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Articles by Roger Sanders
Roger Sanders of Greenville Obituary
Roger Ray Sanders, age 76, of Greenville, IL, passed away Monday, June 16, 2025, while vacationing in Buffalo, New York. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A celebration of Roger’s life will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2025, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and funeral at 11:00 a.m. All services will be held at the First Christian Church in Greenville, IL. A private family burial will take place at a later date.
Greenville 7th graders learn journalism basics
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New diesel repair shop combines owners talents
After talking to the partners at Greenville Truck and Diesel Repair (GTDR), a nine-month-old shop on the south side of town, one might get the idea that a yellow legal pad was the main force in getting the owners banded together. But, it was only a small but important, part of the story. In reality, it was the convergence of the destinies of the parties involved that, once aligned, only took a “Mississippi minute” (actually five weeks) to consummate.
Council Grove: key to the Santa Fe Trail
I recently wrote about a ride I made with a group of fellow sidecar enthusiasts, during which we traversed the Flint Hills Scenic Byway from north to south in eastern Kansas, with our base of operations in Council Grove, Kansas. We were also introduced to the Santa Fe Trail and the important part that city played in its development. Under a tree in a grove in Council Grove is the site where a treaty would be signed allowing for what would become the 900-mile Santa Fe Trail.
Highland native LaPorta excels in NFL
Sam Laporta excelled as an athlete at Highland High School, added to his legend in four years as an Iowa Hawkeye and, as an encore, he’s taking the National Football League (NFL) by storm. He’s not only done well in his first three NFL games; he’s been record-breaking. Drafted by Detroit Lions Laporta was taken with the 34th pick in the 2023 draft by the Detroit Lions and he’s made someone in their organization look terribly smart for making that pick.
Kansas’ Scenic Flint Hills Byway
I’ve long been fascinated by Kansas’ Flint Hills. You can’t miss them if you travel across Kansas on Interstate 70, which I have done numerous times over the past 60 years. I have marveled at how intentionally “firing” the prairie grass each April miraculously leads to even lusher fields of green by May.
State Military Museum has a leg up: Santa Anna’s
“To the victor go the spoils” is easily understood, but a prime example can be found in the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield. Better than words could ever say it, seeing the wooden leg of Mexican General Santa Ana tells it all. The leg may be the most unusual military artifact in the museum, but it is not the only item worth seeing.
Lincoln Museum details life of our 16th president
Being a native of Illinois, every once in a while, I just have the need to get my re-fill of all things President Abraham Lincoln; arguably our most famous resident. That urge happened just recently, but the question always is how much ground to try and cover. You could easily spend a week in Springfield visiting sites and two or three months, if you want to follow Lincoln’s footsteps in each of the 43 counties on the “Looking for Lincoln Trail,” which encompasses parts of 43 counties.
Half Century of Progress Show is a must-see
There are dozens of quality antique tractor shows and old-time farming expositions held around the U.S. and Canada each year, including our own Farm Heritage Days, held annually at the end of July on the American Farm Heritage Museum grounds near Greenville.
National Road Day three
This is the third of three installments documenting many of the sites to be found along the Historic National Trail to Vandalia and its extension to St. Louis, all of which became part of US Route 40 across Illinois. Due to space restrictions, the Bond County sites in Mulberry Grove, Greenville, and Pocahontas are not included in this article, since our readers are already familiar with them.
National Road Day 2: Effingham to Vandalia
EPC and Firefly Grill — Effingham On day 1, we traveled on the Historic National Road (now U.S. Route 40) from Marshall to Teutopolis and day 2 finds us going from the bustling town of Effingham to Vandalia, home of the oldest capitol building in Illinois. Effingham’s location at the junction of Interstates 57 and 70 has made it one of the fastest growing cities in Southern Illinois for the past few decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Three Days on the Historic National Road in Illinois
Day 1 — Marshall to Teutopolis If you seek travel close to home with a large dose of early 1800s history, you need look no further than the eastern edge of Illinois. There you will find US Route 40, which closely follows the footprint of the “Historic National Road.”. That road is credited by many as being “the road that built the nation.” It was the nation’s first federally funded inter-state road and is considered an All-American road by the Federal Highway Administration.
The Flood of 1993 - Part I
Where were you during the Great Flood of 1993? If you would be willing to let The Advocate tell your story or share your memory from 30 years ago, please email to Kelli Lutz at klutz@thegreenvilleadvocate.com or call 618-664-3144. The Great Flood ultimately spread out over nine states, covering 400,000 square miles and lasting nearly 200 days in some locations.
