Division winners in the recent Kiwanis boxcar derby include (from left): Iris Ritchie, 7, from Morton, third place; Judah Schurter, 7, from Normal, second place; and Grant Saunders, 7, from Morton, first place; Kathy Barnhill, 10, from Morton, winner of the best homemade boxcar;  older division winners Drake Saunders, 9, from Morton, first place; Isaac Gosteli, 8, from Morton, second place; and Lillie Mast, 8, from Marquette Heights, third place.

STATE

Illinois National Guard assisting hurricane relief

Area Illinois Army National Guard crews based in Peoria are in North Carolina to aid in Hurricane Florence relief work. One flight crew and a CH-47F Chinook helicopter from the Illinois Army National Guard Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, joined an air crew from 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, based in Kankakee and flying a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. The two crews were scheduled to remain for 10 days but those orders could be extended if there is a need. The costs of the deployment will be covered by North Carolina.

Requests for assistance are coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a mutual aid agreement that allows states to request assistance from other states during emergencies.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Early school program gets federal funds

The Head Start program that helps children in Tazewell and Woodford counties has received $1.5 million in federal funds. Tazewell-Woodford Head Start is located in East Peoria

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth announced the funding as part of a $62.7 million package of funds for such programs around the state. Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity Inc. received about $4.1 million in funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Peoria. 

Head Start and its early counterpart are designed to help lay the educational foundation for principles children will use later in the classroom.

Boxcar derby names winners 

Area Kiwanis held an annual boxcar derby Sept. 9. The event was put on by the Morton Kiwanis Club assisted by the Eureka High School Key Club, the Morton Chamber of commerce, and the Eureka Greater Area Kiwanis Club.

Twenty-three individuals participated. Winners were Kathy Barnhill, 10, from Morton, best homemade boxcar category; younger division winners Grant Saunders, 7, Morton, first place; Judah Schurter, 7, from Normal, second place; and Iris Ritchie, 7, from Morton, third place; and older division winners Drake Saunders, 9, from Morton, first place; Isaac Gosteli, 8, from Morton, second place; and Lillie Mast, 8, from Marquette Heights, third place. 

All participants received a bag of goodies.

The Park Inn and CEFCU sponsored the derby. Companies that donated items to the event included: Morton Cinemas, Dairy Queen, Pepperidge Farm, PaPa Murphy’s Pizza, Jason Whiskers and Bill Walters. Donors who helped with the cars, straw, and track included Loren Zimmerman, Gronemeier Construction, Ken Brehm and ADDWC.

Eureka’s boxcar derby will be held on Sept. 22.  Racers 1^st grade through 6^th grade may build their own cars or use ones provided by Kiwanis. Soapbox cars are made with commonly available materials. A prize will be awarded to the best homemade car as voted on by Key Club members. For more information about the Eureka Derby, call 309-467-4750. 

Art guild to hold its annual fair

The 56^th annual Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair will showcase more than 150 juried artists from around the world on the Peoria Riverfront, Sept. 28-Sept. 30. Original works of art will include jewelry, painting, ceramics, photography, digital art, printmaking, mixed media, metal, glass, wood, sculpture, fiber, leather and wearable fiber.

I BUY ART, a grassroots campaign started by Peoria-based textile company Collecture, is the central theme of this year’s fair. I BUY ART was launched to reinforce a philosophy that the best way to support the arts is to buy art. I BUY ART buttons will be given to fair patrons who purchases artwork in an effort to advocate and emphasize the importance of buying original art. 

Hours are 6-10 p.m. Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29 and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sept. 30. Daily admission is $5. A weekend pass is $7. Children under 12 will be admitted free. The art fair will be held in Riverfront Festival Park, 200 NE Water St., Peoria.

–Woodford County News Briefs–