To the Editor,

In a county like ours, you don’t have to guess who’s doing the job. You see it. You hear it. And you know it when you’re talking to neighbors at the grocery store, the diner, or after church. That’s why I’m writing to proudly endorse DeWitt County Sheriff Mike Walker. As a retired County Board Chairman, I’ve had the chance to watch how he leads, and I can say with confidence that he has earned the trust of this community the old-fashioned way: by showing up, doing the work, and doing it right.

Over the course of his tenure, Sheriff Walker has been steady, fair, and professional. He has built a Sheriff’s Office that is dependable and respected, and he has made it clear that the safety of both deputies and residents comes first. He supports strong training, accountability, and teamwork, and it shows in how the department operates day to day. Sheriff Walker understands that in a small county, law enforcement is not just about enforcement. It is about relationships, common sense, and making sure folks feel safe living and raising families here.

Sheriff Walker’s leadership was especially important during COVID, when everything felt uncertain and normal life got turned upside down. While the rest of the world was arguing, Sheriff Walker focused on keeping DeWitt County functioning and keeping his deputies protected, so they could keep protecting the rest of us. He kept services running, kept order, and handled the moment with calm leadership instead of chaos. In my experience, that is what real public service looks like. DeWitt County is safer because of Sheriff Mike Walker, and I encourage voters to support him.

Sincerely,

David Newberg

Retired County Board Chairman

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted July 21, 2025

Dear Editor:

In an especially shortsighted and destructive move, the Trump Administration has announced it will eliminate EPA’s Office of Research and Development, including its network of laboratories. Some of the best scientists in the world work at EPA labs protecting public health and making our air, land, and water cleaner. 
 
The research they perform is responsive to the most critical environmental issues facing Americans. They pursue innovative and pragmatic solutions to keep us safe. For example: at a homeland security research facility, scientists have figured out how to use Roomba vacuums and store-bought dehumidifiers to decontaminate buildings infected with anthrax. The lab in Duluth uses an autonomous underwater glider to map the Great Lakes. And, in North Carolina, robots rapidly test thousands of chemicals for toxicity.
 
It’s easy to forget how much better our environment is compared to a few decades ago, when illegal dumping was rampant, smog blanketed cities, and rivers routinely caught fire. But there is still plenty of work to do. For instance, EPA scientists have been researching the scourge of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. These carcinogens are found in thousands of products and they are showing up regularly in our food and water. There is much we still do not know, including all the products they are in, how to clean them up, and all the health impacts they cause. Until now, America relied on EPA’s world-class scientists to help answer these questions, but now there will be no one filling that critical role.
 
Paul Winters
Monticello, IL
 

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted June 28, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

Well, it’s the end of one era, and the beginning of another.  

The Federal Communications Commission in Washington, DC, on June 27th approved the transfer of our radio station licenses, to Hart Media Group, LLC, of Rochester.  Matt is a Taylorville native and worked for me as a part-time announcer on WTIM Taylorville while he was in high school in the 1990’s.

We announced the pending sale of our stations in Taylorville and Clinton, on March First, then applied to the F-C-C for license transfer approval shortly thereafter. We expect to close on the sale in late July, with Hart taking possession on August First.  Matt has asked me to stay on to serve as a consultant for a year after we close the sale.

Included in the sale are our 6 Taylorville-based radio stations and our on-line daily newspaper taylorvilledailynews.com; and our 2 Clinton-based radio stations plus our on-line daily newspaper dewittdailynews.com.

The sale will culminate my almost 52 years in the radio business, with 43 of them in ownership.  That ownership number includes almost 33 in Taylorville and nearly 18 in Clinton.

We thank God for the opportunity of serving you, our listeners, readers, and advertisers, in the many communities we serve, over these many decades.  It’s always been a joy to come to work because of the relationships I’ve had with my staff, our advertisers, listeners, and readers.   All of YOU have made this journey fun.

My wife Cathy, who has done special event marketing for our company since 2008, will also be retiring.    I’ll be spending more time working in my faith-based ministry called Win the Day Ministries which you can find on-line at wintheday-dot-life.   Cathy will be more involved in volunteering for several non-profits she’s been involved in.

Please welcome Matt and his family as they continue the legacy of local media in our communities, the same way you welcomed Cathy and I to your communities these many years ago.  

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted June 4, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

Well, both Washington and Springfield are again on the spending binge with less revenue to back it up.

In Washington, the House-passed “Big Beautiful Bill” that the U-S Senate is considering, while being sold as benefiting you and me, has been scored by the Congressional Budget Office to add another 2-point-4 TRILLION, that’s TRILLION with a “T”, to the already massive 36-point-2 TRILLION the U-S Government is in debt.   While being sold as cutting taxes, ANYTHING that INCREASES the national debt, even in the name of reducing taxes, is a BAD thing.

And in Springfield, in the late hours of May 31st, the Illinois General Assembly passed a 55-point-2 billion dollar budget that increases taxes by some one billion dollars to help plug a 3-billion dollar shortfall.   There are new taxes on businesses, nicotine, and sports betting.  

