Woodford County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Post 9102 and advisors pose for a photograph at the post’s recent promotion ceremony.

REGION

ICC to stay in Pekin while looking to its future

Illinois Central College (ICC) will remain at its Pekin campus while the community college sorts through options for the site’s future.

The city of Pekin recently agreed to waive rent at the site, an industrial park along Illinois Route 29 near the federal prison, for the current fiscal year. With no rent payments, costs for the site almost break even, college officials say.

The community college is looking at ways to improve marketing of the Pekin campus to nearby communities and continue increases in Tazewell County high schools’ enrollment in Early College, or dual-credit, courses.

COUNTY

Explorers celebrate promotions

Woodford County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Post 9102 held a promotion ceremony at its Christmas party Dec. 15. Sgt. Jake Klein was promoted to captain, Explorer Kellis Rutledge was promoted to lieutenant, and Explorers Kyle Guth and Charlotte Wilkes were promoted to sergeant. Their families joined them for the festivities and their advisors wished them well.

County, state partner in pilot liquor inspection program

In an effort to improve the allocation of alcohol beverage compliance resources, the state of Illinois and the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office have joined forces to launch the Woodford County Liquor Inspection Pilot Program. Under the agreement, the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office has begun carrying out Standard Liquor Inspections for all Woodford County license holders on behalf of the state. Utilizing existing state resources, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) is providing financial assistance and training for designated local inspectors.

The Woodford County Sheriff’s Office began conducting inspections for the 65 license holders upon the completion of ILCC training in October and will continue through June 30, 2017, when the pilot program concludes. Inspections include areas of local concern, such as health/sanitation, license and insurance verifications, and deceptive practices. Under the terms of the agreement, local officials are required to report their findings to the state commission, which may result in further adjudicative action.

The Woodford County Liquor Inspection Pilot Program includes the jurisdictions of all incorporated and unincorporated areas within the County of Woodford.

For more information on the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, go to www.illinois.gov/ilcc.

STATE

License plate supports Alzheimer’s awareness efforts

Illinois is the first state in the nation to have a specialty license plate supporting the Alzheimer’s Association. The Illinois Secretary of State has received the required 1,500 reservations, which means the production process for the specialty license plate can begin.

More than 220,000 Illinois residents are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This new Alzheimer’s Association specialty license plate will help raise dementia awareness. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2015 health survey, nearly 10 percent of Illinois residents 45 and older report they are experiencing confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or is getting worse.

The license plate was authorized by legislation in Springfield.

The new license plate will also help the Alzheimer’s Association strengthen its care and support efforts for residents and families facing Alzheimer’s disease. Ninety-two percent of the funds generated by the renewal fees will go to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fund services such as the 24/7 Helpline.

In the coming months, the Alzheimer’s Association will work with the Secretary of State to finalize the license plate’s design. The state police will then review the design to make sure it is safe and approved for use on Illinois roads. Once that process is complete, registrants will receive a license plate transfer application directly from the Secretary of State.

Throughout the process, the Alzheimer’s Association plans to update its website as news comes in from the Secretary of State. To see the most current information, visit act.alz.org/illinois.

–Woodford County News Briefs–