Today’s news: Been there, done that, and somehow survived
Unless noted, all links are from the Peoria Journal Star:
- I attended Woodruff High School, and walked up and down Abington Street hill more times than I care to remember. And being a stupid teenager, we goofed around. It was quite common to playfully “shove” a friend off the sidewalk and onto the street as a car was approaching. No one got hurt, no one came close to getting hurt. But it was stupid. Stupid. Stupid. It was no more or less stupid than what happened on University and Russell the other night. And had I managed to kill one of my friends through this stupid horseplay, I’d have been arrested too. Too many people in Peoria are interpreting this incident though their own agendas, from opposition to alcohol, animus toward Bradley and Bradley students and even district toward the police (there’s a coverup, dontchknow). Please. Young people are stupid and think they will live forever. As long as this is a universal truth, there will continue to be incidents like this.
- John Morris isn’t coming back to WTVP, says today’s Word on the Street. WCBU reported the same exactly one week earlier. My suggestion for future employment: Fundraiser for blogs.
- The intrepid Illinois State Police, using their keen instincts and investigative skills, have discovered that underage people sometimes rent hotel rooms and have drinking parties. I am shocked, I tell you, SHOCKED at this new and insidious form of crime. The sinister criminals discussed in this article are 20 years old.
- PANTAGRAPH: Colleen Callahan and Aaron Schock are speaking in generalities.
- WEEK: The death of a Peoria Heights baby is being called an accidental drowning.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
And the more adults excuse, endorse, and even celebrate the stupid actions of young people, the more incidents like this will increase.
You mean Schock didn’t suggest selling Pershing nuclear missiles to the Republicans in the statehouse to try to pressure Blagojevich and other Democrats to form a balanced budget?
C.J.:
First, I never excused anything. I instead simply tried to explain it.
Second: Obviously, they spoke in generalities at the event covered in the article which I linked.
About the stupidest thing I did on Abington Hill was go down it on a bike with hand brakes.
Try Ingersoll hill on a bike using only handbrakes. Hell, try Star Terrace on a skateboard.
You would be hard pressed to rent a hotel room under the age of 25 (and 18 or older). Most won’t rent you one until 25 years of age.
” Young people are stupid and think they will live forever. As long as this is a universal truth, there will continue to be incidents like this.”
I would not consider shoving a friend toward the street to be ‘normal’ behavior. That sort of ‘play’ was out grown in junior high. To dismiss it as some sort of ‘kids will be kids’ argument is to ignore the obvious immaturity involved and to give it acceptance. They are legal adults. Their age should be irrelevant.
JS story this morning says the young victim’s blood alcohol content was .194, about two and a half times the legal definition of drunk. His balance quite likely would have been impaired. This is a sad situation.
I used to take my kids to One World to eat, but stopped after realizing that one misstep entering or exiting the restaurant would put them under the wheels of a passing car. There is simply no room for error and because of the lack of shoulder and minimal sidewalk throughout much of CampusTown, a passing driver doesn’t stand a chance of avoiding a pedestrian in the roadway.