In both cases, the bottom line is that government—both federal and state—still haven’t figured out how to live within their means.  Every lobbying group that is at the trough for money, will again get what they want, in order for the politicians to get contributions from those same groups to get re-elected.   It’s all about getting re-elected for our legislators, NOT about governing or doing the right thing.

There IS a day of reckoning for both the United States and the State of Illinois.   You and I have never been allowed to spend more than we take in, without either filing bankruptcy or going to jail.   

We’re paying for their decisions with higher inflation and taxes.   Our kids and grandkids will pay for their decisions also with higher inflation, and in the case of the Federal Government, at some point, default, and that won’t be pretty.

Both our country and our state are going down a road that goes to nowhere, unless and until legislators on both sides of the aisle take fiscal responsibility seriously.  And, the chances of that right now are low.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted May 7, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

Here’s something that might surprise you: AM/FM radio is still a huge part of people’s daily lives. According to new research from Edison, about 35% of all daily audio time in the U.S. is spent listening to AM/FM radio. That’s more than any other ad-supported audio platform—by a long shot.

Sure, a lot of that listening still happens the old-fashioned way, especially in the car. But radio is also showing up in places you might not expect. At home, about 22% of AM/FM radio listening is done through streaming. At work, it’s around 16%. That’s a big shift—and it shows how radio is meeting people wherever they are, on whatever device they’re using.

Smart speakers are a great example. In 2024, AM/FM streaming actually had the largest share of ad-supported listening on those devices. People are clearly using smart speakers as an easy way to keep radio in their daily routine, whether they’re making coffee or winding down at night.

And get this—radio is resonating with Gen Z more than you might think. Nearly 40% of people aged 18 to 24 are tuning in every day. And for them, it’s not just about the music. It’s about the connection. Sixty percent of Gen Z listeners say that radio hosts make them feel like they’re hanging out with a friend. That kind of human touch really matters, especially in a world full of playlists and algorithms.

So even in the era of streaming and on-demand everything, AM/FM radio is evolving, growing, and staying relevant. Whether it’s through a car stereo, a smart speaker, or an app, radio is still showing up—and people are still listening.

All are important facts for businesses today to consider when spending their valuable advertising dollars.   

And, our local advertisers are also finding that the combination of AM-FM radio AND digital media is an UNBEATABLE combination!   We help our advertisers effectively use BOTH every day!

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.  

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted March 7, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

Well, state government wants to get their hands into regulating home schooling in Illinois.

Representative Terra Costa Howard, a Democrat from Lombard, has filed a series of bills called the “Homeschool Act” to require parents to notify schools annually that they intend to homeschool their kids.   The bill also would require parents to keep a portfolio of their children’s academic work and immunization records.

The so-called “Homeschool Act” has some 15 co-sponsors.

As you might imagine, there are those supporting the bill including the Massachusetts-based Coalition for Responsible Home Education, which says the legislation will help keep kids safe.

Meanwhile, the Virginia-based Homeschool Legal Defense Association is strongly opposed to the bill claiming the bill is an attack on Illinois families to teach their kids at home.

Homeschooling in Illinois was the subject of a 1950 Illinois Supreme Court case in which they ruled a couple could homeschool for religious reasons as a form of private school.

Illinois presently is among several states that have few regulations for homeschooling.   The proposed bill is the first legislation that would attempt to regulate homeschooling in the state.

We see this as yet another attempt at government to stick its nose where it doesn’t belong.  There are countless examples of homeschooling working for youngsters, who typically have better test scores and do better in college as a result.   

We think this proposed bill shouldn’t see the light of day.   But, considering Illinois Democrats have a supermajority in both chambers and have a Democratic governor running to the far left to run for president, I wouldn’t be surprised if it passes.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted February 24, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

I want to take this time to brag a bit on our great staff in both Taylorville and Clinton that provide LOCAL radio each and every day.

The most recent example of that were our High School Road Tour in January, and our First Responders Road Tour in February, in both markets.

Our sales staff secured sponsorships to enable our programming staff to hit the road across our 12 counties and do live broadcasts from a host of high schools in January, along with Police and Fire Stations in February.

In January, our 2 news and information stations WTIM Taylorville and WHOW Clinton did a combined eleven live broadcasts from area high schools during each station’s respective Morning Shows.   Our programming staff interviewed the host high school principal, athletic director, Student Council president, and one extracurricular student representative find out all the great things happening at our local high schools.

In February, WTIM and WHOW did a combined eleven live broadcasts during our respective Morning Shows, from police and fire stations, visiting with those who put their lives on the line to protect us and keep us safe.

Our entire staff at both clusters of radio stations were involved in the sales, programming and scheduling of these live broadcasts.  Kudos to all of them for doing a record 22 live broadcasts of our Morning Shows from locations other than our respective studios, in just 2 months!

This is what LOCAL RADIO is all about:   Telling the story of each community!

