Opinion
Daily Dirt for Aug. 6, 2021: Oh, what might have been …We all have had dreams. And at one time I had mine, too. Find out what my dream once was in today’s Daily Dirt. This, my friends, is Vol. 29: 1. I once played the accordion, even getting to perform with legendary Myron Floren…
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Daily Dirt for Aug. 5, 2021 Before you get to the part of today’s Daily Dirt that deals with Terry Forster, just let me say I agree with him 100 percent. Welcome to Vol. 28 of the daily dose: 1. Let’s continue yesterday’s thoughts on James Bond. I mentioned two actors — Burt Reynolds and…
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By Steve EighingerMuddy River News Minister of Culture Hey, it’s lunch time again. We’re back to break bread — in a virtual sense, of course — with some more well-known local and national figures. Here’s our cast of the latest choices for a late-summer sitdown at some of our favorite establishments: Eric Ervin, local Country…
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When discussions first began about paying people $10,000 to come live in Quincy as part of former Mayor Kyle Moore’s 45 by 30 plan (which is now going to be lucky if it ends up 40 by 30), aldermen soundly shouted it down. With Mayor Mike Troup in City Hall and Moore now running the…
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Daily Dirt for Aug. 4, 2021 Burt Reynolds? Hugh Jackman? Really? A lot of deep thoughts in Vol. 27 of the Daily Dirt: 1. Best thoughts about summer? Here are three of mine: A. “Summertime is always the best of what might be.” — Charles Bowden. (But only if you don’t have to mow your…
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The desire to blame folks for things is a very powerful urge. Typically blame comes when folks are frustrated or scared or when they have an agenda. Then they feel the urge to stretch blame to highly illogical places. COVID has been so all-encompassing for people. After a year and a half, any sane person…
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Daily Dirt for Aug. 3, 2021: Nothing better to grill than those big boy hot dogs It’s the first week of August, and those summer days are rapidly dwindling. V-neck sweaters will be here before we know it. While we’re waiting, enjoy Vol. 26 of your guilty pleasure, the Daily Dirt: 1. My own flesh…
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Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s re-election announcement July 19 made it clear state finances would be central to his campaign, with boasts about balancing the state budget and making full pension payments for each year of his term. The problem is, neither claim is true. Illinois continues to grapple with large structural budget deficits and a growing…
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By Steve Eighinger, Muddy River News Minister of Culture For many, the 1980s represented the widest collection of pop music styles to ever cross over and form one massive genre. Never before, and not since, have so many eclectic ventures worked their way into mainstream listening. Maybe that’s why the 1980s were voted the No.…
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Daily Dirt for Aug. 2, 2021 by Steve Eighinger After all of these years, the Lads from Liverpool remain No. 1 in the colonies. No skipping ahead, read the following in order in Vol. 25 of the Daily Dirt. OK, this kind of surprised me. For those who have not looked ahead, any idea what the…
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Daily Dirt for Aug. 1, 2021 A moment of silence, please, for Cousin Itt while you peruse Vol. 24 of the Daily Dirt. 1. Since I was a child, I have been one of Baskin-Robbins’ most loyal ice cream customers. My all-time favorite flavors have been pralines-n-cream and jamocha almond fudge. While I have never ventured…
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By STEVE EIGHINGER Daily Dirt for July 31, 2021Go ahead, make my day. I’m in a Clint Eastwood kind of mood. I hope you enjoy Vol. 23 of the Daily Dirt. 1. One of my favorite movie stars, filmmakers and overall personalities is Clint Eastwood. From his early days on “Rawhide” to his spaghetti western…
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Daily Dirt for July 30, 2021 by Steve Eighinger Another day, another three thoughts. This, folks, is Vol. 22 of the Daily Dirt: 1. The older I get, the more fascinated I become with birds. A few years ago, I began spending more and more time on our pack porch area watching cardinals, blue jays and whatever…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Fellow baby boomers, think back to your formative years and how much fun it was growing up without cell phones and only two or three channels available on that primitive — and cumbersome — black-and-white TV set in your living room. We actually went outside and played, rather than staring at a…
Read Full Article We’re getting closer to fall and the return of those garage sales and our favorite TV programs by Steve Eighinger Daily Dirt for July 29, 2021If you haven’t noticed, summer is rapidly leaving us in its rear-view mirror. That said, here are three items to look forward to as fall rapidly approaches. Welcome to the…
