Our Vision: To be the trusted partner for the Pekin business community. Our Mission: To foster and promote a vibrant business environment for the benefit of our members.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets Welcomed to Chamber
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Membership Renewals
Advance Medical Transport ~ American
Milling Company ~ Atlas Supply Company
Bill Neff Video Productions ~ Bremer
Jewelry ~ CDS Office Technologies
Farnsworth Group ~ Fort Toyota ~ Lynn
Glover ~ Godfathers Pizza
Good Shepherd Lutheran School ~ Hamm's
Furniture Inc.
Kroger Limited Partnership, LLC ~ NTS
Telephone Company
P & W Builders ~ Pekin First Church
of the Nazarene ~ Pekin Pride Soccer Club
Phillips Tax Service ~ Savant Capital
Management ~ Seico Security Systems
Townsquare Media ~ Velde Ford Sales ~
WMBD TV / WYZZ TV
Business After Hours
July 12Timbercreek Rehab and Health Care
2220 State Street
Pekin, IL
Reservations appreciated
346-2106 or e-mail us at info@pekinchamber.com
Don't miss this opportunity to network with fellow
chamber members and community leaders.
You'll also enjoy refreshments, door prizes and tours or information from our
hosts.
Calendar of Events
July 4 – Honor America Fireworks
July 11 – Member Promotions Comm.
July 11 – Executive Board
July 11 – Board of Directors
July 11 – Marigold Festival Committee
July 12 – Business After Hours
July 18 – Ambassadors Meeting
July 31 –
Business Advocacy Committee
Biz Barometer
Local
Economy Continues to Gain Momentum |
Pekin’s unemployment rate fell from 8.0% in April of
2012 to 7.7% in May of 2012. That’s the
fourth straight month of decline, and the lowest unemployment rate in Pekin
in 40 months (December of 2008)
|
The number of people employed in Pekin (16,289) in
May of 2012 was 60 more than April of 2012 and the fourth consecutive month
of job growth.
|
The number of people employed in the Peoria region
(188,362) in May of 2012 was 6,015 more than January of 2012 and also marks
the fourth straight month of job growth.
|
Nationally,
the nonfarm payroll employment changed little in May (+69,000), and the U.S. unemployment
rate was essentially unchanged at 8.2 percent. Employment increased in health care,
transportation and warehousing, and wholesale trade but declined in
construction.
|
Pekin’s sales tax disbursement received from the
state in June was 5.8% greater than June of 2011.
|
Pekin’s sales tax disbursements received from the
state for the last 3 months were 6.5% greater than the same three months in
2011.
|
East Peoria continues to lead the communities on
the East side of the Illinois River, with a 13.1% increase in sales tax
disbursements received from the State in June, compared to the June of
2011. Morton (5.3%) and Washington (5.5%)
also saw healthy gains for the same comparison period.
|
The number of residential units sold in the 61554
zip code for the first 5 months of 2012 is 6.1% greater than the first 5
months of 2011.
|
The average sales price of residential units in
the 61554 zip code for the first 5 months of 2012 is $108,040. That is 4.7% greater than the average sales
price for the first five months of 2011.
|
Sources: Illinois Department
of Employment Security; Illinois Department of Revenue; Peoria Area
Association of Realtors; Bureau of Labor Statistics
|
PNC Announces New Branch Manager
PNC Bank is proud to
announce Phillip Gelato as the new Branch Manager of your local PNC Pekin
location! With Phil's history in customer service and strong drive to be a
valuable member of your community, we are excited to see what he will
accomplish. We invite you to stop by the location during normal business hours
to meet Phil in person.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The Tazewell County Jaycees Happy Hour Trivia Night
The Tazewell County Jaycees Happy Hour Trivia Night on Thursday, July 12 will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Central Illinois Chapter.
Trivia Night will be held at EP’s Timeout, 1101 E. Washington St., East Peoria. Registration begins at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person.
Get a team together and come out for the fun!
The Alzheimer's Association – Central Illinois Chapter is a donor-supported, not-for-profit health organization serving 20 counties in Illinois. For additional information or for help, please visit the website at www.alz.org/illinoiscentral or call 800.272.3900.
Trivia Night will be held at EP’s Timeout, 1101 E. Washington St., East Peoria. Registration begins at 6 p.m., and the game starts at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $10 per person.
Get a team together and come out for the fun!
The Alzheimer's Association – Central Illinois Chapter is a donor-supported, not-for-profit health organization serving 20 counties in Illinois. For additional information or for help, please visit the website at www.alz.org/illinoiscentral or call 800.272.3900.
Goodwill Receives Grant to Support Homeless Veterans
Goodwill of Central
Illinois has been awarded a grant for $200,000 from the Department of Labor.
The money will be used to assist homeless veterans with job training and job
placement. The grant was awarded under the DOL’s Homeless Veterans
Reintegration Program (HVRP). Goodwill of Central Illinois is the only grant holder for this program
in Illinois, south of Cook County.