Our radio group remains committed to telling the story of our great communities in the 12 counties our 2 radio station clusters serve.   That’s the legacy of LOCAL RADIO in our markets.  Our 2 heritage news and information stations WHOW and WTIM have a combined 151 years of service to Central Illinois.

We’re continuing our pledge to YOU to SERVE.   That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted February 6, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.  All signs point towards a growing economy in 2025 based on the figures released by several different organizations.

The Institute for Supply Management, one of the leading organizations that track industrial output and trends, reported U.S. manufacturing activity expanded in January after 26 consecutive months of contraction.   They added the Production and Employment Indexes Output was positive in January versus December showing companies are proceeding with growth plans.  

The U-S Bureau of Economic Analysis reported consumer spending was up almost 44-billion dollars in January reflecting an increase in spending for services that was partly offset by a decrease in spending for goods.  

Yet, there are still headwinds, the biggest being stubbornly high interest rates.  But, future trends are predicting a 2-percent inflation rate for 2025 which is the Fed’s benchmark.   If that 2-percent number holds as we head further into this year, it’s anticipated the Fed will provide some relief from high interest rates which will be good news for big ticket sales such as homes and vehicles.

It's a lot of information to ponder and predict what the 2025 economy will look like.  But, with certainty on who will be in charge in Washington, it’ll likely give some support to the country’s economic train.

My last observation is that despite there not being any talk on beginning to pay on the country’s 36-trillion dollar debt, I’m hopeful those discussions will begin.  Interest on the national debt is the single biggest expense the federal government has.  Both Republicans and Democrats have contributed to this problem in their quest to get re-elected.   At some point, we’ve got to have some sanity in government spending as 43-cents of every dollar they spend is BORROWED, mainly from China and Japan.

All points to ponder as head further into 2025.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com. 

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted January 6, 2025

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

This editorial is all about spending YOU and I’s tax dollars in Springfield and Washington.

In Springfield, Governor J-B Pritzker got re-elected in 2022 claiming that the state was flush with cash, had a rainy-day fund, and that Happy Times were here again.  This is despite pausing until AFTER the election, another motor fuel tax hike making this tax the SECOND highest in the country after California.

Well, Happy Times are NO longer here again.  The state was using federal COVID money to make its budget look flush with cash, knowing that money would be gone.  But, it got him re-elected.

Today, while Pritzker continues to pass out money for things like municipal parks and the like, he’s warned state agencies cuts are coming as the state is 3-billion (with a b) dollars in the red.

This winter’s state budget address should be a good one.

And, in Washington, President-elect Trump is trying to defy the long-entrenched government establishment with his so-called “Department of Government Efficiency”.   President Eisenhower warned as he was leaving office in 1961 of what he called the “military industrial complex” controlling the government.  64 years later, it’s as though the federal government is so big that it’s pretty much controlling things no matter who is president.   Let’s hope the “DOGE” agency as it’s called, can get federal government spending under control as 43 cents of every dollar they spend, is BORROWED.

When it comes down to it, it’s ALWAYS about the money because it helps them get re-elected, whether they’re in Springfield or Washington.

That’s our opinion.   We welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted November 5, 2024

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.   As we enter seasons of thanksgiving and giving, I also see the 2024 calendar continuing to run out of dates.  A year is about over and another is about to begin.

This is the time of year I always look back on the year past and the year ahead.   The older I get, the faster it appears time flies.   Or, maybe it’s just that I cram more into the days, weeks, and months, the older I get.

Either way, Father Time is passing whether we want it to or not.   Our 3 girls were just a few years old what seems like a few years ago.  Now they’re 43, 40, and 34.

What started out as no grandkids over 20 years ago, is now 8 grandchildren…I think.

And, as I look at my broadcast career, it doesn’t seem possible that I’m in my 51st year in the business I love—radio—and 42 in ownership.

Cathy and I were blessed 32 years ago when God opened the door for us to move our family to Taylorville.   

And, 17 years ago on October 16th, we were again blessed when God opened the door for us to begin management of our Clinton stations, which we took possession of on January First, 2008.

The 12 counties our combined 8 radio stations serve, have been sooo good to my family and I in our decades in the radio business in Central Illinois.   I can’t begin to thank the hundreds of advertisers and listeners that have enabled me to serve their towns with local information and entertainment.

As we prepare to enter another year, we take time to thank every person listening for being a part of our radio family.  It’s because of YOU that my great staff and I do what we do every day.   As I’ve told them many times over, we’re ALL here to SERVE.

Thanks for relying on us for information and entertainment every day.  We wish you and your family a most blessed holiday season, and may the love Christ shared when he first arrived over 2-thousand years ago, be prevalent in the world in 2025.  I’m Randal J. Miller.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted October 11, 2024

Dear Editor:
 

Donald Trump Jr. was one of multiple high-profile Republicans who criticized Vice President Kamala Harris following her visit to see Hurricane Helene's damage in Georgia, claiming she only offered those affected $750.

The Democratic presidential candidate mentioned the money during a speech in Augusta, sparking outrage from those on the right who responded as though that was all she was offering to those impacted by the disaster.