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The Quincy Salvation Army was on hand to assist with the displacement of the 300 people living at the Welcome Inn before the City of Quincy condemned the property on Tuesday. The Salvation Army has done great work in Hannibal and Quincy for decades. We ring bells and fill red buckets to help those needing…
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Daily Dirt for July 28, 2021 by Steve Eighinger Gimme the board games and tabletop fun, keep your computers When it comes to board games, that’s exactly what I want — not any modern-day computer gizmo things. I like to roll dice and move my game pieces by hand. With that in mind, welcome to…
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By WILL HENDRICKSONFor the Missouri Independent Missouri has become the latest battleground in the war against COVID-19. Not only are we battling the Delta virus and its uncontrolled spread, we are also battling the clock — or should I say calendar? The summer is quickly passing and before too long we will be back in…
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by Steve Eighinger Everyone loves a good summer movie, including the Daily Dirt. See why in Vol. 19: 1. Has there ever been a better overall summer film than 1978’s “National Lampoon’s Animal House?” I’m normally not one to watch a movie over and over, but this is one of them. This movie, at least for…
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By Steve Eighinger Ahh…few things are better than a boffo box office summertime movieOne of my favorite obsessions has always been going to the movies, and with the theaters beginning to re-open I’m sure I’m not the only one who is again looking forward to enjoying some stale popcorn, watered-down cola — and films on…
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by Steve Eighinger So, the Tokyo Olympics are underway. I haven’t yet caught Olympic fever, but here are a few reflections on the first few days of competition in Vol. 18 of the Daily Dirt: 1. I’ve had some early takeaways from what constitutes the 32nd modern Olympiad: A. Five of the newest events are 3×3…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for July 26, 2021 by Steve Eighinger Love is still a many splendored thing. Vol. 18 of the Daily Dirt might help explain why: 1. The most underrated love song ever? I would suggest Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight.” I consider it Clapton’s finest overall piece — ever. His guitar-playing ability is little more than…
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By BRITTANY BOLLSpecial for Muddy River News As I scrolled through social media, it seems the Midwest trend this vacation season was destination Destin. It was the choice for us and the 4.5 other million visitors of the Emerald Coast every year. Many minds think alike. The great ones make it happen. My family and…
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Daily Dirt for July 24, 2021 by Steve EighingerIf you agree snacks are an all-important part of life, welcome aboard Vol. 16 of the Daily Dirt: 1. Here’s my own personal ranking for snacks that came along during the 1960s-1980s period, a.k.a. the formative years for my digestive system. I should note that most of the…
Read Full Article By MARK GLENNONWirepoints How many fibs can Gov. JB Pritzker pack in a ten-minute interview? Count ’em: Jerry Nowicki of Capital News Illinois challenged Pritzker on why the $4.2 billion deficit in Illinois’ unemployment trust fund has been ignored, and asked why it wasn’t reduced using funds from federal government under ARPA, the American Rescue Plan Act. This…
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Daily Dirt for July 23, 2021 by Steve Eighinger If you’re a grandparent, I hope you enjoy Vol. 15 of the Daily Dirt: 1. Anyone who is a grandparent understands how special they are, in one way or another. These three famous quotes emphasize that point: “My grandkids believe I’m the oldest thing in the…
Read Full Article By STEVE EIGHINGER I love sports-themed films. That cinematic addiction started during my early years of grade school. The first movie I remember being drawn to was the 1940 Pat O’Brien classic, “Knute Rockne, All-American.” I’ve probably watched that movie on at least a dozen occasions, and each time my eyes seem to fill with…
Read Full Article Daily Dirt for July 22, 2021 by STEVE EIGHINGER Today’s Daily Dirt was prepared with the mechanically challenged in mind. Welcome to Vol. 14: 1. There were more than a few occupations I never had a chance of taking part in, such as: Mechanic: My dad and older brother were both mechanics and enjoyed anything and…
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With apologies to Aerosmith, there is no love in the elevators of the Adams County Courthouse. The county has been wrangling with the issue of its elevators for years. One of them basically has been out of service for about two years. At a special meeting Tuesday night that lasted about 45 minutes, the county’s…
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Daily Dirt for July 21, 2021 The Daily Dirt marches on … welcome to Vol. 13: 1. Best hair bands ever? How about these? A. Bon Jovi: After all of these years, still livin’ on a prayer. B. Cinderella: The critics loved this bunch, but not much mainstream acceptance. Lead singer Tom Keifer is one…
