It’s obvious Peoria County board member Brad Harding has a personal feud with Sheriff Mike McCoy that has now expanded to include State’s Attorney Jerry Brady. Unfortunately, the Peoria Journal has embellished this non-story to front page coverage. I’m not sure why.
Harding has apologized for twice for violating Courthouse security rules. He met with McCoy and Brady in what was perceived as an effort to put the subject to rest. Surprise! After the meeting Harding called a news conference and announced he wants security logs and videos so he can review whether others have also violated security at the Courthouse. He claims others have complained about violations. Harding, though, failed to name the “others.”
There is another issue in this matter regarding security privileges for County Board members. I wrote about it in last month’s column. Why in the hell do members feel they should have privileges taxpayers don’t have? I spent 22 years coming and going to meetings in the Courthouse. Never once did I consider or request bypassing security screenings. Who requested such privileges and why? It’s an unnecessary perk and somebody on the board ought to have the guts to recommend revoking the privilege. Harding should do it. If he does I’ll buy him a six pack.
CRAZY LETTERS
Time was I used to read the cartoons in the newspaper for laughs. Then they dropped all the funny ones replacing them with feminist or wimpy ones. So I started reading some of the crazy letters printed on the editorial pages. While most are thought-provoking and reasonably rational, too many are just plain crazy. In the many years I’ve been writing this column I’ve avoided the temptation to respond to any of the crazy ones. A letter from an employee of the local liberal newspaper, Brian Ludwig, a copy guy in sports, is too much to ignore.
Ludwig claims he used to be a Republican. That’s one of the oldest shams in political rhetoric. More likely, he’s attended the Bill Maher School of Political Correctness where you’re taught to call Republican women the C-word and other obscenities while enhancing the stature of a 30 year old liberal college student who wants taxpayers to pay for her $9.00 a month birth control pills. If you don’t agree you’re against women’s health. Ludwig, who reviews high school and college scores for a living, ripped all of the Republican presidential candidates. Move over Thomas Sowell, Bill O’Reilly, and George Will, you have real intellectual competition as political analysts. Yeah right. If you believe anything Ludwig writes, I’ll sell you some stock in GateHouse Media, owners of the newspaper.
CHICAGO JUSTICE
At last former Democrat Governor Rod “the crook” Blagojevich is behind bars. At last he’s been silenced. Maybe. You never know. When he was indicted WLS radio rewarded his crookedness with a Sunday morning show. Who knows whether the radio brain-trust at WLS will try and get prison officials to allow him to do another show “live” from inside “The Big House.”
I was struck by the typical Chicago Democrat judicial system by how “Blago” was treated compared to Republican George Ryan. When Ryan’s wife was on her death bed, his requests to visit her were denied by the insensitive female Democrat judge. On the other hand, Blago requested time, after he was sentenced to prison, to settle his personal affairs. He was given a “honeymoon” of months. Finally, he was flown, at taxpayer expense, without handcuffs, to Colorado. He was allowed one news conference after another and was even allowed to stop for a burger and chat with people like he was on a shopping trip. The final crowning moment was when he walked into prison, again without cuffs, like he was checking into the Hyatt or Hilton Hotel. The only thing missing was someone asking, “Can I carry your bags, sir?” Oh that’s right, he didn’t have any bags, but he will when released from prison and they both will be under his old eyes. I was surprised at his last news conference that he didn’t steal Obama’s strategy and blame Bush for his failures.
THE GREAT “CAT” COACH
I wonder how many readers remember Warren Womble. He was coach for the Caterpillar “Cats” of the once famous National Industrial League, winning 296 games while losing 126. During his 1951-1960 tenure his teams won the National Amateur Athletic Union Championship five times. In 1952 his Cats won the Olympic Trials Tournament. He was named head coach of the U.S. Olympic basketball team that won the 1952 Olympics Gold Medal by defeating the Soviet Union, 36-25. He later served as an assistant coach to the U.S. basketball team that defeated Brazil for the 1960 Gold Medal. Womble, who has many friends in Peoria and central Illinois, was interviewed on WOAM’s “Breakfast with Royce and Roger” by the co-hosts and sports anchor Bob Sulaski on his 92nd birthday, March 15.
I know there are readers, like me, old enough to remember the Sunday afternoon Cat games at Robertson Memorial Fieldhouse. There were a lot of former great college players who played on that memorable raised floor in what was one of the roughest basketball leagues in the country…ever.
The Caterpillar Visitors Center, now under construction, will surely feature the many accomplishments of past company sports teams in not only basketball, but softball, baseball and racing as well. As a final note, I wish they would buy the naming rights to the Peoria Civic Center so it would be appropriately called the Caterpillar Center.
