Mayor's Row....by Ned Mitchell
I used to have a colorful neighbor by the name of Robert Cockrum, better known to us in Sesser as Ray Bob. Ray Bob lived on the next block over from me but he had a little horse barn and corral that adjoined my property. He always had a pony around for the kids and chickens. We weren't quite as sophisticated back then and none of the neighbors complained and we kind of enjoyed hearing the rooster crow and we for sure enjoyed visiting with Ray Bob. He worked for the city on the street department for a while and came up with the idea of building a street that was just south of the bank and near the grocery store. This street was about 8 blocks long running north and south but for some reason the city left a block out between blocks 4 and 6 so drivers had to go around the vacant block. Ray Bob theorized that it would be much better for our elderly drivers to be able to come out of the back of the bank in Sesser and get to the grocery store without having to get on Highway 148. I had lived on that side of town for 20 years and never paid attention to that problem, but Ray Bob was always bothered by that inconvenience for Sesser people and he proposed that we build that block of street and open it up.
I never visited his house more than once or twice but I do remember a warm winter fire and rocking chair in the modern house. Ray Bob and I visited most of the time over the fence as we both enjoyed the outdoors. Ray Bob always had a simple solution to life's most complex problems and he was a deep thinker. None of us ever thought about opening up the abandoned street but Ray Bob did.
My daughter had a quarter horse mare named Classy that I had bought her. Before I bought the horse I inquired of Ray Bob if we could keep her in his empty barn and corral. He graciously agreed and spent a considerable amount of time repairing the barn and the fence. He thought children should have a horse or pony or some type of animal that they had to take care of. Ray Bob always figured children could learn about responsibility by tending to a horse or pony. I knew absolutely nothing about a horse but thanks to Ray Bob who provided the space and Robert Lappin who knew everything about horses we made it. I believe Robert's son Marion, now street superintendent for Sesser went with me to look at the horse and approved the purchase.
My story today is about how Classy used to somehow get out of the barn and out the corral gate, often in the middle of the night. It was not unusual for me to get a call saying "Ned, your horse is out of the barn" and I would have to get up, get dressed and go put a halter on Classy and bring her back home. She would usually lead easily or follow my car home. When we would get back to the barn she would be almost impossible to get back in the barn. I could lead her right back up to the gate and put her in the corral but she never wanted to go back in that barn.
I've told all of that story as I almost always do to make a point here. Folks concerning your AmerenCips bill, our state legislators have let the horse out of the barn on us and it is going to be almost impossible to put her back in. I appreciate all that our local guys are doing to try to turn this around but my question to them is, where were you all last year when this horse was about to get out of the barn? The time to have been vocal about this was then, not now. Right now it appears that you all are simply trying to cover your own behinds.
I am convinced that 10 years ago when this bad legislation calling for a rate freeze was passed; legislative leaders intentionally allowed this to expire right after the election in 2006. You see these professional politicians think years ahead of the rest of us. What would have happened if folks started getting their outrageous power bills last year and before the election? I'll answer that for you, a lot of incumbents would have been defeated. A politician's main goal in life is often to get re-elected and all things work to that end. They conveniently vote on things like pay raises right after the election and take the bet that most folks will forget about that over the next two years. They crank out press release after press release and spend millions of dollars on campaigns just so they will be re-elected just so they can retire, get appointed to some high paying position and then pension out in such a manner that it would embarrass most of us.
Several legislative races in Illinois last fall cost over $2 million dollars. Now who in their right mind would spend a million dollars to take a job that pays $57 thousand dollars a year with only a two year guarantee? And where does this $2 million dollars come from? A lot of it comes from the AmerenCips folks or the Commonwealth Edison folks. Why would you think they would put up thousands of dollars for any particular candidate running for office? Now we are all pretty good thinkers around here and we know the answer to that question. Lets' continue that line of thinking a little more. Why do you think Emil Jones who is president of the state senate or Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, would say put $400 thousand dollars into a candidate? Do we really need outside money from Chicago picking our senators and representatives? Once a candidate accepts that money from either the republican or democrat legislative leaders, they have sold their souls and at that point are basically, in a round about way, told how to vote on key issues. Oh they are still allowed to meander amongst us from time to time and tell us how they represent us but folks I am here to tell you that simply is not how this works. The outrageous bill we all just paid to AmerenCips is living proof of what I am talking about.
The next time you think you have a say in matters like this, call your senator or representative and convince them of that. While you have them on the phone, ask why they weren't doing the same things they are now doing last year when they had time to do it? Last year was an election year and all those wanting to be re-elected were instructed from on high to not rock the boat so to speak. Even though they all knew the rate increase freeze would end a few weeks after the election, not a peep was heard out of Springfield. I am living proof of what happens to a legislator when you speak your mind and cross the powers that be. That is all well and good but we still have the problem of that horse being out of the barn. I'm quite happy I no longer have to try to put her back in the barn! It looks to me as if she ain't going to go!
I got an email this week that I think needs to be shared in honor of our veterans and contains information about the soldiers who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guard on duty walks 21 steps across the tomb and that alludes to the 21 gun salute which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary. He then hesitates 21 seconds for the same reason. His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing grip on the rifle. He carries his rifle on his shoulder away from the tomb. After walking 21 steps he executes an about face. Guards are changed every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since 1930 and even during hurricanes have stayed on duty.
A guard must be between 5'10" and 6'2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30". A guard must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barrack under the tomb, and not drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public the rest of their lives. After two years a guard is given a wreath pin. Today there are only 400 worn. If they break the rules, they must return the pin. In honor of all those who serve our country now or have in the past, thanks for your service and we all need to be reminded that freedom is not free.
If you need us give us a call at 625-3611 or 625-5322 or write to nedmitchell@verizon.net or www.sesser.org or P. O. Box 517, Sesser, Illinois 62884.
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