Social media users shared a clip of Vice President Harris saying, "And the federal relief and assistance that we have been providing has included FEMA providing $750 for folks who need immediate needs being met."

Politically, it was ‘Red Meat’. Kamala did not say that was all anyone would ever get.
Nor did Trump say Kamala had said that was all anyone would ever get.

Former President Donald Trump and his allies have claimed the Federal Emergency Management Agency can’t respond well enough to the aftermath of Hurricane Helene because it’s diverted so much money to helping migrants.

(Trump did say money ‘was diverted,’ he should have said money had been ‘transferred’ to FEMA to establish a new Shelter and Services Grant Program (SSP) to support CBP in effectively managing migrant processing and preventing the overcrowding of short-term CBP holding facilities, according to their March 1, 2023 Press Release.

Without a doubt, over a Billion Dollars in FEMA funding went to the migrant ‘crisis,’ which the Biden administration ‘caused.’ If you cannot or will not acknowledge this massive influx of migrants increased dramatically under the Biden administration, then that is something for another timeline.

As far as what you believe from the media, “He Said or She Said” may depend upon where you get your news. If you listen to NPR, ABC, CBS, CNN,  MSNBC and others they often try to tell you what to think. Those sources usually characterize everything Trump says as ‘misleading’ or ‘lies.’ That is not very objective journalism, is it?

Mayorkas seems to be up to his eyeballs in this entire Border Crisis, having been the point man for “Our Border is Secure.” and “There is no Border Crisis.”

The House voted to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in February 2024, casting a historic vote that marked the first time a Cabinet secretary had been impeached in nearly 150 years. 

Under two articles of impeachment accusing Mayorkas of "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and a "breach of public trust.”

You should expect to see Mayorkas testifying under oath again in the near future.

Brad Barnes

Clinton

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted September 25, 2024

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

I’m going back to our archives and share with you part of an editorial I did way back during the pandemic on February 7th, 2021.   I was about 2/3rd’s the way thru a 2018 book by author Doris Kearns Goodwin called “Leadership in Turbulent Times” describing how Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Lyndon B. Johnson--took the country thru various challenges our country went thru.  

Goodwin describes Lincoln as providing Transformational Leadership, Theodore Roosevelt providing Crisis Leadership, F-D-R providing Turnaround Leadership, and L-B-J providing Visionary Leadership.

The most striking thing about all 4, is that they all assembled people from all points of view and all political parties at the time, to help thru country thru what it was going thru at that time.  There was disagreement, but all 4 leaders listened to all sides, discussed the pros and cons of all sides, negotiated with all sides, and developed a consensus that all sides supported.  There was no demonizing one side or the other.  All points of view were listened to, and everyone was involved in arriving at a consensus.

Fast forward to the last decade or so.  Whether in Washington or Springfield, politicians have demonized the other side--whether it's left or right--making the atmosphere to come to a consensus on anything nearly impossible.  

Our country's founders over 200 years ago, set our democracy up with all sides' point of views considered to reach a consensus.  

Despite all the political rancor, the country is still basically to the left or right of the center, or as I call it, the middle.

The answer is still in the middle, whether we were in a Civil War, the industrial revolution, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, or a coronavirus outbreak.

The answer is still in the middle.  Politicians need to show more statesmanship and the ability to bring all sides, no matter which side we’re talking about, to the table.  Only then will our democracy work the way the Founding Fathers created it.  That's our opinion...we welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted September 23, 2024

Dear Editor:

Will you vote in favor of Capitalism? Or will you vote for more Socialism?

Kamala Harris is as ‘Progressive Left’ as Bernie Sanders. At least Bernie Sanders was honest about his Democratic Socialist ideology. Kamala is attempting to re-imagine and redefine her political ideology, or deny most of it. 

Kamala Harris is a Democratic-Socialist selected by an undemocratic process, chosen by an elite few. Kamala is then, by definition, a Socialist running as a Democratic candidate. 

The rules committee for the Democratic National Committee established the process by which Kamala was selected. There is nothing unlawful or unconstitutional about the process. However, it was not a ‘democratic process.’

The Democratic Socialists of America platform states: "transformation cannot be won by a small group of elites”, but that’s exactly who picked Kamala Harris, a small group of elites.

Kamala Harris supporters and self-described Democratic Socialists, either support most of what is in the Democratic Socialists of America platform, or some of it. 
Democrats hold more positive views of democratic socialism than capitalism.

The party that is fighting to save democracy says in the DSA platform: “The fight for socialism is a fight for true democracy, the nation that holds itself out as the world’s premier democracy is no democracy at all, and adds  the Senate and the Electoral College are undemocratic institutions.”

From the Democratic Socialist Platform:

Create a new political order through a second constitutional convention. Write the founding documents of a new socialist democracy.

Transform the rules of the capitalist global economy, rewriting intellectual property rules to be articulated as a Global Green New Deal.

Support creation of a new global monetary order to replace the US dollar.

End capitalist exploitation by taking control of production and economic planning.

