Journal Star Radio: Recent Episodes
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Entrepreneur, innovator, web developer, technologist — Dunlap native Jake Adams wears a lot of hats, including that of CEO of Sora Technologies, an information tech support company based in Peoria, and a developer of the internet app Filter.ly. Back in 2015, Jake was part of a presentation on the app at the prestigious TechCrunch Disrupt conference in San Francisco.
At 28, Cody Myers lands his first head coaching position. For the Canton High School football program, which reached the IHSA Class 4A semifinals last year. In the powerful Mid-Illini Conference, with the rich traditions at Metamora and Washington. So, how's he doing? Loving it.
Justin Dwyer, a sanitarian with the Peoria City/County Health Department, walks us through the process of health. Dwyer explains how he assesses violations ranging from leaking faucets to mold in the ice machine.
Peorians David and Derrick Booth discuss their Booth Basketball Academy, a free camp for kids completing its ninth year this week, as well as their successful basketball lives.
H. Wayne Wilson, the host of "At Issue" on WTVP-TV Channel 47, is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source" this week. Wilson explains the process by which he finds topics and prepares for the interviews he's been doing with community leaders for the past 29 years. In addition to his work on Channel 47, Wilson also covers Peoria City Council meetings for WCBU-FM 89.9, Peoria's public radio outlet.
Gov. Bruce Rauner paid a visit to the Journal Star on July 21 to chat with our editorial board and with reporter Steve Tarter for a special edition of the Tarter Source podcast.
Peoria High School alum and two-time NBA champ Shaun Livingston chats with Journal Star sports writer Dave Reynolds in between sessions of the Pride of Peoria basketball camp at the high school. Livingston, who recently re-upped for three more years with the Golden State Warriors discusses the team's most recent NBA title, achieved in record fashion, the Warriors' place in history and much more.
Molly Crusen Bishop is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source" this week. A native Peorian and the mother of five children, Bishop is passionate about Peoria history. Her radio show, "Tales of the Whiskey City," is heard at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays on WAZU-FM 90.7. She also serves as the manager of the GAR Hall in Downtown Peoria, the scene for the second annual Whiskey Baron Run on Saturday, August 12.
Eric Miller, executive director of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, and Ray Lees, a member of the Downtown Advisory Council, talk about the Illinois River with host Steve Tarter of "Tarter Source," a podcast on pjstar.com. The three big issues with the river, said Miller, are sedimentation, pollution and public involvement. Involving the public is critical to see that the river doesn't fill in over time, he said.
Artist Chelsie Tamms, a recent Bradley grad, is making a name for herself with her unique and award-winning style of lettering, branding and Peoria-centric design work.
We talk with retired Harlem Globetrotters dribbling star Curley “Boo” Johnson about his “Skills For Life” camp, Peoria’s rich basketball history and his project of vindication for the 1954 Chicago DuSable team.
In his first budget, President Trump proposed abolishing the national Endowment of the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities. While congress essentially ignored that suggestion with the budget they passed - actually increasing spending on the arts and humanities - the budget year ends in September, and the issue will be coming up again soon. What would happen in central Illinois if the NEA and NEH were abolished?
Highly-touted St. Louis pitching prospect Jordan Hicks, 20, is proving his worth for the Peoria Chiefs. The Houston native is regularly slinging in the middle to upper 90s and recently topped 100 mph. He chats with Dave Eminian in this week's podcast about his growth as a pitcher and his battle with diabetes, which he calls both a blessing and a curse.
Ecosystems all over the world are under stress, and that includes the prairies, wetlands and other biologically diverse habitats of central Illinois. Mike Miller of the Peoria Park District is teaching a class and leading a tour of ecosystems around Peoria. He joins the Journal Star's Nick Vlahos in a discussion about the area's various ecosystems, what is being done to help preserve and protect them, and what you can do to help as well.
Former Bradley stars Marcellus Sommerville and Daniel Ruffin talk about their 2006 run to the NCAA Sweet 16, and getting the core of the team back together for a run at the $2 million winner-take-all prize in The Basketball Tournament. Opening rounds will be played on the Bradley campus on July 15-16, and the Always A Brave team, which reached the national semifinals last year, is ready to put on another show.
John and Sharon Amdall are Steve Tarter's guests on "Tarter Source," the podcast on pjstar.com. The Amdalls are on a mission: to help Peoria be recognized as an arts destination. In addition to supporting the local arts scene, John and Sharon actively promote the fact that the Peoria area is rich in both artists and art resources. The couple helped design and develop the Sculpture Walk in Downtown Peoria and have catalogued many of the area's artistic attractions to help the public better understand what's available.
The Journal Star-area had nine state championships during the 2016-17 school year. Stan Morris, Kirk Wessler and Aaron Ferguson recap the year and discuss the talented athletes and teams and preview the inaugural 2017 Best of Preps gala, which will be held at 6 p.m. on June 26 at the Peoria Civic Center. Get your tickets in advance at pjstar.com/bestofpreps
Chuck Collins, the chief meteorologist at WEEK-TV Channel 25, is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source," the podcast on pjstar.com. Collins talks about his years at the station's weather desk as well as the dramatic morning in 2013 when the tornado that wound up devastating Washington took dead aim on the 25 studios, narrowly missing the station. Collins, a lifelong James Bond fan, also talks about 007 movies he's enjoyed over the years.
Bradley assistant men's basketball coaches Mike Bargen and Drew Adams discuss recruiting and other aspects of their jobs as well as the progress the Braves have made since they came to the Hilltop with head coach Brian Wardle two years ago.
