Up, Down and Around Our Town

Summertime in the Midwest is always an unpredictable time of the year. While the heat and humidity are always a staple, there are activities that just don't occur other times in the year. And, in speaking with some of the local growers, this should be a bumper crop of those foods that we only get during the late summer. The tomatoes are starting, the sweet corn is just around the corner and who knows, such could last thru Labor Day. Or so it seems.

Has Jessie Jackson turned into the new George Carlin? In looking at this political landscape, there doesn't seem to be a day when a rogue microphone has caught the Rev. Jackson uttering things that Carlin used to get railed about. It sets up a number of things as the conventions are about to start. Barack Obama will get the nomination. Only then will we see just exactly how much work in personal relations we have to find. If the early returns are correct, that number is huge. From all consideration, it appears that Michelle Obama and Cyndy McCain are upstanding, educated and supportive spouses. One can only wonder why that label just can't be the standard. But no. Not today. It is as if their words, their lives, their careers and their styles are being judged as important as those of their spouses. That is one of the downfalls of these long elections. Perhaps we'll learn something this time around. Perhaps not.

This year's British Open was one for the ages. And the aged. If Chris Evert can do for Greg Norman, then there is hope for all of us with gray hair. Inspiration. It just doesn't get any better than that.

It was nice that honoring of fellow golfer and soon-to-be retired JWCC President Bill Simpson got his day in the sun. His 11 years at the helm showed the greatest expansion, growth and image that any local college could ever ask for. His steady hand, his vision of what he hoped would be the future and his ability to step back and let those events occur will mark a tenure that will be hard to duplicate. It will be nice to have he and his wife Joyce around to enjoy their early retirement and also have the chance to spend some time on the back nine. Over the years, we have found a great deal of common ground. Both professionally and in the occasional bunker and water hazard. Learning happens. Congrats to Bill and Joyce for a wonderful decade plus.

Since I travel that road most every day, what a joy to see the completion of the Avenue of the Saints. With all due respect for the road south of St. Louis, the road north from Quincy is a welcomed change. From the days of a narrow two-lane Highway 61 (complete with those lips on the side at one time) to a beautiful ride north, it has made quite a difference. The outpouring of support from the local communities did make a difference and the State of Missouri did the right thing in putting this dangerous highway in perspective and getting it done. For the record, the completion this year of 336 in Illinois should have the same effect and will open up Western Illinois as it has never been before.

Perhaps the opening of the new Illinois highway will bring our beleaguered Governor to Quincy when the river isn't up.

Speaking of ironies, if Barack Obama gets elected as President in November, our Governor gets to name his replacement. And, on the short list is.....the Governor. Stranger things have happened in Illinois and nothing would surprise me on this one.

And finally, a tip of the cap to my former mentor within the business field Dave Predmore. He was right again. Some 40 years ago, he preached of the exact science of the "law of supply and demand". How illuminating it was to hear that, in the midst of the oil spiral, that it was all driven by increased demand and static supplies. Just like he preached years ago. And, when the price went down a little, the answer was "decreased demand". It is amazing that the simplest of laws of economics never fail to deliver.

Blues in the District, the Relay for Life and the Adams County Fair. It must be late summer in the midwest. Enjoy it all. I know we will, and with our newest hero in tow, we can build stories, memories and relationships that cannot be duplicated. A little sweet corn wouldn't hurt either. Enjoy this time of the year; it gives us all something to think about in January. So, till next week and as always, I remain....