Peoria Illinoisan

Let’s be honest here, who of you can really say you don’t like the Copa?

Sometimes cheese can be very satisfying.

More details on the Daniel Ruffin arrest in today’s Journal Star.

A friend told me that WMBD1470’s Greg and Dan were discussing a rumor about Whole Foods moving into Sheridan Village. They both claimed to have heard it from separate sources. I know, I know, rumors about Whole Foods coming to towns are rampant, and usually based on false hopes, but this time it actually almost makes sense.

Sheridan Village was bought last year by the New York Investment firm the Emmes Group. The Cohens space is currently empty and Village Plantation was only offered a one year lease (which they turned down).

From the Journal Star, Mar 13, 2007: “the new owners will seek to fill vacancies with ‘new dynamic tenants’ or replace some tenants ‘with retailers that best suit the marketplace.’”

What about Whole Foods? What do they look for in a location? From their latest annual report: “Most of our stores are located in high-traffic shopping areas and are either freestanding or in a strip center. […] In selecting store locations, we use an internally developed model to analyze potential markets based on various criteria such as education levels, population density and income levels within certain drive times.”

Add the fact that Chicago and it’s suburbs currently hold 15 stores and a distribution center, the leap to a relatively close city with a regional population of 350,000 doesn’t seem that far fetched.

The kicker is if it really did open up, and I really don’t believe they are opening one here anytime soon, I’d join the mass hysteria, but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be a regular shopper.

WMBD1470:

A star Bradley basketball player has been arrested for domestic battery. Peoria Police took 23 year old Daniel Ruffin into custody about 5:30 Saturday morning at his apartment at 908 North Frink.

A police report says Ruffin was arrested for use of hands and feet. Police say the 20 year old female victim was taken to OSF St. Francis Medical Center. A spokesman for the hospital says the victim is not a patient there now. Ruffin remained in the Peoria County jail as of late Saturday morning.

A statement released by Bradley University says Ruffin has been suspended from the team indefinitely. He will not play against Milwaukee-Wisconsin Saturday night and his status for the remainder of the season will be based upon further review.

Bradley Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh says, “With high expectations of our student athletes, this situation is extremely disappointing news to all. We will continue to review this matter and share additional information as it becomes available.”

Based on BU President Joanne Glasser’s reaction to the Athletic Department’s slap on the wrist after the arrest of underage drinking and driving, I believe Bradley Basketball’s season is over.

If this allegation of Domestic Battery is true, Daniel Ruffin should not be allowed to play ANY more games with a Bradley uniform on. We will have to wait for more information to come out about the incident before jumping to conclusions, but it’s time for Bradley University to put itself on the map as a place where excellence is expected both on AND off the court. If you can’t live up to that, you don’t play. Period.

I’m vacillating between shock, anger and sadness, but in the end am held speechless.

Benjamin Sargent died with his eyes open, fists clenched and strapped into a car seat after eight days without food or water.

[Journal Star]

A commenter named Gary emailed me some comments about the Park District Property on the opposite side of Galena Rd from Forest Park Nature Center, accessed via SanKoty Ln. This was the subject of Name This Peoria Landmark #’s 217, 218, and 219. Gary also got in touch with Dale Goodner of the PPD for additional information. I have combined their comments and organized them below.

If you haven’t made it down there, it’s a fascinating area, which also includes a geocache and a trail along the river’s edge which I’m told has a breathtaking view and runs a couple of miles in either direction. (currently under water)

This place easily ranks in the Top 10 Cool Places In Peoria.

Directions:
Heading North on Galena road, just past Forest Park Drive, turn right onto SanKoty towards the river and park where the road curves. It will be obvious. Looking to the South you will see a break in an old fence. It doesn’t look like much at first, but you will soon find a well defined trail which will lead you past some strange sights all the way to the river.

Brief History:
It had been the Krause family truck farm [a farm devoted to the production of vegetables for the market, also known as a market farm]. The property was acquired by the PPD from Forest Park Foundation, back around the early 80’s. Not sure exactly when. This was the site Elroy Limmer, PPD arborist now retired in AZ, and Dale Goodner had attempted to develop as a living history farm of the early 20th century. That project found its way to 3 Sisters Park in Chillicothe instead for various reasons.

Barn:
You can see an old gravel RR crossing and gate to the south of the Sankoty crossing. That is how I always entered the property. The road went all the way to the river, but was getting covered with silt and sand deeper each year. There were times we couldn’t reach the barn because of the water but mostly the mud.

It was threatened with a variety of functions over the years. The latest I heard was to tear it down several years ago because of its attractive nuisance state.

Uniformly Rowed Trees:
The walnut trees were planted there as a plantation by Jim Barborinas back when he was still working for Wildlife Prairie. He now lives north of Seattle and runs UFS (Urban Forestry Services).

Soccer Field:
Suspect the soccer field may have been informally established by people who lived in the house that used to sit a couple hundred yards north of the barn. Jim B. lived in that house for a while. I think the house to the north was also occupied by park district employees over the years, so that may have been another source for the goal posts, perhaps cast off from some other field.