Any homeless veteran with a
discharge, other than dishonorable, is eligible for the program. Goodwill staff
will assist the participants with computer training, job readiness training and
job placement. Each veteran receives one-on-one instruction on Microsoft Office
computer programs, resume writing, interviewing skills and job search methods.
A Goodwill job placement specialist works with local business to find
employment that fits each veteran’s skill set.
In 2011, under a previous
HVRP grant, Goodwill placed 52 homeless veterans into jobs. “We are grateful
and excited to be able to continue this program,” said Patty Fuchs, President
and CEO of Goodwill of Central Illinois. “We have been serving local veterans for
three years under this grant and we look forward to continuing this important
work. These men and women deserve all of the resources we can provide.”
Goodwill of Central Illinois is a non-profit organization that provides
job training, career and vocational services to veterans, individuals and
families who are working to better their lives. Revenues from the sale of donated
or recycled items support the Vocational Services programs of Goodwill. For more information visit www.goodwillpeo.org or call the Administrative
Offices at (309) 682-1113.
The Center of Prevention of Abuse's "The Duck Race" Fundraiser
The Duck Race is The Center for Prevention of Abuse’s largest fundraiser. This year will be the 24th Annual Duck Race! On August 26, 2012 approximately 20,000 little yellow rubber ducks will be dropped into the Illinois River, all “racing” to the finish line to win SpecQuackular Prizes! Grand prize is $5000 sponsored by South Side Bank!
There are two easy ways to enter the Duck Race. One, you can stop by the designated location in Pekin on Saturday Aug 18th at Associated Bank from 9am until 1pm and purchase your duck then. Two, you can enter the race online at www.duckrace.com/peoria. When you buy a duck, we enter your name into our Duck Race system and a number will be assigned to each of your ducks in the race. Each duck will have a lucky number attached to the bottom of it!
McDaniels Marketing Launches PowerInternal To Help Organizations Achieve Service Excellence
“Research shows that
recruiting and retaining the best possible team and maintaining a satisfied,
engaged, aligned workforce will correlate with organizational success and
customer satisfaction,” Randall McDaniels, president of the full-service
marketing communications agency, stated. “However,
many organizations do not have the resources, time or expertise to focus on
achieving workforce excellence. That’s why we launched PowerInternal.” He added
that the program is collaborative because “our experts, both human
resource professionals and internal marketing consultants, work closely with an
organization’s leadership team and frontline staff throughout the entire
process.”
To
accomplish client goals, PowerInternal employs a six-step process (1)
gathering/analyzing relevant data, (2) identifying key priorities and
developing metrics, (3) leveraging organizational strengths in practice and
people, (4) analyzing the performance management system, (5) launching an
internal marketing campaign and (6) marketing the employment brand.
Collaborative strategic involvement with an organization’s leadership and
focusing on human potential, PowerInternal aids in the development of effective
solutions and forward-thinking strategy. The team of experts at McDaniels
Marketing provides a variety of talent, tools and resources flexible to an
organization’s unique set of challenges.
“Organizations should view PowerInternal
as a sound investment in their overall successes,” McDaniels said. “It empowers people to achieve excellence by creating more
positive, efficient, harmonious and productive work environments. And that, in
turn, will positively impact organization’s bottom line.”
For more information, visit powerinternal.com or call Melanie Long, Organizational
Development Consultant, at (309) 346-1919.
McDaniels
Marketing draws on nearly 45 years of experience to help
strategically plan and execute marketing tactics for clients throughout
the Midwest and serves a variety of industries including agricultural,
financial, governmental and industrial/B2B companies. The agency also has client
service offices in Rockford, Ill. and the Quad Cities. McDaniels Interactive
specializes in developing websites, animation, videos, e-surveys, kiosks,
ecommerce, content management systems, search engine
marketing, optimization and social media to fit a variety of budgets. McDaniels
Healthcare was established in 1989 and has provided award-winning services
to hospitals, physician practices and medical organizations throughout
Illinois. McDaniels Promotional
Products was established in 2010 and provides a gamut of products from
t-shirts and tradeshow giveaways to high-end promotional packages that help
clients achieve good lasting impressions.
Welcome New Member: Patrick Oberle
Law Office of Patrick E. Oberle, PC, 2807 Broadway, Suite B, Pekin, IL 61554; (309) 3475984; fax 347-5988
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Allentown Road Closed for Repairs
Beginning Tuesday, June 26th, Allentown Road, South of Morton, between Baer Road and 4th Avenue, will be closed for bridge repairs. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routs. The closure will last approximately 2 to 3 weeks, weather permitting. This repair is a result of damage to the bridge from a recent accident.
Pekin Hospital's New Pediatrics Opens
A ribbon cutting celebrated Pekin Hospital's new 10-bed pediatric unit on 4 North. Pediatrics had been located on 5 South. The relocation and remodeling was a two-year project at a total cost of $1.5 million. You can see more pictures from this and other chamber events at http://picasaweb.google.com/PekinChamber
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Pekin Main Street to Host July Jubilee Carnival
Pekin Main Street will be hosting a carnival as part of the first ever July Jubilee, July 4th-July 7th in downtown Pekin. This family friendly event will feature rides, games and food by Miller Spectacular Shows.
