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DAILIY DIRT: Along with Jim Rockford and Bret Maverick came some good music, too

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I’m not sure what was more fun today, putting together this second list of favorite theme music, or rekindling memories of James Garner, one of the baby boomers’ all-time favorite stars … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 415 of The Daily Dirt.

Moving and shaking in downtown Quincy

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There is quite a bit of activity in downtown Quincy right now. The old Quincy Paper Box building is being retro-fitted to house the new Quincy Children’s Museum. Derek Price has his lofts going up in the former MacDonald Stove building on Third Street Remember that vacant building set on fire at Seventh and State […]

DAILY DIRT: Has there been a better decade than the ’90s for movies?

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The ’90s were certainly Tom Hanks’ best-ever decade on the silver screen…. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 411 of The Daily Dirt. 1. In both Friday’s and Saturday’s Daily Dirt I mentioned the 1995 film “Clueless,” which got me thinking, which led to some research, which eventually led to this statement: […]

Daily Dirt: Forget Halloween, the best October holidays all deal with food

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 Well, don’t totally forget Halloween. There’s food involved with that celebration, too … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 410 of The Daily Dirt. 1. It’s the first day of October, a month best known for Halloween — which we will have some fun with […]

DAILY DIRT: ‘The Walking Dead’ marches toward what should be an epic finale

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The final episode of “The Walking Dead” will air six days before the Ohio State-Michigan football game. That will be a big week in the Eighinger household … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 407 of The Daily Dirt.

Want to get the most out of Muddy River News and Muddy River Sports? Here are some tips

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The reception of Muddy River News and Muddy River Sports since our start in April 2021 has been nothing short of amazing.  Thanks to our advertisers who make our e-media publications possible and to our readers. Just think, in a year and half, more than one million unique IP addresses (internet protocol addresses) have accessed our […]

Letter to the editor: Vote yes on Workers’ Rights Amendment to build stronger economy for working people

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As someone who was born and raised in Quincy, there’s no doubt we need to do more to strengthen the middle class in our community and across Illinois. We need to maintain our right to create better-paying jobs with healthcare, benefits, and respect in the workplace – especially as costs go up on everything across […]

OPINION: Tier 2 State worker pensioners could use Amendment 1 to revolt for a fair deal

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If voters approve the amendment in November, any group of public workers will have a constitutional right to bargain for most anything they want through whatever representatives they want. In other words, they could create their own union of sorts to make demands different from, or in addition to, those of the big public unions. The drafters may not have intended that, but it’s what the proposed amendment says plainly.

Letter to the editor: Recycling should be a responsibility of everyone, and everyone should pay for it

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Concerning the story on recycling on Muddy River News, the number of people interested in the topic who attended the meeting doesn’t count those of us who watched it on TV at home.  I couldn’t make it to the council chambers, but fortunately I could watch it “live” on (Xfinity Cable) Channel 15, so I […]

Do you own Computershare account? Might be time to consider closing or updating it

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Have a Computershare account? A good estate planning tip might be to either close the account or at least consider whether it should be updated.     Computershare is a super-large, Australian stock transfer company, providing global services as a transfer agent and holder of stocks. It provides many other financial services as well.   As an estate […]

Letter to the Editor: Look no farther than Nebraska for best restaurant to replace Ruby Tuesday

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OK, Muddy River News. You asked for best food place to replace Ruby Tuesday. This Californian will tell you the correct answer is In-N-Out. Too bad they won’t go outside California but for a few exceptions in Las Vegas (where even at 4 a.m., the drive-thru line snakes around the building and out into the […]

Letter to the Editor: Dog walkers in Wilmar area are warned to keep poop out of yards

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I was under the impression that all dog owners should have their dogs leashed. Obviously that’s not the case in the Wilmar and North Wilmar area. We take such care to keep our lawns clean and manicured, but some stupid mutt (I mean the dog) thinks it is OK to soil our yard with its poop. […]

Daily Dirt: Wondering if Arliss was Coach’s agent?

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 When you think about it, Craig T. Nelson now plays the same character on “Young Sheldon” as he did on “Coach.” … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 395 of The Daily Dirt. 1. You know what we’re missing these days? A good week-to-week TV program […]

Letter to the Editor: Thanks to mayor, City Council for sidewalk improvements on North 12th Street

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The Friends of the Trails thanks Mayor Mike Troup and the City Council for North 12th Street improvements from Locust to Koch’s Lane. These sidewalks, on one side of 12th from Locust Street to the Cedar Creek Bridge and both sides of North 12th up to Koch’s Lane, already are being used even before the […]

Daily Dirt: Gimme a Whopper, some sausage, a Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Lars Nootbaar

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, Sept. 11, 2022 Seriously, is there as better name right now in MLB than Lars Nootbaar? Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 394 of The Daily Dirt. 1. On this beautiful September day, I feel like playing a little Overrated/Underrated. Overrated: Big Mac. Too much sauce and lettuce, not […]

Daily Dirt: Wonder how Calamity Jane might have fared against the Ryan Express?

