Soapbox: Stevsenson debate team's glory days
A familiar refrain is that high school athletics get all the glory while other equally valuable extracurricular activities are ignored by the media. Debate teams usually fall into that category. But not this time. Stevenson High School's 15-member debate team is king of the hill after recently earning the distinction of "best in the nation" in a contest often dominated by East Coast prep schools. The Lincolnshire school defeated 118 high schools in the 17th annual Harvard National Congress competition. It is considered the top debate competition in the nation. If that isn't enough, senior Jordan Stone, 18, of Buffalo Grove, was ranked the top debater of the tournament. Teammates Brad Diatt and Ari Kasper were also named among the highest scorers in preliminary rounds. No other school had three students reach the final round. Congratulations.
Time to talk
It's hard to believe Island Lake and Northern Moraine Wastewater Reclamation District officials can't find a way to get a short stretch of road plowed. The district and the village have been at odds over a variety of issues for some time now. But it appears the straw breaking the camel's back is village Trustee Don Saville's objection to the village clearing snow from Timber Trail, a 1,000-foot private road leading to a district facility. Technically, Saville is right that the district is responsible for plowing the road. By adding that road to its snowplow route, the village has been doing the district a kindness. But now the district is preparing to de-annex from the village over this issue. That likely means thousands of dollars in legal fees, a mountain of paperwork and untold hours of valuable time that could be spent on other issues. All over less than two-tenths of a mile of road? There must be a better solution.
It's a start
Big Hollow Elementary District 38 finds itself in a rare position for a school district: holding $10 million and not exactly sure how to spend it. Three weeks after voters approved a tax hike so District 38 could obtain the cash bonds, they demanded answers. On Monday, they got them. While district officials are still unable to pinpoint exactly what the money will be used for, the school board spent nearly two hours going over a detailed spending plan. It includes hiring up to 31 teachers to reduce class size and bringing back music, art and computer programs cut earlier this year. In coming weeks, parents will be asked through an online survey to prioritize their wish list of where the money should go. The board will take action on those suggestions in May. While that might not be enough answers for some, it's a good start.
Who is he kidding?
Gov. Rod Blagojevich keeps saying he isn't "Public Official A" in the Antoin "Tony" Rezko contractor-kickbacks-to-campaign-funds trial. But the judge in the federal trial, Amy St. Eve, says "Public Official A" is indeed the Illinois governor, though she says he wasn't necessarily aware of Rezko's activities. The media have also said that "Public Official A" is Blagojevich. The governor can insist he's done nothing wrong; he's not been charged with any crime. But as far as not being "Public Official A?" Give up the delusion, governor.
When the Bulls weren't bad
In March of 1998, Michael Jordan was named NBA Player of the Month in averaging a league-leading 28.9 points per game, according to the NBA. The 1997-1998 season also saw the Bulls winning another NBA championship. At the start of this March, the Bulls are a losing team without a superstar. Fans have to be aching for a return to glory every time they walk past that statue of Jordan outside the United Center.