Questions and observations

Has anyone noticed a resemblance between Governor Rod Blagojovich and Alfred E. Neuman, the poster boy for MAD magazine? Note the hair styles. Let's hope the resemblance stops there.

Also, did any older residents of Minonk notice how much Minonk native Don Veihman, whose picture was on this web site, looks like his late father Clifton Veihman who was principal of Minonk Grade School back in the early 1950's?

Word is that the Shell Truck Stop has been sold by Chuck Feeney of El Paso. Does anyone notice how much cleaner the truck stop is now? What a legacy Feeney left behind. I've been told that the new owner intends to do some expansion and fix up the area north of the facility.

The warm spell we had in early April made the trees leaf out about a week earlier this year. Normally, it is May 10 before all trees are leafed out according to my empirical observation of past years. However, this week it turned cold and windy again. 40 degrees in May feels like 10 degrees in January.

Already the crepe hangers are saying that the proposed race track is falling behind schedule and won't be ready for years. I do know that the schedule was pushed back a week when the seller, USA Waste Management, failed to deliver a plat on time for papers to be signed. That kind of delay is normal. I can assure you from talking to the raceway developers that they have every intention of getting the raceway done as soon as possible. By the way, the term crepe hanger came from the guy who hung black crepe paper on the door of a recently deceased person to indicate a death in the house, ie., they were the bearers of bad news.

A watched pot never boils.
One hand washes the other - which means two people are better off if they cooperate.

Is anyone going to organize an inline hockey program so that the hockey rink can be used at the New Millennia Park? It will give kids something to do other than clicking buttons and is worth promoting.

The apple trees are loaded with blossoms this year. Should be a bumper crop this fall.

With the warm dry period in April, most farmers got all of their corn planted early.

Anyone who wants to rent the Westside Park pavilion this summer should contact City Hall at 432-2558. The pavilion will be rented on a first-come, first-serve basis. The kitchen will be ready for operation by Memorial Day. It will have a stove, refrigerator, ice-freezer and sink with plenty of electrical outlets for warming food.

Someone brought all of the remaining MDR high school annuals from the Fieldcrest High School this week to my office. Apparently, the school needed more room and wanted to know if I wanted to take the annuals. Obviously, I accepted but I am still disgusted over Fieldcrest's policy to eradicate any vestige of Minonk's past from the school. Apparently, our current school staff does not feel that a sense of history or tradition is important in educating our children.

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