Letter to the Editor
Here is how part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Protestant friends once told me that their minister told them that Catholic priests were so close to the devil that they had tails. Fortunately, by the…
Read Full Article 
Smartphones are an essential part of everyday life and help us do so many things. However, in a UScellular survey, nearly 75 percent of respondents said they spend at least an hour on social media every day, with 24 percent spending three to four hours per day. Nearly a third of respondents said they want…
Read Full Article 
In Quincy town, there dwelt a man grim,Who thought his job was to fill every pothole’s brim. With “No” votes for the public good on this day.His heart was as dark as the asphalt’s gray. He grumbled and groaned each attempt to do more.Hating the world with an unyielding roar. The sun was too hot,…
Read Full Article 
Tax increment financing is effective. It has led to economic development and increased growth in our historic downtown business district. As mayor, I was proud to propose and implement TIF East in 2010 with the help of our terrific city planner, Chuck Bevelheimer. A multitude of infrastructure improvements have occurred since then, and private investment…
Read Full Article 
Thought you might tell Mr. Eighinger that of the great bald athletes he mentioned, he forgot Mark Messier, who is one of the greatest hockey players of all-time. In fact, (Wayne) Gretzky won a Stanley Cups with Messier but none without him. Also going the other way about players who tried to cover it up,…
Read Full Article 
First, let me say Brother Zimmerman, you are courteous and conciliatory. You should have called me out. I quoted G.K. Chesterton, and Chesterton certainly was not a capitalist but a distributist. Wasn’t his description of distributism “40 acres and a cow for everyone?” Certainly a different time. But the point was to favor small businesses…
Read Full Article 
Mr. Felsman, thank you for taking my thoughts seriously! I am pleased that you say Ayn Rand does not represent what most capitalists think or feel. I just recall Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the U.S. House, saying that Ms. Rand was an important source of his thinking. It is certainly true that the poor…
Read Full Article 
I’d like to add my two cents with Mark Felsman on the recent topic of capitalism versus socialism, which is just a fancy word to get around being called a communist in the real world. Socialism has caused more than 100 million deaths in a little more than 100 years and countless miseries, with the…
Read Full Article 
Leadership. Whether you feel it’s an art, a science or maybe a combination of both – either way, you’re right. In my career, I’ve had the opportunity to hold various leadership roles and to learn countless “leadership styles,” strategies, approaches and so on. I’ve taken tests and gone through exercises to learn my “bird type”…
Read Full Article 
Brother Joe, what was the mission of Jesus? I think scripture and tradition would say Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am chief (1 Timothy 1:15-17). Didn’t Father Ronald Knox say Christians aren’t here to make the world a better place but to colonize heaven? Certainly Christians are to help the poor again…
Read Full Article 
Jesus: Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Capitalist: I’m sorry, but I have to take exception to that. In a capitalist society, if you are a loser, that means you or your family haven’t tried hard enough to play the game. The game has rules. You must play by the…
Read Full Article 
It’s good that a recommendation has been put forth by the Illinois Department of Transportation for the replacement of the Memorial Bridge. While it is not a consideration to replace the Golden Gate Bridge, also put into service in the 1930s and in a salt air environment, most other bridges should not be expected to last…
Read Full Article 
Regarding the article concerning the 13-year-old and 18-year-old who sent the pictures — which, of course, he shouldn’t have done. A question I have: Was he aware of her age? I ask because many girls get online and portray themselves as 18, which should not happen. Parents should bear some responsibility for not monitoring their daughter’s…
Read Full Article 
It seems our society is short on selflessness these days. Selflessness is “giving to others without looking for personal gain.” Thankfully, in healthcare, you’ll find teams of selfless people led by doctors. This area is blessed with many skilled physicians, including those practicing at Blessing Health. After multiple years in training, these doctors joined the Blessing…
Read Full Article 
Our world at the Quincy Police Department (QPD) was turned upside down on Jan. 11, 2024. On this date around noon, Officer Matthew Hermsmeier was shot in the right arm while on the scene of a domestic disturbance and acting as a field training officer for Officer Gabriel VanderMaiden. Both officers have since been cleared of…
Read Full Article 
Did you ever consider these phrases in the hymn “Hold the Fort” by Philip P. Bliss in 1870? In the first verse: “Ho, my comrades!See the signalWaving in the sky …” And in the chorus: “Hold the Fort for I am coming,Jesus signals still,Wave the answer back to Heaven,By Thy Grace we will!” What does…
Read Full Article 
Our framing of immigrants at our southern border seems to be missing something. Compassion. Rather than demonizing, perhaps we could empathize. To paraphrase President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “We should remember that we all are descendants of immigrants …” And to quote Bishop Michael Barber SJ of the Diocese of Oakland in California, who worked with immigrants…
Read Full Article 
I was listening to NPR recently about Feb. 29 and the Hanke-Henry Calendar Idea. The coming of spring on March 19 as well as Easter on March 31 compels me to offer this opinion. Back in the 16th Century, Pope Gregory VIII brought forth what would become known as the Gregorian Calendar to better deal with the earth’s relationship to…
Read Full Article 
As someone with extensive business experience and a nine-year tenure on the fire and police commission, I feel compelled to share my perspective on the upcoming mayoral election. It is evident to me that our current mayor has fallen short in his leadership and communication skills. Throughout my time serving the community, I have observed firsthand…
Read Full Article 
The 40 Days for Life Campaign is well under way and shows no sign of slowing. Volunteers show up every day, except on Sundays, holding signs in prayer to end abortion across the nation. This is done locally at Walgreens because they have decided (along with CVS and RiteAid) to provide the two abortion pills,…
Read Full Article 
Letter to the Editor: Adrian is human and changed his mind, rousing the rabble to pick up pitchforks
Muddy River News recently published an article detailing the events that led to Robert Adrian’s removal as Eighth Circuit Judge. This letter to the editor will examine the reasoning (or lack thereof) surrounding that removal. This is not an attempt to assign a value judgment to the sexual assault case People of the State of Illinois v. Drew…
Read Full Article 
It’s well-known Americans are increasingly dependent on their smartphones for essential daily functions, entertainment, and connection. Technology helps us do so many things, but sometimes there are unintended consequences when technology gets out of place in our lives. According to a December 2023 survey of consumers, 41 percent shared that they could use some time…
Read Full Article 
I noticed on the St. Louis Cardinals schedule this season they are to play the Baltimore Orioles May 20-22 at home. It was 70 years ago this season that the St. Louis Browns became the Orioles and 80 years ago that St. Louis had both major league teams in the 1944 World Series. I wonder…
Read Full Article 
I am writing in response to Mark Felsman’s letter of February 16. It is incorrect to characterize asylum seekers as “illegal immigrants.” Under international law, anyone has the right to apply for asylum in any country that has signed the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and to remain there until the…
Read Full Article 
I am replying to Catherine Frederick’s letter. Does she realize these people have entered our country illegally? If we have no borders, we have no country. No one blames them for wanting a better life, but is America obligated to accept everyone who wants a better life? Isn’t our government’s first obligation to its own…
Read Full Article 
