STATE

New hotline to help opioid addicts, families

Gov. Bruce Rauner has announced a statewide hotline created to get immediate help to individuals and families affected by opioid addiction. With the help of the Opioid Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force, this helpline will provide information on addiction treatment resources and recovery-support services.

“This helpline will provide a quick way for Illinoisans struggling with dangerous addictions to access resources, treatment options, and support,” Rauner said. “We are focused on helping them get on the road to recovery to combat further drug overdose tragedies.”

In launching the helpline, Rauner will tackle the opioid crisis and combat the growing number of overdose deaths related to heroin, other opioids and synthetics like fentanyl. Administration officials have been meeting throughout the year to establish an agenda to combat the epidemic. Rauner unveiled the Opioid Action Plan and signed Executive Order 17-05, creating the Opioid Overdose Prevention and Intervention Task Force this year. The task force was charged with building strategies that would help reduce projected opioid overdose-related deaths by one-third within the next three years.

Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav Shah co-chair the task force, which was responsible for implementing new programs and policies.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Chorale to present holiday concert

The Peoria Area Civic Chorale, under the direction of Joseph D. Henry, will present An American Family Christmas concert at Five Points Washington. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and Dec. 16 and 3 p.m. Dec. 17.

Featured works will include contemporary arrangements of popular holiday songs and carols.

Shelby Jones Wehrenberg, lyric soprano, will perform as a soloist and join the Civic Chorale for a setting of Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” Wehrenberg attended Illinois Wesleyan, the American Institute of Musical Study in Graz, Austria and Butler University where she studied under Eureka native Thomas Studebaker, the Chorale’s spring 2017 concert guest soloist. She has performed in Europe.

Special to the Dec. 15 performance will be two festival choruses of more than 170 youth combined from fourth grade through junior high from a dozen community schools.

Each performance will feature a talented teen Young Artist competition winner. Megan Ciko of Germantown Hills will perform Dec. 15, Lauren Williams of Washington Dec. 16, and Colin Hislope of Bartonville Dec. 17.

The Chorale’s 30-voice Youth Chorus also will perform a set of songs at each concert including “The First Noel,” which will be sung collaboratively with the adult choir.

New this year is the opportunity for children to greet Santa live on stage. Sisters from the Order of St. Francis of Immaculate Conception in West Peoria also will be in the lobby selling their exclusive Christmas ornaments based on the card designs of Rolan Johnson, whose artwork has graced the Chorale’s posters since 1987.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $8 for students. Tickets are available by phone (309) 693-6725, online at peoriacivicchorale.org, and at the door. 

PEORIA

Honors go to residents whose work makes a difference

The Peoria City Council honored the 2017 Neighborhood Leadership Award recipients at its Dec. 12 meeting. These awards pay tribute to contributions by local leaders and businesses who work to uplift neighborhoods and improve the community. This year’s winners include:

• Mayor’s Award: Willa Lucas

Recognizes a person whose efforts over a number of years has resulted in a positive change physically or socially in the quality of life in their neighborhood and the city.

• Ted Bannon “Brick” Award: Todd Davis

Awarded to a person who engages civic leaders (i.e., City Council, business and community stakeholders) in the completion of specific neighborhood improvement projects.

• Richard “Fuzzy” Lenz Award: Jessie McGowan

Honors a behind-the-scenes person who personally assists neighbors with no expectation of recognition or reward.

• Business Award: Headz Up Barber Shop

Given to a business that has demonstrated a commitment to improving the community.

• Pride in Peoria Award: Lueshand Nunn and James Bryson

Honors individuals, groups or organizations that have made a significant contribution to improve the Peoria environment.

• Youth Award: Anthony Foster

Presented to a youth under the age of 18 who has worked with adults and peers toward improving their community.

• Grass Roots Award: Girls Light Our Way

Given to individuals, groups or organizations that have created an organic movement to positively effect change in the community.

Home for the Holidays promotes pet adoption

Peoria County Animal Protection Services and Peoria Humane Society are working together to offer their Home for the Holidays pet adoption promotion, urging an easy way to acquire a new pet before Christmas.

Gifts of a new pet must be given to members of the same household, preferably from parents or guardians to children.

The promotion works this way:

• Adopt an animal by Dec. 22;
• Make a $50 donation to the Peoria Humane Society; and
• Schedule a time that Santa can visit on Dec. 23 to deliver the pet.

Deliveries are limited to within 20 miles of the PCAPS Shelter, 2600 NE Perry Ave., Peoria. The shelter is also offering gift certificates that may be used for a cat, dog or small animal adoption, so that recipients may choose the pet themselves.

For more information, contact Peoria County Animal Protection Services at (309) 672-2440 or bdomenighini@peoriacounty.org.

Chris Setti

New CEO to lead economic development council

The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council’s Board of Directors approved Chris Setti as the incoming CEO of the organization. He begins in his new role on Jan. 15.

Setti has had an extensive career in public service, including 13 years at the city of Peoria. For the last five of those years he has led the city’s economic development efforts while serving as the assistant city manager.

Setti replaces Dennis Kief, interim CEO since the departure of Jennifer Daly in July 2017. Daly led the restructuring of the organization over the previous three years.

The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council serves Peoria, Logan, Mason, Tazewell and Woodford counties, a federally designated five-county economic development district. in collaboration with local economic and workforce development professionals, the organization drives economic growth in Greater Peoria through targeted business and talent development and attraction.

–Peoria County News Briefs–