Other Info of Note:
It’s been a good location for Bob White quail, yellow warblers, warbling vireo, orioles, etc. Just to the north (adjacent to San Koty Lane) used to stand the state’s largest Ohio Buckeye, Aesculus glabra, tree. Why it’s a “was” and not an “is”, I don’t know. The state’s big tree registry shows the current one as taking the title in 1999.

There was talk of moving Forest Park Nature Center to the property, and I would guess that’s one reasont hey still hold onto it. The Nature Center building is not owned by the PPD, nor the land it’s on. Every once in a while, Bill Rutherford would rattle his sword about the Forest Park Foundation not renewing the lease. There are many that think it would make a good extension of the nature center, kind of like a “field lab” facility.

[Again, my thanks to blogger Scott O’Brien for the initial photographs]

Journal Star: Independent firm to study trail issue.

It’s about time! I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling all warm fuzzy inside thinking about the two sides coming together. Of course the hardcore trail activists have surely written this study off already and will be continuing their fruitless effort to rip out the Kellar line.

If this study comes back with side by side unworkable, then it is time to seriously consider an alternate route. 10+ years have been wasted already.

“We do that. I’ll drive all over the area to get a good price on gas.”

That’s a line in this Journal Star article from someone who filled up at a local gas station which temporarily dropped it’s price.

It is completely illogical to drive around town looking for cheap gas. If I want to save money on gas, I’m not going to drive around town looking for cheap gas. If I want to save money on gas, I’m going to drive less.

I also don’t understand people who will drive to Kroger to buy a gallon of milk, then drive to Cub to pick up a pound of hamburger and some buns, and then drive to over to Schnucks to buy soda which is on sale.

My time is worth more than the $.37 saved and the wasted time and wasted gas from driving all over town and circling parking lots.

One stop shopping was made for me.

As a fan of music, I find out-takes and alternate versions of songs to be especially interesting. In that vein, and the fact that I haven’t had much to say lately, I give you some NTPL out-takes.

That’s the beauty of digital photography. You can take hundreds of pictures until you get just the right effect and don’t have to pay a dime to see the results. When you find the one you want, you can upload it to Snapfish and pick up a print at Walgreens, usually within an hour. I love technology.

I took the liberty of editing it a bit…

[pjstar]

Thanks to the Journal Star for its coverage of the recent Kellar branch press conference at Junction City. I think, however, that mention should be made of the people who participated, including five mayors of cities and towns along the trail and several City Council people. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis, Peoria Heights Mayor Mark Allen and state Sen. David Koehler all spoke in favor of the trail.

This amazing questionable show of support in the face of the recent negative Surface Transportation Board decision clearly demonstrate that the leaders of central Illinois believe local entities should control their destiny and development don’t understand federal law designed to protect vital infrastructure.  I also commend former Peoria Mayor Jim Maloof in his role in gathering together this group for our pep rally.

Malcom Gladwell, in his best-selling book “The Tipping Point,” devotes a chapter to the necessity of connectors, people who put together the right people to make good things happen. Maloof is often characterized as a Peoria cheerleader, but he is so much more. He is Peoria’s master connector.

He understands the great value of the Kellar trail clearly does not understand the great value of the Kellar Rail not only to Peoria and Peoria Heights but to all of the communities along the trail system, from Toulon to Morton who may commute to Peoria for a well paying job. He also understands that property values will go up with Kellar as a trail and will go down with any active rail doesn’t seem to care if businesses locate and relocate in East Peoria or Pekin instead of Peoria. He knows should know how much development in the Heights and in central Peoria will suffer if has not suffered because urban rail bisects our cities and most of our north-south roads.

At 85 years old, Jim Maloof is still championing good causes for our community. We all could learn from him.

Another article about the infamous grade changing scandal at Richwoods High School appeared in today’s Journal Star. This one from the father making the case that punctuation errors should be glossed over in an advanced English class.

The issue surrounds two failing assignments in an enriched English course handed out nearly four months ago. It focuses on the grading of 60 note cards that reference material used within a research paper, essentially a list of works cited, in which the student received 12 percent out of 100 percent on the first set of 35 cards and 8 percent on the second set, specifically for incorrectly placing a comma on each card.

“A ridiculous amount of points was taken off for a very trivial mistake,” said the father […] Fifty of the 79 students actually failed, according to a letter from Moe to district officials, which was provided by the father.

And what of the 29 students who study hard and did the assignment correctly? I for one would be peeved off at a parent coming into one of my kid’s classrooms demanding the bar be lowered because their child didn’t do well. That is complete and utter nonsense. How about the 78 other students in the class that didn’t get their grade raised because they don’t have a parent crying out for special treatment?

Here’s the line that really gets me- “With Moe identifying herself, the father says his teenager’s privacy is gone, evident by students who have since made comments at school, despite his teen having nothing to do with the appeal.”