The carnival will be on the empty lot formerly home to Vogel’s Grocery store on 2nd Street and Sabella Streets in downtown Pekin. Visitors are encouraged to park in the vacant lot closes to the T-Shirt House and in the lot at Riverfront Park. Hours for the Carnival are: July 4th – 4:00pm-11:00pm, July 5th – 4pm-10pm, July 6th – 3:00pm-11pm and July 7th – 1pm-10pm.
A portion of the proceeds from the carnival will be donated back to Pekin Main Street, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization with a mission to preserve, restore and revitalize downtown Pekin.
For more information, contact the Pekin Main Street office at (309) 353-3100 or visit www.pekinmainstreet.com.
The carnival will be on the empty lot formerly home to Vogel’s Grocery store on 2nd Street and Sabella Streets in downtown Pekin. Visitors are encouraged to park in the vacant lot closes to the T-Shirt House and in the lot at Riverfront Park. Hours for the Carnival are: July 4th – 4:00pm-11:00pm, July 5th – 4pm-10pm, July 6th – 3:00pm-11pm and July 7th – 1pm-10pm.
A portion of the proceeds from the carnival will be donated back to Pekin Main Street, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization with a mission to preserve, restore and revitalize downtown Pekin.
For more information, contact the Pekin Main Street office at (309) 353-3100 or visit www.pekinmainstreet.com.
CEFCU Announces Retirements and Management Moves
CEFCU announces the retirements of Melody Dickerson, Pete Jain, Linda Keyser, and Marianne Moll. Tim Dunton has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer; Denise Ghere, Joe Varda and Dave Zimmerman have been promoted to Vice President; and Todd Haller becomes Vice President of Auditing & Risk Management.
Dickerson has been an employee of CEFCU for 38 years, serving as the Chief Technology Officer since 2007. Her retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Jain has been an employee of CEFCU for 32 years, serving as Vice President of Cash Management since 1996. Jain’s retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Keyser has been an employee of CEFCU for 34 years, serving as Internet Information Security Manager since 2001. Her retirement is effective July 1, 2012.
Moll has been an employee of CEFCU for 33 years, serving as Vice President of Auditing & Risk Management since 2003. Moll’s retirement is effective July, 1, 2012.
Dunton was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. His job responsibilities include overseeing technological resources for the Credit Union as well as directing the future development and acquisition of new technology for the Credit Union.
Ghere was promoted to Vice President of Electronic Funds Transfer. Her job responsibilities include research and development of new products and services and enhancement of existing products, services, and delivery channels.
Haller will assume the position of Vice President of Auditing and Risk Management. His job responsibilities include development and implementation of a robust risk infrastructure and internal controls framework. In addition, he will lead efforts to interpret and apply new audit and regulatory concepts efficiently and effectively.
Varda has been promoted to Vice President of Cash Management. His job responsibilities include managing CEFCU's Investment Portfolio, providing liquidity, and facilitating the cash management process.
Zimmerman has been promoted to Vice President of Information Services. His job responsibilities include overseeing CEFCU’s Information Services’ Programming, Operations, Network Communications, Internet Services, and Information Security areas.
With assets totaling over $4.8 billion, CEFCU serves over 288,000 members through
20 central Illinois Member Centers and 3 Member Centers in Santa Clara County, California; the CEFCU Financial Center; the Money Center 24 ATM Network; CEFCU’s website, cefcu.com; cefcu.mobi; the surcharge-free CO-OP ATM Network; and the CU Service Center Shared Branch Network.
Dickerson has been an employee of CEFCU for 38 years, serving as the Chief Technology Officer since 2007. Her retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Jain has been an employee of CEFCU for 32 years, serving as Vice President of Cash Management since 1996. Jain’s retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Keyser has been an employee of CEFCU for 34 years, serving as Internet Information Security Manager since 2001. Her retirement is effective July 1, 2012.
Moll has been an employee of CEFCU for 33 years, serving as Vice President of Auditing & Risk Management since 2003. Moll’s retirement is effective July, 1, 2012.
Dunton was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. His job responsibilities include overseeing technological resources for the Credit Union as well as directing the future development and acquisition of new technology for the Credit Union.
Ghere was promoted to Vice President of Electronic Funds Transfer. Her job responsibilities include research and development of new products and services and enhancement of existing products, services, and delivery channels.
Haller will assume the position of Vice President of Auditing and Risk Management. His job responsibilities include development and implementation of a robust risk infrastructure and internal controls framework. In addition, he will lead efforts to interpret and apply new audit and regulatory concepts efficiently and effectively.
Varda has been promoted to Vice President of Cash Management. His job responsibilities include managing CEFCU's Investment Portfolio, providing liquidity, and facilitating the cash management process.
Zimmerman has been promoted to Vice President of Information Services. His job responsibilities include overseeing CEFCU’s Information Services’ Programming, Operations, Network Communications, Internet Services, and Information Security areas.
