Letter Policy

Letters Policy

 

taylorvilledailynews.com welcomes letters to the editor, as a way we can let our readers and listeners sound off on the issues most important to them. If you wish to submit a letter, please note the following guidelines:

 

  • All letters should be no more than 500 words in length, and should include the writer's name, address and phone number. We will not publish street address, e-mail address or phone number; rather, we reserve the right to contact writers to determine their validity.
  • Letters must be submitted electronically in Word doc or text format; no hand-written letters are accepted.
  • If the editor comments about a letter, the reader may respond with at least as many words as were used by the editor. We would like to stimulate a sincere dialogue.
  • All letters become property of Miller Communications, Inc., and are subject to editing for length, content, grammar, punctuation at the editor's discretion.
  • Material that may libel or slander an individual or group will neither be accepted nor posted.
  • All letters must be e-mail'ed to editorial@randyradio.com to ensure your message is received, please include "Letter to the Editor" in the subject line.


                                                                   We look forward to hearing from you.

Letters

Station Editorial: Stop California Emissions Regulations From Being Illinois Law

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted March 7, 2024

 

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

A news release came across my e-mail from the Illinois Corn Growers Association that I took note of.   On February 22nd, Illinois state lawmakers tried hitting the gas to incorporate California’s extreme vehicle emissions standards into the Midwest.

HB1634 allows California to govern Illinois Vehicle Code and would essentially require 35% of new light duty vehicles including cars, SUV’s and pick-up trucks sold must be electric by 2026. By 2035, 100% must be electric.

The bill also mandates 75% of all new heavy- duty truck sales and 40% of class 7 and 8 tractor sales must be zero emission by 2035, and requires new trucks sold to be zero emission starting in 2036. Requires used trucks owned by medium and large fleets also be zero emission by 2042.

Illinois Corn Growers Association President Dave Rylander was quoted as saying if this bill passes, it will have drastic impacts on agriculture, trucking and transportation industries, and also open the door for more aggressive regulations without the voter’s consent in the future.

I can’t believe that in one of the largest corn producing and ethanol producing states in the nation, a bill like this would even see the light of day.

But, some Chicago Democrats that don’t understand agriculture or anything south of Interstate 80, are pushing this and introduced the bill in the first place.

The Corn Growers are trying to stop this bill before it ever gets a hearing, and they need YOUR help.   Please click HERE to voice your concern with HB1634.  

Please take the time to respond NOW before this bill gets any further.   Its passage will mean higher prices for our vehicles, higher costs for agriculture, trucking and transportation, which means even MORE inflation put on our backs.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio-dot-com.

Station Editorial: Illegal Immigrants Attack 2 NYPD Officers; We Live Like This

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted February 8, 2024

 

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

The dis-respect for the rule of law among those who are citizens of this country, is bad enough.   But for dozens of illegal immigrants who are being housed as sanctuary citizens in New York City, to beat 1 city police officers January 27th, is beyond belief.

According to CBS News, as the NYPD continues its search for six more suspects, pressure is mounting to deport the asylum seekers accused of attacking officers in Times Square.

The NYPD says of the dozen migrants involved in attack on January 27th, six are still wanted. Six were arrested, but only one is in jail; the rest were released.

On February First,  scores of Midtown South police officers were in the courtroom when a judge ordered one of those arrested, held on $15,000 bail for second-degree assault and obstructing governmental administration. The Manhattan District Attorney says he's the man accused of starting the fight. Police say they identified him by the tattoo on his neck.

In court, he was wearing a shirt that said, "Work hard. Be kind."

The head of the police union asked why 4 of the attackers were released on their own recognizance.  

New York Governor Kathy Hochul reiterated calls to deport them, quoting the Governor:    "Get them all and send them back. You don't touch our police officers. You don't touch anybody," she said.

When are we as a people, going to begin respecting the rule of law, and those whose job it is to enforce the law?   It goes back to what I’ve been saying for months.   It seems what was wrong is now right.   

A democracy can’t live like this.   Human beings created by God can’t live like this.   Something’s gotta change.   Inside of each one of us.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com. 

Station Editorial: The Pendulum Is Swinging

STATION EDITORIAL

 

Posted December 26, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.

I think I shared with you in this space a few months ago, how a friend told me his philosophy of the world as it's playing out:  Since we've conquered about everything that was thought to be impossible 100, 50, 25, or even 10 years ago, we have nothing left to fix or solve.   As a result, my friend says, we've gone to thiking today that what was wrong is now right.

Take the case of of Hamas' attack on Israel in October.   The United States has been a long-time ally of Israel, but sadly much of the sentiment in this country has been it's the Palestinians who have been wronged despite the horrible atrocities Hamas had inflicted on Israeli hostages.   Hamas has showed pictures of dragging or beheading babies and children.

And, this is supposed to be right?

Major U-S university presidents were grilled by Congress earlier in December on the fact demonstrations supporting the Palestinians have broken out on their campuses.  And what did they do?   Support such demonstrations under the guise of free speech.

I go back to what I said at the start of this editorial.  So, what's wrong is now right?   Evil is now good?

But, there IS hope.  A colleague of mine forwarded an article by marketing guru Roy Williams who read the book Don Quixote, written in 1605.  Williams extracts from the book, that civilization has lived in 40 year pendulums from good to evil, and back to good.  Williams' opinion is that we've had 40 years of evil, and that 2024 will be the year that pendulum swings back to starting towards good again.  I hope he's right.

That's our opinion.  We welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Letter to the Editor: Take Your Mental Health Seriously

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted December 15, 2023

 

Dear Editor:


Many people underestimate the impact that mental illness can have on an individual or family. It can be difficult to admit that you have a mental health problem in your life. Secondly, it can be just as difficult in getting the people you know to understand your situation without making any kinds of judgments. 

