Peoria Pundit

News and Media from River City

Politics: Well, there’s one police officer who has endorsed Kevin Lyons

Posted in Politics with tags , on October 16, 2008 by Billy Dennis

I just saw an television ad for Kevin Lyons. Retired Peoria Police officer/official spokesperson Ann Ruggles endorsed him as the best choice for Peoria County state’s attorney.

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Local: Today’s news links

Posted in Local with tags , , , , , on September 5, 2008 by Billy Dennis

Yeah, I used to do Newsbytes on an almost daily basis. I let is slide a couple of times, then got out of the habit. Well, hopefully, it’s back for good. All links via the Journal Star unless noted.

  • They’re down to just three candidates for Peoria City Manager. But the juicy paragraph in this article is word from Mayor Jim Ardis that there may be interest in adding a candidate to the mix who has yet to be interviewed. Could that candidate be current interim Peoria City Manager Henry Holling. Yes, I’m aware that Holling took himself out of consideration when he accepted the temporary gig. But  I have found Holling to be  soft-spoken  manager who hasn’t ruffled any feathers.  Maybe that appears to some on the council. Just speculation on my part.
  • I’m extending my best wishes to Officer Ann Ruggles, who is retiring at police information officer for the Peoria PD.
  • I’ve been a critic of both Peoria School District 150 and Bradley University. Yet I have a hard time working up any outrage over news that the two may team up on the proposed math, science and technology academy. The school would be a charter school created by District 150, but operated by a different entity and not subject to some of the same restrictions most public school’s operate under. I have expressed concern that any school chartered  under District 150 auspices would be under too much control by the district. But Bradley University is a strong enough entity to resist the subtle pressures that could be applied District 150. And while I certainly have been a critic of how Bradley University treats it’s neighbor homeowners, it cannot be denied that the school has an excellent academic reputation. It’s certain that nearby Whittier School benefits from the student teachers BU provides. So, at first blush, this seems a win-win.
  • Likewise, I’m bullish on the future of Manual High School, now that curriculum changes mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act are in place. Too bad that with all the highly-paid administrators and consultants employed by District 150 lacked to mental  brain power to figure out how to adequately staff the school. The principal is begging for more teachers. Here’s an idea: But some of these administrators to work doing something useful. Apparently, they instead decided to move the students elsewhere (WEEK) because they didn’t have the proper paperwork. Huh? So they DO have adequate paperwork for Woodruff and Central?

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