Travis Platt is Steve Tarter's guest on the pjstar.com podcast Tarter Source. Platt, 33, is the owner of Platt's Printing Co. in Farmington. Despite battling muscular dystrophy that's kept him in a wheelchair since the first grade, Platt's firm has brought innovative ideas to businesses across central Illinois. He opened a second office at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center earlier this year. A feature story on Platt runs in Sunday's Journal Star.
Do magazines still have a place in this digital world? That's the question for Jim Burwitz, a veteran writer and editor who's worked for the U of I College of Medicine at Peoria, Caterpillar Inc. and Pekin Hospital. Burwitz, a guest on "Tarter Source," the podcast with Steve Tarter, talks about his experiences teaching a class in magazine production at Bradley University along with his work on Peoria Metropolitan magazine from 1999 to 2002.
Do you keep a scorecard at baseball games? For Nathan Baliva, voice of the Peoria Chiefs and Chris Mehring, voice of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, it's more than just a job, it's a passion — some might say, obsession —they've developed over decades. Each has created a unique style of colorful shorthand, code words and chicken scratches — likely indecipherable by the average fan — that tell the story of the game.
Peoria businessman, environmentalist and former mayor Lowell "Bud" Grieves joins the Journal Star's Steve Tarter for this week's Tarter Source podcast. Grieves was elected mayor in 1997 and his four-year term sparked an ongoing effort to renovate, redevelop and generally improve the downtown and riverfront areas of the city.
Tracie Hitz from Kickapoo turned a passion for sports into one of the most powerful positions in college sports: director of business operations for the NCAA women's basketball tournament. But there's a lot more to her journey than that. A freewheeling chat about recognizing opportunity, building a career, growing up and getting a job where other people say: "I want to be Tracie Hitz!" Oh, and Bobby Knight is involved.
Former Limestone and ISU pitcher and current Illinois Central College pitching coach Ryan Camp chats with Journal Star preps writer Aaron Ferguson about the IHSA's new pitch count rules and offers some advice for high school pitchers on slinging through the season and the transition to college ball.
Bill O'Brien, chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals for Peoria County, is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source," a podcast on pjstar.com. O'Brien, whose chaired the group for the past eight years, noted that the ZBA handles zoning changes outside of Peoria city limits. In rural areas, some believe that any kind of restriction amounts to government interference. "We try to be fair," said O'Brien, explaining how the board does its job.
Legendary Chicago Cubs broadcasters Ronald Reagan, Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray join the podcast — brought to life by Dave Snell — for a chat about their days in the booth and the team they covered for so long finally winning the World Series.
First Creighton left the Missouri Valley Conference. Then Wichita State. Now, the league is trying to figure out its next move. Move back to 10 teams? Expand to 11 or 12? And which schools would be the best basketball fit for what's left of the Valley? Kirk Wessler discusses the issues with Harry Schroeder of valleyhoops.net and Todd Golden of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.
Larry Ware loves Peoria radio — not just the stations of the day but the sounds of the past. As a guest on Steve Tarter's "Tarter Source" podcast on pjstar.com, he brings along soundbites of yesteryear: old jingles, commercials and bits from 50s and 60s radio stations that were broadcasting in Peoria at the time (like WPEO when it was a top 40 station or WIRL when it featured Robyn Weaver as the morning deejay).
Ready for a deconstructed duck tamale or fried brussels sprouts? Those are examples of some of the menu items that Travis Mohlenbrink has brought to the Peoria dining scene with restaurants like Thyme, Sugar and Cracked Pepper. Restaurateur Mohlenbrink is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source" this week on the pjstar.com podcast where he talks about competing in the rough-and-tumble world of dining out as well as explaining where he gets some of his inspirations.
Lorenz Evans, a Morton native and graduate of Peoria Notre Dame High School, joins Journal Star beat writer Dave Eminian for this week's podcast. "Zo" comes from a family of baseball umpires and is currently working his way through the minor leagues with the Midwest League.
Adam Duvall returns to the Journal Star Sportswriter's podcast as a guest to discuss high school softball and baseball. The former softball beat writer gives some history and expertise in a handful of schools, which include unbeaten Brimfield and Eureka, and powerhouse Washington. There's a brief discussion regarding the new IHSA pitch count rules in high school baseball and on area teams excelling early in the season.
Duvall gives an update on IVC graduate and Cleveland Indians reliever Zach McAllister. Duvall also discusses his love of popcorn, the history of baseball talent in the area and his second-favorite MLB player, Cincinnati Reds' Adam Duvall.
Our guest this week on "Tarter Source," the podcast, is media relations coordinator for OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Shelli Dankoff McClellan. Shelli deals with a lot of media but then she has the background: she previously served as a news anchor on Peoria stations, WEEK-TV Channel 25 and WMBD-TV Channel 31. Host Steve Tarter talks with Shelli on a number of subjects: her role at OSF, understanding media, fake news, the double standard regarding anchor men and women and teaching broadcast news to students at Bradley University as an adjunct professor for the past five years.
The Peoria Chiefs' newest manager Chris Swauger, 30, joins Journal Star beat writer Dave Eminian for this week's podcast. One of the youngest coaches in the Midwest League, Swauger hails from Tampa Bay and graduated from The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where he played baseball and earned a degree in business administration before starting his pro baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Bradley's Bobby Parker added a new role to his communication duties this year — operations manager — and hit the ground running by adding two new sporting events to Renaissance Coliseum. In this podcast, he discusses those as well as updating the BU spring sports, the highlight of which is a new home for Bradley softball.
