Straight talk

By Roger Monroe

HEALTH CARE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

Last month this column discussed the unfortunate decision by Peoria’s hospitals to terminate the health clinics at District 150 schools due to poor governmental reimbursements. This month I would like to offer a possible solution when school resumes in August.

Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois, staffed by well-trained and competent paramedics, has over 20 vehicles, with 9-12 of them, as I understand, in service each day. You’ll see them parked in a variety of locations throughout the city standing ready to respond in an emergency. I frequently see one at night in the parking lot at Woodrow Wilson School
on Forrest Hill and during the day at Town & Country Bowling Lanes. Come next school year, why not position them next to city schools during the day? When a child becomes ill or injured, they can be brought to the paramedics for examination and evaluation. Since the emergency medical people are in contact with hospital Emergency Rooms and physicians, they can discuss difficult cases, diagnosis and make recommendations with them. Minor illnesses and injuries can be treated by the paramedics. If the paramedics receive an emergency call they would leave and return when “cleared.”

Since there are more than 12 schools in the District, the vehicles can be rotated for coverage. Even vehicles at schools for half-days could be explored. They city could be divided in three sections with each hospital responsible for providing medical consultation support. Paramedics would be occupied doing health care instead of sitting in their vans, probably bored, waiting for an emergency call. Importantly, our hospitals through Advanced Medical Transport, which they own, would be performing another valuable community service at a comparative low cost. While it may not be a perfect system or solution, it beats having no health care for our school children. My suggestion has been made to Ken Hinton of District 150 for consideration by the hospitals and Advanced Medical Transport.

PUBLIC ACCESS CABLE TV COMMISSION FAILS TO MEET
This writer has been serving on the PEG (Public Education Governmental) Commission for about ten years now. For some unknown reason, the Commission, which has oversight responsibilities for Public Access Cable TV, which is Channel 22, has failed to meet at anytime during the last five or more years. Appointed by the Mayor with approval from the City Council, members of the Commission are supposed to review Public Access TV, its policies and management. However, Channel 22 has been functioning without such oversight under the direction and supervision of Insight Communications with whom the City Council has the cable franchise agreement. Without regular Commission meetings, there’s been no financial accounting for years and the local Access Coordinators have had almost total freedom to do what they want without supervision and review by the Commission. It’s been three weeks since a request was made for a meeting of the Commission with the Mayor’s office and with Jeanne Coleman, Executive Director of Insight Communications. So far, there’s been no response, so apparently the release of financial records will have to be made through the Freedom of Information Act. Part of your cable TV monthly fee is to be used for support of Public Access. Interestingly, Public Access TV in East Peoria seems to function smoother and with greater financial accountability.

STRIP CLUB A STEP CLOSER TO REALITY
During a special meeting of the Peoria County Board, Guy Brenkman, owner of the proposed Fantasyland strip club, moved a step closer to opening his Farmington Road business. By a slim vote of 9-8, board members approved a resolution allowing the County administrator to negotiate an out-of-court settlement. Jack Teplitz, attorney for Brenkman, had presented an offer to the County in an effort to avoid a costly and time-consuming court battle. Unfortunately, the majority on the board seemed eager to ignore over 1,200 people who had signed petitions opposing
the strip club which will feature complete, and I mean complete, nudity. In an executive session, board members heard some of the specific details of the offer. However, some were questionable and some appeared to be vague. That’s why I attempted to amend the resolution requiring board approval when a settlement was reached after discussions and negotiation.

Amazingly, my amendment was defeated, 10-7, thus giving the County administrator, a non-elected official, full authority to determine what Mr. Brenkman may or may not be allowed to do with his business. The County Board, your elected representatives, voted to remove themselves from the negotiation process. So the future of the Farmington Road neighborhood rests in the hands of Patrick Urich. Awesome! Voting to deny the County Board the power to approve the agreement were Merle Widmer, Sharon Kennedy, Mike Pehlan, Cheryl Budzinski, Jr. Watkins, Tom O’Neill, Jeff Joyce, Jim Thomas, Eldon Polhemus and Dave Williams (chairman of the board). Joining me in the amendment motion were Democrats Bill Prather, Lynn Pearson, and Pat Hidden (the club is in her district), and Republicans Carol Trumpe, Jeff Lickiss, and Brian Elsasser. After the amendment failed, the resolution for an out-of-court settlement passed with the support of Merle Widmer, the only Republican, and Democrats Sharon Kennedy, Mike Phelan, Cheryl Budzinski, Jim Thomas, Tom O’Neill, Jeff Joyce, Jr.
Watkins and Dave Williams.

