Hovering 1500 feet up in a helicopter I peered straight down at more than 600,000 gallons of water per second pouring over American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls — the three waterfalls that together make up majestic Niagara Falls.

Honoring our Veterans

Veteran’s Day has always been an important day to my family. 

My dad, Jack Bradley, began his career in photography as a combat motion picture photographer with the 8th Army in the Korean War.

I’ve always enjoyed living in a small town but within easy driving distance of a large city. 

When I lived in Chicago, I always felt if I walked off a curb and was flattened by a bus nobody would blink an eye. 

I never liked the impersonal, hectic pace of city living.

But in small towns like Chillicothe or Henry you get to know your neighbors. And, when I had the chance to visit Franklin, Tenn., (20 miles south of Nashville), I found out why Southern Living Magazine ranked it in its Top 10 Best Small Towns.

45 hours on a train to Reno

Sing along with me ...

Riding on the California Zephyr,
Galesburg, Illinois Monday morning rail,
Fifteen cars and 450 restless riders,
Three Conductors and my seatmate just got out of jail

Above, in and around the world's most beautiful lake

Lake Tahoe is truly one of Mother Nature’s grandest creations and whenever I get a chance to explore her I do. 

When IVC Class of ’73 alumnus Donna Miller Nielsen extended an open invitation to her classmates to join her the first weekend in August at her home at Lake Tahoe for an informal class reunion I wasn’t surprised. 

Staycations are vacations spent at home or day trips to nearby destinations according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. 

I grew up along the banks of the Illinois River in Rome on Riverbeach Drive and was fortunate enough to enjoy the beauty of Upper Peoria Lake on a daily basis. 

I passed the lazy, hazy summer days of my youth along its banks under the giant cottonwoods and among the willows, but it wasn’t until recently that I began to explore the Great Lakes.

About the author

I have always had a pent-up desire to see the world going back to the time when I saw my first movie “travelogue” at the tender age of 10 years old. 

The e-mail came in from Kohler, Wis., on one of our cold, rainy spring days inviting me to their inaugural Festival of Beer Memorial Day Weekend. 

Could I attend? Let’s see ... unlimited beer, brats and sauerkraut, and world-class lodging and golf.

I said I would never do it again.

However, there I was on Sunday with the same grimy and unwashed feeling and looking at thousands of people from all walks of life united for the love of music.

Watching the news yesterday, commentators said what a sad day it was in Illinois for our governor to be impeached.

Three Sisters Park's monthly column

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog.

With the holidays finished, we at the newspaper office are back into the swing of things.

The highlight of this week’s paper, in my opinion, is the story about two IVC graduates, Bethany Ordaz and Zak Foste, and their work on now-President Barack Obama’s election campaign.

Happy Halloween from the Chillicothe Times-Bulletin staff!