Kudos to friend-of-blog and former GateHouse guru Howard Owen. His online-only news organization, The Batavian, got a nice mention in an article about grassroots journalism in The Guardian: Last summer I paid a visit to Howard Owens, a former top executive at GateHouse Media, now the owner and publisher of the Batavian, a small, for-profit...
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There was a shooting in the 800 block of East McClure. I happened after a “minor” confrontation at a convenience store at Prospect and East Frye Avenue. I used to deliver newspapers in that block of McClure. I used to buy comic books at that convenience store. It’s mostly a liquor store/check cashing joint now....
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When you decide your company’s motto is “don’t be evil,” you invite criticism when you fall even a little short.  And I know Peoria is trying to kiss Google’s butt in order to lure Google fiber Internet system. So, I’m going to applaud Google for, apparently, telling the communist bastards who run China that they...
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‘Word’ on the Web played Q&A with Peoria County Administrator Patrick Urich aver the county’s role in having out a $6 million loan guarantee to Firefly Energy, which collapsed in a pile of broken promises. He said the county would “probably not” do the same thing again and would “I do think we’ll take a...
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From a press release from Aaron Schock: Last week, President Obama declared his plans to double domestic exports over the next five years and announced a renewed push on the pending free-trade agreements with Panama, Colombia and South Korea that are currently pending. Yet it is time for the reality to match his rhetoric. Despite these...
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Via PJStar.com: The director of technology and library media services at Peoria School District 150 is on paid administrative leave as officials begin to probe allegations of theft. Sources within the district confirmed Mary Ward was placed on leave Monday but added there’s no evidence she committed any wrongdoing. The action to place her on leave...
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Press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Please announce the following: IEPA TELECONFERENCE WITH PEORIA CITY/COUNTY LANDFILL COMMITTEE AT MEETING WEDNESDAY – TO DISCUSS EAF DUST HAZARDS The Peoria City/County Landfill Committee meeting will be held this Wednesday, March 17, 2009, at 8:30 am at the Lester D. Bergsten Operations and Maintenance Facility, 3505 N Dries Lane, Peoria. At 9 am,...
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Here’s some advice: If Jen Christensen invites you over for wine and cheese, you might want to think twice.
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My first full-time newspaper job right out of college was at the Daily News in Robinson, Ill. One of the first things my editor told me that I do not EVER need to put a photograph or story about black people on the front page of the newspaper. There are no black people who live...
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If you ask me, almost every single entry on Word on the Web is better than that appeared in print on today’s Word on the Street column. Here’s an interview with City Manager Scott Moore and the city’s Google efforts.
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This might be of interest to readers who are interested in citizen journalism: Knoxville’s Helen Smith, a forensic psychologist who blogs at Dr. Helen, raised some concern and questions about whether the Knoxville Police Department had increased patrols in West Knoxville. “I was out yesterday and saw people left and right being pulled over for what...
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From the Journal Star: One day after Peoria County Board Chairman Tom O’Neill told the Journal Star that Firefly had filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the attorney for the company said no such petition has been filed in any court. Richard M. Bendix, an attorney with Dykema in Chicago, said Saturday that Firefly hadn’t filed for...
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I’m going to quote a few paragraphs from C.J. Summers, who’s been all over the Firfefly scandal: Not quoted anywhere is Rep. David Leitch, the former VP at National City who is credited with orchestrating the public-private partnership. He was quoted in the Journal Star back in 2007 as saying this deal was “the most...
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They are being close-lipped about it, but WEEK/HOI is reporting that police are investigating whether there is wide-spread theft of equipment from District 150, which is being sold on the Internet. Naturally, the district’s critics and crowing about it.More evidence on how corrupt the entiore district is. It’s hard to argue that it isn’t true....
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Covering Peoria for 11 years, it was very easy for me to become jaded and dark, as the city and county invested in things that just didn’t seem to make much sense, and they turned out to be even bigger failures and calamities than even the skeptics had predicted at the outset. But before...
