It was in 1945 that Lily’s father decided that migrant labor habits would keep his family from gaining roots and his kids from going to the same school with the same friends. He decided to live in one place like a normal family. That was when Natalia, Texas lost a family and Rochelle gained one. Lily was only seven when her family came to Rochelle. Because she spoke English, she spent much of the rest of her life helping other families trying to make the change from a migrant life to a more permanent existence in a new community. 

We Americans see ourselves as a deeply-divided nation. 81% of respondents said so in a recent survey by the polling company, Ipsos (April 29, 2024). This election’s heated language and prophesies about the death of democracy reflect that belief.

We are always discussing Amendment II to the United States Constitution and the right to bear arms.  Especially, after horrific events take place like the recent school shooting in Winder, Georgia.  There are, of course, too many of these shootings and something must be done to prevent them.  The discussion, therefore, centers around how to restrict the ability of these shooters to obtain guns.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. During this month, prevention organizations, survivors, mental health advocates, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention and awareness.

We had a fabulous summer at the library!  The last few months have flown by and now everyone is back in school.  We will be jumping into fall programming starting this month.

The talk of the college football world this week? Northern Illinois University, of course.

This letter is in response to the article by Reed Harris in the Rochelle News-Leader on Aug. 27, 2024, entitled “Consider this: Only with Democracy can we be free.” Mr. Harris (no relation to the current Democrat presidential candidate) states, “I was a Republican,” suggesting that he is no longer a Republican. He states, “Only with Democracy can we be equal.” His support for democracy is commendable, and I also endorse democracy. However, let’s look at how we arrived with the current Democrat ticket.

Streaking through summer and just a few weeks away from Fall. Seems as I get older it takes me longer to do things but there’s less time to do ‘em in. Not sure my internal clock has caught up with real time yet.

On Aug. 26, 2024, Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Facebook) sent a letter to the House of Representatives, essentially justifying (apologizing?) for left-leaning bias in Facebook that had affected the last presidential election. He states that the Biden Administration “repeatedly pressured our team” to censor certain COVID-19 content they disagreed with. Such content included the origin of COVID being from the Wuhan Laboratory in Central China, the funding of dangerous virus research by the CDC, etc. Zuckerberg states in the letter that this pressure from the Biden Administration was wrong, that Facebook should not have censored this information, and that “we’re ready to push back if something like this happens again.”

Just a few weeks away from clicking the ol’ age counter up to 67. The other night I was sitting at home pondering over things and suddenly realized I’ve spent over half my life in Ogle County. Not too shabby for a kid who grew up in central Illinois and tended to migrate more to the south growing up.

Land, water, air and space transportation systems all consist of three main components: (1) vehicles, which enclose and protect the operators, cargo, and onboard navigation and control components, (2) Support structures, which are buildings used to service and maintain the entire system, and (3) pathways, which provide feasible travel routes for vehicles.

Labor Day began as a federal holiday to honor our nation’s workers and to remember those in the labor movement who came to their defense over a century ago. They demanded that workers’ economic contributions be recognized, and that people had safe workplaces, received fair wages and had opportunities to succeed. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland took an important step and declared the first Monday in every September since to be Labor Day. 

Many years ago, I was a Republican.  At the time, I didn’t agree with many of the Democratic Party’s policies.  Yet, I didn’t hate them, nor do I remember any members of either party developing any commercials, nor giving any speeches to tear down the other party or totally trash another opponent as is being done today. 

This Labor Day is a celebration of our country’s growing embrace of a new face of leadership and opportunity. In our politics, a minority woman leads a presidential ticket for the first time. And on the frontlines of our labor movement, the “toolbelt generation” has tremendous room for growth led by women and minorities.

George Henze was born in a log cabin, actually he was the second child delivered in the cabin. The year was 1869, just four years after the Village of Lane changed her name to Rochelle. The cabin had been built initially by John Randall in 1837 and was the first permanent house built in today’s Rochelle. The Henzes built a modern home at 105 S. Main St. just north of the cabin which was removed in 1888.

In most of the nation, all you need to do is to step outside to feel one of the deadliest hazards: extreme heat. So far in 2024, the dangers of heat illness have killed 34 workers nationally both indoors and out.

Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center has served children and teens affected by child abuse and violent crimes in Ogle and Lee Counties since 2002. 

Trade, it’s something we’ve all done in our lives. I remember as a kid trading baseball cards, marbles or anything else you had as value that you could transform into new riches. And as often the case sometimes both parties won, sometimes on party lost; it’s how the game gets played.

International Overdose Awareness Day, Aug. 31, is the most extensive annual campaign to end overdose. The campaign raises awareness of overdose, which has impacted every community. Too many families have lost loved ones, but this campaign and others like it can save lives.

Crops are growing and I’m sure plenty of farmers out there are looking for a good yield. Only a few months away from harvest with combines running in full gear and grain bins filling up.

Last Tuesday I received a text from someone with a first name only.  Later I received a phone call from the same person.  Since there was no last name, and no links to an internet site.  This appeared to be a scam.  None-the-less, what the text said was very interesting. 

This summer has been a very busy time for our team at the City of Rochelle.  Various projects are either underway or will be by September.  

Environmental challenges have always driven innovation and advancement in agriculture.

Both sides in this presidential election proclaim that it’s a battle for the survival of democracy. In that case, we need to be clear about what American democracy is. It’s not just that the people vote. There are also safeguards against the abuse of power by the government, or by the people themselves.

The library has had a great summer! Read, Renew, Repeat! We will have our End of Summer Reading Celebration on Friday, Aug. 9 from noon to 2:30 p.m.