With assets totaling over $4.8 billion, CEFCU serves over 288,000 members through
20 central Illinois Member Centers and 3 Member Centers in Santa Clara County, California; the CEFCU Financial Center; the Money Center 24 ATM Network; CEFCU’s website, cefcu.com; cefcu.mobi; the surcharge-free CO-OP ATM Network; and the CU Service Center Shared Branch Network.
Welcome New Member: Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets
Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets, 466 Wildwood Drive, Groveland, IL 61535; phone: (309) 267-6253; email: EnviroDryCleanCarpets@gmail.com; website: www.envirodryllc.com; Nick Fleming, Owner. Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets is a dry extraction carpet cleaning system that leaves carpets clean and dry for immediate use. It lifts and revives matted carpet pile, cleans and improves the look of high traffic areas, leaves a fresh clean scent, and deep cleans to remove spots and spills. The system reduces dust mites, allergens and mold spores, with Green-Sealed certified products that are safe for the whole family.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Fleming Completes First Year at Institute for Organzation Management; Receives Sam's Club Scholarship

Fleming was also the recipient of a Sam’s Club scholarship. Awarded to 20 first-year attendees from across the U.S., the Sam’s Club scholarships recognize individuals that exhibit excellent nonprofit management practices in several areas, including involvement in professional industry organizations, community involvement and demonstrated leadership.
“The U.S. Chamber is proud to partner with Sam’s Club to provide dedicated professionals like Bill Fleming the opportunity to attend Institute and educate them on how to better represent their members and expand their organizations’ influence,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, vice president of Institute for Organization Management at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We are pleased to help these talented individuals advance their careers and organizations, and we appreciate the commitment from Sam’s Club to the business community.”
“Institute participants are recognized across the country as leaders in their communities,” said. Towle. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”
Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has educated tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions offered at five different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.
Graduates of Institute receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.
Institute is a 501(c) (3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the premier nonprofit professional development program for nonprofit professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
Gregg Ratliff Joins Herget's Trust and Investment Management Group
Ratliff comes to Herget after being publisher of The Pekin
Daily Times newspaper, serving in that capacity for 7 years.
Active in community affairs, Ratliff serves on the City of
Pekin EDAC and Human Rights Committees, is the Treasurer of the Pekin Area Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors, and is an elder at Pekin First Church of God.
Gregg and his wife Debbie reside
in Pekin. They have one son Todd and three grandsons.
Welcome New Member: First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 1201 Chestnut Street, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: (309) 347-5519; fax: (309) 347-8839; email: fccpekin@grics.net; website: www.firstchristianpekin.org; Michael Roberts, Pastor. Business hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 3:30pm.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Goodwill Opens New Store
Goodwill of Central
Illinois will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for its newest store on Friday,
June 15 at 9:00 a.m. The store is located at 3905 N. University in Peoria.
A grand opening
celebration will be held on Friday, June 15 and Saturday, June 16. Anyone who
spends more than $25 on either day can enter into a drawing for a 50” LG Plasma
TV. The first 10 shoppers who find a “mystery item” will win $25 in Goodwill
gift certificates. Complimentary hamburgers and hotdogs will be served on
Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The store is equipped to
accept donations with a convenient drive up donation drop off. The new store on
University will replace the Goodwill store on War Memorial, which has been
closed. “This store would not be possible without donations from the people of
central Illinois,” said Patty Fuchs, Goodwill’s President & CEO. “We want
to make sure that our donors know that they fill our stores and make what we do
possible.”
Goodwill of Central Illinois is a non-profit organization that provides
job training, career and vocational services to veterans, individuals and
families who are working to better their lives. Goodwill also operates a youth
mentoring program for at-risk youth ages 12 to 17. Revenues from the sale of
donated or recycled items support the Vocational Services programs of
Goodwill. For more information on retail
stores, donation centers and vocational services, visit the website at www.goodwillpeo.org or call the
Administrative Offices at (309) 682-1113.
Illinois American Water Awards Approximately $70,200 through 2012 Firefighter Grant Program
Approximately
$70,200 will be awarded to 65 fire departments across the state through
Illinois American Water’s 2012 Firefighter Grant Program. The program was created in 2010 to provide financial assistance to fire and
emergency organizations serving customers in Illinois American Water’s service
area. Since creation, the program has resulted in 148 grants totaling approximately $173,000 awarded
across the state.
“We are committed to supporting our local fire departments,” said Karla Olson Teasley, president of Illinois American Water. “This program enables us to further support fire protection in the communities we serve and partner with our local fire fighters.”
