By Sara Browning

The race is on as Republican candidates for the United States Congress finish up last-minute campaigning and buckle down for the Republican Primary.

The announcement of Ray Lahood’s retirement opened up a seat in the United States Congress and gave ambitious office-seekers reason to begin collecting votes. From the Republican Party emerged President and CEO of The Heartland Partnership, Jim McConoughey, former Peoria City Councilman At-Large John Morris, and State Representative Aaron Schock, all with track records to prove that voters will not have an easy decision. With the February 5th election just around the corner, the big question is “Who will it be?”

A Look Back - As President of the Economic Development Council of Central Illinois and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce with a reputable 26 years of experience in business and community service leadership, Jim McConoughey’s candidacy should not be taken lightly. In addition to serving on the board of directors of Peoria NEXT and the Workforce Investment Board, McConoughey is also influential on the Civic Federation, the Mayor’s Task Forces on Economic Development and Transportation, and the Executive Council for the Harvard Economic Development Council. More recently, McConoughey has used his position as CEO and President of the Heartland Partnership to create growth, prosperity, and community wealth in Central Illinois, helping to restore vision and purpose to 18th District citizens. McConoughey has also received a firm endorsement from Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis who claims “McConoughey understands what role our Congressman needs to have in this community.”

Rival John Morris has over twenty years of achievements and is widely known as the only conservative candidate in the race who has gained significant experience in Washington, D.C. In just over a six-year period, Morris served as a volunteer intern in the Reagan White House as well as a Congressional Intern for Former 18th District Congressman and Republican House Leader Robert H. Michel. In 1988, Morris served as a volunteer on the Bob Dole Presidential Campaign and gained experience in a fund-raising staff position at the Republican National Committee. After being elected as Peoria City Councilman At-Large in 1999, Morris created a reputation as having the most enthusiastic and optimistic vision for the Central Illinois area. Now a leading voice in conservative policymaking, Morris has received support from President of the Illinois Policy Institute Greg Blankenship who has endorsed Morris as one who is “stepping up to defend taxpayers” and who will continue to work on their behalf if elected to Congress.

Aaron Schock also has a strong record to fall back on. At 19, Schock was a write-in candidate for the Peoria School Board against the school board president. Schock won with 6,407 write-in votes and 60 percent of the vote. At 23, he was unanimously elected as the school board president. Having defeated 8-year incumbent Democrat State Representative Ricca Slone in a 60 percent Democrat district in 2004, Schock now serves as State Representative of the 92nd State Legislative District. Since his election, he has sponsored and passed 18 bills, proving to be a match for the responsibilities of his present office and a tough contender for the United States Congress. Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia, a strong supporter, believes that “Aaron Schock is the role model for what our party needs to do to win back voters. He will re-energize our party in Congress.”

What Washington Needs - Despite records of past achievements, each candidate still faces the challenge of convincing voters that his platform provides the best solution for the people of the 18th District and for Republicans in Washington, D.C. In a country haunted by past political scandals and empty promises, Republican voters are now looking to the future in search of someone who will provide new ideas, straight speaking, and a reconnection with basic conservative thinking, criteria that McConoughey, Morris, and Schock promise to deliver.

McConoughey has served the U.S. as a lifelong Republican, supporting Republicans in Illinois and engaging himself in finding new ways to improve the economic standard and increase the creation of jobs. After 26 years of business experience, McConoughey understands that listening carefully and using common sense to formulate good judgements is the best way to develop a pulse for what the nation needs. “I’d really like to try and solve the tough issues,” says McConoughey. “That’s what is attractive to me about Congress. What we need in Washington is persistent progress. One of the reasons why there’s been great leadership is because people like Ray LaHood are practical, honest, have good ideas, and they get things done. These are characteristics I try to exhibit. If you combine these qualities with hard work, well that’s a good formula for success-even in Washington.”

Morris believes holding fast to true Republican values is the key to building a better nation. According to Morris, voters are looking for candidates with strong conservative values. If elected, Morris promises to hold firm to what these values represent. Morris’ key desire is to create a better quality of life for the people of the 18th District, and in so doing, he refuses to sacrifice his integrity or compromise his core values. “My platform has been consistently conservative, and I am not afraid to tell the truth about issues that I believe are morally and ethically wrong,” says Morris. “As Congressman, I would dedicate myself to bringing individual accountability back to the forefront, and I would do this with a sense of purpose rooted in my faith.”

Approaching the Congressional seat from yet another angle, Schock believes that a strong work ethic, charisma, fresh leadership, new ideas, and the energy and time needed to aggressively advocate Republican causes will greatly benefit the Republican Party in Congress. “Most people recognize that they are not going to find a perfect candidate,” says Schock. “But what they will find is someone with a track record of hard work and dedication. I believe my accomplishments as a State Representative passing legislation, providing constituent work, and representing the values of the 18th District in a bipartisan way prove I can make a difference in Central Illinois and in Washington, D.C.” An avid believer that “actions speak louder than words,” Schock claims that hard work is the foundation for every successful candidate. “By working with people, building mutual relationships, and going to bat for the constituents in Springfield, I believe I’ve proven to be a person capable of moving our country forward in Washington.”

The Issues at Hand - An advocate for economic reform, Schock believes in doing away with economic policies that increase borrowing, spending, and taxing employers. As State Representative, Schock proved successful in speaking on the House Floor, in Committee, and throughout Illinois in opposition to Rod Blagojevich’s proposed spending increases. He also passed bills that dealt with providing assistance to veterans, combating high-tech identity theft, increasing child protection services, and helping individuals save on prescription drugs.

Not only is Schock a proponent of action, he also recognizes the importance of listening to voters’ concerns. “I believe the best quality a candidate can have is being a good listener,” he says. “What’s made me a good representative for the state is that I’m actively engaged with the community, and I know when to seek out advice from experts so that I can act in the best interest of citizens.”

For Schock, acting in the people’s best interest involves increasing the quality of education by holding parents accountable for helping children learn at home. He also advocates moving toward electronic medical records to cut down on paperwork, procedures, and time spent for an office visit.

