CITY BEAT: SOME THIS AND THAT FROM HERE AND THERE

     I went skydiving last week…sort of.
     I was in a hurry to get to my car (the infamous possessed Christine) and I left the back of our building in a rush and my mind filled with thoughts about why I needed to leave in quick fashion.
There is a step down from a higher than usual sidewalk curb that runs behind our building next to State Street.
     I’ve stepped down off of that curb thousands of times over the years, but on that particular day last week, I wasn’t thinking about the step down and, all of a sudden, I fell down on all fours in the middle of State Street!
     Considering the position I was in, I thought about barking like a dog to make people think I had fallen trying to chase a car, but that would have been a little over the top.
     So, my first reaction was what the first reaction is for most people who fall in public — look around and see if anybody saw me skydive off of the curb!
     I didn’t see anyone although I thought I heard some birds chuckling from a tree not far away. (Birds were pretty jolly from having the cicada-buffet every day until recently.)
     Anyhoo, I got back up on two feet, brushed off my suit pants and coat, and since it didn’t seem that I broke any bones, continued on my way as if nothing had happened.  (I detail my most embarrassing fall, which happened during the Decatur Celebration several years ago, in my “Viewpoint” column on page 3 of this week’s print and online editions of the Decatur Tribune.)

     • AS EDITOR of this newspaper, I see all of the obituaries that are sent to the Trib each week before they appear in the next edition, and my heart always sinks a little (sometimes more than a little) when I see the name of a person I know, or a member of their family — especially those I’ve known most of my life. Recent editions have announced the passing of more than the usual number of longtime friends and acquaintances.
     Those obituaries have included Ruth Fleener, Donna Graham and Minyonne Rhoades — people I’ve known most of my life.
     Ruth Fleener, and her husband Jack, I’ve known since childhood, and Ruth was an exceptional talent, a great mom and creative person. She also had a strong faith in God and sat through many of the sermons that I gave when I was a teenager.
     Donna Graham, along with her late husband, Orv, were involved in so many good activities and projects that made Decatur a better place. For years, I saw Donna downtown more than I saw anyone else as she worked in various capacities involving our community.
     I met Minyonne Rhoades 40 years ago when I started doing the daily “Newsline” television program on WFHL-TV where she worked. Her husband, John, was my cameraman when I did tv news remotes for years. Years later, when I was elected mayor, Minyonne was an administrative assistant for the City of Decatur and I saw her on a daily basis during the years I served as mayor.
     Those three longtime friends were among several familiar names of friends, and their family members, whose names have appeared in our obituary section recently.
     For those families who have suffered the loss of their loved ones, know that I am very much aware of your loss — and you are in my prayers.

     • NOT GOOD — A recent study by Northwestern University identified 204 counties out of some 3,000 in the United States as “news deserts,” having “no newspapers, local digital sites, public radio newsrooms or ethnic publications.”
     According to the study, newspapers are continuing to vanish at an average rate of more than two per week.
     The United States has lost almost two-thirds of its newspaper journalists since 2005!
Thanks to all of you who continue to support this newspaper and this journalist. Neither would be here without you.

     • THANKS for all of your kind comments about my recent Father’s Day column about my dad, Sam Osborne.
     Long time friend Dave Wilhour sent me a nice email in response to that column:
     “Your dad was an outstanding individual! My dad always said ‘you don’t need to run around telling folks you are a Christian. Your actions should tell them!’
     “That was the Sam Osborne I knew! As I have told you before I worked for your dad two different times when I worked in shop (at Caterpillar)! Also worked with your brother, Sam, in Heat Treat!
     “Your dad was friends with the Safety Manager so one day when I was working in Heat Treat the Safety Manager came to my work area (first thought what am I doing wrong?).
     “He introduced himself and said he had a safety store clerk job open and his friend Sam Osborne told him he should talk with me! He ended up offering the job to me! The rest is history! Sam helped me get on the ladder! When I was able to thank him he said he knew I would do good job for him! He also made me work harder and smarter because I didn’t want to disappoint Sam! Your dad was a guiding light!”
     As I mentioned in the Father’s Day column, my dad passed away in 2002 and its heartwarming to read comments from people like Dave who knew and respected him — and fondly remember his impact on their life.
     My brother, Sam, who Dave mentioned in his message, also passed away several years ago.
My brother and I were blessed to have a mom and dad who were (and continue to be long after passing away) excellent role models.
     The older I get the more I appreciate their influence on my life.

     • BOBBLEHEAD — Phil Sklar, Co-Founder and CEO of the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, sent me an announcement last week that stated: “I wanted to give you a heads up that we will be unveiling the first Cicada Bobblehead this Friday, June 21st. Due to an unusual overlap of the lifecycles of two broods of cicadas, trillions of the insects are expected to emerge in the United States by the end of June, especially in the Midwest.”

     I wasn’t able to attend the unveiling but, here in Decatur, the cicada invasion is over — at least I don’t see any of them downtown or in my neighborhood.
     A “Cicada Bobblehead” might be interesting to mount in the rear window of my car to scare off other drivers who like to ride my rear bumper because the speed limit is too slow for them.
     I checked out the website at www.bobbleheadhall.com and found it pretty interesting.

     • BOMBED! — I don’t know who was setting off some powerful fireworks (the explosive kind with no display) on the night and early morning of June 21/22 but it was not appreciated in the West Grove Road area on the south edge of Decatur.
     I was awakened by the loud explosions going off on the hour (or close to it) until 1:00 a.m. Saturday.
I don’t know what was being celebrated on June 21/22.

     Maybe it was “National Inconsiderate Actions Day”!

     • TRAFFIC REPORT — I was heading north to Pershing Road on North Water Street one day last week when I driver, who had to be doing 70 mph blew by me in his souped up car like he had just received the green flag at Indy!
     I saw him weaving in and out of traffic and, guess what? For all of his crazy, fast driving I pulled up next to him at the stoplight at Pershing and Main!
     I have driven on Central Illinois streets since I got my first driver’s license when I was in high school, and I have never seen such crazy, reckless driving as I see everyday on our city’s streets!
     Drive the speed limit on North Water, or any other main thoroughfare, and nearly every other car will pass you going ten or more miles per hour faster than you — except of course the driver who can’t change lanes and pulls within inches of your back bumper!
     Maybe we need a DWA (Driving While Angry) charge to add to the DUI.

     • I JOIN Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co. every Thursday morning at 7:00 for the “City Hall Insider”.

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