Rhonda Silence starnews@boreal.org | July 24, 2010
It is hard to believe that the citizens of Minnesota will be voting in the primary election in just over two weeks. If you are like me, you are probably trying to decide whom to vote for—especially for county commissioner. I live in commissioner district 3—the one with seven candidates to pick from. Having a lot of choice is a... READ MORE >
Rhonda Silence starnews@boreal.org | July 10, 2010
Three years ago I sadly wrote a column reporting the disappearance of my favorite pair of flip-flops. Yes, it was silly to waste newspaper ink to talk about summer footwear, but these were a very special pair of flip-flops. They were made of a harder rubber than the usual flip-flop. They had a neat flower pattern on the sole. They... READ MORE >
Rhonda Silence starnews@boreal.org | July 03, 2010
I have a little memory test for long-time readers of Unorganized Territory. What happened to my pretty pink flip-flops three years ago, in July 2007? I’m sure there are a few people who are already jumping up and down, yelling, “I remember! I remember! Wasn’t that weird?” And I’m just as sure that there are a number of others who... READ MORE >
Rhonda Silence starnews@boreal.org | June 26, 2010
From the first days of the now infamous Deepwater Horizon oil rig fire and subsequent never-ending oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, I have been wishing that there was really a hero like John Wayne’s character in the 1968 movie Hellfighters. I like just about all of John Wayne’s movies, but next to McLintock, Hellfighters is my favorite. I... READ MORE >
Rhonda Silence starnews@boreal.org | June 19, 2010
The rain garden on the Cook County courthouse lawn has been the center of controversy in recent weeks and we’ve had a few complaints about the Cook County News-Herald coverage of the complaints about the rain garden. There were objections that we sensationalized the public reaction at the Memorial Day ceremony. I believe that any of the hundred-plus people in... READ MORE >
Rhonda Silence starnews@boreal.org | June 05, 2010
I have really enjoyed the months and weeks leading up to graduation, with our photos and little interviews with the members of the Class of 2010. I am amazed that these kids are old enough to be graduating. I remember when they were “Paddling to the Sea” at North House in third grade or graduating from DARE in fifth grade... READ MORE >
I love that my job as editor of the Cook County News-Herald brings such an assortment of activities. It is never, ever, boring. I never know what to expect. One minute I’m having a quiet interview with a new business owner or an interesting senior citizen—the next I’m dashing off to try to get a picture of an unusual bird... READ MORE >
In January 2009, then- County Engineer Shae Kosmalski introduced a plan to the Cook County commissioners to use federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funding to install streetlights at a number of intersections throughout Cook County. The plan was to erect city-like lighting at six locations—four along Highway 61 where it intersects with the Cramer Road in Schroeder, the Sawbill... READ MORE >
The educational institutions in our society are ever changing. We’ve gone from tiny one-room schoolhouses to massive brick structures with gymnasiums and lunchrooms; from strictly structured study halls to modular scheduling to on-line self-study. But one thing never seems to change— our schools never seem to have enough money. One of the latest proposals to save money for School District... READ MORE >
This week’s paper includes our spring Home Improvement special section. We always have fun putting it together. Whenever our home improvement issue comes around—in the spring and the fall—I stop and think about the projects that have been done by my family. Not by me. I will do just about anything to get out of any form of construction and... READ MORE >
