Original Peoria Pundit | 2005

Diane Vespa reports that $13,000 is believed to have been stolen by a new employee who is also missing. According to the letter, a police report has been filed and an investigation is underway. The Historical Society fears they may not be able to recoup the majority of these funds. In the interim, they have changed [...]

One more reason not to fly

From the Chicago Tribune: The new full-body imaging machines that will arrive at O’Hare this fall look through clothing to create an explicit silhouette of the traveler—showing shapes, folds of fat and other anatomical characteristics—to identify possible hidden objects. Even though facial features are blurred to protect privacy, the images reveal breasts, buttocks and other private parts, [...]

Eastern Bypass public meeting planned for July 29

In the city’s “Issues Update” this week, there was information regarding the upcoming Eastern Bypass study. This is the plan to connect Route 6 and I-474 on the east side of the river, making a ring road — a complete bypass for the greater Peoria area. Here’s the letter IDOT Deputy Director of [...]

Sheridan Triangle progress encouraging

This past Wednesday, July 16, I attended the public meeting/open house on the Sheridan Triangle Roadway Enhancement project. All the project team members were in attendance: Scott Reeise, City of Peoria representative Eric Bachman, Farnsworth Group project manager Keith Covington, Third Coast Design urban designer Lee Jones, Third Coast Design urban designer George Ghareeb, Terra Engineering public coordinator Phil Allyn, [...]

West Main traffic study update

I went to the Marty Theater at Bradley University’s Student Center Thursday night, July 10, to hear the latest on the Main Street traffic study the city is doing. The purpose of the meetings was simply to present the findings of the traffic volume study and solicit input from neighbors on how to proceed. Here [...]

Park advocates to rally against budget cuts

From a press release: Park Advocates To Gather at Jubilee College State Park To Send A Message to Springfield: Save Our Parks - Stop the IDNR Cuts! Cuts Take Effect Thursday Unless Springfield Acts What: A press conference to protest cuts made by Governor Blagojevich to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources that threaten to close state parks, eliminate outdoor recreation [...]

Open Soapbox Friday

What’s on your mind? Leave a comment, start a discussion.

GateHouse closes +0.03, but it’s not enough

GateHouse Media, Inc., the company that owns the Peoria Journal Star and the Peoria Times-Observer, finally saw their stock rise slightly, closing right at $1 today. Unfortunately, they also saw the NYSE halt floor trading of their stock — the first step toward being de-listed altogether. NYSE Regulation spokesman Scott Peterson said trading of GateHouse [...]

250 more acres to be added to Enterprise Zone

Also on the council agenda for Tuesday, a request for more property to be added to the Enterprise Zone: ACTION REQUESTED: DIRECT STAFF TO COMMENCE PROCESS TO EXPAND THE CITY OF PEORIA ENTERPRISE ZONE FOR SPECIFIED PROPERTIES ZONED COMMERCIAL AND OFFICE WITHIN THE 4 TH DISTRICT ALONG STERLING AVENUE FROM FORREST HILL TO GLEN AND INCLUDING [...]

Police looking to get Segways

On the city council agenda for next Tuesday is a request by the Police Department to purchase two Segway Personal Transport vehicles to be used by parking enforcement officers and police patrolling congested public events. Here’s the justification as it appears in the council request: The Peoria Police Department has been attempting to find better [...]

Another personnel change

Posted on January 31st, 2005 by Billy Dennis

WHOI sports guy Jason Koma is leaving the station. Jeff at Peoria Television Stations has the details. No word yet on where he is going.

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I’ve been offered a job …

Posted on January 31st, 2005 by Billy Dennis

… but I’m gonna have to turn it down. Politics is beneath me. And besides, I hear the guy is a real hardass of a boss.
I am, however, perfectly willing to blog for a living.

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Pantagraph sale is bad news for Bloomington

Posted on January 31st, 2005 by Billy Dennis

The consolidation of the mainstream media continues:
Pulitzer Inc. has agreed to a $1.46 billion acquisition by Lee Enterprises Inc., that will create the seventh-largest U.S. newspaper chain in terms of circulation.
The deal, announced late Sunday, ended two months of speculation about the fate of Pulitzer, whose holdings include The Pantagraph and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
—
Lee, […]

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