Mary Freda

I am a firm believer that having a hobby is healthy. That may be a bit of a ‘duh’ statement, but it is what I believe. When I first started high school, I was interested in photography, but due to course restrictions, I was not able to get...

I believe that we all leave a legacy. Whether it’s little, or large we all leave something behind. Personally, I want to be remembered as an honest reporter, a caring person, and a diligent student. However, sometimes we do not get to determine...

April 2nd turned out to be an emotional day for Mother Nature- she was cold, threw rays of brief sunshine and blew snow around. Needless to say, the weather was extremely unpredictable. This crazy weather didn’t steal my excitement away to visit...

When I was younger it was a tradition to go to my grandma’s house every Sunday for dinner and pound cake. However, as I got older that tradition became less and less frequent. However, I will always have those fond memories. Founder of the Red Shoe...

Before I moved to the comfort of being surrounded by corn fields, I lived in the south suburbs of Chicago. Crime was an eminent force, but I was rarely, if ever directly affected by it. Since my neighborhood was very close to the high school it was...

As I make the trek to the mall from Winfield, I notice the cars around me, the businesses surrounding the sides of the roads and the billboards engulfing the sky. Long time region resident Larry Alt has been developing local businesses in the Region...

What happens when your sickness graduates from being a mere ‘boo-boo?’ There are various medical centers and organizations that offer treatment for those affected by life-altering diseases, but sometimes a trip to the doc doesn’t solve...

It seems like every child wants a puppy for Christmas. And while we still have 314 days until Christmas, I would like to share some advice for when your child pleads for that cute, big-eyed puppy with a big, red bow for a collar on Christmas morning....

As a child I was no stranger to thrift shops and hand me downs; it’s how my family survived. When you live in a small, rural town the economy dictates your life, especially when both of your parents lack a decent education. You're stuck with...

As a child, I thought I was great at bike riding. I could ride my bike with one hand and go fast around corners. I thought that was talent. Well that was talent until my jerky neighbor decided to challenge me to ride down the ginormous hill next to...