Former TV anchor Bob Larson is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source". Larson, who worked at WMBD-TV Channel 31 for 43 years before retiring at the end of 2014, still does a weekly segment on the station's Thursday evening news program called "Active Life." Bob recalls some of his early days on the station when live TV would often provide eventful experiences.
Tom Dore was the TV voice of the Chicago Bulls during the Michael Jordan championship years in the 1990s, but his playing and broadcasting careers are full of fun stories. When he visited Peoria last week to broadcast the IHSA boys state tournaments, TDore agreed to chat with us on our podcast, and chat, and chat, and chat ...
Local sports historian Bob Sulaski is Steve Tarter's guest this week on "Tarter Source," a podcast on pjstar.com. A 1953 graduate of Peoria's Woodruff High School, Sulaski talks about the first football game played in Peoria (in 1890) and the many heavyweight boxing champs that visited Peoria as well as recalling that Roger Maris hit six home runs down at old Woodruff Field (as a member of the minor-league Keokuk Kernels).
Our team breaks down the fields in the Class 3A and 4A boys state basketball tournaments, including Peoria connections like Rick Malnati, Micheal Mosley...
Dr. Kaninika Verma is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source" this week to talk about the dangers of smoking and the importance of sleep. A physician with the Illinois Lung Institute in Peoria, Verma has participated in the Kick Butts anti-smoking campaign for the past five years. She's also the clinical director of sleep for OSF Healthcare.
Journal Star sports reporters Kirk Wessler, Stan Morris, Aaron Ferguson, Dave Reynolds, and Johnny Campos talk STATE! basketball in this week's Sportswriters podcast.
Arch Madness begins Thursday, so Dave Reynolds and Kirk Wessler discuss all things Missouri Valley Conference: from Wichita State to Bradley, from NCAA tournament prospects to all-conference selections, and the upcoming inductions of Marcus Pollard and Charlotte Lewis to the MVC Hall of Fame.
Our guests this week are Doug Stewart, Brian Ray and Kim Herman of PNC Bank. After more than 40 years in the Peoria banking industry, Stewart plans to retire as a regional president this summer. He talks about some of his many activities in the community while Ray, who's moving from Akron, Ohio, to take over the position, provides his own view of the Peoria scene.
Eric Scovill idolized the Peoria Rivermen as a kid, and last weekend, at the age of 29, realized a dream when the team signed him to a 3-game contract and played him as a defenseman. The Notre Dame High School grad works as a construction director for Menold Construction and Restoration in Morton by day, and still plays senior men's hockey at Owens Center by night.
There's talk of the Titanic on this week's Tarter Source podcast on pjstar.com when Debbie Ritschel, interim manager of the Peoria Riverfront Museum, chats with Peoria Journal Star reporter Steve Tarter. This is Ritschel's second tour of duty as an interim manager at the museum where the "Titanic: The Artifacts Exhibition" runs through March 12. Ritschel also managed the Peoria Civic Center where she worked for 29 years before retiring in 2011.
Dr. Larry Weinzimmer, a professor of strategic management at Bradley University, has spent his career developing strategies for growing private business, but he's recently used his number-crunching prowess to help local hospitals assess community health. In a 2016 survey, Weinzimmer's team found, among a wealth of data, that people are not as healthy as they think they are.
Bradley University women's basketball coach and former player Andrea Gorski chats with Journal Star sports writer Dave Reynolds about rebuilding, recruiting and coming back to Bradley as a coach.
This week's guests on Steve Tarter's "Tarter Source" podcast on pjstar.com are Charles and LaDonna Bobbitt, a couple with a feel for history. The Bobbitts own the Greenhut mansion in Peoria, a magnificent home (now converted to apartments) built in 1884 by Joseph Greenhut, the whiskey baron who operated the nation's Whiskey Trust out of Peoria in the late 19th century. While acknowledging his collection of Peoria postcards — he has 1,500 of them — Bobbitt also talks fervently about Peoria's present — and future.
Couri Thomas works to help the disadvantaged at Peoria Area Food Bank, but is a newcomer to politics as he seeks the Peoria mayor's seat. He discusses how he'd like to revitalize Peoria in this interview with political reporter Chris Kaergard.
Political newcomer G. Marie Kennell seeks to transform a career in real estate into a shot at the Peoria mayor's chair. She discusses her vision for the city and policies she'd champion during this interview with political reporter Chris Kaergard.
For the first time since his election in 2005, Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis faces competition to keep his job. He sits down with political reporter Chris Kaergard to discuss his record and his vision for the next four years.
For small-school girls basketball teams in Illinois, the madness is all in February. Aaron Ferguson and Kirk Wessler discuss the postseason for Peoria metro teams, beginning with 1A-2A girls and touching bases up to the 3A-4A boys.
Morton High School girls basketball coach Bob Becker discusses "The Morton Way," a philosophy that has helped guide the Lady Potters to back-to-back 3A state titles, and his thoughts on the current season.
Bill Knight, former Peoria Journal Star reporter and professor at Western Illinois University, is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source," the PJS podcast. Among the subjects discussed are Caterpillar's plan to move its headquarters to Chicago from Peoria, a focus on media that finds itself under attack and the importance of print media, in general.
Safety has become a priority in the constant contact sport of high school wrestling. Two coaches, Peoria Notre Dame's Kevin Burk and Washington Community High School's Bryan Medlin, and veteran wrestling official Kris Kamp join Journal Star beat writer Stan Morris in a discussion of everything from hygiene to illegal moves to character building in one of the world's oldest sports.
