Columns

Column for September

The 12th annual Night Out Against Crime, hosted by the West Peoria Neighborhood Watch, the City of West Peoria, West Peoria Township and the Peoria County Sheriffs’ Department, will be held on Saturday, September 8th from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. at…

How to be a Better Digital Citizen

Most of us would agree that “being a good citizen” is an easy way to make the world a better place, and part of our unspoken, unsigned contract with the rest of society. We count on each other to do…

Happenings for September 2012

Sept 1 –Peoria County Democratic Women meets @ noon Childers Catering Center, 3113 Dries Lane. Democratic candidates for the Illinois State Senate, Dave Koehler & Jennifer Graves Allison, will speak. Other Democratic candidates are invited. The event is free/the public is…

Heartland partnership: Going, going, gone

Jim McConoughey, CEO of Heartland Partnership, is apparently gone or close to it as I put this column to bed. Reportedly, others are unsure of their future with the organization. One of those is city councilman, Ryan Spain, managing director.…

Peoria Launches ‘Don’t Shoot’ Program

A new approach to stopping gun violence stresses conversation and cooperation, not registration or retribution, and this month Peoria launches the program: “Don’t Shoot.” The program comes close to reconciliation, a progressive technique tied to institutions and individuals ranging from the church…

Tiny Terrorists?!

It was a vision from a horror movie. The kids had formed a wide circle, backing away in disbelief as a growing gang of bee-sized yellow jacket wasps crowded over a can of soda. Screams and shrieks from fifth graders…

DeWayne Bartels was one heck of a newsman

DeWayne Bartels is dead. He died the way he wanted to, working on a story. His wife found him sitting on the floor of their home, hunched over his laptop. DeWayne was a former co-worker of mine at the Peoria Times-Observer.…

Candles, Cookies & Storms

He clopped up to my door in his fireman rain boots proudly holding his new umbrella and pronounced, “It’s going to rain Grammy!” I could hardly contain my joy at seeing my precious grandson, four-years old and all grown up,…

Serendipity: How many can say, ‘I loved my job?’

Job searchers are advised to consider familiar, favorite places when looking for employment. That’s precisely what I did in the early spring of 2001. I wanted part-time work where I could feel comfortable in a business environment, and make a…

West Peoria News for August 2012

Peoria POPS Orchestra’s Swing Band will present the season’s final Concert In the Park on Sunday, August 12th from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Franciscan Recreation Complex. The West Peoria Residents’ Association and the Peoria Park District invite you to grab your…