The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
Preserving more than nature
Carol Stream residents Kim and Rick Gieser have hiked in 50 DuPage County forest preserves during the pandemic. Their mission to reconnect with nature reminds us that exercise is a good way to alleviate the stay-at-home doldrums. Our county forest districts are preserving not only the splendor of the outdoors, but also our mental health.
Just imagine Tatis on the South Side
Yes, the Cubs will always have Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio to live down. But they don't appear to be alone. The White Sox are now living through Fernando Tatis Jr. for James Shields.
The Big 99
Happy birthday to Dick Duchossois, chairman emeritus of Arlington Park, who turned 99 this week. In tribute, 99 personal, police, fire and public works vehicles from local municipalities paraded past his Barrington Hills home. He remains a local legend and suburban treasure as he heads toward the century mark. Enjoy the celebration, Mr. D.
How cool is this?
When Scotty Miller graduated from Barrington High School in 2015, everyone knew he was a good football player. He ended up being a sixth-round draft choice out of Bowling Green State. A few short years later Miller has become one of the NFL's top receivers, and he's catching footballs in Tampa Bay from Tom Brady. Doesn't get much cooler than that.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." -- actor and singer Judy Garland
Big Event for Mental Health
Saturday, Oct. 10, is World Mental Health Day. And with the isolation and stress that so many have been feeling during the pandemic, the World Health Organization is hosting its first three-hour global online advocacy event featuring mental health advocates and celebrity performers starting at 9 a.m. on the WHO's social media channels. Tune in - it could do a world of good.
Putting a face on reform
There's a lot of talk these days about criminal justice reform, but sometimes that's a vague concept without clear objectives. Not so in Kane County, where Sheriff Ron Hain's addiction recovery pod and "A Sheriff and His Inmates" podcast seem to be getting results. Great to see such innovation at work.
Some may 'think twice'
What kind of results? Says one inmate, "(The correctional unit) is like prison, and that breeds prison. This (the recovery pod) breeds a more rational thinking process." And, he says, that may make inmates "think twice" about doing things that may land them back in jail.
And, for crime victims ...
On the other side of law enforcement, that of victims, state police working with three area lawmakers have introduced a tracking system called CheckPoint that lets survivors of sexual assault track the progress of evidence in their case. It can't undo their pain, but, as one of the lawmakers said, it may strengthen them "to continue moving forward."