PeoriaStory

Wal-Mart rip-offs

PEORIA -- If you buy a defective product at Wal-Mart that has a warranty beyond Wal-Mart’s 90-day return policy, you’re on your own.

Despite what it claims, Wal-Mart won’t help you.

Even if it would cost more to mail the product back for repair than it cost originally.

Case No. 1: In late July 2007 I bought a $79 Coleman PowerChill Cooler at the Peoria Wal-Mart, 3315 N. University. It takes the place of a messy ice cooler in the car, and plugs into the auxiliary outlet to keep its contents cool.

Since then I have used it three times. On the first two times it worked fine. But last week it failed. The connector apparently melted (is that a fire hazard?) and it won’t run in the car, and it also won’t run when plugged into the power supply cord that plugs into the electric outlet in the wall. I did not abuse this product in any way, and am mystified as to why it suddenly failed.

There’s no way to replace the plug and cord – it’s attached to the unit, an obvious design flaw that I didn’t realize until I had taken it home and unpacked it from the box. Oh yeah -- it's also made in China.

It carries a one-year warranty, plainly written on its box, which I had saved. I also found the receipt.

Today I took it back to Wal-Mart and was told to forget it, I’m on my own. Wal-Mart won’t swap it for another, take it back and sell me an even more expensive version, or pay to mail it back for repair. Tough luck!

That’s in spite of a sign on the store wall saying Wal-Mart will assist customers with defective products that have warranties longer than the 90-day return policy.

That’s a lie.

A clerk checked in the company computer – no results. So Wal-Mart sold a product that may have started a fire, but they have no information on it, not even a contact with Coleman.

(I plan to complain to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, but if it lets children be exposed to lead, I doubt it cares about this.)

There’s an 800-number for Coleman on the box – I’ll call that after the holidays but I’m not optimistic

Case No. 2: The other day, before the Cooler meltdown, I bought an inexpensive DVD player at another Wal-Mart, planning to hook it up to an old TV set in a bedroom.

Here’s what Wal-Mart doesn’t tell you: these won’t work with old TV sets. Also needed: a device called an RF Modulator that costs nearly as much as the DVD player.

I wasted at least an hour trying to get the DVD player to work, even running it through a VCR. That didn’t work, as the article explains, thanks to the greed of the entertainment industry..

It’s going back to Wal-Mart ASAP.

I’ve read about how Wal-Mart abuses its employees, drives small retailers out of town, exploits third and fourth world workers and all the rest. I figured there’s no point in totally boycotting Wal-Mart, just as you don’t boycott the zoo because tigers attack and kill people. That’s what tigers do.

Wal-Mart is the capitalist tiger, playing by the rules that the government sets, presumably based on informed consent of the majority (though that’s not a given, when you consider the way the Bush administration got into power).

But when a retailer sells products to consumers in a deceptive manner, doesn’t disclose important facts, doesn’t back up its own, posted warranty rules – it’s not just a tiger, it’s a rabid tiger. Consumers, beware!

-- Elaine Hopkins

Great setting, lovely music

PEORIA -- Another premier holiday season arts event, billed as “An Afternoon Candlelight Concert” by the St. Martin Chamber Players, delighted a substantial audience on Sunday, Dec. 23.

The concert had the perfect venue, the historic and beautifully restored St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 103 Richard Pryor Place.

This oldest Catholic church in Peoria, a Gothic revival structure built in 1879 with vaulted ceiling, boasts original and gorgeous stained glass windows imported from Germany, as well as murals and statues.

Candlelight, lighted Christmas trees and poinsettias added to the rich visual setting for the 90-minute concert.

Highlights included the Schola of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, a nine-member a cappella choir that sang beautifully, and two brilliant soloists, Steven Merrill tenor, and Elizabeth Heuerman, soprano. Their lovely voices filled the church.

The St. Martin Quintet’s performance included a unique and imaginative rendition of Silent Night.

The acoustics in this somewhat intimate yet vaulted church work well with rich full voices and instruments, such as the wind instruments in the Quintet.

The setting lends itself best to baroque and classical music, such as Merrill’s beautiful solo, “Comfort ye/Every Valley” from Handel’s Messiah.

A few more modern numbers seemed oddly out of place, and an acoustic guitar could hardly be heard.

Speakers could not be understood, though their remarks were brief.

