Republic-Times

Thrift Store Madness and Dressing Weird in the 80s | Mark’s Remarks

Do any of you remember the phase in the 1980s when all the cool kids were wearing oversized coats, vintage hats and all the old stuff? I think it started…

The Healthy + Happy Life | Tick, tock! What are you waiting for?

BY AMY WAGENKNECHT As a teacher, I would never ask my students to read a book before they knew how to sound out words. I would never ask them to…

Tricky Micki | Mark’s Remarks

My wife will get me after she reads this column, so I may have to move into one of your basements.  Please send specifics of your rental space to the…

The Demise of Community Institutions | Mark’s Remarks

In my hometown of Fairfield, Illinois, we always had the constant presence and importance of two community institutions: the local newspaper and local radio station. The Wayne County Press is…

A Long Life | Mark’s Remarks

Do you ever think about those people who lived in biblical times? If you do a little research, you can find that people lived to be over 900 years old…

Naysayers and Distributors of Mundane Advice | Mark’s Remarks

I’m telling you, there’s one in every crowd: someone who has to rain on your parade. Some folks don’t even know they are doing it. The older I get, the…

All You Need is a Little Vitamin P | The Happy + Healthy Life

By AMY WAGENKNECHT For the Republic-Times Every year we start off with great intentions. We write the resolutions: Lose weight. Save more money. Get organized. Quit smoking. Exercise.  Yet, according…

Agendas | Mark’s Remarks

Small towns are interesting places. People come together in various fashions, whether it be in neighborhoods or at functions.   Most of the time, around here, sporting events are the…

Tracy and Hepburn | Mark’s Remarks

I remember watching “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” one rainy afternoon and really loving the duo of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. After that, I tried to see all of…

The Male Minority and Missing the Boys | Mark’s Remarks

We just dropped our No. 2 son off at school to join his brother, and now I am in the minority. Just like that.   We had to put the…