Increased PPD protection for folks in the Bradley-Moss neighborhoods (e.g., "the area around Bradley University")

The Peoria Police will immediately be kicking up patrols around Bradley University until March 2012, thanks to a grant that was received by Bradley University. Although the patrols are billed as "additional party patrols and DUI enforcement", I'm sure the folks who live in the area are pleased to know that there will be increased patrols, because they have been experiencing increased rates of crime on and around the Bradley campus.

By the way, crime in other parts of the City  (East Bluff & South end ) continues to be wild! In Harrison Homes on Sunday, two people were stabbed, the police had to ram an apartment door in to get inside, did you hear about that? Several people were shot over the weekend, there was a blip about that; someone was stabbed last night on Starr, did you hear about that?

The news story below does not indicate whether Peoria Police will be hiring additional officers to work the area "around Bradley University"; or if they will be pulled from other parts of the City (where folks are getting beat, mugged and shot on a more consistent basis); or will they be offered the opportunity to take advantage of working overtime to earn money for the holidays, even though they are already worn out? One would have thought that Bradley's Campus Police would take care of "campus party patrols and DUI enforcement".

Grant to pay for increased patrols near Bradley University

Peoria Police will be conducting additional party patrols and DUI enforcement activities starting Halloween weekend and continuing until the end of March. The majority of the enforcement will take place around Bradley University. WEEK News 25 reports school officials say the enforcement will be funded by the Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws grant. Bradley applied for the grant in an effort to decrease alcohol abuse on campus. Source

The above Incident Report was done on PPD Crime View; 1/4 mile radius around

Bradley University; for the period 8/1/2011 - 10/28/2011 (89 days).

Letter sent to Bradley Scout from student concerned about safety

October 28th, 2011 - "I don’t feel safe on campus, and unfortunately, I’m not the only one.

I’ve always been super paranoid about walking around on and off campus at night by myself and try to avoid it as much as possible. However, it’s starting to look like I need to be cautious walking around campus by myself in broad daylight.

In the last month, there have been several incidences where a student was robbed on or just off campus before sunset. One was even alarmingly close to noon." Read entire letter here.

"Expect the latter."

Interestingly enough, the post from last Monday, which talked about District 150 terminating the contract with the Peoria Charter School Initiative ("PCSI" the Board for Quest Charter Academy) in 2015, continues to get loads of hits.

I originally thought the quote (shown above) about the 2015 termination of the contract was a typo, so I have been checking the on-line edition for a retraction. To date, I have yet to see a retraction on the statement.

Within the same article as the comment about ending the contract in 2015, the Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools was quoted as saying "I'm excited about the success at Quest,...it's a benefit to the district... (Quest) is expanding into high school for next year and they will continue to have district support. They are meeting the needs of the district and the community." Therein lies the contradiction.

The most recent interview the Superintendent of Peoria Public Schools gave to the local newspaper, didn't reveal any new information on the subject.

Perhaps the retraction was in the "print edition" of the local newspaper. However, I don't take the "print edition" of the local paper. So, if anybody has seen the retraction, please advise.

The final decision to deny, revoke or not renew the PCSI contract in 2015, will be made by the local school board.

Glen Barton named to State Charter School Commission

Former Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Glen Barton has been appointed to a new state commission dealing with charter schools. Barton was one of nine people selected by the Illinois Board of Education for the State Charter School Commission.

Its goal is to review charter school applications and consider them for approval or denial. This will primarily deal with appeals of charter agreements that have been denied, revoked or not renewed by local school boards.

Barton is the current President of the Quest Charter Academy Board in Peoria. The new appointment begins November 1st.Source

Those kids in Detroit don't have text books either

Whenever there is a post on some blog about rampant crime, closing schools and aging inner city neighborhoods, you are more than likely going to see somebody make a Detroit to Peoria comparison. Now that same comparison can be made when you talk about students being without text books for months.

Thousands of Detroit students without books for months

The 2011-2012 Detroit Public School year started on Sept. 6, with thousands of homes and streets all over the city adorned with signs that had the two-word slogan “I’m In” everywhere. Nearly two months into the school year, the one thing that is not in a lot of Detroit Schools right now are books.

