Mayor’s Row…….by Ned Mitchell
If it is left up to me all old fashioned home remedies will be forgotten. Not that I am against home remedies, I’m actually all for them and usually stand in awe at their results. Here is what I am talking about.
Everyone who knows me knows that my wife Aisha and I are the proud parents of 7 month old Carrigan who has blessed our home with her arrival. Last week little Carrigan started breaking out with some sort of red blotch. They became worse over night and her little eyes started to swell and the blotches quickly spread. We decided to take her to Franklin Hospital one evening to the after hours clinic. We were greeted there by a professional and caring staff who told us it was some sort of rash and that we should see her regular doctor. The next day she was at her doctor’s office in Christopher. Dr. Javed at Rea Clinic diagnosed the patient as having hives and prescribed an over the counter anti-itch medication. We began giving her the recommended dose. By nightfall the hives had spread all over and were becoming worse by the hour. That evening we happened to run into city clerk Marilyn Stacey who reminded me of a home remedy that had been passed down to her late husband Bill Stacey who had a serious case of hives. The home cure was to take a teaspoon of cream of tartar, the spice used to make meringue for pies. At that point it dawned on me who passed this remedy down and how it had worked for me.
I have had hives on and off for most of my life. I’ve been to countless doctors and specialists. Some claim hives are a nerve problem, others blame allergies, some say they are a virus, and others say they simply cannot explain where they come from and to only treat the symptoms. If you have ever had hives like I have had you soon realize that you will try anything to get rid of them. I’ve had steroid shots, pills, liquids, you name it and I have tried it. It wasn’t until I had a serious case of hives as an adult that I ran across this home remedy that was passed on in Sesser by Juanita Thomas, the late wife of Ivan Thomas. As miserable as I was I would have tried any cure mentioned so I took Juanita’s advice and mixed up a teaspoon of cream of tartar in water and drank it down. Let me tell you it is nasty tasting stuff, but what medicine isn’t? In a matter of hours the hives were gone and thus far have stayed away.
As I began to ponder what misery the little one was in we decided maybe we should try a small dose of cream of tartar. Of course it was midnight and there was no tartar in the house. I quickly made a trip to the all night Wal Mart in West City and purchased a small container of cream of tartar. I’m sure the check out clerks are probably used to shoppers buying strange things in the middle of the night but while she looked puzzled she did not ask any questions. Upon returning home we mixed up a very small dose and fed it to little Carrigan. She protested a little but less than I did when I took it so that part was good. By the next morning the hives were 100% improved and by the following day and one more dose of cream of tartar they were completely gone. Amazing! Thank goodness for mothers who pass this information down from generation to generation and shame on guys like me who are so busy they forget. I have no idea how it works and it may not for everyone but the three people I know who have tried this home remedy were all cured of their hives. We hope you had a happy Mother’s Day!
According to several statewide newspapers the beginning of the end could be coming for the reformer/unreformer Governor of Illinois. Federal investigators are now talking to at least 3 fired employees who claim they lost their jobs because they would not play hanky panky with applications and that although some people applying for jobs failed their test 4 times, they still got the job. Right now we don’t know if these folks are merely disgruntled former employees or if they have a real story. What we do know is they have all filed lawsuits in federal court and have attracted the attention of federal investigators. The reformer/unreformer Governor has taken the unordinary step of hiring an outside law firm to look into the allegations.
Don’t play us for stupid Governor. No more than I know I do understand and am aware of some positions that have been filed by really incompetent people over others with college degrees and lots of experience. How else can you explain how some hack that has a connected family member gets hired over someone with more education and more experience. It gets even worse when we now find out that some employees hired could not pass the test to get the job and somehow the rules were bent. If you want to know I can tell you exactly who you have to have on your side to get a state job. Forget your education and experience it is who you know that gets you in the job. Unfortunately the republicans are equally adept at bending the rules and have done it for years. The only problem is their guy is now a convicted felon and on his way to jail. With at least 4 state and federal grand juries meeting right now on this administration and with these latest allegations it appears we might be going through another trial in the future. I am sure I remember someone saying that all this business as usual was going to end if we just gave him a chance. Wonder who that guy was?
Congratulations to all the students graduating this spring. If you are leaving 8th grade for high school that is a big step in your educational life. If you are leaving high school and heading to the work force (good luck) or off to college we wish you the best. If you are being graduated from college congratulations as you will hopefully soon be gainfully employed and a full time tax payer! Special congratulations go out to Michael Redding who was graduated from McKendree College last Saturday. Marilyn and Nahnee are indeed proud as are the rest of the family! We are proud of each one of you no matter what level you are at and wish for you the best of everything.
You still have time to sign up for the Trivia night benefit that will help us pay for and install a new fence at Maple Hill Cemetery. We need to come up with $7,500.00 to make this addition to the cemetery and the Trivia night will be held June 2nd at Valente’s Terrace on Main Street in Sesser. If you cannot play we still welcome donations. We will attempt to raise $2,500.00 which Modern Woodmen Insurance will match. Hopefully we will be able to raise the needed funds. With Memorial Day just around the corner it would be a great time to make a donation to Maple Hill Cemetery and designate it for the fence project. Your help is very much appreciated!
Make plans now to attend the 51st annual Sesser Homecoming the third weekend of June. This year’s event will start on Wednesday night, June 14th and as always will feature lots of good bar b que, corn on the cob and other delicious treats as well as free shows each night and a fantastic carnival for the kids. This is one of the longest running and most successful events in Illinois and draws thousands of former residents and guests each year. It is put on by the Sesser Homecoming Association and VOLUNTEERS who quit what they are doing for a week every year and make this event happen. Queen, princess, and prince candidates are out and about right now selling tickets to raise money for this event. Please buy a ticket from one or all of these young people. You could win a trip to Hawaii or $1,000.00 in cash. All money is used to promote Sesser and to make improvements to our community.
If you need us give us a call at 625-3611 or 625-5322 or write to nedmitchell@verizon.net or www.sesser.org. We would like to hear from you! | |
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