WOODRUFF HIGH BANQUET
Woodruff High School, sadly, is no longer, but the school’s alumni association is still alive and active. Alumni will gather for their annual Spring Banquet, Saturday, May 5, in the school Commons for a social hour, tours and dinner. The tours start at 5:00 p.m. followed by a social hour and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $28.00. Checks should be mailed to Woodruff High School Alumni Association, PO Box 10625, Peoria, Illinois, 61612. The deadline for making reservations is April 28. One of the highlights of the after dinner program will be the awarding of scholarships to seven Woodruff students now attending other city high schools.
KEN GOLDIN, UNIVERSITY & COMMUNITY ICON, TO BE HONORED, MAY 25
If anyone deserved to be recognized and honored for leadership and service, it’s Bradley University’s business manager, Ken Goldin. Goldin, who’s retiring this year, will be honored for his 50 years on the Hilltop, Friday, May 25, in the Robert H. Michel Student Center Ballroom. There will be a buffet dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by a special program that will be filled with plenty of laughs. Dave Snell will be the emcee with an exciting lineup of “roast” speakers.
Goldin’s secretary for most of his 50 years, Mary Ann Dwyer, is also retiring. What a combination! Goldin is known for his wit and wisdom and both will be on display for all to enjoy May 25. Proceeds will be added to the Ken and Pat Goldin endowed scholarship fund at Bradley. Call 677-4429 for ticket reservations.
DID YOU KNOW?
The national media has totally ignored the continuing life and service of President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. You probably don’t know Bush and his wife regularly greet returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistanat the airport. Last December the couple traveled to Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia as part of the Bush Institute’s Global Health Initiative and the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon effort to reduce cervical and breast cancer. The former President and First Lady have been to Africa five times since 2003. Mrs. Bush also chairs the Bush Institute’s Women’s Initiative that’s bringing together female leaders throughout the world who are committed to freedom and civil society. They hosted the first Warrior Open including 14 “Warriors” wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan. All of this has been totally ignored by the liberal media while headlines scream with adulation every time Jimmy Carter picks up a hammer.
ON THE OTHER HAND
To be fair, the national media over the years has ignored President Bill Clinton. Wrong. He’s actually celebrated by the liberal media wherever he goes, whatever he does. Newspaper headlines, TV appearances, Clinton has enjoyed it all while the media conveniently ignores one of the most obscene and immoral acts ever committed by a sitting president. It was early Easter morning. Easter. Easter morning when Clinton had oral sex in the Oval Office with a young woman, Monica, and then picked up a Bible and his wife to attend church services. Amazing how the media has forgotten the author of, “I did not have sex with that woman.”
A SLIP OF THE TONGUE?
After spending most of my adult life in and out of the media, I think I know the politics of some of the local news people. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know virtually everyone at the newspaper leans to the left. TV and radio people try to be a little more subtle about their political feelings. However, Ashley McNamee, a relative newcomer to local TV, had a obvious slip of the tongue on March 21, while interviewing 17th District Democrat candidate Cheri Busto on WEEK-TV. Ashley explained that the 17th District historically has been Republican and then said to Busto, “Do you think we can win it?” What did the WEEK anchor mean, “We?”
LET’S PLAY TWO
Ernie Banks, the former Chicago Cub player who coined the phrase, “Let’s play two,” is coming to Peoria as this year’s “Legend of the Ballpark” celebrity. Sponsored by the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the annual event is held during a Peoria Chiefs home game. This year the festivities will start at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, June 9, at the Pepsi Plaza just beyond the centerfield wall. The $80.00 ticket gets you into the game and includes a delicious dinner and perhaps a visit with “Mr. Cub.”
STRAIGHT THOUGHTS
Congratulations to the victors in the recent primary election. Now candidates, Republican and Democrat, please get rid of the yard signs until at least September. Nothing looks worse than a city littered with political signs weeks after an election. Major offender is Democrat Al Mayer, Peoria County board member. His signs were the first up and will be the last (if ever) removed.
Congratulations to Heartland Partnership for the impressive “2012 Greater Peoria Economic Scorecard” brochure. Members of the Task Force that put this marketing piece together are to be commended. It’s the finest outline of what makes Peoria economically competitive and attractive I’ve ever seen. Too often marketing brochures are copy-heavy. This one isn’t though it’s filled with lots of information along with colorful graphs and photos. I hope it receives wide distribution.
Watching the state and national basketball tournaments verifies my belief (and others too) that today’s players are faster and more skilled than those 30 and 50 years ago. Conversely, despite increasing the number of referees from 2 to 3, officiating today at all levels is slightly better than “poor.” It can be characteristically defined as inconsistent and unfair. Having said that, there’s no way to improve the quality of officiating beyond attracting the best possible people by paying more money for what can be termed as a “thankless job.” Meanwhile, isn’t this a great time of the year with basketball tournaments coming to an end as we hear the sound of “Play ball!”
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“The spirit of Easter is all about Hope, Love and Joyful living. Happy Easter!”—Author Unknown