A long-time Peoria area print journalist has died. DeWayne Bartels was most recently writing for the East Peoria Times-Courier. Prior to that he worked for the Peoria Times-Observer before the publication was dropped by GateHouse Media. 

The Peoria County Coroner’s office says Bartels had no known medical problems. He was found unresponsive in his home early Friday morning and pronounced dead just after six. DeWayne Bartels was 53 years old.