In the wake of the Jan. 19 bus crash that injured the entire Columbus Cottonmouths hockey team, former bus driver Kurt Wilson, who drove the Peoria Rivermen all over the country from 2000-2007, chats with beat writer Dave Eminian about his adventures behind the wheel and what it takes to be a team driver.
Trisha Noack, manager of public relations for the Peoria Public Library, is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source," a Journal Star podcast. Noack talks about upcoming events at the library including programs involving authors. She also walks listeners through Freegal,an online service that the library provides that allows the user to download five songs per week free of charge.
Jason Veniskey, new BU assistant athletics director for communication, describes his multi-faceted job of serving as media liaison and producing notes and stats for Bradley men's basketball.
Coffee talk — that's the subject of the latest Tarter Source podcast with Journal Star reporter Steve Tarter. James Cross, owner of Leaves 'N Beans coffee shops in Peoria Heights and Morton, is the guest. Cross talks about the coffee shop field and the growth of coffee culture in the United States.
Don King started officiating sports in 1968, when he was in high school. Over nearly half a century, he has worked every level from biddy ball to minor-league pros, mostly in basketball, baseball and football. With us, he talks about the craft of officiating, the crisis of an officials shortage and how that might be addressed.
Cubs-Indians, Peoria High football, Shaun Livingston, Colin Kaepernick ... The JS sports staff reviews favorite stories of 2016 and tries to forecast 2017. Good luck with that, guys!
The latest edition of the Peoria Journal Star’s Sportswriters podcast features a conversation about high school basketball with CEO of the Illinois Irish, Gavin Sullivan. AAU basketball has an impact on high school athletes, which Sullivan discusses the experiences some of his players have had, including Illini Bluffs forward Taylor Bruninga and Washington guard Devin Whitelow.
The loss of privacy is the single greatest threat to democracy in this country says Bradley University professor Ed Lamoureux who joins Steve Tarter on Tarter Source this week. Lamoureux, who's taught at the Hilltop since 1985, has a new book out called "Privacy, Surveillance and the New Media You." He talks about what government, private industry and the public can do to protect privacy.
Peoria Rivermen captain Dan Bremner joins beat writer Dave Eminian for this week's Sportswriters podcast. Dan is a lifelong hockey player, a well-rounded athlete and a proven leader both on and off the ice. He shares some insights into the ups and downs of being a pro hockey player, including losing his mother to cancer at the very beginning of his career.
A trio of local baseball figures — Peoria Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen, Bradley baseball coach Elvis Dominguez and former major leaguer Mike Dunne— meet with the Journal Star's Dave Reynolds to talk about who should and who shouldn't be included among the best of the best in Baseball's Hall of Fame at Cooperstown.
Journal Star executive editor Dennis Anderson is Steve Tarter's guest on Tarter Source this week. Anderson, a newspaper veteran with 31 years of experience on papers in Illinois, New York, Connecticut and Kansas, talks about the industry and why he considers working on a newspaper as the greatest job in the world. Anderson also weighs in on the growing threat of fake news in our society.
Brad Keefauver is all about Sherlock Holmes. The system analyst at OSF Healthcare and prolific blogger is the Peoria area's foremost expert on all things Sherlock, from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's original concept to the most recent interpretations of the peculiar detective and his deductive prowess.
After that great Ohio State-Michigan game, we needed to visit a real expert. Herb Gould, longtime Chicago sportswriter, writes "The Gould Standard" column for a smart college sports website, TMGcollegesports.com. He talks with us about The Game, Jim Harbaugh, the College Football Playoff system — and a little golf, a little travel, a little beer ...
Peoria High School coach Tim Thornton and Dee-Mack High School coach Job Linboom join Journal Star beat writers Aaron Ferguson and Stan Morris for this week's podcast. Thornton and the Lions face Vernon Hills in the Class 5A state football championship at 10 a.m. on Nov. 26, while Linboom and the Chiefs battle Maroa-Forsyth for the 2A title at 1 p.m. on Nov. 25 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
The Peoria Rivermen and Susan G. Komen are joining forces in the fight against breast cancer. The corporate partners have some exciting new promotions in store this season. New Rivermen director of business development Andrew Cohen and Peoria Memorial Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure public relations/marketing director Katie Parker join Journal Star hockey writer Dave Eminian to chat about their new initiatives, while Cohen shares some of his experiences as a former equipment manager.
Local writer, former legislator and political expert Jim Nowlan shares his thoughts on the 2016 presidential election, the state's problems in Springfield and the upcoming Illinois bicentennial.
Michael Brooks, superintendent of the Peoria County Veterans Assistance Commission, provides information on what he does to help area veterans on this week's "Tarter Source" with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter. Boosting the budget for the commission is one of the referendum questions on next week's Peoria County ballot.
Philip Lockwood, longtime director of the Steamboat Classic, joins sports editor Kirk Wessler, and the old running geeks talk about the IHSA State Cross-Country Championships set for Saturday morning at Detweiller Park in Peoria. From Craig Virgin to Lukas Verzbicus, from Joe Newton and Elmhurst York to changes on the iconic race course, and a lot more.
Thomas Griffiths, a biology professor at Illinois Central College, talks about bats on "Tarter Source" with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter. Griffiths talks about the devastating disease that has killed millions of bats across the country in the past 10 years. The professor, who notes that recent research efforts may find an answer to the white-nose syndrome striking bats, also talks about a prehistoric predator called the hell pig.