As a result, here are six reasons why you should make your mental health an important priority in your life.

1. Your situation will improve if you get help: Your anxieties and fears can be challenging to manage and more than likely you will need some help. Just as you talk to your doctor about your regular health, you should not be hesitant in seeking help for your mental health. If left untreated, your anxieties and fears may not go away.

2. Drugs and alcohol are not the answer: Drugs and alcohol can make your problems more complicated. Many people have said that drugs and alcohol will only add more problems to your situation. Be smart and learn how to cope with your mental health issues by talking to a qualified professional. There are many health professionals in your area that can give you some ideas on where you can go for assistance.

3. You will save time and money:  Eventually, you will have to confront your fears and mental health issues. Save yourself the time and heartache and confront your problems now rather than later. You will save months of struggling by getting help right away. The sooner you get assistance the faster you will start getting some relief.

4. You are not alone: Everyone deals with fear, stress, and anxiety in one’s life whether your friends and others care to admit it. In addition, do not be embarrassed that you are getting help. We all learn new things from others on a daily basis and learning how to manage your anxieties is no different. In addition, your goal is to get your life back on track and not to get everyone’s approval. If people start asking you questions, just say your dealing with stress. Most people can relate to dealing with stress and anxiety!

5. Do not make the mistake of doing nothing: There are many people who struggled with anxiety and other mental health related issues, and they tried to ignore their problems. As a result, some of these people struggled on a daily basis and eventually things became more difficult. It can be scary asking for assistance, but the key is to take things one day at a time.

6. You have a variety of options: There are many mental health support groups, organizations, and counselors in your area that can help get your life back on track. Talk to your doctor to get more details on where you can go for some assistance. Help is available but you must be willing to make the choice of getting better. Remember that every problem has a solution. You just have to make the effort to find the answers.

 

Stan Popovich

Carnegie, PA

 

Station Editorial: It's Time to Say "Thank You!"

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted October 20, 2023

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.   Well, there's a chill in the air, the leaves are turning colors, and that means we're headed for the holiday season.

As we pause to reflect on 2023 and look ahead to a new year, it's time to say thank you.   Thank you to our thousands of listeners across Central Illinois that rely on our on-air and on-line platforms to get their information and entertainment every day.

Thank you to our many advertisers in both our Taylorville and Clinton markets, that see the value we bring to them in delivering customers to them on-air and on-line.

And, most of all, we thank God for the opportunity of serving you every day, 7 days a week.

We've been honored to serve our Taylorville, Pana and Shelbyville area folks for 31 years come December First.

And, we just passed the 16th anniversary of our acqusition of our Clinton media platforms.

We've continued to invest back into our communities by providing news, local sports, and more ways that local businesses can deliver their message to prospective customers.   Our new digital electronic sign went on-line in Taylorville in August providing advertisers another way of promoting their brand.  Our newest station 965thechill.com in Taylorville just celebrated its first anniversary in August, providing on-air and streaming platforms with cool hits from the 50's thru the 80's for businesses to reach the 50 and over demographic.  And, we have plans in the works to begin a new WTIM Morning Show every Monday from Pana; this in addition to our WTIM Morning Show originated from Shelbyville every Friday and from our Taylorville studios other days of the week.

As I tell my staff every day, we're here to serve, and our goal as we head towards the end of 2023 and begin 2024, is to continue to do that, constantly improving what we do for you along the way.  

On behalf of myself, my staff and family, THANK YOU for allowing us to serve you and we look forward to doing the same in 2024.

Letter to the Editor Responding to Station Editorial

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted September 27, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

This letter is in response to Randy Miller’s editorial “Spending Our Way to Oblivion”. I agree that spending is out of control; however, I would like to point out some important facts he omitted.


First, Randy referred to a lack of self-control by government bodies at the state and federal levels. He left out the city, township, and county bodies we as taxpayers should be able to hold accountable to a greater degree. For example, Taylorville doubled water rates over 4 years to build a new water plant, gave the water superintendent a $15,000 salary (a 23% increase) in 2020 and 2021 (which assuredly increased his annual pension), and for some reason allows take-home vehicles for employees who live as little as 2 miles from the water plant. I have seen at least one fire dept. employee using his TFD SUV for personal use.

 

As for the county, the sheriff is paid $155,000/year despite the fact he receives an ISP pension of $101,724.36/year, $12,000 more than his salary before retiring due to 3% annual increases. He has already collected $1,000,000+ in pension benefits and will receive a county pension when he is no longer sheriff.


As for the state, you refer to the public pension debt ($4.4 billion per the Illinois Policy Institute) due to legislators purposely underfunding pensions. Yet, the Illinois Policy Institute also reports that teachers in 2/3 of the school districts in the state do not contribute the full “employee share” (9.4 % of their salaries) towards their pensions. The taxpayers in those districts are responsible for the difference. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/teachers-pensions-whos-really-paying/


The big issue with pensions is the fact they are defined benefit plans. Whereas the Average Joe sticks his money in a 401K and prays he doesn’t lose his principal, a government worker gets a guaranteed amount no matter what happens in the stock market. State employees who contributed under $400,000 to their pensions are collecting over $5,000,000 in benefits over their lifetime. https://www.illinoispolicy.org/illinois-pension-bonanza-invest-166k-take-home-5-5m/


If the state were to actually fully fund pensions, could you imagine our taxes? Since fiscal year 2000, there has been almost an 600% increase in pension spending which has been accompanied by a 20% cut in spending on core services like higher education, public safety, public health programs, and what many consider vital services for the poor and vulnerable.

