Saturday Soapbox

A glimmer of hope:

We ended the week with a report that joblessness in Illinois climbed to 7 percent in December. We began the week with announcements that thousands more workers would be facing layoffs. Between those reports came news that a grocery store chain is planning to take over the former Lattof Chevrolet property in Arlington Heights and open up later this year. With this economy, it sure is nice to read something positive for a change - however small it may be.

A turn for the worse:

We are all for photo-enforced red lights if it will curb the scary sight of motorists hitting the gas instead of the brakes upon seeing yellow. But after the report about Schaumburg's one intersection where cameras are in place we are starting to wonder. A whopping 98 percent of 7,000 violations in a six-week period were for failing to stop completely on a right turn on red? Maybe there is something to this being a moneymaker rather than a safety issue after all.

Impressive turnout:

Hundreds of suburban residents filed petitions this week to run for public office April 7 when we choose city, school, township, park, library and fire board leaders. At a time when many face personal economic and job stress, we're impressed so many are willing to work to make our communities better. We look forward to meeting you all.

Six degrees of Chicago:

Sure seems like all roads go through Chicago in the NFL. And why not, since George "Papa Bear" Halas helped carry the league in its early days. The latest entry is Rex Ryan, the Stevenson High graduate and son of former Bears defensive coach Buddy Ryan. Rex also added former Bears defensive back Doug Plank to his coaching crew. With ex-Bears coaches or players Dick Jauron in Buffalo, Jeff Fisher in Tennessee, and Mike Singletary in San Francisco, there's also Marmion's Brad Childress directing Minnesota and Naperville's Sean Payton at New Orleans. Head coaches (John Harbaugh at Baltimore and Norv Turner at San Diego) have brothers who played or coached with the Bears. Maybe someday the Super Bowl can go through Chicago again.

Congrats Rockne:

A round of applause for Algonquin's Rockne Brubaker, who won the pairs title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Cleveland. With partner Keauna McLaughlin, Brubaker successfully defended the title won last year. As exciting as that was, Brubaker found time to pay tribute to his mom, Monica, flashing a T-shirt with "Happy B-Day Mom" on its front. Makes all those trips to the rink worthwhile, doesn't it, Mom?

There's a time to laugh. It's not now:

Some in the entertainment world remarked that the Illinois governor likely didn't do much to aid either his political or criminal plight on his media tour, but noted he did show a sense of humor. He also showed excellent judgment when he refused Joy Behar on the View. After telling Blagojevich she heard he does a great impersonation of Richard Nixon, she asked him for one, "I am not a crook." For Illinois, this is no joke. The business of the state is serious, as our crumbling roads, ailing schools and thousands of unemployed families can loudly attest. The tenure of Gov. Blagojevich is behind us. But for him and the state, it's actually quite sad.