Patti Gratton, the executive director of Community Workshop and Training Center and Jim Runyon, a vice president with Easter Seals Central Illinois, discuss funding for the developmentally disabled in the Peoria area. An advisory referendum on the Nov. 8 ballot for Peoria County would increase the allocation to help the developmentally disabled and assistance to veterans that's presently under a penny (per $100) on the property tax bill.
Rick Stephenson spins the goodtime oldies in the early morning hours on WIRL 1290 in Peoria, but he's also the communications and public relations coordinator for Community Workshop and Training Center. Rick is an experienced radio personality who feels compelled to give back to the community through his work on behalf of the developmentally disabled.
From Stark County to Peoria High, Journal Star beat writers Aaron Ferguson and Stan Morris, and assistant sports editor Wes Huett discuss the high school football playoff pairings and the big matchups coming this weekend throughout central Illinois.
Shannon Szabados won Olympic gold medals in 2010 and 2014 as a goaltender on the Canadian women's hockey team. Among her many firsts, in 2014, Szabados became the first female goaltender to win an SPHL game. Now fighting for a spot on the Peoria Rivermen roster, Szabados talks about playing hockey as "one of the boys" and discusses some of her plans for the future.
Peoria Symphony Orchestra conductor George Stelluto joins us for this week's Tarter Source podcast with Journal Star writer Steve Tarter. Stelluto chats about upcoming concerts, including "Prodigies" featuring 11-year-old piano prodigy Harmony Zhu, and the state of classical music on the radio and in our educational system. He shares his thoughts on the value of classical music and its existence in modern society.
Brian Wardle's first basketball season at the BU helm was a difficult one as a freshman-dominated team struggled to a 5-27 record. But lessons were learned and a new culture was instilled that have led to an optimistic outlook for Year 2. Wardle took time out this week to discuss what he's discovering about his team, his coaching ability and his family's adjustment to Peoria in this Journal Star podcast.
Cyberterrorism is the topic on "Tarter Source" this week. Eric English, a security analyst with CIAN, an IT security company based in Peoria, is Steve Tarter's guest. English talks about an upcoming (and free) security seminar 8:30 a.m.on Thursday at the Packard Plaza in Downtown Peoria. He also points out that the number-one thing when it comes to computer security is to be prepared.
Roger Monroe, the host of "Roger and Friends," heard from 6-9 a.m. weekdays on WAZU-FM 90.7, is Steve Tarter's guest on "Tarter Source," podcast. Known for his partnership with the late comedian Royce Elliott, Monroe was part of the "Breakfast with Royce and Roger" that played on several Peoria radio stations in recent years. A former spokesman for Methodist Medical Center who served on the Peoria County Board for 20 years, Monroe weighs in with thoughts on radio, newspapers and politics.
Get to know our new high school beat reporter, who joined us on Sept. 7 and has been baptized with three great football games: Peoria High-Notre Dame, Washington-Metamora, and Canton's overtime upset of Metamora. In this week's podcast, he discusses his passion for sports, the lure of high school competition, his love for baseball and his goal to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums.
Popular local radio and television personality Doc Watson chats with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter about his long, eclectic career on the air. From the "Morning Mix" to classic rock to calling high school football games, Doc is one of the most familiar voices in central Illinois.
Veteran reporter Nick Vlahos joins his Journal Star compadre Steve Tarter for this week's podcast. A longtime sportswriter, city hall reporter and prolific traveler, Nick has recently launched a new morning feature on pjstar.com called Nick in the Morning.
From the Brimfield Bomber to an NIT title to Bull Durham to prep coaching duties in baseball and basketball, Eddie Mathews has had a diverse and remarkable career. In this week's podcast, Eddie discusses his days as a high school hoops phenom, playing for a powerhouse Bradley team, standing in during the pitching scenes for actor Tim Robbins and some notable high school coaching success.
Teacher, coach, scout — Mike Olson has worn many hats in his 50-plus years on the Peoria sports scene. The Olson family set the foundation for hockey in the Peoria area, but Mike is also an expert on baseball. He chats with Journal Star beat writer Dave Eminian about both sports in this week's Sportswriters podcast.
Chris Stevens, one half of the duo T&C and a local blues musician, drops in on the Cue pod to talk about the Peoria Blues and Heritage Festival, where he will be performing and leading guitar workshops all weekend. He even gave us a few demonstrations in the studio.
Bradley University coach Jim DeRose − four-time Missouri Valley Coach of the Year, 2007 National Coach of the Year − talks about the proposal to make NCAA Division I soccer a year-round sport. We also discuss the growing importance of the National Soccer Academy and its impact on high school and college soccer; NCAA scholarship limits; the U.S. Men's National Team − and fishing.
David McDonnell, an Irish author and storyteller from Traverse City, Mich., joins the Cue podcast ahead of his appearance at Erin Feis this weekend. McDonnell discusses his 900-page book, "ClanDonnell," as well as his favorite aspects of Irish festivals.
Frank Thomas, IT training consultant at Illinois Central College, is a radio aficionado with a floor-to-ceiling collection of nostalgic radio shows, interviews and various recordings. He joins Journal Star writer Steve Tarter to chat about radio's past, present and future in the age of the internet.
Bobbie Rice, marketing manager for the Wheels O'Time Museum, 1710 W. Woodside Drive in Dunlap, joins Journal Star reporter Steve Tarter for this episode of Tarter Source. Rice shares some of the knowledge she has gained over the years from her involvement in one of the area's largest collections of antique vehicles as well as numerous artifacts and displays from central Illinois' nostalgic past.