If elected, Morris desires to be remembered as a Congressman who brought back accountability to the Republican Party and who never wavered from defending the safety of the American people. National Security is a top priority in Morris’ campaign. “The terrorists did not close shop after 9-ll,” says Morris. “That was just a warm-up. We need Congressmen in office who are steadfast in commitment to National Security.” According to Morris, America will be best protected by providing the intelligence and law enforcement communities with the resources necessary to combat terrorists. Morris advocates controlling our country’s borders and tracking terrorist activity in order to prevent attacks on the U.S. before they occur. “Our success in Iraq will be a major victory in the War on Terror and a major blow to our nation’s enemies,” says Morris. “As a nation, we must support our troops and provide them with the resources they need to defeat our enemies there.”

Morris, who showed an interest in federal policy at a very young age, believes his experience in Washington, D.C. fostered his interest in economy and public service. “I remember seeing the front-page story announcing Reagan’s presidency and how he was described as a very positive and optimistic person who served the people,” says Morris. “Bob Michel was also a great public servant, and I learned a great deal about constituent service as I worked beside him. I believe my early experiences have helped prepare me to go back to Washington.”

Morris is not the only candidate equipped for public service. Committed to establishing a public-service oriented office system around the 18th District, McConoughey has turned his attention to smaller communities, helping them grow in the global marketplace through methods such as improved Internet infrastructure. Having been raised on a family farm, McConoughey understands the importance of the Midwestern rural lifestyle and realizes that a turnaround for Washington’s Republican Party means starting small and helping rural and local communities thrive. “I believe a lot of people think of a Congressman as someone who lives in Washington,” says McConoughey. “But I think of myself as a hometown guy who lives here and whose job is a commuter job.”

One way of helping local communities succeed is by keeping local control in the school systems. According to McConoughey, those who make decisions regarding Central Illinois students should be those who know the students on a first-name basis. Having a tight grasp of economic and education policy also works to his advantage. “I know how to create jobs,” he says. “I’ve also been a teacher in a college. Having ground experience is something that can help formulate policy. I’ve been on the street, doing the work, and making public policy better so that those who try to do what I’ve done can do it more easily.”

McConoughey believes that in order to help Washington become aware of the needs of the country, a Congressman must know what is best for the country at a particular time. When asked what criteria he would use to determine whether a piece of legislation is timely or not timely for the country, McConoughey responded: “One question I would ask is ‘What should be done to protect the American people?’ I would also consider what policies or programs would be necessary that would affect the most people right now. Then there are decisions about long-term programs we need to maintain, such as social security, Medicare, and how we treat those who put their lives on the line for our country. A Congressman should vote to constantly and regularly reflect the values of their district, and, if elected, that’s how I will vote.”

A Common Goal - Although each candidate has their own take on different issues, one issue all Republican candidates support involves regaining control of Congress. Many political analysts believe Republicans lost control of Congress not long after the historic Republican Majority in Congress in 1994 as Republicans began to lose sight of pure conservative values and stray from the moral principals that form the cornerstone of the Republican Party. According to Morris, the Republican Party defied its own philosophy by forgetting who it was and what it represented. “Republicans forgot to stop spending,” says Morris. “They forgot to be the beacon of individual accountability and instead defied their own philosophy of conservative reasoning.”

Says McConoughey: “One of the core values of the Republican Party is deciding how best to spend money. Republicans overspent. One of the things I think is amazing about how American government works and how we work for it is that you know when you’re doing the right thing. And the right thing is never straying from your core values.”

Schock quoted British historian Lord Acton: “I believe that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Schock continued: “What Republicans had in Congress was absolute power. As a result, Republicans lost their way and presided over the largest spending increases in history. The Republican Party needs members committed to conservative principals who will keep our moral standards high so our voices can be heard in Washington.”

Although the election will go to only one candidate, all will continue to work on behalf of our country’s best interest—whether at home or in Washington.

Doctors Terry Meridan and Jeffrey Chang, are area experts who determine and treat ailments like Thyroid disorders all day if office hours permit. The thyroid gland is the biggest gland in the neck. It is situated in the anterior (front) neck below the skin and muscle layers. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland and sits in the front middle section of your neck. The gland produces thyroid hormones, which regulate body metabolism. It controls important functions in your body such as growth, mental awareness, and how your body handles the break down of foods.

According to Chang, if thyroid problems are ignored or go untreated, an array of problems can and likely will occur. One of the problems is ovulation problems. Usually this problem occurs when the malfunctioning thyroid produces too much or too little hormone. If left untreated, thyroid problems can cause cancer to develop.

Thyroid cancer is rare, and occurs in less than 10% of thyroid nodules. You might have one or more thyroid nodules for several years before they are determined to be cancerous.

Meriden says that if there are suspected problems with the gland one should make an appointment to see a doctor. People who have received radiation treatment to the head and neck earlier in life, possibly as a remedy for acne, tend to have a higher-than-normal propensity for thyroid cancer.

Even though there are several problems which occur with abnormal thyroid problems, many things can be done to care for it. Both Doctors agree that one way to show a little love to your Thyroid is to get plenty of exercise.

“Exercise stimulates the Thyroid, making it work more effectively,” said Chang.

Chang also stressed that exercise alone cannot cure a thyroid ailment. However, activity can help with making all Thyroids, normal or abnormal run more smoothly.

The process of hormone synthesis begins in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). The TRH moves through the bloodstream to the pituitary gland, which is also in the brain. The pituitary gland releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood. The TSH then stimulates the thyroid to produce the two main thyroid hormones, L-thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland also needs adequate amounts of dietary iodine to be able to produce T4 and T3.

Another way to love your thyroid is to make sure to limit sugar intake. Sugar has few nutrients and is not healthy for the body.

Yet another way to love your thyroid is to be up to date and knowledgeable on various thyroid problems.

Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid is receiving too much thyroid hormone. Current methods used for treating a hyperthyroid patient are radioactive iodine, anti-thyroid drugs, or removal of a section of the thyroid. Each method has advantages and disadvantages and is selected for individual patients by their physician. Some times the situation will suggest that all three methods are appropriate, while other circumstances will dictate a single best therapeutic option. Surgery is the least common treatment for hyperthyroidism.

Hypothyroidism means too little thyroid hormone and is a common problem. In fact, hypothyroidism is often present for a number of years before diagnosed and treated. Some of the symptoms of this ailment is memory lose, dry skin and constant fatigue. Hypothyroidism can even be associated with pregnancy. Treatment for all types of hypothyroidism is usually straightforward.