COUNTY POLITICS
Speaking of Pat Hidden, we’re hearing more and more sniping from both Democrats and Republicans about Pat’s refusal to resign from the Limestone Township Board since her appointment to the County Board. Hidden points to fellow Democrat Kevin Lyons, State’s Attorney, who supports her contention she can hold down both taxpayer paid positions. However, a caller claims Hidden actually holds three taxpayer paid offices since she’s also secretary for the Fire Protection District.

Another Democrat is in the “hot seat.” Jeff Joyce, District 4, Peoria County, holds the unenviable record of worst attendance....by far. Despite that, he was named a committee chairman by Dave Williams. Joyce chairs the Legislative Committee and recently called a meeting. Members of the committee, Democrat Tom O’Neill and Republican Brian Elsasser, called to say they would be slightly late, requesting that Joyce delay the start of the meeting until they arrived. Reportedly, Joyce not only did not delay the start, he began earlier than the scheduled time so that when O’Neill and Elsasser arrived (Elsasser all the way from Princeville), the meeting was ending. O’Neill had a few well-chosen words for Joyce.

FANS FLOCK TO CIVIC CENTER TO WELCOME COACH JIM LES
It was the largest crowd to ever attend a Bradley basketball luncheon as over 1,000 fans welcomed new coach Jim Les. And Les did not disappoint the enthusiastic audience with his remarks at the Wednesday, May 22, event. I haven’t talked to anyone at the Bradley ticket office, but don’t be surprised if season ticket sales go higher than anticipated. The thought
of a Bradley team with a coach and players who like to run and shoot should be encouragement enough to buy season tickets. By the way, when Coach Les talked about what I call the “media inspired controversy,” he brought the house down when he said, “I don’t read the newspaper.”

PEORIA JOURNAL SHOWS CONTINUED LOSS OF READERS
Apparently Jim Les isn’t the only one not reading our local daily paper. According to information supplied by Insight Media Advertising, the cable people, daily subscribers to the Peoria Journal have been consistently dropping since 1994 when they had 80,676 readers. In 2001 subscribers numbered only 67,447. That’s a 17% drop. Saturdays are even worse. The survey shows a loss of 20%.

SOME RANDOM NOTES
From the Mail Bag I want to acknowledge a note from John Malone, the talented Program Director at WMBD-AM. John challenges my contention that more and more local Rush Limbaugh fans are turning to WLS at 11 a.m. rather than waiting for the delayed broadcast of his show on WMBD at 1 p.m. John cites his station’s surveys from 1999 to 2001 which shows a jump from 4100 to 5400 hundred listeners. No dispute there. However, John, those are surveys in the Fall when the baseball season is over. That means WMBD airs Rush instead of day St. Louis Cardinal games. This avoids one conflict. Secondly, I can tell you that when there’s an important political development, Rush fans can’t wait to hear the conservative’s views and tune in WLS at 11 instead of waiting two hours later to listen on WMBD. But thanks, John, for writing. I enjoy your afternoon gig from 4-6 p.m. on 1470.

CENSORSHIP.....SOME THOUGHTS
Censorship in any form is repugnant to most Americans. It can come in many forms by many people. People of wealth and power use it in the hiring and dismissal of employees. If they don’t like how one votes, how one talks, one’s beliefs, they’ll resort to phone calls and behind-the-scenes schemes to remove, censor if you will, their real or perceived opponents. It’s done in corporate board rooms, corporate personnel offices, in business, in churches, in virtually all walks of life, unfortunately. You can read details of how it’s done by the rich and the poor, the educated and uneducated, in David Horowitz book,“Uncivil Wars.” The worst offenders, in my mind, are those who’re elected to public office who call newspaper editors, publishers, and/or writers, making threats, “If you print this you’ll regret it. I’ll see to that.” In this day and age of violence, every threat, by letter or phone call, has to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, those who make threats fail to challenge ideas, choosing rather to become personal and intimidating. It doesn’t work. What it does is make one more suspicious and vigilant!

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