Tazewell County news briefs

Chronicle Media
The Center for Prevention of Abuse Duck Race is moving from Peoria and the Illinois River to the Eastside Centre in East Peoria on Saturday, Aug. 27.  The annual fundraiser this year will involve 30,000 ducks floating down a hill on a giant slip-n-slide. (Photo: Center for Prevention of Abuse)

The Center for Prevention of Abuse Duck Race is moving from Peoria and the Illinois River to the Eastside Centre in East Peoria on Saturday, Aug. 27. The annual fundraiser this year will involve 30,000 ducks floating down a hill on a giant slip-n-slide. (Photo: Center for Prevention of Abuse)

Tri-County region

LWV event to discuss ways to reduce toxins, pesticides

The Prevalence of Toxic Chemicals and Lack of Federal Regulations will be discussed at Drinks and Dialogue, a new, free program hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria. The public is invited to participate in the dialogue, at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Hearth Restaurant, 4604 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights. The League is committed to reducing exposure to all pesticides and encourages the use of non-toxic alternatives.  Drinks & Dialogue is offered monthly, on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, for one hour starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Hearth with local, state, and national political topics. The League is a non-partisan, issues oriented, volunteer, member-directed organization open to both men and women in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. For more information, go to www.lwvgp.org.

Tazewell County

Veteran deputy dies in car crash

Investigators are looking into the cause of a crash that killed veteran Sheriff’s Deputy Craig Whisenand Aug.10.  Whisenand was responding to a domestic violence call in Armington when his car left the road at the intersection of Springfield Road and Tomm Road near Delavan, according to reports. His car was found around midnight that same night by another Tazewell County deputy. Whisenand was pronounced dead at the scene. Tazewell County officers placed a blue ribbon at the crash site to honor Whisenand who became a deputy in 2005. Whisenand began his career with the county as a corrections officer at the county jail in 2000.

East Peoria

Duck Race fundraiser coming to Eastside Centre

Flooding has forced organizers of the Center for Prevention of Abuse Duck Race to move from the Illinois River to the Eastside Centre.  The annual fundraiser this year will involve 30,000 ducks floating down a hill on a giant slip-n-slide. The 27th annual Duck Race takes place on Saturday, Aug. 29. The fundraiser is critical to the organization’s funding and this year more than ever because of the state’s budget. Ducks for this year’s race are on sale now at www.DuckRacePeoria.com. The center provides programs for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse and elder abuse.

Illinois Central College

Seven students complete study abroad in China

Seven Illinois Central College students and their program coordinator spent five weeks this summer  studying in China with ICC’s sister institution, Xiamen Huaxia Vocational College.  The trip was part of ICC’s Study Abroad Program. Local students participating in the program this summer included: Grace Newton of Peoria, Ileia Hall of Washington, Marisa Wiegand of Mackinaw, Noah Bond of East Peoria, Claudia Cummings of Edwards, Andrea Bonetto of Roanoke, and Rachael DeLost of Peoria Heights.During their stay, the students participated in a variety of cultural activities throughout China and traveled to important sites including the Forbidden City and The Great Wall and much more. All students received seven course credits for their time in China.

 

Pekin

Woman who stole baby formula to buy drugs gets probation

A Tazewell County judge sentenced a woman who sold stolen baby formula on the black market to buy drugs to probation Aug. 10. Billie Jo Hitesman, 26 of Peoria, pleaded guilty to felony retail theft only two weeks after she was charged with the crime at the Walmart Supercenter in East Peoria. She was arrested July 24 at the county jail when she visited her alleged partner in the thefts, after he told police of her role in them, according to a prosecutor’s court affidavit. Hitesman and Joseph Guyton, 46, also of Peoria, stole more than 100 cans of baby formula from Walmart Supercenter in East Peoria over a one-month, according to reports.  Hitesman had no prior felony record and was sentenced to two years of probation and 30 days in jail, with credit for the 15 days she spent in jail after her arrest, according to reports.

Guyton had a previous theft conviction, and could face a more serious sentence. He is due in court Aug. 21.

Pekin

Man convicted of sexually assault of girl gets life sentence

A North Pekin man was sentenced to three natural life terms in prison after being convicted of predatory criminal sexual assault and criminal sexual assault. David Darr, 48, was convicted in April of repeatedly assaulting a young girl for years beginning when she was 6 or 7 years old.  He also got two 20-year terms for two counts of criminal sexual assault to be served consecutively. The victim came forward in  March 2014.

Pekin

Monical’s steps up for Community Days Celebration benefit

Community Workshop and Training Center has teamed up with Monical’s Pizza for a Community Days Celebration, on Tuesday Aug. 25  at three locations, including Peoria and Pekin. Community Workshop and Training Center, Inc., provides programs and services to adults with disabilities; enriching their quality of life, promoting social change, and optimizing their potential for independence. Monical’s Pizza will donate 20 percent of each person’s check to CWTC when diners present their flier while ordering at any of the three participating Monical’s locations in Peoria and Pekin  (including carry-out). Fliers can be picked up at CWTC, 3215 N. University Street, Peoria, or can be download www.cwtc.org  Fliers must accompany the order for the donation to be applied. For more information contact Rick Stephenson at 686-3300.

Morton

Submissions being accepted for the Pumpkin Festival Baby Contest

The annual Morton Pumpkin Festival is not accepting photos and applications for the We Care Precious Baby Contest through Sunday, Aug. 30. Children must be under 24 months of age and live in the Morton area. Voting will be held Sept. 4 – 14 at Kroger, and all proceeds will go back to the community through We Care Inc.’s programs such as meals-on-wheels, transportation, the food pantry and weekly meals for senior citizens in the Morton area. Applications available online at www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org.  For more information, call Mary Ann Betteridge at (309) 263-1480.

State

IDNR offering trapper education course at Pekin Center

An Illinois Department of Natural Resources Trapper Education Course will be offered to those wanting to learn more about state requirements for fur  trappers. The course will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29 at  Pekin Park District’s Soldwedel Program Center, 207 McNaughton Park Road. The course consists of eight hours of  instruction, covering the basics in equipment and trapping techniques; trap and pelt preparation; wildlife and furbearer management; reporting requirements; trapper ethics; game identification and state regulations. This course is designed to teach new or inexperienced trappers the most ethical and humane procedures for trapping Illinois furbearers.  Persons successfully completing the eight-hour course and final examination will receive a State of Illinois Certificate of Competency and graduate patch. First-time trappers, born on or after January 1, 2015, are required to complete a trapper education course before purchasing a license.  To register for the course, call 1-309-347- PARK (7275).  Participants should plan to pack a sack lunch and their own beverages. This course is free, but advanced registration is required.  The registration deadline is Monday, Aug. 24.

University of Illinois

Board reverses position on resignation of former chancellor

The University of Illinois Board of Trustees is not accepting the resignation of  Chancellor Phyllis Wise and reversed its position on a resignation deal it accepted that included a  $400,000 bonus. The board Aug. 12 instead reassigned her position and initiated formal dismissal proceedings against her, according to reports. Wise announced Aug. 6 she would no longer serve as chancellor, and at the time Gov. Bruce Rauner criticized the bonus. With this latest move, the  board will try to fire Wise from her administrative role, but she will keep a  tenured faculty appointment. Barbara Wilson, dean of LAS, will serves as both dean and acting chancellor according to announcements made by the board. President Timothy Killeen recommended Wilson on Aug. 12, and her appointment was approved later that day by the board. Wise will report directly to Killeen.

 

 

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