There’s talk of trying, again, of consolidating city and county elections. Maybe you thought we settled all this with a referendum waaaaaaay back in 2004. But that’s an eternity if your a mover-and-shaker used to getting what you want. Damn you, pesky democracy! So, they are going to find a way to get in...
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Peoria undrivability report: Gale Avenue
From a press release:
Date: September 1, 2009
Released by: Alma Brown, Communications Manager
Subject: CURB AND GUTTER REPLACEMENT – GALE AVENUE
The City of Peoria Street Division is replacing the curb and gutter on the North side of Gale Avenue from Elmwood to McClure.
On Wednesday, September 2, 2009, Gale will be reduced to one way...
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County asking questions the city doesn’t want asked
Question: What does Peoria County have that the City of Peoria does not?
Answer: A clue. Well, at least they are asking the right questions:
An accompanying “service delivery study” projects the costs and revenues associated with development through the year 2050. It’s a unique economic tool that will allow local governmental units to calculate the...
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City will install free alley lighting
From a 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 165 lights. There is no fee for citizens who apply for the installation of a light. The only requirements...
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City isn’t explaining inconsistencies in how it decides whether to fire police officers
Something is missing here.
Two summers ago, there was a Peoria police officer who was caught on audio tape bullying and threatening a local business owner. He remained on the force. Despite the fact that there was audio tape, I was told there wasn’t a arbitrator in the state who would allow a veteran police...
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Local: City wants voter input on budget
(press release)
As the City Council begins another year of budget planning, we want to start the process by reaching out to the citizens of Peoria for input on where they would like to see their tax dollars invested.
Mayor Jim Ardis said, “It is vital that citizens have a voice in how their tax dollars...
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Local: FREE MULCH!
Stop the presses:
The City of Peoria will have a FREE MULCH give away on May 10, 2008, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., at the city’s Facility Operations Center, 3505 N. Dries Lane.
Mulch can be loaded into pick-up trucks, cars and vans at the Public Works facility, 3505 N. Dries Lane. ...
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Today’s news: Schoolin’ shouldn’t get in the way of chores
Today’s news links via the Peoria Journal Star:
What struck me about this story about a presentation District 150 officials made at First Federated Church is how quickly the commenters started to complain about two aspects of the talk: Getting churches involved in tutoring programs and expanding the school day. One commenter was worried someone...
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Local: Snow update
From Peoria City Hall:
6:15 a.m. today: Despite plowing efforts overnight, streets continue to be snow pack. Salting at Primary intersections will give motorists the ability to stop with reduced speeds. Please use extreme caution while traveling. Allow plenty of distance, and avoid sudden stops.
Also, earlier updates states that a parking ban is in effect....
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Local: Plows to skip residential streets
From the City of Peoria:
Update as of 9:00 p.m.: City crews are currently plowing primary routes, and will in/out plow on secondary routes. With warming temperatures expected, and in order to conserve salt, crews will not plow/salt all residential streets. Snow fall rates vary throughout the city, therefore work will be...
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Local: City of Peoria official quits today; was he forced out?
City manager Randy Oliver confirmed today that Pat Parsons, the city’s human resources director, resigned early this morning. It was a every bare-bones confirmation, so I do not have any more details, such as whether it was made effective a date in the future or immediately.
In the absence of information, I’ll speculate: The council...
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Liveblogging: Peoria City Council, 4
Item 5: Consideration of the Consent Agenda.
Items taken off the consent agenda: H, J, K, L, O, P
H. Communication from the City Manager and Director of Planning and Growth Management Requesting the ESTABLISHMENT of a SPECIAL ASSESSMENT ASSISTANCE FUND by REALLOCATING $200,000 in UNALLOCATED CDBG FUNDS (City-Wide).
Passes 9-2. Nichting and Turner.
J. 2007 OCT 09...
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Local: Protests planned over tickets issued to ‘Manual 22′
Don Jackson is staging some sort of protest next weekend over tickets issued to Manual High School students (as well as students at other schools) for jaywalking. It seems that Peoria School District 150 called the City of Peoria for help dealing with groups of students walking down the middle of the road and...
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In retrospect …
I’ve been getting a lot of grief from commenters about my most recent column in the Community Word. They feel I was way too harsh with employees of the City of Peoria. Nonsense, I replied. I was a tad critical, but only because I want to light a fire under poor performing employees and...
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Are there secret plans to merge Peoria city and county?
I get the most interesting e-mail:
Dear Bill,
Are you aware of the “private meetings” with the kingmakers regarding a friendly take over and merger by some old friends. The scenario has a few variations but the common thread is the relationship between the mayor, sheriff, some county officials and one or two of Ardis’...
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Wishy-washy editorial on booking fees
I hate it when the Journal Star does this. They’ve got an editorial in today’s paper addressing the dispute between the City of Peoria and Peoria County over the
booking fees the county government charges to hold arrestees before they appear before a judge.
The editorial does a good job of summarizing the issues and positions....
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About Peoria Pundit
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 Posts
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Spring Turning March 21, 2010witchsbrew
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…
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How Railroads Promote Ind’l Development – Past and Present March 20, 2010David P. Jordan
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
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I write this with all love and respect to the local guys because they ROCK, but Comcast is Satan March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
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
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Day by Day: Skin status update 3/20/2010 March 20, 2010Billy 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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Day By Day: Skin status update 3/19/2010 March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Today’s strip: Now this is more like it. Sam is in a skin-tight, low-cut little black dress. There’s a front view and a side view. You go, Chris!
