As I write this column January 18, discussions are taking place between retiring Peoria County Administrator Patrick Urich and Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis. Don’t be surprised if an announcement is made within days that Urich is the city’s choice for city manager. He’s a great choice.
I was on the County Board when Urich arrived and found him to be dynamic, creative, experienced, articulate and knowledgeable. He has superb interpersonal skills and will be a natural fit for Ardis and the City Council. Urich and his wife like Peoria. I’m betting he would like to stay here. Not that my opinion would mean much to city officials, but Urich was the best county administrator since Dave Krings.
I bring that up because when Krings was serving Peoria County he was invited to submit an application to become City Manager by Mayor Jim Maloof. Krings did just that and Peoria officials responded by not only ignoring his application, but even failed to interview him for the job. Krings personally told me the snub was hurtful. So what did Krings do?
He applied for the job in Ohio as administrator for Hamilton County. Krings then spent some 15 years in Cincinnati overseeing significant development including construction of two sports stadiums. Peoria let one outstanding government professional get away. Don’t let another. Save time. Save money.
Hire Patrick Urich. Personally, I think it’s a done deal and has been longer than anyone will admit.
LONG LIVE THE DEATH PENALTY
How ironic that the day after the Illinois House voted to abolish the death penalty that a 22 year old man killed six people, including a nine year old girl, while wounding 13 others in Tucson, Arizona. How anyone could believe this killer deserves to live the rest of his life at taxpayer expense is beyond me.
I never understood why Richard Speck’s life was spared after he murdered eight nurses.
Meanwhile, certain compassionate supporters of abolishing the death penalty are the first to oppose early release or any release of George Ryan so he can be at his dying wife’s bedside. That group includes Governor Pat Quinn who approved early release of many hardened criminals who then went out and robbed, mugged and even committed murder. But then, they weren’t Republicans.
One of the most insensitive quotes opposing Ryan’s release to see his dying wife came from David Morrison of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. Morrison said, “The fact that Ryan has sick family members really has no bearing on the acts that he was convicted for.” Was he serious? Ryan’s wife is more than sick. She’s dying. Elsewhere, they released from prison two sisters convicted of armed robbery simply because they’re going to donate kidneys. Ryan has served three years of his six and half year sentence. He should be released for humanitarian reasons. Keeping him imprisoned serves no worthwhile purpose other than to give joy to Ryan haters.
DESPICABLE
There’s no better word to describe the wild and reckless charges made by Democrats and the media to try and blame Sarah Palin and others for the rampage by an apparent severely mentally deranged killer in Tucson, Arizona. The media has done a good job deflecting the focus to right wing rhetoric rather than mental illness. The best analysis of the senseless killing was given by Dr. Charles Krauthammer. A psychiatrist, Krauthammer, unlike the liberal national and local media, pointed out that Jared Loughner had “all the hallmarks of a paranoid schizophrenic. And a dangerous one.”
He added, “The origins of Loughner’s delusions are clear: mental illness.” Referring to the media and certain Democrats, Krauthammer said, “Rarely in American political discourse has there been a charge so reckless, so scurrilous and so unsupported by evidence.” Amen.
Speaking of scurrilous, an editorial in the Peoria Journal, by a nameless writer, imitated and copied other left-wing sources starting with the headline, “Same old story in America that can’t rein in the rhetoric, the rage, the renegades.” It quoted the Barney Fife of Pima County, Arizona, Sheriff Clarence Dufus, I mean Dupnik. This windbag avoided taking responsibility for failing to have anyone from his office at the political event and for failing to investigate numerous complaints about Loughner. Instead, Fife blamed right-wing rhetoric with no evidence beyond his hot air which was self-incriminating.
Getting back to the PJS editorial, no one is more guilty of harsh rhetoric than the newspaper with its own staff of left-wing “renegades.” They include leftist flame-throwers like Gene Robinson, E.J. Dionne, Leonard “The” Pitts, Mary McGrory, etc. Then there are the past local attacks from Mike Bailey, Shelley Epstein, Barbara Mantz Drake, etc. I could give many examples of harsh and unfair rhetoric, including attacks on me and my late father. But the best was the almost coordinated smear of former District 150 board chairman, Alicia Butler, for the alleged embellishment of her education resume. There were at least six PJS articles demonizing Butler including two front page banner headline stories. Even Bradley University joined in the attacks by releasing Butler’s academic records without her approval. Interestingly, not one word has been written about the education background of the newly appointed board member to District 150.
