Thanks to editor, Debbie Adlof, I’ve had the pleasure of writing this column for over ten years. Much of what I write comes from friends. They represent various aspects of life in Peoria and central Illinois from politics to business to sports to entertainment. A monthly newspaper like the Community Word doesn’t compete with Peoria’s daily newspaper. It can’t due to the fact that reporters and columnists work at it full time as their livelihood. The newspaper is published everyday while the Community Word hits the stands once a month.
When I get some inside information, chances are pretty good the daily newspaper will get it eventually as well. This means scooping the print and electronic media should be rare and unusual. But it does happen. And we did it again with last month’s column announcing not only the appointment of state’s attorney Kevin Lyons as 10th Circuit Judge, but the prediction that his replacement would be attorney Gerald Brady. As far as Lyons goes, this column predicted months ago he would be appointed to a position as a judge and would accept.
Am I crowing? You bet. Last year this column predicted Jim Les would be fired. And this year I wrote about an impending legal battle between Les and the university after he was fired. Two months later the daily newspaper had it as a front page story. And get this. They got the story from a Chicago news source!
For obvious reasons, this column was the first to reveal details about the new WOAM owner and programming plans, including morning show hosts. Regardless of the closeness this writer had to the story, it was another scoop.
I mention these items not to crow, but to question whether local news reporters are either sitting on stories or they spend too much time having lunch. Who hasn’t heard for months about the alleged confrontations between Bradley’s president and Coach Les? Most everyone in the Courthouse knew that Lyons wanted his friend, Jerry Brady, a former staff member, to be named as his replacement and they knew it as I did, long before it became a media story.
A final prediction. If the legal dispute between Les and Bradley winds up in court, I think it’ll be embarrassing to both parties.
It may not equal the Ohio State versus football coach Jim Tressel and the NCAA, but it will make national news. That’s why it’ll probably be quietly settled; at least that’s what I’m hearing. Let’s hope so.
KEVIN LYONS EVENTS
Folks around the Courthouse will hold a reception for the retiring (from this job) Peoria County state’s attorney, Kevin Lyons, on Friday, July 29, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. The glad-handing will take place in Room 402. Rest assured there’ll be plenty of Republicans and Democrats present to wish Kevin well in his new position.
Two days later, Sunday, July 31, there’ll be a unique swearing in ceremony at the home of County Board member Andrew Rand at 1230 West Moss Avenue. Judge Richard Eagleton will perform the ceremony at 4:00 p.m. making Lyons a Judge of the 10th Judicial Circuit.
IT’S OFFICIAL
After close to three years in radio purgatory, “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” returns to the air on 1350 WOAM, Monday, August 8, from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. All of the gang will be there with sports reporters Ed Murphy (Monday), Ed Dwyer (Tuesday), Phil Salzer (Wednesday), Bob Sulaski (Thursday) and Alicia Butler, (Friday). Harry Whitaker, who lives a few blocks from the new WOAM studios in Windsor Square, is available in the station bullpen if any of the above should falter. Sulaski, by the way, will once again provide a historical trip down Peoria’s memory lane each Thursday. Regular local guests will again be Pete Vonachen, George Shadid, Mike Dentino, Mayor Jim Ardis, Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy and other elected officials.
As mentioned in previous columns, we’ve become a close friend of one of the world’s greatest comedians, Jonathan Winters. Jonathan has agreed to be a regular guest as well, from his home in Montecito, California. Thanks to Pete and Royce, listeners can expect to hear interviews with a number of other entertainment and sports personalities each week.
Thanks to Steve Tarter, news of our return to WOAM has sparked a lot of positive responses throughout the community. I deeply appreciate the kind words along with the enthusiasm. High on their list of comments was excitement about the good music. “A breath of fresh air,” said one person. Another remarked, “I had no place to go on the radio when WOAM went off the air.” She said, “I just stopped listening to the radio.” Royce and I were grateful that new owner Larry Nelson selected the adult music format and then told me I could play the same music.
A FITTING FAREWELL
Last month I wrote about the talents of Mike Dentino. I did so because Mike deserved the recognition; not that he hasn’t been previously recognized by larger media writers. I did it for another
reason. I knew his wife, Margaret, was seriously ill. Perhaps, I thought, it would be uplifting, or at least bring a smile. Every time I called for Mike and she answered the phone, her remarks made me smile.