The noise of the furnace also slightly distracted from some of the musical numbers, but its warmth was as welcome on the frigid afternoon as was this lovely concert, the equal of similar events in Chicago, New York City and Europe.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Three good reads

PEORIA -- The repetition, triviality, even stupidity connected with the national election for president is stomach churning. Then along comes a newspaper that asks vital questions of the candidates instead of inquiring about their preferences in jewelry or underwear.

The answers -- and lack of them -- give clues to what type of president the person would be, whether the US will remain a democracy under the rule of law or descend into tyranny under that presidency.

Here's the link, from the Boston Globe.

On the local campaign front, congratulations to Bill Dennis of the Peoria Pundit blog for smoking out the truth about a recent poll that placed GOP 18th District Congressional candidate Aaron Schock well ahead of his two competitors in the primary election.

Dennis documents what appears to be push polling involved with that poll -- namely asking loaded questions to denigrate the competition and produce answers showing the candidate paying for the poll is ahead.

It's a sleezy, dishonest way to conduct polling, and Schock should disavow it, and learn to say no to such slippery tactics. Schock's campaign manager has denied it. Yeah, right.

GOP voters should take note, and consider what type of Congressman Schock would be if elected in November.

Finally, if you want to know what's wrong with mainstream media coverage of politics, read this -- a devastating look at the worst, wrongheaded stories of the year. Happy holidays.

--- Elaine Hopkins

Downstate Story Vol. 16 now available

PEORIA -- Ten new short stories by Illinois writers, illustrated with original art, are featured in the 2007 edition of Downstate Story. It is now available at selected stores or by mail through its website.

The downstate Illinois writers in this issue are Pepper Bauer of Mapleton; Connie Stepe of East Peoria; Dick Quinn of Macomb; Eric Strand of Bloomington; Bud Bartlett of Springfield; Susan Srikant of Urbana, whose story won an award in Illinois Emerging Writers Competition sponsored by the Illinois Center for the Book at the Illinois State Library; and Robert McKown of Decatur, currently an inmate in the federal prison at Pekin.

Illustrations are by Peoria area artists Ed Levene and Amy Frasca, along with Bill Whitney of Wheaton. Other writers are Kimberley Donald of Kankakee, Lorie Kolak of Chicago and Robert McEvilla of Gurnee.

Published by Downstate Story, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation which also sponsors PeoriaStory.com, the magazine aims to present original fiction by Illinois writers and writers with ties to the Midwest as a quality alternative to today's mass-market publishing. It costs $8.

Here are nine facts about Downstate Story:

1. Limited edition. Probable collector's item. Original art.

2. Politically correct. Contributors paid for their work. No government funds used. Union printer.

3. Something for everyone. Stories reflect diversity of authors, and include romance, horror, fantasy, mainstream fiction.

4. Promotes quality reading. Content realistic but not X-rated.

5. Promotes Illinois and Midwestern writers and artists.

6. New concept for the arts. Provides outlet for local writers and artists to reach local audiences.

7. Original work. None ever published before.

8. Quality work. Stories and art comparable to work in Harpers, Atlantic, The New Yorker.

9. No poetry.

Downstate Story, now in its 16th year of publication, is the only literary magazine published in Peoria.

LaHood won't vote to stop torture

PEORIA -- A crucial U.S. House vote on Dec. 13 shows the difference between Illinois Democrats and Republicans.

Democrats voted to ban US government-sponsored torture. Republicans, including Cong. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, refused to vote against torture.

The bill passed the House but Bush also has promised to veto it, another telling statement of difference between the two parties.

A good summary of the measure can be found in the Washington Post.

LaHood's vote and those of other Illinois House members can be found at this site.

Ten members of the Illinois delegation voted to ban the torture including Republican Cong. Tim Johnson of the 15th District which includes Urbana and Bloomington.

Cong. Phil Hare, Democrat from the Quad Cities in the 17th District, which includes Macomb, voted to ban the torture.

As many other people have stated, it's hard to believe torture must be debated in 2007, much less voted on by Congress. It's even harder to believe that LaHood, who can be sensible on some issues (see his attack in the Journal Star today on candidate Aaron Schock for suggesting nuclear proliferation), didn't vote to ban it!

To repeat what has oft been said elsewhere: torture doesn't work and its use exposes our own troops and other US citizens to the same treatment. That's why it's banned by the Geneva Conventions and US law.

I guess LaHood's chief patrons, Caterpillar, Inc., the local hospitals and business community and the Catholic church, don't care about this issue. Would they torture if they could make a few more bucks?

-- Elaine Hopkins

Conservation primary endorsements

The Illinois League of Conservation Voters (ILCV) has endorsed a few downstate candidates for the 2008 Primary Election on February 5.