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 I once had a girlfriend who reminded me of Annie Oakley … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 393 of The Daily Dirt. 1. The old west is known for a lot of things … gunfights, cowboys and Indians, wagon trains, Matt Dillon and bathing like […]

DAILY DIRT: If the day requires an early start, it may also require a quality fast-food breakfast

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I miss a lot of mornings these days. My schedule usually gets underway around 1 p.m. — but when I need to rise and shine early you can bet I’m going to need a fast-food breakfast for inspiration.

DAILY DIRT: Vampires vs. Werewolves, better than Ohio State vs. Michigan?

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I’m the only one in my family who appreciates a good gorefest when it comes to scary movies. And how much scarier can you get than vampires (and their werewolf buddies)? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 390 of The Daily Dirt.

Hello, Goodbye! Redux on ‘Quincy’s Calling’ and a quick look at real estate transfers

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I observed several months back that Quincy says “Hello” and Illinois says “Goodbye!” A key reason?  The Illinois tax structure.   Muddy River News is publishing real estate transfers.  Take of look at where the sellers, many area homeowners, now claim residence. An example would be the Adams County transfers from Aug. 15-19. The sellers included people from Estes […]

DAILY DIRT: ‘And all at once, summer collapsed into fall’

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From a guy’s standpoint, is there really a better time of the year than when the MLB races are going down to the wire, college football is still in its infant stages and the NFL is right around the corner? … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 389 of The Daily Dirt.

Letter to the Editor: Pretrial Fairness Act is going to have disastrous consequences for Illinois

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In less than 4 months, the “Pretrial Fairness Act” will become effective and abolish Illinois’s cash bail system. Those who support the new law say the current system imposes a different justice system on defendants who can afford their bond, compared to those who cannot. While we agree a person’s freedom should not depend on […]

Letter to the Editor: Suicide prevention can be as simple as asking a question to save a life

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Dear Muddy River News: It’s possible by asking a single question you could save a person’s life. The question: Are you thinking about suicide? Our lives today can feel overwhelming. Losing a job or a relationship, trouble in school, physical illness, divorce or the death of a loved one can happen to anyone. Events like […]

Daily Dirt: Werewolves, zombies and vampires … oh my!

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022 If that zombie can run, you better movie it, move it, move it! … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 381 of The Daily Dirt 1. Wednesday is “Frankenstein Day,” which, yes, is an actual holiday. It’s specifically designed to be a celebration of the […]

DAILY DIRT: The next Bond is not the only question that needs answered — how about the next Superman?

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1. Granted, the next major announcement from the motion-picture world will be about who will be next James Bond, but a close second might be who will donning the blue tights as the new Superman.

Daily Dirt: Will Goldschmidt or Arenado be the National League MVP?

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022 Barring some natural disaster, one of two Cardinals sluggers is going to be the MVP in the National League. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 375 of The Daily Dirt. 1. As promised on Saturday, we (and by we, I mean me) project today who […]

Klues: If we never struggle to obtain something or don’t allow our children to struggle, is the reward as rich and meaningful?

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We took a vacation to Colorado this summer to visit family, packing in as much adventure as was humanly possible. We don’t have any little kids, so we were free to hit up excitement all day — no naps or strollers needed. Truly, this is a glorious phase to have left behind. I miss the […]

Remembering Anne St. John and a legacy of Quincy Trees for Tomorrow

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Anne M. St. John died on July 29. It’s unlikely there will be named legacies honoring Anne.  She is among the many self-effacing folks who made a true difference in our community, unconcerned about personal recognition. A quote from Timothy (1 Timothy 6:7) welcomed Anne to her celebration of life held Saturday, August 20: “For we […]

Daily Dirt: Lenny, Squiggy, Jethro, Gomer rank highest among TV characters Steve can’t stand

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 The era of network television that produced the shows mentioned in thought No. 1, was not classic in any way, shape or form. It was dreadful. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 374 of The Daily Dirt. 1. It’s safe to assume we all have […]

Private and public dollars are making Quincy’s Sixth Street Promenade a reality

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Maybe it’s helping the downtown through volunteering or just taking the time to shop at a boutique. Maybe it’s through a financial investment that required you to take out a personal loan you have to pay back (with interest) over 20 years. Then imagine you see all these other neighbors doing the same thing you’re doing: volunteering, cheerleading, and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to try and make a difference.

