Straight Talk

EXCLUSIVE For writing a column in a monthly newspaper I’m proud of the scoops I’ve had over the years. This column was the first to predict a federal judgeship for Judge Jim Shadid and the first to forecast that Chillicothe’s IVC would join the Mid-State 6. Here’s another one to remember....
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Woodruff High School is dead.  Its execution was ordered by District 150 board members David Gorenz, Laura Petelle, Debbie Wolfmeyer and Linda Butler. As a physician, Gorenz lost “the patient;” Petelle, the attorney, pulled the plug; Wolfmeyer, a school secretary, filed the official death notice; and Reverend Butler, former WPEO radio employee, gave the...
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Greg Maddox, one of the greatest pitchers of modern day baseball, got his professional start playing for the Peoria Chiefs at the old Vonachen Stadium on Nebraska Avenue. And thanks to that Vonachen, as in Pete, the “Mad Dog” is returning to Peoria, Saturday, June 11. The occasion is the...
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On numerous occasions I’m reminded by other people what a great man my father was. Recently, I received an invitation to appear as a guest on the cable program, “Neighborhood Views,” from the host, Lorraine Carter. Lorraine said she not only graduated from Dad’s school, the Peoria Barber College, but was the first African-American...
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A new radio station will soon be on the air in central Illinois. It’ll be the voice of Illinois Central College on FM 90.7 and will primarily serve the students and faculty. A high ranking school official told me the station will also be a valuable marketing resource enabling the community to learn more...
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It was a shock to learn of the untimely death of Brad Horton. I’ve known Brad for years. Those at City Hall knew him as Township Assessor and over at the Courthouse people there knew him as County Recorder of Deeds. But throughout the city and county people knew Brad as just one nice...
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How sad it is to watch as people with good intentions do bad things to others. That’s what has happened in Peoria as a group of people successfully worked to bring a charter school to District 150 while quietly applauding the closure of Woodruff High School. Those people should be ashamed, including the elected...
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I’m sorry my column was missing in last month’s issue of the Community Word. Despite my wife’s hospitalization and subsequent admission to a nursing home rehab unit, I still managed to write another “award winning” column. I say that with a smile, of course. Seriously, the column was written and emailed to the editor....
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Information has been provided to this columnist that indicates some District 150 board members may have been relying on a secret resource for making decisions regarding school closures. At least one board member has inferred the decision to close Woodruff was based on recommendations from a “community resource.” The board member refused to identify...
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Did you watch? Did you hear people speak at the District 150 school board meeting that ended with an historic 4-3 vote to close Woodruff High School? Thank you Public Access Channel 17 for showing the meeting so taxpayers could see and hear the hotly debated and discussed issue: Shall Woodruff or Peoria High...
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