The sign says the people of Illinois welcome you, However, census figures show there are fewer people to do so as the state experiences record population losses.

STATE

Census figures show drop in population

New migration data from the U.S. Census Bureau show that from July 2015 to July 2016, Illinois lost 114,000 people, on net, to other states, a record high for the Land of Lincoln. Illinois Policy, a nonprofit think tank, says the loss is equivalent to the entire population of Peoria, Illinois’ seventh-largest city.

Also, Illinois sustained record net losses for each of the last three years of census migration data: a net loss of 114,000 people from July 2015 – July 2016; a net loss of 105,000 people from July 2014-2015; and a net loss of 95,000 people in the year before that.

Illinois has lost some 1.22 million people, on net, over the past 16 years.

For the third year in a row, Illinois is the only state in the region with a shrinking population.

PEKIN

Police fight opiate use with antidote

The Pekin Police Department scored two recent victories in the battle against opiate. Police officers saved two people from drug overdose deaths through the department’s Heroin Initiative, a one-of-a-kind, drug-fighting program by administering with naloxone. The officers gave the victims the antidote that they now carry as part of the initiative.

The rise of heroin in Tazewell County reflects a nationwide trend.

Just as strenuous – and markedly successful in 2016 – are the combined efforts of the county’s police and health communities to quell the scourge of prescription drugs.

Pekin joined Bartonville last September as the only two police departments equipped with the fast-acting opiate antidote, which AMT and city Fire Department paramedics also carry.

No other department in central Illinois, however, offers Safe Passages, a program in conjunction with a Springfield-based addiction treatment center. It promises Pekin residents they will not be arrested if they bring their drugs or paraphernalia, such as syringes, to police headquarters along with their desire to enter the center’s care facility.

Salvation Army fund gets boost

A $10,000 donation to the Pekin Salvation Army breathed new life into the agency’s fundraising efforts. The goal of $200,000 for the Pekin Christmas Campaign is insight, The fund now has $186,806. 

Donations for the match will be accepted through the end of January. Donations can be dropped off at the Pekin Corps during normal business hours or mailed to The Salvation Army, 243 Derby St., Pekin, 61554 or paid online at salvationarmypekin.org.

Mike Eeten has relinquished his duties Pekin Police Department’s public information officer now that he has entered politics.

Eeten has been “the face” of the department that stands out in central Illinois for its public interaction programs focused on both crime solving and community building. Eeten, 40, has actively promoted those efforts during the nearly four years he split his time as a detective and the department’s public information officer.

A conflict of interest, as defined by department policy, arose last month when he announced his candidacy for Tazewell County sheriff. Eeten will be assigned to other department duties. A replacement to perform the public information officer duties is expected to be appointed by March.

CREVE COEUR

Village takes over community center

The village is hoping its influence will spark new programming and events for the area’s community center. The village’s responsibility for the center increased this month when the village took over ownership and all the financial burden of the building while the volunteer-based Community Council now is responsible only for programming.

Right now, the only events that are confirmed are the center’s annual Senior Thanksgiving and Breakfast with Santa. One idea for future programming is computer lessons for both youth and seniors. Another is a day program for seniors where they can come in, have coffee and doughnuts and play cards. Also, the board and the council both hope to bring back former events such as the annual Halloween party, Easter egg hunt and once-a-month Saturday breakfasts, which were an important part of the center’s income.

To volunteer or become a member, call (309) 699-6114.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–