The DSA platform explicitly calls for the nationalization of businesses like utilities and critical manufacturing and technology companies; and regulation of corporate, communications, data, and financial sectors.

Regulate food prices through limitations on commodity trading, pricing, and supply management.

Guarantee a job with union wages and benefits to everyone who wants one.
Guarantee publicly available water, energy, transit, food, and other necessities for all, free of charge. Guarantee public housing for all.

Grant immediate and unconditional Amnesty for all immigrants, regardless of current immigration status. Legalization of all living in the U.S. at this time, including voting rights and a path to citizenship for every US resident, and recognize the right to migrate and the right to stay home.

The DSA calls for the abolition of “the Carceral State;” police and prisons, security and surveillance agencies, immigration and border enforcement, courts and prosecutors.
Demilitarize the border and end all immigrant detention and abolish ICE 
Dramatically slash US military spending and close all US foreign military bases.

Punish corporate bad actors by de-chartering corporations, and limit the size and power of businesses not susceptible to nationalization or social control, and limit maximum wages.

If you vote for a Democratic-Socialist, you may get a lot more Socialism than you bargained for.

Copyrights reserved by Bradley D Barnes
https://www.dsausa.org/dsa-political-platform-from-2021

Sincerely,

Bradley D. Barnes

Clinton

EDITORIAL written 8/10/24 by rjm.  

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

In a year where Central Illinois farmers are growing what looks to be a bumper crop, the Biden-Harris Administration is failing to keep the overseas markets we have as well as find new markets for the corn and soybeans that feed the world.

In interviews I did on our 2 ag stations WTIM Taylorville and WHOW Clinton during Ag Day at the Illinois State Fair, presidents of the state’s corn and soybean associations shared with our listeners that overseas sales of their products are languishing while we face a high carryover of last year’s crop, plus what will be another bumper crop this year.

Farm Credit Illinois President and CEO Aaron Johnson also shared high interest rates and low commodity prices have his farmer customers cutting back on farm machinery purchases.  And, we think with continued high costs for fertilizer and fuel, farmers may cut back on these inputs for next year, all negatively affecting our local economy.

Every time the national corn and soybean associations are thrown a bone by the Biden E-P-A about using that bumper crop for sustainable fuels like increased ethanol use, biodiesel use, or the new bio aviation fuel, the Administration then attaches strings to any new uses by stating the crop must have a conservation component attached to it with endless documentation to satisfy their green agenda.

In an opinion piece by Republican U-S Congressman Jason Smith from Missouri, in Agri-Pulse earlier this year, he states, and I’m quoting from his piece:

Unfortunately, the Biden Administration continues to drag its feet on enforcing existing trade agreements to protect our agriculture exporters. Simultaneously, it is bypassing Congress to negotiate fake, unenforceable trade dialogues, working groups, compacts, and handshakes on an ad hoc basis – zero strategy whatsoever. End of quote.

Bottom line is:   We think agriculture doesn’t fit into the Biden-Harris Administration’s green agenda, and another 4 years will make matters worse.  That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

Well, it’s summer.   Time for hot weather, vacations, swimming pools, t-ball and Little League games, reunions, and….Fairs.

Our local Fairs give our youth thru-out Central Illinois, the opportunity to show off their:   cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, chickens, flowers, cookies...well, you get the idea.

To show off all those things, these kids work countless hours getting ready for that big moment when that animal, bouquet of flowers, or plate of cookies, goes before the judges.   

Thanks to many businesses in our listening area, our stations will again have the honor of going out and broadcasting live from many of these Fairs.  Some of my greatest memories as a broadcaster and broadcast owner, are when I hear these kids and teenagers be interviewed to talk about all the hard work they put in ahead of the big moment when their animal or item is judged.

From the Junior, 4-H and County Fairs, to the State Fair, we’ll be there all summer long, capturing the sounds of summer.   We put many miles on our station vehicles, going out and interviewing those kids and teenagers that will be showing in the many Fairs across the area.  And, you’ll read the results of all that judging on the Fair Results page of taylorvilledailynews.com and dewittdailynews.com.

We encourage you to go out and support the future of agriculture by attending these Fairs, walking thru the barns and culinary buildings, and see that the future of agriculture is in good hands.

Yup, it’s summer….it’s hot….and it’s Fair season.   Go out and enjoy it...and have a corn dog!

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted May 16, 2024

While we’ve heard all the bad news about doing business in Illinois, I want to share some GOOD stories with you!

I’m writing this editorial on May 16th.   Earlier today, I covered the grand opening of the multi-million dollar Great Western popcorn oil plant recently completed in the Pana Industrial Park.  The City of Pana and the Pana Industrial Development Corporation, worked together for months making this plant a reality.   Kirby Casner, Pana’s economic development director, led the charge and should be complimented for her tenacity in getting this plant and its 50 jobs, up and going after a fire 2 years ago totally destroyed their former plant west of Assumption.