Each individual patient will have any number of these symptoms which will vary with the severity of the thyroid hormone deficiency and the length of time the body has been deprived of the proper amount of hormone. Some patients will have one of these symptoms as their main complaint, while another will not have that problem at all and will be suffering from a different symptom. Most people will have a combination of a number of these symptoms. Rarely, some patients with hypothyroidism have no symptoms at all, or they are just so subtle that they go unnoticed.

Thyroiditis is an inflammatory process ongoing within the thyroid gland. Thyroiditis can present with a number of symptoms such as fever and pain, but it can also present as subtle findings of hypo or hyper-thyroidism. There are a number of causes, some more common than others.

With all this doom and gloom of conditions and side effects aside, there is a reassuring side to thyroid problems. Thyroid problems can be found with a simple blood test. Thyroid problems are usually treated with simple medication.

A physician will usually take a blood sample every month to make sure monitored hormone levels are sustained. After the blood has been analyzed, the physician will determine if any changes to medication is necessary.

Chang and Meriden both stress that if one has a thyroid problem and the condition is treated, that patients can live a normal, healthy life.

February is the month of hearts: candy hearts, valentine hearts, broken hearts. Perhaps this year, people should start to think about their own hearts. February is American Heart Month, an entire month devoted to education and awareness about the dangers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The term cardiovascular disease includes heart disease, stroke, heart failure, and other conditions related to the heart, and it is a lot more common than most people think. CVD has been the leading cause of death in the United States since 1900 (excluding the flu epidemic in 1918), and CVD caused 869,724 deaths in 2004, dropping from 911,163 people in 2003.

The good news is that the rate of death related to CVD is decreasing, but the bad news is women are unaware of the high risk of developing CVD. Due to lack of education and awareness, many women assume CVD is more common among men, and women need to worry more about other illnesses, like cancer. This could not be further from the truth.

One in three adult females have some form of CVD, and in 2004 (the latest available year for statistics) approximately 459,000 women died from CVD, accounting for almost 39% of all female deaths in the United States. The rate of death among women from CVD is greater than lung cancer and breast cancer combined, and more women than men die from a heart-related illness.

‘A woman’s age, sex, and hereditary conditions play a large role in the development of CVD. The risk of having a heart attack or stroke increases with age, especially among women. In addition, some families have a have a greater chance of developing CVD.

Fortunately, lifestyle changes can help decrease a woman’s chance of developing CVD. A healthy physical body is a very important to maintaining a healthy heart. Health risks include smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, physical inactivity, and excess weight.

Smoking is the most preventable cause of heart disease, especially among women. Approximately 20.9 million women smoke, making them two to three times more likely of developing CVD. Women who smoke and take oral contraceptives have an even higher risk of heart attack and stroke than non-smoking women who take oral contraceptives.

Both high cholesterol and high blood pressure also increases a woman’s risk of CVD. High levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) raise the risk of CVD, while high levels of the “good” cholesterol (HDL) decrease the risk. Overall, cholesterol levels of women tend to be higher than men starting at age 55. Developing high blood pressure increases for women who are pregnant, taking certain oral contraceptives, or have reached menopause. Also, African-American women tend to have higher blood pressure than Caucasian women.

A woman’s chance of having CVD increases with lack of physical activity. An inactive person is twice as likely as an active person to develop heart disease, and only 30.1% of Americans are light to moderately active for the recommended 30 minutes at least five days a week.

In addition to being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight is very important to a healthy heart. About 66% of adults are overweight and 31.4% are obese, and studies show that people with excess weight in their waists are more susceptible to health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and other CVDs. Eating foods with heart healthy nutrients, like Omega-3 fatty acids, may help reduce the risk of having a CVD.

Studies have shown that moderate drinking, one drink a day for women and two a day for men, may lower the risk of heart disease; however, excessive drinking may actually increase the risk of developing a CVD. Experts do not recommend non-drinkers to begin consuming alcohol, and pregnant women should also not drink.

A trusted doctor should also be included in preventative medicine against CVD. It is a good idea to have regular checkups, especially for high-risk people. The check up will allow your doctor to check cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and weight, as well as give helpful advice and dispense any needed medication.

To help educate the public on important information associated with CVD, like the facts above, and in celebration of American Heart Month, many cities throughout the country, including Chicago, are turning red during the month of February. Many buildings will turn red in Chicago, including: the Art Institute, Macy’s on State Street, and the Wrigley Building. Additionally, there are heart-centered events planned throughout the month.

In conjunction with American Heart Month and to help raise awareness about heart disease among women, February 2 is National Wear Red Day. National Wear Red Day gives people the opportunity to spread the word about the dangers of heart disease among women, as well as show support for a heart healthier lifestyle. The campaign encourages both men and women to include red in their outfit for the entire day.

The annual Go Red for Women luncheon is at the State Street Macy’s in Chicago on February 29. This half-day event features keynote speaker Gina R. Boswell, former senior vice president and chief operating officer of Avon North America, as well as educational workshops and health screenings. Registration for the event begins at 7:00 a.m., followed by numerous health exhibits and screening opportunities. There is a kick off breakfast and town hall meeting at 9:00 a.m., followed by cooking demonstrations and other heart-healthy workshops. The entire event culminates with lunch at noon.

Closer to home is the 2008 Peoria Heart and Stroke Ball, being held at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Ballroom on February 2. This is a black-tie event that features silent and live auctions, dinner, dancing, and cocktails. The ball raises money to fund research and education for the American Heart Association. Contributions raised at the ball will be used to fund research and education for the American Heart Association’s children initiative, which researches congenital heart defects and educates children on how to live heart healthier lifestyles. The event starts at 6:00 p.m., and corporate sponsorship and table packages are available.

For more information:

American Heart Month www.americanheart.org.

National Wear Red Day www.goredforwomen.org

Also contact your local physician for more information on how to maintain a healthy heart.

When Richard (Dick) Ingram began writing letters to his wife Doris in the ‘50’s, inaugurating a tradition was not his intention. His motivation was more basic. He needed an economical way to maintain contact with her while serving in the Enlisted Reserves. Phone calls were too expensive. He remembers, “I found it relaxing to write letters.” Doris was most appreciative of his efforts and enjoyed his letters, and wrote to him, but admits, “Letter writing wasn’t as memorable for me.” Dick returned home, becoming very involved in family life and his career as a teacher and coach at Limestone Community High School. The need for letter writing was satisfied.

