I learned today that Oliver Wiest — a former co-worker from the Jacksonville Journal-Courier — is slaving away as an editor at the Macomb Journal, another GateHouse Media publication.
One of these days, Oliver, we’ll have to make that road trip to Goofy Ridge.
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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 The Blog Peoria Project, which promotes community-based citizen journalism in his hometown, Peoria IL. Call me at (309) 863-5748 and leave a message.
Recent Blog Peoria PostsToday’s strip: Sam’s put on a sweater, but she’s still got that low cut top on. But tattoo-girl Skye is still doing the belly short thing.
I just came across this, but the Journal Star published a story last Thursday on the Detweiller Marina Neighborhood Association’s opposition to industrial zoning for land purchased by O’Brien Steel Service Co. for future expansion.
Nearly a year ago, I reported the Association’s initial opposition before the city zoning commission approved the re-zoning, and was rightly critical of their illogical, anti-industry NIMBY attitude. See blog entries here and here.
Nothing has changed. Association president William Ordaz told Peoria’s planning commission on Wednesday that:
“It’s not heavy industrial use that will contribute to this neighborhood. It will kill things.”
Huh? Heavy industry has dominated that part of the North Valley for well over a century. If anything, heavy industrial use has built those neighborhoods. After all, it was workers employed at the city’s factories that built the first houses there.
O’Brien Steel plans to announce its expansion plans in 1 to 2 years. In a time of recession and with the consequences of reckless spending at all levels of government and rising tax rates sure to harm the manufacturing sector, we should support O’Brien Steel’s plans for growth, which will help the adjacent neighborhood by providing additional jobs.
(The significance of this story to this blog is that O’Brien Steel Service Co. is located on the Kellar Branch and served by the Central Illinois Railroad Co. Expansion might increase use of rail service.)
- David P. Jordan
What miserable pinko liberal swine thinks that the Democrats are going to GAIN votes after passage of health reform? Well, conservative commenter David Frum is one:
There were leaders who knew better, who would have liked to deal. But they were trapped. Conservative talkers on Fox and talk radio had whipped the Republican voting base into [...]
Original post by Billy Dennis
This arrived in my email inbox moments ago:
District 150 Administration and School Board
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are writing as concerned parents and supporters of Peoria High School students. We have been attending school functions and meetings hoping to hear about the upcoming changes for PHS and have been incredibly disappointed with the district’s total lack [...]
Original post by Billy Dennis
This arrived in my email inbox moments ago:
District 150 Administration and School Board
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are writing as concerned parents and supporters of Peoria High School students. We have been attending school functions and meetings hoping to hear about the upcoming changes for PHS and have been incredibly disappointed with the district’s total lack [...]
Original post by Billy Dennis
Some of the anti-health care people sure do have some interesting views on race:
Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind., told a reporter that as he left the Cannon House Office Building with Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a leader of the civil rights era, some among the crowd chanted “the N-word, the N-word, 15 times.” Both Carson and [...]
Original post by Billy Dennis
The Cosmos strives for equilibrium today. The hours of daylight and dark are equal. Spring returns–even if the day is dark and cold, rainy, snowy, spitting sleet. It’s the thought that counts.
Modern Wiccans call the day Ostara. I am not found of the name. Like Easter itself, the name is taken from a Teutonic lunar Goddess Eostre. Mike Nichols, author of The Witches’ Sabbats, from the website of the same name, “Her holiday, the Eostara, was held on the vernal equinox full moon.” Technically that will fall on the 29th of March. According to Nichols, the Roman Catholic Church divided the vernal holiday into Easter–the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox–and Lady Day, the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on March 25th. This, of course, the day that the Angel Gabriel announces that Mary is “with child.” “Lady Day” was the name used by our first Wiccan founders.
I think I prefer the simpler “Spring Turning.” It was the phrase I used in my own fiction back before I was “officially” Pagan. It signifies a becoming. As Nichols says, it’s a springboard to Beltane, May 1st. Processes begun at the equinox find fulfillment at Beltane.
I hadn’t planned to celebrate the day, but a friend called late in the morning and said, “Let’s go to Bloomington to the Mennonite Relief Sale.” The day was dreary; and I knew that by the time we got there, most everything would sold, but I hadn’t been to the Relief Sale since it left Peoria. I was pleasantly surprised to get a bunch of pussy willows. I can’t remember the last time I had pussy willows.
And on the way back, I asked to stop in a Kelly Seed to look over their new shipment of heirloom seeds. I haven’t decided yet if I am going to plant a garden this year or slit my wrists, but Global Village in the Heights is collecting supplies for Haiti this month, and one of the things on the list is garden seeds. So I bought heritage melons, squash, radishes, and corn. And a packet of mixed lettuce if I decide to plant for myself. Spring is such a fickle time of the year…
I think the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway’s 172-page Industrial Development Brochure is incredible for its detail, and it shouldn’t leave prospective buyers of listed properties and buildings with too many questions. But if they do have any, they can always contact the railroad.
Closer to home, RailAmerica’s Toledo Peoria & Western Railway lists these properties. I’m curious, though, why two of them, here and here, which are nowhere near TP&W track, are listed (furthermore, they could find out that “Middle Road” is not spelled “Middel.”).
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., owner of two local shortlines – Illinois & Midland Railroad and Tazewell & Peoria Railroad – provide few details on their website, but it does say this:
I&M’s extra-wide 200-foot right-of-way, and adjacent industrial sites on both I&M and T&P, offer excellent location opportunities for manufacturing, distribution and transload facilities.
Before the Internet Age, railroads published and circulated booklets detailing industrial development sites in various communities they served. One example was the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad’s 1964 booklet. One page of the Peoria section, which appeared in the railroad’s 1963 Annual Report, can be viewed by clicking the thumbnail below.
The Rock Island’s promotion of both the Galena Road Industrial Park and Pioneer Industrial Park caught the attention of the Peoria Journal Star, which mentioned it in a June 16, 1964 editorial.
Past and present, American railroads know that to remain viable long term they must continuously promote their services to prospective industrial and logistics firms. And the only change is the type of media.
- David P. Jordan
I’m the kinda guy who is always going to wait until the very last minute to pay his cable bill. Usually, I find out it’s due when I can’t get on the Internet
So I’m in the Comcast office on Dries Lane ever other month.
Those guys rock. Professional, friendly and quick. Kudos.
But when I have actual [...]
Original post by Billy Dennis
Today’s strip: Chris Muir is hearing my pleas. Sam is again in the low-cut, skin-tight little black dress. Chris treats up to a front view and a maddeningly curvaceous profile.
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