They include Allen Mayer, a Peoria Democrat seeking the 92nd House nomination. Jehan Gordon of Peoria, is his Democratic opponent for the nomination in that race.

The organization also released a scorecard based on the voting record of incumbents for the current legislative session. The ILCV is a bipartisan organization devoted full time to its mission of electing a pro-environment political majority in Illinois.

"We are proud to endorse these exceptional pro-environment candidates from both parties," Mike Braun, a Board Member for the ILCV who is from Will County stated in a news release. "Environmental issues should not be a partisan issue and we have a great mix of Republicans and Democrats who have promised to actively support environmental legislation."

Endorsement decisions were based on a questionnaire candidates completed regarding their views on environmental issues as well as a scorecard produced by the ILCV that rates incumbents, the organization stated. The scorecard is the first produced by the ILCV and it holds state lawmakers accountable for their votes while in office.

"A scorecard is the best tool to make sure that campaign promises turn into legislative action to protect our environment," said Amanda Espitia, Executive Director of the ILCV. "Voters need a way to hold their legislators accountable once elected and to measure who is truly making the environment a priority."

Senate 2008 Primary Endorsements include Democrat John Sullivan of Rushville in the 47th Senate District.
In the Illinois House races, along with Mayer, others endorsed are Mike Smith, Democrat in the 91st District which includes Tazewell and Fulton counties; Mike Boland, Democrat from the Quad Cities in District 71; and
Frank J Mautino of Spring Valley, District 76.

The magnificent Messiah

PEORIA -- Just when the holidays begin to turn into a Christmas version of “Groundhog Day,” Peoria’s premier arts event of the season takes place, the annual “Sing-It-Yourself Messiah” at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

It’s an event like no other, offering ordinary arts lovers the opportunity to actually participate in a first class musical performance of one of the world’s great works.

Anyone can join the chorus, seated less than 20 feet from the paid, professional soloists and the musicians in a 19-piece orchestra including a harpsichord and organ.

Thanks to the icy weather, the event on Sunday, Dec. 9 drew an audience that conductor John Jost estimated at one-third the usual size.

The tenors, especially, numbered less than a dozen, and were weak in some parts of the difficult music.

But the marvelous musicians and soloists, especially tenor Jeffrey Brich and bass-baritone John T. Hines, made up for the shortcomings of the chorus. Both teach at the University of Northern Iowa and live in Cedar Falls.

Their powerful voices and interpretative skills enlivened the solo pieces and bolstered the Messiah’s most famous chorus, the Hallelujah! as they sang along with the chorus.

In an intermission interview, Jost described Handel’s Messiah as “a magnificent piece of music.” He’s been conducting it for more than a dozen years, he said.

“I never get tired of it. Different soloists keep it fresh and interesting,” he said.

They also give the event its professional quality, maintained from year to year despite the skills of the chorus.

The Episcopal Cathedral supports the event each year, a pricey venture with paid soloists and musicians. It's free, and supported by passing the collection plate and by individual donors.

“It’s great that the cathedral keeps sponsoring it,” Jost said. “Any arts event (in Peoria needs) “funds to keep going.”

The intimate, artistic setting of the cathedral, with daylight slowly dimming through stained glass windows, adds to the ambience of this musical event of pure beauty.

And so what if a cell phone rang during the final pause in the work’s conclusion, the Sevenfold Amen. The powerful ending quickly drowned it out.

Jost had no answer for where people today learn to sing the Messiah choruses. Perhaps a class should be organized, to keep this wonderful music alive for future generations.

-- Elaine Hopkins

East Peoria exploits animals

EAST PEORIA -- Local animal activist Doris Muller contends that the East Peoria holiday show exploits animals. Here is her letter to EastSide Centre director Dan Cunningham:

Dear Dan Cunningham:

The Christmas season brings many wonderful sights and sounds in preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Without a doubt, the festivities and beauty hosted by East Peoria add a wonderful dimension to a season in which the majority of participants question what Jesus would have them do for others. East Peoria has a right to be very proud of its hard work and accomplishments.

However, while I truly believe that your heart is in the right place, and you think opportunities like this can help wild animals, I am concerned and saddened by the festivals inclusion of wild animal exploitation into a religious holiday. Brown's Oakridge Zoo from Smithfield, IL, and others like them, pass their profit-driven pseudo sanctuaries off as safe havens for the abused and the abandoned.

I, like most, grew up with the naive notion that all animal guardians who claim to love their animals would not behave in ways that are harmful or deadly to its species. Unfortunately, such is not the case.

