http://www.bcrnews.comThe latest news from the bcrnews.com websiteen-us• Every day I am thankful that I was born a woman in America instead of a Middle Eastern country.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/11/r_eo33erzwskwy5ahmqhu0eg/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/11/r_eo33erzwskwy5ahmqhu0eg/index.xmlSat, 21 Nov 2009 04:18:00 GMTA cold Friday morning greets sleepy-eyed shoppers, fresh off Thanksgiving dinner, joining the queue outside the local Walmart or department store in anticipation of the discounts and deals. Maybe it is the cold November morning or the competitive shopping spirit that possesses parents to fight over toys, but void from this scene is any consideration for others.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/19/r_c22ql4xtsykd7oyjx_hflw/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/19/r_c22ql4xtsykd7oyjx_hflw/index.xmlSat, 21 Nov 2009 04:17:00 GMTI belong to a club I never asked to join. It’s an organization that doesn’t discriminate between race, age, religion or any personal preferences. It’s members are many. This club spans the globe — from huge metropolitan areas to the most remote areas of Third World countries — yet no meetings are ever held.http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/19/r_iedqlkzprpwyyxogqwkgyg/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/19/r_iedqlkzprpwyyxogqwkgyg/index.xmlSat, 21 Nov 2009 04:17:00 GMTRecently, 18 cats were rescued from a property in Princeton where the owner of the property did not feel that it was their responsibility to sterilize these cats. Over the years, cat fights over territorial rights for food and mating were a constant occurrence. When many of the cats were showing signs of various diseases, it was decided that something had to be done to help these animals. As each was brought in to be tested and treated, it became apparent that help had come too late. In addition to various diseases all but five had FELV (leukemia) and FIV (Aids).http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/19/r_dk2h_xiotukzdik3j7k6w/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/19/r_dk2h_xiotukzdik3j7k6w/index.xmlSat, 21 Nov 2009 04:16:00 GMTThe “unique” space up for sale that opened up in LaSalle — St. Roch’s Church — is not going to be as unique as it is today because shortly there are going to be three or four more unique spaces that will be for sale.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/13/r_rjsh30ioqdic1k0n46bwmq/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/13/r_rjsh30ioqdic1k0n46bwmq/index.xmlThu, 19 Nov 2009 01:58:00 GMTThis comment is directed specifically to Mr. Raccuglia.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/16/r_5cakymopsbgju9ynpia1w/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/16/r_5cakymopsbgju9ynpia1w/index.xmlThu, 19 Nov 2009 01:57:00 GMTI had the opportunity recently to work on a journal for one of my communication classes at NAU. The class is called Media, Race and Gender, and the assignment was to analyze different aspects of mass media and determine how it discriminates against people of a different creed or culture. The results of my analysis rendered me a wealth of information, but much of that knowledge was connected at the hip to assumptions that I’ve had since the moment I was first able to calculate my social surroundings with reasonable proficiency.http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/11/r_hohtoo4ar2scyxfpvf997w/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/11/r_hohtoo4ar2scyxfpvf997w/index.xmlThu, 19 Nov 2009 01:57:00 GMTI’ve never been very much like my friends. And I mean never because I was different at only 4 years old! I love it. Some people call it weird; I call it different. So this article is about each year of my life, and what I did that was different from what other kids did.http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/23/r_cfa4gpzuszxd37ccqsc3q/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/09/23/r_cfa4gpzuszxd37ccqsc3q/index.xmlThu, 19 Nov 2009 01:56:00 GMTWas it just me, or did you, too, hear the sleet coming down late Sunday afternoon? Ugh! Just the sound of that sleet hitting the ground sent visions of snowplows and slippery roads dancing in my head. http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/16/r_mtzalyxtkklc1e2ontzbg/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/16/r_mtzalyxtkklc1e2ontzbg/index.xmlTue, 17 Nov 2009 03:32:00 GMTThis last weekend I was reminded of what makes this country great – the people! Over the weekend, Congresswoman Halvorson showed that she cares more about people than politics when she voted to pass health care reform. In this recession, people have lost not only their jobs, but their insurance and their security. Many of us who do have jobs live in fear of losing it.  In a country as great as ours, we should not be forced to live in fear of getting sick, and a pre-existing condition should not be a death sentence.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/16/r_6oddlzmlrxuhnjgv2sdrq/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/16/r_6oddlzmlrxuhnjgv2sdrq/index.xmlTue, 17 Nov 2009 03:31:00 GMTSome days all you can hope for are the small moments, the small victories.http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/16/r_ay1pqdssjs0zzopkbjciq/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/16/r_ay1pqdssjs0zzopkbjciq/index.xmlTue, 17 Nov 2009 03:31:00 GMT• How can we ever repay our veterans? There’s no way we can give back what they have given for us. I think our country does pretty good in honoring them, but I’m not convinced they get all the benefits most of us think they do.