Crane Creek 1

Crane Creek 1
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Golfers play on as the remains of the Crane Creek Golf Course clubhouse continue to smolder on Wednesday. A fire, the cause of which has yet to be identified, burned the building to the ground overnight Monday. Despite the setback, the club remains open, using a utility shed for an office. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Crane Creek 2

Crane Creek 2
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Noah Todd, 6, suspends himself from the roofs of two golf carts while playing amongst the carts with his brother, Caleb William Todd, 8, at the Crane Creek Golf Course. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

City Hall

City Hall
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Peoria City Hall.

Slim Clippins

Slim Clippins
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Dave Parkinson gives a haircut in his barber shop, Slim Clippins, in Peoria Heights.

Remembering the Holocaust 3

Remembering the Holocaust 3
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Linda Leifeld of Bartonville takes a turn participating in the Reading of the Names in observation of Yom HaShoah - the Day of Remembrance - by reciting the names of victims of the Holocaust off of the Yad Vashem Pages of Testimony in front of the Peoria Holocaust Memorial at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie on Monday. The 3-year-old memorial features 11 million buttons representing the number of victims. The event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Peoria, was open to the public and precedes the March of the Living to be held Tuesday. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Remembering the Holocaust 2

Remembering the Holocaust 2
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Gianna Domenici, 20 months, of Dunlap, peers through the Peoria Holocaust Memorial as others take part in the Reading of the Names in observation of Yom HaShoah - the Day of Remembrance - by reciting the names of victims of the Holocaust off of the Yad Vashem Pages of Testimony at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie on Monday. The event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Peoria, was open to the public and precedes the March of the Living to be held Tuesday. Domenici was passing through with her twin sister Ava, her mother Gina Domenici and her grandmother Trudy McAnally and seemed to be drawn to the millions of buttons in the memorial. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Remembering the Holocaust 1

Remembering the Holocaust 1
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Tom Romanowski is reflected in some of the 11 million buttons that make up the Peoria Holocaust Memorial at the Shoppes at Grand Prairie as he takes a turn in the Reading of the Names in observation of Yom HaShoah - the Day of Remembrance - by reciting the names of victims of the Holocaust off of the Yad Vashem Pages of Testimony on Monday. After reading of the event two years ago, he says he thought it was a good idea and began taking part last year. "It's important to remember the Holocaust and all the genocide going on today," he says. The event, sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Peoria, was open to the public and precedes the March of the Living to be held Tuesday. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Prospect TV

Prospect TV
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Left to right, office manager Tammy Parrott, owner Fred Volkmar, setup technician Chris Hart and repair technician Richard Snider pose at Prospect TV and Sound Service on Thursday. Like many small business owners, Volkmar, who has owned the shop since 1980, is feeling the pinch of the increasing cost of providing insurance to his employees. "You can't be without it. You can't afford to be with it," he says. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

More Running

More Running
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

A runner on an evening jog passes beneath the Murray Baker bridge on Thursday. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

More Stella

More Stella
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Stella Storey, 90, hurls her 15 pound ball down the lane while bowling at Landmark Lanes in one of four leagues she still participates in each week. Her high score for the day was 163. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Easter 1

Easter 1
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Araceli Montesdeoca of Peoria prays with her daughters, left to right Monica Valentin, Adriana Valentin and Michelle Valentin and friend Javier Trevino, right, during the finale of Easter in the City in Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center Sunday morning. The annual service, attended by thousands from the Peoria area and featuring drama, dancing, multimedia presentations and a combined sermon, was hosted by St. Paul Baptist Church, Riverside Community Church and the City of Peoria. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Easter 2

Easter 2
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

St. Paul Baptist Church, Riverside Community Church and the City of Peoria hold Easter in the City in Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center Sunday morning. Thousands from the Peoria area attended the service, which featured drama, dancing, multimedia presentations and a combined sermon. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Easter 3

Easter 3
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Mari Williams joins hundreds of others in praying before the stage during the finale of Easter in the City in Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center on Sunday morning. The annual service, attended by thousands from the Peoria area and featuring drama, dancing, multimedia presentations and a combined sermon, was hosted by St. Paul Baptist Church, Riverside Community Church and the City of Peoria. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Easter 4

Easter 4
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Members of the St. Paul Baptist Church and Riverside Community Church dramatize the crucifixion of Jesus, played by DJ Hariford, during Easter in the City in Carver Arena at the Peoria Civic Center Sunday morning. Thousands from the Peoria area attended the service, which featured drama, dancing, multimedia presentations and a combined sermon. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Easter 5

Easter 5
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

DJ Hariford, as Jesus, poses for a picture following the service at the Peoria Civic Center. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Safe

Safe
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Limestone High School's Shawn Songer slides into home plate past Canton High School's pitcher, Colin Davis, in the 4th inning to score the 5th run in Limestone's 5-1 victory Wednesday evening. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Ahem. Make that Fug and Dante

Ahem. Make that Fug and Dante
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Meet Dante. Life lesson: save your receipts. RIP Wally.

Evening Jog

Evening Jog
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

A runner passes under the Murray Baker Bridge at the Riverfront on a warm Monday evening. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Masta Fug

Masta Fug
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Fgdbe (FUG-duh-bee), a bubble eye goldfish, adjusts to his new home in Peoria.

