email: The Steve

March 27th

profile bio this time Alex no not the cat.

Alex is my other son. People do have trouble keeping track of who is Alex and who is Erik. The first Sunday we had name tags at church, as my sons came slipping into the choir row, I saw they had on each others name tag. I shook my head, don't be troublemakers.

Alex was in third grade when we moved to Elmwood. He and Erik benefitted by getting to grow up in Elmwood. Alex loves history. Some may have thought modern kids didn't know much about history, Alex would have demonstrated otherwise. Alex loved school in Elmwood, the football team, the scholastic bowl team, the band, and plays. Alex was a E/B Trojan during four years with more football wins than any other class. The current players have a chance to break that record, I hope they do. Alex was honored as IHSA All State for scholastic bowl, they put up a road sign. He used to joke at Knox if you go to my hometown I have a sign. Elmwood was very nurturing, generous, and good mentors for my sons, we will always be very grateful.

Alex played football at Knox College earned degrees in History and Political Science. Alex has been an assistant football coach and teacher associate at West Central High School. He lives in Roseville with Erik and Luke Gorham who is a librarian at the Galesburg Public Library. Alex has many duties but his main job is as an assist to a quadriplegic boy in his classes. Last year when he agreed to be girls track coach, participation numbers doubled, a spurious correlation I'm sure. The Elmwood troika will have to leave Roseville next year as Alex is heading to law school at Saint Louis University. Without three to share the rent Erik and Luke will have to relocate. They have loved Roseville especially the bowling alley, their principal source of pizza.

As Alex moves on to the next phase in his life, he carries the values he learned here in Elmwood. He is dedicated, works hard to do the right thing, will offer to help others. I am proud of my sons, as I stated in my football essays Alex is a son of whom any parent would be proud. My sons owe much to the people of the United Methodist Church, the schools of Elmwood, and the community at large. We should all take pride in the opportunities we help nurture for our young people in Elmwood.

Alex Davis

March 27th

Good morning Elmwood,
I have had several posts, but the election is getting close. I want everyone in Elmwood to vote. It is why I have promoted absentee voting, I want everyone to express themselves. If you know someone who complains about our current voting machines encourage them to get an absentee ballot. info on elmwoodil.org

I have done questionnaires for both the Tri-County News and the Weekly Post. I have had to try to state my case for being mayor of Elmwood, to ask for voters support. I am about as good at the hard sell, as I would be doing the soft shoe. Rhythm is not a strength, I do better with pitch. My best approach has always been to be myself, honestly express my thoughts, respond to others with respect.

I have had to focus on what people want to know about me to support me. Support me, enough to vote for me. I think my ACT, GRE, and Foreign Service exam scores may not be considered relevant. I seem to be writing an application essay nearly everyday. One likely read with as much excitement as the admission offices who must wade through multiple student essays of applicants.

I have come to this: I am dedicated to trying to improve our economic climate, coordinating all groups and citizens to make our efforts effective, I will work hard everyday to improve Elmwood, I will be myself, I will respect and value the opinions of others. So that is it, maybe a hard sell or inelegant soft shoe, but it is who I am. I hope who I am is who you want as mayor for the next four years. I hope you encourage every Elmwood citizen to vote.

Weather is good I will have to get out and about. I must exercise first that weight goal of 210 is in sight. Slow steady progress by working hard everyday.

March 26th

I have returned the Weekly Post Questionnaire, I have put link to PDF of my answers on the candidacy web page. Link to Page

March 26th

I just received questionnaire from the Weekly Post, I will answer the questions and return it tonight. One specific question is about vacant houses in Elmwood. What should be done about them? Does anyone have any thoughts or comments to leave on the matter before I answer?

Question: Crystal Prahl Wouldn't it be nice if property owners had a section on the city's website where they could submit images and information for vacant houses for rent? If this was integrated into the city's website somehow, it would be a great tool for helping those wanting to move to this area do it more easily. If not on the city's actual website, is there another site already existing that this could be done with? Just a thought.

Answer: Steve Davis for Mayor If I am elected mayor I intend to turn over elmwoodil.org as more of tourism and chamber of commerce site, It would be an appropriate venue. City site should really mostly pertain to city government
March 26 at 2:26pm

March 26th

Good morning Elmwood,
the Palm Sunday snow has turned into the Holy Week melt. When I was young we were sent to school in galoshes, by the time I was in high school only business men used them. I can visualize a new invention. A durable film that would self form around feet, then would return to a flat sheet when released. I suppose the nanorobot techs are working on it. Maybe not, if none of the techs live anywhere other than California and Texas. It is hard to appreciate real mud and glop if living in a Sunshine state.