Illinois American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program awards grants up to $1,500 to provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling
equipment, training materials and classroom programs. The grants presented by Illinois American Water were presented to the following Illinois fire departments:
Northern Illinois
Des Plaines Fire Department
Elgin Fire Department
City of Elmhurst Fire Department
Homer Township Fire Protection District
Lemont Fire Protection District
Morris Fire Protection District
Mount Prospect Fire Department
Northwest Homer Fire Protection District
Orland Fire Protection District
Oswego Fire Protection District
Plainfield Fire Protection District
Prospect Heights Fire Protection District
South Beloit Fire and Rescue
Sterling Fire Department
Streator Fire Department
Dana Fire Protection District
Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
Long Point Community Volunteer Fire Protection District
Reading Volunteer Fire Department
Central Illinois
Edge-Scott Fire Protection District
St. Joseph – Stanton Fire Protection District
Tolono Fire Protection District
Urbana Fire Rescue Services
Tuscola Fire Department
Lincoln Fire Department
Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District
Cincinnati Fire Protection District
Pekin Fire Department
Dunlap Fire Protection District
Limestone Township Fire Protection
Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District
Tuscarora Fire Department
City of Peoria Fire Department
West Peoria Fire Protection District
Pontiac Fire & Rescue
Saunemin Fire Protection District
Southern Illinois
Alton Fire Department
Godfrey Fire Protection District
QEM Fire Protection District
Holiday Shores Fire Department
City of Cairo Fire Department
Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department
Belleville Fire Department
Columbia Fire Protection District
Church Road Fire Protection District
East St. Louis Fire Department
East Side Fire Protection District
Fairmont City Fire Department
Fairview Caseyville Township FP District
French Village Fire Department
Granite City Fire Department
Hamel Community Volunteer Fire Protection District
Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department
Madison Fire Department
Mascoutah Fire Department
Millstadt Union FD/Millstadt FPD
Mitchell Fire Department
Northwest St Clair County Fire Protection District
O'Fallon Fire Department
Sauget Fire Department
Signal Hill Fire Department
St. Louis Downtown Airport Fire Department
Swansea Fire Department
Villa Hills Volunteer Fire Department
Waterloo Fire Department
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality
and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and
research laboratory in Belleville. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in
Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately
15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
“We are committed to supporting our local fire departments,” said Karla Olson Teasley, president of Illinois American Water. “This program enables us to further support fire protection in the communities we serve and partner with our local fire fighters.”
Illinois American Water’s Firefighter Grant Program awards grants up to $1,500 to provide personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling
equipment, training materials and classroom programs. The grants presented by Illinois American Water were presented to the following Illinois fire departments:
Northern Illinois
Des Plaines Fire Department
Elgin Fire Department
City of Elmhurst Fire Department
Homer Township Fire Protection District
Lemont Fire Protection District
Morris Fire Protection District
Mount Prospect Fire Department
Northwest Homer Fire Protection District
Orland Fire Protection District
Oswego Fire Protection District
Plainfield Fire Protection District
Prospect Heights Fire Protection District
South Beloit Fire and Rescue
Sterling Fire Department
Streator Fire Department
Dana Fire Protection District
Grand Ridge Volunteer Fire Department Inc.
Long Point Community Volunteer Fire Protection District
Reading Volunteer Fire Department
Central Illinois
Edge-Scott Fire Protection District
St. Joseph – Stanton Fire Protection District
Tolono Fire Protection District
Urbana Fire Rescue Services
Tuscola Fire Department
Lincoln Fire Department
Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District
Cincinnati Fire Protection District
Pekin Fire Department
Dunlap Fire Protection District
Limestone Township Fire Protection
Logan-Trivoli Fire Protection District
Tuscarora Fire Department
City of Peoria Fire Department
West Peoria Fire Protection District
Pontiac Fire & Rescue
Saunemin Fire Protection District
Southern Illinois
Alton Fire Department
Godfrey Fire Protection District
QEM Fire Protection District
Holiday Shores Fire Department
City of Cairo Fire Department
Cairo Auxiliary Fire Department
Belleville Fire Department
Columbia Fire Protection District
Church Road Fire Protection District
East St. Louis Fire Department
East Side Fire Protection District
Fairmont City Fire Department
Fairview Caseyville Township FP District
French Village Fire Department
Granite City Fire Department
Hamel Community Volunteer Fire Protection District
Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department
Madison Fire Department
Mascoutah Fire Department
Millstadt Union FD/Millstadt FPD
Mitchell Fire Department
Northwest St Clair County Fire Protection District
O'Fallon Fire Department
Sauget Fire Department
Signal Hill Fire Department
St. Louis Downtown Airport Fire Department
Swansea Fire Department
Villa Hills Volunteer Fire Department
Waterloo Fire Department
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality
and reliable water and/or wastewater services to more than 1.2 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and
research laboratory in Belleville. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in
Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately
15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Pekin Main Street Farmer’s Market kicks off June 21st
Pekin Main Street’s annual Downtown Outdoor Market begins on Thursday June 21st, in historic downtown Pekin next to the Tazewell County Courthouse on Capitol Street.
This weekly open-air market will be held on Thursday evenings, June 21-September 20, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, plants, fresh cut flowers, herbs, bakery items, canned items, crafts and more. Free entertainment will be held on selected weeks on the Courthouse lawn.