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By JAY VAN LUVENFor The Missouri Times There are things we can control about our health and others we cannot. No matter how much we exercise or eat right, sometimes we get sick. Genes can affect our susceptibility to certain conditions; my own family tree has a long line of medical concerns. By the same token,…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger It’s always a challenge to cram as much info as possible into the Daily Dirt. Well, we’ve succeeded again in Vol. 12: 1. It’s been 29 years since “Some Gave All” was released, the Billy Ray Cyrus patriotic anthem, and I’m not ashamed to admit I still love that song. (“Achy Breaky…
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INDIAN CREEK, Mo. — If it’s 102 degrees in the shade in mid-July, then it must be time for the St. Stephen’s Parish picnic. Sunday’s temperatures in the mid 80s made for an uncharacteristically perfect day. St. Stephen’s, commonly known as Swinkey, was established in 1833. It is the oldest Catholic parish in the Diocese…
Read Full Article By Steve Eighinger Can there possibly be a better time of year than the middle of the summer? It’s sunny. It’s warm. The roads are free of ice and snow. Well, you get the point. There are, however, some items dealing with this time of the year that can be overrated, such as iced tea. I…
Read Full Article By Steve Eighinger Mango, you say? Vol. 17 of the Daily Dirt should answer that question: 1. I love Jell-O. I always have, preferably with some sort of fruit in it. Ever wonder how many flavors of Jell-O there are? Well, the answer is 26. They are apricot, berry blue, black cherry, blackberry, blackberry fusion,…
Read Full Article By STEVE EIGHINGER G’day, mates! Welcome to Vol. 10: 1. Remember back to July 1981? That’s 40 years ago for those who have a little trouble with math. These were the most popular summer songs that month.A. “Bette Davis Eyes” by Kim Carnes: One of my top five all-time favorites outside of anything recorded by Rod Stewart.B.…
Read Full Article By STEVE EIGHINGER Three thoughts for this fine summer day. This, friends, is Vol. 9: 1. TV fans, the newest “NCIS” franchise, “NCIS Hawai’i,” debuts at 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20 on CBS. Now if we could just get a firm date for “Yellowstone” on Paramount, I’d really be happy. 2. Speaking of season debuts,…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Just think, in five months or so we’re likely to be complaining about how cold it is. So I don’t want to hear any negative remarks about July temperatures. Here are the day’s three thoughts to keep your mind off the thermometer. This is Vol. 8: 1. Happy birthday to actress Phoebe…
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BY TRISH LOLLO, PAUL KEMPINSKI, STEVEN BURGHART and JOSEPH KAHNThe Missouri Times Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been generally accepted that the virus is not as dangerous to children. Of our nation’s more than 600,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19, nearly 400 have occurred in children ages 0 to 17. For anyone tempted…
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The overlook of Quincy Bay from Ben Bumbry Riverview Park is spectacular. When I was president of the Quincy Park Board, I thought it was appropriate to honor Bumbry when he died in 2018. He is still the city’s only African-American Park Board member, and he was the first African-American alderman. (Jason Finney, an African-American,…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Three more thoughts as we wait for baseball season to resume. For those keeping score, this is Vol 7: 1. One of the most overlooked female singing groups in rock’s modern era is the Honey Cone. Those girls gave us such classics as “Want Ads” and “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show.” Edna…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger “I should’ve been a cowboyI should’ve learned to rope and rideWearin’ my six-shooter, ridin’ my pony on a cattle driveStealin’ the young girls’ heartsJust like Gene and RoySingin’ those campfire songsWhoa, I should’ve been a cowboy…” — Toby Keith “I Should Have Been A Cowboy,” 1993 During my early years, I was torn…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Three more thoughts as we inch closer to the dog days of summer. This is Vol. 6 of your Daily Dirt dosage: 1. Fifty years ago at this time I was preparing to enter my senior year of high school. These were the songs atop the Billboard charts that summer: A. “It’s…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Three thoughts. One day. What a country! All of this in Vol. 5: 1. If you woke up today feeling there was nothing to be thankful for, consider what we were facing a year ago today: A. We were knee-deep in a pandemic that had cost many of us jobs, friends, relatives…
Read Full Article Steve’s columns will pop up on Muddy River News on Mondays and Thursdays and, of course, you’ll get your daily fix of his deep thoughts in Daily Dirt. Enjoy and please help us welcome Steve to the Muddy River News family. JRG From now on, if I’m dining out, I’m dining in by Steve Eighinger…
Read Full Article As we move through the dog days of summer, I hope you enjoy these three thoughts in Vol. 4: 1. The TV shows I miss most from the following decades: A. 1960s: “Gunsmoke,” which was billed as an “adult western.” I’m currently trying to rewatch all of the 600-plus episodes. There will never be another…