 

The only true answer to the Illinois pension crisis is passing a constitutional amendment which would allow the state to modify future benefits while protecting benefits that pension recipients have already earned. Keep in mind, I am using the terminology from the Illinois Policy Institute as I do not see how anyone can say they earned a $5,000,000 pension on an investment of $400,000 when one considers even an average annual rate of return of 15%.


Lastly, I acknowledge Covid spending may have gotten out of hand; nevertheless, when you lost loved ones to Covid prior to the availability of a vaccine, it changes one’s mind on the need to spend that money.

 

Sincerely,

Evan Mahan

Taylorville, IL

 

Station Editorial: Spending Our Way to Oblivion

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted September 4, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.  Myself and many others have long lamented about the lack of self-control in government spending on both the state and federal levels, no matter what party is in power.   

Seems like those running Illinois' checkbook just keep taxing us to fund what they think the priorities are but many times they aren't what Joe and Nancy Lunchbucket want.  What looms in Springfield is the public pension debt which according to the illinoispolicy.org web site, is now 4-point-4 billion because legislators are supposedly underfunding that pension fund on purpose.

And, on the federal level, politicians think they have an open-ended credit card and as a result the country now has a debt the legislators claim is only 32-trillion, but according to the web site "truthinaccounting.org" where the national debt tally shows by the second, the true U-S debt is closer to 159-trillion dollars.   That's just short of one MILLION for each U-S taxpayer.

The sad part about all this, is that spending both in Illinois and in Washington is in the "runaway" category with no signs of ending.

The U-S government is the biggest borrower in the country.   Can you imagine what the true interest rate you and I pay to borrow, would be, if our country didn't have to make principal and interest payments on that 159-trillion dollar debt?

This issue doesn't make the headlines because frankly politicians want to ignore it.  Passing out money, whether it's COVID funding or pork projects, get them re-elected.   It's like being on an addictive drug.  Once you've tasted the candy, you don't want to stop.

With an election year looming next year, it's time you and I start asking the question to whoever runs for any office:   What are you going to do about the out of control government spending, whether in Springfield or Washington?   If they give you a gobbly-gook answer, you know they're either not going to answer the question, or do nothing about it.
And, that unfunded state pension obligation, and the national debt clock, both continue to roll on.   That's our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Letter to the Editor on Green Energy Projects in Christian County

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Posted August 10, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

Over the past few years, Christian County has been inundated with requests to approve “Green Energy” projects incentivized by the federal government and even further incentivized by our Illinois government led by Democratic governor Pritzker.  Wind, solar and carbon sequestration along with their supporting infrastructure of electric transmission lines, pipelines and even batteries all have their place in our nations economy, but I believe approval of these technologies should be based on what is best for our county district constituents and Christian County residents.

 

These projects will change the use of the land for the first time in history.  This argument is not a new one, as it is discussed passionately whenever a city or a town grows to accommodate their growing population.  What is different about this conversation, is that we are being asked to take our land to fuel others luxuries (electricity), possibly at that expense of our own necessities (food).  Any project that changes the use of land in our County must be scrutinized to make certain that the rights of one landowner do not adversely affect the rights of area land owners and county residents. 

 

I ask my fellow County Board members and County residents to consider the following factors.  
Comprehensive County Zoning Plan  I believe our County is in desperate need of a plan that will look at the “ten thousand foot” view and identify the resources in our county and the best way to utilize to the benefit of the County, Illinois and US citizens, in that order.  If the currently labeled “green energy” projects are all necessary for the survival of the human race, how do we choose which one is best for our residents. 

 

Do we want wind turbines dotting the landscape, solar panels covering all our soil, carbon injected into the rock beneath our homes?  Can we have all of them?  If not, how much of each and where?  Careful planning should balance the individual property rights of landowners while maintaining the rural landscape and culture that so many of our county residents enjoy.  Maybe even entice a few more to join our community.  


Economic Effect:  The goal for most projects is to earn income for the owner.  In the process, the project creates local permanent jobs, produces energy, manufactures goods or provides services for residents and consumers.  A project that results in long term growth for our county will balance these factors in reasonable proportion.  A project that produces goods or energy that is sold out of the county can still be good for the residents if it provides a significant number of local permanent jobs. 

 

However, a project whose product is used outside the county, provides minimal jobs, and only tax revenue as the economic benefit, favors the project owner more than the county residents.   Tax revenue should be an organic by-product to offset the County resources used by the project, not a profit center for the taxing body. 

 

A Comprehensive Zoning Plan would have zoning and economic development agencies working together to use our “Green Energy” (wind, solar, carbon, crops) for projects that would provide goods (manufacturing, consumer energy, grain, oil, ect.) and services (retail,transportation, ect), local jobs and therefore local growing economy.  If the solar or wind electricity generating installations provided reduced electric rates for our residents, or supported a Clean Energy manufacturing plant, the conversation around these projects would be much different. 

 

This not an “If you build it, they will come!” scenario (borrowing a cliché from the Field of Dreams movie).  The current projects reality is that “If you build it they will Leave!” and use our Illinois produced energy anywhere in the MISO electric grid from Canada to Lousiana.  


Neighbor and Resident Acceptance:  Projects that benefit a few but affect many, will continue to divide our communities.  Acceptance rate of 50 percent or less within a project footprint is an indication of the divisiveness of the project.  If those neighboring landowners who could have benefitted economically from a project did not sign up for the project, it is in the best interest of the county board members to understand why.  


Thank you for your careful consideration.

 

Ken Franklin
District 2 Christian County Board Member

Unsung Heroes at Local Fairs

EDITORIAL written 7/27/23

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.   

