Woman’s Club names new officers The Metamora Woman’s Club has named new officers for the 2015-16 year. Back Row: Jolene Pelton, recording secretary, Louise Wells , corresponding secretary, Sue Devine and Sandy Madsen, co-presidents. Front Row: Mary Ann Spencer, treasurer, Jo Crow, second vice president, and Cyndi Ginder, first vice president. (Photo courtesy of the Metamora Woman’s Club)

Region

ICC Teacher of the Year awarded book contract

Joe Chianakas, professor of communication at Illinois Central College and former English teacher at Metamora High School, has signed a contract for a horror fiction series through Distinguished Press. The first book, “Rabbit in Red”, was released Sept. 29. ICC recently awarded Chianakas with its Gallion Award, the highest teaching honor for full-time faculty. While working on “Rabbit in Red”, Chianakas collaborated with a variety of local artists, most notably local pop-punk band Terribly Happy, comprised of current and former ICC students, who produced “Enter the Rabbit,” an adrenaline-pumping song inspired by the novel.  The book is available online through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major booksellers. I Know You Like a Book in Peoria Heights will host Chianakas for a party and book signing this month. The party will include live music by Terribly Happy and a costume contest — dress as your favorite horror character for a chance to win prizes. In addition to teaching, Chianakas, 36, runs the Cougar Karate Club at ICC and teaches fitness classes at the ICC CougarPlex.

Region

Central Illinois  Goodwill hosting veterans programs

Central Illinois Goodwill based in Peoria will be hosting a variety of programs to assist veterans  during the month of October.  Veterans Benefits Workshops during the week of Oct. 12-16. The workshop will cover Veterans Administration health, compensation, and pension benefits.  Goodwill will be running  mock job interview sessions for veterans from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Oct. 8. Staff will guide you through a mock interview asking common interview questions and providing feedback to ensure veterans are prepared for the real deal. On Wednesday, Oct. 14,  there will be a program on substance abuse group for veterans at 10 – 11 a.m.  This workshop is for veterans who are struggling with alcohol or substance abuse. Learn coping skills and share your story with others dealing with similar concerns.  To schedule appointments for these programs, call (309) 682-1113 ext. 2149 or ext. 2121. For more information,  visit http://www.goodwillpeo.org.

Complaints filed against 11th Circuit Court judges

Two judges from the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, which includes Ford, Woodford, Logan, McLean and Livingston counties,  will be appearing before the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board later this month. Judges Scott Drazewski and Rebecca Foley will be answering to complaints filed in 2014 that stated the two engaged in improper conduct between Dec. 5, 2010 and Feb. 16, 2011 when their hidden romantic relationship is alleged to have influenced their judicial conduct, according to reports.  The two were married to other people at the time, but have since divorced from their respective spouses, according to reports.  The complaint says Drazewski failed to recuse  himself from proceedings that involved Foley’s then husband, Joe Foley. Drazewski did eventually remove himself from five of Joe Foley’s cases  in February 2011, according to reports,  and then took himself off of two other hearings in March of that year.

Drazewski and Rebecca Foley jointly filed a response to the complaints in September 2014 asking that the  complaint be dismissed, according to reports.  Drazewski has been a circuit court judge since 2002 and he will be on the ballot for retention in  2016. Foley has been a circuit court judge since her 2012 election and she will be on the ballot for retention in 2018. The hearing before the  Judicial Inquiry Board will be held in Chicago. If the complaint is upheld, the state courts commission could sanction both judges and those sanctions could include reprimand, censure, suspension with or without pay, removal from office or forced retirement.

Eureka

College dedicates renovated arena and convocation center

Eureka College held a ceremony on Oct. 1  (CHECK THIS) for its renovated arena and convocation center. The gymnasium, previously known as the “Reagan Gym” in honor of brothers and Eureka alumni Ronald and Neil Reagan,  will now be known as the Christine Bonati Bollwinkle Arena and Convocation Center inside the Reagan Athletic Complex located on Reagan Drive.

The renovation cost  $2 million renovation and was paid for entirely by donors, according to the college. Bollwinkle did cover some of the costs, but the college did not make public the amount.

Other donors “purchased” seats in the center at a cost of $1,000 to have their names put on the seats.  The center will include 1,000 seats for sporting events such as basketball and volleyball games,  and 1,500 seats for special events, according to the college. The renovation work is part of the college’s Ivy Project: Historic Campus Construction, which includes more than $18 million in construction projects.

College’s Melick Library holding book sale

Melick Library, located at the corner of College Avenue and Darst Street, will hold its annual book sale from 2 to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10 during the college’s homecoming activities. The library is accepting donations of gently used books and audio-visual materials for the sale. Items in bags or boxes labeled “book sale” may be dropped off at the circulation desk. Hardcover books will cost $1, and paperbacks will cost 50 cents. A $1-a-bag sale will begin at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 10.

There will be a large mix of fiction and nonfiction genres for sale, with the areas of art, music, theater, history, religion, and literature well-represented, according to Public Services Librarian Kelly Fisher. Sometimes book sale donations end up in the library collection, according to Library Director and College Archivist Anthony Glass.

The library welcomes donations of books and historical materials for its archives throughout the year. For more information, contact Fisher or phone 467-6892.

Metamora

Park Board in need of secretary

The Metamora Park District is seeking applicants for the position of Metamora Park Board Secretary. This is a part-time position (approx. 6-8 hrs per month/some evening hours). Duties include but are not limited to recording, preparing and distributing meeting minutes, agendas, reports and ordinances; updating the website calendar; and completing the OMA and FOIA certification. Those interested in the position can submit a resume and proposal to:
metamoraparkboard@gmail.com or MPD P.O. Box 633 Metamora, IL 61548. The Park District requests no phone call inquiries.

–Woodford County News Briefs–