Read Full Article by Steve EighingerAnother day, another three thoughts. This, my friends, is Vol. 3: 1. Earlier this month, did you happen to see Joey “Jaws” Chestnut defend his world hot-dog eating title? The ESPN-televised event saw The Man down 76 dogs — and buns — in 10 minutes. For those wondering, that represented 20,520 calories. 2.…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Sit back, grab a snack and enjoy Vol. 2 of today’s three thoughts: 1. With the new James Bond movie set to premier in early October, who are your all-time favorite Bond girls? Here are mine: A. Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress): It was 59 years ago she dazzled us in “Dr. No,”…
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Well, the announcements have been made. Muddy River News is built and growing and we just laid the foundation of Muddy Rivers Sports with the hiring of Matt Schuckman. Matt and Steve Eighinger join David Adam, Jim Dewey and myself to provide about 200 years of experienced journalism. None of us made the Muddy River…
Read Full Article by Steve Eighinger Three thoughts to contemplate on another hot summer day, Vol. 1: 1. Are there really many people out there who honest-to-goodness prefer those sloppy, uncontrollable deep-dish pizzas that more resemble soup than … well, real pizza? Give me those nicely-packaged thin-crust dandies or traditional styles any day of the week. Eating a…
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The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of…
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By TIM GIBBONSThe Missouri Independent Missouri Rural Crisis Center recently sent in comments to the Biden Administration and USDA in response to their request for comments to “improve and reimagine the supply chains for the production, processing and distribution of agricultural commodities and food products.” Now is the time to move forward with policies that…
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from Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner of WIREPOINTS. – llinois has just received a credit rating upgrade from Moody’s to Baa2, a level two notches above junk. It’s the state’s first upgrade in some 20 years and a major turnaround given that just one year ago Illinois faced the prospect of becoming the first state to ever be rated…
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By TED DABROWSKI and JOHN KLINGNERWirepoints State politicians continue to ignore Illinois’ local pension crisis, forcing suburban and downstate cities to cut staff, including active police officers, to make room for skyrocketing pension costs. A Wirepoints’ analysis of Illinois’ 175 largest municipalities with dedicated police and fire pension funds found that since 2003, pension costs…
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First, it was whiskey and beer, now it’s a shot for a shot at… That’s right, Gov. J.B. Pritzker now wants to enter everyone who who has received a COVID vaccine into a lottery with a purse of $10 million and the top prize gets… So let’s call this shot lottery a shottery. Sounds great.…
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By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner of WIREPOINTS The Illinois Senate adjourned this week without calling for a vote on the state’s controversial green energy proposal, delaying a massive transformation of the state’s energy sector. The energy package includes a requirement for the state to go fully green by 2050, sets shut-down dates for coal and natural…
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Chalk one up for the little guys…or gals, in this case. Carter’s Coffee Bar gets its second location (Carter’s 2, Electric Boogaloo? I guess you have to be a certain age to get that joke, which I wear out) after some study, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But did the new Sonic going in…
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From WIREPOINTS “We’ve made it to a day we’ve all been waiting for… Illinois is back,” crowed Gov. JB Pritzker on Twitter. Illinois is “fully reopened” on Friday, his announcement said, and headlines across most of the state parroted the same. Tell that to landlords forced to pay for free housing under Pritzker’s emergency order, which remains…
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QUINCY — When Tristan Wood, an administrative assistant with the Quincy Park District, finished his report that claimed to address the declining number of rounds played at Westview Golf Course, president Roger Leenerts asked the Board of Commissioners at its Wednesday meeting if anyone had questions. John Frankenhoff responded quickly. “I have a question for…
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Small Town USA. © by Zakiah Sayeed This is a sleepy river town. A town where people sit on the culvert by the Mississippi and throw their lines in the water, with a hope of catching some Bass or Catfish. They don’t mind the time as it ticks by, winking at them, telling them that…
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Read David Adam’s story here, but then enjoy some videos to put your mind at ease with the roundabout that’s coming to 48th and State.
