PEORIA --River Rescue, an ad hoc group founded by legendary environmental activist Tom Edwards, is back, it's work continuing under his daughter Taura Edwards.
She is working to stop island building in Peoria Lake, a cause her dad championed before he died last year.
Edwards and others she has recruited have scheduled a news conference and meeting for 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at the Liberty Park Pavilion on the Peoria Riverfront.
From the news release:
The environmental group River Rescue will meet, announce its on-line petition drive to stop island building in Peoria Lake, and present vital information about the waste of taxpayer funds on this project.
When: 3 p.m., Sunday, August 21.
Where: Liberty Park Pavilion on the Peoria Riverfront.
Learn: The inside story of this island building boondoggle and how it can be stopped.
More than 1,000 people have already signed the paper petition. Now an on-line petition will be announced along with other ways to stop the island building.
Almost $10 million in taxpayer funds have already been spent building one island north of the McClugage Bridge, at a cost of $1 million per job created. Many more, larger islands are being planned which will turn Peoria Lake into a wooded river barge channel, ruining the lake forever. Stop it now!
All members of the news media and all citizens interested in the future of Peoria Lake are invited to attend this event! -30-
Here's a link to the on-line petition.
UPDATE, 8/22/11: Here's a link to a good Journal Star story on the news conference.
The best way to help the river would be to shut down barge traffic.
Posted by: Steve Waterworth | August 19, 2011 at 07:11 PM