Columns

Freedom’s Price

We the people of the United States of America celebrate our independence this month. As we pull out the red, white and blue, make much noise and overindulge in festive delectables, let us not waste the day waiting for the…

Insights about family vacations

Plans commenced many months ago for a June, 2014 family vacation. When I mentioned a possible Florida trip or asked more experienced travelers for suggestions about renting a beach house, they would ask who was going. My response of “eight…

West Peoria News for July 2014

Sadly, one of our special summer events this year was unable to be held because of a rigorous rain storm. The Jamboree was unfortunately a “washout.” Many hours were spent in preparation of this community event. Thanks and respect to…

Happenings for July 2014

July 2 – Junction City Farmer’s Market – 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Call 309-689-0808. July 3 – Page Turners Book Club – 11:00 a.m. Join the discussion for “Best Kept Secret” by Jeffrey Archer. Dunlap Public Library. Call 309-243-5716.…

Miscellaneous stories for July 2014

Thousands of people in the Peoria area are thinking about starting a business Greater Peoria SourceLink can help them get started and succeed Small businesses are the engines that grow local economies and create jobs. According to the Small Business…

Continued chaos at District 150

Never before in Peoria’s rich educational history has there ever been such chaos in District 150. The Charter Oak mess created by Superintendent Grenita Lathan and supported by a totally incompetent board, in my opinion, continues. Here’s the latest. The…

150’s super-security: ‘Mayberry, WTF’

(Middle-age woman in an old-style, gingham dress seated at a table, talking on an old-fashioned phone) G- Clara? Aunt G. Did you get your paper? Me neither. It’s getting so thin, you’d think it’d get easier to deliver. What’s that?…

Somebody with a bag of magic beans saw the city coming

Gary Matthews has pulled a fast one over the City of Peoria. From the Journal Star:  “Management of the Marriott Pere Marquette and Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown Peoria might be changing soon. The reasons and ramifications are unclear. “EM…

From alien to native …

The question isn’t whether the aliens have landed. Fact is, they are here in the U.S., they number in the thousands of species, and they are increasingly disruptive: causing extinctions, spreading disease, harming forests, and contributing to ecological instability. And…

Let kindness and concern define us

Sleep deprivation adversely affects my disposition and thinking skills. Some might wonder why a woman whose grown children live away from home with children of their own is sleep deprived. I’m not a care provider for someone residing in my…