“The Radium Girls” is the subject of a number of upcoming programs at the Pekin Public Library and Pekin Community High School. The programs tell the story about female factory workers in the 1920s who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. Some of the infected women worked at a factory in Ottawa, Illinois.

STATE

Registered voters angry about budget woes: Poll

Illinois registered voters are mad as hell.

Data from a recent poll show that Illinois registered voters are angry about the state’s current deficits and want their governor to make long-term fiscal health a priority for Illinois now and in 2019. The results come from a poll that AARP commissioned.

Pollsters, Alan Newman Research, questioned registered voters ages 25 and older in Illinois in July 2018 on behalf of the AARP state office in Illinois. Most voters, across all political parties, say they are angry about the state’s current fiscal deficits and view this as the top most important issue in the state right now.

Key findings include:

• Two-thirds (65 percent) of Illinois registered voters ages 25 and older rate their anger about Illinois’ current fiscal situation as a ‘4’ or a ‘5’ on a scale of one to five (‘5’ meaning extremely angry).
• Most (84 percent) Illinois registered voters agree that the governor and state legislature need to make the state’s fiscal problems the top priority in 2019, with 65 percent saying they strongly agree.
• Nearly six in 10 (59 percent) Illinois registered voters support a graduated income tax structure as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal problems.
• Most (70 percent) oppose taxing retirement income as a way to help solve the state’s fiscal problems.
• Most (73 percent) Illinois registered voters know someone considering leaving Illinois to live elsewhere and half (49 percent) have considered relocating themselves.​

The research firm completed 1,202 telephone interviews, 600 via landline and 602 via cell phone. Data are weighted by age and gender according to the February 2018 Illinois state voter database statistics.

Voters will choose between incumbent Bruce Rauner and challenger J.B. Pritzker Nov. 6, to be governor for the next four years.

COUNTY

Clerk encourages voting, warns against fraud

Tazewell County residents who want to cast votes now or register to vote in the Nov. 6 election can do both at the Tazewell County Clerk ‘s office.

County Clerk Christie A. Webb warns the public about bogus phone calls from people claiming to represent an organization that provides voter registration assistance and mentions the clerk’s office. The callers ask the recipients if they want to register to vote or request an absentee ballot over the phone. Webb wants the public to know that her office does not solicit phone calls or calls potential voters about registering.

She urges the public to report such phone calls, and not to give any significant personal information such as date of birth, physical address, or partial Social Security numbers over the phone.

Anyone with questions or concerns should call the clerk office at 309-477-2267.  Voters will find additional information about the general election online at tazewell.com/CountyClerk/CountyClerkElections.html.  

PEKIN

Library, high school present series about poisoned female factory workers

The Pekin Public Library, in partnership with Pekin Community High School, is offering a number of programs about female factory workers who contracted radiation poisoning from painting watch dials with self-luminous paint. Painting was done by women at three different sites in the United States, one being the facility in Ottawa, Illinois, beginning in the early 1920s. 

The series, “Radium Girls,” offers opportunities to learn about the women and a piece of Illinois history. All programs are free. They are:

• “Marking Time: The Radium Girls of Ottawa”
  6:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Pekin Public Library
  Author Heinz Suppan will present his book “Marking Time” and tells the story of the young women who worked at the luminous dial company in Ottawa, who became ill from using radium paint. 
• Book2Art: “Radium Girls” by Kate Moore
  6:30 p.m. Oct. 18 Pekin Public Library
  Love to read and craft? The library’s group will discuss the book, “Radium Girls,” by Kate Moore and create a glass etching. 
• “Radium City” Documentary
  11 a.m. Oct. 19 at the Pekin Public Library
  The library will show the documentary about the women who fell victim to the radium poisoning in Ottawa.
• Scenes from “Radium Girls”
  2 p.m. Oct. 19 Pekin Public Library
  Actors from Pekin Community High School’s show, “Radium Girls,” will perform scenes from the show.
• Pekin Community High School Presents “Radium Girls”
  6:30 p.m. Nov. 1
  6:30 p.m. Nov. 2
  2 p.m. Nov. 3
  Performance will take place at Pekin Community High School Theater. Tickets are $5 for adults, and $3 for students. Tickets available in advance at the Branch Finance Office at Pekin Community High School, or at the door the night of the performance.

For more information about all the programs, contact the specific location: the library at 309-347-7111 or pekinpubliclibrary.org, and the high school at 309-347-4101.

Fall Fun Fest to be held downtown

Pekin’s Fall Fun Fest will be the last of five events that the city has been hosting since the summer. The event will be held from 5-11 p.m. Oct. 12, in downtown Pekin.

At the Fall Fun Fest, there will be a craft beer tasting at a Maquet’s Rail House booth. The band, Stone Cold Cowboys, will perform. There will also be a bonfire, food trucks, caramel apples and kettle corn for sale, face painting, a balloon artist, a bounce house and rides for children. The kids’ event will go until 8 p.m. Admission is free, as are the rides, bounce house, face painting and balloons.

A bonfire will be lit in the vacant lot next to the Pekin Daily Times’ building at 306 Court.

To set up for the festivities, Court Street will be closed off between Third and Fourth streets and Capitol Street will be closed between Elizabeth and Margaret streets starting at 2 p.m. Parking is available at a lot near Fast Dragon at Third and Margaret.

Park district plans Fall Festival

Pekin Park District’s Fall Festival will be held from 3-6:30 p.m. Oct. 13 at Soldwedel Program Center, 207 McNaughton Park Road. Activities will include games, food, hayrack ride, touch a truck, face painting, crafts and food. The public is invited to come dressed in family-friendly costumes.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–