There is something about this area that brings a tear to my eye. Locals know it and visitors try to experience it for themselves. Here are 3 Things we really love about the Herald News circulation area. (An idea blatantly stolen from the Sun-Times.)
1. Bridges. The one-way roads leading us in are just fine. But wait! It's a setup! Get out! All roads leading out of the downtown trap are "struck up." We still haven't found the way out of town so now we telecommute to work. It's the domestic sequel of "A Bridge Too Far."
Homeless man Brian Delaney crosses over the Jackson Street bridge in Joliet as the Cass Street bridge malfunctions in the background, flipping cars into the river.(Michael R. Schmidt photo).
2. Slovenian people. They're a great, jovial bunch. The Zdralevich family introduced the world's greatest Poorboy sandwich to our region. Why can't I have more Merichka's in my diet?Jak się masz!
Janez Kramberger (left), the chairman of a Slovenian parlimentary committee for relations with Slovenians living abroad, takes photos of the interior of St. Joseph Catholic Church in downtown Joliet. (Liz Wilkinson Allen photo)
3. Empress casino. Despite the fire, the Egyptian spirit of the casino continues to thrive in our community. The generous employees volunteer in our villages; they entertain us with poker games and they feed us with buffets. God bless our heroes at Empress Casino!
Billowing smoke from the Empress Casino fire can be seen from miles away in the rural area Friday, March 20, 2009, outside Joliet as children attempt to cook lunch using heat from the blaze. (incorrect file photo)
Bonus Thing. Harrah's casino. As the casino that didn't burn down, our livelihood depends on the success of our beloved downtown gambling barge. God bless our Harrah's Heroes! Keep that money flowing in.
Like what you're reading? Toot about me on your Twitter and if I see your Tweet, I'll give you a Twix.
Herald News staffer Brian Delaney reportedly works behind the
scenes as a page designer/copy editor and is a delegate for The Newspaper
Guild. He is a graduate of NIU and holds a yellow belt in Korean martial
arts. When Delaney is not cutting invasive brush at Midewin or crashing his
mountain bike in Chicago, the self-described "billionaire playboy" uses his
uncanny Photoshop abilities to entertain a worldwide audience.
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