It's opening week for high school football. What game should you go see? Who are the teams to beat and the players that bear scrutiny? Lonnie Schwindenhammer, Stan Morris, Wes Huett and Kirk Wessler have your wonderings covered -- along with discussion of what would make the football schedule better.
Bradley public address announcer Paul Herzog owns a wealth of experiences from his courtside seats at Robertson Field House and Carver Arena. We hear some of the more entertaining ones along with a glimpse of the man behind the mic in this podcast featuring PA Paul.
Chris Marchand is the music pastor at Epiphany Church in Peoria. He discusses the challenges of attracting a small congregation in the era of the megachurch this week on Tarter Source with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter. Marchand also talks about where religion might be going in the years ahead.
Kevin Harlan, the vice president and general manager of WMBD-TV Channel 31, is Steve Tarter's guest this week on Tarter Source. Harlan talks about change in the television industry, digital channels and what lies ahead with the FCC's spectrum auction as well as shedding light on a unique hobby.
Bradley University Associate Professor Seth Katz is an expert on grammar and linguistics. In other words, he knows words. He shares some of his fascinating insights on human language with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter in this week's podcast.
Peoria native Teri Montefusco-Greer, 75, competed on the 1960 U.S. Women's Olympic Gymnastics Team in Rome. She attended the first-ever reunion of Olympic gymnasts in June at the Olympic Trials in San Jose. She recounts her experiences, talks about how gymnastics has changed over the years, and offers some advice for modern gymnasts.
After 12 years in the NBA, Shaun Livingston still loves coming home to family, friends, Avanti's pizza bread and gondolas ... We talk to him about growing up in Peoria, his special feelings for Carver Center and Concordia Lutheran School, and how this place made him the player and the man he is today.
Long before Title IX, Lorene Ramsey and Ann Mullins Tindall made the most of limited opportunities for girls and women in sports and established hall of fame careers in fast-pitch softball, playing with the national powerhouse Caterpillar/Pekin Lettes in front of thousands of fans. Their generation challenged the status quo, shook up the sports establishment and forced the changes that eventually led in 1972 to Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, prohibiting sex discrimination in education and extracurricular activities by institutions receiving government funds. With their personal stories, Ramsey and Tindall talk to us about what it was like in the 1950s and '60s and the revolution that changed the sports landscape forever.
Mark Twain, aka Bob Anton, joins the Journal Star's Steve Tarter for this episode of Tarter Source. A retired Peoria Public Schools teacher and riverboat captain, Bob Anton has been impersonating legendary American author Mark Twain since the 1970s. He is a featured performer for Spirit of Peoria cruises.
Stan Lynall is the director of OSF Healthcare's corporate Venture Investments program. Based in the Jump Trading Simulation Center and Education Center, he is responsible for identifying and investigating new medical technology and managing the investment process.
Manual grad and U.S. Marine Melvin Burch-Bynum loves the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament and has worked hard to help bring it back to the Peoria area. He joins the Journal Star's Steve Tarter to talk about this weekend's Gus Macker at Northwoods Church, 10700 N. Allen Road in Peoria.
Dave Snell, the Voice of the Braves, recalls his days at the mic watching and describing Bradley basketball from the mid-1980s to today with a look toward the future of the program.
The internet and social media are having a profound impact on public television. WTVP President and CEO Moss Bresnahan joins the Journal Star's Steve Tarter in a conversation about the past, present and future of public television in central Illinois.
From rotary telephones to Twitter, our methods of communication have changed drastically in just a few short years, and no one is more aware of this than Bradley University professor and Department of Communication chairperson Paul Gullifor. He chats with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter about the brave new world of modern communication.
This week, Journal Star prep sports reporter Adam Duvall talks baseball with a local legend — Illinois Valley Central High School coach Jerry Rashid. Rashid has 38 years of coaching success under his belt ranging from Princeville to Notre Dame to multiple state tournament appearances and a 2006 state title with IVC.
Phil Theobald wrote sports at the Journal Star in five decades, including his last 10 years as columnist. He has been retired since 2003 and remains married to the Obsessed Runner. We invited him to stop in for a chat, wound him up and let him go ...
Software expert Girish Seshagiri is this week's guest on Tarter Source. Steve Tarter interviews Seshagiri about the innovative program he's brought to Peoria involving the training of secure software writers that involves Illinois Central College, area companies and an opportunity for young people who want a career.
Local comedian Jeff Bailey, a Metamora native, chats about becoming a standup comic and what it takes to survive in the competitive world of live comedy. He is performing this weekend in Red, White and "Blue" Comedy at the Jukebox Comedy Club.
The Illinois Irish AAU basketball program has grown to 14 teams and includes a wide swath of central Illinois players. In today's podcast, Irish CEO Gavin Sullivan discusses the program's origins as the Peoria Irish, its growth and the AAU scene that is entering its busiest month of the year.
Peoria musician Austin Thompson, co-founder of the increasingly popular modern folk band The Way Down Wanderers joins Journal Star entertainment writer Thomas Bruch to talk about music, life on the road, and the band's plans for the future.
CEO, President and founder of OneFire Jake Hamann joins the Journal Star's Steve Tarter to chat about business development and the potential he sees in Peoria's future.
Journal Star beat writer Dave Eminian joins Director of Media and Baseball Relations Nate Baliva in a conversation with All Star pitchers Ryan Helsley and Jake Woodford.
Former Harlem Golbetrotter Curley 'Boo' Johnson was in Peoria preparing for his August basketball camp, so he stopped by the podcast to chat with Adam Duvall. The pair discussed CBJ's early basketball days, meeting some of history's most famous people, training with Michael Jordan and how CBJ gives back to the area through his Skills for Life Academy.