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/05/r_o8wzxr4nqf2bqwqajmeq4w/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/05/r_o8wzxr4nqf2bqwqajmeq4w/index.xmlSat, 14 Nov 2009 02:58:00 GMTWhen I think of a brick wall, I conjure up a picture in my head of a solid structure that is unable to be penetrated by anyone. Unlike walls made of wood or other less sturdy materials, a brick wall is staunch, secure and unable to be scaled by anyone who the builder of the wall deems inappropriate. http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/07/r_z9oo_rmurtkqp3vi6ykwmw/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/07/r_z9oo_rmurtkqp3vi6ykwmw/index.xmlSat, 14 Nov 2009 02:58:00 GMTAll these appointed governmental “czars” that have been foisted upon us in recent months — many of them apparent bottom feeders according to their resumes and past and present associations — are nothing new to me as I had my first dust-up with assigned authority run a muck way back when I was single digits in age. http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/03/r_mjoqshsjr9gbqf4ue4jwkq/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/03/r_mjoqshsjr9gbqf4ue4jwkq/index.xmlSat, 14 Nov 2009 02:57:00 GMTI have read a major newspaper report of a nursing home investigation by their investigative reporters, and it’s reported that nursing home indifference to its residents is a major health problem, particularly for the senior citizen residents.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/04/r_ddhzzxmlsxke6u6vcilga/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/04/r_ddhzzxmlsxke6u6vcilga/index.xmlThu, 12 Nov 2009 03:29:00 GMTI have to admit I have no inside track or information on the Bureau Valley Board investigation on the rumors flying around the community. I do believe the board when they say the investigation does not involve students or their safety. OK, we elected them; let them do their job. I should add, let them do their job that they don’t get paid for. The BV Board investigation is not at the top of my worries for BV or any school district for that matter. The main question for all schools should be, “How are the students?” At this time, the state of Illinois is telling the school districts to expect half of their state aid money next year. As a taxpayer, how is your school district going to make this up? With that anticipation of state funding beinhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/11/r_ynjdewcgseod7kairrmd4q/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/11/r_ynjdewcgseod7kairrmd4q/index.xmlThu, 12 Nov 2009 03:29:00 GMTThroughout the period of my dad’s illness and death, I had the privilege of communicating with two men my dad served with during World War II, James Renfro and Myron Roker. They spoke with great enthusiasm about their friendship with Dad, their military past and the yearly reunions that brought them together. For reasons unknown to me, my dad never attended his regimental reunion. I know it wasn’t for lack of pride — my dad was intensely proud of his service as a soldier as well as the men he served with. After dad died, I was invited to attend the 2008 reunion of the 324th Infantry Regiment, which I did on Sept. 5-6. What follows is more of an essay than a report, and I respectfully dedicated it to James, Myron, and the rest of the wonderfhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/05/r_x0v22roxrosnjnjdzq8tya/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/05/r_x0v22roxrosnjnjdzq8tya/index.xmlTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:57:00 GMTWow! Talk about some fast farmers! I come to work in the morning, and by the time I go home at night, the entire landscape has changed. The farmers are working fast and furious to get their crops in, and as always, I’m impressed with their work ethics, their drive and their commitment to the earth. http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/07/r_tupzptosspal3vralpzjbw/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/07/r_tupzptosspal3vralpzjbw/index.xmlTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:57:00 GMTIt’s the time of the year we take a moment to honor those who have served and those who continue to serve us, though we will almost certainly never meet most of them and probably know the names of only a few. It’s a distinct moment to stop and think about the sacrifices they made — while all of them give so much, some of them give all. Even though it’s certainly important to take some time on this special day — Veterans Day — to think about those who have served and those who are currently serving our country, a single day of our consideration and thoughts can never be enough, especially for those who gave the ultimate gift through their service — their lives.http://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/04/r_rmv4mrufrkr9pimmbvw6w/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/columnists/columns/2009/11/04/r_rmv4mrufrkr9pimmbvw6w/index.xmlTue, 10 Nov 2009 05:56:00 GMT• We always try to buy some things in Princeton, but many of the items my teen-age children want can’t be found in town. Therefore, we will head to the mall or shop online. If those items were available in town, I’d buy them here, even if they were a bit more expensive.http://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/02/r_ye1gutqjsak4fbso4eztra/index.xmlhttp://www.bcrnews.com/articles/2009/11/02/r_ye1gutqjsak4fbso4eztra/index.xmlSat, 07 Nov 2009 02:51:00 GMT