ROGER MONROE

The Heart of Illinois Fair, started in 1949, is no more. The same for its founder, the Board of Exposition Gardens. With the stroke of a pen, the board sold the last of its original 160 acres to the City of Peoria and has, for all of its intents and purposes, closed operations.

The city paid $1.2 million at a foreclosure auction which was a sad ending to what once was a mecca for amazing fun and entertainment for thousands of families every summer in Peoria.

We wrote extensively in this column months ago about the popularity of the Heart of Illinois Fair and the stars who headlined the free grandstand shows. The focus this month is on the future of the land surrounded by Northmoor Grade School, Richwoods High School, and beautiful, quiet neighborhoods.

As noted previously, especially on our morning radio show on WAZU-FM 90.7, people in the neighborhoods, are nervous. And for good reasons.

Officially, city officials say they want to see the land used to develop a 200-home subdivision. It hasn’t happened yet, but they’re planning on seeking bids from interested developers. It appears they’re not expecting quick responses. City Hall observers tell me there’s not a lot of enthusiasm about the purchase and even City Manager Patrick Urich has been quoted as indicating the first home would not be constructed until 2028.

That might be optimistic.

Meanwhile, some nearby families are nervous. They’re fearful of the land being used with federal dollars for public housing. People, like this writer, remember how the city and Upgrade, along with First Federal Savings and Loan Association, assured residents of the Wardcliffe subdivision that the proposed Pierson Hills project was for single-family homes. It wasn’t and isn’t. Managed by the Community Housing Corporation, the apartment complex is for low- to moderate-income tenants. That’s fine, but don’t pee on my leg and tell me it’s raining. That’s what officials said at a meeting years ago at Sterling School when I was president of the Homeowners Association. To homeowners in Richwoods, I say stay vigilant.

MEDIA NEWS: Thanks in part to the government shutdown, the FCC has yet to approve the sale of radio station WOAM and its sister FM stations to Spoon River Media of LaPorte, Ind. The American Education Foundation, owned by the late Larry Nelson family of Plano, has been owner of the Peoria stations, which frequently are off the air due to technical problems. The 74-year-old Nelson died July 25, 2024.

With due respect to the “Peoria Chronicle,” its reporting of the sale is erroneous. The stations were sold by the Foundation, not Doug Nelson, and the article falsely claims, “Most people don’t listen to the radio anymore.”

Really? Is that why we still have radios in cars, trucks and farm tractors and implements? The writer adds insult to injury, saying, “If they do (listen to the radio), they’re even less likely to listen to oldies music on the adult standards station,” blah, blah blah.

In other media news, we miss TV production professional Denise Hager, who is no longer with WEEK-TV where she has been a staple for years. Look up the word “staple” on your cell phone and it defines Denise. I worked with her many times in producing commercials and found her to be professional and personal — a real asset to Channel 25.

THOUGHTS OF THANKSGIVING: This is the month we give thanks, first to our Creator. Thank you Lord for forgiving and loving me. I’ve been blessed at the age of 91 to be able to function well enough to do a morning radio show five days a week from 6-9. I’m thankful my health permits rising at 4:30 a.m. and to stay awake until I run out of gas around five hours later.

I give thanks for the many people who make the three-hour, daily radio program fun, fun, and more fun. Regulars include John Meisinger, Teri Chamberlain, Mike Olson, Terry Grawey, Mike Dentino, Dr. Gene Sidler, Tyrus Kielion, Kyle Varnold, Ed Parker, and Dave Poehls. Special thanks to Louis Linder for the technical support.

Time and space do not permit me to mention everyone who’ve been regular guests like attorney Kevin Sullivan, Col. Rusty Ballard, Si Maroon, Rick Swan, Mary Burress, John Kahl, Dick Crain, Bob Reed, Dick Hawley, Glen Smith, Scott Sorrel, long-time program associate Phil Salzer, Ray LaHood, Matt Waugh, Sam Lillie, Josh Bradshaw, John Cross, Ryan Curo, Dr. Joe Couri, John Bearce, Virginia White, Cathy Reynolds, Chris Buckley, and Chuck Grayeb. If I missed anyone, I apologize.

“Breakfast with Royce and Roger” started in November, 2002, on WOAM. That was 23 years ago this month. We’ve been on radio for 23 years, changing the name when Royce Elliott died in 2013. I’m not sure there was ever a Peoria radio program that lasted that long. I know no one in radio was still broadcasting at the age of 91. On this Thanksgiving and, really, every day of my life, I thank God for having the health, physically and mentally, to do what I do.

The show is made possible by wonderful sponsors like Bob Manning of Morgan Stanley, Brian and Susan Platt of Spoon River Home Services, Bruce, Lance and Jamie of Peoria Pet Crematory, Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois, Steve Sink of PHX Affiliates, Morton Community Bank, Matt Waugh of Gordon, Stockman and Waugh, Kyle Varnold, and Sam Lillie Associates.

God bless them all.

The joy of doing the show is the laughter that springs from the interactions with my friends and partners on and off the air. It’s been said, “laughter is the best medicine one can take.” How true.

Happy Thanksgiving.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine …”
— Proverbs 17:22