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It’s official: The Captain America movie is going to suck March 20, 2010justiceblogofamerica
Via Slashfilm:
Now there’s a slight update: according to IESB, the shortlist is now only three names: Chris Evans (Sunshine, The Fantastic Four); Channing Tatum (G.I. Joe, Stop-Loss) and Sebastian Stan (Gossip Girl). I’ve stumped for Evans before, but am a bit surprised that he’s still on the list, because of that Fantastic Four association. But that’s no big deal in the long run, as the Marvel Studios film universe has nothing to do with the Fox version of Marvel’s characters. (Confusing!) Evans is easily the best choice here.
Feh. We need a traditional square-jawed hero for this role, not some pretty boy. Evans is an X-games sorta guy. Cap is a baseball/football/track letterman kinda guy. And the FF movies sucked and that kinda stink don’t wash off.
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Let’s not kid ourselves, we are ALL thinking the same thing about that retired white cop who pulled a gun during a Pekin traffic stop and somehow didn’t get his sorry ass shot March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
But I am far, far to politically correct to suggest that a black guy who did this wouldn’t be sitting in the Tazewell County Jail right now. Just sayin’.
Here are some possibly related postsDecember 23, 2009 — Five Peoria police layoffs averted (0)November 29, 2009 — Pekin is on the right track (2)October 22, 2009 [...]Original post by Billy Dennis
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Iron Man 2 Trailer (OFFICIAL) | Home Video Marketing March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
if you guys think this is amazing, wait till the Avengers movie comes out. dakkota92 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:03 pm. he wanted more money they said no soo he quit. SilentWorld13 Says: March 19th, 2010 at 4:08 pm …
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Mail It To Team-Up: Captain America Cartoon and My theory about … March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
Of course this would mean that he could be a villain in Iron Man 3 or even the Avengers movie. Now what if each major villain of the Marvel heroes banded together? Mandarin for Iron Man, Red Skull for Captain America, Loki for Thor, …
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Captain America News Round Up « Fangirl's Handbag March 20, 2010Billy Dennis
As for Chris Evans, he was the best part of the Fantastic Four, so why not keep him for a spot in the Avengers movie instead? Sebastian Stan / Wilson Bethel Sebastian Stan and Wilson Bethel are unknowns to me. I don't watch Gossip Girl …
Tell Peoria Business Directory
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Health and Harmony: Barb & Dick Lulay Shaklee Independent Distributors Unknown Date FormatExtremeHealthMakeovers.com offers top quality products with an impeccable reputation. The Shaklee products are all natural, safe for you and your family, and safe for the environment. Customer satisfaction is guaranteed.
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Mitch Williams Magic Productions Unknown Date FormatMake your events absolutely unforgettable, with entertainment programs by international award winning sleight of hand artist and speaker, Mitch Williams.
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ExplorePeoria.com Unknown Date FormatExplorePeoria.com is a locally owned & managed information portal website featuring a comprehensive events calendar, free e-newsletter, a business directory, free classified ads, restaurant menus, real estate listings, job listings and much more.
PeoriaChronicle
- City mulls over cuts to basic services, giving $37M to hotel developer March 20, 2010According to this Journal Star article, the City of Peoria is looking for ways to cut basic services like sidewalk and sewer improvements due to a nearly “flat projection” in sales tax growth. Meanwhile, according to this other Journal Star article, developer Gary Matthews is still pitching his hotel plan which relies on $37 [...] […]
- Should principals be empowered leaders or branch managers? March 18, 2010The extent to which mechanistic thinking is corrupting our culture might be illustrated in relation to any number of fields of activity. For instance, our educational system suffers disastrously from the dominion of the administrative mind, which is, by the very nature of modern administration, generally mechanistic in its thinking (and therefore unfitted to […]
- Another D150 administrator put on paid leave March 16, 2010District 150 Director of Technology and Library Media Services Mary Ward has been put on paid administrative leave as the district performs an internal investigation. If past is prelude, taxpayers may be paying her to do nothing for a long time. The last administrator to be put on paid administrative leave, Mary Davis, [...] […]
Merle Widmer’s Peoria Watch
- FireFly - What Community Leaders Said March 15, 2010"Calling FireFly 'the poster child' of Peoria NEXT", National City regional president Doug Stewart said that technology was not in short supply in Peoria. "Ideas are not our problem. The issue is management, first, and capital second. If we are going to hit a home run, FireFly is the closest thing we've got."Doug was probab […]
- FireFly Closer to Burning Bright March 15, 2010So wrote Molly Parker, reporter for the JS in May of 2007. The resolution by the County to guarantee, along with the city, a six million dollar loan to FireFly by National City Bank, State Representative Dave Leitch, Vice-President, who personally urged the County Board to approve this loan. Quoting Ms. Parker,"The resolution passed both committees by v […]
- FireFly & G&D Integrated March 14, 2010On 5/28/07, Jennifer Davis and Molly Parker wrote "Finding a FireFly Fix Over Breakfast" in their 'Word on the Street' Column in the JS. Quoting the column, " braving buckets of snow, former Mayor Dick Carver, current Mayor Jim Ardis, state Representative Dave Leitch and a Peoria businessman showed up for breakfast at Le Peep. Over t […]
CapitolFax
- Reader comments closed for the weekend March 19, 2010
- *** UPDATED x1 *** Afternoon campaign roundup March 19, 2010
- More thoughts about Garrett’s lite guv candidacy March 19, 2010
- Question of the day March 19, 2010
- Cohen claims his religion was a factor March 19, 2010
Pieces of Flair
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