And, we’re on the verge of some great things happening in Taylorville as well.   The Christian County Economic Development Corporation, led by its executive director and Taylorville native Matt Hart, are working with the City of Taylorville to not only bring new business and jobs to the Christian County seat, but to re-purpose many vacant buildings for new owners that will also bring jobs.

In our Clinton-Monticello-Lincoln market, Curt Homann is leading the DeWitt County Development Council and that non-profit entity is providing grants to deserving county businesses to expand, as well as working with county officials in attracting industry and jobs to the county.

The Piatt County seat of Monticello continues to push dirt, build new homes, and expand.   Its school complex, thanks to a tax referendum passed a few years ago, is now the envy of schools and residents across Central Illinois.  And, new retail businesses continue to open.

The Logan County seat of Lincoln, christened by Abraham Lincoln himself, has established an organization called the “Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development” or LEAD, with members made up many different business categories.  The organization is privately funded by the business community.

These are examples of what the communities in our listening area are doing to grow.      Be listening and watching on our media platforms for the great, positive things happening right here in Central Illinois!  That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted May 16, 2024

Dear Editor:

On June 28, 2024, I will retire.  I will have completed 9 years as the CUSD 15 superintendent and 33 years of my public-school career.  It went by very quickly!  I have told friends, and now I will tell all of you, that this has been the best 9 years of my career. 

I moved my family here in July of 2015 excited to take on a new position that I hoped would allow me to grow professionally and as a person.  I will say that the experience did not disappoint me, and I sure hope it did not disappoint any of you either.  I got to share my perspective on leadership and my faith.

I want to express my gratitude to the board that hired me back in December of 2014.  They had confidence in me to do the work and let me operate the district accordingly.  I can’t express how much their support meant to me.  I want to express my gratitude toward those that have served on the board since then, who also gave me the same support.  The board in place today has been an outstanding group with which to work.  We went through a tough couple of years together during the pandemic, but I knew I had their support every day.

I have gotten to know many great people over my time working for CUSD 15.  The teachers and support staff have been great as we have tried new things and strived for improvement every year.  Again, we survived two tough years together as well.  I will never forget that!

The administration team changed a little bit from 2015 until today.  I have enjoyed working with all of them as individuals and as a team.  I truly believe we all helped each other during our time together.  The Unit Office staff has changed over since 2015.  They are a wonderful group of people who have supported me to the utmost each day.  I miss those that started with me and retired before me.

I appreciate my friends in the local media who were probably too good to me at times.  Local law enforcement has been a wonderful partner as well, and I could list numerous community agencies and dignitaries with whom I’ve worked.

Lastly, from my wife Jody and me to the community of Clinton, we thank you for the immediate embrace of our family when we moved here.  My youngest son was half way through high school when we moved.  Who does that to their kid?!  The community and his classmates made him feel welcome immediately and allowed us to exhale.  It also allowed us to add to our family. 

I’ve made so many good friends in the business community while doing business, being a member of Rotary and working with city and county government.  I never met any resistance because the entities all worked together for the betterment of the community.  

I can’t think of a better place to have ended my career, and a better place to live in retirement.  Although my job at the district is ending, Jody and I will still be living here in the place that made us feel like we were at home.  I will see you around town.  God bless!

Curt Nettles
Supt. Clinton CUSD 15
Clinton, IL 61727

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted April 3, 2024

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

You may remember in a late December editorial, I shared that a
colleague of mine forwarded an article by marketing guru Roy Williams who read the book Don Quixote, written in 1605.  Williams extracts from the book, that civilization has lived in 40 year pendulums from good to evil, and back to good.  Williams' opinion is that we've had 40 years of evil, and that 2024 will be the year that pendulum swings back to starting towards good again.

Now comes a story reported by multiple news outlets from the state of Oregon, doing a U-turn on a short-lived liberal policy that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of certain drugs.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, on April First signed into law a bill that reverses Measure 110, a 2020 law that voters OK’d to decriminalize most illegal possession of controlled substance offenses and redirect much of the state's marijuana tax revenue to fund grants for addiction services.

Around 58% of Oregon residents approved the initial measure.   Since that time, addiction and overdose deaths have skyrocketed in Oregon and nationwide as fentanyl swept across the country. In a change of heart in August, 56% of Oregonians disapproved of the pioneering drug law and both Republicans and Democrats introduced legislation to roll back the controversial measure which the Governor signed into law.

Going back to the Don Quixote book written in 1605 that marketing guru Roy Williams quoted late last year saying civilization has lived in 40 year pendulums from good to evil, and back to good, it’s Williams' opinion we've had 40 years of evil, and that 2024 will be the year that pendulum swings back to starting towards good again.

Let’s hope for the country’s sake, and for the sake of the human race, that we’re seeing that happen.   Just maybe.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted March 7, 2024

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

A news release came across my e-mail from the Illinois Corn Growers Association that I took note of.   On February 22nd, Illinois state lawmakers tried hitting the gas to incorporate California’s extreme vehicle emissions standards into the Midwest.

HB1634 allows California to govern Illinois Vehicle Code and would essentially require 35% of new light duty vehicles including cars, SUV’s and pick-up trucks sold must be electric by 2026. By 2035, 100% must be electric.