The couple lived in Bartonville with their three children, Pam, Teresa, and Tim. Fast-forward and Pam leaves for college at Eastern Illinois University. Dad starts writing letters to his firstborn. The tradition begins.

Letter writing is typically a Sunday afternoon activity. A yellow lined legal pad is the stationery of choice. Words are written front and back on the paper in penmanship that mixes writing and printing. The format remains intact today, with letters mailed to his children and grandchildren and other relatives and friends.

Letter writing is a passé art,” says Dick, but he says it’s not difficult for him. “I look forward to it.” And the people he writes to look forward to receiving the letters.

“My Dad is a more traditional kind of man on the phone,” says Pam who lives in Maine. “But when he’s writing letters, he’s much wordier and writes in such a thoughtful way. His letters have always meant a lot to me. It’s so refreshing to read them.”

Dick admits he’s not a telephone talker. He visits with family when they call, but he’s more comfortable writing a letter. He’s quick to credit Doris with sending thoughtful cards and emails, neither of which are his style. Pam says, “I think email feels artificial to him.”He prefers to write his thoughts and comments, not type them.

Teresa says her collection of letters from her Dad is one of the things she would make certain she took from her house if she had to leave quickly. Like family photos, the letters are very precious to her. Her sons have saved their collection of letters from Grandpa and stored them safely in a trunk.

Tim, the youngest Ingram, lives in Maryland, and is quick to admit he’s not a letter writer. But his Dad’s efforts are much appreciated. He remembers his friends in college and those he served with in the Army when he was stationed in Europe found it special that he received a letter from his Dad each week. Tim’s wife Nina says they’ve saved some letters, especially those written after the birth of their children or around holiday times. She says, “We all look forward to the letters. It’s always the same size envelope that arrives and we know what it is!”

Dick says, “I’m not offended if someone doesn’t write back. There’s no expectation of getting something in return. I’d rather have a one-way communication than none at all.” And while he doesn’t try to convince others to write letters, he plans to continue sharing news in his familiar style.

His family says his letters have a certain pattern. They begin with commentary on the weather, details about what he and Doris are doing, and news about people in the area or about the kids his kids grew up with. “He’s still very connected to people,” says Pam, “and it’s neat to read all that he writes.” Tim says the letters are very consistent, and almost always arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. “It’s very rare he misses a week.”

If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, Dick Ingram, a retired teacher and Guidance Director, can be proud. His three children all have pursued careers in education and one of his grandsons recently left a remembrance for his mom on her bed, a handwritten letter. And the tradition continues.

Political campaigns always seem to bring out crazy things and even crazy people. I don’t mean crazy in the sense of mental instability, but crazy as in bizarre or weird. Remember Ross Perot and Admiral Stockdale? Then there was the Florida silliness over the ballot “chads.” Who can forget the national media predicting Al Gore would become President? Just a few examples of political craziness.

92nd DISTRICT HOUSE RACE

We’ve had some wild things on the local political scene as well. This year is no exception. Cindy Jenkins, the sister of Mayor Jim Ardis, announced she wanted to be the Republican candidate for Aaron Shock’s House seat in the 92nd District. After her name was officially printed on the February primary ballot, she quit. Enter Joan Krupa who quit as administrator of the Heartland Clinic. Krupa announced she wanted to take Cindy’s place even though Krupa’s name won’t be on the ballot. Strange. Stranger is the revelation Krupa selected a Democrat ballot after serving as a Republican on the County Board. Who does she think she is, Eldon Polhemus? I also learned Krupa has made contributions to Democrat candidates. Look for Republicans to lose that office come November. By the way, another rumor floating among local political observers is that Shock will resign his state office if he wins the Republican nomination for Congress. As the rumor goes, Krupa then would be appointed to serve until the General Election.

Personally, I don’t believe the rumor, but it is out there.

But don’t laugh Democrats. There’s craziness with supporters of the donkey symbol. County Board member Al Mayer reportedly talked political newcomer Jehan Gordon into running as the Democrat nominee for the 92nd District. After she agreed to run, Mayer decided to run against her. Crazy? Next we learned that Gordon lied about having a college degree. Give the newspaper credit for exposing the lie, but then new reporter Ed McMenamin excuses the lie in his Sunday, January 20 story, by saying, “But actually she is three hours shy of an official degree, she confirmed to the Journal Star on Thursday.” Pray tell, what is an “official” degree? Is there an unofficial degree? And I guess if you’re only three hours short of an “official degree,” it’s okay to lie and say you have a degree. This story puts the editorial staff in a dilemma. Who will they endorse? Will it be Mayer or Gordon?

RACE FOR LAHOOD’S SEAT

The three Republicans seeking the Washington D.C. seat of the retiring Ray LaHood have been campaigning furiously as the primary nears. All three performed quite well in the televised debates. Aaron Shock showed his legislative experience by appearing to be the most comfortable with challenging questions. WMBD-TV was first with the televised debates and Bob Larson, the Channel 31 news anchor, moderated the event with class, poise and without injecting his own politics. He wasn’t abrasive, sarcastic and didn’t continually interrupt any of the candidates.

A COUPLE OF PREDICTIONS

When the primary votes are counted, Shock will emerge as the winner in the Republican race for Congress. It will be close, but look for Jehan Gordon to defeat Mayer despite lying about her education. She will win primarily because the Democratic leadership in Peoria County is supporting her.

The same is true in the Democrat race for County auditor. Carol Van Winkle, who was appointed to the office, will defeat Kent Rotherham. That just might be another close contest in the Democratic primary. Meanwhile, Republicans will again choose to push for the re-election of Johnna Ingersoll as coroner. She’s opposed for the second time by George Blackburn, but Ingersoll should win.

STRAIGHT TALK NOTES

Congratulations to director of public relations, Chris Lofgren, of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. He retired after 22 years in that position. Knowing a little bit about hospital P.R., I can tell you Chris did an excellent job and was highly respected for his work. Chris is being replaced by WMBD-TV news anchor Amy Paul.

FIRST CHURCH GOES LEFT?