The Effingham Performance Center: entertainment for all
Recently, the Effingham Performance Center (EPC) distributed their booklet containing information about their 30-plus shows for the 2023-24 season. It was included in a recent edition of The Advocate. You may have let that resource escape your grasp, so we’ll give you some of the information again, so you won’t have to look back with regret at the wide variety of acts that you might have missed. The season begins on Aug. 18 and runs until June.
Comets Cards help pay for big and small improvements by Roger Sanders
The school year has not yet begun and already some noticeable improvements from the proceeds of the Comets Card fundraising can be seen. The 2023-24 Comets Cards are currently for sale at the high school and from most of the school’s athletes. But sales will cease by the end of August. At $20, they are a great bargain for the purchaser, drive traffic to local participating merchants, and assist with the school district’s athletic needs.
Sussenbach, Krebs 2023 Fair bags champs
Larry Sussenbach and Robbie Krebs beat over 50 competitors to win the 2023 Bags Tournament Sunday at the Bond County Fair.
Comet golf scramble results from July 21
The Greenville Comets golf scramble was played Friday, July 19, with 37 four-person teams participating and ending up with a tie in both Flight A and Flight B. This was Head Basketball Coach Todd Cantrill’s 23rd time to coordinate the scramble, which raises funds for the Comets football and basketball programs. Flight A The top two teams tied with a score of 56 with the winner being decided by a scorecard playoff.
2023-4 Comet Card now available
For the 16th year, the Greenville High School athletics department is making a discount card, the “Comet Card,” available to the community. At a cost of just $20, the Comet Card offers 49 discounts at area businesses and its cost is easily recovered. Cards are not only available from most Comets athletes, but also at several locations, including: the Greenville High School office, the HSHS Thrift Store, True Value, and Munchezz. Cards available now Although the card goes into effect on Aug.
Bond County Fair grounds being readied
The Bond County Fairgrounds are abuzz with activity as dozens of volunteers and workers are preparing the grounds for the 2023 rendition, which runs Aug. 3-8. A detailed schedule of all the activities will be in the Friday, July 28 edition of The Advocate. The Fair book is easily accessed on the fair website, bondcofair.com. The schedule of activities has hardly changed. The biggest change is free parking on Thursday night, thanks to Live Like Lincoln Foundation.
Shrapnel in the heart
Recently, I received a letter in response to an article that I wrote about a trip that my family had made to Washington, D.C. to ride in an annual motorcycle parade around The National Mall the day before Memorial Day, followed by a visit to the Vietnam Memorial Wall. The Ride to Remember is sponsored by the national Amvets organization in remembrance of 58,220 servicemen killed in the Vietnam war and the 81,000+ MIA/KIA’s from all wars in which the United States has been involved.
RAGBRAI - Best bicycle ride in America
There is a bike ride that you should add to your list of things that you need to do, and it’s not too late for 2023. RAGBRAI in its 50th year, will be staged July 22-29. All you have to do is bicycle 500 miles across Iowa: that’s roughly 70 miles a day. But, it is much more than a bike ride, it is a rolling festival of bicycles, music, food, camaraderie, and community. It is the oldest, longest, and largest multi-day bicycle touring event in the world.
Aerial applicators take off
Several recent soaking rainfalls have allowed corn and soybeans in Bond County to have a growth spurt and be pulled back from the edge of a drought. That means the aerial applicators will soon be filling the skies. Corn plants have reached heights that will not allow for ground spraying applicators to be used and the focus will now turn to the use of planes and helicopters. Soybean crops are still accessible by ground equipment.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Cases: Finance and Insurance
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing the financial world. The implications are vast, though most banks are still in the early stages of adopting these technologies – a recent survey conducted by Narrative Science and the National Business Research Institute found that 32% of financial services executives are already using AI technologies like predictive analytics, recommendation engines, and voice recognition.
Bond County wheat harvest: good yields, quickly completed
Wheat harvest state-wide was over 50% completed as of June 25, and in Bond County it will be almost completed by today. Several days of hot, dry weather facilitated the local harvest as once the combines hit the field, they had no weather delays due to the lack of rainfall. Final yield results will not be available for a while, but several local farmers reported yields near the 100 bushels per acre mark. Straw baling and handling were also expedited by the dry weather.
Race Across America
The world’s toughest bicycle race, the Race Across America (RAAM) found its way through Greenville recently as dozens of riders from around the globe battled to complete a course from Oceanside, California to Annapolis, Maryland, as rapidly as possible. The path roughly followed U.S. Highway 40, until it veered north to Ill. Route 140 after crossing the Mississippi River at Alton and then re-connected with Highway 40 at McDonalds at the junction with Ill. Route 127.
