On the Square Blog

What happens when you mix a Chicago Irish Democrat with a small-town Illinois Baptist Republican?  - The amazing community servant duo of Richard and Judy Buchanan.

In 1988, a group of local activists became exploring a “Sister City” relationship with a Russian community, hoping to lessen Cold War tensions.  Jana and Orlyn were in the delegation to the Soviet Union and eventually decided upon Vladimir as Bloomington-Normal’s sister city.  Locally, she was called a “communist, unpatriotic” and threatened, including anonymous phone calls:  “We know you are home alone right now.”

It’s a rough road from the Louisiana cotton fields to Bloomington-Normal, with obstacles every step of the way.   Henry Gay Sr. completed that journey with dignity and standing up for human rights.

For Black History month, GLT is reviving its occasional series McHistory in partnership with the McLean County Museum of History. 

Donald G. Munson was born September 26, 1941, in Gibson City and attended Gibson City schools.