The big joke locally and nationally isn’t about Mayor Jim Ardis or Peoria police, but about the PJS clowns climbing out of the little circus car yelling, “parody,” “parody,” to laughter under the big top.

They reminded me of Mayberry’s famous Gomer Pyle yelling “Citizen’s arrest, citizen’s arrest” at Barney Fife. Then came a city council meeting…..theater in the round with Journal Star reporters eating it up, because, after all, they created the “parody” as much as the original “actors.”  These are people who apparently believe that freedom of speech includes allowing others to allegedly say anything about anyone, including spreading complete falsehoods, using profanity and obscenity through impersonation.

HOAX TIMES TWO

Truth is, this entire political episode was really a hoax times two. It started with some folks who created a twitter account impersonating the mayor. Allegedly, they pretended it was Mayor Jim Ardis. It was a hoax, apparently legal, at least that’s what State’s Attorney Jim Brady later ruled.

Now I think most people feel it’s wrong to lie, to smear, to deceive. And when they get caught and held accountable, out of nowhere comes the word “parody.” That was hoax #2, compliments of the local newspaper. More appropriate and accurate words like impersonation and falsehood are replaced by the less inflammatory word parody by Journal Star reporters. In a recent column and accompanying story, the PJS used the word parody multiple times to justify their attacks on Mayor Ardis.  Harken back to the author of the cartoon about District 150 superintendent Grenita Lathan. The Peoria Journal took a completely opposite view. There were no quotes about freedom of speech. They didn’t run to find an attorney to defend the cartoonist or go into a rambling legal description of article this and section that. They didn’t even use the word parody once in attacking the “flyer” that some school board members received. Unlike the alleged profane references to the mayor, some people believe the cartoon was fairly accurate.

In my opinion, council members were guilty of a lynch mob mentality when they attacked the mayor with TV cameras rolling. They would’ve shown some class if they had chosen to meet privately with Ardis to air their concerns. No worthwhile purpose was served with the public attacks other than ink in the newspaper and face time on TV. Anyway, I applaud the mayor for defending his integrity and exposing the identities of the twitter cowboys. Oh yes. My column is a parody. That’s p-a-r-o-d-y, as in parody. Parody.

THANK YOU!

Thanks to all those who have written and called about the loss of our morning show, “Breakfast with Royce Roger,” on WOAM. Everyone wants to know if and when we might be returning to the air. Plans are for us to resume broadcasting on FM 90.7, the Illinois Central College radio station, sometime in May. It’ll be the same format with the same people. Alicia Butler will co-host and do the best local news on Peoria radio while Mike Olson, Tom Kahn, Phil Salzer, and Steve Young will provide the most comprehensive local sports on the dial from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. We’ll play great music with Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Peter, Paul and Mary, Glen Campbell, Andy Williams, and more. Count on timely and exclusive interviews with local personalities. We’ll be broadcasting from the North University campus of ICC.

Meanwhile, the owners of WOAM have closed shop at 7324 North University. Equipment has been removed with automated operations coming from the WOAM transmitter in the woods near McNaughton Park in Tazewell County.

I miss WOAM, but as Frank Sinatra sings, “That’s Life.” To WOAM’s credit, it continues to play our kind of music without commercials or any live announcers. Everything is recorded.

NEWS BITS

Raises for Peoria County board members? I can’t believe it. With an unemployment rate hovering around 10%, it’s wrong to be giving raises for these part-time elected officials. It’s the easiest job in the world. In my opinion, they’re paid too much as it is. That thought should make me popular at the courthouse.

That popular Gus Macker basketball tournament could be returning to Peoria. A local group would like to see it become a summer event in downtown Peoria once again starting next year.

Nothing has been reported lately by the local media regarding replacement of the defeated Laura Petelle on the District 150 school board, so I’ll do it. Legally, the board has to wait until the Petelle term officially ends, July 1. Susie Wolstenholm has to officially resign, but first she has to receive her Certificate of Election. That hasn’t happened as of the filing of this column. When all of those events take place, then and only then can the board begin receiving applications from candidates for the District 3 seat. There have been inquiries from interested individuals.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to the Cato Institute people on welfare in Hawaii receive a pre-tax equivalent of $29.13 an hour or a yearly payment of $60,590. If you live in our nation’s capital and you’re on welfare you get $50,820 a year. Massachusetts is close behind with annual payments of $50,540 to those on welfare. Is this a great country or what? By the way, the average salary of a teacher is $40,065 and the average salary of a soldier in Afghanistan is $38,000. Go figure.