The Pekin Main Street Farmer’s market was a recipient of a LINK UP Illinois Grant. LINK Up Illinois is a program of Experimental Station in partnership with Wholesome Wave and the Illinois Farmers Market Association.. This grant will allow those that use their LINK cards at the Pekin Main Street farmer’s market to receive a dollar to dollar match for their purchase amount up to $10.00 (per cardholder per market day). This is a win-win situation for vendors and community members alike – vendors will have access to new customers
For more information or to become a vendor, please call the Pekin Main Street office at (309) 353-3100 or visit www.pekinmainstreet.com.
Illinois American Water Accepts National Communication Achievement Award
Illinois American Water was selected by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to receive the
2011 Communications Achievement Award in recognition of the company’s outreach
regarding proper pharmaceutical disposal. The award recognizes AWWA member
organizations for fostering and supporting the development of public outreach
programs and integrating public affairs as a core element of utility planning
and management. Past recipients include San Francisco (Calif.) Public Utility
Commission Water Quality Div., Metro Vancouver (B.C.), City of San Diego
(Calif.) Public Utilities Department and Denver (Colo.) Water.
Illinois American Water President Karla Olson Teasley and
External Affairs Manager Karen Cotton accepted the award during AWWA’s
national conference on Monday, June 11, 2012 in Dallas, TX. Working in
collaboration with Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P2D2) and
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Illinois American Water
launched a public awareness campaign to educate the public about proper
pharmaceutical disposal.
Goals of the program include increasing awareness and
reducing pharmaceuticals in water through the creation of community
pharmaceutical disposal programs. Through these community programs supported by
Illinois American Water, residents are encouraged to drop off their unwanted
medications so they can be incinerated, which is the Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) recommended approach for pharmaceutical disposal. Flushing
medications down the toilet or the drain as well as throwing them in the trash
are discouraged.
According to Deirdre Mueller, Public Affairs Manager for
AWWA, “Many accomplished individuals and organizations were considered and the
selection process was rigorous. AWWA’s Public Affairs Council selection
committee was very impressed by the work Illinois American Water completed in
2011.”
Through partnership with local pharmacies, police
departments and government officials, Illinois American Water has implemented
and supported 28 pharmaceutical disposal programs across the state including
sites in Alton, Bartonville, Belleville, Caseyville, Champaign, Chicago (two
sites), Chillicothe, Collinsville, Columbia, Dixon, Fairmont, Maryville,
Morrison, Mt. Vernon, O’Fallon, Orland Hills, Pekin, Peoria (three sites),
Peoria Heights, Pontiac, South Beloit, Sterling, Streator, Urbana and Waterloo.
The pharmaceutical disposal programs are created through
the model program P2D2 which was developed by Pontiac Township High School
students and their teacher Paul Ritter. P2D2, is recognized by Illinois
Governor Pat Quinn, the Illinois EPA and the Department of Natural Resources as
a model for all pharmaceutical disposal programs. Through Illinois American
Water’s and P2D2’s efforts, thousands of pounds of unwanted medications have
been properly disposed. More information and disposal locations can be found at
http://www.epa.state.il.us/medication-disposal/locations/
About AWWA
Founded in 1881, AWWA is an international nonprofit
educational association dedicated to safe water and the authoritative resource
for knowledge, information, and advocacy for improving the quality and supply
of water in North America and beyond.
About Illinois American Water
Illinois American Water, a wholly owned
subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water
utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or
wastewater services to more than 1.2 million people. American Water also
operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research
laboratory in Belleville. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest
publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in
Voorhees, N.J., the company employs more than 7,000 dedicated professionals who
provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately
15 million people in more than 30 states, as well as parts of Canada. More
information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com
.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Pekin Hospital Awarded an "A" for Patient Safety
Pekin Hospital was honored with an “A” Hospital Safety ScoreSM by The
Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other
large purchasers of health benefits. The Hospital Safety ScoreSM was
calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s Blue Ribbon Expert Panel
using publicly available data on patient injuries, medical and medication
errors, and infections. U.S. hospitals were assigned an A, B, C, D, or F for
their safety.
“We understand what matters most to patients atPekin Hospital
– safe, effective care. That’s why we
have made a commitment to positive patient outcomes through evidence-based care
processes. It’s gratifying to see that
our efforts have resulted in us earning an ‘A’ for patient safety,” said Kevin
Andrews, Pekin Hospital CEO.
“It’s The Leapfrog Group’s goal to give patients the information they need and deserve before even entering a hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the hospitals that earned an ‘A’ and we look forward to the day when all hospitals in the U.S. will earn the highest scores for putting patient safety first.”
To see Pekin Hospital’s scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org, the Hospital Safety ScoreSM website,which also provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay.
Calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s nine-member Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 26 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors. The panel includes: John Birkmeyer (University of Michigan), AshishJha (Harvard University), Lucian Leape (Harvard University), Arnold Millstein (Stanford University), Peter Pronovost (Johns Hopkins University), Patrick Romano (University of California, Davis), Sara Singer (Harvard University), Tim Vogus (Vanderbilt University), and Robert Wachter (University of California, San Francisco).
