Helicopters and airplanes such as these will be seen flying to the Havana Pancake Breakfast and Fly-In. This year’s event will be held June 23, starting at 7 a.m. Adult rides for hire will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon.

STATE

Gubernatorial candidates contribute to mansion repairs

After an almost $15 million renovation, Gov. Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana, have moved back into the Governor’s Mansion in downtown Springfield. Rauner and his opponent in the November election, J.B. Pritzer, have both donated to the effort. So, whoever is the mansion’s next occupant, he has helped in the effort to make the mansion livable again.

Diana Rauner, the governor’s wife, has co-chaired the non-profit Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association, which raised the money for the work from private donors.

And, it turns out, a couple of those donors are Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker, and his wife, M.K. The Pritzker campaign says M.K. Pritzker was on the mansion association board before her husband’s bid for the office. A list of all donors is expected to be released this week.

The Rauners do not live in the mansion full time, but use it when they are in Springfield and for governmental social functions.

A July 14 event is being planned to reopen the mansion to the public.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Pancake breakfast, fly-in at Havana

The Harvey Tapscott Memorial Fly-In and Pancake Breakfast will be held at the Havana Regional Airport June 23, six miles south of Havana on Route 97.

This is the 12th year that a fly-in and breakfast have been hosted at the Havana airport. The public is invited to enjoy a breakfast of pancakes and sausages and to get an up-close look at the airplanes that will be on display on the parking pad that day. They will also get to see a variety of airplanes landing and taking off as pilots from throughout Central Illinois arrive.

Air craft expected include everything from home-built bi-planes to commercial Air Tractors.

Returning to the annual event will be a group of World War II re-enactors who will be set up on the airport grounds.

Breakfast will be served from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The airport is located about six miles south of Havana, just off Route 97. Watch for signs. The event is hosted by the local EAA Chapter 1420, which has named the event in honor of one of their founding members, the late Harvey Tapscott.

New this year will be a Friday night outdoor movie as a warm-up to the event. The movie will be shown outdoors at dusk, and the audience is invited to fly in or drive in and bring lawn chairs. Popcorn will be provided.

Airport is ranked in fast-growing group

Peoria International Airport is the nation’s third fastest-growing, a new report from Bloomberg says.

Data from aviation consultants ICF Inc. said Peoria had a growth rate of 28.7 percent over the past two years. Only Destin, Fla. and Asheville, N.C. grew more quickly. 

The Peoria airport was ranked third in capacity for small airports with between 5,000 and 25,000 seats. Over the last two years, seats were added on flights to and from Dallas, Charlotte and Destin. 

Air traffic to Destin and Asheville is largely driven by tourism.

Women inducted into DAR

The Black Partridge Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution welcomed new members and prospective members during its June meeting. During 2017-2018 five new members were welcomed: Mary Kerby of Pekin, Ruth Dowell of Pekin, Susan Orttel of Canton, Laura Allaman of Washington, and Grace Allaman of Washington.

Prospective members are Michelle Moreland of Mackinaw, Suzanne Rose of Morton, Karen Schaal of Washington, and Kimberly Cooley of Washington.

Women who are interested in joining the DAR are welcome. Registrar Debra Lammers, (309) 685-6850, and Regent Valerie Horton, (309) 74508285, can help with the necessary research. Each member has to prove her lineage back to the Revolutionary War.

DAR is a women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism, and honoring the patriots of the Revolutionary War. DAR members provide millions of hours of community service each year around the world. The mission of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is to continue moving forward in its commitment to promote the DAR as its members volunteer in their communities.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–