Author Archive

Royce Elliott and I would like to thank everyone for their many acts of kindness during the Christmas season, especially the food. Actually, the food, period. Cookies and cakes were abundant as were the phone calls. We love what we do each morning on WOAM. Having fun, laughing and talking about old times and...
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Pat Lewis, former administrator for Springdale Cemetery, was excited about his decision to run for a seat on the Peoria County Board. He told me he had been urged to run against fellow Republican Brian Elsasser by both Republicans and Democrats. Elsasser was vulnerable for a couple of missteps including an ill-advised attempt to...
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Pam Adams has written a couple of recent articles in the Journal about changes at Methodist Medical Center. I’m not sure where she’s getting her information, but too many of her statements are false and some are just plainly offensive. Factually, Methodist started as the Deaconess Home and Hospital Association in 1898 thanks to three Methodist...
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In last month’s column I wondered why no law enforcement agency showed any interest in the questionable behavior of Peoria County Board member Brian Elsasser. Elsasser had attempted to block the board’s vote on awarding a contract to the low bidder for structural steel at the new Bel-Wood Nursing Home....
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Pete Vonachen, Peoria’s “Mr. Baseball,” celebrated his 86th birthday, Wednesday, August 31. Mayor Jim Ardis proclaimed that day “Pete Vonachen Day” in honor of Pete’s leadership and community service. Few people remember his many years on the city’s Liquor Commission and the Park District’s trustee board or his work...
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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 ...
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WOAM 1350 radio is returning and so is “Breakfast with Royce and Roger.” My long-time friend and nationally known comedian Royce Elliott and I have agreed to terms with WOAM’s new owner, (Larry) Nelson Multi-Media. The station will resume operations from Windsor Square on North University in late July....
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I learned about a disgusting incident at Richwoods High School that will probably go unreported. A 17 year old student was the victim of bullying. You know, it’s that activity that even the President of the United States and his wife has talked about discouraging.  The IHSA has even run...
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When it comes to Bradley basketball it seems to be good news, bad news. GOOD NEWS is new Bradley coach Geno Ford was able to retain Jalen Crawford, recruited by the fired Jim Les. The talented guard from Detroit played last year at a prep school in Las Vegas and still plans to attend Bradley. BAD...
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The news that Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman has written Illinois Governor Pat Quinn about the state’s burdensome tax on business should make a lot of people nervous. The tax was a typical Democrat response without serious consideration of potential damaging consequences. Remember the Illinois tax on trucking companies and...
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