Governor Quinn is defending his proposal to cut benefits for some public employees in an effort to boost Illinois business. In what he calls a “bold step” toward solving the problems created by the Illinois legislature, Governor Pat Quinn released a statement last month proposing changes to pension benefits for active public workers hired prior to January...
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On Sunday, May 20th, from noon until 5:00 p.m., the public will be touring the beautiful properties and homes that have been chosen for this year’s 29th annual Grand Tour. The architectural offerings for the Grand Tour 2012 are: 1419 W. Moss Avenue, 1635 W. Moss Avenue, 1114 N. University Street, Courtyard Estates on 117 N. Western Avenue, The...
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I’m happy to report that Peoria’s “Mr. Baseball,” Pete Vonachen, is on the mend. Pete fell at home recently and broke his hip resulting in surgery at OSF St. Francis. Following recovery from the operation, the 86-year old Vonachen was transferred to Proctor Hospital to begin rehabilitation. This was Pete’s second rehab visit to Proctor in recent years. He...
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As Mothers’ Day approaches this month, I recall inadvertently insulting my Mom decades ago, trying to defend a girlfriend’s career goals by complaining about the lack of opportunities for women who stayed home. “I chose to be a housewife and raise you boys,” she said. She did (and she did a good job), but it helped that Dad’s...
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From my vantage point at the curb, in front of Green Bay West High School, I could see the approach of the police escort followed closely by a large black car. All of us students crowded to the road and started waving and cheering as the car passed.  There in the back seat was former president, Dwight...
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Bishop Daniel Jenky claims that Barack Obama is behaving like Hitler did. More precisely, he said that Obama is on the path that Hitler and Stalin took. He said this in a homily, given from the pulpit of the church. Let us examine this statement. Hitler wrote a book detailing his hatred for the Jewish people....
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Ready, Aim, Fire! by Ed Klein, Peoria, IL The history of the United States is, in one sense, a history of guns … from the matchlocks of the Pilgrims to the rapid firing heavy caliber assault rifles of today. And the right to bear and use those guns has long been the subject of a long standing controversy. Gun enthusiasts...
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The tick seems louder. The clock on the wall of my office once hung on the wall above the breakfast bar between the kitchen and dining room in my childhood home. It’s a wood-framed clock with a two-paned glass door and the face of the clock is embroidered. I’m sure it was made from...
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Best wishes, good health and good times to our retiring City Administrator, John Carlson. The Annual West Peoria Memorial Day celebration will be held on Saturday, May 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the West Peoria War Veterans Memorial at Heading and Sterling. Avenues.  Bring your young people, family and neighbors to pay tribute to our country’s military....
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Computer Tech Tips With all the hype of Angry Birds, Facebook’s Words with Friends, and other unwanted games on your computer, it is sometimes hard to imagine that we can actually get an education using our computers. Many people are familiar with membership sites such as Lynda.com and Adobe.com. Then of course, the Universities providing...
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