Jehan Gordon Launches Third Annual Cell Phones for Soldiers Drive Lawmaker launches program to support troops serving overseas To help our troops serving overseas call home, state Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) on Friday kicked off her third annual cell phone…
Peoria Park District in July
The 5th Annual Peoria Park District Long Drive Challenge – Qualifying will take place on Sat., June 25 at the southernmost field at Detweiller Park from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. The finals will be held at Donovan Golf Course hole…
Critter Meals on Wheels
Best friends share many things with each other: time, fun, naps, and sometimes lunch. Even best friends don’t always agree on the menu. Or what’s good for one isn’t for the other, or there’s not always enough for two. Many…
Lines Redrawn: Quinn OKs U.S. House District Map
After months of deliberation among state lawmakers, Governor Quinn signs into law new districts that he says meet with his desire for ‘openness and fairness.’ Democrats have more than one reason for fireworks this month after their leader in Springfield…
Zero Degrees of Separation: A Movie Group at Landmark’s Peoria Theater
Zero Degrees of Separation, the brainchild of Todd Ernest Nelson and avid supporter Stella Link, is a new group that has been established at Landmark’s Peoria Theater. Other supporters, Scott Jackson, Josh Starkey, and many others from Nelson’s circle of…
The Importance of the Wintering Bald Eagle Count for Central Illinois and Additional Bald Eagle Facts As Established by the Eagle Nature Foundation
Through the work of the Eagle Nature Foundation, there have been many established facts in regards to the numbers of the wintering bald eagles. The amount of bald eagles being counted over the 51 years the Eagle Nature Foundation has…
Zero Degrees of Separation Movie Sunday July 3rd
The Parallax View
Gas Prices Pinch Peoria’s Wallet
Growing public concern over rising gas prices has prompted some action from the White House, but Peorians aren’t likely to see relief anytime soon. Uprisings in Libya have given city residents a new reason to care about government, both abroad…
Courtyard Estates Arrives in Peoria
Speculation about plans for the area has been a conversation topic for months. The building itself evokes memories of happy and celebratory times. Special events, evenings spent visiting with friends, weddings or anniversaries in classic elegance and comfort all come…
Impact of Central IL Eagle Census by Volunteers
The Central Illinois efforts of the Werner family, including Mark and his daughter Kealy, have been highly important toward the collection of migratory wintering bald eagle numbers. Mark Werner, who was on the board of directors for the Eagle Nature…
Disgusting incident at Richwoods High School
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…
Happy Father’s Day
Smoke & Mirrors: Casinos, State want the moola, no matter who’s hurt
I’ve had friends and family who worked at metro Peoria’s Par-A-Dice casino, so I appreciate that it provides jobs and revenue to government, but the legislature’s debate about changing the smoking ban to exclusively benefit gaming interests either oversimplifies or…
Can Chemical Combat Cause Collateral Carnage?
It may not be Iraq or Afghanistan, but it is a war of sorts. We’ve come to view such plants as clover, dandelions, and plantain as territorial terrorists. They invade our lawns with flowers and broad leaves, forcing us to…
Peoria won’t have Aaron Schock to kick around anymore — well, most of us
Where do you live? If you live in the heart of Peoria, you’ve voting for someone new in 2012. The Democratic Party has released a map of the state’s U.S. Congressional Districts. The good news is that the districts are…
Welcome to the U.S. Socialist Republic
by Ed Klein, Peoria, IL How often have conservatives warned us that state and federal entitlements along with other programs designed to help the poor, aged and disabled are leading the U.S. down the path to socialism? They point to…
Civil Rights Era in Peoria History
by Dolores Klein, Peoria, IL As I waited for Public TV’s presentation of the documentary about the Civil Rights Bus Rides through the Deep South, Oprah Winfrey interviewed some of the heroic participants. Among them was Diane Nash, whose name…
The Un-lived Life of Russell Stone a novelette, part six
Mrs. Stone’s journal shakes in Rachel’s trembling hands; the poem devours her like quicksand. It is 8:15 AM. The ink on the page dripped with pain. I read it again… He died at 8 The funeral was at 12. He…
Lilac blossoms remind me of Elizabeth — Serendipity 2011
Lilacs blossoming in the spring will always be a cherished and poignant reminder to me of Elizabeth. She and I knew each other for ten years and a few days. For the first five years, we saw each other twice…
West Peoria News for June 2011
The thirteenth annual Jamboree Run is scheduled for June 4th at 7:00 a.m. It is a 4-mile run through a portion of West Peoria. All runners must register by 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 4th. Applications can be picked up…
Happenings for June 2011
June 1 – Kick off for the annual summer “Brown Bag-It” weekly events on Mondays & Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. @ Peoria County Courthouse Place. Call 681-0696. Admission free. June 1 – 4 – Annual Washington Cherry Festival…
The Beauty of Nature Mixed with Memoir: Tom Lerczak’s New Book ‘Side Channels’
Tom Lerczak’s love of birding and nature has resonated throughout his life and has helped him create an amazing new book “Side Channels: A Collection of Nature Writing and Memoir.” “Side Channels” is beautifully illustrated, passionately written, and flows gracefully…