usually it’s the corn that is a concern, but the rains have been terrible for farmers and great for weedy ditches.
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The Kids Ground rebuild started Thursday. It looks like they had a good turnout. Volunteers are always needed. I’m looking forward to the new playground for Rochelle kids.  
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I have helped serve lunches at a couple of area parks this summer. I was at Shangri La this week and Powers and Cooper parks the weeks before. I am always impressed by the kids. There have been a nice bunch of youngsters — no one has left garbage behind and almost everyone said thank you, and all was good. Sitting at picnic tables is a bonus, but a picnic in the grass is good too.
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I write my column on Thursday, and e-mail it on Thursday night or Friday morning. I write it, mull it over, then copy it and send it to Jennifer at the paper. Two weeks ago I sent her a blank e-mail and went to a Cubs game. I got home late, did not check e-mails, and did not discover my mistake until Saturday. By then it was too late. I had never done that before, and hopefully it won’t happen again.

Terry Dickow is a retired elementary school teacher with lots of opinions, some you will like, some you won’t. He can be contacted at terrydickow@gmail.com.