Letter to the Editor: Allowing officers to reside in Missouri would help staffing issues with Quincy Police Department

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This letter is in response to an article published Aug. 10 by WGEM titled “Quincy Police Department looks to fill ten open positions.” The Quincy Police Department’s manpower issues emerged in 2020 when fewer applicants applied to become police officers. In part, this may have been due to the national rhetoric against the police. In response, then-Chief […]

Letter to the Editor: Hannibal’s Third Ward representative proposes policies to promote accountability, transparency

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The item proposed below by Stephan Franke was tabled during Tuesday’s meeting of the Hannibal City Council by a 6-1 vote, with Franke the lone “no” vote.  As part-time elected representatives with other full-time jobs, there is a restriction on how much we as councilpeople can learn about our own government. Additionally, often […]

DAILY DIRT: ‘Yellowstone,’ ‘Archer’ lead list of best returning TV shows

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Next to the Christmas holidays and the opening of MLB and college football seasons, this is my favorite time of the year. It’s when we start getting word from the various TV networks and streaming services about the return of our favorite programs and what’s new on the horizon … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 371 of The Daily Dirt.

DAILY DIRT: A year ago, Dirt turned into Mud

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Today marks one full year of providing The Daily Dirt for Muddy River News. It’s been a great 365 days working with the people at the Big Muddy. I will be forever grateful to publishing czar J. Robert Gough for enticing me out of retirement, even if it’s only for a handful of contributions each week. And I am even more grateful to the readers of this space who — on a daily basis — drop me emails, texts and even an occasional phone call. I hope to be hearing from even more of you in the coming year! 

Daily Dirt: Thanks Bobby Goldsboro, Starland Vocal Band and Bobby McFerrin for irritating songs

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022 “Honey,” “Henry” and … ummm, Kit Kats are among today’s hot topics. Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 362 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Have you ever had one of those songs that each and every time you hear it on the radio, your skin […]

Daily Dirt: Only 12 percent of the world is left-handed, but there have been some famous southpaws

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Daily Dirt for Saturday, Aug. 6, 2022 Until today, I never knew Chewbacca was a left-handed Wookie … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 361 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Most people are right-handed. That’s a given. So does being a lefty make you special? Before you answer, consider the following items: […]

Letter to the Editor: Hannibal-LaGrange University is a good university getting better

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HLGU is alive. The university will not only stay open, but the past year has shown us how blessed we are to be part of the greater Hannibal community. Hannibal-LaGrange University was facing a financial Goliath in March 2022. The president of 10 years had resigned two months earlier, and the full reality of the […]

DAILY DIRT: Morrison, Ruffin, Diamond set the standard for a marvelous decade  

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And now, the men take center stage in our week-long tribute to the top individual voices of pop music during the era when baby boomers listened to their lives unfolding during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s   … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 358 of The Daily Dirt.

Can we continue to trust the leadership of the Adams County Board?

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Members of the Adams County Board discussed their political futures behind closed doors during a closed session of their May 10 meeting. Bret Austin, Adams County Board vice chairman and Finance Committee chairman, assured his fellow board members these discussions would remain private, despite the fact they were being recorded.

Daily Dirt: A tip o’ the hat to Tina, Whitney, Joan … and Enos Cabell?

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Daily Dirt for Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022 Tina Turner and Enos Cabell kind of share today’s spotlight … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 357 of The Daily Dirt. 1. Today we close our look at the best female pop singers of that incredible era wrapped around the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. […]

DAILY DIRT: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Stevie, Olivia and Linda

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We enter chapter two of featuring our top 10 individual talents of the most influential era in pop music history: the 1960s through the 1980s. Today we pick our top 10 female singers of the 1970s. … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 356 of The Daily Dirt.

Letter to the Editor: Adrian says public relations firm was hired to spread lies across nation

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I would like to respond to the opinion letter written by Kate Daniels, chairman of the Adams County Democratic Party, as well as others.   It is not surprising she does not like me speaking out about the Drew Clinton case, because once the truth is known, it will be obvious that this is a political attack […]

Letter to the Editor: List of people voting against human trafficking bill reads like who’s who of most crazy in Congress 

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The recent passage of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022 (HR6552) by the United States House of Representatives was a victory for victims and survivors of the unlawful act of human trafficking. HR6552 supports activities and programs that fight human trafficking and also supports survivors of human trafficking.  The basic definition […]

Kudos to the city of Quincy! Someone really does read those emails

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The City of Quincy deserves kudos. I’m here to pass them along. My usual route to and from work takes me from Sixth and Jefferson Streets north to my office.   For weeks, I kept hitting the same darn road depression (not a pothole) when heading home on Sixth south of Washington Street — well, unless […]

Time to give up on Quincy’s air service and consider luxury, reliable bus service?

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City officials are again faced with the challenge of finding an essential air service provider. Cape Air, the current provider, notified the U.S. Department of Transportation in May of its intent to end passenger air service in Quincy.  Cape Air was awarded a four-year $10.8 million subsidy starting December 1, 2021, to provide service to St. Louis and […]

Daily Dirt: Some thoughts about summer … and Mick Jagger is going to be how old?

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Daily Dirt for Sunday, July 24, 2022 Do you remember “In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry? I suggest playing it before continuing … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 346 of The Daily Dirt. 1. We’re in that time of year when it’s hot, muggy and what energy we have is usually […]