Our local county, 4-H, junior, and livestock fairs around Central Illinois have been in full swing this summer.

Our announcers have traveled to many of these fairs interviewing 4-H'ers and adults that have shown their cattle, pigs, rabbits, chickens, and culinary exhibits, that they've put hundreds of hours of work into.

One of the greatest pleasures I have as a radio station owner, is to hear these interviews and the passion these kids and adults put into their animals and projects.   You can sense it just from how they shared how they turned their animal or exhibit into something they were proud to show at their Fair.

There's another group of people that are quite literally the unsung heroes of all the Fairs we broadcast from each summer.   That's the HUNDREDS of Fair board members and volunteers all over Central Illinois, that do the work most people DON'T see, to get their Fairgrounds ready for the animals and exhibits to show up.

That work is YEAR-round, but especially in the days before and during a Fair.   You'll see them working in the barns, or on the grounds, or making sure an event goes off without a hitch.

That includes all the livestock shows, the pageants, the auctions, the pulls, and the Demo Derbys.

It takes HUNDREDS of people that volunteer their time, to make the Fairs in Central Illinois, some of the BEST in the state.

So, if you know of someone who's involved in one of the Fairs you attend, shoot them an e-mail, text or phone call, and let them know they are APPRECIATED.  They quite literally are the unsung heroes of our Central Illinois fairs.

We are grateful for their commitment and passion to keep our fairs going and thriving across our coverage areas.   Thank you Fair volunteers, and know that we all APPRECIATE what you do!

That's our opinion, we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Station Editorial: Indecision and The Gaping Hole at Taylorville High School

STATION EDITORIAL

 

Posted July 12, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

With much fanfare, the Taylorville School Board almost a year ago announced to the community their intent to tear down the East Gym at the high school, along with the adjacent former Junior High School, to build a new fine arts performance center.  The initial plans called for the building to cost some 16-million dollars.   The board then worked to cut the price by cutting features.

There was a lot of chatter in the community about what was going to be built and what it would cost.   Those in support of some type of field house addition to the fine arts center contended that due to the tearing down of the East Gym, a field house was needed.

Other needs expressed included mental health classrooms.

Since that time, a lot has happened, including a school board election.  Several board members that were instrumental in getting the project to nailing down what it would be and what it would cost, are no longer on the board.

The board went ahead and voted to tear down the East Gym and old Junior High School, without deciding on WHAT exactly was going to be built, or its cost.

Further discussion in the July Eleventh board meeting, again ended with the board appointing a focus group to decide what direction to go.   This is after the previous board that made the decision to build, did the same thing leading up to the plans the architects provided them nearly a year ago.

The longer they delay a decision, the more whatever they decide to build, will cost.    In the meantime, the gaping hole in the main high school structure, is there for all to drive by and say:   Why did they do that?

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Station Editorial: Time Markers

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted June 17, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.  I had a couple of time markers take place the weekend of June 16th and 17th.

The first was not expected, when I was honored to receive the "Community Impact Award" at the Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet June 16th, for my 30 years of service to the Taylorville community.   It was one of the rare times in my life, I was speechless.   Found out later that several members of my staff, as well as several community leaders, nominated me for this honor.

As I've said before in this space, I thank God every day for bringing my family and I to Taylorville over 30 years ago, to provide local radio service to Taylorville and a 6-county area.  It's been and continues to be a privilege to serve our listeners and advertisers in Taylorville, Pana, my hometown of Shelbyville, as well as Nokomis, Hillsboro, and many other towns and villages that count on our 6 Taylorville-based radio stations and our on-line daily newspaper taylorvilledailynews-dot-com for information and entertainment.

The 2nd of the 2 time markers that weekend, took place June 17th, when my wife Cathy and I hosted my 50th Anniversary in Radio show on the WTIM platforms.   We reminisced thru 50 years of history on both sides of the microphone, starting at my first part-time job at the former WSHY AM and FM in Shelbyville the first Saturday of June 1973.  That history took us and our listeners thru my years in many communities where I worked, then towns where I built or bought radio stations.  The most fun of the 50th Anniversary show, was playing audio clips from our 3 daughters Michelle, Ramey, and Sheri, and listening to them as they literally grew up on the radio.

I am blessed to be still be doing what I love, 50 years later.   Not many people can say that.  

As I look ahead, I hope to continue to be serving all of you for years to come in providing the local news, agriculture information, sports play by play, and entertainment, on our 6 stations serving 6 counties in south central Illinois.

That's our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is:   editorial@randyradio.com.

Letter to the Editor:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Posted June 2, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

Getting along with others, midway or anyway, is obviously a difficult hurdle since the TDN Editorial was posted.  Not many responses to that can of worms which is another historical lesson being challenged in our 21st Century. The Melting Pot of American citizenship is foaming over with diversity adnauseam!  I could not resist a line from the 1950s TV Rawhide Theme Song; “Keep movin’, movin’, movin’, Though they’re disapprovin’, Keep them dogies movin’, Rawhide”.  

 

Our culture has sifted through herd-mentality (legal immigration versus illegal migrunts) into herd-immunity (Corona Pandemonium) and is now knee deep in herd-stupidity (Woke and assorted nonsense ideas)!  Follow the crowd and go with the flow seems so relevant but leads where?  Since the middle of the 20th Century We the herd have been steadily brainwashed with anti-American behavior and convictions.

