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Dear Editor,
I have always trusted Editors for the truth and professional judgment; as valuable as a trusted confidant is an honest editor.
Wednesday, January 26, 2022, my younger son was involved in a crisis at the group home for the Developmentally Disabled where he has resided. Early that morning I was asked not to contact any source of media regarding this crisis. When I arrived home Wednesday evening, I received from my older son a text message showing a sensational by line and negative photo of my younger son aired by WAND TV of Decatur, Illinois. There was also a web site posted which aired comments from the group home staff regarding my younger son. There was no balance, no background, no form of appropriate investigative reporting.
No one from WAND had taken time to speak with me or my older son regarding my younger son.
No one had questioned: my younger son, since Saturday, January 22 hd been verbally communicating his changing mood, thoughts, spitting out his medication, earnestly expressing his fears that he might harm himself or others. No one questioned the response of the staff, the requests from family that this potential for crisis be thwarted by contacting the psychiatrist, a blood draw test levels and hospitalization. My son, we were advised, was not causing any problems, was interacting appropriately with staff and other residents and that they were administering medications. I visited my younger son on Sunday, January 24. His depressed state of mind and emotion was very obvious. He reiterated his fears of having a breakdown and being sent to am mental institution. Yet, staff was only advised by superiors to “watch” him. I was again reassured he was not being a problem, but in fact on who was always compliant and when workshop was in session, he was the first one up, dressed, and ready to go to work without prompts. Sunday evening when I phone staff I was again assured of this and told what Sunday afternoon a house staff had taken him to shop at a nearby Dollar Tree Store. His calls and texts to his brother and myself continued throughout Monday and Tuesday. Now we are faced with a tragedy that could have been thwarted and avoided. My son had been leading a successful residency at the group home, all of his home visits had been positive. Now, what future do we face? How many tragedies have to take place before Illinois promotes proper training, Developmental training, Workshops, trained staffing and community integration programs essential to our progress and the needs of a growing population with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Illness?
My younger son originated this quote during 2021: “Life is not a puzzle, it is a mystery to be lived.”
What is the mystery of Mental Health that Illinois and the media nether realize nor reckon with?
To the general public, please, no more inquiring texts, phone calls, ect. Most needed and appreciated is prayer.
Thank you.
Linda Hagood, Taylorville, Illinois
Dear Editor,
When is enough enough? How many Americans must die, before President Biden does something?
We have and apparently continue to give President Biden and his administration a bye on the southern border! With the exception of a few conservative news outlets, the main stream media is ignoring this treasonous intentional inaction!
Again only focusing on one specific area of the southern border…illegal drugs, primarily fentanyl. Although I could talk about others such as; human trafficking, health and humanitarian issues, the financial impacts of an open border, but no I’ll focus on one issue today.
So President Biden and his administration has completely mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic, but at least they tried to do “something”. Well something turned out to be bad most of the time, but give them credit for trying. On the other hand they have did nothing but tear down successful systems and processes that President Trump put in place on the southern border, to protect America and it’s citizens.
Let’s look at some statistics: Between 2020-2021, current government estimates that over 79,000 Americans between the ages of 17-45 died of fentanyl overdoses. During that same two year period, 53,000 Americans died of COVID-19. Now consider what Biden and his Administration have done combatting COVID-19 compared with Fentanyl. Hundreds of billions of dollars, mandates, and lockdowns compared with a few billion dollars, no mandates and definitely no lockdowns!
Time to hold President Biden, his Administration and enablers, including Illinois’ two self serving millionaire hypocrite senators Durbin and Duckworth! By the way, Governor Pritzker is mum on this issue as well! It is past time for responsible, patriotic, common sense Americans in Washington and Springfield!
Eric Murray, Pawnee, IL
Dear Editor,
Illinois’ clean energy bill, the Energy Transaction Act (PA 102-0662), signed into law in September, 2021 granted Grain Belt Express the ability to construct high voltage direct current transmission lines in Illinois using the right of eminent domain.
While the proposed project has plans to build overhead transmission lines which are unsightly to the citizens, disruptive to the farmers, wildlife/animal migration patterns and inherently subjected to routine maintenance and weather related issues, there are alternatives available.
One alternative is to build/bury the transmission lines along the right of way of public highways. Route 36 which crosses Illinois from east to west is one such possibility. The State would then receive any payments that the company intended to pay related to this project which would help reduce the State’s outstanding debt.
Another alternative is to bury the transmission lines along the proposed routes. In fact, Invenergy the ultimate parent of Grain Belt is already engaged in such a project in the State of New York – Clean Path NY.
There is another proposed HVDC project in Northern Illinois, Soo Green RR, which outlines their plans to bury their transmission lines next to railroad lines. You may view the four minute video at this address
The law requires that Grain Belt Express hold 3 meetings in each county affected to receive public comment concerning the project. These meetings are to begin in February.
We urge you to let Grain Belt Express know that you favor the alternative options to the overhead transmission lines.
David Buckman, President, Block Grain Belt Express Illinois
