Voices
Bass Pro Shops
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- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 14:11
- Written by Paul Gordon
Like with any good mall or shopping center, the newest big draw in East Peoria will offer shoppers clothing, sporting gear, a restaurant, a bar and activities that will include bowling and pool.
Only this isn't a mall or even a shopping center, though at 145,000 square feet it could probably qualify as one.
It's Bass Pro Shops' newest outdoors superstore, about to open on the East Peoria riverfront near Riverfront Center....
An Update: The Caterpillar Heritage Center
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- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 13:29
- Written by Kevin Kizer
In 2003, Caterpillar Inc. announced that a Caterpillar Heritage Museum would be included in the East Peoria downtown development featuring antique Caterpillar machines along with other historical elements representing Caterpillar's past. Several members of the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club (ACMOC) offered their restored antique Cat machines for the exhibit – many of which were featured by Caterpillar at the recent CONEXPO event in...
The Pere Marquette/Marriott Project
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- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 09:17
- Written by Paul Gordon
Because of deadlines, the following story about the Hotel Pere Marquette/Marriott project was already completed when news broke that the city of Peoria decided to cancel its redevelopment agreement with EM Properties.
The Peorian decided to proceed with the story because the situation was such it could have changed again by the time this edition was published. EM Properties president Gary Matthews said his office is "working...
Coming Full Circle
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- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 11:35
- Written by Paul Gordon
"Where is the city 'neath the sun
Whose liquid vowels melt into one,
And like a strain of music run,
As thine, Peoria?
"And where the land whose name is told
In syllables of flaming gold
Like Illinois – so to enfold
And shrine Peoria!"
~ By Edna Dean Proctor...
Ask a Question?
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 08:54
- Written by Paul Gordon
Yep, that's an island they're building.
Island project aims to protect fish habitats; sediment mitigation will be part of another phase.
Crossing the McClugage Bridge, particularly in the westbound lanes, it's hard to miss the whitish bag-like things that seem to be forming some sort of chain.
Now that there's dirt surfacing on...
East Peoria Downtown 2010
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- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 11:29
- Written by Paul Gordon
A NEW DOWNTOWN THAT WILL PROMOTE URBANISM.
In this day and age one doesn't find too many well-established cities that decide to just go out and build a whole new downtown.
Unless, of course, it doesn't already have one.
"We're a community without a downtown proper. It's only fitting that we have one," said Dave Mingus, mayor of East Peoria. "That's why we're doing this."
He was referring...
What's My Stuff Worth: Tools
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- Published on Thursday, 01 September 2011 08:36
- Written by Paul Gordon
When my mother asked me to have some old tools appraised, I couldn't imagine what tools she meant. Tools I used as a kid, that my dad used as a kid?
Actually, these tools originally belonged to my grandfather, Rudolph Gordon, and were sitting in a dilapidated old wooden box in my mom's shed. Dirty, with some rusting and pieces missing, I couldn't imagine they'd be worth much.
There was a hand drill, the kind with a wheel-like...