The bill also mandates 75% of all new heavy- duty truck sales and 40% of class 7 and 8 tractor sales must be zero emission by 2035, and requires new trucks sold to be zero emission starting in 2036. Requires used trucks owned by medium and large fleets also be zero emission by 2042.

Illinois Corn Growers Association President Dave Rylander was quoted as saying if this bill passes, it will have drastic impacts on agriculture, trucking and transportation industries, and also open the door for more aggressive regulations without the voter’s consent in the future.

I can’t believe that in one of the largest corn producing and ethanol producing states in the nation, a bill like this would even see the light of day.

But, some Chicago Democrats that don’t understand agriculture or anything south of Interstate 80, are pushing this and introduced the bill in the first place.

The Corn Growers are trying to stop this bill before it ever gets a hearing, and they need YOUR help.   Please click HERE to voice your concern with HB1634.  

Please take the time to respond NOW before this bill gets any further.   Its passage will mean higher prices for our vehicles, higher costs for agriculture, trucking and transportation, which means even MORE inflation put on our backs.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio-dot-com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted February 26, 2024

If you are planning to vote in the Republican primary for State House District 88, consider casting that vote for Regan Deering. Regan is a family-oriented person, wife and mother of three, who has served as the volunteer Chair of the Decatur Public School Foundation, oversaw the building of a new community food bank, and currently sits on her local school board. She's a former educator and small business owner. 
 
When you meet Regan, you meet the real Regan, not someone who has been in politics for over a decade. Regan is conservative in her approach to issues that plague Illinois and pledges to stand up to the Chicago cabal in the General Assembly that seeks to rule downstate Illinois. 
 
Her opponent in the primary, lawyer Chuck Erikson, has served for 12 years on the McLean County Board and chairs the Land Use Committee. He bears the responsibility, by his voting record, for the proliferation of the ruinous wind energy projects that carpet McLean County and pollute the night sky with flashing red lights. Rural living has been tainted all for a negligible impact on global CO2 emission. He should not be elected to the state house.
 
Instead of another lawyer, let’s put Regan in the state house to fight for local governance in downstate Illinois. 
 
Pat Ryan
Dewitt County Board Member
Farmer City, IL 

STATION EDITORIAL 

Posted February 8, 2024

This is a station editorial, I’m Randal J. Miller, station president.

The dis-respect for the rule of law among those who are citizens of this country, is bad enough.   But for dozens of illegal immigrants who are being housed as sanctuary citizens in New York City, to beat 1 city police officers January 27th, is beyond belief.

According to CBS News, as the NYPD continues its search for six more suspects, pressure is mounting to deport the asylum seekers accused of attacking officers in Times Square.

The NYPD says of the dozen migrants involved in attack on January 27th, six are still wanted. Six were arrested, but only one is in jail; the rest were released.

On February First,  scores of Midtown South police officers were in the courtroom when a judge ordered one of those arrested, held on $15,000 bail for second-degree assault and obstructing governmental administration. The Manhattan District Attorney says he's the man accused of starting the fight. Police say they identified him by the tattoo on his neck.

In court, he was wearing a shirt that said, "Work hard. Be kind."

The head of the police union asked why 4 of the attackers were released on their own recognizance.  

New York Governor Kathy Hochul reiterated calls to deport them, quoting the Governor:    "Get them all and send them back. You don't touch our police officers. You don't touch anybody," she said.

When are we as a people, going to begin respecting the rule of law, and those whose job it is to enforce the law?   It goes back to what I’ve been saying for months.   It seems what was wrong is now right.   

A democracy can’t live like this.   Human beings created by God can’t live like this.   Something’s gotta change.   Inside of each one of us.

That’s our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com. 

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted December 26, 2023

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.

I think I shared with you in this space a few months ago, how a friend told me his philosophy of the world as it's playing out:  Since we've conquered about everything that was thought to be impossible 100, 50, 25, or even 10 years ago, we have nothing left to fix or solve.   As a result, my friend says, we've gone to thiking today that what was wrong is now right.

Take the case of of Hamas' attack on Israel in October.   The United States has been a long-time ally of Israel, but sadly much of the sentiment in this country has been it's the Palestinians who have been wronged despite the horrible atrocities Hamas had inflicted on Israeli hostages.   Hamas has showed pictures of dragging or beheading babies and children.

And, this is supposed to be right?

Major U-S university presidents were grilled by Congress earlier in December on the fact demonstrations supporting the Palestinians have broken out on their campuses.  And what did they do?   Support such demonstrations under the guise of free speech.

I go back to what I said at the start of this editorial.  So, what's wrong is now right?   Evil is now good?

But, there IS hope.  A colleague of mine forwarded an article by marketing guru Roy Williams who read the book Don Quixote, written in 1605.  Williams extracts from the book, that civilization has lived in 40 year pendulums from good to evil, and back to good.  Williams' opinion is that we've had 40 years of evil, and that 2024 will be the year that pendulum swings back to starting towards good again.  I hope he's right.