“I know there is a shortage and there is an order and they are still sharing books,” said Andrew Hayes, whose son is a third-grader at Fisher Magnet Elementary on the city’s east side. “There are a lot of frustrated parents. They want the kids to have what they are supposed to have. At the beginning of the year, we were told that every student would have the textbooks. It’s seven weeks into school.”

Teachers at Cass Technical High School — the city’s largest high school — say that they are short nearly 2,400 textbooks in all grade levels. According to the Detroit Federation of Teachers, the deficiencies range across all subjects including English, chemistry, geometry, Spanish, and U.S. history.

Teachers at Cass say they are missing 950 chemistry books and 250 history books, while teachers at Priest Elementary-Middle School on Detroit’s southwest side say they are missing nearly 3,500 books. Priest has nearly 1,000 Kindergarten through eighth-grade students. The missing books are for K-6 English classes as well as science workbooks and workbooks with tear-out sheets.

Cass Tech’s original building was vacated in 2005 in favor of the current multi-million dollar building, which sits some 30 feet away. It stood abandoned for six years with desks and old books left behind in the blighted building before finally being demolished in August. Source

District #150 Superintendent of Schools, a Dr. and a OG

 Today’s local newspaper has the first in what it calls an “occasional series that profiles the top educators in the Tri-County Area”. Up first, Superintendent of District #150 Schools (surprise). The article is accompanied by three (3) very animated photos, that seem to shed some light on the personality of Dr. Grenita Lathan (as described in the article):

“She's a self-described "old soul" with endless energy and boundless enthusiasm. …she has a rare combination of wisdom beyond her years and the vivaciousness of an upbeat teenager.” pjstar 10/30/2011 

In other words, our Superintendent of schools is an OG (i.e., old girl), not to be confused with OG.

Having the "vivaciousness of an upbeat teenager" certainly comes in handy when you are the “hostess with the mostest" and hanging with your "inner circle"...

"In my inner circle, they call me the hostess with the mostest. I throw a great party."

However, I'm not so sure that being described as having the "vivaciousness of an upbeat teenager" is something you want when you are the Superintendent of schools. Some people might mistake that upbeat, teenage, vivaciousness as childish behavior coming from a professional with such a serious charge:

"...we have been tasked and charged with providing an education for children, and we only get one shot at it. We have one opportunity to do it, and we have to do it right."

Pregnant Manual Academy student stomped in a fight

A Manual Academy student was taken to a hospital Tuesday after being injured in a fight in the school's cafeteria.

The 16-year-old girl, who is more than seven months pregnant, apparently was a bystander and not initially involved in the lunchtime fight between at least three male students.

During the struggle, the pregnant girl apparently was knocked down and hit her head on a nearby table.

According to a school official, the girl "started running toward the fight, trying to be nosey. One kid said she was trying to film the fight with her phone."

She then was stomped on by the students who were fighting. Source

Was last Wednesday's alleged mob action a result of "Wacky Wednesdays"?

This morning, the website for the local newspaper had an article entitled "teen mobs harass motorists". If you click on the link, you will see that the story has since been taken down. The story told of two instances near the area where the words "black youth" and "mob action" made national headlines, via the Drudge Report this past summer. The article also made reference to the "kill the white people" phrase.

I wanted to post about the second story about mob action earlier, but I didn't have time, so I copied it, so I could post about it later. Now is later - here's the second story from the newspaper:

"A Meals on Wheels delivery driver was making his way to a home in the 800 block of West Nowland Avenue about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday when he encountered a group of 15 teens - 13 males and two females - walking down the middle of the road.

The group would not yield to the motorist, who followed him until reaching the house where he had to make the meal delivery. As he exited to take the food to the door, he was verbally attacked, according to a report on the incident.

One teen called him "honky," while another threatened to "kick his white (expletive)."

As the volunteer driver returned to his car to leave, the teens surrounded his car and pounded on it. The vehicle was not damaged, but police noted disturbances to dust on the vehicle, backing up the driver's story.

The group Wednesday likely had just left school after District 150 released students early for the day."

What do you think - is the newspapers linkage to 150 letting out early and kids in the streets harassing motorist a stretch?

District #150 expected to terminate agreement with Concept Schools in 2015

It is reported in today's newspaper that in 2015, we can expect Peoria District 150 to terminate the agreement with Concept Schools, the management company for Quest Charter Academy. Read the entire article here...

