Despite the hard economic times this holiday season, the community has pulled together to ensure that the children at Head Start schools have a merry Christmas.

East Peoria streets supervisor Ric Semonski has a New Year’s resolution. He wants to get a jump start on planning for the city’s street repairs next year.

Even though the District 309 school board approved the hiring of a new bus driver Monday night, several others bus drivers fear losing their jobs.

Bradley University president Joanne Glasser said she wants to make attending the university more affordable and accessible to hard-working students.

A new Presidents’ Partnership Scholarship has been established for Illinois Central College students who want to transfer to Bradley University.

The East Peoria Police Department has issued a traffic collision alert.

The Village of Creve Coeur has issued a parking ban on all streets in the village. Do not park any vehicles on the street until the parking ban has been lifted or they will be towed. This ban is effective today, Dec. 16, until further notice.

PARKING BAN
Issued at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 16 – The City of East Peoria has issued a parking ban until further notice. Vehicles should not be parked on the streets until the parking ban has been lifted. Vehicles left on the street during a parking ban can be ticketed and towed.
 
 
SNOWPLOW UPDATE
Issued at 2:20 p.m. Dec. 16 –City of East Peoria snowplow crews are currently working on clearing main streets and hills. Snowfall is expected to end before midnight with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. After the snow ends around midnight, crews will begin working on side streets, completing all streets by approximately 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Alexa Anders, 5, and Norah Anders, 3, both of Morton, feed Santa's "future reindeer" at the Festival Building Sunday. The deer are owned by Chad Hunziker of Hunziker Deer Farm in Eureka. The deer will be at the Festival Building again from 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 21.

Caterpillar Inc. and Richard Childress Racing have announced a multi-year partnership for the 2009 NASCAR season. To celebrate the announcement, driver Jeff Burton traveled to East Peoria to meet Caterpillar employees and tour the CAT facilities Monday.

A flag raising ceremony and official opening of Folepi’s Freedom Park occurred Sunday at RiverFront Park in East Peoria (behind Wal-Mart SuperCenter).

The owners of a new business along East Washington Street are brewing up some concoctions to help perk up East Peoria residents in the mornings.

The Bean, a new coffee shop at 117 E. Washington St. near Beck’s Florist, will open its doors before Christmas.

East Peoria streets supervisor Ric Semonski is concerned about this winter.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s bureau of operations notified county engineers, public works directors and mayors it will limit the salting of interstate shoulders and only utilize partial crews for the night shift this winter.

The Tazewell County Museum is outgrowing its space before it even moves there.
Christal Dagit is the director of the Tazewell County Museum and Educational Center, president of the Tazewell County Historic Places Society and president of the French Heritage Corridor.
Dagit said the museum moved from a location on Broadway to its current site at the Sunset Shopping Plaza two years ago.

A flag raising ceremony in the Festival of Lights’ new patriotic-themed display coincided with Pearl Harbor Day. Featured at the event was the dedication and raising of the new 20-foot by 30-foot American flag on an 80-foot flagpole, part of the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce’s RiverFront Freedom Memorial project occurring in conjunction with the City of East Peoria.

On Wednesday, the Tazewell County Health Department will hold a collection event at Lowe’s in East Peoria from 4 to 7 p.m. Unwanted medicines and compact fluorescent light bulbs will be accepted at this event.