What do you call it when black teenagers leave a party? A riot. I’m sure you’ve heard about it. At about 11:00 p.m. on June 24, a group of teenagers were vacating a house in the neighborhood of West Thrush…
The Un-lived Life of Russell Stone a novelette, part seven
Mrs. Stone’s story of the late Russell Stone hit a nerve in Rachel. It is 8:30 a.m. ___________________ The anger rising in me was shocking. I wanted to run like villagers do when the volcano they live by day in…
Serendipity for July 2011
Dying isn’t optional; living to the fullest is! When I was in grade and high school, my Dad insisted once the 4th of July was over, summer picked up speed. That meant I’d be back in a classroom much before…
Musings for July 2011
I received a phone call from an older gentleman and a letter from an older lady after my last column, so I must have hit a nerve with some people. I was unhappy with the lack of civility in the…
Happenings for July 2011
July Happenings July 8 – Movies Movies Under the Stars at Metro Centre – 7:45 – 10:20 p.m. Free. Join us for our FREE outdoor movie series (near Alexander Travel)!* Family films shown on our gigantic screen plus a state-of-the-art…
West Peoria News for July
A reunion is being planned for Calvin the Coolidge Mother’s Club on Monday, August 29th at 5:00 p.m. More information will follow in August paper. If you have any questions, please contact: Alice Nash 674-4308 or Diane Craps 633-0669. The…
Newsbriefs for July
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…