Author Archive for Roger Monroe

Straight talk for December 2013

BARNEY AND GOMER The 80 year old man took another drink of his coffee and then loudly announced, “I’ve been scammed!” “Stolen identity?” someone asked. “No.” “Over charge on auto repair?” “No.” “What then?” With anger in his eye, the…

Egg on their faces

When the news broke that Kent State had won its suit against Bradley for recruiting basketball coach Geno Ford, it looked like a black mark for the Hilltop. A trial was set for October 7 for determining the amount of…

The last breakfast

It’s hard to believe. Pete Vonachen is gone. Just a few days before his passing we were having coffee and donuts together at the Buehler Home. Pete was his usual charming and witty self, occasionally complaining about his sore bottom,…

Royce’s Park?

There’s a move to rename the park on the near northside of Peoria after our friend, Royce Elliott. Morton Square Park was a favorite “playground” for Royce and his many friends. They played football and some softball on the square…

Of Royce and Jonathan

LOSING MY FRIEND JONATHAN WINTERS It was a stunning loss, especially the way I learned it. I was driving home listening to the news on WOAM when the reporter announced Jonathan Winters had died. I couldn’t believe it. We had…

Straight Talk for April

STUNNING! The recent announcement that Proctor Hospital had sold all of its Prompt Care offices to OSF St. Francis Medical Center was a stunning surprise, especially to officials at Methodist Medical Center, past and present. Truth is, historically, Methodist and…

Straight Talk for March

Harry Caray was considered by many as the greatest play-by-play announcer in the history of baseball. Fans of Mel Allen of the Yankees and Vin Scully of the Dodgers would disagree, but to those of us in the mid-west, Caray…