The Leapfrog Group (www.leapfroggroup.org) is a national organization using the collective leverage of large purchasers of health care to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality, and affordability of health care for Americans. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey allows purchasers to structure their contracts and purchasing to reward the highest performing hospitals. The Leapfrog Group was founded in November 2000 with support from the Business Roundtable and national funders, and is now independently operated with support from its purchaser and other members.
“We understand what matters most to patients at
“It’s The Leapfrog Group’s goal to give patients the information they need and deserve before even entering a hospital,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We congratulate the hospitals that earned an ‘A’ and we look forward to the day when all hospitals in the U.S. will earn the highest scores for putting patient safety first.”
To see Pekin Hospital’s scores as they compare nationally and locally, visit www.hospitalsafetyscore.org, the Hospital Safety ScoreSM website,which also provides information on how the public can protect themselves and loved ones during a hospital stay.
Calculated under the guidance of The Leapfrog Group’s nine-member Blue Ribbon Expert Panel, the Hospital Safety Score uses 26 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to produce a single score representing a hospital’s overall capacity to keep patients safe from infections, injuries, and medical and medication errors. The panel includes: John Birkmeyer (University of Michigan), AshishJha (Harvard University), Lucian Leape (Harvard University), Arnold Millstein (Stanford University), Peter Pronovost (Johns Hopkins University), Patrick Romano (University of California, Davis), Sara Singer (Harvard University), Tim Vogus (Vanderbilt University), and Robert Wachter (University of California, San Francisco).
The Leapfrog Group (www.leapfroggroup.org) is a national organization using the collective leverage of large purchasers of health care to initiate breakthrough improvements in the safety, quality, and affordability of health care for Americans. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey allows purchasers to structure their contracts and purchasing to reward the highest performing hospitals. The Leapfrog Group was founded in November 2000 with support from the Business Roundtable and national funders, and is now independently operated with support from its purchaser and other members.
Bard Optical Celebrates 26 Years in Business
Bard Optical Pekin office will celebrate 26
years in business in July. Opened by Dr. A. Arthur Bard in 1941 in downtown
Peoria, Diana Hall purchased the practice in 1981 and has grown Bard Optical to
19 locations in Central and Southern Illinois. Please join us in celebrating
the Anniversary of Bard’s Pekin office by
stopping in and congratulating Dr. Shelley, Alicia, Office Manager and the Pekin staff.
Pekin Hospital Selects CEO

“We are pleased that Gary and his family will be moving to Pekin and joining a strong Senior Management Team and Medical Staff to provide excellent leadership at Pekin Hospital. He brings CEO healthcare experience and is excited to build on the strengths of our organization. We have received nothing but positive feedback about his performance. He has high expectations and requires accountability by working in collaboration with people to achieve objectives. He and his wife are excited about becoming members of the Pekin community,” said Kriegsman.
“Quorum Health Resources (QHR) wants to thank Rich Kriegsman and Pekin Hospital’s Board of Trustees for their leadership in this time consuming selection process. Pekin Hospital has ended up with a very qualified and deserving candidate who will continue to lead and build on the sound base that Kevin Andrews has established,” added Gerald Parton, QHR Regional Vice President.
Jepson most recently served for nine years as President/Chief Executive Officer of Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos. Prior to that, he served as Chief Executive Officer at Tahlequah City Hospital in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He has more than 25 years of healthcare experience, which includes serving in CEO, COO, and CFO positions in for-profit, public, not-for-profit, and faith-based organizations. His professional experience has provided him with significant opportunities as a leader to successfully address the issues that make organizations thrive including performance in financial, clinical, operational, and strategic areas.
Jepson received a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration degree from Walla Walla College in College Place, Washington and a Master’s Degree in Health Administration from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
According to Jepson, “I have been impressed with the medical staff and leadership at Pekin Hospital and the collegial relationships that exist. It is refreshing to see the board, medical staff and leadership team working so well together. Equally impressive are Pekin Hospital’s stellar quality, patient satisfaction and physician satisfaction scores. It’s the combination of these positive indicators that reinforce my confidence in Pekin Hospital’s future. I look forward to continuing to build upon all of the successes Pekin Hospital has achieved.”
Jepson and his wife Deidre are the parents of two adult children. They currently reside in San Marcos, Texas. In his spare time, Jepson enjoys running, domestic travel, investing in waterfront real estate, and NFL football.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Heartland Bank Adds Justin Nelson as Pekin Branch Supervisor
Heartland Bank and Trust Company proudly announces the hiring of Justin Nelson as Branch Supervisor for the branches located at 3400 Court St. and 2807 Broadway Rd. in Pekin. Nelson is responsible for overseeing daily sales and customer care activities at the branches.
Nelson brings seven years of banking and financial experience to Heartland Bank, acquiring skills as a Teller, Personal Banker, Investment Banker and, most recently, a Branch Supervisor. He graduated with a B.S. degree from Western Illinois University.
