The other day I was westbound on Grove and discovered the stop signs for north- and southbound Park had been removed. I'd like to know why. Many of us were glad that those stop signs were added, as drivers tend to whiz by on Park. It was an accident waiting to happen. While I still was cautious at the intersection, the stop signs provided some sense of safety for those of us driving on Grove. I am disappointed that the stop signs were removed. Even if there had not been many, or any, incidents, it's only a matter of time before there is a collision there.

Your question was forwarded to Village of Lombard officials, who responded: "Temporary stop signs were installed at the intersection of Grove and Park due to construction in the area. The signs were removed when their temporary status had expired; however, the issue was brought before the Public Safety and Transportation Committee at their meeting on Monday, Nov. 6, and it was determined that the location fits specific criteria that warrants the installation of permanent stop signs. Temporary stop signs will be replaced at the intersection until permanent stop signs can be installed. As always, please feel free to contact the Lombard Police Department with any questions you may have regarding traffic control at 630-873-4400."—JAC

* * *

Hi. I have a student at Willowbrook High School and I just wanted to say I'm very disappointed in the school for leaving on biased news channels. Our students are there to learn, not to be indoctrinated to anyone's own private political beliefs. Fix the problem by putting on something else. Thank you.

* * *

President Trump has been in office now for 10 months. For all you Trump haters here are some statistics. Right now our unemployment rate is at 4.3 percent, the lowest in 17 years. American consumers are the most confident they've been in 17 years. More good news, we're already a healthier economy since President Trump was elected. Consumer confidence index was 125.9 in October, up from a revised 120.6 in September and the highest reading since December of 2000. These stats do not lie. So for all you Trump haters out there, I think you have to start smelling the coffee and see the great job that he really is doing. Thank you.

* * *

Yes. This is Lombard calling. I just want to state that Trump needs to be impeached as soon as possible. Thank you, bye.

* * *

Page 23 in the Lombardian says "Illinois, 10,800 lost jobs in September. Illinois, second worst in state debt." I was born and raised in Illinois, lived through a lot of governors and we've never been in this state of disarray until Gov. Bruce Rauner walked into the state Capitol. Then you read down, "Florida raids Illinois for businesses." Oh, wow, maybe the governor ought to do something about that instead of letting Florida come through and try to steal jobs from us. You can say what you want about everybody but the state of Illinois has never been in the state of disarray it's in now since Gov. Rauner walked into office. Blame it on the Democrats if it makes you feel better but I'm sorry, it's not the Democrats. It's the fool that's sitting in Springfield as our governor.

* * *

I read with amusement regarding the person who called about "Trump and the boneheads who backed him." Then the person goes on for several paragraphs basically complaining about Trump and insulting half the country. What amuses me is that people such as this person never actually reference any kind of policy or any kind of effect that they or anybody they know might be suffering from due to Trump being president. Seems to me that instead of just placing your morality upon half the country who did vote for him, you might want to get a little more specific about what's wrong with the policies, because you will never convince anybody that you are right just because you say you are right. Thank you.

* * *

It's Saturday morning in Lombard, it's raining hard; it's pretty dark out because of the rain. About 25 percent of the people don't have their headlights on, even though their windshield wipers are going. That's the law in the state of Illinois. What's so hard to understand about that? It's a safety issue, it's a common-sense issue and it's a legal issue. People, get your act together. Put your lights on if it's raining already.

* * *

Illegal immigration is a big problem in this country. Some states have reported spending as much as $6.1 billion on higher education costs, higher law enforcement costs, higher health care costs in order to provide direct services to illegal immigrants and their children. Overall, illegal immigration is costing you and every American taxpayer at least an estimated $110 billion a year in federal, state and local taxes. As far as from the criminal standpoint, for example, in Texas the Texas Department of Public Service noted that between June 1, 2011, and May 21, 2017, more than 220,000 criminal illegal aliens were jailed in Texas, including murder, assault, burglary, drug possession and distribution, kidnapping, theft, robbery, sexual assault and weapons charges. Thank God we have a President Trump who wants to protect our fellow American citizens and enforce our southern border. Thank you.

* * *

Willowbrook should put FOX News on the school's televisions as soon as that network comes up with its much-promised Barack Obama Kenyan birth certificate. Oh, and Al Jazeera discontinued operations in the U.S. in April of 2016.

* * *

I was watching a talk show with a lawyer as a guest. The woman was so hateful in her commentary. Seemingly, she lumped all whites as racists and bigots. She indicated that she supports one flag – the American flag – while whites support two flags, the American flag and the Confederate flag. If this is the predominant view of blacks toward whites in our nation, we have a deep, dark, festering problem. A long, in-depth, soul-searching commentary by all sides must be engaged in by honest, non-agenda-type people.