Margaret died June 13. She died at home surrounded by all ten of her children. They had come from all over the world. Really. There was Michael Dentino III, who came from his home in Beijing, China. There was Father Darren Dentino who flew in from Guadalajara, and Daniel who arrived from Naples, Floria. Doug lives in Plymouth,
Michigan, and Matt traveled from Waynesville, Ohio. Dr. Drew Dentino left from Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Dianna Dentino-Grelow came to be at her mother’s bedside from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Closer to home were Deirdre Clemons of East Peoria, Domine King of Normal, and D’Arcy Conley of Peoria.
Mike said there were 49 family members in the house and they spent much of their time singing show tunes and hymns for Margaret.
I asked Mike if Margaret was aware of the singing. He said, “She not only knew, she joined in the singing. She loved it.” He added, “Our son (Father Darren) held Mass everyday.” Not many people get to say goodbye to a loved one in such an uplifting and spiritual way. The Dentino family is truly blessed. Margaret was a loving wife, mother
and grandmother. We extend our condolences to the family that now includes 33 grandchildren.
THEY DID OKAY!
The Heart of Illinois Fair did okay this year. It wasn’t great, but revenue was about the same as last year, said my source. He happily stated, “There will be a 63rd annual Heart of Illinois Fair in 2012.” Fair officials were delighted with the weather that helped attendance. “If we had had the hot weather that came after the Fair our revenue would’ve suffered.”
The big draw again this year was the Demolition Derby. “We had close to 2,000 attend this free event,” the Fair official disclosed. There were no major fights or incidents thanks in large measure to the work of Carl Cannon. Carl has a calming effect on potential trouble-makers.
CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIC
Former Peoria Journal writer Jerry Klein rightfully took to task his former employer for its failure to cover local theater. Specifically, he lamented the lack of coverage of the locally written and produced play at the Conklin Barn, titled, “Encore.” The production traces the history of the barn playhouse founded by the late Chaunce Conklin. It stars Mary Simon, Mel and Bonnie White along with Mike Conklin and others. The delightful show closed as the Community Word went to press. Klein’s letter appeared in the paper on the same day the entertainment section had not one, but two stories about the same movie. Geez.
STRAIGHT THOUGHTS
What has happened to our country?
What has happened to our city?
A woman is found not guilty of anything after her daughter disappears and the mother dances and parties for 31 days before reporting the missing child to authorities. Another woman stabs her two children to death before fatally stabbing herself.
A few blocks from where my wife and I raised our two sons, three gunmen break into a house and rob residents shooting and killing one of their dogs.
Truth is, there are few areas of Peoria where I feel safe and secure, especially at night. The tail is wagging the dog. Decent, honorable and honest people are being held hostage by mean and dishonest thugs who enjoy victimizing the defenseless. This is
the biggest reason Peoria and Illinois needs to adopt concealed carry laws. The wrong people are carrying concealed weapons.
In other news, WMBD-TV and central Illinois welcomes a new addition to the Channel 31 newsroom. She’s Cynthia Schweigert. Reportedly, Schweigert is also expecting a new addition.
Former WXCL and WIRL country jock, Dan Dermody, who once rode high in the local ratings, is still looking for work after unceremoniously getting the boot from JMP Radio. Dan is a neat guy who deserves to be on the air. But the way local radio stations are going, look for more pre-recorded shows and network programming after 9:00 a.m. and fewer live talents.
OBJECTIVITY?
There was a time readers and viewers trusted the media. Not anymore.
Objectivity is out the window. It’s been missing for years and most Americans now realize media writings for both print and electronic are as subjective and opinionated as the editorial page.
The Associated Press reported that Republican House Speaker John Boehner “abruptly quits” negotiations with Obama. Obviously, the two words, “abruptly quits,” are subjective and highly opinionated and without foundation. I heard the Speaker at his new conference.
First, he did not abruptly quit. Boehner pointed out, which the
media basically ignored, that Obama changed the terms of their original agreement. The left-wing Peoria Journal headlined, “Boehner walks out;” again inflammatory and subjective language intended to make Boehner the bad guy when the President “moved the goal post.”
The newspaper added to its left-wing approach by falsely stating, “Debt talks are sent into crisis mode.” Hell, according to the media, we’ve been in a crisis mode for days and weeks, not just because Boehner realized the President has no plans to stop spending taxpayer money which he’s been doing since the day he walked into the White House. Bottom line, I don’t believe anything the national media and the local newspaper reports. And that’s my opinion. 🙂
WOODRUFF TO OPEN?
I’ve heard that Woodruff is going to re-open as a trade school. Funny. I thought they closed it to save money. Would one of the bright persons on the school board get out their slide rule and calculator and explain how much money they saved with the closure of the northside high school?
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety per cent how you take it.” ——Ben Franklin