I contacted long-time wildlife rehabilitator Allison Wolverton from Tremont to ask if she knew of the Brown's zoo. She assured me that the Brown's zoo grounds and cages are well kept. However, Wolverton does not feel that mitigates their status as breeders and exploiters--which a true sanctuary would never do.

Below I have pasted a quote form the Brown's Zoo web site followed by some excerpts from an article written by Amber Krosel of the Peoria Journal Star earlier this year. The journal story states the Browns claim to have raised 102 cubs of various species--I can't help but question their whereabouts.

Below the Journal story I have included some information from PETA's Wildlife Pimps web site. I hope you will read it and draw your own conclusions about the truth of the Brown's Oakridge Zoo.


On the Brown's Oakridge Zoo web site:

"Over the years we have taken in many abandoned animals. A total of 14 lion and tiger cubs, abandoned in captivity have been reared here. Some of our animals have been raised in the house, and have had a lot of human contact. You won’t just get to see the animals here, but you will be able to have hands on contact. Imagine being able to hold a lion, tiger, or bear cub. It brings out the kid in all of us. "

Monday, July 30, 2007, BY AMBER KROSEL OF THE JOURNAL STAR"

"To date, she and her husband have raised 102 lion, tiger, leopard and other cubs."

"Though the family-owned zoo has been open to the public since 1990, the Browns have been rescuing exotic animals for the last 25 years."

"The zoo boasts all types of animals from big cats to bears to peacocks. It's also home to the only white Siberian tiger on exhibit in the state, Shadow, who was rescued in 1998 from Kansas."

"The parents of the most recent lion litter, Kovu and Kiara, have been raised at the zoo since they were rescued as cubs in the late 1990s. They've given the Browns 11 lion cubs over the years, and this litter was a surprising size of five.

"Two to three is usually normal," Brown said. "I'm just shocked to death they're all healthy and have been doing so well."

"Cubs also can't see until they reach about 6 to 8 weeks old, and until then they move based on sounds and vibrations. Members of the big cat family are born blind and with blue eyes."

"Brown said she usually lets the cubs stay with their mother for a week or two after they're born, but then raises them herself because oftentimes the mother will stop caring for her young. She puts them on bottled formula to make sure they remain good-natured and lets them roam in playpens inside the house."

"'The more mellow they are, the better they're going to be,' she said."

"On the weekends, Brown often takes the cubs to exhibits, nursing homes or children's camps. But she said she encourages anyone to visit during the week to get a chance to meet, hold and pet the cubs."

"'The last thing (visitors will) see will be all the little cubs.'"

They can sit and play with them until they reach a certain age," Brown said. "That's one thing that's different about our zoo."

PETA's Wildlife Pimps web site:

Cradle-Robbers

Baby animals are exploited from the day they are born. Newborns are prematurely removed from their mothers, which denies them proper nutrition and the natural socialization process required for normal development. Tigers, lions, and cougars are torn from their mothers when they are just 5 days old and declawed at 2 weeks of age. Mothers spend weeks calling frantically for their missing babies. In the wild, tiger cubs stay with their mothers for three years. Primate mothers, who passionately protect their babies, often are sedated so that their 1-day-old infants can be taken, diapered, and bottle-fed. Bear cubs naturally remain at their mothers' sides for the first two years of life, but breeders take them after only a month. These frightened, helpless infants are often crated and shipped across the country to buyers or hauled around for exhibition. Some do not survive the stress.

Profit-hungry zoo operators perpetually breed animals so that they will have an endless supply of "cute babies" in order to draw crowds. The older, unmanageable animals are left to languish in small cages or disposed of when they have exhausted their "usefulness." Exotic animal auctions, frequented by unscrupulous dealers, are a popular method of discarding unwanted "display" animals, who ultimately end up in the pet trade, on breeding farms, killed for their skins and other organs, or used for canned hunts. Some animals, such as tigers, lions, and bears—both cubs and adults—are worth more dead than alive. Hides alone can fetch $2,000 to $20,000 or more. Entire families are slaughtered and stuffed for mounts that sell for $10,000. To avoid damaging pelts, animals are killed by the most gruesome methods imaginable, such as shoving ice picks through their ears and into their brains, suffocating them by wrapping plastic bags around their heads, and drowning.
Pseudo-Sanctuaries
Many roadside and traveling zoos operate in the guise of nonprofit sanctuaries, preying on people’s sympathy while exploiting the animals in their care. Sadly, animals rescued from one tragic situation are sentenced to another when they end up in pseudo-sanctuaries. Some "rescued" animals used as fund-raising lures may actually have been purchased or bred. Facilities may accept unwanted exotic "pets," promising to give them a home, and then sell the same animals for a tidy profit during frequent trips to auctions where a trailer-full of old exhibit animals are sold and new ones are bought. Nonprofit 501(c)(3) status is no indication of whether a facility is truly a sanctuary or not. Some substandard facilities are run by well-meaning individuals who take in more animals than they have space or funding to provide for. If animals lack adequate care because of mismanagement or unrealistic goals, additional funding is not likely to correct the situation.

