Peoria Journal Star reporter on medical leave

Unfortunately, it will be a while before you see a familiar byline in the Journal Star.

Dave Eminian, a longtime sportswriter and the most senior employee in the newsroom, is on medical leave. He recently had cancer surgery in Chicago to remove a tumor in his abdomen. He is expected to return to work sometime in January.

His one-of-a-kind writing and detailed reporting will be missed.

"Cleve," as he is affectionally called because of his roots in Cleveland, has provided recent updates on how he is feeling via his account on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said he was in a "spectacular" amount of pain after six and a half hours of surgery. He believes all the cancer was removed, but he has a long rehab ahead.

"I am blessed by all of you, your prayers and well-wishes sustained me," he wrote on X after he was released from the hospital Monday.

Dave has won many awards during his nearly 40 years at the Journal Star. Awards or not, he is simply one of the best sportswriters in the business. He covers the Peoria Rivermen and Bradley Braves basketball team during this time of year and also chips in on high school sports coverage. He is as dedicated as they come.

We will continue to cover those teams in Dave's absence, but we're looking forward to his healthy return.

"I'll miss the Rivermen and Braves and the people I work with for coverage of those teams," he told me via email. "And I'll miss the readership and my colleagues.

"I ask everyone to keep my wife and kids in their thoughts, because they will have the heavy lift of putting up with me at home for the coming weeks. See you in 2024."

Romando Dixson is the executive editor of the Journal Star. He can be reached at rdixson@gannett.com.

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