First United Methodist Church in downtown Peoria hosted a well known political leftist of the Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church based in Washington D.C. Jim Winkler, general secretary of the board, was the featured speaker at a so-called forum at the church, Friday evening, January 11. It was a carefully controlled forum for the controversial Winkler who has appeared in numerous protests and demonstrations against the Iraq War, Israel, and President Bush. Winkler has been an out-spoken critic of Caterpillar and is seeking to get United Methodist Church to sell its Caterpillar stock worth an estimated $5 million. Winkler doesn’t like the fact that Caterpillar sells equipment to Israel. That equipment, claims Winkler, has been used against Palestinians.

A lobbyist for the Methodist Church, Winkler’s views reflect the liberal faction of Methodism that’s running Washington D.C. offices. But that influence is rapidly declining like membership in Methodist churches. In the last 43 years, the Methodist Church has lost over three million members according to UM Action, a publication of the Institute on Religion & Democracy.

Winkler’s political effort to get the church to divest itself of Caterpillar stock will be decided in April at the General Conference to be held in Fort Worth, Texas. Winkler will fail.

LOCAL DEMOCRATS CAMPAIGN IN IOWA

Local Democrats were on the move. Former State Senator George Shadid, current State Senator Dave Koehler, and Billy Halstead, chairman of the Peoria County Democrat Central Committee, were working on behalf of Illinois Senator Barrack Obama in Iowa. All three traveled to Clinton and Davenport stumping for Senator Obama. They spent the better part of one day going door-to-door in Clinton, Shadid’s hometown. The next day they drove to Davenport. Now that’s commitment.

TOO MANY RESTAURANTS?

Two new eating establishments have opened on restaurant row in East Peoria along the Illinois River. Gosh, how many does that make around the Wal-Mart Super Center? In Peoria, three businesses have closed, two in the Metro Center. Mocha Joe’s and Leo’s Flowers have called it quits as did Fiesta Ranchero next to Landmark Recreation Center on Dries Lane. It was sad to see the end of Leo’s. Owners had hoped moving from Knoxville to the Metro Center would breathe new life to their flower business. It didn’t. How many readers can remember when Leo Walsh would stand on Knoxville handing out green carnations to motorists on St. Patrick’s Day? It was a memorable Peoria tradition.

TRADITIONS & HISTORY

Speaking of traditions and history, City Clerk Mary Haynes is busy working with a committee of folks seeking to develop historical displays for City Hall. Mary has written former city officials and/or their families to submit documents for use in what will be a rotating display of the city’s history of people and events. She envisions schools sending students to City Hall for a tour of Peoria’s history. Great idea, Mary.

TRUE PICTURE OF IRAQ

We’ve had some great guests on WOAM’s “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” about the war in Iraq. We featured weekly reports on the war effort from Lt. Colonel Bob Lickiss of Pekin. The former Tazewell County deputy sheriff was stationed just outside Iraq and handled the movement of troops going in and coming out of that country. After serving 15 months in Iraq, Sgt. Jason Adams, a Toulon native, told our listeners about his battle experience with the insurgents. He also made arrangements for us to talk by phone to his Iraqi interpreter in Baghdad. Amazingly, Adams was able to help Magid, his wife and three year old daughter leave Iraq. They now live in Toulon.

In January, our special guest was Lt. Colonel Steve Russell who commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry, in Iraq. He led patrols in and around Tikrit and also served in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Kosovo. And Colonel William (Bill) Robertson, who commands the Air Wing in Peoria, has flown in and out of Iraq. Peorian Mark Vonachen has also been a guest on our morning show after serving as crew chief on a Blackhawk helicopter. Stealing a line from a United Airlines commercial, Mark has “flown the(unfriendly) skies of Iraq.”

All of the guests made the same point in our conversations. That point was the U.S. military and the Coalition forces were winning the war and the success of that war effort was not being accurately reported by the national media. What in the world has happened to the media in America?

A recent poll by Sacred Heart University found that just 19.6% of those surveyed could say they believe all or most news media reporting. “The fact that an astonishing percentage of Americans see biases and partisanship in their mainstream news sources suggests an active and critical consumer of information in the U.S.,” said James Castonguay, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of Sacred Heart University’s Department of Media Studies and Digital Culture.

This same survey reported by a 4-to-one margin, Americans consider the New York Times and National Public Radio as mostly or somewhat liberal. No kidding. The survey covered all 50 states.

A BIT OF HUMOR

The story is supposed to be true. A local homeless vagrant was making his usual winter appearance before a judge at the Courthouse. Facing charges of disorderly conduct with a sentence to the warm and friendly confines of the County jail, the man was smiling and having a good time misbehaving in the Courtroom. The judge, growing angry, sternly told the vagrant, “Sir, if you keep misbehaving, I will find you not guilty.” The man quietly sat down.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Our happiness depends on the habit of mind we cultivate. So practice happy thinking every day.” — Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

It was 40 years ago when progressive Americans started to believe that they could change politics, but the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, the ostracism of Gene McCarthy and the “coronation” of centrist Hubert H. Humphrey showed that progressives shouldn’t expect to start at the top and work their way back to the grassroots.

That was clearer four years later when progressive George McGovern was successfully nominated but defeated by Richard Nixon in a landslide that showed a consequence of building political organizations from street level.

In Peoria, Central Illinois and the whole state, that wisdom is bearing fruit, as more progressives are organizing grassroots efforts, running for office, and serving.

Successes range from State Sen. Dave Koehler of Peoria (D-46th) to U.S. Rep. Phil Hare of Rock Island (D-17th Congressional Dist.), but action echoes throughout Illinois, from the Greens to the campaign for the 92nd House seat in the General Assembly.

Partly as a result of Rich Whitney’s campaign for Governor as the Greens’ candidate (he got more than 10% of the vote in 2006), the Green Party is a legally established, “viable” state political party in Illinois. Plus, membership has grown, with chapters in communities and campuses and dozens of Green Party candidates filing petitions to run for office — for Congress, the state legislature and county and local offices.

“This truly is a monumental moment for the Green Party,” says Walter Pituc, the Greens’ congressional campaign coordinator. “Previously, we’d only had one congressional candidate ever in Illinois Green Party history. This year, we had candidates file in nine districts. That’s pretty remarkable growth, and we’re only going to continue to grow beyond this election.”