Often it takes experience to formulate a solution to a new problem. New problems require more than one person's experience, a problem solver knows how to tap into the experience of others. A creative mind can often adapt unrelated tasks to help solve a problem. It takes a team with many varied experiences to turn creativity into a practical product.

Creativity can happen in that epiphany moment. Philo Farnsworth had this type of epiphany moment, as he was working a field. He realized that electrons shot in grid patterns would put an image on a tube screen. A practical television was possible. The new tech was exploited by others, but Philo had his moment. Resulting in my generation watching Roy Rogers on Saturday mornings, Disney on Sunday, and Captain Kangaroo every weekday morning.

Philo's story is readily available on Wikipedia it is one of a youth with great creative potential encouraged by a relative, a high school teacher, and higher education. His story is one example of why small communities like Elmwood dedicate themselves to improving the future for our children. We cultivate the potential for great epiphanies to happen. Sometimes outward scruffiness disguises an inner genius. You can clean up the scruffiness, but only God makes genius. Only a team turns genius into a world changing event.

I have been the outwardly scruffy farmer, I know from experience outward appearance can hide the creativity going on inside a thoughtful mind. Elmwood is a perfect place to spark creativity we must encourage ideas to be added to the dialog. We should have a team that incorporates great ideas in producing a practical product. We are offered opportunities to do this in ways not possible before. We must take a new approach. Doing the same old thing, will get the same old results. We need to work as team, you never know what is rattling around in the mind of an awkward scruffy kid.

Enjoy the great melt, stay out of the deep squishy mud, it can pull those galoshes off, leaving a kid a muddy mess.

March 25th

Good morning Elmwood,
Yuck, a gloppy snow covers us, so everything will be muddy for awhile. Spring still awaits, something akin to the famed "light at the end of the tunnel" phrase often tossed around and then turned into parody during the Vietnam era.

Often we think the principles of economics do not apply to a small locality, but of course they do. The macro rolls over the micro even more in this globally connected age. Successful capitalism requires growth, often hyper-expansive growth is unsustainable, even damaging, but shrinking economies will see their problems compound. A negative compounding economic effect, the anti-matter of compound interest.

Elmwood must concentrate on growth, growth helps to balance revenues with services. If we shrink then the cost of services are spread to fewer people. People will pay more for less. If we grow the cost of services will be apportioned amongst more people. People will get more and pay less.

As assessor I have seen the balance of competing interests. The property tax payer wants to pay less, the schools, county, city, and township provide services for people from these revenues. My role is to see that each property is receiving a fair appraisal. An appraisal does not weigh taxes paid or tax revenues going to service providers. My many years of doing this have given me an insight into the ever changing balance of economic conditions and market forces. Elmwood needs a person as mayor who will pursue sustained steady economic growth. A person you will pursue this, every working hour of every day for the next four years.

I could regale you of the good old days, how hard I worked baling hay to pay my tuition at WIU. I doubt anyone reading this has handled more square bales than I have. Maybe, an old few would surpass me. I worked for $1.50 an hour for most of that time, tuition at WIU was less than $500 a year. This past holds little relevance to the aspiring students of today. (No square bales, tuition is over $10,000)

The same is true for Elmwood's economy, a focus on the past, usually romanticized by selective memory, is not a method for growth. I love the study and preservation of history, but using modern tools to work in the current reality is the only way to accomplish growth for our future.

Reworking the old "light at the end of the tunnel" thing, maybe we shouldn't be headed down a tunnel at all. We might be better off to leave the tunnel and walk out into the clear light of day.

I know bright lights can be harsh, I have turned them on as I looked into my bathroom mirror. It is a scary and sobering experience. Trudge on sloppily today

March 25th

Profile bio of my son Erik

This photo was taken of Erik when he was teaching in Elmwood High School. He filled in as a year long sub, for Stephanie Colgan. Erik currently is in his third year as an English teacher at West Central High School near Biggsville IL. Not Iowa, but near it. Erik is the yearbook sponsor, film-er of football games, scoreboard runner of basketball games, he puts in an enormous amount of hours. He demands as much of himself, as he does of his students. Erik's students have shown progress on tests measuring language skills. He is known as a mean teacher, but I have known few people who are more concerned for other people's well being. He truly cares for his students and wants them to discover the opportunities life offers them.