HARD TO BELIEVE

Last year was a tough year. I/we lost some special people. First it was our dear friend, funnyman, Royce Elliott. Struggling with a variety of health problems, Royce succumbed to them April 21.

I took Pete Vonachen and his wheelchair to Royce’s visitation. Two months later, June 10, we lost Pete. In between was the death of another dear friend, Jonathan Winters.

How do you replace three wonderful friends like Royce, Pete, and Jonathan? You don’t. They created a void in my life and certainly in the lives of their families and friends. Royce and I had so many ex citing, funny and enjoyable experiences over the years. Our friendship goes back to Woodruff High School when I was a senior and he was a freshman. I thank his wife Helen for giving me the chance to tell him how much he was loved hours before his passing at St. Francis.

My friendship with Pete was not as long, but just as significant, especially the last 10-12 years. He loved coming on our morning show and we loved having him. His stories were legendary. As his health started failing he became somewhat of a prisoner in his home. He counted on his friends to come and visit. I was one of those who would buy coffee and glazed donuts for Monday morning breakfast and sometimes Saturday mornings. Eventually the Monday gatherings grew to include Mike Olson, Joe Stowell, Ron Ferguson, Ken Goldin, Phil Theobald, Bob Gordon and one or two others. It was a funfest. A week from our last breakfast at the Buehler Home, Pete left us. He told us to be sure and come back the following Monday. We didn’t. We couldn’t. He was gone.

Then there was my friend, Jonathan Winters. The 87 year old Winters died April 11. Though we had never met face-to-face, we had become very close friends, talking regularly by phone. They were lengthy conversations, sometimes lasting over an hour. He frequently used pseudo voices to describe personal incidents in Santa Barbara restaurants or visits to antique shows which he loved. It was a joy knowing Jonathan. I bought one of his famous pencil drawings and he followed that purchase with four more as gifts. Later, I asked if he would be offended if I donated one of the drawings to a local charity. He said, “Don’t do that, Roger. I’ll do one and donate it so you can keep yours.”

They say time heals. It hasn’t. I miss Royce and Pete and Jonathan. Big time.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD

The month of May is special for my family. After talking about Royce, Pete, and Jonathan and their passing, how could I not talk about my Dad, Zack O. Monroe? Dad was born May 4, 1906, in Sullivan, Illinois, and died at his home at 302 Ivy Lane in 2002, at the age of 96. I think that would make him 108 today. What a man! He arrived in Peoria at the age of 16 carrying a small bag of barbering tools. He died as one of the most popular and successful businessmen in the city. He spent eight years on the city council and another 40 years as “Overseer of the Poor.” He found time to sell life insurance for Massachusetts Life and was active as a Mason, 33rd degree, and as a Shriner. He bought houses and turned them into apartment buildings. At his death, he owned 70 units and the Peoria Barber College. Not bad for a man who quit high school as a freshman to help support his family. He was in his 40’s when he earned his GED. Happy Birthday, Dad.

SPORTS VS ACADEMICS

The Tuesday, April 15, front page of the Peoria Journal says it all for District 150 taxpayers: sports trump academics. New sports fields costing around $4.5 million are highlighted in the center of the page and next to it is a one column story about teacher lay-offs.

I know. I know. Supporters of the spending for sports at Peoria High will remind us that the money for each comes from different funds and you can’t mix them. Right. But regardless of the name of the funds, the money comes from taxpayers and we have no control. None. Meanwhile, graduates of Woodruff High School continue to scratch their heads about the closing of their school a few years ago to save an alleged $1 million a year.

POLICE VS POLICE

District 150 administrators seem confused about what to do about guns and armed police in the high schools. Let’s see. They disarmed their own campus police and then hired city police to carry their guns at a cost of close to $200,000. Former school secretary now board member Debbie Wolfmeyer thinks the district should contact other police departments for a lower price. Last I heard she was calling Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry to see if he would loan Barney Fife to safeguard students.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” -Marcel Proust