What Are They Thinking?

The Morrison City Council seems to be out of touch with recent actions.

1) Making the “T” intersection of Academic Dr and Genesee Ave a stop intersection for vehicles on Genesee Ave 24/7 365 days a year. A few years ago, costly stop lights on a timer plus a switch to activate were installed. These lights were timed for activation when children present. Now, drivers on Genesee Ave must stop 24/7 and 365. Traffic on Academic Dr is minimal at best other than the start and end of school days. This makes no sense. Was a study done on traffic count on this intersection and prior issues. Safety courses that I took, taught that problem areas should be studied, and changes made based on results of findings. Suggestion - go back to timer method and cut back brush on SE corner of intersection.

2) Taverns are not allowed to be open on Sunday. Morrison is the only town around that I know of that prohibits Sunday opening. Do council members realize how much food is served at Fat Boy’s and KJ’s? I think not. Some on the council wanted Main Street to be nice on Sunday for people to visit - to see what. Suggestion - talk to the above owners about what % of their business is food related.

3) Morrison speed limits on city streets has be lowered to 25 MPH - the only town around not using the normal 30 MPH. One person on the council stated that if we go to 25 MPH , maybe people would only go 30 MPH. Excuse me, if speeding is a problem - enforce the 30 MPH. Police reports don’t indicate a problem. If you drive over 30 MPH on Morrison streets, you are risking damage to your car because of our street conditions. One reason was if you’re hit at 25 vs 30 you will be less injured - using crosswalks and riding your bike safely would eliminate being hit in most cases.

Marti Wood has been criticized by a fellow council person - I wish we had more active and engaged like her. My hope - the new council and Mayor make good intelligent decisions in the future.

Harold Wickler,
Morrison, IL

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia, State Representative, 89th District

Christmas Blessings come in many ways. This is the time of year for reflections, to quote the title of a great movie, “A Wonderful Life”. I certainly have had one.

I often comment on my growing up years on a thirty cow dairy farm near La Crosse, Wisconsin. Thirty cows and ten kids were not all that uncommon. We were dirt poor in money but no one grew up richer with love than the ten of us. There were six of us born to my mom and dad, Katherine and Gerald. There were always four others (at least) from St. Michaels Orphanage in La Crosse. Two were with us most of my growing up years and others from several months to several years. The two who were with us most of my growing up years are members of the family.

It was not uncommon to come home from school and mom would have a baby bed set up in the kitchen as a new baby had arrived from St. Michaels. We would all fall in love with the new bundle of joy only to have the social worker come several months later as they had found a permanent home. It always broke my mom’s heart. The cycle would repeat shortly thereafter. I recently learned from my sister Mary that mom and dad had kept over forty foster children while we were growing up.

Needless to say, I often wondered what became of many of them. One very sweet young girl “Lucy”, then about eleven or twelve years old, was with us in 1959 and 1960. She was adopted and we lost all touch with her. Which takes me to this year’s “Christmas Blessing”!

On November 25th I received an email stating, “I stumbled across a web site that says you are a Representative in the Illinois House of Representatives. It says you were born in Winona so you may have no idea of a Sacia Family that lived in Wisconsin and took in foster children”. She went on to share happy thoughts of her time with us. Yes it was Lucy. I was, simply put, ecstatic.

Lucy now lives in Arizona and not too far from my sister. They have now reconnected also and are regularly exchanging emails. My fondest hope is down the road a reunion and a better reconnection.

At this wonderful season I am acutely aware that many are growing up without the love and joy I experienced as a child. I thank God each day for individuals, families, and organizations who help those less fortunate. Yesterday I visited Freeport’s Salvation Army. (I must confess they are my favorite charity.) Nickee Bender gave me the tour and to see so many wonderful volunteers touched me deeply. This spirit of giving is alive and well in the 89th District.

Sally, Barb, Shelly, my family and I would like to wish you all a most Blessed and Merry Christmas and a prosperous and healthy New Year.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at 815-232-0774 or e-mail us at jimsacia@aeroinc.net. You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you.