Doctors Stephen Bash, Richard Pearl and Jitendra Shah have been honored by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-18th) and Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-17th) with an official Congressional Record for their for outstanding careers.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Session will train volunteers to aid in natural disasters

Training for second responders, people who assist with recovery efforts after first responders deal with a crisis, will be held March 16. The six-hour session will teach the volunteer Lutheran Early Response Team how to assist with recovery efforts following disasters such as tornadoes.

Such as in the case of fallen trees, LERT volunteers with chain saw training cut up trees and move them aside so vehicles can get through and the cleanup can start.

The central Illinois district LERT will host its response training course at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 13443 Townline Road, Green Valley. Training topics will include deployment operations, proper attire, working as teams in disasters, property management and comfort dogs.

The central Illinois LERT has about 950 members.  

Doctors receive national honor for career work

Three OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois physicians have been presented with a Congressional Record, honoring their careers dedicated to transforming the landscape of pediatric care in the Peoria community.

Dr. Stephen Bash, Dr. Richard Pearl, and Dr. Jitendra Shah were recognized by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-18^th Dist.) and Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-17^th Dist.) who presented them with an official Congressional Record, which recognize distinguished constituents for outstanding service. With more than 75 years of service collectively, the physicians, who recently announced their retirements, cared for countless children and pioneered medical breakthroughs in central Illinois.   

The three physicians transformed the face of OSF Children’s Hospital, patient care and the community by advocating for the expansion of services for children and, later, the JUMP Simulation and Education Center. Their efforts were instrumental in the construction of the new OSF Children’s Hospital building, which opened in 2010, and was largest construction project in the history of Peoria. In 2013, the $51 million JUMP Center opened, redefining clinical training and revolutionizing patient care.

PEKIN

Family Tree stores face closure

Dollar Tree Inc., the parent company of the budget stores Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, has announced the closing of 390 Family Dollar stores in 2019. Family Dollar has one store in Pekin at 1101 Derby.

The future of these stores has not yet been announced, while the company contemplates future plans. Those plans include the rebranding of 200 Family Tree locations to Dollar Tree stores. A thousand remaining stores are set for renovations and will incorporate new $1 Dollar Tree merchandise and alcohol sections. 

The news comes on the heels of the company trying to revamp these stores last year to make them more exciting for shoppers.

Dollar Tree and Family Dollar are budget-friendly stores, known for selling groceries, accessories, and home goods at prices that start at $1 and don’t typically go past $10. The two stores used to be rival discount chains, but in 2015, Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar for $8.5 billion.

Pekin’s Got Talent contestants to perform

Pekin residents can show off their talents at Pekin’s Got Talent 6 p.m. March 16 at First Baptist Church of Pekin, 700 S. Capitol St. Doors will open at 5:15, and admission is free. The family-friendly show will feature singers, bands, comedy acts, dancers and other entertainers who will compete for cash prizes courtesy of Autumn Accolade Licensed Assisted Living. The first-place winner will receive $500; second-place $250; and third-place $100.

EAST PEORIA

Quest holds ‘70s Throwback Prom

Quest Charter Academy’s third annual Throwback Prom fundraiser will be held at 7 p.m. March 15 at Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino, 21 Blackjack Blvd., East Peoria. Adults of all ages can enjoy live music from JammSammich, heavy hors d’oeurves, photos, a raffle and a cash bar at this 1970s-themed event. Tickets are $50 each and are available at questthrowbackprom.com.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–