Soapbox: On unsafe ground
O'Hare may have a leg up in the safety game thanks to a new ground radar system, one of only 10 in the nation, but a scathing U.S. General Accounting Office report to Congress said there's a good chance "a catastrophic runway collision" could happen at the nation's airports due to poor technology, lack of controller manpower and lousy leadership. O'Hare has had three serious close calls in just over a year and several less serious. Worse, the GAO said, "no single office is taking charge of assessing the causes of runway safety problems and taking the steps needed ... ." Lack of leadership from government. What a shock.
Tales from the front (of the store)
Ringing the Salvation Army bell one evening this week at the Des Plaines Kmart on Oakton Street, we decided to determine whether more people drop money into the bucket on their way into the store or on their way out. Turns out it's not even close: In one hour, one person contributed as she walked into the store; 38 gave as they were leaving. Do people just need time to think about it? Maybe it's privacy -- here at the Soapbox we prefer to open our wallets and purses in private, put the money in our pocket and drop it in the bucket as we pass it on the way out.
That was a nice thing he did
Four Chicago area girls who just love Miley Cyrus are going to be in Hannah Montana heaven today. Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens has secured the four of them tickets for the 14-year-old Cyrus' "Best of Both Worlds" concert tour at the Allstate Arena. Stephens, who became mayor after his legendary father, Don, died of cancer in April, was touched by a request from the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation to find tickets for the four young cancer patients. He and his staff found the tickets, plus arranged a limo ride to the concert and a "meet and greet" for the girls with the Jonas Brothers, the opening act. For the record, tickets to Cyrus's concert were sold out in minutes, but lucky for the girls, Rosemont owns the Allstate Arena.
They're putting their dreams on ice
It's always good to see somebody who doesn't allow a disability to get in the way of a passion. But when that passion is ice hockey? Mount Prospect's J.J. O'Connor says yes, even when that passion is ice hockey. He's a big part of the Amateur Hockey Association disabled players division and organizer of the recent Midwest Adult Sled Hockey tournament in West Dundee. Players on aluminum sleds used shortened sticks with metal picks to get around on the ice. Thing is, O'Connor, paralyzed at 16 while playing hockey, can't participate himself -- his thrill comes in watching others do what they enjoy. Now that's passion on another level.
New academy support?
Despite the fanfare with which they were created, Elgin School District U-46's high school gifted academies have always been sort of the district stepchildren. Gifted programs get no state or federal funding; thus, they are first on the chopping block when money gets tight. An audit showed just that -- the five programs have suffered since the budget was whacked in response to deficits a few years back. And unqualified students have been admitted to reach class size targets. Now U-46 intends to rejuvenate what remain pretty unique programs. Good investment.
Sensitivity training for all
It's hard to believe in this day and age that a manager of a major restaurant chain would turn away a disabled girl, her family and her help dog. And on her birthday in the middle of an ice storm no less. Glad the restaurant apologized and is getting this employee some training. Here's hoping we can quit writing these kinds of stories in 2008.