Author Archive for Brian Ludwig

Benchmark in history: Peoria High grad Darrin Gayles, federal judge in Southern District of Florida

  There are plenty of people Peorians can be proud of here, there and everywhere. One such person to have particular pride in is the Honorable Darrin Gayles. The Peoria High graduate sits on the federal bench in Miami as…

Ready to vote? Community Word Election primer here to help

Do Republicans have what it takes to control Congress? Will Democrats keep their hold on statewide offices? Casting an uneducated vote, political scientists say, can be worse than not voting. It’s important for the electorate to be knowledgeable of the…

Coach Van: Godfather for so many men, so many souls

  Many people know Dick Van Scyoc, the coach: 826 career victories in a 45-year career that culminated with the 1994 Class AA state championship to cap 28 basketball seasons at Manual. But when I think about Coach Van, the…

Dash of devotion

South Side Mission

The free meals at the South Side Mission feed poor souls every day. But what’s been cooking in the kitchen nourishes the hearts and minds of a ministry of culinary artists. Chef Chris Franzoni has been devoted to teaching aspiring…

Editorial | Good ones got together, and passed a bill on guns

A few weeks ago, one of the co-owners of The Community Word received a campaign mailer from a Republican state senator that asked, “Are you tired of politicians threatening your right to own guns?” It claimed, “The rights of Illinois’…

Peorian Oliver Mack offers some insight into ‘Winning Time’

Lakers

HBO wrapped up its controversial “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty” on May 8. Basketball fanatic Oliver Mack has not seen the 10-part miniseries. He doesn’t have to, though. He was there. “Winning Time” takes some serious artistic…

Local cyclist gearing up to Bike for MS

Alex Lamprecht feels the need for speed with the wind in her hair. The financial advisor at Thrivent is gearing up for her seventh Bike MS ride this summer. “The gameplan is I’m going to try to do 100 miles…