 

Herd-mentality can be advantageous when driven by herd drivers (drovers) with a common purpose, such as delivering herds of cattle to market and food production.  We-the-herd can be driven way off course and against the intentions of the pioneers who established a new nation here over 400 years ago.  They had a common purpose and desire for life not corralled by corrupt leaders and governments.  They did not seek a halfway or midway existence. It was all or nothing, right versus wrong, following leadership with principals from on High, just like Mr. Miller heralded in his Station Editorial. 

 

There is a very real hope to a common cause in America and any nation that expects to endure. We-the-herd are either going to stampede the corruption and open rebellion against the USA or settle for whoever has the worse perversion of a Godless way of life.  A middle ground cannot solve the ongoing assault and mockery of the America we inherited from our parents and grandparents. Integrity and responsibility go together when we acknowledge a Higher power and purpose in life.  

 

Any doubters are encouraged to visit The Sedalia Katy Depot, The Legend of Rawhide - Sedalia, Missouri at the link https://katydepotsedalia.com/thelegendofrawhide.htm

 

Reviewing our heritage and history are still powerful reminders to why America has succeeded and why we do not need to trash it over the nonsense and open rebellion against our nation.  For the most arrogant and obnoxious amongst us a one-way migration to your favorite ‘other nation’ is highly recommended! 

 

Sincerely

Ernie & Ruth Poani

Edinburg, IL 62531

 

Letter to the Editor Reacting to Station Editorial

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted May 5, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

I caught your editorial about “getting along”.   I agree with your sentiments about it being harder to get along with others.   I believe this is due to an extended period of complacency from friends and neighbors. 

 

Getting along with others is combination of wanting to do the right thing and not wanting to be called out for doing the wrong thing.  If no one has guts to call out people for unethical behavior there is no reason for selfish people not to act in their own interest and tell everyone else to pound sand. 

 

As the owner of a media company, I urge you and your reporters to ask tough questions of elected officials, economic groups and citizens.  Report their actions both good and bad and let your readers and listeners judge whether it is their best interest to “get along” with an individual or group. 

 

When your devotional gets to the story of Jesus “throwing the money changers out of the temple”, I hope you share with the same enthusiasm as Apostle Paul urging us to get along.

 

Thank you for being a part or our community and holding us all accountable to each other.

 

Kenneth Franklin
District 2 
Christian County Board
 

Letter to the Editor From Taylorville Kiwanis Club Pancake and Sausage Day Chair

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted May 5, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

To the Taylorville Community:

 

On behalf of the Taylorville area Kiwanis Club,  I would like to thank everyone who supported our Pancake and Sausage Breakfast fundraiser held April 29 at the Moose lodge.

 

Many dedicated, hard working Kiwanis members served 338 breakfasts in four hours.

 

All food and supplies were donated or purchased locally. Kiwanis members were assisted by several members of the THS Key Club and TJHS Builder’s Club.

 

Special thanks to the Moose lodge for the use of their facility.

 

Funds raised by this event are earmarked to serve the youth of the Taylorville area.


Our 2023 breakfast was a big success thanks to you!


Sincerely,

Chuck Martin, Pancake and Sausage Breakfast Chairman

 

Station Editorial: Can't We All Get Along?

STATION EDITORIAL

 

Posted May 3, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.   As I travel the communities in our Taylorville and Clinton stations' service areas, I continue to hear a common theme that I'm concerned about.  That is the rancor and dissention that is heard in conversations on just about everything.

The COVID pandemic has taken an emotional and mental toll on all of us.  For months at a time, we were unable to have the one thing we as humans must have:  Face-to-face relationships with family, friends, and community.

This is having a devestating effect on those same 3 groups.   We aren't communicating like we did before the pandemic.  Friends and acquaintenances are turning on each other.

We as a country, as a state, and as a community can't operate this way.  It takes communication.  And, as I've said the past 3 years, it takes all of us meeting in the middle.

In my devotions recently, I came across a passage in Galatians 5 that seems fitting to share.  In it, Paul the Apostle wrote the following:

"You, my brothers, were called to be free.   But do not use your freedom to indulge your sinful nature; rather serve one another with love.  The entire law is summed up in a single command:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other."  end of quote.

While Paul was writing about being spiritually free, these verses can be applied to our personal freedom we enjoy in the United States, as well.

Whether it's in Washington, Springfield, or the town you live in, we as Americans must meet in the middle to tackle the challenges we face in 2023.  For without compromise, as Paul wrote, "You will be destroyed by each other."

Good words to follow to live life in our faith with our families and friends.

That's our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is:   editorial@randyradio.com.

Letter to the Editor: CRT, WOKE, AND CCS

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Posted April 17, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

CRT and WOKE and CCS, oh my (repeat). Certainly reminds me of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz (1939) chanting, Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my (repeat)! Something you hope never to be confronted with but here we are in America stuck with three scourges. Good and bad events occur in sets of three many times past and present. It is encouraging to hear on the radio TDN Editorials and then read TDN citizen responses about these three culture and media revolts. 