The prediction is odd, considering the article is about the future of Quest Charter Academy and their efforts to expand into a high school. Additionally, in the article, Grenita Lathan, Superintendent of schools, is quoted as stating, "I'm excited about the success at Quest."

It's all quite contradictory. If the future of Quest is all good and 150 is all pleased, why would they terminate the agreement in 2015. I'm confused, is this a typo?

It should also be pointed out that the article is misleading about who holds the contract with Concept Schools.

District 150 has a contract with Peoria Charter School Initiative (PCSI). It is PCSI who hired Concept Schools to manage Quest Charter Academy. Concept Schools hired the Principal and the Business Manager to run Quest Charter Academy. PCSI, along with input from the Principal, hired the teachers, janitors and other administrators in the building, but they are Concept employees.

The distinction as to who holds the contract is important, as the ability to track accountability in charter schools is one of the largest complaints from folks who oppose charter schools.

So, pulling into a church parking lot at 1:00 a.m. is probable cause for the police to pull you over?

It's always good news when the police can make an arrest of a felon who is in possession of a firearm and ammunition. However, if the news story below is accurate, the police didn't have any grounds for arresting this particular felon (i.e., probable cause). Don't get mad at the judge with this person is right back out on the street.

 

 

Night out on birthday ends with morning in jail

Jachion A. Johnson, 23, of 1725 N. Broadway St. was arrested at 1:01 a.m. Thursday and booked on charges of possession of drug equipment, possession of marijuana, escape, obstructing police, possession of a firearm by a felon, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of ammunition and criminal damage to property.

Johnson was seen exiting a vehicle in the parking lot of Laramie Street Baptist Church, 1611 S. Laramie St. A Peoria County Sheriff’s Department deputy approached Johnson and asked if he had anything illegal. Johnson reached for his left-front pocket, and the deputy put him in handcuffs.

A short time later, Johnson freed himself from the handcuffs and ran into the backyard of a house in the 3000 block of Fremont Street.

A deputy cornered Johnson as he tried to climb a fence. Johnson began to fight with the officer and was Tasered twice before being put into custody. Police found a sawed-off shotgun and ammunition in the trunk of the vehicle Johnson was driving.

He told police he ran because he didn’t want to go to jail on his birthday, which was Wednesday.

The making of propaganda

We could call it a Parents Writing Contest. We could offer a chance to win up to $300:

And oh, by the way, don't forget to mention in small print, that by submitting an essay, the parent gives the school the right to display their essay on our website, other educational sites, or other schools printed materials.

Whatcu talkin' 'bout in the comments section

"On the HR Report from the last district board meeting there appears to be 3 new positions created and I believe at least 2 out of the 3 new hires are from NC and/or have connection to Guilford County. One is a former student in Guilford County school district. New positions: Professional Development Coordinator, Human Resource Specialist, and Asst. Principal at Woodruff. No one in Peoria qualified for these jobs?"

"So the Wacky Wednesdays are back...half-days for kids and all staff was due in some other building, for professional development. Very poorly managed. You can bet the kids will be not at their best tomorrow, after having a half-day off during the week. SIP days need to go back to Friday. It makes more sense to the students that it is the last day of the week. It makes more sense for everybody. Wacky, wacky, wacky...that's D150 these days!"

"The other thing is these meetings with the union president Bob Darling. You really think teachers are going to talk openly in front of Darling when they know he is 'in bed' with Lathan and crew. Darling is an administrator pure and simple. Don't know many teachers who leave their homes after 8:30 am and are home in the middle of the day. Just some food for thought....."

Rough start for the new Woodruff Academy

Apparently it's a little rough going over at the new Woodruff...

"They have it set up by ‘floors’ and each floor is supposed to have a ‘principal’ of sorts who is in charge of discipline. On one floor the principal lasted about a week, so there’s no one immediately available to assist with discipline. Most teachers have not been assigned their own rooms, and have to cart materials from class to class – and may even have to go from one floor to another.

Some teachers had already started teaching one subject at the beginning of the year, all of a sudden it changes so that students have to work through ‘modules’ but teachers have received virtually NO instruction about implementing these modules. Three (3) teachers out of seven (7) on one floor have quit – including one teacher who came to the program from Juvenile Department of Corrections (even HE couldn’t handle it) and another veteran teacher with more than a decade of experience in alternative education.

