For the first time in American history, a foreign general has been appointed to assume the duties of chief of staff of the U.S. Army in Europe. This is a German general by the name of Laubenthal, who will command 30,000 American soldiers stationed in Europe. Laubenthal has never taken an oath to our Constitution. Obama has fired dozens of American generals, so why a foreigner? Is it all part of Obama’s seemingly one-world globalist agenda? This is what Obama meant when he talked about fundamental change, and it will continue. Wake up, America.

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Hello, Lombard. I find it funny that there are people in the Lombardian complaining about Rauner’s wealth, yet we have Michael Madigan who’s a millionaire, Pat Quinn, who’s a millionaire, Dick Durbin, I believe is a millionaire. They’re in office, yet we do not bring up their wealth. But because someone who’s rich and can afford things, we automatically say they’re not a hardworking individual, that they are wealthy and don’t know what it’s like for the struggling people of Illinois. Let me fill you in. Michael Madigan, Pat Quinn, Blagojevich all created this mess in the state of Illinois, along with some other governors whose names I don’t know. The problem with this state is that we don’t know when to stop. It doesn’t matter that we don’t have enough money. Let’s raise taxes on everybody.

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This is Lombard calling. This is regarding the driver who said there is no such law about turning and keeping in your lane, he said it’s a courtesy. He needs to re-read the 2014 Rules of the Road put out by the secretary of state. Page 26 and 27 both tell you, you are to stay as close to the lane you are turning into. So, that person’s wrong, and will be the one getting a ticket if he or she hits somebody trying to move over into the wrong lane if he or she is making a turn.

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The government spent $3.9 million on researching the effects of excessive drinking on monkeys. Our hard-earned money. Did Kirk or Durbin vote yes? If they did, they should be fired. We are the only ones to stop this nonsense.

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Lombard calling. Did he really get on TV again and say that the world is a safer place since he’s been the president? Really? I’m not sure who’s more delusional; him or the people who voted for him. It’s crazy stuff, folks. Anyway, thanks for voting for him. I feel much safer. I hope you do.

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Hello, this is Villa Park calling. I was just wondering if Villa Park prunes the trees on the parkways. I have seven trees on my parkway and I’ve lived here for 20 years and they’ve never been pruned. I go out there every day and pick up dead branches. I was just wondering if there’s a plan in town or if we have to call and ask. Thank you.

Villa Park’s Superintendent of Streets & Forestry Rich Salerno responded: “The village has over 10,000 trees in our inventory. Prior to 2010, the village used to contract tree trimming which was on a five year-cycle to trim the entire village. Due to the Dutch elm disease (DED) and now, the emerald ash borer, the village’s primary concern is with hazardous tree removal. The village removed over 300 trees last year, and have identified over 700 trees for removal this year. We currently trim trees by service request which pose a hazard or are in a dangerous situation for the public.—JAC

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This is to the village president. All these empty buildings: Mr. Z, Kmart, the Deicke Home, the building next door to the Deicke Home, stores in Eastgate Shopping Center, when are they going to put some things in around here? It would be nice if somebody took over the Deicke Home. It would house a lot of people. I don’t know why the village couldn’t buy the building for an investment. Thank you. Have a nice day. Hope somebody responds.

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Regarding the question about Deer Fina’s closing in the Lombardian, yes all parties who were listed all reached out to the business owner and tried to assist.  However, business decisions made by the owners were the cause of the closing, not a price increase in the rent. If citizens of Lombard wish to see more growth in the downtown district, they must frequent what is there currently. The only way to attract more businesses to invest in our downtown is by showing the businesses that they are supported by the residents. Frequent downtown and they will come.