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Peggy Hubbard is ready for another run at the U.S. Senate. The Belleville, Illinois Navy veteran finished second to Mark Curran in the 2020 Republican U.S. Senate primary for the chance to run against entrenched Democratic Senator Dick Durbin. Durbin beat Curran 55-40 with Willie Wilson (an independent candidate…sure) from Chicago getting 4 percent of…
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GREDF’s website says: “Our number one priority is to retain existing businesses and help them grow. We assist prospective businesses, site consultants and entrepreneurs. We also take the lead in a variety of initiatives that contribute to the outstanding quality of life we enjoy here. “Our objective is to address retention issues and expedite the development…
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First, the Illinois General Assembly and Gov. J.B. Pritzker took care of us with “Boilermakers for vaccines” or “Shots for Shots” or “Shots for Shots and a beer”. Pritzker signed it into law on Wednesday because, damn, that was pressing! Now President Joe Biden is offering another beer when the country gets 70 percent vaccinated.…
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By: Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner from WIREPOINTS Illinois lawmakers have passed a budget for fiscal year 2022 that does nothing to improve the fiscal and economic trajectory of this state. Missing were the many spending reforms Illinois needs to bring down its pension debts and high property tax rates. The budget reportedly spends $42.2 billion of $42.3 billion…
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We’re getting questions about an app. You can create one yourself and it is easy! First… Then type in www.muddyrivernews.com. Hit the button at the bottom of your iPhone with the arrow pointing up (listed above) and then go to “Add to Home Screen” (below). And look what happens! You have an app! And that…
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It used to be simple to remember how many years the Gus Macker 3-on-3 basketball tournament had been played in Quincy. My oldest daughter, Jennifer, was born in March 1991. The birth of the Macker tournament in downtown Quincy was in May 1991, so Jennifer turned 1 months before the Macker turned 2 … and…
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The first blush of a proposed new legislative map for Illinois has a huge impact on Western Illinois. Adams County could greatly benefit, or could be severely harmed, once the dust settles following the 2022 elections if this map hold firm. The heart of Adams County, including Quincy, is in a horizontally shaped House district…
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By Russ Stewart It could very well be called the “Art of the Screw.” It’s a once-in-decade legislative opportunity by each state’s majority party – in this case the Illinois Democrats – to marginalize and make inconsequential the minority party by redrawing congressional and legislative district lines. The technique is called packing, which means stuffing…
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Are we back to normal? It’s sure starting to feel like it. May is graduation season and this weekend saw many of our local colleges hold ceremonies as did Quincy Notre Dame. Other high schools will soon be following suit. There are still some masks, but they seem to fewer and fewer. I attended multiple…
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If you want to know why we are here doing Muddy River News, go no further than this piece from WIREPOINTS. This hits the nail on the head. Yes, it is written with a bit of a conservative slant (note the shots at AP and the New York Times), but it’s pretty tough to dispute.…
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