Peoria County News Brief

Chronicle Media

The flag honoring Illinois’ 100 years of statehood was raised over Peoria and municipalities across the state Dec. 4.

STATE

State troopers release holiday traffic stats

On-duty state troopers spent their Thanksgiving weekend handling nearly 10,000 incidents and issuing citations in more than half of them.

In addition, police in Illinois responded to 10 crashes that resulted in 10 fatalities from Nov. 23-Nov. 26. Last year during Thanksgiving weekend, there were 11 fatalities on Illinois roadways.

In all, Illinois State Police reported that 9,609 incidents were handled and 5,684 citations were issued.

Illinois State Police said its troopers issued 3,429 speeding citations over the holiday weekend.

Other Thanksgiving weekend stats from state police:

  • 6,972 traffic stops
  • 440 seat belt citations
  • 81 distracted driving citations
  • 89 arrests for driving under the influence
  • 4,461 warnings issued
  • 794 motorists assisted
  • 505 crashes investigated.

Year-to-date, 1,003 people have died in traffic crashes on Illinois roads, according to Illinois Department of Transportation statistics. That’s seven more deaths than what was recorded at the same point last year.

PEORIA

Cookies, other goodies wanted for vets’ party

Donations are requested for a party being planned for veterans. Goodwill will hold its Veterans Holiday Party 12-4 p.m. Dec. 15, at Goodwill Commons, 2319 E. War Memorial Drive, Peoria. Particularly needed are donations of cookies. Cookies and any other party food may be brought to the party site before 12 p.m.

During the first hour of the party, Goodwill staff will hold one of its learning sessions. Veterans are invited to call Alexis Duhon at (309) 682-1113, ext. 2149 with questions or to schedule an appointment.

Bicentennial state flag raised

To celebrate the bicentennial of Illinois, Peoria participated in a statewide flag raising ceremony Dec. 4. Peoria joined municipalities throughout the state that participated to take part in the event and unveiled the Bicentennial flag. 

Dec. 3, 2017 marked the 199th birthday when Illinois became the 21st state in the union in 1818.  The flag raising ceremony kicked off a yearlong celebration throughout Illinois that will conclude on the 200th birthday on Dec. 3, 2018.

Mayor Jim Ardis read a proclamation, followed by the flag raising ceremony outside of City Hall. Peoria County held a similar ceremony at the same time outside of the Peoria County Courthouse.

ICC to explain health career opportunities

Potential colleges student may want to pursue a career in the health care field, but need guidance of how to start. Illinois Central College will hold a Health Career Exploration Fair to give potential students a chance to learn about ICC’s 20 degrees and certificates that will help them achieve their goals.

Prospective students and parents, business and industry professionals, community organizations, and high school teachers and administrators all are encouraged to attend the fair that will be held 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 7, at ICC’s Peoria Campus, 5407 N. University St. Those who attend the fair can tour ICC’s new state of the art, digital, and interdisciplinary simulation and skills labs. For more information, email healthcareersinfo@icc.edu or call (309) 690-7530.

Radiothon to raise funds for Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital of Illinois’ annual Radiothon will be held Dec. 7 and Dec. 8. John Riley from 93.3 The Drive will broadcast from the Children’s Hospital live from 6 a.m.-5 p.m. those days. You can make a contribution by calling (309) 624-GIVE. All proceeds are used to serve the needs of the hospital’s patients.

Star Wars fans can put their memory to test

Think you know the answers to all things Stars War? Then get a team together and attend Star Wars Trivia: Pub Night in a Galaxy Far, Far Away at 7 p.m. Dec. 9, at the Dome Planetarium near the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Admission is 35, $33 for museum members. The price includes three beers, food and non-alcoholic beverages. Contestants must be 21 and older to participate. To purchase tickets, go to peoriariverfrontmuseum.org.

New Caterpillar exhibit salutes Holt

With no Benjamin Holt, there would have been no Caterpillar. An exhibit, “Holt: Tracks Around the World,” opened last week at the Doug Oberhelman Caterpillar Visitors Center, dedicated to the first person to create a commercially viable track-type tractor.

He made the machine from one of the steam-powered machines made in his Holt Manufacturing Co. factory in California, and the new exhibit focuses on the namesake founder and the first machines to incorporate the now-ubiquitous method for locomotion on heavy equipment.

The company moved to the Peoria area in 1909 to create a Midwestern manufacturing presence and locate production closer to a group of core customers: farmers.

Holt brought the Caterpillar trademark with him and merged with another local manufacturer, C.L. Best Tractor Co., in 1925 — when the famous tractor model name became the name of the company itself.

The Caterpillar Visitors Center at 110 SW Washington St. is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. General admission is $7; admission for senior citizens and military and veterans is $6; and free for children, 12 and younger. For more information, call (309) 675-0606.

 

–Peoria County News Brief–