"There are hundreds of substandard wildlife attractions throughout the U.S., ranging from backyard menageries to so-called "sanctuaries" to drive-through parks. Masquerading as conservation, education, or rescue facilities, roadside and traveling zoos are among the worst abusers of captive wildlife and fuel the multibillion-dollar-a-year trade in exotic, rare, and endangered species. With zoological institutions accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) carelessly unloading surplus animals and with little regulation from authorities, the private zoo business has exploded over the last 30 years.

The animals are kept in grotesquely inadequate conditions and suffer myriad problems, such as neglect, abuse, malnutrition, incompatible social groupings, unsuitable climate, and insufficient veterinary care. With little opportunity for mental stimulation or physical exercise, animals often become despondent and develop abnormal and self-destructive behaviors, called zoochosis. These behavioral disturbances include pacing, rocking, swaying, bar-biting, pulling out hair and feathers, and biting themselves.

This tiger was shot and killed in a trailer for his skin and other organs. Click here to see more images of the end of the line for some tigers in captivity.

Learning "De-Meaning" of Wildlife
White Tigers:
Moneymaking Mutants

Zoological expert and wildlife consultant Sue Pressman says that people in the exotic animal trade "are to wildlife education what pornographers are to sex education." Self-proclaimed authorities with no formal training in wildlife issues or care frequently operate these pitiful attractions. Many start out as hobbyists who purchase their first few exotics on a whim as a means of impressing people.

In an attempt to clean up the sleazy image long associated with roadside zoos, operators of these facilities now declare themselves "conservationists." They in fact do nothing to protect wildlife or preserve habitat, and they breed animals indiscriminately, without regard for genetic diversity and with nowhere suitable for them to go. What people learn from these exhibitors is how animals act in captivity and that it is acceptable to cause wild animals to be bored, cramped, lonely, and kept far from their natural homes.

Wildlife exhibitors mislead the public with impressive-sounding but meaningless credentials, such as "federally licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of the Interior." Federal permits to exhibit, breed, or sell regulated animals are required and issued to nearly anyone who fills out an application and sends in a fee. The USDA exhibitor application is a 3/4-page-long form that asks for a person's name, address, and animal inventory but nothing that pertains to qualifications. The Animal Welfare Act, which the USDA enforces, sets only minimum standards of care and rarely addresses an animal’s psychological needs. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the branch of the Department of the Interior that issues permits to buy and sell threatened and endangered species, considers non-native wildlife a low priority. Breeding mills have so saturated the market with "generic tigers" of unknown lineage that USFWS exempts these animals from full regulation. Some exhibitors even retain their licenses despite incidents of deadly animal attacks, dangerous animal escapes, serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act, and illegal wildlife trafficking.

No genuine sanctuary would make a bad situation worse by engaging in or condoning commercial activities such as breeding, buying, selling, and exhibiting animals."

When it comes to animal attractions, I hope I can encourage you and others to seek guidance from those who have proven records of protecting animals, like the ASPCA, HSUS, PETA, etc.

Thank you for considering my concerns.
Sincerely,

Doris Muller, participant
Peoria Area Voices for Animals
2114 W. Dakota
West Peoria, IL 61604
309 637-5205

Let's hope this is last year for animal exploitation as a form of holiday entertainment.

--Elaine Hopkins

Versace drops out

See updates, below.

PEORIA -- The news that Democrat Dick Versace has dropped out of the race for Congress for the 18th District is sad and shocking. But Democrats still have options.

Contrary to some early reports, the deadline for write-in candidates for the Feb. 5 primary is January 29, 2008, according to page 41 of the Illinois State Board of Elections document on candidate information.

Versace had a fighting chance to win. But other candidates can still run as write-ins, and a Democrat could be victorious, given the overall GOP track record and the desire many people have to change directions in the U.S.

