ROGER MONROE

Kim Blickenstaff rode into Peoria like the proverbial knight on a white horse with wads of money and a load of ideas for improving life in central Illinois. The highly successful businessman, who made a fortune in the healthcare industry, is a native of Spring Bay. Based in San Diego, Blickenstaff was co-founder of Biosite Diagnostics in 2001 and Biosite Inc. in 2007. Later, he became chairman, president and CEO of Tandem Care, Inc., a company that designs, develops and distributes products for persons with insulin-dependent diabetes. In 2020, Blickenstaff was named Director of the Year by the Corporate Directors Forum and his name was flashed on an electric billboard on Times Square. He’s been recognized and honored as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. It’s no wonder we were awed by his record of success, his big ideas and apparently the money to make it happen. Shades of the late Ray Becker.

His plans were almost endless, including purchase of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, which was renamed the Scottish Rite Theater. My Dad was a Mason, so I had more than a passing interest in that historic building. The improvements Blickenstaff made were stunning and much appreciated. In almost the same breath, he maneuvered to acquire the Hale Memorial Church only to learn it wasn’t worth whatever he paid to get it. But that disappointment was overcome with development of the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for Performing Arts in Peoria Heights along with the opening of Sankoty Lakes Resort near his hometown of Spring Bay. Blickenstaff was toasted for his open support for renovation of the Women’s Club building at the corner of Fayette and Madison.

The ideas and plans just kept popping up. As a Peorian who was born, raised and educated in the city, I started questioning the wisdom, but not Blickenstaff’s imagination, especially when he announced interest in the Armory.

“Are you kidding me?” I asked. That old and worn-out structure is located in one of the highest crime zones in the city. Who would want to hang out there for any reason?

And I remember when Al Fresco Beach was alive with an almost carnival atmosphere just north of Grandview Park. When I drove past the proposed land on Galena Road, I wondered how that was going to be possible. But, hey, I’m not worth millions, so go for it Kim.

Then came the heart-breaking news that the Blickenstaff projects were closing and some 50 employees were losing their jobs. As this paper goes to press, the theater, resort, and performing arts center are shuttered. A total of eight ventures are no more, at least for now. I’m told Blickenstaff had more than 12 projects for development. There have been rumors those that did operate short term, will soon be up for sale.

All the excitement and enthusiasm have disappeared. Not the best way to start the New Year.

CURE SPEEDING

The City of Peoria has received more than $700,000 to Cure Violence and another half million this year. Hopefully, throwing money to a variety of agencies will do just that, cure violence. Everybody agrees the city, the state and the country has a big problem, but not everyone agrees about solutions. Meanwhile, Peoria has another problem:
Speeding.

There are vehicles doing 60 mph on major thoroughfares like Sterling, Knoxville, University, and War Drive. I remember when everyday city police were shooting radar and writing tickets. Not anymore. I’m stunned about the lack of enforcement. I wonder why.

There’s plenty of violence in the crash of vehicles, but little interest in preventing it. Especially the lack of enforcement in school zones. I travel Sterling, which has two schools, Sterling and Holy Family, and cars and trucks fly through the zones with little concern about safety. Maybe Chief Eric Echevarria will consider radar patrols to slow the dangerous traffic.

SPECIAL THANKS

I want to give special thanks to some special people who appear regularly on our morning radio show on WAZU-FM 90.7. We’ve had some major stories and no local radio or TV station has provided the exclusive coverage listeners heard on “Breakfast with Roger and Friends.” This was true with news about not only COVID-19, but the outbreak of the flu and respiratory diseases.

Thanks to retired internal medicine specialist Dr. Gene Sidler, we were kept up-to-date with almost daily reports. Dr. Sidler has been a part of our morning show for more than 15 years starting with analysis of Bradley basketball games. He’s host of bradleyfans.com an exclusive source on the Internet.

Thanks, too, to Peoria defense attorney Kevin Sullivan, who’s heard Wednesday mornings analyzing such high profile murder cases such as the brutal deaths of the four University of Idaho students. Kevin’s insights have been exclusive as have been the thoughts from retired attorney Mike Dentino, Thursday mornings each week.

We’re indebted to former Congressman Ray LaHood, another regular guest. No one in the local broadcast market offered local coverage of the struggle House Republicans had to elect a Speaker than Ray. Again, his political insights were “spot on.” And we concluded coverage of that historic event with a “live” interview with Peoria Congressman Darin LaHood who participated in the 15 ballots it took for Kevin McCarthy to be elected.

Finally, congratulations to the new executive director of the Peoria County Election Commission, Elizabeth Gannon. She’s very cooperative and enthusiastic about her new position and represents that critical office with dignity and respect.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Be nice to people on the way up, you may meet them on the way down.” — Unknown