Thirteen Illinois counties will be eligible for more flood relief money, President Bush announced Tuesday.
One town was spared major loss because of the hard work of neighbors, volunteers, the Illinois National Guard and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. . . the tiny river town of Hamburg, IL.
Continue reading "IR on site: Hamburg IL gets by with a little help from their friends" »
by Matthew Gauntt
A good friend of mine, who is a regular commenter to this website, and I were driving around the western part of Aurora several months ago. He kept pointing out, "right over there was where I used to fish", "I used to go hiking over there", etc. This is the area around Orchard Road south of I-88.
We got to talking about the fact that Democrats and "environmentalists" have taken the mantel of conservation and that we shouldn’t allow them to do this. As Republicans and as conservatives, we have the right and enjoyment of the planet as much as everyone else. However, conservatives and Republicans are usually just in a reactionary mode when it comes to talking about conservation and environmentalism.
What should conservatives be doing and saying when it comes to environmentalism?
The people in Hardin IL will begin sandbagging to protect their town against the Illinois River, which is slowly rising as the Illinois now has begun to back up into the area. Mel's and his Hardin neighbors now face what their neighbors in Hamburg have faced over the last week.
According to IR contributor/reader Joyce Morrison
The rain north of here last night raised the crests predicted on our levee as well as the Mississippi. We are getting more seepage which is very uncomfortable....and we have more rain in the forecast. 3-8 inches of rain fell i n central MO last night and it will cause the Mississippi to rise. Heavy rains are predicted for Iowa. Not a good forecast. Those poor people in Hamburg...
The photos to the right were taken Tuesday evening in Hardin, IL. In the closeup section, you can see the area's bridge over the Illinois. Flood level is 18 feet, but area predictions are now for a crest Saturday at 31 feet.
Hardin is he nearest town to Hamburg, IL, where sandbagging was going on last weekend to protect their little town . . . more photos later today.
Check out other IR on-location flood stories earlier this week.
by Matt Gauntt
I never thought I would say this, but I agree wholeheartedly with Kofi Annan.
Although the former Secretary General of the United Nations and I have disagreed on most everything, I finally found a topic that we can agree to shake hands and sing Kum-By-Yah around the fire together.
Global Warming.
Now, dear reader, I know what you are thinking: "Matt, you've been very critical of all of these left wing loonies on the topic of global warming, how can you agree with Kofi Annan now? Has someone hit you in the head"?
No, I think Kofi is coming around to my way of thinking.
by Mark Rhoads
Let's be honest, former Vice President Al Gore is making a tidy profit from his anti-global warming and pro-energy conservation PR campaign. Revenues generated from book and film royalties as well as paid speeches and energy conservation company investments have made Gore a rich man.
Fine, that's free enterprise and good for him. He is entitled to make a buck. However, others are entitled to de-construct how Gore's personal "carbon footprint" is a light year on the greedy side of ideal.
Continue reading "Al Gore Will Leave the Light on For You" »
by Matt Gauntt
I was watching "Morning Joe" this morning, who had on one of the more colorful characters in journalism, Jim Cramer from "Mad Money". The discussion was energy policy and oil.
Mr. Cramer gets rather animated (big understatement), and as I watched, I got more and more frustrated myself. He affirmed what many of us are starting to feel, and that is embarrassment in our country and more specifically our leaders in the conduct of our energy policy.
Continue reading "Energy Policy: What do our Leaders Need to Wake Up?" »
And the Democrats just can't wait to take over America . . . Can you imagine what lies ahead?
MOKENA -- Two days after returning from a trip to Moscow where he attended the graduation ceremony of a Russian university on whose board of trustees he serves, 11th CD candidate Marty Ozinga will be pumping gas for four hours in southwest suburban Mokena today. The owner of Ozinga Concrete, with 30 locations and a fleet of cement trucks, plans to discuss the high price of gasoline with those drivers whose tanks he'll be filling.
“I know what people are going through when it comes to paying for fuel,” Ozinga said. “Our business uses 4 million gallons of diesel fuel each year. If the price of fuel goes up just 50 cents, that’s $2 million that we have to eat. And of course, it has gone up by much more than just 50 cents.
Continue reading "Ozinga talks cash and conservation at the pumps" »
This "Always Right" column in today's Southtown was fun to write . . . and we're certain to hear from those mean ol', fun-stealing Democrats.
If your family gets cheated out of its annual vacation this year, blame a Democrat.
Recent polls say that because of skyrocketing gasoline prices, many are putting vacation plans on hold. Some are choosing to stay closer to home while others are taking a plane or Amtrak rather than filling up the family sport utility vehicle at $4 a gallon.
Last week in Springfield, House Democrats simply could not bring themselves to allow a suspension in the state's gas tax, even for the summer months. Republican appeals for tax mercy in both chambers fell on deaf ears.
The GOP still hasn't learned the most effective way to pass legislation in our current atmosphere. Because Democrats need every nickel and dime they can get their hands on to pay for more and more government programs, the GOP should set up a public crisis. It's only then that the Democrats will move to cut gas costs, even temporarily.
Link: No vacation? Blame a Democrat :: The SouthtownStar :: Fran Eaton.
