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…
Columns
Some Drinking Water Quality Suspect, According to GAO, USGS
by Bill Knight • • 0 Comments
One consequence of conservatives’ insatiable hunger to starve government could jeopardize people’s health by letting drinking water become contaminated and go unreported, according to a report from the non-partisan Government Accounting Office (GAO). For now, people can still track local…
Taking a ‘Lichen’ to Mutualism
by Dale Goodner • • 0 Comments
It was meant as a helpful hint. I was walking around my yard with a friend, when he noticed some sizable, dirty looking, crusty blotches sullying the stone facade on my house. He offered to lend me his power washer…
The Un-lived Life of Russell Stone a novelette, part ten
by Cheryl Courtney Semick • • 0 Comments
Rachel is absorbed in Mrs. Stone’s book of poetry amidst a restless sea of defendants and plaintiffs, all waiting for their day in court. It’s 9:45 a.m. When lies are love and love is a lie When truth is pain…
It’s never too late to reconnect & enjoy memories
by Sandra Dempsey Post • • 0 Comments
Plans commenced months ago. While not previously a faithful reunion attendee, I wanted to be part of our 45th high school class reunion. I also hoped to encourage some of my dearest classmates to be there so I began checking…
Happenings for October 2011
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
Oct 1 – Spider Hill – Recurs weekly on Friday, Saturday from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. at Three Sisters Park. Call (309) 274-8837. Admission: $8.00 per person. Spider Hill is located at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe, IL and…
Happy Birthday, Pete!
by Roger Monroe • • 0 Comments
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…
Progressive – and proud of it!
by Community Word Staff • • 0 Comments
For progressive-minded radio fans who love variety in their music and local personalities on the dial, the Peoria area can be frustrating. It’s worse when stations licensed to certain communities ignore those towns. So increasingly, listeners seeking voices and tunes…
Keeping the Parts
by Dale Goodner • • 0 Comments
My sister, Lora, was absolutely right. When her mother-in-law, Oma, died this past July, she said, “It was like losing a library…” That’s a perfect way to put it. Having lived through almost all of the twentieth century, Oma had…
What were you doing ten years ago today?
by Billy Dennis • • 0 Comments
On Sept. 11, 2001, I awoke at about 9:00 a.m. local time. I was living with my brother on Samuel Street in the Heights. I stretched, wandered over by my computer and went to a Usenet newsgroup I visited regularly.…