The biggest frustration is with the chaos amongst building/district administration. No organization or cohesiveness. All in all, the kids aren’t all that bad, but they are very disengaged – major truancy issues, flat out refusal to work, lack of skills – not behavior problems so much."

Take the guns from your sons - a local father's plea

Don't get me wrong, it's always good with the PPD takes a shooter off the streets. I'm looking forward to the days when we find the shooters who are killing people. Do you think it depends on the location you are in when you get shot?

Man arrested in shooting in City Hall parking lot

An 18-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a shooting in the City Hall parking lot on Oct. 9.

Cory W. Bragg was booked shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday on two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, aggravated battery with a firearm and damage to property.

On the night of the shooting, police had been dispatched at 11:57 p.m. to the Locker Room, 112 SW Jefferson Ave. An officer was flagged down after he arrived about shots being fired nearby in the 400 block of Fulton Street.

At least two people apparently had exchanged gunfire in the block after an under-21 party at the establishment. A 17-year-old girl was shot in the hand.

The vehicle the victim was sitting inside was hit twice - once in the driver's door and once in a rear passenger door. A window in the glass arcade of the Peoria Civic Center behind the parking lot also was shot out.Source

This IS a message to all teachers from Bobby Darling

We have been informed by many teachers that the start of this school year has probably been the most challenging of their careers. We want everyone to know that we will be holding 3 meetings the week of Oct 24th. The purpose of these meetings will be to listen and try to address your concerns about grade level issues, curriculum, lack of materials, discipline, walk through's, testing, new initiatives and any other issues teachers would like to discuss.

Tuesday, Oct. 25th, Middle School teachers at Peoria High School 3:15 PM
Wednesday, Oct. 26th, Primary teachers at Peoria High School 4:15 PM
Thursday, Oct. 27th, High School teachers at Peoria High School 3:15 PM
 
Source: Sharon Crews (comments section)

Happy Friday!

I'll take the 9 9 9 pizza special.

Inquiring minds are eager to know...

The most important question for Americans, particularly African Americans, today is: “Where are the jobs?” But, another question is circulating in the wake of Friday’s jobs report: “Where did you find yours?”

As reported recently on Politic365.com, the unemployment rate for African Americans fell from 16.7% in August to 16% in September.

The number of Blacks easing into the labor market and making themselves available for hire increased to 18,103,000 in September from 17,930,000 in August.

The number of Blacks employed climbed to 15,209,000, up from the August total of 14,941,000. Just where are people finding work? It’s hard to say exactly.

The U.S. Department of Labor, which issues the jobs report, did not provide any specific data about what sectors of the economy added African American employees. Source

Why I dispise Ciroc Obama f/k/a Diddy

A video that surfaced on the web last week shows Sean Combs (Diddy) lashing out at an Atlanta party-goer for not drinking Ciroc.

The notorious name-changer has recently taken to calling himself Ciroc Obama: Through his vodka deal with beverage giant Diageo, Diddy receives an annual cut of profits and a big chunk of cash if the Ciroc brand is ever sold (Ciroc’s value is soaring toward $1 billion). Diddy’s Net worth: $550 million. Source

In my opinion Sean John Combs, Shawn Corey Carter, Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. and the rest of these aging rappers are a pariah on the black community and need to give it a rest.

The video below is explicit, lots of cussing and use of the "N word", just general all around buffoonery on full display. The video shows Sean Combs (a/k/a Diddy, Puff Daddy, Puffy, P Diddy) being the true arse that he is: T.I. and Diddy hosted BET's Hip Hop Awards after party at Compound, ATL! Diddy calls out non-Ciroc drinkers and pours fresh Ciroc all over the crowd! Later on shots are fired in the club!

TI who is fresh out the pen (for the third time) and is still on probation, tries to redeem himself for being involved with the nonsense and attempts to put "Puff" (Diddy) in check.

An homage to Jobs - the crazy one



Here’s to the crazy ones.

The misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers.

The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They’re not fond of rules.

And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They push the human race forward.

While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world…
are the ones who do.