Day at the Museums
Visitors to Greenville last Saturday had the chance for a unique experience: to visit eight museums, all situated in close proximity, during a concentrated five-hour time-period. Few, if any, towns in the country have more than a few museums, while Greenville does. For the second year, they have banded together to offer tourists a chance to visit them all from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., on a Saturday.
At Bald Knob Cross- Count your blessings by the TwoLaneRambler
On a hill not so far away, stands a shiny giant cross: the Bald Knob Cross of Peace to be exact. If you have never experienced its grandeur, add it to your bucket list. If you have ever traveled IL RT 127 south of Murphysboro, you may have passed by the village of Alto Pass on your way to Anna.
Rambler “pigs out” at Spring Fling by the TwoLaneRambler
(Author’s note: On the first Saturday of May each year, the American Farm Heritage Museum (AFHM) hosts the Spring Fling Festival, which includes a flea market and barbecue competition. There is no admission fee to access the grounds, although there are fees for the railroad ride and for the tasting at the BBQ competition.
Morrow leads youth football clinic
With a large assist from the GU Panthers coaching staff and current football players, Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker Nicholas Morrow led a skills clinic for area youth as part of the GU Legacy Weekend honoring the former Greenville University D-III All-American football player. Saturday was a blustery day on the Panther football field, but dozens of aspiring players enthusiastically ran through drills at the commands of the coaches.
NFL linebacker Nicholas Morrow honored with GU Legacy Weekend
NFL linebacker Nicholas Morrow, a graduate of Greenville University in 2016 and former D-III football All-American, returned to campus last Friday and Saturday for a Legacy Weekend in his honor. He became the first Panther football player to have his jersey retired during the sports’ 40-year history. Morrow had a busy two days. On Friday morning, he spoke to students during the GU chapel held in H.J. Long Gymnasium.
College basketball season winds down
Finally, after a three-week run, the four major college basketball tournaments will wind down within the next few days. Out of 20 M brackets submitted to ESPN, 37 correctly chose the Final Four. Parity is the operative word for this year’s Final Four with the survivors having the second-highest accumulative seeding since 2011. This is the first Final Four with three first-time participants (FAU, San Diego State, Miami) since 1970.
Blowin’ Smoke by Roger Sanders
By the time you read this column, over half of the NCAA Tournament games will have been played, so I’m too late to give you advice on how to fill out your bracket. But that’s probably for the best, because, according to the NCAA, the odds of anyone filling out a perfect bracket — that is of choosing 63 winners in 63 games, is 1 in 9.2 quintillion. OK, so I don’t even know how much that is.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Other Findings: Asia Pacific Now Most Attacked Region; Average Lifespan of Ransomware Groups is 17 Months; Vishing Triples Phishing Click Rate By IBM Corporation IBM Security today released its annual X-Force Threat Intelligence Index unveiling how ransomware and vulnerability exploitations together were able to "imprison" businesses in 2021 further burdening global supply chains, with manufacturing emerging as the most targeted industry.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Can Security and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mix? Carol investigates the use of AI and its implications on IBM i Security By Carol Woodbury You can’t read or listen to any business, technical, or security-related news without hearing the term “AI” (Artificial Intelligence). With Microsoft’s investment in ChatGPT causing interest to explode, warnings are in almost every security-related newsletter I subscribe to.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Cases: Finance and Insurance
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are revolutionizing the financial world. The implications are vast, though most banks are still in the early stages of adopting these technologies – a recent survey conducted by Narrative Science and the National Business Research Institute found that 32% of financial services executives are already using AI technologies like predictive analytics, recommendation engines, and voice recognition.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Technology spending is expected to remain steady in the coming year, despite ongoing concerns about the global economy. That’s the theme that emerged from a recent survey that IBM commissioned from Morning Consult. The report dives into the investment strategies of 4,000 global business leaders and found that more than three-quarters plan to prioritize or invest in technology in the next 12 months, a steady pace from 2022.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Python is a high-level, general purpose, scripting language that can be used for a wide variety of programming tasks. By Roger Sanders Named after the British comedy television show , Python was created by Guido Van Rossum at the National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science in 1989.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
The company announces more than 170 new partnerships and program expansions in more than 30 countries across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa IBM today unveiled a groundbreaking commitment and global plan to provide 30 million people of all ages with new skills needed for the jobs of tomorrow by 2030. To achieve this goal, IBM is announcing a clear roadmap with more than 170 new academic and industry partnerships.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Setting Up a Python-Db2 Development Environment, Part 1 The process of setting up an application development environment is frequently overlooked because the environment used is often dictated by the company a developer works for. By Roger Sanders Even developers who don’t work with an environment that is governed by their company may not have to do much to get started; they may only need to install their integrated development environment (IDE) of choice (such as Xcode or Visual Studio Code).