As a young boy, I remember hearing the saying, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” This applies to the Peoria Journal, who, by their own editorial description about rhetoric, the rage, the renegades, are as guilty as anyone. Pontius Pilate washed his hands. The Journal should wash its mouth before lecturing anyone about rhetoric.
GIVING THE SHAFT
Board members of School District 150 have a habit of giving people the shaft. They gave students, their families, teachers and residents of the northside the shaft when they voted by a narrow margin of one, to close Woodruff High School. When the board voted to raise the tax rate, they gave all taxpayers the shaft. The latest victim of their insensitivity is Bill O’Brien. O’Brien ran for the school board’s District 2 seat in the last election and lost to Rachel Parker by a mere 28 votes. If 15 of those votes had been cast for him Parker would’ve lost. So the decent and fair thing to do when Parker opted to success fully run for County Board, was to honor voters as well as O’Brien, by recommending him to her vacated seat. After all, he ran for the position. He spent money, campaigned, knocked on doors. However, Debbie Wolfmeyer and the others ignored voters and a “fairness doctrine” and solicited applicants. O’Brien wasn’t chosen despite his previous investment and his credentials which far surpass the others. O’Brien served six years on the County Board, was a member of the Neighborhood Development Commission and is currently on the County’s Zoning Board of Appeals. He’s also a college graduate, but doesn’t have military experience… neither does Barack Obama or Bill Clinton.
When you examine and analyze the decisions of this board compared to others, it’s easy to conclude this is the worst board in the history of the school district. No wonder no one is interested in running from District 3. Hell, just wait and get appointed. Unfortunately, we need the appointments to come from a more mature and intellectual source, like Mayor Jim Ardis.
WONDERFUL! WONDERFUL!
WOAM 1350 is back on the air. Once again central Illinois radio listeners can hear great music featuring artists like Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Steve Lawrence, Karen Carpenter, and so many others. Bob Kelly, who holds the FCC license, has once again turned on the 1350 transmitter in Pekin in an effort to hang onto the license while hoping to sell the station that’s without a building, studio, or equipment. That’s a tough sell. I’m not sure how long he will keep broadcasting the wonderful sound, so enjoy it while you can.
TRAGIC FIRE TOUCHES MANY LIVES IN AREA
It was a tragic fire and a tragic loss when Haddad’s Market burned to the ground New Year’s night. The West Peoria store was a favorite for many, including people who don’t live there. I make no claims about being the last shopper or even the first, but my wife and I loved shopping there for more than 40 years. We lived in West Peoria at 1923 West Laura in the mid-1960’s. It was a natural to shop at Haddad’s; great deli, great grocery products, great people. And when we moved to Wardcliffe we continued to shop there especially since Fred and Sandy Haddad, the owners, lived just a couple blocks away from our house. Driving over to Haddad’s was a regular habit even though Kroger’s was closer on Sterling. There’s just a warm and fuzzy feeling about doing business in a neighborhood grocery. Unfortunately, people today, for the most part, are attracted like ants at a picnic to stores with the lowest prices.
Like today’s owner, Mark Wrhel, Fred and Sandy, would greet everyone with a smile and even say good bye. Fred would stroll the aisles and trade a few barbs or stories with customers. Try that at Cub, GFS or Wal-Mart. We watched as one of the young high school cashiers remained a loyal employee becoming a wife and mother and a familiar, friendly part of Haddad’s over the years. For the past three years we’ve lived in Morton, but we still managed to shop at Haddad’s. My last trip was to shop for goodies for a Christmas Open House for friends and family.
NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETS
Everyone laments the loss of Haddad’s Market. It’s been a symbol of an almost lost retail business replaced by super this and super that from Wal-Mart to Kroger’s to Schnucks. When I lived on the city’s northside at 2917 North Madison, we had a small market, Schwend’s, just a block north. My brother Zack, delivered groceries for Kyle’s Market on North Adams near where Hardee’s is now located.
Other neighborhood markets on the northend included Poppen’s on Park Avenue and Adams Street Market between Haungs and Park. I loved to stop at Poppen’s to buy a Twinkie on the walk home from Woodruff. Readers from my generation, I’m sure, remember with fondness, grocery stores in their neighborhoods.
SPECIAL THANKS!!!!
I want to publicly thank members of the Peoria Fire Department who responded to a fire at one of our family-owned apartments at 3011 Granada late Friday night. The response was quick, efficient and professional. They contained the blaze with amazing skill and limited the fire, water and smoke damage. We thank them for a job-well done in almost sub-zero temperatures.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Sir Winston Churchill