He who laughs last, laughs best

With all that is going on with Manual lately, it got me to thinking about Dr. Kherat. When I followed the link on the "What's going on with Manual Academy" post below to re-read an earlier post. The post reads:

Sources tell 1470 WMBD Dr. Kherat has accepted a job in the Springfield School District's Central office, where she will serve as a turnaround officer. This evening, WMBD31 reported that Kherat expressed her dislike of the the constant changes required by the turnaround process as one of her reasons to leave Manual.

Just a littlle bit ago Emerge Peoria got word that all 150 Principals were called to a meeting. That tidbit was followed up by this post:

Sharon Crews said...

And guess who the presenter from Springfield is at the principals' meeting-Sharon Kherat. Disgruntled employees-fired or resigned, may come back to haunt Lathan. Thursday, 10/06/2011

From what I can find, Dr. Kherat is listed as a Transformation Officer for Springfield Lanphier. The State of Illinois recently created a State turnaround office and they need highly qualified professionals. It is possible that Transformation Officers may work in more than one location. Dr. Kherat would certainly qualify, considering her turnaround experience at Manual. How ironic would that be, if at some point, Dr. Kherat had some input in the turnaround efforts of District 150?

About the Illinois State Board of Education's ("ISBE") turnaround office:

On January 1, 2010, a Task Force reporting on "Innovation, Intervention, and Restructuring", advised that the ISBE should create an effective process for monitoring and oversight of the turnaround school effort. It was highly recommended that the ISBE create a designated unit within the agency that has authority and resources to oversee the lead and supporting partners’ efforts as well as to track and share best practices and collect data on effectiveness. The ISBE was advised to develop an oversight office whether or not they receive funding through Race to the Top.

Turnaround/transformation officers provide coaching to district and school leadership as well as professional development for school administrators engaged in school turnaround and transformation. • Lead, in collaboration with school principal and district leaders, school transformation and turnaround initiatives to meet the requirements of school improvement grant 1003G including progress monitoring and reporting. • Evaluate instructional programs and provide professional development and feedback to teachers • Support family and community engagement initiatives as outlined in district SIG plans • Provide guidance and support on initiatives to the school site on a daily basis.

Teacher Ends Fight In Classroom Before It Begins (VIDEO)

 

This is an example of a teacher who understands the "culture" of his clients and is not afraid to confront it. Oh, you best believe, the fight is still going to go down, just not in this classroom.

The need for this type of forceful presence in the classroom is probably why all male principals were called to Manual Academy yesterday.

Police Excessive Force In School Cafeteria Caught On Tape

Authorities are looking into a complaint of police brutality after video of 17-year-old Frank W. Harrington being lifted from his seat in the school cafeteria and slammed face-first into a table surfaced on the website CopBlock.org.

The high schooler's parents have filed a complaint with the police about the incident, and Police Capt. Robert Kunha plans to lead an investigation into the complaint, the New Hampshire Union Leader reports.

My Fox Boston reported that Harrington has been charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, as well as being suspended for 12 days -- one day for stealing the purse and 11 days for possession of a utility knife.

The arrest was filmed by Harrington's friend, Michael Proulx, 17, who resisted teachers' attempts to make him stop filming. Proulx said teachers approached him, demanding that he delete anything he had recorded. Proulx lied, saying he had only taken photos, and pretended to delete them.

What's going on at Manual Academy?

It's been a little over six weeks since beloved Principal, Dr. Sharon Desmoulin Kherat left the building, amidst an orderly student walkout and tearful goodbyes...

Yesterday at about 11:48 a.m. the call came through for the police with a taser to proceed to Manual Academy, on the track (I don't know if they actually used it). Yesterday, all of the male principals in District 150 were called to go to Manual Academy. Yesterday, throughout the day, sporadic calls to the PPD to proceed to Manual. Yesterday, students at Manual confirm knowing about at least two fights before 12:00.

All of this activity is making me wonder... "what's going on at Manual Academy?"

@4:15 a.m. Emtronics posted:

...they had a full blown fight at Manual yesterday while letting the children out for PE. Fights broke out on the track, in public view. The Campus police didn't call backup but the Admin did put out a call for all admins at other schools to come to Manual. They didn't want this public. When they got the kids back inside, two more fights broke out. It was a hell of a day at Manual.