The three Republicans seeking the nomination seem to offer nothing new to voters: not universal health coverage, not even a way out of the disastrous Iraq war.

Let's hope someone good jumps at this opportunity. It will be a shame if Democrats concede an open seat in Congress to one of three lackluster Republicans who offer nothing but the same old song and dance.

Update: Apparently the write-in deadline information on the State Board of Elections website, linked above, is incorrect, according to a knowledgeable source. The law has been changed, he said, and the write-in deadline was, inexplicably, yesterday. That seems like a sneaky way to let party officials control candidates, since they can still slate a candidate for the position.

And letting obsolete information remain on the state website is an incompetent way to operate. Stay tuned.

Update No. 2: County officials say the deadline was Dec. 6. Here are a couple of links about the write-in deadline: From Sangamon County
and from Cook County, page 17.

-- Elaine Hopkins

Update No. 3: On Dec. 10, Norm Winick, Knox County Democratic chairman wrote:

"In November, the Governor signed a bill (SB0662) that changed the write-in provisions, effective immediately. ILCS 5/7-59 now reads:

(b) Write-in votes shall be counted only for persons who
have filed notarized declarations of intent to be write-in
candidates with the proper election authority or authorities
not later than 61 days prior to 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday
immediately preceding the primary. However, whenever an
objection to a candidate's nominating papers or petitions for
any office is sustained under Section 10-10 after the 61st day
before the election, then write-in votes shall be counted for
that candidate if he or she has filed a notarized declaration
of intent to be a write-in candidate for that office with the
proper election authority or authorities not later than 7 days
prior to the election.
Forms for the declaration of intent to be a write-in
candidate shall be supplied by the election authorities. Such
declaration shall specify the office for which the person seeks
nomination or election as a write-in candidate.
The election authority or authorities shall deliver a list
of all persons who have filed such declarations to the election
judges in the appropriate precincts prior to the primary.

"I don't know whether the (State Board of Elections) will follow this or the rules in place when the process started. The law now makes a write-in candidate for Congress impossible. I'm guessing it will probably be voided because there is no provision for a write-in if a candidate dies or withdraws or is somehow ineligible and the 61 days seems very unreasonable. I don't know what they were thinking."

Winik also stated: "Rick Grawey and Bill Edley are reportedly still interested, Chuck Giger might be and Sue Myerscough told someone recently (but before Versace dropped out) that she wishes she would have run. There is also renewed pressure to talk John Sullivan into making the run.

"I (have) suggested that we caucus immediately after the Feb. 5 primary so that our candidate has the same amount of time to campaign as the Republican primary winner."

African American children more likely to be in foster care

PEORIA -- A black child in Peoria has a much greater chance of being caught up in the state child welfare system than does a white child.

African American children make up around 25 percent of the child population in Peoria County but around 60 percent of the children taken from their families by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, according to recent figures released by the agency after a Freedom of Information request.

These documents from the DCFS show African American children make up 59 percent of children in foster care, 66 percent of children in the care of relatives and 52 percent of those institutionalized or in group homes.

Both African American and white children spend an average time of more than two years in DCFS care before they are reunited with their families or placed for adoption.

For Hispanic children the time is double that, at more than four years, the data shows. But they are a very small percentage of the Peoria DCFS case load, so the statistics may be skewed by one or two extraordinary cases.

Crystal Clark of Peoria has spoken out against the DCFS system. Her African American grandchildren were taken away from her home where they were living with her and their mother, and placed in a series of white foster homes. She says they were abused in some of these homes and also estranged from their religion and culture.

The children were never abused in Clark's home. Instead Clark got into a dispute with a caseworker, who then took the children away from her. The mother had been sent to prison for theft.

For several years Clark has filed complaints, picketed, and even embarked on a brief hunger strike hoping to spark interest in her case and in the way the system operates.

She would like to see a federal mediator from the U.S. Justice Department come to Peoria to meet with officials and representatives of the African American community, to discuss the ongoing problems.

Taxpayers also should be interested in cutting back some of these numbers, especially in situations where a relative is capable and willing to care for the children.

The system in Peoria and Tazewell Counties costs an estimated $25 million yearly to operate, the Peoria Journal Star reported in 2005, based on research I did then.

An average of 300 children from the two counties are taken into the DCFS system each year, the figures show. But a majority of these children are not beaten or abused. More than half typically are deemed to be at risk of being harmed, perhaps because of domestic violence in the home. Others have parents in jail.

Ninety percent of the families caught up in the DCFS system are said to be low income.

-- Elaine Hopkins