Erik came to Elmwood when in sixth grade. Nancy was on the Southern School Board and she was working on curriculum and academic performance improvements, but coming to Elmwood was a good educational choice. Erik and Alex both benefitted from growing up in Elmwood. Erik will tell you that the students at Elmwood aren't always better than other districts, but the expectations of parents, teachers, and the community are higher in Elmwood. Students often work harder to live up to expectations, rather than slide by avoiding threats. Elmwood has excellence as an educational expectation, alliteration motto for achievements.

Erik graduated from Monmouth College, with degrees in English and History. Erik helped found the Scotsmen, an acapella group at Monmouth. While at MC he was a member of other choirs and the Chorale. Erik was a member of the building committee at Elmwood United Methodist Church. Erik found it a valuable experience. This collaborative effort accomplished an important task. He sings with Galesburg Community Chorus and Monmouth's Ecumenical Singers. Erik currently lives in Roseville, IL. He is in a relationship with Laura Stewart who lives in Elmwood. (I can say that because it is Facebook official) Laura is a wonderful person, just throwing that in. (I was once warned not to blow my relationship with Nancy because it would be my last chance. I would suggest Erik not blow it either, irregardless of chances)

I am most proud of Erik for his commitment to doing the right thing and his empathy for others. Erik is a pragmatic real world example of seeking God and reaching out in love to others. No one could ask more of a son, well there are a few small things: he could have better posture, he needs to get on the fitness train or he will be the least fit in the family, also at church he could help us sing in choir, and younger kids are having to do all those volunteer jobs I used to volunteer him for, his grandmothers would want to see the beard go, and he has always used my photo from 1983 as his Facebook profile photo -- yeah he could change that, as well.

Anyone would be proud to have a son like Erik, even if he is much hairier than the little blond haired boy I still remember.

March 24th

Good morning Elmwood,
We had a great day in St Louis. We finished the SLU tour, saw housing options, came home thinking Spring. Alex is choosing SLU as the law school, he will attend next Fall. We rolled into Elmwood a little after 7 and ate at the Hick'ry Stick. Ribs with greens are low carb and delicious. Alex went back to Roseville in case today was a blizzard, but the snow seems less than the hype.

Predictions are often inaccurate. Snow fall is very tricky for weather forecasters. My NCAA bracket has far more red than green. Next year, I'll do better. There many things in life we can't control, but we can prepare.

I only fill out an online bracket, so it is easier to follow the tournament. I put no thought into it, have watched very few games, so maybe next year my success will be about the same. You prepare, put forth the effort, and adjust as conditions change. There is an Eisenhower quote (I get many great quotes from Sid Meier's Civilization games) "Plans are worthless. Planning is essential."

Everyone has to adjust to conditions, but life is better when you prepare and plan. I hope we do this Elmwood. We must do it together. Studies have shown there is a collective wisdom, if everyone is a part of the planning and preparation.

I was hoping for a real, stay home and stay safe blizzard, today. I will adjust to conditions. All morning in Elmwood for church, all afternoon in Monmouth for an Ecumenical Singers concert. Erik and Alex will sing as part of a small group for one song. I am only ushering, not singing. Finally home to watch the Vikings take it to English villagers on the History Channel, if I am not asleep on the couch.

If ever there was a community that needed to prepare and plan for the sudden disaster, it was English villages during the times of the Viking raids. Elmwood can relax on that one. I predict there will be no Viking raids during the next four years. I promise no one in Elmwood will suffer rape and pillage from the landing of a Viking longship in Elmwood. I rarely am so bold in making promises.

Have a great Sunday - I would still like that long nap this afternoon.

March 23rd

Good morning Elmwood,
It is great to be in St Louis this morning, but hope to be home tonight before the snow gets going at a furious pace. Elmwood UMC is having spaghetti supper to raise money for St Jude runners, starts at 4 PM.

I sometimes wonder, if it is my life I am living. I got up at 6 AM to wander down to find hotel work out room. I think Alex is getting pretty set on going to St Louis U for Law School this Fall. I never feel at home in any city with more than 5000 people. I am good at surviving, and hope to be home, soon.

