Community support

As dozen of firefighters battle a blaze of two-story building, business owners in the small town as well as one from neighboring Momence, pitched in.

In all the fire talk, there is rotating personnel to "rehab."

It means, rest, take in fluids and get ready for another go around.

Part of the rehab at Saturday's fire in St. Anne found business owner making pizzas and burgers.

Firefighters were on scene for 9 hours.

The food was much appreciated.

"They chipped in and helped us. It means a lot and shows what the community is all about," said Fire Chief Tim Douglas.

When the going gets tough, people join forces to lift others up.

It is still something that makes the United States a good place.

Weed smell

During a custody call (bond hearings) in a Kankakee (Illinois) County courtroom. a judge stopped proceedings.

She saw a man in the back with his leg up on the back of the bench in front of him.

A heartbreaking interview

Yesterday I interviewed a woman whose nephew was murdered in Texas.

As a reporter, it is the toughest cold call.

Unplugging from technology

It really is hard to get away from your job with all this technology.

It is really hard to unplug from the job since the technology is plugged in even when it it isn't.

Check please

That moment you realize you really can check out but you can never leave.

I wish someone to explain to me why a person can be so unhinged, irrational, ruthless and diabolical.

This type of person is a cancer.

And we are still working on a cure for cancer.

Faith remains the foundation.

Fears

How do you overcome being a prisoner of your own fears?

Say it ain't so

That "say it ain't so" moment.

When news comes out about a lawsuit filed against a college athlete adored and embraced by many.

It reminds me that nothing surprises.can crumb at any time.

It shows we are all human and pedestals can crumble.

Estranged or disconnected

Is there a difference between being estranged from your family or disconnected?

Estranged to me means there is a rift. One that can be repaired, if a person or persons want it.

Shy of a compliment

A co-worker posted a story I worked on in regards to corruption of a former park board executive.

He said it was solid journalism.

It took some time and some more time to put it all together.

I feel good about the effort.

However, I don't think I did anything exceptional. I was doing my job.

I really have a hard time take compliments. I am so worried it will come back to bite me in the butt.

It has been a problem to only with work, but just beating myself up.

Maybe it has to do something with losing and older sibling as we were growing up.

He was talented and athletic and a carrying big brother.

Maybe I just have been trying to live two lives.