The Soapbox
Baby steps:
With more than 6,000 units of government, Illinois easily has the most taxing bodies of any state in the nation. DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin launched a crusade two years ago to start whittling away at that number. So far, he has dissolved a fire protection and a sanitary district. It's a start.
Where appropriate:
Cronin plans next week to ask state legislators to acknowledge that the size, scope and cost of local government can overburden taxpayers. In that resolution, lawmakers also would pledge to consolidate or eliminate units where appropriate. How hard can that be?
A silver lining for Cougars:
While storm clouds rolled through the night, the Kane County Cougars were fortunate to finish their home opener Thursday night in Geneva. Despite the 7-2 loss, Cougars fans have a lot to celebrate this season with the team's 25th anniversary. It should be a fun year.
How did he do that?:
When it comes to NCAA basketball, Sam Holtz seems like a wizard. The Hawthorn Woods 12-year-old bested 11.5 million entries in ESPN's online contest. He's too young for the top prize, but when Best Buy stepped in, he asked for two Xbox One video game systems, one of which he'll give to charity. He's a bracketologist and a good kid.
Chasing the green jacket:
In that vein, watching Wheaton's Kevin Streelman win the Par 3 contest at the Masters Tournament was great, but it wasn't all. He made the day for a 13-year-old boy from Make A Wish who caddied for him. Streelman would look great in a green jacket. He already looks sharp wearing his heart of gold.
Never too many farmers markets:
Congratulations to Des Plaines on bringing back the farmers market this summer after seven years. Now it'll be up to local residents to support it.
Right place, right time:
Imagine driving down Milwaukee Avenue in Prospect Heights and seeing a crying 3-year-old girl walking along the roadway, all alone. We don't know who stopped to help in a case last week, but kudos to them for not just dialing 911 and continuing on their way.
Slow down;
Many of us drive over the posted limit on occasion, but at some places, we all need to drive well under the limit. As in the heavily populated shopping district at Algonquin and Busse roads in Mount Prospect where people, often with young kids in tow, regularly jaywalk despite the 45 MPH posted speed and four deaths in the past year.
Heroin roundtable:
U.S. Rep. Robert Dold will join Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim, Sheriff Mark Curran and others Monday in Mundelein for a roundtable discussion on anti-heroin initiatives locally and in Congress. The program takes place from 11 a.m. to noon at the Mundelein Police Station. It's a critical topic in the suburbs.
Election hangover?
Meanwhile, we're guessing you're sick and tired of elections right now, but, sorry. Even though the votes haven't even been canvassed yet from Tuesday's local election, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Thursday aired a radio ad attacking Dold, whose seat won't be up for another 19 months. Here we go again. Already.