Nelson is active in the local area in a variety of ways including: Canton Kiwanis Club—Vice President, Fulton County Pink, Inc.—Treasurer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fulton County—Board member, and City of Canton—Alderman. A Canton native, he now makes his home there with his wife, Alicia, and their son, Lucas.
Heartland Bank and Trust Company is an independently owned community bank with assets of $1.9 billion. Headquartered in Bloomington, IL, the bank has offices in 30 communities throughout Illinois and Northeast Missouri. The bank offers a complete line of financial services to commercial and retail customers. More information is available on the bank’s website at www.hbtbank.com.
Nelson brings seven years of banking and financial experience to Heartland Bank, acquiring skills as a Teller, Personal Banker, Investment Banker and, most recently, a Branch Supervisor. He graduated with a B.S. degree from Western Illinois University.
Nelson is active in the local area in a variety of ways including: Canton Kiwanis Club—Vice President, Fulton County Pink, Inc.—Treasurer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Fulton County—Board member, and City of Canton—Alderman. A Canton native, he now makes his home there with his wife, Alicia, and their son, Lucas.
Heartland Bank and Trust Company is an independently owned community bank with assets of $1.9 billion. Headquartered in Bloomington, IL, the bank has offices in 30 communities throughout Illinois and Northeast Missouri. The bank offers a complete line of financial services to commercial and retail customers. More information is available on the bank’s website at www.hbtbank.com.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
12th Annual United Way Golf Classic
You are invited to join United Way for their 12th Annual Golf Classic to benefit the United Way of Pekin. This event will be held at the Sunset Hills Golf Course on July 18th. Lunch will begin at 11am with shot gun starting at 12pm. Dinner will follow at approximately 5:30pm at the Sunset Hills Golf Club. Your donation of $90 per player or $360 for a team of four will help provide vital services and programs in the Pekin community supported by the United Way. You can also show your support by becoming a sponsor for this great event! July 6 is the registration deadline. To register, call Jay Fitzanko (309) 346-2433
Welcome New Member: CrossFit Trilogy LLC
CrossFit Trilogy LLC, 905 Derby Street, Pekin, IL 61554; phone: (309) 222-5765; email: info@crossfit-trilogy.com; website: www.crossfittrilogy.com; Jacob Condis, Co-Owner; Kelly Madden, Co-Owner; Gavin Vansaghi, Co-Owner. CrossFit uses the power of a dedicated community to change people's lives through fitness training and nutritional counseling. They focus on functional movements in three areas: olympic weightlifting, gymnastics, and metabolic conditioning. They also offer MMA and self-defense classes for those interested in martial arts.
Welcome New Member: Sam's Club
Sam's Club, 4100 W Willow Knolls Drive, Peoria, IL 61615; phone: (309) 691-4545; fax: (309) 691-4757; email: mjenkin.s08128.us@samsclub.com; website: www.samsclub.com; Mike Jenkins, Manager. Business hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 8:30pm, Sunday 10am - 6pm.
Quality, name-brand merchandise at exceptional prices: It sounds simple enough, but at Sam’s Club, it’s a concept they take to a higher level. Their nearly 600 locations are not only terrific places to save money, but also destinations for solutions that can help ease a busy schedule. Whether stocking a pantry or a business, selecting new electronics or getting ready for a party, our Members count on Sam’s Club as their source for the products and services they need to keep things running smoothly.
Quality, name-brand merchandise at exceptional prices: It sounds simple enough, but at Sam’s Club, it’s a concept they take to a higher level. Their nearly 600 locations are not only terrific places to save money, but also destinations for solutions that can help ease a busy schedule. Whether stocking a pantry or a business, selecting new electronics or getting ready for a party, our Members count on Sam’s Club as their source for the products and services they need to keep things running smoothly.
Next Tazewell Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee Meeting June 20
The next meeting of the Tazewell County Walk to End
Alzheimer’s committee will be at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 20 at the Miller
Senior Center, 551 S. 14th St.
The 9th annual Tazewell County Walk to End
Alzheimer’s will be held Sept. 22 at Mineral Springs Lagoon in Pekin.
Walk To End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to
raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Walks
will be held at eight locations across the Alzheimer’s Association – Central
Illinois Chapter region as well as nationwide.
For questions or more information, e-mail Walk Chairwoman
Teresa Tucker at teresattucker@aol.com
or Walk Director Breeana Hill at breeana.hill@alz.org,
or call 309.681.1100.
Learn all about the walk and donate to a participant or a
team at http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk/IL-CentralIllinois?pg=entry&fr_id=1332.
The Alzheimer's Association – Central Illinois Chapter is a
donor-supported, not-for-profit health organization serving 20 counties in
Illinois. The Association serves the needs of those affected by Alzheimer’s and
related dementias, advocates for policy change and research funding, and works
in conjunction with the National office to advance research toward prevention,
treatment, and a cure.
For additional Alzheimer's Association information or for
help, please visit the website at www.alz.org/illinoiscentral
or call 800.272.3900.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)