The Green Party is having its national convention in Chicago in July.

Elsewhere, Illinois activists affiliated with Democracy for Illinois – a spinoff of Democracy for America, started by Howard Dean – total more than 600.

Meanwhile, Republicans’ ex-Majority Leader Dennis Hastert’s 14th District around Aurora has a strong progressive candidate in union carpenter and former Navy intelligence analyst John Laesch; the Cook County State’s Attorney’s race has progressive Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin running; the 26th House District on Chicago’s South Side has former Barack Obama aide Will Burns running; and in DuPage – too often dismissed as a GOP stronghold – “Turn DuPage Blue” is a new progressive group trying to revive that county’s Democratic Party.

Peoria’s Democratic Party has some slight discordance with Jehan Gordon and Allen Mayer competing to be Democrats’ candidate for the 92nd House seat, but both are decent public servants with progressive impulses. That’s a bright spot. Gordon is on the board at the Pleasant Hill School District and has the backing of some unions, including the UAW and the Laborers, plus Koehler, former State Sen. George Shadid and five members of the Peoria County Board. Mayer is on the Peoria County Board, where he led the fight to stop the landfill expansion, and is supported by the Sierra Club and other unions, including the Operating Engineers.

Regardless of the outcome of the Feb. 5 primary, their points of views are mostly progressive – as are most Americans’, no matter how they identify themselves.

Americans have moderate to progressive opinions on 10 key issues, according to a comprehensive report from Campaign for America’s Future, The Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America Is a Myth. Most people support progressive positions on organized labor, taxes, gays, foreign policy, guns, crime, the environment, energy, immigration and health care, the study shows.

Illinois is typical, too

“There’s a lot of progressive action going on in Illinois,” writes Irregular News, an organization that maintains online information on progressivism in all 50 states. “Illinois elected the great progressive hope for America, Barack Obama. There’s a reason Obama got elected – Illinois knows true vision when it sees it.”

Statewide, Illinois’ Congressional delegation has strong progressives, including Jan Schakowsky, Danny Davis, Bobby Rush, Luis Gutierrez, Rahm Emanuel, Jerry Costello and Hare. But Democrats don’t yet have a candidate running for retiring U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood’s open seat after ex-Bradley basketball coach Dick Versace dropped out in December.

“We reach out to possible candidates all the time,” said Peoria County Democratic chairman Billy Halstead, who’s expected help pick a candidate after the primary. “We get people involved at the grassroots, knocking on doors, putting up signs – finding out what campaigning is all about. Some respond, like Jehan Gordon, and some don’t.

“It’s like when my son said he’d like to run a restaurant some day,” Halstead continued. “I said, ‘Great! Let’s see if you can get a job as a busboy and see the whole operation from the ground up’.” There’s a lot of potential for more success in Central Illinois, he added.

“Steve Waterworth ran against LaHood and – with almost no resources – got 33% of the vote,” Halstead said. “In 2000, Joyce Harant challenged him and got 33% of the vote. So there’s a core that’ll support us. We have to win those independent-minded swing voters.”

Peoria-area Democrats get help from the state and national party for get-out-the-vote efforts and for Congressional races, Halstead said. To reform government will take finding and developing candidates and relying on old-fashioned organizing.

“We’re not like a lot of Republicans, who have a lot of money and own their own businesses and grow up with silver spoons in their mouths,” he said. “We’re regular people and have to work hard at the street level.”

Throughout Illinois, progressives have hope.

“With all this grassroots activity this election season, the progressive tide is rising once again, much as it did in the 1960s and ‘70s,” said Dick Simpson, chair of the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois/Chicago.

See the Democracy for Illinois web site at www.dfalink.com/illinois

See the Illinois Green Party web site at http://ilgp.org/

For progressive news and analysis, see http://www.irregularnews.com/

For the report: Progressive majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth, go to http://mediamatters.org/progmaj/

Bill Knight is an award-winning journalist who teaches at Western Illinois University. Contact him at bill.knight@hotmail.com.

It turned out to be a very snowy game, making the stadium seem like one of those glass balls you shake and watch the “snow” come down covering whatever is in the globe… which in this case was over 72 thousand of us crowded into Lambeau Field. My daughter, Sarah, and I had been in Green Bay to witness the playoff game between the Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. It was a beautiful setting and a picturesque playoff party (thanks to a Packer victory).

While in the area we did a little sightseeing. The deal was, I could do some birding and Sarah could do some shopping. Winter is an excellent time to be in Northeast Wisconsin. Arctic birds are plentiful, from snow buntings along country roads to several species of diving ducks wintering near the shore of Lake Michigan.

Near Manitowoc, a hooded merganser didn’t care about Seattle’s Seahawks or Green Bay’s Packers. It was nonchalantly swimming around in sub-freezing temperatures, diving under water, and coming up with fish. Just looking at him through binoculars made me cold. To him, I was just an insignificant and extraneous part of his environment.

To the Arctic ducks, whether Green Bay made it to the Super Bowl was completely irrelevant. If you are a merganser, human activities are unimportant… or are they? While it’s amazing how nonexistent our struggles seem to a surf scoter, what’s far more amazing is how very important we’ve actually become in the lives of wildlife throughout this entire planet, and not in a positive way.

Our impact, for example, upon Earth’s atmosphere has been staggering. This is, in fact, most noticeable in the Arctic where melt is proceeding at a faster than expected pace. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the atmosphere contained about 275 parts per million of carbon. Today that number has gone up by over a third. There are now 383 parts per million of carbon. That’s across the entire planet! That amount continues to rise as we raze forests and burn more and more fossils. In just a couple short centuries, we humans have made such a vast change to the planet that it’s beginning to appear that we are throwing the system off kilter. What is alarming is the brief amount of time it’s taken us to impact the atmosphere to such a degree.

The top six carbon pollution sources are as follows:

• 8.4 percent: fossil ‘fuel’ retrieval, processing, and distribution.
• 9.1 percent: land use and biomass burning, for fuel and cropland clearing.
• 12.9 percent: Residential and commercial.
• 19.2 percent: transportation fuels; gasoline and diesel.
• 20.6 percent: industrial processes.
• 29.5 percent: electric generating stations (mostly coal fired). These are the biggest single polluters. If we are to have a meaningful impact on global warming it should start here.