This week on the Tarter Source podcast, the Journal Star's Steve Tarter reviews TV theme songs from the past — from "Quick Draw McGraw" to "Where the Action Is." Do you remember who sang "The Real McCoys" theme? Or who had a hit with the theme from "Dr. Kildare"? Check out this week's TV theme podcast.
Peoria native Pat Cramer, the clubhouse manager for the Peoria Chiefs and a longtime employee of the organization, chats with Journal Star beat writer Dave Eminian about his life, his career, and all things baseball.
Steve Spain, the longtime owner of Peoria's premier costume shop, the Costume Trunk, is an avid fan and collector of film art and memorabilia from the "Golden Age" of Walt Disney animation. He's also written a book detailing how some of the films were made, featuring photos from his collection.
A pair of high school softball coaches - East Peoria's Denee Menzione and Washington's Stephanie Ramsey - joined Adam Duvall to preview the Class 3A sectional semifinals. The coaching pair also talked about their love of softball, community support and what player they'd love to have on their respective teams.
Adam White of Running Central and ShaZam Racing sits down with Journal Star sports editor Kirk Wessler to talk about life, running, classical music, tattoos and the Journal Star/CEFCU Honor Roll Meet. You think that sounds disjointed, but it’s not. Listen and find out how it all fits together.
This week on Tarter Source, the Journal Star's Steve Tarter talks with Paul Adams, a longtime Peoria musician whose New Age recordings continue to win awards. His latest recording, "Imaginings," recently was named best contemporary instrumental album of the year at the Zone Music Reporter awards in New Orleans. Paul talks about his musical career--he started by building instruments for others -- and plays a little on a Native American flute. Also on the program: Elizabeth Geyer, a singer from Australia who's collaborated with Adams.
Dave Snell, the voice of Bradley basketball since 1979, joins host Dave Reynolds and regales us with some of his fondest memories on and off the court with the Braves.
This week on Tarter Source, the Journal Star's Steve Tarter interviews Patty Fuchs, the retiring CEO/President of Goodwill of Central Illinois. Fuchs talks about the changes made during her time she's headed the local Goodwill chapter, tripling the number of stores and employees since she took over in 1993.
This week on Tarter Source, the Journal Star's Steve Tarter talks with Lawrence Maushard, 57, originally from Peoria and now living in Portland, Ore. An Illinois State University graduate and freelance writer, Maushard talks about Mark Clark, who was killed along with fellow civil rights activist Fred Hampton in a police raid in Chicago in 1969. Maushard makes the point that Clark, a Peorian who was only 22 when slain, has largely been ignored and worse, dishonored by hometown media coverage.
We might not have it all, but we've got a lot — a post-mortem on the Rivermen and goaltending, a recap of Bradley basketball recruiting, a full slate of spring prep postseason on the schedule, and our local ties with the Cubs (Ben Zobrist) and Warriors (Shaun Livingston). All that, and some super soapbox rants from Dave Reynolds, Dave Eminian, Adam Duvall and Kirk Wessler.
On episode two of the Cue podcast, Bradley university film professor Steve Warner stops by to preview the summer movie schedule. Discussions include the comic book movie genre, the dearth of original movies and the absurdity of a "Ben-Hur" remake.
A week ago, Brad Burke posted a video -- #MoreThanMean -- to draw attention to the cowardly and nasty way some male sports fans treat female media on Twitter. Overnight, the video went viral that sparked a national conversation about the abuse of social media and the way women are still marginalized, not only in sports but in other fields. Burke is a Bradley graduate and former Journal Star entertainment reporter, now living in Chicago. He joined Kirk Wessler today to talk about how this #MoreThanMean project came to be and what he hopes it will accomplish.
Illinois Central College head softball coach Heather Doty - this podcast's first female guest - joins Adam Duvall for a morning chat on yellow ball. The pair discuss the upcoming Region XXIV tournament, Doty's playing days at Bradley, the impact of ICC's new facilities on recruiting and how she got the nickname of "CoDo."
If comic books are your thing, then Acme Comics at 2218 W. Glen Avenue is your place. Owner Bob Gordon, a veteran of the industry since 1991, is well-versed in the business of comic books, the mythology of superheroes, and the so-called “geek culture.”
In the first episode of the Cue podcast, 99.9 WWCT program director and on-air personality Marc Alghini stops by to discuss Prince after the artist's sudden passing last week. We'll also preview some of WWCT's summer concerts and talk about the Summer Camp Music Festival lineup.
Stacy Peterson chats with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter about her role as the City of Peoria's communications specialist in this week's podcast. Peterson works as the primary conduit between City Hall and the residents and businesses of Peoria, responsible for everything from writing traditional press releases to keeping Peorians engaged on the city's social media accounts.
Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel could soon add SPHL champion to his lengthy resume, which also includes Rivermen director of hockey operations, two-time SPHL Coach of the Year, Rivermen Hall-of-Famer and enthusiastic hockey teacher. Brad Kupiec is the official voice of the Rivermen in his first season as the play-by-play man and Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.
Radio veteran Wayne R. Miller is this week's guest on Tarter Source with the Journal Star's Steve Tarter. Miller talks about how radio has changed from the days of AM-only top 40 to the present with HD radio offering up new options for listeners. Along with handling radio chores with Alpha Media in Peoria, Miller also does contract work with stations around the state dealing with technical issues.
Dustin Martin, the course pro at Newman and Madison golf courses in the Peoria Park District, stops by for a free-wheeling discussion with Kirk Wessler. They chat about the renovations at Newman, lesson-teaching philosophy, park district programs, holes-in-one and whether it helps to talk to your ball.
Craig Moore of Younger Than Yesterday joins Journal Star writer Steve Tarter to chat about all things vinyl, including the recent surge in popularity and the upcoming National Record Store Day. Plus, a little game of "Name That Tune" with some oldies but goodies.
Bobby Parker of Bradley joins The Journal Star Sportswriters podcast this week with plenty of insight on the BU hiring of women's basketball coach Andrea Gorski, the first year of Brian Wardle heading the men's program, the BU alumni team shooting for $2 million and the success being enjoyed by the school's spring sports.
Journal Star Sports beat writers Dave Eminian and Dave Reynolds, joined by Peoria Chiefs media guru Nathan Baliva, talk with third-year manager Joe Kruzel about the upcoming season, what he hopes to accomplish, and what life as a pro ball club manager is like both on and off the field. Chiefs president Rocky Vonachen pops in to join the conversation too.
Kenny Carrigan talks about Peoria history on this week's Tarter Source podcast with host Steve Tarter. At 81, Carrigan recalls working for the gambling establishment that operated across the city in the 1930s.
"Ice Time Cleve," a.k.a. Dave Eminian, joins us to talk about the Monster Truck Jam that's going to shut the SPHL-leading Peoria Rivermen out of their home rink the first two rounds of the playoffs. Kirk Wessler and Dave Reynolds are mesmerized. And then we all decide that the Cubs are probably still the Cubs and pick our NCAA basketball champions by trying to separate the saints from the sinners.
Helen Burgess is this week's guest on Tarter Source, Steve Tarter's podcast on pjstar.com. An avid mystery fan, Helen also helped write a mystery novel, "Murder on Whiskey Row," a story set in Peoria, with other members of the Book 'Em Mystery Readers Discussion Group. Film noir is discussed as Helen is presently taking a film class at Illinois Central College. Burgess also talks about poetry (she's a member of the Peoria Poetry Club) and the story behind one of her favorite poets, Emily Dickinson.
You thought the basketball has been crazy? Wait till you catch our guys arguing over the state of high school sports, along with reviewing the IHSA state championships and trying to figure out what happened to Northern Iowa in the Big Dance.
We sit down with Peoria Manual basketball coach Derrick Booth to talk about the Manual legacy and the Rams' journey to the 2016 Class 3A state finals. Then we kick some balls around the rest of the 3A and 4A fields in Peoria this weekend and pick the winners.
After 28 years of roaming the state, Jim Wilhelm is retiring as host of "Illinois Adventure," a program on WTVP-TV Channel 47, the public television outlet in Peoria. Wilhelm shares some of his experiences on the show on a Journal Star podcast with Steve Tarter. Wilhelm also talks about the one-man show he performed on Wyatt Earp in 2014 at Peoria's Apollo Theater.
We bounce like the basketball we cover -- down, up, down, up -- and with no shortage of material. Bradley fires its women's coach, and we look at some of the local talent that drained away. Somebody leaked the NCAA brackets to Twitter and there was inevitable controversy about the seeds, but was it merited? And then we recap the dramatic buzzer-beaters of the IHSA 1A and 2A state championship weekend and look ahead to the 3A-4A finale.
Special edition from Carver Arena, where the IHSA Class 1A and 2A boys state basketball championships will be played this weekend. We talk about a new IHSA seating arrangement for students and break down the semifinalists. And we discuss the Class 3A Peoria Sectional, where Manual will play Bloomington on Friday night after a hot semifinal victory over Metamora, whose coach got run over by a ref.
Marty Wombacher, whose blog, Meanwhile Back in Peoria, takes readers to dining spots across central Illinois, is Journal Star writer Steve Tarter's first podcast guest. Wombacher talks about his early writing efforts in Peoria that include publishing People of Peoria magazine for three years in the early 1990s. He also discusses his experiences in New York City where he lived for 19 years (where he published a fanzine called Fishwrap) before moving back to Peoria.
The calendar turns to March and everything goes mad. In addition to celebrating the Morton Lady Potters' state championship, we look at Brimfield boys going up against Chicago Leo -- somehow getting a waiver to play in Class 1A -- at the DeKalb Supersectional, along with a look at the field in the 3A Peoria Sectional. Plus, Dunlap's coach resigns, the Fighting Illini fall in love with a new football coach, and the NCAA tournament bubble is floating in Wichita State sweat.
It's not quite March – although it would be March on this day, three years out of four, but we digress. High school basketball tournaments are in full gear, and we got the Peoria area landscape covered. It's the usual suspects in studio: Kirk Wessler, Adam Duvall and Lonnie Schwindenhammer -- and this week, also special guest Nick Vlahos, who we claim has been in more high school gyms than any other living soul in Illinois. If you know somebody who has been in more, we want to see him or her.
It's not quite March Madness, but high school basketball postseason is already hot and heavy. This week, we're talking 3A girls sectionals, 1A-2A girls supersectionals and the 1A-2A boys regionals. Plus, a little Washington High School wrestling, Peoria Notre Dame swimming and some reminiscing about "Batman," the TV series from the 1960s.
Sports editor Kirk Wessler and prep reporters Adam Duvall and Lonnie Schwindenhammer sat down to test the new podcast gadgetry, to make sure everything works. We did this just before Duvie and Schwinlo ran out to cover games Tuesday night. With no script, no plan, no notes, we just winged it. And then The Phantom Producer decided to post it. So, here you go: IHSA girls basketball tournaments in progress, and the boys rev it up next week.