Amanda Christian received a special little bundle of love six years ago on Valentine’s Day — her daughter Madelyn.

Amanda received an indication of just how special her little girl is just before Madelyn’s birthday.
Madelyn said she wanted a birthday party at the Dunlap High School pool. She invited her kindergarten classmates from Dunlap Grade School. She had cupcakes.

But, presents were not on the list for Madelyn. 

At the beginning of last week’s Peoria County Board meeting, everyone rose to recite the pledge of allegiance.
From where I was standing, I could not see District 6 representative Allen Mayer, a Democrat. I wish I could have.
I’m curious about whether he had his fingers crossed behind his back as he said, “... with liberty and justice for all.”

I don't suffer from allergies, so I don't understand what allergies are like — especially the one so many Peorians seem to have toward forward thinking.
The morning of Jan. 26, I read something that truly frightened me, and got me thinking about this allergy.

UPDATE: The Peoria City Council is reportedly going to consider adopting the county board ordinance on blacktopping Tuesday and Peoria County Board member Merle Widmer has responded to this column.

Healthcare reform may be a ways off, but “Blacktop Reform” has come to Peoria County.
A new ordinance is poised to roll over small non-union paving contractors — potentially costing people their jobs and add costs to something that was working just fine.
But, that’s beside the point.

New Year’s Eve is a day of celebration, a time to leave the woes of the last year behind.
But, there was no leaving 2009 behind for Austin Durham and Thomas Powers. Both surely awoke Dec. 31 day hoping they would end the day with a reason to celebrate, but, these two men’s paths crossed in the Peoria County DUI courtroom of Judge Lisa Wilson.
                                   

When the woman called I was out of the office. Her message made it clear she was not happy about something she read in the Peoria Times-Observer.
Despite her anger she was civil and not a single curse word left her lips in the message. When I talked to her Nov. 29 she was still angry, but civil and laughing by the end of our conversation.
I was struck by that.
When people get angry these days curse words fly.

Kathryn Rem, over at GateHouse News Service, offered up a column recently called, “How to talk your way to popularity at any party.”
I read it closely. This is just the kind of thing I spend sleepless nights worrying about.

Gary Guigelaar had a smile on his face as he looked at the blue glass bell. He took notice of the lighter blue shade at the base of the bell.
“That’s Fenton glass,” the North Peorian said, the smile on his face growing wider.
Guigelaar was standing in an aisle at the Goodwill Store on War Memorial.
The store was busy Dec. 8.

The Heartland Partnership sent out a press release last week, stating, “People all across the country are starting to agree … It’s Better Here!”
That’s a signal that it’s time for another episode of “Let’s kick Peoria,” with the “Turn out the lights,” crowd.

Thursday is my favorite day of the work week.
It is the day I head to the police station and look at police reports and see all the crazy sh..., er, stuff people do.

Nov. 11, 1918, was a glorious day in Peoria, when news arrived that the “War To End All Wars” was finally over.  
Our local boys marched off to war after the United States declared war on Germany that bleak day of April 6, 1917. 

Cleaning is not my thing — never has been, never will be. My wife says I’m cleaning retarded. My co-workers agree. I just lack the gene that makes one care about cleaning. 
So, I was somewhat taken aback when father and son Kevin and Jason Swadinsky of West Peoria and Dunlap, respectively, showed up at my office to pitch a story idea. They own a cleaning and handyman business called Man Maids. Their pitch is, men are better at cleaning than women.

Dr. John Wipfler, gun enthusiast and ER physician at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, talks about responsible gun ownership in this week’s installment of
DeWayne’s World. Only in the Peoria Times-Observer.

Mindy Watkins, in my humble opinion, has one of the finest singing voices in this city. But, as Watkins, 38, spoke about her former Richwoods High School teacher Wayne Macomber her voice cracked.

“Dad, the doctor says Kevin has H1N1,” my daughter-in-law said.
It took a second for the phrase “H1N1” to sink in.