http://www.woodfordtimes.com/section/community woodfordtimes.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 2:07:51 +0000 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130618/NEWS/130619643/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:22:31 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130618/NEWS/130619643/1003/NEWS Bartels, the former editor of the East Peoria Times-Courier, won in Division B in both original column and headline writing.]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130617/NEWS/130619705/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 18 Jun 2013 9:18:08 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130617/NEWS/130619705/1003/NEWS Dr. Rebecca Wood, Gayla Scott and the staff of Beltone of Central Illinois received the Beltone’s Circle of Excellence Award at the Beltone Owner Leadership Development Conference in Tuscon, Ariz.
The award honors the "best of the best" among all Beltone practitioners nationwide.
The Circle of Excellence Award is designed to recognize and reward individuals for outstanding achievement in operating all [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130617/NEWS/130619704/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 18 Jun 2013 9:17:57 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130617/NEWS/130619704/1003/NEWS SPRINGFIELD — In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, Illinois Department on Aging Director John K. Holton encouraged people to report suspected cases.
Research shows that elder abuse is one of the biggest issues facing older adults. The national observance attempts to shine a light on the problem of physical, emotional, and financial abuse of elders.
The Department has an Elder Abuse [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130612/OBITUARIES/130619873/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:40:42 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130612/OBITUARIES/130619873/1003/NEWS http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619903/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:58:03 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619903/1003/NEWS METAMORA — Raindrops keep falling on residents' heads, but that doesn't mean the Metamora Park District pool has suffered through the stormy weather.
Pat Marchand, Metamora Park District pool assistant manager, said the pool opened only one day late because of cold weather.
Scheduled to open June 3, the pool instead opened for the first day this summer June 4.
http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619907/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:27:25 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619907/1003/NEWS METAMORA — The Village Board encountered resident complaints at its June 4 meeting in regards to a remote parking ordinance passed at the May 21 board meeting.
The ordinance states that no one can park their car in front of a residence that is not their own for more than eight hours. Trustee Doug Hawk asked the attorney to draft the ordinance because of a truck parked in front of his home for several weeks.
http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619909/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:22:30 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619909/1003/NEWS GERMANTOWN HILLS — Brian Wysocki, Germantown Hills village trustee, raised concerns about the new mayor and new village trustees following a string of village board meetings that occurred after the election.
Wysocki said he is concerned with Mayor Jeff DeGroot’s political dealing with former Germantown Hills village clerk Ann Sasso and several executive sessions called without Wysocki and Trustee Theresa Olsen’s prior knowledge. [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619913/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:18:55 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619913/1003/NEWS METAMORA — Every first and third Tuesday of the month, former Metamora Village Clerk Connie Neahring would enter the Village Hall grinning from ear to ear.
Residents, as well as the Metamora Village Board, will no longer see that smile spread across her face as of the June 4 Village Board meeting.
Neahring and her husband decided in 2010 to move to Washington to build their dream home.
http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619916/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:08:38 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619916/1003/NEWS The Great Race, the world’s premiere old car rally, is expected to bring up to 100 antique automobiles to the Gateway Building at the Peoria RiverFront for the $150,000 event. Participants will eat lunch overlooking the Illinois River.]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619946/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:26:46 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130611/NEWS/130619946/1003/NEWS METAMORA — As the general manager, Ellen Kennel said she wants to make one thing clear: Didley’s Car Hop in Metamora is not closing.
However, Didley’s will start to lose some available outdoor activities, such as the movie theater, kid’s train and carnival rides.
Kennel said she and her husband, Bob, found out last year that they cannot afford the cost associated with switching to digital [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130610/NEWS/130619981/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:52:51 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130610/NEWS/130619981/1003/NEWS The federal/state Disaster Recovery Center in Woodford County will close at 7 p.m. June 14 because of low numbers of people coming in for assistance.
Disaster Recovery Center Manager Richard Kelly said some days he would see as many as eight people walk through the doors, and other days, only two.
Kelly said the problem lies with not knowing who needs disaster recovery assistance and in what area.
http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130610/NEWS/130619973/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:20:34 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130610/NEWS/130619973/1003/NEWS SPRINGFIELD — Governor Pat Quinn announced June 7 that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood appointed Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider to the National Freight Advisory Committee.
Schneider's appointment by US DOT recognizes Illinois' role as a transportation hub for the movement of freight for industry, agriculture, manufacturing, labor and business communities.