The problem is dramatically illustrated if you ever have the opportunity to approach Denver from the west on I 70 at night. The entire valley laid out at the foot of the front range is flooded with light, looking like a gigantic smoldering fire. Here in central Illinois, trainloads of coal stream in continuously to feed the power plants that line the Illinois River. But as we’re beginning to realize, our ability to light up our world at night comes at a great cost. Motel 6 may just have to stop saying, “we’ll leave the light on for you.”

We had found another good reason to modify our electricity consuming habits lying sprawled on a Lake Michigan beach. It was a very large and very dead salmon. In the words of the Munchkin undertaker, he was not just merely dead, but really most sincerely dead. Since it’s a top predator, it’s flesh is so contaminated by mercury, fisherman are warned to limit how much of it they consume, due to health concerns. As a kid, growing up along the shores of this “Shining Big Sea Water,” it seemed far too vast for us to be able to pollute.

The contamination of fish, around the world, and the huge jump in atmospheric carbon are linked. Coal-fired power plants are partly to blame. We are releasing carbon and other materials that have been locked up in coal and oil for hundreds of millions of years.

For the mergansers and scoters, we’ve become a bigger and bigger presence in their world. The fish they catch are now tainted with mercury. Their nesting areas to the north are increasingly impacted by the warming of the planet. Permafrost is melting, wetlands are changing, weather patterns are modifying, and who knows what other changes are in store for these migratory birds? One thing is certain, it won’t be good.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. It’s been argued about, denied, and ignored. Two of the most difficult things in the current presidential campaign is getting candidates to address the issue, and getting journalists to challenge them to talk about what they would do about it as president. We simply can’t continue to go on as we’ve been doing. The challenge of global warming is unprecedented.

In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”

We have to depend on what Lincoln called the “better angels of our nature,” and change our ways. To have the largest impact on atmospheric carbon, priority should be placed upon the largest sources. It will be necessary, for example, to take a close look at power generation, and to become much more conservative in our use of electricity. The same is true for the types of vehicles we drive and the amount of fuel we consume.

Our aim should be to restore a world in which mergansers will be able to continue to ignore us for millennia to come.

The United Nations negotiated at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 the ultimate aim: “….. to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations …at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system ….. within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner.”

Much like baseball managers, city managers are hired to be fired. But unlike baseball managers, who often lose their jobs when expensive free agents hired by the owners, city managers are dismissed for reasons that often are not apparent. If the team’s losing and their play is stinking up the place, there’s no hiding that fact. In city government, however, there are conflicts behind the scenes that sometimes don’t play out on the public access cameras. This is the case here in Peoria. Peoria City Manager Randy Oliver has tendered his resignation, but is going to stick around a month to provide some guidance to the interim city manager, whoever that is. As of this writing, the council took a straw vote in an executive session and decided to make an offer to someone who is, apparently, outside city government. The name of this person will be revealed only after details of the contract are agreed upon by all parties. The council will have to schedule a vote in an special meeting before it’s official.

There’s been some squawking on blogs and the Journal Star Website about why Oliver is getting about $132.000 in severance pay. Apparently, this is appropriate under his contract, which says he’s due severance if he resigns after being asked to by a majority of the council.
Did that happen?

I do not know. And THAT is what makes this an unusual event. Officially, employment decisions are supposed to be kept confidential. But in the recent past, these discussions usually showed up in the media a day later. One of the council members — or perhaps a city employee — would go the media and try to derail consensus decisions with their one-sided account of events. It is a testament to this current council under Mayor Jim Ardis’ leadership that this isn’t happening.

Because of this silence, I have no idea which six or more of the eleven council members no longer support him. It needs to be stated that the city manager of a city the size of Peoria is essentially the CEO of a multi-million corporation with hundreds of employees. This is NOT a 9-5 job, and anyone willing to take the job without protection in the form of a decent severance package is no one you would want to hire anyway.

I’ve heard comments comparing Oliver to Kay Royster, who continued to collect her $184,800 annual salary for the 11 months remaining on her contract after she was ousted as superintendent of Peoria School District 150. For one thing, Oliver’s severance is spelled out in his contract. Oliver didn’t openly disrespect board members by encouraging members of the community to disrupt city council meetings. Oliver isn’t leaving the city in financial tatters. If anything, he argued most recently for less spending that the council ended up putting in the budget. And Royster waited out all 11 months on her contract before she took a new job. Oliver is a finalist for a county administrator job in Florida, and if he doesn’t get that job, I’m willing to bet it won’t take him 11 months to find a new one. And he’s not going to sue the city for discrimination.
I’ve always found Randy Oliver to be a very personable man who did his job in a very professional manner. Unlike with previous managers, I never got the idea that the fix was in, namely that items were brought before the council with knowledge beforehand that there were six votes in favor. Oliver presented the council with what he or his staff thought the best course of action. While he argued in favor of that action, he presented multiple sides to issues, and adapted as best as possible when directed to do otherwise. From his pained facial expressions, I sometimes got the idea he wished council members would just hush up and take his advice. I have sometimes shared that sentiment.

He was a fast learner. I was often impressed with the knowledge the non-Illinois native had about policies and policies and procedures here in Illinois.
On a personal level, I’ll miss having him around. Oliver went out of his way to make sure I and other “citizen journalists” got the answers to the questions we asked. When a suggestion was made that wireless Internet access in the council chambers would help all members of the press file our stories, Oliver took charge and made sure access was available.

One knock against Oliver is that he didn’t direct staff very well, and was slow to recognize problems with their work. The recent health insurance contracts are examples. Most members of the council were shocked that staff recommended contracts that would have cost the city $1.2 million a year over the next three years. Council members had to pry bits and pieces of information from Parsons and a consultant to get the figures that essentially confirmed their suspicions that the staff was overlooking key details so that the council would approve the health plan the employees preferred, not the one that saved taxpayers the most money. Parsons resigned under pressure, and there were those on the council grumbling that Oliver bore some of the blame.

I think whatever community ends up hiring Oliver will be glad they did. But that’s not to say I’m critical of the decision to ask him to leave. It’s the job of the city manager to live up to the expectations of the city council. If that wasn’t happening, it was time for Randy Oliver to leave. As a professional public servant, Oliver knows this very well.