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I am shocked, I tell you SHOCKED, that Firefly Energy crapped out and defaulted on its loan, leeving taxpayers holding the bag. Wait minute. No, I’m NOT shocked. In fact, I practically predicted it back in May 2007, right before the Peoria City Councilvoted unanimously to let National City Bank invest in the project secure...
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Any assistance to paying the bills for hosting and domain name renewal would be appreciated. Please use the PayPal button to the right if so inclined. PayPal account is not needed. Credit cards accepted.
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Press release: Date: March 11, 2010 Released by: Alma Brown, Communications Manager Subject:CONSTRUCTION AND DETOUR MEETING NOTICE There is a meeting scheduled to discuss the construction and detour schedule of the Wilhelm and Allen intersection project. Peoria County, City and construction Contractor representatives will be in attendance for questions concerning this project. The time and date...
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Kudos to John Sharp of the Peoria Journal Star for asking questions about the effect that installing Google’s high-speed fiber network might have in Peoria. Some of the answers seems to be conflicting, and don’t seem to be all that firm. Peorian’s support would be stronger, if some of the reporting took on questions...
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At the risk of being accused, again, of having a crush on Rachel Maddow, I cannot resist running the following limmerick, found here: There’s a vapid young freshman named Aaron whose worldview is woefully barren. He was clearly miscast and was tied to the mast When “Rach” made his world Sub Saharan.
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Press release: Applications are available for Peoria homeowners who need an exterior wheelchair accessible ramp installed, free of charge. This activity is available to eligible low income households who need ramp assistance. The home must be an owner occupied single family home in the City of Peoria. Each ramp will be designed and installed...
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Press release: Applications are available to Peoria homeowners and property owners who want a dusk-to-dawn alley light installed on their house or garage. The City has earmarked money for the purchase and installation of 150 lights. There is no fee for citizens who apply for the installation of a light. The only requirements for installation...
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Dan Kennedy has obtained a internal memo that GateHouse Media bosses sent to publishers about Claire O’Brien, the reporter they tossed under the bus when she wanted to fight a court order to testify. It says: But we can assure you, without violating any privacy or confidentiality concerns, that GateHouse Media vigorously stood behind Ms....
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From a press release: Date: March 10, 2010 Released by: Alma Brown, Communications Manager Subject: G O O G L E at the IHSA Tournament In our ongoing quest to encourage Google to choose Peoria as its test market, we will be shooting a video prior to the 6:30 pm IHSA game tomorrow night. Come...
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Via Facebook: Event: CORN STOCK THEATRE’S ANNUAL GET ACQUAINTED MEETING Start Time: Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00pm End Time: Tuesday, March 16 at 8:30pm Where: Corn Stock Theatre Center in Upper Bradley Park
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Press release: PEORIA, IL – State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Monday, March 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the Peoria Area Alzheimer’s Association, located at 606 West Glen Ave. in Peoria “At the town hall meeting, I’ll update local residents on the happenings at the state level and solicit...
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Press release: Isle of Erin Irish Dancers, a group of lively Irish dancers from Peoria, will be performing at several locations across Central Illinois to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. * Saturday, March 13, 5:00 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Bloomington, 1209 W. Locust St. * Sunday, March 14,...
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Press release: March 11, 2010 – “The Association of Community Mental Health Authorities of Illinois is proud to honor Representative David Leitch as recipient of our 2010 Legislator of the Year Award,” stated ACMHAI Director Cheryl Ramirez. “Representative Leitch has been a long standing advocate in the General Assembly for people with mental illness, substance...
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This is an unabashed commercial message: Along with Debbie Adlof of the Community Word, I am co-owner of Tell Peoria Online Media Services. One of the services we offer is a listing on the Tell Peoria Business Directory. We are just getting started, but it will be a great way to let people know about your...
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