If we coordinate our Internet presence, polish up our assets, then we would be ready to invite visitors. Elmwood is just a great place to live, but how many know that? Elmwood must keep sowing seeds. We need to find a few people and businesses that will take root in Elmwood.

I was farmer for many years. I know you may just scatter seeds, hope shoots will just grow. Productive farmers have a plan, prepare a seed bed, apply seed and other inputs at an appropriate rate, do all this in a timely fashion. In farming if you miss the season, then it may have to wait until next year. Ask any current farmer about farming in the time of the grandparents generation, do they still follow the same practices? I left being an a real farmer for software in 1991, but even I would be far behind the current times. I have heard the axiom never be the first farmer to adopt a new practice, but never be the last, either.

We should study the efforts of other communities, carefully adapt practices that would work for Elmwood. Researching innovative initiatives, learning about grants, and other cooperative programs is full time academic undertaking. It will take hours of research, it will take someone with the writing skills, academic background, and personality to help Elmwood shape policies and projects that suit it. Elmwood needs some one to prepare for our season of sowing seeds. I can use the latest practices to prepare a seed bed, time the planting, and produce a crop. "God willing and the creek don't rise", true, true axiom for my grandparents.

I am the best person to fulfill this role and I will make the mayor's office a full time job over the next four years. Let us make a good plan before we cast our seeds, when we do, we may see a good harvest.

For those planning to get those spuds in the ground on Good Friday, you may need to shovel some snow to find the furrow. Have a great day, hope to be back in Elmwood soon

March 22nd

Good morning Elmwood,
I will make a quick update. I am leaving for St Louis soon.Taking Alex on a visit to SLU law school. SLU all NCAA excited today, I suppose.

The U of I Extension project has identified a list of Elmwood groups and contacts. Finishing this project and using it in coordinating communication will aid all efforts to improve Elmwood. Several years ago, I created a Facebook Group named A Better Elmwood. I must say that effort was met with more blank stares than enthusiasm. Yet, today when someone posts about a lost dog, who then is returned to its owners, it makes me feel good. At the next meeting I will introduce a new application that will automatically integrate Elmwood group announcements. I suspect it will be greeted with some blank stares, but two or three years down the line, I believe it will be seen as a great communication tool.

If you will support my election to mayor, one of my first priorities will be to integrate our Internet presence. Elmwood needs a good web hub to maintain all information about Elmwood, so it promotes Elmwood. I love Crusens, so not picking on them, as an example if they change hours it needs to be updated on an integrated site. People from outside of Elmwood, and we must entice outsiders to support our businesses, expect to have such information readily available. We sometimes do not see our community through the eyes of a newcomer or visitor, but it is essential to have that perspective. It is the key to making our businesses more profitable which adds revenues to the City budget.

We need our own web list of people providing services, so new residents know who to hire. We should have pictures and references from customers those business people have worked for. We must do all we can to keep local dollars local and reach out to bring outside dollars into Elmwood. An Integrated web presence is an essential step to make this happen. I will end for today. I need to get to Jordans, pick up our Journey for the drive to St Louis with fresh oil. My wonderful wife is all stressed out over this, but I knew Jordans would have it ready as they promised, and they do.

Even though snow is in Sunday's forecast hold on to Spring dreams. From another perspective Snow Star in Andulusia IL is very happy with cold temps hanging on -- maybe a week end of tubing?

March 22nd

Another profile bio of my family

This is my mother-in-law Winifred Maxey Horney. She grew up on a farm near Fairmount IL, her parents moved to Indiana when she was in high school. She graduated from Covington IN. Winifred came to business college in Peoria (Brown's Business College?) She met Rex Horney while going to school in Peoria. Rex was from Smithshire which is why Winifred lived in Smithshire after they were married.

We were neighbors in Smithshire, Rex and Winifred lived a half mile north of us for nine years of my life. Winifred moved back to Smithshire where less than a half mile separates every house. Now in Elmwood we have lived across the driveway from each other for 10. So quick math, I have lived within a half mile of my mother-in-law for 39 years, although not always knowing I would be her son-in-law.

I have known Winifred as a hard working volunteer, but she was a hard working book keeper in Ft Dodge IA. She is active in the United Methodist Women and Elmwood Senior Citizens. Winifred is just an active and on the move 91 year old.

It may not surprise you to know Nancy changed her name to Davis after we were engaged and she moved to Illinois, but a few months before we were actually married.

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