Architectural rendering of new skilled nursing facility planned for West Peoria.  Image courtesy of Jenny Fulton, Director of Strategic Communications for Peoria County.

WEST PEORIA — Since 1848, Peoria County has owned and operated a skilled care nursing home that serves county residents.
The County’s newest skilled care nursing home has been under construction since September of 2011 and is now starting to take shape.

CHILLICOTHE — In the month of October of 2011, IVC High School in Chillicothe donated 6,839 pounds of clothing and shoes to Goodwill, during the third annual Recycle Your Own contest.

ELMWOOD — A group of over 100 students from Elmwood Junior High School are recording interviews and gathering artifacts for the purpose of documenting the history of the Village of Elmwood.

As part of the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program, the group seventh and eighth grade students are collecting primary sources, including original documents, objects, films, interviews and photographs that record a time, place or event in Elmwood history.

PEORIA — The north side of the City of Peoria is continuing to grow commercially.

A new commercial development is expected to bring at least three retail outlets, including a Walgreens, McDonald’s and Schnuck’s supermarket, to the northern edge of Peoria.

PEORIA — In 2011, 3,180,714 people rode CityLink buses, the most riders the Greater Peoria Area Mass Transit District has ever had in a year.

It was only the second time that over 3 million people had rode CityLink buses during a period of one year, since the Transit District was formed in 1970.

Photo by News Bulletin Staff.

PEORIA — One day prior to the 75th anniversary of its original opening, the Peoria Public Library McClure Branch facility reopened January 7, after being closed for nearly a year for renovations.

PEORIA — Without a classroom, teaching music at Thomas Jefferson Primary School is a challenge for Elizabeth Smiley.

PEORIA — OSF Healthcare System is one of 32 health care systems in the country piloting a new federal model designed to lower costs while providing quality care to Medicare recipients.

Sunset view of former Peoria International Airport terminal building and control tower.  Photo by News Bulletin staff. 

PEORIA —Peoria Metro Construction has started to dismantle the exterior of the former Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport terminal building that serviced airline passengers for 72 years.

Image provided by First Presbyterian Church of Elmwood.

ELMWOOD — When church members decided to build the First Presbyterian Church in Elmwood 118 years ago, they refused to borrow money to construct and furnish the two-story building.
According old historical records furnished by church members, the motto of those church members was “build only what can be paid for dedication.”

PEORIA — Peoria County Geographic Information Systems is providing real estate professionals, residents and other consumers with a more convenient method of checking the assessed values of properties in Peoria County.

PEORIA —Several Bradley University students and alumni gathered on campus last week to protest their disapproval of the university’s revised condom distribution policy that will take effect next semester.

Photo by News Bulletin staff.

PEORIA — While big box supermarkets have forced nearly all of the “mom-and-pop” grocery stores in the area to close down, one locally-owned grocery store is still standing tall – even after a fire destroyed its facility less than a year ago.  Haddad’s West Peoria Market, 2407 W. Rohmann Ave., West Peoria, opened Tuesday for the first time since a fire of an unknown origin turned the grocery store facility into a pile of burnt rubble on December 31, 2010.

PEORIA —The future of the City of Peoria lies in its youth. That is why the Heartland Foundation/CEO Roundtable has collaborated with School District 150 to launch a new program that helps third grade students in the district develop the reading skills they need to be successful in school and in the professional world.

Peoria's Hotel Pere Marquette.  Photo by Jason Howell.

PEORIA — For the first time since 1983, the historic Hotel Pere Marquette is going to shut down.
On December 2, the Hotel Pere Marquette will close to allow construction crews to transform the 84-year-old, 284-room hotel into a luxury, four-star hotel.

PEORIA — Don’t be surprised if you see more airplanes flying in and out of the north side of Peoria next fall.
A planned extension of the runway at Mount Hawley Airport, 1320 W. Bird Blvd., Peoria, is expected to attract more airplanes to the airport.

Future Peoria Riverfront Museum - Water Street Entrance.  Photo provided.

PEORIA — After over a decade of planning and preparation, the 81,000 square-foot Peoria Riverfront Museum is less than a year away from its grand opening.
The $140 million museum located on a seven-acre block that boards Washington, Liberty and Water streets in Downtown Peoria is scheduled to open October 20, 2012.

PEORIA — The United States Department of Transportation recently awarded the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission a $160,000 grant to study the feasibility of establishing a proposed Peoria-to-Bloomington-Normal passenger rail service that would connect the greater Peoria area to the upcoming Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail corridor.

DUNLAP — For over five years, a Central Illinois organization has been providing spay/neuter services at discounted prices, in an attempt to stop the overpopulation of pets that leads to the euthanasia of dogs and cats.

Photo by News Bulletin staff.

The Kane County Board has designated a 101-year-old church in Pingree Grove as a county landmark.

Music Director Mei-Ann Chen leads Chicago Sinfonietta’s world premiere of “Under the Night Sky” Nov. 5 at North Central College.

PEORIA —Those passing through the security screening checkpoint at the Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport will no longer have to worry about being patted down by a security guard when they alarm the metal detector.