A 31-foot tall bronze sculpture of Abraham Lincoln is on display as part of the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s Illinois Bicentennial exhibition, Celebrate Illinois: 200 Years in the Land of Lincoln, opening Feb. 3.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Cash award raised in Robert Bee probe

The award for information regarding the Robert Bee investigation has been increased to $2,500. The award is being financed by the Greater Peoria Area Crime Stoppers. The Pekin Police Department posted the information about the increase on its Facebook page.

The department’s Facebook post also said: “The police department continues to thoroughly investigate this case with assistance from other local police departments, Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois State Police and multiple federal law enforcement partners. We hope the increased reward will spur anyone with information about Robert’s death to come forward to law enforcement with their information.”

Robert Bee went missing Nov. 17, 2016, when he ran from a truancy officer near his Pekin home. The DNA of human bones was ruled in September 2017, to match that of Robert. To contact Crime Stoppers, call (309) 673-9000. The Pekin Police Department can be reached at (309) 346-3132.

PEKIN

Church’s breakfast to kick off festival

St. Joseph Catholic Church of Pekin will have a Sausage and Egg Breakfast from 7:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 18, in the cafeteria of St. Joseph School, 300 S. Sixth St.

St. Vincent de Paul is sponsoring the breakfast, to kick off the St. Joseph Catholic Church of Pekin’s 2018 Spring Festival. Tickets will be available at the door: $5 for adults and $3 for kids. The breakfast menu will include scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, milk, juice or coffee. Assorted donuts will be available for $1. For more information, call the church at (309) 347-6108.

Nuisance ordinance under scrutiny

The Pekin City Council is expected to vote Feb. 11 on amendments to strengthen the city’s Chronic Nuisance Ordinance.

City officials hope that a revised ordinance will change the landscape of the city by eliminating the criminal element and forcing property owners to keep their property clean and safe.

Pekin Police Chief John Dossey has submitted amendments to Pekin’s 2014 Chronic Nuisance Ordinance to the Pekin City Council to include all properties in the city — owner occupied, businesses and rentals. It defines nuisance and criminal activity that are dealt with by the city by its hearing officer and what will not be considered a nuisance and referred to criminal courts, outlines procedures and the administrative hearing process.

Local history featured state bicentennial movie series

The Pekin Public Library will show the second film in its 2018 Movie Series celebrating the Illinois Bicentennial with local Pekin and Tazewell County history. The next free movie will be shown at 11 a.m. Feb. 2, on the large movie screen in the library’s Community Room.

“Tazewell County Memories 1932-1970” will be presented by Tom Finsom, using video footage from Pekin. The film’s length is 56 minutes. For more information, call the library at (309) 347-7111, ext. 0.

MORTON

Foundation offers grant-writing help

Non-profit charities, schools and governing bodies that impacts Morton area residents are invited to submit a grant request for the Morton Community Foundation 2018 grant cycle. Because grant requests are many and the dollars available to support those requests are limited, the foundation is offering a Grant Writers Workshop at 4 p.m. Feb. 7. Information about the workshop can be found at cfmorton.org/grant-writers-workshop

PEORIA

Museum hosts first Illinois bicentennial exhibit

The Peoria Riverfront Museum is the first in the state to host an Illinois Bicentennial exhibition, Celebrate Illinois: 200 Years in the Land of Lincoln, opening Feb. 3. As part of the state-wide celebration of the 200th anniversary of Illinois becoming a state, the museum is bringing together this exhibition, which is a collection of statewide artifacts celebrating the state’s influential people, places and innovations in Illinois history.

The exhibition will showcase objects on loan from the National Park Service/Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Abraham Presidential Library and Museum, Illinois State Museum, Knox College: Archives, and Galesburg Colony Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

Lincoln, as a 31-foot painted bronze, is ushering in the exhibit. The 19-ton “Return Visit” sculpture by artist Seward Johnson is on loan for a year by the Seward Johnson Foundation.

Through a selection of artifacts, from the museum’s collection, as well as others borrowed from colleges, professional organizations, other museums and historical societies, visitors will have the chance to discover the 200 years of Illinois history through each object.

Celebrate Illinois is being curated around the concept that objects tell stories and behind each object is a person, and that person has a unique story to tell – a personal insight into the history of Illinois. The objects will highlight both well-known and lesser-known artists, innovators, abolitionists, U.S. Presidents, athletes, entrepreneurs, war veterans and celebrities. 

For more information about the exhibition at the museum, 222 SW Washington St., go to peoriariverfrontmuseum.org or call (309) 686-7000.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–