 

CRT; Critical Race Theory erupted in the mid 1980s and has clearly become the most racist-revolt since the Civil War in 1860s. It is the ongoing division of our Nation primarily by protesting and demonstrating against “inequality” but then ultimately claiming “equity” as the major take-away of never ending demand for more and more of what normal people live and work for! It is a small stretch to link this scourge with BLM or Black Lives Matter (2012) as a byproduct. A major investigation of the CRT revolt is found with Subotnik,Daniel (1998) "What’s Wrong with Critical Race Theory: Reopening the Case for Middle Class Values,"  The internet link is https://scholarship.law.cornell.edu/cjlpp/vol7/iss3/1/

 

WOKE or WOKE-ISM;  has actually been brewing since the middle of the 20th Century. Practically it is transformational indoctrination, paradigm shift or outright brainwashing, intended to control people politically and professionally. Culture shocking may define it as well. Changing vocabulary and the meaning of usual terms is a definite sign of any such radical movement to impress people about a supposed superior way of thinking and behavior. Re-imagining is such a key buzzword and clue. A couple thorough articles below will help us through another senseless scourge;

1-Wokeism Is a Cruel and Dangerous Cult, By Victor Davis Hanson, January 24, 2022

     Link; https://www.independent.org/news/article.asp?id=13968

2-Why Wokeism Is Not Marxist And Why It Matters, By Alexander Riley, April m2023

    Link;  https://chroniclesmagazine.org/featured/why-wokeism-is-not-marxist/

 

CCS; Carbon Capture & Sequestration (CCS) and Pipeline Projects from the Dakotas to Illinois, a genuine Green-Dreamer idea to save planet Earth from Climate Change! For people who believe their ancestors live in zoos and evolved from apes, then controlling weather and climate became a mandate. Thanks to Charles Darwin who published On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life in 1859, the naturalistic-bible was born. No more supernatural but onward with anything deemed natural. Projects to extract (suck) Carbon Dioxide CO2 from Ethanol factory chimneys, produce the toxic chemical slurry with CO2 for pumping it through pipeline 1300 miles to sites along the way and eventfully into mile deep wells in genuine Illinois private properties and croplands. Cap the CO2 wells and abracadabra save Earth from CO2 extinction. Remember CO2 already exists in our Atmosphere, Hydrosphere and Lithosphere normally! Two important resources below to realize and escape the CCS scourge from Illinois;

1-Coalition to Stop CO2 Pipelines Unsafe at ANY Price

   Link; https://noillinoisco2pipelines.org/

2-Heartland Greenway (Navigator CO? proposed CCUS)

   Link; https://d3o.151.myftpupload.com/?page_id=612

 

America can recover from these scourges through Citizens and Leaders who still believe in God and Country in that order. We must not abandon our inheritance from; “Seventeenth Day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty seven and of the Independance of the United States of America the Twelfth In witness whereof We have hereunto subscribed our Names,” when thirty-nine of such leaders ratified the Constitution between the States! (US Constitution Article VII, Sept. 17, 1787)

 

Sincerely

Ernie & Ruth Poani

Edinburg, IL 62531

Letter to the Editor: What's the Position of Taylorville School Board Candidates on CRT?

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Posted March 29, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

Will S.B. Candidates scrap CRT, which teaches children to hate?  


What about encouraging a child’s  transgender worries, even to the point of arranging for students to have surgeries without informing parents?  Will they, as board members,  prevent teaching of explicit sex to kindergarteners and early grade school students?


Will the candidates vote to teach our true history, and not the 1619 crap that proclaims a group of enslaved Africans founded our country starting in  1619?


Will they stop scaring children that the world is doomed without government  climate control?  Do they agree a good education has a strong emphasis on reading, history, and technology?  And will these school board candidates pledge to make parents important partners in the education of their children?

 

Betty Harryman

Taylorville

 

Letter to the Editor on Taylorville School Board Elections

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

 

Posted March 28, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

I notice a few “Vote for Me” yard signs around posted by school board candidates. I ask you and hope that you will publish statements from the various candidates, new and those seeking reappointment, that explain their positions. 
 
We had a flurry of coverage when the new auditorium and gymnasium project was being considered but most of that discussion was about spending money. While the buildings are important, we also need to hear about what is being taught in our schools. Since our U.S. President has declared any citizen who voices an opinion at a school board meeting as a “terrorist” and becomes subject to examination by the FBI, we don’t hear much about the curriculum being taught.
 
Public news talks of teachers Grooming, that is convincing young students that they need to change their gender (and not allowing them to discuss it with their parents). There is a lot of discussion about teaching youngsters, first, second, third grade about sex. We hear of text books that if an adult had them, the adult would be arrested for possession of pornography. Some schools are teaching that the United States was started in 1619 by slaves and  whole populations have been abused for years. And then there is Critical Race Theory that drives a wedge between races and teaches hate.
 
I would like to see the candidates address these “modernizations of teaching” before we have to vote and your stations are the perfect venue for this discussion. It will be much easier to not elect someone than to fight with them for an entire term about things we don’t want our children exposed to.
 
And no, I don’t believe there is any reason the children, including high school, need to see a Drag Queen performance, especially in school.  Stick to the basics.
 
Thanks,
 
Dr. William Harryman

Taylorville

 

Station Editorial: Vote YES on Taylorville Park District Pool Referendum

STATION EDITORIAL

 

Posted March 16, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.   The Taylorville Park District Board will put on the April 4th ballot, a referendum to provide some 6-point-5 million dollars towards the construction of a new outdoor swimming pool facility for the Christian County seat.

Park District officials put together a Pool Committee consisting of Taylorville citizens.  That committee worked with an architect specializing in pools on a design concept that would best benefit Taylorville.  They then took that design and finance plan to the Board that approved the design.  A Pool Referendum Committee was then organized to help promote the design and proposed referendum. 

The Pool Referendum Committee is also hoping to raise one-point-5 million dollars locally, to go with the 6-point-5 million that would come from passage of the April 4th ballot initiative.

Park Board officials tell us that if the April 4th referendum passes and the one-point-5 million are raise locally, construction would be at the end of this swim season, with opening day being the start of the 2024 swim season next year.

The Manners Park Pool is one of those quality of life issues for Taylorville.  It's used by those young and old, with people of all abilities including children who learn the skills to safely and responsibly enjoy the water.

