by Wesley Bryant | Oct 12, 2024 | Stories
SHE FLASHES her lights and pushes the gas pedal a little harder. The walkie-talkie is too quiet, so she spins the dial and makes her bulletproof vest a little more comfortable. She worked hard to wear that badge. She joined the force to give people comfort and safety...
by Jeriah Brumfield | Oct 12, 2024 | Stories
LIFE AS a firefighter requires immense bravery, but for Zachary Langford, the greatest reward is being able to say, “I helped.” The piercing fire alarm of a nearby building would jolt anyone awake. It signals chaos and uncertainty. But for Langford, that...
by Jeriah Brumfield | Oct 12, 2024 | Stories
TWICE A year, the charming community of Belvidere comes together for an event that has become a staple on the local calendar — the biannual Belvidere Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry. This special event brings delicious food and live music to the community and...
by Jeriah Brumfield | Oct 12, 2024 | Stories
VERONICA LEECH spent over 30 years erasing and rewriting equations on dry-erase boards in school systems. Her distinctive handwriting, and even more so her zeal for learning, are well remembered by her former students. Now, her daughter, Lauren Flatt, serves as a dual...
by Guest Writer | Oct 12, 2024 | Stories
AS I sit here enjoying some of my favorite breakfast tacos at Walnut Hill Coffee Company, I can’t help but marvel at the ambiance. I think to myself, “How could one coffee shop change the entire dynamics of a town?” Yet, I look up and see just that. When Walnut...
by Wesley Bryant | Sep 13, 2024 | Stories
OUR FOOD nourishes us, from the soil beneath our feet to the table where we gather with family and friends. The hot sun beams from the sky into the field of sprouting seeds. Farmers rise early, tending to their crops with the same care and dedication that their...
