Bowl brilliance

Illinois is playing in its 16th postseason game Wednesday. Here are staff writer Bob Asmussen's picks for the best and the brightest Illini from the first 15:

Eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York's Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial on Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history's most reprinted newspaper editorial.

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.

MAHOMET – It began as a few lights on the shrubs and the light pole 30 years ago.

"It just started growing from there," said Dixie Schoonover.

Now the holiday display at the Timberview Drive home of Dixie and her husband George has about 80,000 lights that cover the home's roof, trees, bushes, windows and even part of the neighbor's yard.

DANVILLE – With five candidates in the race for Danville mayor, a February primary is necessary.

But it will cost taxpayers $50,000-$60,000 and narrow the field by just one candidate, heading into the April 5 consolidated election, according to Barbara Dreher, director of the Danville Election Commission.