Tazewell County News Briefs

Chronicle Media

Lou’s Drive-In, a 65-year-old Peoria institution, has opened a second location, across the river at 245 Farmdale Road.

STATE

Higher teacher salary waiting for governor’s OK

Teachers throughout Illinois could eventually be paid a minimum of $40,000 a year, if Gov. Bruce Rauner signs a measure that is on his desk.

The Illinois House, after a 65-47 vote, sent the governor a measure raising public school teacher salaries to a minimum of $40,000 a year over the next five years.

Proponents say the measure will help to attract and keep more teachers in a state that’s facing a growing shortage, and help raise salaries in low-paying areas of the state. Opponents believe salaries should be negotiated between teacher unions and school districts, and not be the subject of legislation.

Lincoln Museum voters’ No. 1 choice

Perhaps it is only fitting that, in the Land of Lincoln, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield is the state’s favorite museum. Online voting for the Illinois Top 200 project put the museum on top, followed by the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Bloomington’s McLean County Museum of History ranked fourth, and Peoria’s Riverfront Museum came in at No. 8.

The Illinois Top 200 project lets Illinoisans vote every two weeks on the most inspiring leaders, greatest books, top businesses and more. By the state’s 200th birthday on Dec. 3, voters will have chosen 10 favorites in 20 categories — the Illinois Top 200.

Voting in the next category, top books set in Illinois or written by someone from Illinois, is underway at IllinoisTop200.com.

Here are the top 10 museums:

  • Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield;
  • Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago;
  • Field Museum, Chicago;
  • McLean County Museum of History, Bloomington;
  • Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago;
  • Cedarhurst Center for the Arts, Mount Vernon;
  • Illinois State Museum, with locations in Springfield, Lockport and Lewistown;
  • Peoria Riverfront Museum;
  • Chicago History Museum; and
  • Cantigny Park, Wheaton.  

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Construction begins on I-74, 474

The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that  it expects to begin construction on Interstate 74 and Interstate 474 June 6, at the following locations:

  • I-74 from Main Street to Morton Avenue
  • I-74 from Pleasant Hill Road to Washington Street
  • I-74 from Sterling Avenue to the I-474 interchange
  • I-474 westbound ramp to westbound I-74
  • I-74 eastbound ramp to eastbound I-474

To complete the projects, lanes will be closed during construction. Work will be done at night between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., and is expected to be complete by the end of October, weather permitting.

Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment.

COUNTY

No pay hikes for three positions

The Tazewell County Board has frozen salaries for clerk, sheriff and treasurer at current levels for the first two years of their elected terms and give a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in both of the last two years.  The board made its decision in light of its tight financial situation. 

Tazewell County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jeff Lower won the primary in March and as of yet does not face a challenger for the November general election. Lower currently makes $114,630 as chief deputy. If elected sheriff in November, he will make $113,029 for two years and then get a COLA increase in the last two years.

The salary of Tazewell County Treasurer Mary Burress will be frozen at $82,157 if she is re-elected, which is her salary at this time, and receive COLA increases in the last two years of the term. Burress has been treasurer for 12 years and is seeking re-election with no competition at this point.

Tazewell County Clerk Christie Webb is not seeking re-election. She has served as county clerk for 24 years, and her salary is now $83,707, which is what the clerk taking office after the November elections would make. At this point, John Ackerman won the March primary and faces Brittany Miller in the November election. Ackerman has no experience as a clerk. Some Human Resource Committee members felt it was unfair for someone with no experience to come in making what a 24-year veteran clerk did.

EAST PEORIA 

Peoria’s Lou’s drives into town

East Peoria will now get to enjoy what Peoria has for 65 years. Lou’s Drive-In, a Peoria institution, has opened a second location, this one across the river at 245 Farmdale Road.

Laurie and Tony Halsey remodeled the site of a closed Sonic Drive-In.

Plans are to keep the East Peoria site open all year, though it may close temporarily during the winter months. The menu will be the same as in Peoria.

The original Lou’s, at 4229 N. Knoxville Ave., is to maintain its usual schedule, from late spring to Labor Day weekend.

 

–Tazewell County News Briefs–