The Eureka Kiwanis Club has new officers. They include (from left) Janelle Yow, Jyl Zubiate, Nancy Aldridge and Courtney Newell. Ron Givens (center), Kiwanis Division 20 immediate past lieutenant governor.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Search continues for CEO to lead economic development

September has come and gone, and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council is still looking for a leader. The region’s economic development arm had initially thought a new chief executive officer would have been hired by September, about three months after its first leader resigned to take another job.

The Greater Peoria EDC has released a new position description soliciting applicants for the CEO post by Nov. 17. In part, the CEO is responsible for leading the strategies and operations of the Greater Peoria EDC. The CEO sets the stage for regional collaboration, coordination and alignment among dozens of local organizations.

The position has been vacant since July when Jennifer Daly left to return to Iowa for an economic development job there. She’d been the group’s only full-time CEO since its inception in its current form.

For more information on the GPEDC, go to greaterpeoriaedc.org. To apply for the job, submit a cover letter and resume in a PDF format to Melissa Oliveri at moliveri@greaterpeoriaedc.org. Cover letters may be addressed to Board of Directors Chair Diana Hall.

State Farm restructures IT; offers buyouts

State Farm has announced plans to restructure its information technology department over the next year, resulting in some job loss. However, the company says it will continue to have the same number of workers in Bloomington-Normal.

Employees who voluntarily leave the company will receive severance packages. The Bloomington-based insurer is not releasing how many workers are expected to leave overall or what the severance packages will entail.

The number of State Farm’s Central Illinois employees will continue to be around 15,000, according to the company. State Farm has about 70,000 employees across the country.

COUNTY

Explorers learn when to use deadly force

How would you react if you had only seconds to make decision whether to use deadly force? Members of Woodford County Explorer Post 9102 recently had the opportunity to participate in training for such a situation. They participated in the AIS Shoot/Don’t Shoot training at the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Lt. Thomas Mitzelfelt instructed each Explorer on scenarios in which the Explorers had to make spilt-second decisions on whether or not to use deadly force and experience what it is like to act in a high-pressure, stressful situation.

EUREKA

Kiwanis names new officers

Kiwanis Division 20 Immediate Past Lt. Gov. Ron Givens installed the Kiwanis Club of Eureka Greater Area’s 2017-2018 officers. Those officers held their first meeting Oct. 4.

Officers are President Jyl Zubiate; President-Elect Tyler Rogers, Secretary Nancy Aldridge, Treasurer Janelle Yow and Board Members Norma Foley, Courtney Newell, Malissa Brown, Jessica Harshbarger and Ryan Jones. The meetings are held at 12:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesdays at Hardee’s, 507 W. Center St., Eureka.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. Anyone interested in service is invited to attend a meeting or to learn more about Kiwanis, call (309) 467-4750. 

CHILLICOTHE

Halloween fright dished out through October

Evil creatures lurk in Massacre Mansion. The Trail of Terror winds through a haunted forest filled with ghosts and ghouls, frighteningly twisted. Zombies scare humans as they dodge paintball barrages. All of this Halloween fun is offered at Spider Hill, 17189 N. Route 29, Chillicothe, from 6-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October. 

Massacre Mansion, the Trail of Terror, the Zombie Adventure, the paintball range, bonfire and free entertainment are in their 19th year. Attractions open at 7 p.m. and will remain open until all lines are gone. Tickets will be sold until 11 p.m. Weekend VIP areas are available for private parties. 

Admission to Massacre Mansion, Zombie Invasion and Trail of Terror, fast pass $7, general admission, $10; or all events together are $25 general admission and a fast pass is $40. With the donation of a non-perishable food item, there is a $1 per event discount.

For more information, visit www.threesisterspark.com/departments/index.php.

–Woodford County News Briefs–