•October 12, 2022•

Haunted House season has returned to Illinois and with that comes screams, creaking doors, ghosts and goblins. Safety is a top priority of the Illinois Department of Labor (IDOL) and the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) when it comes to these amusements.
“We want to remind local jurisdictions and the owners/operators of ’Haunted Houses’ that these occupancies can present special hazards that make them particularly vulnerable to fire and fire injuries if applicable codes are not followed. Keeping the public’s and workers’ safety in mind should be top priority for operators of these amusements,” said Acting Illinois State Fire Marshal Dale Simpson.
Two tragic fires in the 1970s and 1980s at haunted houses led to closer scrutiny of haunted house safety. Most haunted houses in Illinois today are required to have smoke detectors and be protected by automatic sprinkler systems. The rules of the State Fire Marshal’s office serve as the minimum requirements that must be met, with local fire and building departments possibly imposing more stringent requirements. Read More

•October 12, 2022•
Lake Land College students can now complete a FAFSA to find out if they qualify for the Laker+ financial aid program. With the Laker+ program, students who qualify for financial assistance often receive more than enough to cover tuition and fees, so the remaining money is refunded to the student.
The Lake Land College Laker+ program maximizes qualifying students’ financial aid opportunities to cover tuition and fees plus provides support for living expenses. This program is effective now and will be available to those applying for the following semesters.
Students can complete the 22-23 FAFSA, using 2020 tax information, for the Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 semesters.
Students can complete the 23-24 FAFSA, using 2021 tax information, for the Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 semesters.
Because Lake Land College is such a great value and can offer numerous financial assistance options, students often receive refunds of their assistance that can be used to cover housing, gas, food and other college expenses. Read More

•October 12, 2022•
By Jim Baumann
NP Guest Writer

Sometimes, I can answer a reader’s letter with a simple “yes” or “no.” But what fun would that be?
“Mr. Baumann, can anything be done to stop writers from using the phrase ‘the likes of’?” wrote David Smith.
The simple answer is “no.”
But I can make anyone who reads this column think about it, at least.
“Everyone seems to be using it now in constructions such as ‘The Golden Age of Hollywood boasted stars the likes of Errol Flynn and Bette Davis,’” David added. “It’s almost always used incorrectly, because it means ‘similar to.’ It is a comparative, isn’t it? ‘The Golden Age of Hollywood boasted stars similar to Errol Flynn and Bette Davis.’ Wrong. So wrong.” Read More