Commentary

By Steve Rensberry, Editor It’s no secret that one of our area’s economic strengths is its location and utility as a transportation hub, being situated roughly in the middle of the continental United States. One organization that realizes this is the East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWGCOG), which gave notice last week that it had…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor The Ministries Unlimited food pantry is busy preparing for its annual Christmas drive. In a recent letter from Pantry Director Betty Cothran, it’s noted that Troy United Methodist Church will serve as the collection and distribution center this year, with people urged to bring donations to the church on Monday, Dec.…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor The American College of Emergency Physicians issued a rather stern warning this week about how under-prepared most Americans are for any kind of serious medical emergency. That warning was prompted by a new public poll, they said, which showed that a majority of respondents believed there were not confident enough to…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor It’s hard not to live in this part of the country without seeing, coming close to, or getting in an accident with a deer. I’m one of the lucky ones, though I have come close several times. One of the worst I’ve witnessed occurred in the mid-1990s on US Hwy 13…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor Manufacturing has been in the spotlight lately, with Southwestern Illinois University among several entities who are striving to bridge the gap between regional manufacturers, job speakers and students. It’s been tough going in recent months, partly because of a record low  unemployment rate, partly because of continued misconceptions about manufacturing jobs…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor The month of October is set aside each year as Fire Prevention Month. The goal is simply to raise awareness about fire safety and the importance of being prepared. Few things are more damaging than a fire, whether its your house, vehicle, garage, or farm field, and staying on guard and…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor Illinois became the 21st state on Dec. 3, 1818, beginning in the south and moving northward, until by 1857 that big metropolis to the north of us dominated the state’s business and industry as a major lake and canal port. Location is key, they say.  At the time of the state’s…

I know we Americans like choice, but sometimes there’s almost too much of it, you know what I mean? Take buying bread, for instance, or coffee at Starbucks (which boasts of having 10s of thousands of drink combinations). I know, some of you “get it” but love all the choices, like a game of sorts,…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor Whether you’re a runner, walker, or just someone who likes to watch other people compete, the 10th Annual Bradley R. Smith Memorial Scholarship 5K Run/Walk this year is a worthwhile thing to watch. While the event began as a tribute and honor to Bradley — and it still is— in the…

By Steve Rensberry, Editor With changes come hiccups. Such has been the case with the Times-Tribune this year, which has undergone a number of design and coverage area changes. Add to that staff changes and changes in how we prepare and mail the paper each Wednesday. Delivery has been one such hiccup, mostly due to…