Fgdbe and Wally 1

Fgdbe and Wally 1
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Fgdbe (FUG-duh-bee) and Wally hang out in their Swedish digs, a $3 vase from IKEA. Masta Fug is a Bubble Eye and Wally a Calico Fans, yet they manage to coexist peacefully. "When you break it down, we're both just goldfish," Fug says.

Fgdbe and Wally 2

Fgdbe and Wally 2
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Fgdbe (FUG-duh-bee) and Wally swim happily in their new habitat.

POY

POY
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Richwoods center Bill Cole is the big-school POY. The 6-foot 9-inch, 16-year-old junior helped lead his school to second place in Class AA. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

SMACKDOWN

SMACKDOWN
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Matt Hardy holds the the Cabana Boy in an arm lock during a taping of the WWE SMACKDOWN at the Peoria Civic Center on Tuesday night. The event featured such superstar wrestlers as former Olympian Kurt Angle and the Undertaker. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Rrrr

Rrrr
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Left to right, calling themselves "The Lost Boys," fans Michelle Trinque, Dave Griffin and Mark Meinders don pirate costumes and hold up giant R's in support of wrestler Paul Burchhill , a wrestler who dresses like a pirate, during a taping of the WWE SMACKDOWN at the Peoria Civic Center on Tuesday night. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Spare

Spare
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Stella Storey, 90, steers her bowling ball into a stubborn 9-pin to pick up a spare while bowling at Landmark Lanes in one of four leagues she still participates in each week. "Any given night she can beat any one of us because she never quits," says teammate Pat Hickman. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Driving Range

Driving Range
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Larry Kotewa hits balls between storms on a gray Sunday afternoon at the Detweiller Golf Course driving range.

Mason City 3

Mason City 3
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Downtown Mason City, Illinois, population 2,700. Local business leaders are making efforts to revitalize the city's deteriorating downtown.

Mason City Limits

Mason City Limits
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Autumn Tucker laughs along with about 100 others from the Mason City area during comedian Rex Havens' act during a sneak preview opening of the Mason City Limits comedy club in Mason City, Ill. The new business is the latest effort by local business leaders to revitalize the deteriorated downtown of the city of 2,700.

Mason City 1

Mason City 1
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Kenneth Hannover, 73, looks over downtown Mason City, Illinois from the window of Hanover Barbershop, which he has run since taking it over from his father in 1952. The small town of 2,700 is undergoing downtown revitalization efforts by local business leaders who have
recently opened restaurants, a movie theater and a comedy club. Several downtown buildings are owned by outsiders from Springfield who locals say couldn't care less that their buildings are crumbling. Hanover agrees the town could some renovation.

Rainy Day

Rainy Day
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Ebony Lobdell walks downtown at the corner of Fulton and SW Jefferson Streets on a dreary Monday afternoon. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

One-on-One

One-on-One
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Chris Merry, 11, drives to the hoop past friend Josh Wade, 11, in front of Merry's home on Adams St. in Kingston Mines, population 259, on Sunday morning. "We come out here everyday," Merry says. "We just want to play basketball. It's what we do," Wade agrees.

Spring fling

Spring fling
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Cousins Jasmine Mason, 13, in front, and China Davis, 11, compete to see who can throw pebbles the farthest at Glen Oak park on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. They were there enjoying the day with Davis's three sisters and their aunt Gabrielle Daniels. "We went to the movies and didn't want to go home yet," Daniels says.

2nd Day of Spring

2nd Day of Spring
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Several inches of snow covering my car on the second day of spring reminds me that I don't own a snow scraper.

Braves Fans 3

Braves Fans 3
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Rick Linthicum of Peoria holds onto balloons he brought to the Bradley Braves' homecoming at the Byerly Aviation hanger at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport following their 72-66 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers earlier in the day. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Braves Fans 2

Braves Fans 2
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Olivia Richmond, 6, cheers atop her father Tom Richmond's shoulders as they await the arrival of the Bradley Braves basketball team at a homecoming celebration at the Byerly Aviation hanger at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport following their 72-66 win over the Pittsburgh Panthers. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Braves Fans

Braves Fans
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Tom Persich, center with glasses, and hundreds of other fans cheer the arrival of the Braves basketball team at the Byerly Aviation hanger at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport following their 72-66 win over Pittsburgh in Auburn Hills, Mich. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Spectator 2

Spectator 2
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Sydney Baurer, 4, watches her brother Seth, 9, and their father Kevin Baurer of Peoria train for upcoming travel team tryouts at a baseball field by the Peoria Park District’s Franciscan Recreation Complex on Sunday. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Spectator

Spectator
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Sydney Baurer, 4, watches her brother Seth, 9, and their father Kevin Baurer of Peoria train for upcoming travel team tryouts at a baseball field by the Peoria Park District’s Franciscan Recreation Complex on Sunday. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

Taking a Swing

Taking a Swing
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Sydney Baurer, 4, tosses up a ball and prepares to swing as she entertains herself while her older brother Seth, 9, and their father Kevin Baurer of Peoria train for upcoming travel team tryouts at a baseball field by the Peoria Park District’s Franciscan Recreation Complex on Sunday. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR

It's Greek to Me

It's Greek to Me
Originally uploaded by davidzentz.

Maya Bragg, 8, thinks hard to come up with the appropriate answer during a Chinese Language class at St. Mark's Catholic School on Tuesday. A language academy being taught at St. Mark's Catholic School offers students a chance to learn different languages such as Chinese, French and Spanish. DAVID ZENTZ/JOURNAL STAR