This parent took away a valuable lesson in life and replaced it with a lesson on how to manipulate the system when you don’t work up to your potential and now he’s upset that child is embarrassed? What did he expect? He, along with the school board (5 of them anyway) have made a mockery of the educational system and now he has the audacity to blame the teacher for defending herself!

I don’t know JoAnna Moe, but by all accounts she is an excellent teacher who garners the respect of her students. How sad that a selfish parent and a misguided school board have chosen to undermine her.

In her own words, changing this grade “rewards students who choose not to put forth an effort.”

Exactly.

At 308 PM… National Weather Service Doppler radar indicated a shield of intense snowfall over much of southern Wisconsin. The lightest snow will remain northwest of a line from Lone Rock to Princeton.

Roads are impassable in Green County and the County has pulled plows off the roads. An official report of around 16 inches has been reported in Brodhead… and an unconfirmed report of 20 inches has also been reported in Brodhead.

Snow may be very heavy with rapid accumulations and visibilities less than one quarter mile through this afternoon. Thundersnow and 2 to 3 inch per hour snowfall rates are possible within the heaviest bursts of snow.

Expected snowfall totals by this evening will range from 6 to 8 inches in the Montello and Wisconsin Dells areas… but 14 to 18 inches southeast of a line from Darlington… to Madison… to Beaver Dam.

Several reports have already averaged between 12 and 16 inches…
especially in rock… green… Dane… northwest Jefferson… and southwest Dodge counties. Localized storm totals over 20 inches are likely.

In addition to the snow… strong north to northeast winds gusting up to 35 mph will produce blizzard conditions at times… resulting in prolonged whiteouts. Snow drifts of 3 to 5 feet are likely and may be higher in exposed areas that favor drifting with north to northeast winds.

Travel is expected to become impossible by this evening. Travel is strongly discouraged through late this evening. If you must travel… take a winter storm survival kit with you and tell somebody when and where you will be traveling.

Reading this comment in the Journal Star about a guy who got hit by a car while walking down the road perked my interest…

Tony Krakel….how many times you gonna leave the bar drunk and walk down the middle of the road? You deserved to get hit you worthless drunken snitchen diot!!! I bet Tim Harris got the best of you a cpl months ago during that fight in the heights, just like you let him get the best of you when he knocked your teeth out!!!

Knocked your teeth out? Journal Star, Nov 1, ‘07:

Timothy W. Harris, 37, of 910 E. War Memorial Drive told police he was riding bicycles with a friend in the 3900 block of North Atlantic Avenue. There, he stopped shortly before 4 a.m. to speak with acquaintance Anthony J. Krakel, 32, of 818 E. Wilson St.

Harris told officers Krakel was still upset with him about a clash that occurred several years ago between the pair in which Krakel lost some of his front teeth when Harris hit him in the face. Their conversation began heated, with Krakel reportedly pulling out a switchblade knife and telling Harris, “I still owe you one.”

Krakel reportedly tried to stab Harris in his upper right leg, but although police found a hole in Harris’ pants, his skin was only scratched. As the two struggled, Krakel eventually dropped the knife and fled.

When questioned, Krakel told police Harris had stopped to talk to him and had punched him without warning.

According to police, both men appeared intoxicated and each suffered minor injuries. They were taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria for treatment, and Krakel was later booked on charges of unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated battery and armed violence.

Further googling reveals a female recently filed an order of protection against him and he received a DUI in ‘97. His brother has one too.

So if you happen to be driving in the heights late at night, watch out for the drunken toothless man with anger management issues walking down the road… but considering he’s listed in Serious condition at OSF, he might not be walking for a while. Is that really such a bad thing? Maybe this little stint in the hospital will open his eyes. Somehow I doubt that.

Instant karmas gonna get you
Gonna knock you right on the head
You better get yourself together
Pretty soon you’re gonna be dead

That’s my helpful tip of the day.

It’s so friggin’ foggy out there I actually got lost in town! Seriously! You can’t see to make out any landmarks and reading a street sign is an impossibility unless you get out of your car and walk up to it. On top of that the streets are riddled with pot holes, which of course, you can’t see. I think I’m going to pre-book a front end alignment in anticipation of my drive home.

Thunder-snow is fun. This is sadistic.

Update: Traffic Collision Alert in Effect.

In my final attempt at fixed nagging plumbing problem before calling a professional, I succeeded… and it only took one trip to the store. Many cuss words, but only one trip.

I missed the first quarter of the Super Bowl because a buddy of mine said kickoff was 6 o’clock. Yea, 6 eastern, Jackass! By the way, what an awesome game! Too many commercials, as always, but a great game. This bodes well for the Cubs.

Tiger Woods won. Again. Over Ernie Els. Again.

I’m disappointed with the only thing usually worth reading in the Monday edition of the Journal Star- Word On The Street. Today’s article focuses on Henry Holling. Talk about a subject that’s been beaten to death. This should have been written about in LAST WEEK’s w.o.t.s. when it was actually breaking news.

Thunder-Snow. Gotta love it.

If you don’t at least have a basic understanding of the issues and/or don’t even who’s running, please, stay home. Otherwise, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE.