Haunted Peoria – Book
by Stephanie E. McCarthy At the heart of Haunted Peoria is the rich and compelling history and folklore of the Peoria area. Buildings and cemeteries in and around the city provide ideal stomping grounds for many restless specters. In this collection of haunted sites, the reader will be introduced to some of Peorias best-loved mansions,…
Ernest Eyes – Book
by M. Ross Kempf Ernest Lenihan and Opal Kempf met in college and fell in love. They went their seperate ways after and never really kept in touch. Now 30 years later Ernest is ready to retire and Opal is ready for love. He takes a vacation to see her and they rekindle what was…
The Murder of George – Book
by Leo Kiesewetter George, a college professor, is found murdered after his wife was previously murdered in a similar way. Investigators are troubled by the fact that someone could have committed the murder with the tight security system George installed in his home after his wife’s murder. With very little to go on, the detectives,…
Dancing in My Underwear: The Soundtrack of my Life – Book
by Mike Morsch Mike Morsch grew up in the rural Midwes (Peoria)t, where his parents introduced him to the music of the 1960s and 70s, including such bands as the Beach Boys, The Association, America, Three Dog Night, The Doobie Brothers as well as iconic singers Elton John, Barry Manilow and Olivia Newton-John. Sit back,…
Bicycle Fever: Peoria Bicycle Races from the 1890s to the 1990s – Book
by Steven Streight Bicycle Fever traces a history few know: the prominence of Peoria (IL) in the development of the bicycle. “In the 1890s, Peoria was one of four major cities in the world for bicycle races,” Steven Streight, author, said. “If you were a hot superstar in bicycle races, you had to prove it…
Homeschoolers, Hippies, & Heirloom Tomatoes – Book
by Philip Ward Newton Have you ever seen a floating farm? It sounds impossible, but to the Masat family it’s a way of life. And while most kids attend traditional schools, the Masat children get to have school in a coffee shop some days! Meet the Masats: a family of tugboat-dwelling, organic veggie-growing, barge-farming, homeschooling…
Jim Flint: The Boy From Peoria – Books
by Tracy Baim and Owen Keehnen Meet Jim Flint, known to many as Feliciaa truly remarkable man who has done some truly remarkable things. Raised in Peoria, Illinois, Flint was a precocious kid who “shined shoes” for older gentlemen at age 8 and joined the Navy at 17. He was a serviceman with a…
The Wisdom of Failure: How to Learn the Tough Leadership Lessons Without Paying the Price – Book
Tby Laurence G. Weinzimmer and Jim McConoughey There is a paradox in leadership: we can only succeed by knowing failure. Every accomplished leader knows there are minefields of failures that need to be navigated in order to succeed. Wouldn’t it be great to have the insights to help you prevent from making avoidable mistakes? Unfortunately,…
It Didn’t Play in Peoria: Missed Chances of a Middle American Town – Book
by Greg Wahl and Charles Bobbitt It Didn’t Play in Peoria explores the city’s history from this unique perspective of missed chances, lost causes, and plain bad luck – a cautionary tale of Middle America. Authors Greg Wahl and Charles Bobbitt are long-time Peoria residents who love their city and treat its sore spots with…
What’s That Bus Doing On The Runway? – Book
by Dave Hoffman In his 13 years traveling and playing trumpet with the great Ray Charles, David Hoffman experienced many things, from the hilarious to the poignant, from heartwarming remembrances of his friends and musical colleagues, to the sublimely ridiculous difficulties of road life. David Hoffman, Peorian, spent 13 years traveling as a musician with…