Rep. Adam Niemerg leads dedication ceremony for Busby Memorial Highway

A 10-mile section of Illinois Route 49 was officially dedicated as the Roger “Buzz” Busby Memorial Highway in Brocton. State Rep. Adam Niemerg sponsored the legislation recognizing Busby’s lifetime of service.

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DIETERICH - A stretch of Illinois Route 49 now bears the name of a longtime Edgar County community leader, following a dedication ceremony held Saturday morning in Brocton to honor the late Merritt Roger “Buzz” Busby.

State Representative Adam Niemerg (R-Dieterich), who co-sponsored the legislation in the House, said the memorial highway recognizes Busby’s decades of service to both his country and his community. “A stretch of Illinois Route 49 now carries the name of a beloved community leader and is named the Roger ‘Buzz’ Busby Memorial Highway,” Niemerg said. “I was happy to sponsor the legislation in the Illinois House of Representatives with Rep. Chris Miller last year and am pleased to recognize a man who left an indelible mark on his community.”

The dedication, held at 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion & Auxiliary – Richard Willoughby Post 977, included remarks from Niemerg’s legislative assistant, Linda Lane, as well as tributes from retired Illinois State Police officer Terry Hackett and retired Edgar County Sheriff’s deputies David Neal and Ed Motley.

Busby, a U.S. Army veteran, spent much of his career in law enforcement and child welfare, serving as a deputy sheriff and later with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. He was deeply involved in civic organizations across the region, earning him the nickname “Mr. Edgar County.”

The memorial highway stretches 10 miles from U.S. Route 36 to Illinois Route 133 along the west side of Brocton, reflecting Busby’s lifelong commitment to the people of Edgar County.

Born Oct. 21, 1940, in Danville to Edwin and Nora Busby, Buzz Busby married Karon Platson Cornwell on Oct. 31, 1992, at the Brocton Christian Church. He passed away Aug. 30, 2013, at his home.

The full text of Senate Joint Resolution 17, which established the Roger “Buzz” Busby Memorial Highway, is available here.

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TAGS: Buzz Busby, Illinois Route 49, Edgar County dedication, Adam Niemerg, Community service, Highway memorial

Viewpoint |Trump defends rioters and controversial pardons amid backlash, the risk of silence

Trump defended his blanket pardons of convicted rioters and police attackers, claiming they were the victims. In an ABC interview, he supported chants against Mike Pence.

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by Terry Hansen
      Guest Commentary

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On January 6, 2021, Daniel Rodriguez repeatedly drove a stun gun into the base of police officer Michael Fanone's skull, causing him to lose consciousness and suffer a heart attack.  Rodriguez was sentenced to over 12 years in prison, and the judge called him “a one-man army of hate."

After his blanket pardon of Rodriguez and his fellow cop-beaters, Trump claimed these violent felons did not attack anyone, and that, in fact, they were the ones who had been attacked.  He further stated that pardoning them was "a great thing for humanity."  

In an interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl, Trump even defended the rioters' "Hang Mike Pence!" chants.

Trump asserted: “Well, the people were very angry. ... It’s common sense, Jon.  It’s common sense that you’re supposed to protect.  How can you, if you know a vote is fraudulent, right, how can you pass on a fraudulent vote to Congress?”

"Trump derangement syndrome" is a term of propaganda coined to discourage the American people from examining the appalling statements and decisions for which Trump is responsible.

A central tragedy in American politics is the success of figures such as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Vice President JD Vance in constructing narratives that normalize Trump's egregious behavior.

For example, Johnson claims that Donald Trump should be the leading candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize—a man who boasted that other countries are “kissing my a**,” and who chose as his ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.  Notably, Huckabee has stated  that "there is no such thing as a Palestinian."

The danger to America lies not in outrage at Trump’s conduct, but in the silence that so often greets it.

Terry Hansen is a retired educator who writes frequently about climate change and on human rights. He lives in Grafton, WIsconsin.

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TAGS: Trump pardons, Jan 6, Political controversy, Mike Johnson, JD Vance, Trump rhetoric