Peoria County recently concluded its annual Holiday Charity Drive by donating new toys and children’s clothing to Crittenton Centers, and nonperishable food items to the Center for Prevention of Abuse. More than 400 items were collected during this year’s charity drive to benefit the local community. Pictured at right are boxes of toys and clothing donated to Crittenton Centers. (Photo courtesy of Peoria County)

Chillicothe

Committee discusses City Hall improvements

The city’s Public Safety Committee recently discussed the council’s plans for making renovations to the City Hall building.  The first phase involves window replacement. Initial plans for making improvements began back in October when the City Council hired the architectural design company Landes-Benson-Parkins, PC to make design specifications.  The firm reported the cost for replacing all of the building’s windows, more than 30, would be around $100,000.

Replacing the windows is not just for efficiency but also for aesthetics. The design firm is looking to historical photos from the 1920s as a reference for appearance. The Public Safety Committee  gave its approval to schedule a Jan. 5 bid day for contractors so that the project can begin in the spring.

Peoria

Group raises money for Friends of the Library

The Book ‘Em Mystery Readers presented a check for $5,100, to the Friends of Peoria Public Library for the Joyce Welsch Memorial. The funds were raised from the sales of the book the members co-wrote over 10 years, “Murder on Whiskey Row,” and will be used to fund children’s programs. Representatives of the group, Phyllis Pryde, Janet Tuttle, LuAnn Elwood, Helen Burgess, Rosilee Walker, and Karen Honor (niece of Joyce Welsch) also thanked the Friends and Mike Rucker for their support and assistance in publishing the mystery, which is a fictional tale set in Peoria.

Joyce Welsch was the founder of the Book ‘Em Mystery Readers as well as the first president of The Friends of Peoria Public Library. Welsch convinced the group Book ‘Em to write a murder mystery as a fundraiser for the Friends. After her death, the group continued on with the effort. Copies of Murder on Whiskey Row are for sale at the Friendly Finds Bookstore at Peoria Public Library Main Library and available for check out.

Medical professor awarded grant for Alzheimer’s research

Peoria medical school professor Dr. Ken Fukuch has been awarded a $440,000 grant to expand his research into the possible causes of Alzheimer’s disease. Fukuchi, a professor in the department of cancer biology and pharmacology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, has been studying the disease for 30 years. The grant goes toward a study looking into a dysfunction in the immune system of the brain and how cell function may affect the development of Alzheimer’s.

Group asking for more time on River Trail project

Friends of Riverfront Park is asking the city to extend more time for the public to comment on the River Trail apartment development planned near the RiverPlex Recreation and Wellness Center property. The group held a press conference on Dec. 14 to let the city know it is not yet ready to give up its opposition to the development. The group has said the project will destroy needed green space in the city and has criticized the city’s process on getting the project through. The development needs approval from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service for the six acres included in the plan to be sold to a developer once replacement land is named and approved by both agencies. That application, site appraisals and environmental studies will be sent to the IDNR and the park service after the beginning of the year. It will all be reviewed at the end of a 30-day public comment period, according to the city. The Friends group wants that time doubled to 60 days.

Peoria County

Permanent pavers make perfect presents

Consider giving an inscribed brick paver this holiday season that will be permanently displayed in the foundation of the new Veterans Memorial to be built in the Courthouse Plaza. While the memorial will honor veterans who served in the Korean War, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Gulf War, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the War on Terrorism, brick pavers are not required to honor veterans who served in these conflicts, as long as the inscription is appropriate for public viewing.

Granite brick pavers are available in two sizes for purchase: 4-inch-by-8-inch and 12-inch-by-12-inch.  The smaller brick is $150 and includes three lines of text, 20 characters per line. The larger brick is $500 and includes nine lines of text, with 21 characters per line. A certificate will be issued for each brick purchase that is suitable for presentation to the individual honored on the brick, if a veteran or other individual is recognized on the inscription. For more information regarding the purchase of bricks, or to download the order form visit www.peoriacounty.org or call the Peoria County Auditor’s Office at (309) 697-6006.

Become an advocate for children through CASA

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Peoria County is recruiting volunteers to be independent fact finders who speak up for abused and neglected children. Volunteers work with the court system and DCFS to ensure the child’s best interest is served during the court process. People interested in volunteering are encouraged to attend an informational meeting from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 4 at Two25 in downtown Peoria. The next volunteer training class will be held Jan. 23 to  Feb.1 at Advanced Medical Transport. For more information, visit www.casapeoria.org or call 669-2939. 

–Peoria Area News Briefs–