* * *

The new Lombard Park District fitness center is wonderful. However, I'm very disappointed that there's no swimming pool as this is the only form of exercise that I can do. I'm hoping that in the future they will add a pool for all of those who live in Lombard that's indoors. Thank you.

* * *

Regarding the village's sidewalk safety program, if a resident has a trip hazard, how much will it cost the homeowner to have it ground down, or as the article states, repaired within a year? I often chuckle when I think of things we are not allowed to do on "village"-owned property, yet we must provide a certain amount of maintenance on it — mowing the parkway lawn, paying to sealcoat that part of the driveway owned by the village, etc. I do that, fine, but I pay taxes for the privilege. And why, even if I don't use the recycling bins, do I have to pay for recycling service? I like how they do it in my friend's town: a sticker per garbage can, period. With what little garbage I generate, that would add up to way less than what I'm spending now. We seniors should be given more of a break.

* * *

It's really a shame when you use a local chimney company to completely replace your leaking chimney, pay them $4,000, and after the next rain it leaks in exactly the same place — and then they want another $100 to complete the job. This is unfair no matter how superior they think their work is. They cannot continue to cheat local people very long.

* * *

Since the library says they have submitted various proposals only to have them rejected, I surmise they are too incompetent to study the requirements and formulate a solution. Officials imply the seemingly self-inflicted delay will cause the new library costs to rise. I say the past year of collected taxes should give them a good launch pad.  Apparently, a bunch of that has been wasted on seemingly incompetent plans. Perhaps library officials are not good with numbers. A little more than a year ago in this column it was stated that Lombard's population would be something like 54,000 by 2040. How? Where would they live? Where are you going to build almost 20 percent more housing? Lombard's estimated population for 2010 was 43,400. The same source, factfinder.census.gov, estimates 2016 at 43,816. (43,165 actual) Anyway, 43,815-43,400)/6=70 new people per year. 2040-2016=24 years, 70x24=1,680 new people. A 2040 total of 45,496. That is not 54,000. To me, the premise that a new library is needed for more people is plainly wrong.

* * *

I'm puzzled by the commercials with governors from surrounding states gloating about how successful their states are compared to Illinois. Illinois has 34 Fortune 500 companies headquartered here, ranking fourth in the nation, and more than Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri combined (Iowa has two). Companies such as Dyson, Suntory/Beam and Mars recently moved their headquarters to Illinois. Illinois' fixed state income tax at 4.95 percent is the second lowest among those states. Indiana is at 3.3 percent. Wisconsin's' top rate is 7.65 percent and Iowa's is 8.98 percent. While Illinois' population is in decline, those other states are just above break-even. Like Illinois, they are losing population growth to Sunbelt states. Trying to make Illinois look bad doesn't make their states look good.

* * *

Lombard calling. Did anyone else listen to Peter Roskam's telephone town hall all the way to the end? If this new tax bill that he is taking credit for writing eliminates the deduction for state and local taxes, my federal taxes are going up dramatically. And why; so that the out-of-state billionaires who donate to his campaign fund can get a tax break? If this thing passes I say don't even wait until the next election; start a recall election before Christmas.

* * *

How long before we impeach our president? He's insulted many nations and their leaders and threatens his handpicked attorney general, twice, and then expects him to go after other legal matters. His mouth got in the way of giving that deserter what he should have gotten for treason; his mouth is going to get us into world war if he's not careful. He won the election but wants to keep reminding us that he had competition. There seems to be no end to what this man will say—even his new chief of staff can't get him to be more "presidential" and less childish. On top of all that, our kids—especially teenagers—don't know what to think about the office of president any more. We were all taught to respect the president, even when we don't agree with him/her. It is very hard for kids to be respectful when they are aware of all his public, disgraceful comments about other nations and people, even people he hired. Please, friends and neighbors, let's put an end to this "presidency" sooner than later, before it is too late.

* * *

This is for all of you people out there who are so anti-police, law enforcement, etc. Let me tell you something. We all know there are bad peace officers out there. They're human beings, too. They're human beings like the rest of us. They're not asking for your applause. They're not asking for a pat on the back. They're not asking for any type of reward. All they want is a little respect and some courtesy. I don't think that's too hard or too much to ask. And another thing; all this stuff that police officers are crooks. I can tell you that they're not, OK? These are law enforcement officers who have lost their lives, as well as firefighters and military people. Those are your real heroes.

* * *

Hey, Lombard. Nice Veterans Day program today. Disappointed that many of our elected officials, park district, other boards, were a no-show. Nice to see a few from the village board there. Disappointing that department heads, directors, executives apparently couldn't be bothered. It's a shame. Thank a veteran.