Soapbox: Tragedy to hope
Tragedy to hope
The tragedy of Oct. 27, when a double-decker trailer carrying 59 horses overturned near Wadsworth, won't soon fade from the memory of those who were there. But some of the pain is being eased knowing the surviving 41 draft horses are on their way to new homes. This week, the Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society of Barrington oversaw the adoption of the first 10 animals from a farm in Wadsworth. In all, HARPS received more than 250 adoption requests, some from as far away as Sweden. Donna Ewing, president of HARPS, said she and her group are "heartened by the outpouring of offers from so many excellent homes." We look forward to seeing the remaining horses adopted in coming weeks.
This should be good
Lake Zurich and Carmel, one a defending state runner-up, the other a 2003 state champion. This season, the two squads have a combined won-loss record of 21-3. And tonight, these two schools will meet on a football field for the first time ever, even though the schools are only a relative hop, skip and jump across the county from one another. The winning team will advance to the state 7A title game at the University of Illinois next week; the losing team will have had a great season but still will regret having to call it a year. For high school sports fans, this is one not to be missed.
This is why we sign donor cards
Still have this Wednesday's Daily Herald in your home? Dig it out. Look at the front-page photo. Really study the expression of joy and relief on the face of 18-year-old Corinne Roche. Then read the story, with its quotes from the 18-year-old Batavia resident about how her life has changed in the weeks since getting a kidney transplant for which she waited four long years. Finally, try to come up with one plausible reason for not registering with the state of Illinois as an organ donor.
Beyond braggin' rights
For the first time in 43 years, today's game between Northwestern and Illinois will mean something to both teams. The winner moves up the bowl bid ladder. The last time both teams had winning records coming into the game was 1964 when someone named Dick Butkus roamed the sidelines in the Big Ten. All over the state, colleges and universities are battling for postseason play. Kudos to Southern Illinois (9-1) and Eastern Illinois (7-3) for being among the best in their divisions.
Christmas in November
We knew Thanksgiving was early this year, but Santa's arrival at Woodfield on Thursday and Randhurst on Friday caught us a little off guard. Actually, it shouldn't have. He arrived Nov. 9 at the Deer Park Town Center.
Piece of history saved
The wooden Viking ship that sailed from Norway to Chicago for the 1893 Columbian Exposition and long was displayed in Lincoln Park won new life this week. The decaying ship, pieces of which are in the Museum of Science and Industry, now sits under a canopy in Good Templar Park in Geneva. It has won a $52,000 reprieve from the Partners in Preservation Program. The ship, a reminder that Viking Leif Erikson journeyed to the New World 500 years before Columbus, will get a fix-up and a new storage facility. And a tiny piece of history will be saved. Better yet, it'll be saved without taxpayer money.
Happy Thanksgiving
In the spirit of the original celebration -- a meal of thanks shared with family and friends -- Soapbox wishes you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving.