Dan Stevens

In many ways, covering the Stephenson County Board was a refreshing break from the idiocy found at Freeport City Council meetings. But, admittedly, in many ways the County Board still has its’ own issues to deal with as agendas – that aren’t hidden very well at all – repeatedly come to the surface. Case in point, Bill Hadley and Jim Hart got back on their, “We need to do an RFP for an Insurance Broker,” soapbox again. Now, when you hear them speak, on the surface, it sounds credible...

Dan Stevens

Anyone who has been following the Freeport City Council knows – they have some serious issues. At the last Committee of the Whole meeting, the ordinance they had been "discussing" for two months came up once again. Specifically, the Police Department was having a serious issue with people who would be caught driving on a suspended license for the third time in a month, that they were powerless to stop. As a remedy, the proposal was made to allow the Police Department to impound a vehicle that...

Meet Maya! Age: 8 months old Gender: Female Breed: Pit Mix Background: County Stray About Me: Hi there! I'm Maya, an 8-month-old pit mix with a heart full of love and a playful spirit. I was found as a stray, but now I'm looking for my forever home where I can share my sweetness and joy. Appearance: I'm a striking beauty with a white coat adorned with tan and black spots. My unique look turns heads wherever I go! Personality: Friendly and Sweet: I'm known for my friendly nature and sweet...

Andrew Chesney

My advocacy for the constituents of the 45th District is three-fold. It includes bills I file, bills I co-sponsor, support, and help get passed, and those I fight against. The column two weeks ago highlighted some of the more egregious bills I fought against this year. This week I would like to focus on some of the positive pieces of legislation that I sponsored or co-sponsored this year that will soon become laws. Senate Bill 2767 is a big win for hunters because it allows wild turkey hunters...

Dan Stevens

By the time you are reading this, I will be in Las Vegas. Someone, back when we were all living under the same roof when it was cold, got the idea for the four of us – Chuck, his wife Jules, Me and my wife, Cathy – to go out to Vegas and renew our wedding vows. Now, I wasn’t even in on the original idea, but what began as a conversation piece turned into a concrete plan complete with airline tickets and rooms reserved at the Paris Casino on the Vegas Strip. Admittedly, some of the plan...

Victoria Hansen

This past week both the Carroll County Farm Bureau and Stephenson County Farm Bureau Young Leader Committees held their pre fair meetings. These groups are made up of individuals aged 18-35 years of age who are passionate about agriculture. These groups are always interested in welcoming new members. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved please reach out to your county Farm Bureau. Carroll County Farm Bureau, 815-244-3001 or [email protected] or Stephenson County...

Kevin Cernak

We have about ten acres of pasture on our farm that I tend to every summer. We run a few head of cattle on them and they always make things interesting. They are very curious animals and are constantly getting into trouble. So far this summer, I have cut the pasture twice in an effort to keep it looking nice and to keep the weeds down and the grass fresh for the calves. In my shed I have a couple of old tractors that I like to play with from time to time. One of them is a 330 International...

Dan Stevens

People have liked our Fat Guys With Forks reviews, but in all fairness – they are flawed. I mean, everyone who knows me, knows that I despise vegetables – all kinds of vegetables – so the only dishes I will even eat are your basic meat and potatoes. As my wife puts it, “I have the pallet of a ten year old.” I readily admit that, so my personal taste is skewed – if it’s fried with hot sauce on it, I like it. But something healthy made with avocadoes, onions or peppers … Make me...