Letters to the Editor — The Villagers Voice

Letter to the Editor: Why Americans Aren’t Likely to Embrace Electric Vehicle Mandates

April 24, 2023 by Villagers Voice

You’d never guess it based on the nonstop barrage of slick TV ads and media hype, but Americans aren’t big fans of electric vehicles. In fact, a new Gallup poll shows that just four percent currently own an EV and four in 10 have no interest in buying one.

There are many legitimate reasons why this is the case. But U.S. consumers may have far less choice in the matter in the not-so-distant future.

Proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules would effectively mandate by 2032 that two out of every three new passenger vehicles sold in the United States are electric. And a handful of states will ban sales of new conventional vehicles starting in 2035. [Read more...]

Rich Gurka: Non-Citizens to Become Illinois Police Officers?

March 30, 2023 by Villagers Voice

Illinois House Bill 3751 is garnering lots of support in the Illinois legislature. [Read more...]

President Biden is Right: We Need Oil – Here’s Why

February 21, 2023 by Villagers Voice

By Seth Whitehead, Executive Director
Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

President Biden strayed from his administration’s narrative during his recent State of the Union address, saying, “We’re going to need oil for at least another decade. … And beyond that.” Many of his “Keep It In the Ground” supporters scoffed at the unscripted remarks. But it was actually a massive understatement. [Read more...]

Rich Gurka: Illinois, the “Fourth Reich?”

January 13, 2023 by Villagers Voice

"Nazi Germany invaded France in 1940. In every occupied town, Nazi soldiers put up posters that demanded citizens surrender their firearms within 24 hours or else be shot. Despite the consequences, many French citizens refused to comply with the order. In ‘GUN CONTROL IN NAZI OCCUPIED FRANCE; TYRANNY AND RESISTANCE’, author Stephen P. Halbrook tells this story of Nazi repression and the brave French citizens who refused to surrender to it.” [Read more...]

Wisper Internet Requests Letters Supporting High Speed Internet for Rural White County

December 29, 2022 by Villagers Voice

Proponents of bringing Wisper Internet to the southern portion of White County are asking for assistance. The rural portion of the county is greatly underserved with internet and cell phone service. With funding being released for rural broadband services, residents of the Herald and surrounding area are banding together to bring high speed internet service into their homes and businesses. George Johnson is spearheading the movement in Herald, saying this is the opportunity to bring 400MBPS internet speed to the area. [Read more...]

Rich Gurka – “Long time dementia resident registered to vote at Wabash Christian Village.”

November 3, 2022 by Villagers Voice

** This is an EXACT reprinting of an article published in the Villagers Voice, Norris City, Illinois, on 02 November 2022 by KATHY SANDS **

“A report has surfaced that a resident with long term dementia was recently registered to vote at Wabash Christian Village. The witness stated that two people approached her mother, who she says can’t remember what she had for breakfast. One of the women who approached the resident about voting was reportedly an activities director at the nursing home and the other woman was unknown to the witness.” [Read more...]

Rich Gurka – Bits and Pieces

October 27, 2022 by Villagers Voice

Submitted by Rich Gurka

1. July 28, 2021. In explosive comments today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) told reporters that President Biden DOES NOT have the authority to cancel student loan debt. “People think that the President of the United States has the power of debt forgiveness. He does not. He can postpone, he can delay, but he does not have that power.” Pelosi argued that student loan forgiveness can only be accomplished through “an act of Congress.” (source: Forbes magazine ) [Read more...]

Guest Column: Illinois Oil Producers Doing Good Work In the Community

October 21, 2022 by Villagers Voice

Submitted by Seth Whitehead, Executive Director, Illinois Petroleum Resources Board

If you are a “downstate” Illinoisan, you have probably seen a pump jack or two nodding up and down somewhere near where you live and are aware there is significant oil production in the state. But a lot of Southern Illinoisans may not know that almost all the folks that drill and pump those oil wells that dot the countryside live in the same communities where they produce. The complete opposite of “Big Oil,” most Illinois oil producers are your neighbors and fellow small business owners. A vast majority of those local oil producers are also doing good things across Southern Illinois community. Here are just a few examples. [Read more...]