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS By HelpSystems Editor's note: This article introduces the February 2022 Report: 2022 IBM i Marketplace Survey Results, MC White Paper Center. Perhaps the most consistent data point in the IBM i Marketplace Survey Results is the ongoing cybersecurity threat. Over the past six years, cybersecurity has been the main concern for people planning their IT environment, and this year was no exception.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
Setting Up a Python-Db2 Development Environment, Part 3 Building the SAMPLE Database By Roger Sanders Editor's Note: This article is excerpted from chapter 5 of QuickStart Guide to Db2 Development with Python, by Roger Sanders. Please read the previous parts of this series here: Part 1 and Part 2. Db2 comes with a sample database (named SAMPLE) that, when created, can be used for a variety of purposes, including the development and testing of Db2 applications.
iCON - WMCPA Spring Conference 2023
IBM Kicks Off Think 2022 Conference, Convening a Worldwide Community of Clients and Partners IBM kicked off its annual Think conference in Boston, bringing together clients and IBM Ecosystem partners around the world to discuss how technology drives organizations to excel in a digital world.
Blowin’ Smoke by Roger Sanders
So, after a recent walk along the beach one early morning, Tom Brady tweeted a brief note that he is retiring. I guess the second time is charm, especially if the first one didn’t go so well. I’m not sure what he gained from playing this past year, but it seems that if he did, it would cost him a wife. Maybe that was his motive all along. Regardless, we wish him well in all things and thank him for endless memories.
Blowin’ Smoke by Roger Sanders
It seems like, all of a sudden, basketball teams are producing more points and success on three different levels is noteworthy. NBA points at 50-year high: For the first time in a half a century, the NBA is seeing an offensive explosion. Teams are averaging 114.1 points per game, the highest mark since the 1969-70 season. The team averages dropped steadily from 1980 to 2000, and in recent years have stabilized and are edging slightly upward. But this year, they have jumped off the charts.
Illinois Dis-loyal-ty? Is this what big time college sports has created?
As the University of Illinois’ school song, “Illinois Loyalty,” says, in part. “We’re loyal to you, Illinois. We’re Orange and Blue, Illinois, We’ll back you to stand ‘gainst the best in the land.
Illinois Dis-loyal-ty? Is this what big time college sports has created?
As the University of Illinois’ school song, “Illinois Loyalty” says, in part. “We’re loyal to you, Illinois. We’re Orange and Blue, Illinois, We’ll back you to stand ‘gainst the best in the land.
Is a blow-out constructive or demoralizing?
I always write about the Fighting Illini’s successes. Braggin’ seems appropriate at such times. So, in the interest of being fair, it’s time to “man up” and accept the throttling that the Mizzou Tigers laid on Illinois last Thursday by the score of 93-71. A 20-point loss occurs now and again to any team, but after the first 10 minutes, Missouri took complete control of the game, rolling to a 74-39 lead before relaxing and letting Illinois cut the margin to a more respectable number.
Day Trip - Oakley, Kansas, to Colorado
After a final half-day drive to finish off a three-day trip across Kansas along Interstate 70, I had to admit that all of my previous late-night sprints across the state over several decades were misguided. This final day introduced me to the legend of Buffalo Bill, the state’s largest barn, the Kuska Doll Collection, the world’s largest easel, displaying a gigantic Van Gogh, and the first patented helicopter.
Argentina tops France in World Cup classic final
Well, it’s finally over: the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was won Sunday by Argentina over defending champion, France. In a finish befitting a championship that takes four years to build to a climax, Argentina’s 35-year-old Lionel Messi, the “old lion” in this hunt, gave all he had and still only barely overcame France’s Kylian Mbappe’s hat trick as his team broke a 3-3 tie with a 4-2 advantage in a shootout for the win.
FIFA finals this week: exciting but game needs some changes
On a recent typical Sunday afternoon, I sat watching a plate full of NFL (football) games on TV, much the same as I have been doing for over 60 years: lounging in the middle of my comfort zone. I spent about five minutes reminding myself that an old dog should be able to learn new tricks, but instead, I have to admit that I’ve never been able to do that with soccer.
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