Bottom line for a homeowner inside the Taylorville Park District that owns a house assessed at 150-thousand dollars, is an increase of just over 100-dollars per year, and when you break it down, it's just under 9-dollars a month, or just over 2-dollars a week.

I'm voting YES on this Taylorville Park District Manners Park Pool project, and I hope those of you inside the Park District do, too.  

Whether to just swim, or making it part of their reason to move to Taylorville, the Manners Park Pool is truly an asset we need to keep.   The current pool is over 60 years old, and pool officials have gotten all the life they possibly could out of it.

Vote YES for the pool to benefit our town and area for generations to come.

That's our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Station Editorial: LOCAL Radio Still Helping Our LOCAL Economy Grow

STATION EDITORIAL

 

Posted February 6, 2023

 

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.   Today, all of us are bombarded with more information than we ever have, from more sources than ever before.

But, you know, there's still ONE LOCAL source for local news and sports, severe weather information, high school sports play by play, and community involvement.  And, that's LOCAL RADIO.

As radio celebrated it's 100th anniversary last year, it's continued its commitment to service in markets large and small.

Despite the additional choices all of us have to get our information, LOCAL RADIO is still delivering the LOCAL information you want, expect, and deserve.

And, in those 100 years, radio has also evolved to deliver its LOCAL content via a variety of platforms, whether they be AM, FM, streaming, live video streams, or podcasts. 

I've told many people over the years, that as long as WE in LOCAL RADIO continue creating the LOCAL CONTENT you want and expect, and deliver it in the many platforms we now have the opportunity to, you'll continue listening.

With the advent of the Internet, LOCAL RADIO is delivering that LOCAL CONTENT in streaming, live videos via Facebook and Youtube, and podcasts.  And, that LOCAL CONTENT is also being POSTED to read on our free, on-line daily newspaper in each of our 2 markets, Taylorville and Clinton.

Another benefit is that LOCAL ADVERTISERS can reach LOCAL shoppers with these multiple platforms our LOCAL CONTENT is being delivered on, continuing to grow our economy in Central Illinois.

We're proud of our many stations' decades of LOCAL service to the communities we serve, and are THANKFUL for our thousands of listeners to our on-air platforms on-air and on-line, as well as THOUSANDS of readers to our free, on-line daily newspapers.  

We're here to continue helping our local economies GROW!

That's our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Letter to the Editor on THS Procedure Selecting Musical Lead

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Submitted January 14, 2023

Posted January 19, 2023

 

Dear Editor:

 

Our Granddaughter Olivia Garren is a 7th grader at T.J.H.S.  Like many junior high Students this week she was excited to have the opportunity to try out for the THS Spring Musical.


Tryouts were opened to both high school and jr. high school students with no caveats listed limiting roles. They were told they could try out for any role they wished.


Olivia tied out on Tuesday and was given a “call back” along with two other girls on Thursday regarding the role of Annie.


Yesterday at the High School Choir Room Kathy Fergin and Mr. Chase, directors of the play, announced to  a room full of students and adults the cast of the upcoming Spring Musical Annie.  Oliva was given the role of “Annie”.


Last evening a video as well as a list of the cast was also posted on Facebook.


This morning my daughter and son in law received a phone call from Kathy Fergin saying that she is being “forced” by Principal Matt Hutchison and Superintendent Chris Doughertry to remove Olivia from the lead ‘Annie’ role and give it to the understudy who is a high school student because she and her parents are not happy. Now let me also mention that said student’s father is a teacher at THS.


Why even bother to hire a play director and waste their time if the principal and superintendent 
want to cast the roles of the play.  How pathetic is it that a girl doesn’t get what SHE feels she deserves so we’ll just do it the ‘good old underhanded, good old boy backdoor way’!  


Why doesn’t Matt Hutchison and Chris Dougherty choose the team members for football, basketball, volleyball, track, baseball, soccer, and any other activities.  They could save the district a ton of money.


My point being IT IS NOT THEIR JOB TO STICK THEIR NOSES IN where disgruntled students and parents who can’t deal with not being chosen reside.


The principle and superintendent are educators. The duty of educators is to teach. What are they teaching with this decision. If you lose the game, just change the rules after the game is over. You educators get a grade of F-.


Skip and Marlane Miller

Taylorville

Editorial Potpourri Posted January 3, 2023

EDITORIAL POTPOURRI posted January 3, 2023

This is editorial potpourri, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

Point number one:  Despite various legislators telling us over 5 years ago that Illinois Route 48 thru Macon, Christian and Montgomery Counties was part of the state’s 5-year road improvement plan to be re-paved, it hasn’t happened since telling us that 5 years ago.  It’s one of the roughest roads in the area for commuters, shoppers, and the general public to travel.  Here’s a public hint to our area legislators, that the road sure could use getting re-paved before another 5 years is up.

Point number 2:  We welcome new county board chairs across our 2 clusters’ coverage areas, and especially the new chairs in our stations’ home counties of DeWitt and Christian.  We hope with new leadership comes a new era of cooperation among county board members in their respective counties, to discuss the issues in a respectful manner with an outcome that’s positive for county residents, especially in the area of economic development.  