3rd District Appellate Court: Judge Chris Fredrickson abused his discretion, 13 year old Deonte Moore should not have been tried as an adult.

A couple of years ago, I blogged about Deonte Moore, a local thirteen year old, who was convicted of robbing South Side bank and was tried as an adult. An Emerge Peoria blog reader recently pointed out to me that I neglected to follow up on what has been happening with young Deonte.

It was reported in the local newspaper in early September 2011, that the 3rd District Appellate Court in Ottawa held that prosecutors did not present enough evidence to move the case of Deonte Moore (now 16), from juvenile court to adult felony court. In short, Deonte should not have been tried as an adult.

Click here to see the court decision where the appellate court said Judge Chris Frederickson abused his discretion. Also named in the subtitle of the decision is Judge James Shadid, who has since gone on to be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate as a member of the Federal bench.

From the Emerge Peoria e-mail box…

"Because I have been following the Deonte Moore story for the past three years, I was pleased to see that the appellate court smacked down Judge Frederickson on this case - but I have to wonder if it is too late to save the boy. Also, what I find most frustrating is the main stream media has but ONE story on this case when it certainly warrants significant attention.

You may recall the case - a 13 year old African American youth arrested on a single armed robbery charge, "certified as an adult" after a slam-bam hearing by Frederickson. The judge used some pretty serious racist buzz words to describe the boy.

This boy received a sentence for bank robbery well in excess of many adults nationwide convicted of the crime. His sentence grossly overshot the number of years given to older boys for armed robbery. The unreasonable nature of the judge, coupled with the final outcome, was morally outrageous.

Research showed that the basis for the boy being transferred – was that he had purportedly choked his granny. It was horrifying to learn that Deonte’s mother and grandmother (neither of whom was what I would consider "granny age") were routinely using physical punishment on the boy, which made him act out and run away. They ADMITTED that they used this technique. And like many kids, this boy didn't show for his counseling sessions since they were geared toward the belief that he was the problem - and the adults were absolved of any responsibility. Deonte’s mother and grandmother learned the hard way that calling the cops on their kid was the wrong thing to do.

Our problem now is that serious damage has been done to this boy during the past three years, when folks might have been able to turn him in the right direction. He has been completely institutionalized and brought up in an improper environment, when he might have been placed in a treatment facility aimed at children of his age with the types of problems that he had. As a result, the likelihood that he will re-offend has probably increased by ten-fold.

My guess is that he has not become less violent, but probably more violent given the environment where he has been caged. Unfortunately for Deonte and this community, valuable time has been wasted and turned one small problem into a lifelong disaster. Only time will tell if the damage caused can be turned around."

A positive report about Trewyn School

From the EmergePeoria e-mail box...

"Trewyn seems to be really turning around this year. I don't know if it is due to Ms. Andrews, or Carl Cannon/Elite group, or all new teachers and the facelift the school has gotten, but there is definitely a different feel this year, the kids are behaving much better so far, and the teachers seem to be really invested as well.

We had an evacuation drill recently and I couldn't believe how well it went. Kids were in straight lines walking in an orderly quiet "elite style" manner, all the way to Harrison and back. They went into the gym at Harrison and all sat down in an orderly fashion (I didn't go in to the gym, so I can't say for sure) but I can tell you that when they were leaving the gym, still in that orderly fashion with the older kids holding the hands of the younger kids, still in straight lines, I almost cried, I couldn't believe it. That would never have happened last year.

I told every kid that I came into contact with that day how proud I was of them and actually had a 7th grader, who is a member of the elite leadership team tell me, "It's because this year the teachers care about us.".

I think they cared last year to be honest, at least most of them, but the teachers didn't have the support this team has either. The same student told me that boot camp made the difference and said " we need it again, because kids are getting bad again"."

They will be having it again, Phase 2 was set to start that week, with assemblies.

Have you seen this girl?

Peoria 15-year-old girl reported missing
City police are asking for the public's help in finding a missing 15-year-old girl.


Evelia Cortez has been reported missing from the 2100 block of North Linn Street, Peoria police said in a news release Friday night.

She was last seen with three mailes on her front porch at about 7 p.m. Monday.

Evelia is a Hispanic female with black hair and black eyes. She is about 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call the Peoria Police Department at 673-4521 or CrimeStoppers at 673-9000.