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I sit here this morning reading this week’s SPEAK OUT and just shaking my head. So many times, I read in this column and elsewhere, people complaining that the village is not doing enough to keep existing or bring new businesses downtown. Yet, we finally have a trustee who is willing to roll up his sleeves to save a business in downtown from going under and we still have people complaining about it. Unreal. Do these callers realize that the former owners of The Vino Cellar were apparently days away from closing their doors permanently? The Whittingtons  worked hard to find a new owner for the business. They worked even harder to keep it open. For clarification, it is not illegal for a trustee or his family to manage a business in his district. They cannot own a business within a TIF district.  There are new owners for The Vino Cellar and Whittington’s wife is managing it for them. The Whittingtons are my neighbors and I am proud to call Dan my trustee.  To those who called in and complained, get a life. We finally have an elected official who actually stays true to his campaign promises. He does not just sit on the dais and talk about doing something; he gets his hands dirty and does it. Keep up the great work, Dan.

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Hey, Villa Park, wondering who is responsible for cutting the weeds along the east side of Villa north of the railroad tracks by the quarry. They’re hanging out into the road. They’re a hazard. Isn’t there some kind of a weed ordinance?

Villa Park’s Superintendent of Streets and Forestry Rich Salerno related the following on Monday, Sept. 29: “Our parks department mowed along the curb this past week.—JAC

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The recently passed village grant policy is not a bad thing. What I don’t like is the reason or motivation behind it. This started in the spring by certain board members attacking the scholarships because a princess is the daughter of a trustee. So they went after the scholarships. Giving grant money to family of elected officials or village employees was never an issue; it’s not an issue now. But to grandstand and compare the ethics of Lombard to the state of Illinois? How many elected state officials are in prison, indicted or under investigation?  That should not be our role model. This is feel-good legislation that was passed at the wrong time for the wrong reasons. Is there an elected official who is going to study the family tree of all grant applicants to make sure none are related to someone who is employed or in office now? 

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It just figures, Lombard. People around here tend to stir up the rumor mill and that is true about the Whittingtons and the wine bar. His wife is the employee and he does not own it. Glad the Lombardian got the facts before things got out of hand. By the way, our current village president is a business owner and so was our former village president, whether in their own district or not. I’m sure they aren’t alone. I remember one former trustee was taken to task for actually opening a business outside of Lombard. Let’s be glad that people are willing to work on helping our downtown instead of looking for something to start a controversy.

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Could someone please explain why it’s permissible for Trustee Whittington’s wife to manage a business in his district, but Trustee Fugiel’s daughter almost wasn’t allowed to be awarded a $1,000 scholarship as a Lilac Princess? 

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The Mueller memorial gazebo is very nice, but to put it behind the Lombard Historical Society property is not a good place. It belongs in a park in an open space.

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I’ve been a post office box customer at the Lombard Post Office since 1981 and I can’t believe what’s going on there. When that nice Mr. Mertz was the postmaster, my mail would be in my post office box by 8:30. After he retired we got somebody else who put up a sign that said mail would be there by 10 o’clock. Then, we got somebody else later on, and there’s still a sign there now that says the mail will be out by 10 o’clock. Today is Oct. 3, it’s not holiday season yet and I was there at 10:30 and there’s no mail in my mailbox, which is unusual for the third of the month. I’m still getting bills by then. I went back at 11, there’s still no mail in my mailbox, and at 12:30 I went back and guess what? They finally got around to the P.O. box mail. That is totally unacceptable. I pay a premium to get my mail.

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Obama sent 3,000 of our troops to Africa to help with Ebola. Our troops are not trained as medical workers; they are not trained as social workers. Mr. President, our trained soldiers fight wars. The military’s mission is to destroy the enemy forces. You are changing our world to your vision. You are not the emperor.

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I was watching the college grads on TV who owe $100,000 for their college loans. I hope they learned that when they get out, you might want to marry, buy a house, a car, there will be living expenses, you’ll need to save money for a rainy day and retirement. What are we up to now, about $400,000? Be sure to get a good job; oh, there’s another problem. There aren’t any jobs in America. But Dick Durbin has the solution. He’s going to let you refinance your loan so your children and grandchildren can pay it off after you’re gone. Is there something wrong with this or is it me?