Point number 3:  Countless doctors and nurses we know thru-out Central Illinois, have shared that the demeanor of their patients during and since COVID, has been anger, demanding, and condescending.  While patients have long asked for understanding and emphathy from doctors and nurses, it’s time to remind those patients that health care is short-staffed and doing the best they can with the staff they have.   One of my daughters, who has been in the nursing profession some 15 years, tells me that during and since COVID, she has been yelled at and verbally abused by patients.  But!  So that hospitals will keep their high rating to continue receiving government payments, nursing staff are told to just take it.  Some nurses have even been told they can file charges against patients that physically abuse them.    Patients need an “attitude adjustment” and realize that a nurse isn’t going to answer their call button the second they hit it because they’re short-staffed.  Such abuse of nurses by patients is one reason thousands of nurses are leaving the profession in the first place.  So, next time you’re a patient in a hospital or doctor’s office, remember that courtesy and understanding is a 2-way street.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

Letter to the Editor on City of Taylorville Audit

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted December 12, 2022

 

Dear Editor,

 

A meeting of the City of Taylorville Finance Committee was held on Monday evening November 7th prior to the Regular City Council meeting.  The only item on the agenda was the Review of Audit Report.  This is an annual report presented to the Mayor and Aldermen completed by an independent accounting firm.  This report is presented to the City leaders providing information on how the City is doing financially. 

 

As indicated in the minutes of this meeting available on the City’s web page the auditors recommended two findings: 

•             An adequate segregation of incompatible duties does not exist *REPEAT FINDING”

•             Pooled Cash general ledger accounts were not timely reconciled to the monthly bank statements nor were they reviewed by a second person outside the Treasurer’s Office

 

Other recommendations/areas of serious concern for strengthening internal controls were identified in the minutes of this meeting:

•             Incorrect filing of City, Police and Fire Pension Form 941 forms an dpayments to IRS; penalties were incurred

•             Social Security Administration has not received 2021 Forms W-2 and W-3; will incur penalties for each employee

•             Lack of repayments between pooled cash account and other accounts

•             Voluntary Insurance payable general ledger accounts do not reconcile as of April 30, 2022

•             IMRF 1,000 hour participation limit has no documentation for Council Members claiming IMRF

               (the auditor stated that the current resolution provides a 1,000 hour participation requirement.  It was stated that none of those participating have submitted any documentation or timesheets.)

•             No documentation for furloughed employees paid unemployment through IDES;  includes many fraudulent claims that must be investigated

•             Safe Passage grant does not include full reimbursement of costs;  amended reports should be submitted

•             Water Fund should be reconciled for years prior to 2022 and corrections made

 

It is stated in the minutes of this meeting that many of these items are time sensitive and must be rectified prior to the end of the calendar year, so as not to affect current year W-2’s for employees.  All recommendations must be addressed and rectified expediently.

 

Why was this information not provided to the public through local broadcast or print media?  This audit is paid for and provided annually to inform both the elected leaders of our community as well as the taxpaying residents who reside within in the City on how the City is doing financially.  Transparency and accountability is needed at all levels of government.  The minutes to this meeting can be found on the City’s web page www.taylorville.net. 

 

Martin Vota

Taylorville, IL 62568

 

Letter to The Editor: Taylorville Mayor Remembering December 1st, 2018

Today marks the 4-year anniversary of the December 1st, 2018 EF-3 tornado which ravaged our community. 

 

A special thank you to Missions For Taylorville who undertook the monumental task of trying to rebuild our community. You have done an awesome job. 

 

The City has received much needed financial support from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency in a check for $500,000. Thank you to Deputy Governor Manar and Governor Pritzker for this help. 

 

As we move forward, I am optimistic with the revitalization of downtown. A special thank you to DowntownTaylorville.org and Small Town Taylorville. Taylorville will be looking better than ever before. 

 

On December 1st, I ask that at 5:15 p.m. everyone in our community observe a moment of silence and a special thank you to our former Fire Chief Mike Crews for having our community prepared. 

 

Together we remain Taylorville Strong!

 

Mayor Bruce Barry

Letter to the Editor on America's Almost Forgotten Holy Day

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted November 20, 2022

 

Dear Editor:

 

Thank God for freedom of speech and press. It became a great American institution in
December 1791! Those founding fathers called it the First Amendment to our Constructional
Republic because they recognized a Biblical pattern of nations who acknowledged their Creator.
If you cannot trust that legacy where do you look for a better one? Some call America a grand
experiment probably to satisfy the sciences which abound in a free nation. Like most nations in
history there comes confusion and rebellion. Many no longer exist. We can do without repeating
that history out of ignorance or conquest.


This writer has lived long enough to see such patterns and their consequences. The “rancor and
division in our country” stated in your editorial are such consequences. Listening to so much
balderdash from the news media, not only do they claim it but promote it. News and history
should be clues to a future worth living. Those pioneers of 1620 truly applied their convictions
and established a colony of grateful people on the east coast. In 1621 those who survived their
first year in a new country celebrated. We know it as Thanksgiving and is among the Holydays
celebrated in America. Yes, it is Holyday in place of Holiday; an actual USA Federal day of
observation. A review of President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of October
03, 1789 should suffice. Dare we not forget.


Americans will celebrate again on November 24 a very honorable feast called Thanksgiving, in
spite of the commercialism and competing distractions of media. Families will make the effort to
meet together and enjoy great times and meals. Is once a year enough for citizens in a free nation
to Thank God for another year of life and opportunity? Probably not but it continues as a great
tradition. Even though we have not visited all 50 States it is amazing to live here with the
opportunities taken for granted.

 

Back in the 1990s as we drove across the plains I finally
recognized “for amber waves of grain” from a memorable song. The winds were literally waving
the grain fields around in the open plains. Thanks to Katherine Lee Bates who was overwhelmed
and inspired in the Rocky Mountains in the summer of 1893 and subsequently (1913) produced
“America the Beautiful” and another permanent memory among so many available in America.
Let’s keep it that way!

 

Sincerely,


Ernie & Ruth Poani
Edinburg, IL 62531
 

Townhall Top of the Hour News

Weather - Sponsored By:

TAYLORVILLE WEATHER

Local News

Facebook Feed - Sponsored By: