TALK OF THE COUNTY

First, congrats to Waukegan High Coach DeLost for going above and beyond and apprehending the student with the gun. But, I do have two comments: First, why did initial reports from Waukegan Public Schools state that a resource officer and not a teacher chased and caught the student with the gun? Also, in the article on Oct. 29 honoring Coach DeLost's heroics, the principal, Mr. Hamlin, actually said the student bringing the gun to school was actually more of show and tell gone bad and not a threat. It is very scary that a principal of such a large urban high school would equate bringing a gun to school as show and tell gone bad!

I read with interest "Senior rides" in the Oct. 30 TOTC. I hope the writer pays for their rides even though they have the pass. I do because I can afford it now, but with taxes going up almost everyday I may not be able to afford it tomorrow. There goes the visits to the grandchildren. Let responsible seniors decide when to pay and not the politicians.

The teachers are complaining that they don't make enough money. Soon, they will be overpaid just like all the health-care people. City government -- as always they're running out of funds because they're too fat, too many employees. Do like the private sector does, lay off people.

Village residents of Antioch: Did you know that the trustees and mayor of Antioch have voted to place a utility tax on all residents? Six percent on Nicor, 5 percent on cell and land lines, and ComEd will be by wattage. They predict an average of $12 per home. They are wrong. They recently released four employees from the village with years of service. The board hired a village management analyst. That is a new position for $75,000 plus benefits in June. Why is he on the payroll? Remember this for the next election of trustees.

I was just wondering why the salaries of Principal Dr. Hamlin, and assistant principals Louis Corriea and Dr. Echols of Waukegan Public Schools are not available via the District 60 salary list? Where would one go to find these salaries? I would like full accountability for my tax dollars!

When is the county going to set up a Zion clinic for people to get the H1N1 shot?

To all of you folks that live on First Street in Gurnee: Please do not rake your leaves into the street. I live off First, so travel on it all the time. There have been directives issued telling you how to put your leaves out for pickup. Your leaves should go to the curb and not over it and into the street. When your taxes go up because the leaves you raked into the street have now clogged the sewer system, you have no right to complain. You are part of the problem. I'm sure this problem exists on many other streets in Gurnee. Please use some common sense and put your leaves where they belong and not into the streets.

School is getting harder with the No Child Left Behind Act. There are tests, tests and more tests. Children are going to get burned out. Also, when Hillary Clinton ran for president she said she was going to do something about that act because there were so many complaints from parents. OK, President Obama, talk to her.

People think that waiting in line for the flu shots is a picture of socialized medicine to come. We have a society that has been training to wait in lines all their lives. People will camp out at a store overnight for a new video game. They will wait in line for a two- minute ride or tickets to a concert.

Of the three individuals who have died from complications of H1N1 flu in Lake County, two were over 65, yet Obamacare says those over 65 do not need the vaccine. What other false promises are made about Obamacare?