I’m not doing a Top 10. Rather, I’m just going through each month and pulling out the two or three most significant events that happened, as reported on the Chronicle. No doubt there are bigger stories missing here and there because I didn’t write about everything, but you can read about those in the mainstream media or other blog sites.
Here are the 2009 Top Stories on Peoria Chronicle, as I see them:
January
- It’s announced that Cub Foods in MidTown Plaza closes its doors in March.
- Rod Blagojevich is removed from office.
February
- Residents start questioning why Peoria Public Library is throwing away books.
- Analog TV transmissions cease for most stations in the country, although a few stick around until June.
- District 150 Treasurer Guy Cahill is fired.
March
- WHOI News bites the dust as an independent news source. WEEK-TV (Granite Broadcasting) takes over operations under a shared service agreement, fires all WHOI reporters. The newscast and anchors remain, but content is identical to WEEK.
- Barbara Van Auken is sued by Sigma Nu fraternity in a transparent (and ultimately unsuccessful) attempt to spike Van Auken’s reelection bid.
April
- Public Facilities Tax passes, proving once again Mencken’s proverb that no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
- District 150 voted to close Kingman Primary, Tyng Primary, Irving Primary, and Woodruff High schools. Technically, it was “a high school to be named later,” but this was the vote that doomed Woodruff.
- Lindbergh Middle School principal Julie McArdle is fired, sues District 150.
May
June
- Holiday Inn City Centre wants in on the city’s “free money for downtown hotels” initiative, asks for $8 million to upgrade property.
July
- A new plan is revealed to convert the Kellar Branch rail line to a trail. A mysterious corporation has bought out Pioneer Railcorp’s and Carver Lumber’s interests in the line, and it’s safe to assume the taxpayers will ultimately pay when it is finally converted to a trail. Time will tell how much it will cost.
- The Chronicle breaks the news that numerous Peoria businesses are overcharging for sales tax due to confusion over the 1% Hospitality Improvement Zone (HIZ) tax that took effect in July. The HIZ tax was only supposed to apply to a small area of downtown, but was being collected throughout the city.
August
- Northwoods Mall stops CityLink from using its property for a transfer center.
- OSF gets okay to put energy center immediately adjacent to single-family homes on the East Bluff. OSF’s justification: they don’t want the view of their Milestone Building obstructed. Protests from neighbors are ignored by the council, including the third district councilman.
September
- City Council declines to take any action to protect citizens from being overcharged for sales tax.
- District 150 changes grading policy to artificially boost student achievement scores.
- Economic Development Director Craig Hullinger announces his retirement, effective November 6. Expect his consulting company to be hired sometime next year.
October
- President Obama awarded Nobel [Popularity] Prize.
- District 150 Superintendent Ken Hinton announces his retirement effective December 2, six months earlier than expected. Norm Durflinger named interim superintendent.
- New waste hauling contract awarded to Peoria Disposal Company (PDC).
November
- Big PR push for Peoria Charter School begins.
- Two Peoria County Jail inmates escape, then are caught.
- Chronicle rolls out new Peoria tagline: “Better than Nothing.”
- Republican Sheriff Mike McCoy’s son Tyler arrested for DUI two months after incident as Democrat States Attorney Kevin Lyons makes transparent attempt to spike the elder McCoy’s reelection bid.
December
- Vonachen’s Old Place razed.
- District 150 teacher negotiations break down; district declares impasse. District later asks for return to bargaining table.
And that’s your 2009 Year in Review.