Reflection Of A Kinder, Gentler People Is Not A Bad Thing

of fighting, we should find common ground and be proud Americans.

Bill Napper

Iremember when I was a bit younger, I used to hear the old folks say how much they missed “the good old days.”

They would go on and on about .25-cents a gallon gasoline, a bottle of soda for a dime and how cheap everything was in the 1950’s - ‘60’s.

Inflation has gone through the roof and interest rates at banks which were at near zero, are over 7 percent.

At one time, we only had three TV channels, plus PBS and there were tons of good entertaining sitcoms and movies to watch. Now, we have hundreds of channels and there is nothing to watch.

While we have always had issues with our nation, I remember how close we were after the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks. We bonded together as Americans and it didn’t matter what color we were, where we went to church, or if we were college grads or high-school drop outs. Cops and firefighters were heros and we stood together ready to fight off all enemies or domestic.

That cohesiveness has eroded and now we fight among each other. We call each other names like Hillary Clinton’s ‘Basket of Deplorables.’ On the other side, they call them baby killers, hypocrite, entitled and Demon-rats. It seems to me that we should recognize that each of us have a different set of values and instead

When this nation was founded, those early patriots did not agree on everything. Many had strong opinions.

They had different views and opinions on how to govern the new nation, and often disagreed even among family members . But they didn’t let their differences tear them apart to the point that they “stayed under the Kings rule.”

Things have not changed much in our 247 years.

Alexander Hamilton who was a Federalist believed in a strong central government that could regulate commerce, raise taxes, and maintain a standing army.

On the other side was Thomas Jefferson, who favored states’ rights and a very small and limited national government. Jefferson wanted each state to have its very own autonomy and be free and independent of federal rule.

Even though we have advanced much in these 247 years, we are still fighting the same battle, but there is a twist.

Now we have people, inside and outside our nation who want to tear us down. They want to destroy us and our way of life.

Why do you think people from around the world are leaving everything behind and risking their lives to come to this nation? Because there is no better!

As a 20 year veteran, I have been to many countries around the globe and I can tell you, there is no better place to live and raise a family.

Here we are free to believe in what we believe, and not risk being thrown in jail or imprisoned for 20 years or more.

Currently, our nation is being

3 Brothers Golf Scramble Benefiting Shriners

Children’s Set torn apart by political activists who want to take you and me down the drain.

Three Brothers Golf Scramble Benefiting Shriners Children’s has been scheduled for September 2 at 2 p.m.

Team openings are still open for a fun day of golf at Oak Brook Golf Course which for $400 each includes cart and 18 holes, lunch, dinner and awards. Please contact David Hickey at 618-651-8230 voice, text or email at dahickey@ charter.net.

Remember we all have the right to believe as we wish. We are individuals and while we may not agree on every issue, we can agree that we are all Americans and we are citizens of one nation.

We should work together to maintain the common good. The problem is can we decide what is the common good.

However, we must realize that what we have is worth banning together and fighting to maintain one nation.

Remember, the enemy will always work to tear us apart, and we have to be smarter than the enemy.

We have to be nicer to one another and bond together. We should remember how we reacted as a nation when the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks suddenly delivered a wake up call.

Yes, I remember cheap gas in the 60’s and bananas for .10 cents a pound. But I also remember wages of .75 cents an hour.

In many ways, life was wonderful back then, but it also was a challenge.

The goal is to adapt and overcome. We have done it before and we can do it again, as long as we stick together as a nation and remember that we are all Americans!

We have struggled for 247 years, but we haven’t quit yet, nor have we been defeated.

We will continue to survive as long as we remember we live in the greatest nation on the earth!

We should run from those who spread hate and discord, and remember how we felt when we were attacked and be kinder and gentler toward one another.

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Stewards of Hope International Starts

Maui Relief Fund

To The Editor:

Stewards of Hope International has started a Maui Relief Effort in which they are working with Mercury One, a nonprofit out of Texas.

Stewards of Hope International said it will send 100 percent of the donations to Mercury One. In turn, Mercury One will also use 100 percent of the money they receive to help agencies in Maui who are supplying food, water, and other immediate necessities.

The benefit of working with Mercury One is that they have people on the ground in Maui assessing the most urgent needs of the community and helping in every way possible.

An email stated that as a locally based nonprofit organization, Stewards of Hope can give donors peace of mind that 100 per cent will be used for the needs of the people in Maui.

If you would like to donate to this effort, mail checks c/o Stewards of Hope International Maui Effort to 35 South Porte Dr. Highland, IL 62249. Venmo is also available @SOHIsohi. Please include your address so that we can send you an acknowledgement letter for your donation.

Michele Korte Capelle

Congratulations To New Troopers; ISP Has Added 483 New Troopers Since 2019

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police welcomed 15 new troopers today from Cadet Class 143 at a graduation ceremony at the Illinois State Police Academy in Springfield. The new troopers will report to nine different Troops throughout the state on Sunday, August 20, 2023. Cadet Class 143 marks the 15th cadet class graduation under Governor JB Pritzker. The total number of ISP troopers added since 2019 now stands at 483.

“I couldn’t be prouder to congratulate Cadet Class 143 on their graduation from the Illinois State Police Academy today,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “We’ve added 483 ISP troopers since I first took office in 2019—and I have no doubt that this Lateral Entry Training Program class of 15 experienced women and men will continue to protect and serve with dedication and honor.” land went 3-0 and won the 3 doubles flight. -Highland went 2-1 and got 3rd in the 4 doubles flight. Overall Team Champions!

Cadet Class 143 was a Lateral Entry Training Program (LETP) class. To be eligible for LETP, applicants must be a certified police officer having graduated from an accredited law enforcement academy and have at least two years of experience while employed as a full-time sworn police officer.

“The previous law enforcement experience Cadet Class 143 brings with them, along with the additional knowledge, training, and culture of integrity they receive from the ISP Academy, will allow them to jump right in and start making a difference in their communities the ISP way,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. LETP focuses on recruitment of current law enforcement officers to expedite increasing the number of sworn troopers. The 15 newest troopers have completed 25 weeks of physical and classroom instruction, as well as field training.