ROGER MONROE
I want to thank everyone for taking the time to express their condolences following the passing of my 94-year-old brother, Zack, as detailed in last month’s column.
A memorial service is planned at First United Methodist Church in downtown Peoria. No date yet, but Dr. Tim Ozment, will preside. Music will be provided by Grammy award-winner Dr. John Orfe and soloist Cathy Reynolds. President of Bradley University Jim Shadid will be among speakers who will also include friends Robert D. Manning, retired baseball coach and teacher Mike Olson, Peoria Journal Star sportswriter Dave Eminian, and Ray LaHood. The public is invited to attend as we remember and honor the 1958-1959 member of the World Series champion New York Yankees. Zack is the only Peorian who pitched in a World Series, but is remembered for his kindness, humility, and love for family and friends.
CONGRATULATIONS: Here’s to Dr. Orfe, who won a 2026 Grammy Award. The local organist/pianist is a member of “Alarm Will Sound,” which was named best chamber music/small ensemble at this year’s ceremony in Beverly Hills, Calif. The group performed “Donnacha Dennehy; Land of Winter.” Dr. Orfe’s music has been featured by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota and Vancouver orchestras. More importantly, you can hear this talented musician every Sunday at First United Methodist Church as he plays hymns on the organ and piano.
Since we’re handing out “Congratulations,” let’s do the same for Gene Olson, Director of Airports. The General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport just oversaw a record year of service for people who fly in and out of the modern transportation facility.
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Appearing on our morning radio show,”Breakfast with Roger and Friends” on FM 90.7, Olson reported there were 812,396 total passengers in 2025. That’s an 18% increase over the previous year, said Olson. The year ended with a December monthly record of 70,672. However, the record for one month came in July when 80,836 passengers were screened by TSA workers. Olson said the record numbers were the result of free parking, an attractive airport, and good service.
He noted that a couple from Des Moines, Iowa, drove past two other airports to board a flight out of Peoria. That speaks volumes about the airport and the leadership of Olson, his staff and the airlines which choose to serve Peoria.
NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED: We exclusively reported the sale of WOAM-AM, 1350, to Spoon City Media of LaPorte, Ind. It was sold for a surprisingly low $65,000 along with two FM translators by the American Education Foundation, which really was the Larry Nelson family of Plano. Larry, with whom I worked along with my comedic friend, the late Royce Elliott, died unexpectedly last year at the age of 74.
He reorganized the once popular station and started playing music around the clock, but the frequency was frequently off the air due to technical problems. The new owners of WOAM own a total of seven stations, all in very small markets such as WBYS in Canton. Matt Moore is one of the owners and has chosen an R&B music format. No one is jumping up and down over the decision, especially those who enjoyed the more popular oldies play list.
The gradual demise of WOAM, once known as WXCL, is personally painful. Royce and I started our morning radio show at the station in November, 2002. The late radio executive, Bob Kelly, invited us to do the morning program on the station that at one time was No. 1 in the market thanks to his introduction of Country-Western music. Early morning jocks and staff announcers featured people like Don Elliot, Lee Ranson, Bill Bro, Steve Young, Dan Dermondy, Lee Malcolm, and Chuck Collins, who recently retired as weather guy on WEEK-TV.
Frankly speaking, the personalities read like a “Who’s Who” in Peoria. All of them were talents.
WE’RE STILL FRIENDS: The battle between Peoria and East Peoria over a new land-based casino was center stage at a recent hearing of the Illinois Gaming Board. East Peoria Mayor John Kahl was there, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali was not.
The Gaming Board is responsible for regulating casino and video gaming and sports wagering in Illinois. Boyd Gaming wants to build a new gambling joint in East Peoria, while Peoria officials said, “Not on our watch.” They claimed a 1991 intergovernmental agreement states anything other than a riverboat must be based in Peoria. The state agency punted the ball, deferring a ruling on the planned proposal for another time.
But, according to WCBU, Peoria decided to drop its lawsuit against Boyd, the Gaming Board and the City of East Peoria to avoid an expensive court battle. Boyd has deep pockets. Peoria doesn’t. Mayor Ali, who wanted a financial agreement, was between a rock and hard place — she didn’t have the full support of the City Council.
Peoria officials were gambling (ho ho) Boyd would make an offer they couldn’t afford to turn down. In the meantime, lower-level officials in the cities remain friends.
IT HAS TO END! Local hospital nurses and doctors have once again quickly responded to the arrival of an infant who had been physically abused. Where is the community outrage over an all-too-common, sickening incident of grown men and women beating defenseless and innocent children?
The injured infant, just one month old, was brought to the Emergency Room with multiple rib fractures, facial bruises, and an injured eye. The parents said the injuries were caused by cockroaches and spiders. Another child told police the parents were lying. The child saw the mother and father abusing the crying infant. I’ve asked the question numerous times before and will do it again. Where is the Department of Children and Family Services?
Where are the local TV news departments demanding answers on behalf of of our children? This evil has to end. Judges need to jail the abusers and throw away the key.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “Child abuse casts a shadow the length of a lifetime.” — Herbert Ward