That's our opinion.  We welcome yours.  Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Submitted December 7, 2023

Dear Editor:

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce takes pride in supporting employers across Illinois by coordinating with local governments to bring more economic development and employment opportunities to our state, building a more resilient local economy. 

To that extent, our Chamber hopes to see Wolf Carbon Solutions’ Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) pipeline break ground to begin construction soon. The Mt. Simon Hub will have significant positive economic impacts that will benefit Illinois’ economy, workforce and longstanding industries – while attracting new ones. 

The development of carbon capture infrastructure will position Illinois as a viable option for traditional industrial CO2 emitters looking to expand their operations. Conversely, we may see industries expand to neighboring states, or leave our state in the years to come, due to a lack of CCS infrastructure. In addition to attracting new industries and their investment dollars to Illinois, the Mt. Simon Hub will have an outsized impact on our long-standing agriculture industry as well. 

The ethanol plants that purchase corn from Illinois farmers will be able to increase their production while meeting emission standards by capturing their CO2. This will increase the volume of corn that ethanol producers can purchase and process from farmers – putting more money in the hands of our local farming community.  

These newfound revenues will ultimately find their way into our local economy, creating more local jobs and investments in local businesses. With an estimated $1.7 billion in total benefits from construction and a further $941 million in benefits from 2025-2036, the Mt. Simon Hub will be a landmark project and an economic boon to the Illinois economy. 

With that in mind, we hope our community will support this project to give Illinois a competitive edge in the race to retain and attract new industries while also playing our part in reducing global carbon emissions. 

Sincerely,

Clark Kaericher, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs and Executive Director of Technology and Healthcare, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Springfield, IL

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted October 20, 2023

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.   Well, there's a chill in the air, the leaves are turning colors, and that means we're headed for the holiday season.

As we pause to reflect on 2023 and look ahead to a new year, it's time to say thank you.   Thank you to our thousands of listeners across Central Illinois that rely on our on-air and on-line platforms to get their information and entertainment every day.

Thank you to our many advertisers in both our Taylorville and Clinton markets, that see the value we bring to them in delivering customers to them on-air and on-line.

And, most of all, we thank God for the opportunity of serving you every day, 7 days a week.

We've been honored to serve our Taylorville, Pana and Shelbyville area folks for 31 years come December First.

And, we just passed the 16th anniversary of our acqusition of our Clinton media platforms.

We've continued to invest back into our communities by providing news, local sports, and more ways that local businesses can deliver their message to prospective customers.   Our new digital electronic sign went on-line in Taylorville in August providing advertisers another way of promoting their brand.  Our newest station 965thechill.com in Taylorville just celebrated its first anniversary in August, providing on-air and streaming platforms with cool hits from the 50's thru the 80's for businesses to reach the 50 and over demographic.  And, we have plans in the works to begin a new WTIM Morning Show every Monday from Pana; this in addition to our WTIM Morning Show originated from Shelbyville every Friday and from our Taylorville studios other days of the week.

As I tell my staff every day, we're here to serve, and our goal as we head towards the end of 2023 and begin 2024, is to continue to do that, constantly improving what we do for you along the way.  

On behalf of myself, my staff and family, THANK YOU for allowing us to serve you and we look forward to doing the same in 2024.

STATION EDITORIAL

Posted September 4, 2023

This is a station editorial, I'm Randal J. Miller, station president.  Myself and many others have long lamented about the lack of self-control in government spending on both the state and federal levels, no matter what party is in power.   

Seems like those running Illinois' checkbook just keep taxing us to fund what they think the priorities are but many times they aren't what Joe and Nancy Lunchbucket want.  What looms in Springfield is the public pension debt which according to the illinoispolicy.org web site, is now 4-point-4 billion because legislators are supposedly underfunding that pension fund on purpose.

And, on the federal level, politicians think they have an open-ended credit card and as a result the country now has a debt the legislators claim is only 32-trillion, but according to the web site "truthinaccounting.org" where the national debt tally shows by the second, the true U-S debt is closer to 159-trillion dollars.   That's just short of one MILLION for each U-S taxpayer.

The sad part about all this, is that spending both in Illinois and in Washington is in the "runaway" category with no signs of ending.

The U-S government is the biggest borrower in the country.   Can you imagine what the true interest rate you and I pay to borrow, would be, if our country didn't have to make principal and interest payments on that 159-trillion dollar debt?

This issue doesn't make the headlines because frankly politicians want to ignore it.  Passing out money, whether it's COVID funding or pork projects, get them re-elected.   It's like being on an addictive drug.  Once you've tasted the candy, you don't want to stop.

With an election year looming next year, it's time you and I start asking the question to whoever runs for any office:   What are you going to do about the out of control government spending, whether in Springfield or Washington?   If they give you a gobbly-gook answer, you know they're either not going to answer the question, or do nothing about it.
And, that unfunded state pension obligation, and the national debt clock, both continue to roll on.   That's our opinion, we welcome yours.   Our e-mail address is editorial@randyradio.com.