Victory on the East Bluff

Peoria School District 150 will build a new East Bluff “birth-through-8th-grade” school on the site of the current Glen Oak School. The exact configuration has not been determined.

It is, obviously, a huge victory for the people who live in and near the East Bluff who fought for this outcome from the very instant years ago when District 150 announced it had made a deals with the Peoria Park District and the Peoria Housing Authority that would lead to building this school inside Glen Oak Park.

Residents correctly recognized that by moving the neighborhood school onto the other side of Prospect and essentially out of the neighborhood, the entire East Bluff would be destabilized. It would create vacant shell of a building in the heart of the East Bluff, to both symbolize and perpetuate the decay.

Instead, the East Bluff is getting a brand new school that can serve as a center of activity for everyone.

I’m waiting to find out how much the City of Peoria had to kick in to sweeten the pot for District 150 to make what should have been a no-brainer of a decision. It matters not. Whether it’s federal dollars or city-generated property taxes, it’s ALL taxpayer money, and building a school is as essential a government service as it gets.

But the East Bluff residents cannot let up on District 150. The exact design of this new site has not been determined. Vigilance is needed to ensure that accommodations are made within the design to make sure this is building is available for use by the community year round and after classes are dismissed. Policies MUST be put into place to make sure the doors are not locked when neighbors want to use the facilities for events that promote healthy neighborhoods. Vague assurances and good intentions are NOT enough.

Moving on up

I’m the Peoria Pundit again. Actually, “Peoria Pundit” is the name of my blog, not me. And there were those who questioned my right to use that name when I moved out of the city several years ago. My defense was that I still had a Peoria mailing address and that I was a still a resident of Peoria County. The words were hollow to me even then. I knew that I lost the moral right to complain about the state if the city was I wasn’t a resident. But I put on a straight face and kept at it.

Well, I’m back. I’ve rented a nice apartment in a historic home on North East Randolph. Not only am I a resident of the city, I’m a resident of the West Bluff, and even more specifically, I’m a resident of what is one of the most politically active neighborhoods in Peoria. Technically, as a renter, I do not quality for membership in the Randolph-Roanoke Residential Association, And even if I did qualify, I probably couldn’t afford the dues. But I’ve been told that I am welcome at meetings, as long as I understand my role would be to “work” on behalf of the neighborhood.

Yeah. Sure. Considering some of the legendary posts I’ve made about some of my new neighbors, I wonder how welcome I would be.

I already have a few gripes. I have to pay $10 per year for the right to park on my own street. I gather this is to keep the riff-raff out and make sure that only the people who live here have access to limited parking spaces. It also puts the kibosh on the bacchania I had planned for ever other Saturday (NOTE TO LANDLORD: Just kidding).

It looked like a box of chocolates. A fancy ribbon held the contents secure but the receiver was hesitant to open the unexpected gift and gently pushed it aside. It was three days before Christmas 2007 and although I was the one who delivered the box, I was not the one who packed it.

The receiver, Lois Johnson, was the author of the book that was hidden inside the box. I called her that morning to ask if I could come over to get her signature on some paperwork related to her copyright, so she was expecting me. She wasn’t expecting me to bring a gift, thus her hesitancy to open it in front of me.

I didn’t catch on that the reason she didn’t want to open my ‘gift’ was because she didn’t have one for me, so I prodded her to open the box. Her daughter, Jackie, also goaded Lois into opening it. It was all just a fun way Jackie and I cooked up to surprise Lois with the first copy of her new book.

As much as I wanted to see Lois’ face when she first set eyes on her new book, I too couldn’t wait for that box to open. You see, I’m the co-author and this is the first printed book with my name on the cover. Naturally, you can see that I really wanted that box to open!

The author’s free copies had arrived at Jackie’s house the night before so in the morning, she called me and we created this unique way to surprise Lois. Jackie had an empty box of chocolates and said she would put one book inside, wrap it with a ribbon and leave it on the front seat of her car. She would arrive before me and I would grab it from Jackie’s car and present it to Lois as a Christmas gift before discussing paperwork. It all worked fine, after some coaxing.

Lois was indeed surprised to hold her book in her hands, but for some reason she put it right back in the box, I’m guessing because she didn’t realize that it was real. We quietly told her to look at her book and gingerly she picked it up again. She seemed confused as to why it came in a chocolate box and it took some time to convince her that it wasn’t a conspiracy. When all was clear, we autographed a copy to each other and one for Jackie, dedicated the book to God through prayer, then took care of the copyright paperwork for the Library of Congress.

My visit ended up being several hours and after Jackie left, Lois and I sat in awe of all that went in to writing her story. Four years in the making! Within those four years we had both suffered unexpected, severe medical challenges along with many other circumstances that threatened to bring the work to a halt. But we kept plugging away and there we were, holding our newborn baby.

We marveled at the cover and spine and flipped the pages, turning it around and around until tears swelled up in our eyes. Together we bowed our heads and thanked God for all he did to bring this dream to fruition and for all he planned to do in the lives of its readers through the message within its pages.

You see, the story is about her son, Gary Johnson, who drowned in the lake pictured on the cover. It was Lake Santa Fe in Germantown Hills that claimed Gary’s life. He was a star athlete at Metamora High School in 1976 and his sudden death shook the community. Lois purposed in her heart to write about her son’s life to bring hope to those who lose children to sudden death. She also felt that teens should make sure they know where they are going after they die and so she began typing her story. Thirty years later, her daughter Linda, my personal friend, recommended my writing services to make that happen.

For me, it is more than just my name on the cover. As the ‘ghostwriter’ of this incredible story, I became the mother whose son was suddenly yanked from her life. I was in the lake drowning, struggling for air. I was on the beach with those who watched a beloved friend and neighbor disappear from sight. I walked into the home of a mourning family surrounded by friends and family as their hearts broke into pieces; I was there through the long years as those pieces were put back together.

I never thought my writing career would lead me down this path, but telling Lois’ story was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had in my career. I can only imagine what the Disciples of Jesus must have felt writing their accounts of his birth, life and death.

How do you capture a life on paper? How does one reveal the essence of a human being in mere words? I see the answer in the Bible. Through dozens of ghostwriters, God captured the story of his son on paper and protected it through centuries from libel, copyright infringement and sheer annihilation. His son’s story will never go out of print - and it can never be contained in a box.