Vienna man wins Golden Pen for February letter
Michael Crain of Vienna won the newspaper's Golden Pen for February for a letter to the editor. Crain, a first-time letter writer, was inspired by Norma Green to write about the current issues, and his piece was circulated via pencil, typed by a friend, and mailed by the U.S. Postal Service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Michael Crain
Crain
Aneuher
Norma Green
U.S. Postal Service
FEMA
Harrisburg
Green
Rose Mary Orr
McDonald’s
Vienna
U.S. Navy
Bob White
Illinois
Department of Corrections
Golden Pen voting ends with Crain winner
Michael Crain won the Golden Pen with 187 votes for a letter criticizing government dysfunction and rising living costs. Kenneth Cochran and Richard L. Stubblefield followed with 117 and 91 votes. Crain, 70, described retirement travels including a two month Europe visit and a 28 day Vancouver to Tampa cruise. He stays busy and plans more years of retirement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Golden Pen
Michael Crain
Crain
Southern Illinoisan
Thesouthern.com
Kenneth Cochran
Murphysboro
Richard L. Stubblefield
Mount Vernon
Green
Europe
Norma
Vancouver
Tampa
Panama Canal
Readers Lose Faith in Government and VA Care
February letter complains of partisan gridlock and rising costs while urging focus on national welfare. Cites broke Illinois, veteran health care failings at St Louis VA Hospital, contrasted with Marion center, and nostalgia for past prices and hitchhiking in uniform. Calls for wake up America.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Watch World News
Illinois
America
California
Tennessee
Texas
Kansas
Oklahoma
Missouri
Alabama
China
Egypt
St. Louis
Marion
United States
Virginia school reform battle over teacher tenure in 2000s
Mona Charen notes a Virginia school meeting where unhappy parents demand action against a failing teacher. She contrasts federal fire rules with tenure like protections, cites Stossel on a New York case, and reports on the failed three year contract reform in a Republican led legislature.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Stossel
Reason Magazine
New York
Stossel
Newsweek
Chicago
Akron
Ohio
Denver
Toledo
Virginia
Robert McDonnell
House of Delegates
Senate
Phillip Puckett
Richard Bell
Washington Post
Letters to the Editor Policy in local papers
Readers are urged to submit signed letters on current issues within 250 words. Submissions accepted by email or mail and must include a phone number. For news tips call the provided Southern Illinois region numbers and editor contacts for Gary Metro and Mark Fitton.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Voice of
Southern Illinois Or
Carbondale
Thesouthern
Gary Metro
Gary
Officials contact data for U S Senator Kirk and aides
Data appears to be a jumble of official contact details including names and phone numbers for U S Senator Mark Kirk and an aide, plus a partial web address. No clear news event or outcome is present in the readable text.
Also Mentioned on This Page
the Southern
Metro
February
Mona Charen
Creators Syndicate
Charen's
de Soto
Williamson County
U.S
Sen
Mark Kirk
Ral Anan
Kirksenate
Dick Durbin
Durbin
Jerry Costello
Costello
House
John Shimkus
House. Gov
Shimkus
Gary Forby
Yahoo.com
David Luechtefeld
Sendavel
Midwest
Brandon Phelps
Gmail
Mike Bost
Mike
Bost
Hotmail
John Bradley
Jerry F. Costello
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