Tazewell County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

The Morton Library is getting a facelift, and is expected to reopen in May.

STATE

Prepaid property taxes ruled tax-deductible

Illinois residents who prepaid property taxes last year should be able to deduct them, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The department issued this clarification last week in a letter to Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.), a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The new tax law, enacted in December, caps the state and local tax deduction at $10,000 starting for the 2018 tax year. As a result, taxpayers in many high-tax states scrambled to prepay their property taxes before the end of 2017 so they could deduct the full amount.

The IRS issued an advisory shortly after the tax law was signed that said people could deduct prepaid 2018 property taxes only if the taxes were both assessed and paid in 2017. 

Roskam wrote a letter to the Treasury Department seeking clarification that the IRS advisory did not pertain to prepayments of 2017 property taxes, and the Treasury Department agreed.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

ICC students host international fair

The international students at Illinois Central College (ICC-invite the public to the 14th annual International Fair, noon-3 p.m. April 21, in the Student Center on the Peoria Campus, 5407 N. University St., Peoria. The event will offer an opportunity to get to know international students and celebrate their cultures through music, entertainment, food samples and dancing.  A fashion show of traditional costumes will be modeled by ICC students. Other entertainment will include dancing and a martial arts demonstration. A few of the countries providing informational booths and food samples are: Tanzania, China, Senegal and the Philippines.

Global Village of Peoria Heights will sell a selection of coffees, chocolates, clothing and gifts from developing countries for purchase.

There is an admission donation of $3, and children under 10 will be admitted free. Proceeds will go toward an International F-1 student scholarship fund. For more information, contact Dr. Barbara Burton at Barbara.burton@icc.edu or 309-694-8817.

PEKIN

Paintball battle looking for warriors

The Pekin Paintball Park will host a Central Illinois Giant Nerf battle April 13 at Pekin Avanti’s Dome, 3401 Griffin Ave. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and games will be played from 7-10 p.m.

Tickets are $20 for participants, and can be purchased at vantora.com. Tickets for observers is $5, and can be purchased at the door. Children 2 and younger will be admitted free. Organizers recommend eye protection for all participants, but it is mandatory for those under 18. Participants must bring their own Nerf toy gun and ammunition.

Program to explain medical practices during Civil War

Civil War re-enactor and former EMT Ron Kirchgessner will present medicine and medical practices during the Civil War at 12:30 April 6, at the Pekin Public Library, 301 S. Fourth St., Pekin. The program will include original and reproduction instruments and will follow the film, “Illinois’s Memory of the Civil War,” that will be shown at 11 a.m. The film is part of the 2018 Movie Series celebrating the Illinois Bicentennial and focusing on local Pekin and Tazewell County history. The movie and program are free. 

MORTON

Library building closed in April for repairs

The Morton Library building, 315 W. Pershing, will remain closed this month while it gets a facelift. Walls are being painted, new carpet is being installed and the library’s departments are being rearranged. The building will reopen in May to a more open and welcoming lobby, a dedicated space for the young adult collection and an expanded children’s department. This project will be funded by the library’s reserves, which have been built up slowly over the past 18 years, as well as private gifts and memorials given to the library.

While the library is closed our staff will be making appearances at area businesses and the popular Friday Toddler Time program will be held the Morton Park District’s Freedom Hall. The library’s Facebook page and Instagram account will post updated information about the staff. The library staff is not reachable by telephone, but will answer emails sent to questions@mortonlibrary.org. Locations for events and programs can be found at mortonlibrary.org.

No items will be due during the closure and Morton library cards are valid at any area library including East Peoria, Pekin, Tremont, Delevan and Peoria. 

 

–Tazewell County News Briefs–