The National Freight Advisory [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130610/NEWS/130619974/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:20:23 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130610/NEWS/130619974/1003/NEWS The Riverfront Museum will be hosting its first public blood donation drive from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday in honor of World Blood Donor Day and Flag Day.
For more information, call 686-7000.
 
]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130605/NEWS/130609791/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Thu, 6 Jun 2013 9:00:00 +0000 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130605/NEWS/130609791/1003/NEWS The Ram Truck brand and Sam Leman Chrysler Jeep Dodge are bringing the award-winning Raminator, driven by Hall Brothers Racing, to Sam Leman Chrysler Jeep Dodge, 161 Detroit Avenue, Morton, starting at noon on June 14 for an experience the family will enjoy.
 
Check out the power behind the wheels of the Raminator at 7 p.m. as it crushes over 8,000 pounds of steel during the car crash.
http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130604/NEWS/130609880/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Tue, 4 Jun 2013 10:10:19 +0000 http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130604/NEWS/130609880/1003/NEWS Peoria Municipal Band will provide free entertainment at 7 p.m. June 5 and 9 in Peoria.
The band will perform June 5 at the Warehouse District in Peoria near Kelleher’s Pub at 619 SW. Water St.
The concert June 9 is at Glen Oak Park at 2218 N. Prospect Road.
The band is celebrating its 76th anniversary.
]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609937/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Mon, 3 Jun 2013 13:09:29 Justin Miller http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609937/1003/NEWS One Germantown Hills school is teaching students in a completely unique environment.
Germantown Hills Middle School has been taking its students to its learning garden since August 2006.
"It was originally created by an education foundation by the school with endowment money left to do a garden," Cathy Bandeko, who manages the garden, said. "The education committee came up with more funds and the idea was to [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609938/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Mon, 3 Jun 2013 13:04:34 Nick Vlahos GateHouse Media Illinois http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609938/1003/NEWS EUREKA — Whether some Woodford County Board members favor economic development initiatives doesn’t appear to be in question.
But how those initiatives are handled probably will be debated thoroughly over the next few months.
Later this spring or sometime this summer, the Woodford County Board is likely to vote on approving money for Focus Forward CI, a recent effort to promote regional economic [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609939/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Mon, 3 Jun 2013 12:55:12 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609939/1003/NEWS METAMORA — Randy Toepke, Metamora Township High School superintendent, MTHS principal Sean O’Laughlin and MTHS assistant principal Pete List are always striving for a better school.
Their latest goal for graduation rates: get the percent graduated to 95 for the 2013-14 academic year.
"I think that’s a very legitimate number to look for," Toepke said. "And if we can carry our seniors for four [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609943/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Mon, 3 Jun 2013 12:44:33 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609943/1003/NEWS The Germantown Hills branch of PNC Financial Services Group will close Aug. 16 as part of a companywide effort to provide better online banking customer service.
To notify Germantown Hills customers of the branch closure, PNC sent a letter to the village May 21.
Marcey Zwiebel, PNC Financial Services Group vice president and senior manager, said electronic banking continues to rise with as many as 15,000 mobile [...]]]> http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609944/1003/NEWS?rssfeed=true Mon, 3 Jun 2013 12:40:08 Sean McGowan http://www.woodfordtimes.com/article/20130603/NEWS/130609944/1003/NEWS METAMORA ­— The Metamora Police Department is looking at adding a K-9 unit for the purposes of search and rescue and drug-crime prevention.
Metamora Police Chief Mike Todd proposed this idea to the Village Board in May. The chief said he wanted a dog for a while but the department was not in a position to get one until now.
One of the reasons for the K-9 is to detect drugs in the schools’ [...]]]>