Illinois Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grades Reported by American Society of Civil Engineers; Billions in Infrastructure Investment Needed for Public Health

Illinois American Water invested about $122 million in 2018 to install or rehabilitate

more than 42 miles of water and sewer main.

The Illinois Section of American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) latest Report
Card for Illinois’ infrastructure rates the state’s water and wastewater systems each with a C- grade.
According to The Report Card, infrastructure is graded based on eight criteria: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience and innovation.

The C- grades for water and wastewater systems falls between C and D ratings which are defined respectively as mediocre, requiring attention and poor, at risk. According to report findings, a trend of underinvestment in recent years threatens Illinois’ competitive advantage and the health, safety and welfare of citizens.

This isn’t the case for Illinois American Water’s service areas according to Beth Matthews, Director of Engineering for Illinois American Water, though The Report Card highlights the urgency for infrastructure upgrades and supports the Company’s continued focus on investment across the state.

She said, “The findings provide more evidence for the need to move quickly on updating and maintaining water and wastewater systems to ensure reliable service for health, safety and economic development. Illinois American Water proactively invests annually to address these critical investment needs.”

In fact, Illinois American Water invested about $122 million in 2018 to install or rehabilitate more than 42 miles of water and sewer main. Water treatment processes, equipment, security and technology were also upgraded to comply with drinking water standards and enhance system reliability and resilience. In addition, hundreds of fire hydrants and water meters were installed or replaced across the state. The Company plans to invest over $100 million in 2019 to ensure customers receive quality, reliable service.

According to The Report Card, the required 20-year drinking water systems investment need in Illinois has grown from $17 billion in 2007 to $21.5 billion in 2017. Wastewater needs are estimated at $6.5 billion to meet the water quality and water-related public health goals of the Clean Water Act.

While it is a challenge, investing in water and wastewater systems supports not only safe drinking water and public health, but also creates jobs. “Water and wastewater infrastructure investments prove their value every day,” said Matthews.

She added, “One of the reasons we work to make our customers aware of the ASCE Report Card is to highlight the critical nature of these issues, and let them know that they already play an important role in system renewal and future reliability by simply paying their water bill.”

The rates Illinois American Water charges are based on a true-cost pricing model endorsed by the U.S. EPA, the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the National Association of Water Companies. The ASCE also supports raising the awareness of the true costs of water and solutions to increase investments in wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.

True-cost pricing ensures water and wastewater rates reflect the total cost of pumping and treating water and delivering quality service to our customer’s homes and businesses. Rates also pay for the investment Illinois American Water makes to ensure reliability and regulatory compliance – investment highlighted in the Illinois Section ASCE Report Card.

The Report Card was created to help Illinois understand the state of its infrastructure. Civil engineering experts in their respective fields from the Illinois Section of ASCE, with assistance from the Central Illinois Section, Quad Cities Section and the St. Louis Section, prepared The Report Card for Illinois’ Infrastructure. The Report Card is created to educate and advise on the condition of the state’s infrastructure using sound engineering evaluation criteria and to provide recommendations on how to raise the grade. To see the report in full visit https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/illinois/


About Illinois American Water - Illinois American Water, a 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 approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville.

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to over 14 million people in 46 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

NEW EXHIBITS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN ICC ART GALLERIES IN MARCH

               Two new exhibits open in March in the Illinois Central College art galleries, located on the East Peoria Campus.

               On March 9, the ICC Performing Arts Center Gallery hosts a reception from 4 to 5:30 pm as one of seven Peoria area sites for the 37th Bradley International Print and Drawing Exhibition, the second-longest running juried print and drawing competition in the country.

             In addition, Fem Scapes, a mixed media exhibit by Mica Lilith Smith, opens March 20 in Gallery 336B, located in the Academic Building.

               Smith is a visual artist and educator who earned her master of fine arts degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning in 2012. Her work is comprised of fabric installations, paintings, works on paper, and video. She currently lives and works in Huntsville, Texas, where she teaches fine arts foundations, drawing and painting at Sam Houston State University.

               Smith’s said her work focuses on the power of femme aesthetics – specifically those connected to trans female self-preservation and survival.

               “As a maker, I am drawn to visual contradictions: the softness and hardness that is evident in feminine and masculine aesthetics and the effects that this visual information yields upon viewers when such opposites collide in a single space,” she said in an artist statement about the exhibit.

               Smith said she calls to formalistic cues that imbue soft, haven-like configurations, while also using such elements to arrive at compositions that are, at times, foreboding and cacophonous. She aims to create works that evoke intimacy and sensual memory through a trans female lens while touching on the complexities of her own experiences as a trans woman living in, and responding to, contemporary culture.

               Both exhibits at ICC run through April 12.

               Hours of operation for Gallery 336B are Monday through Thursday, from 9 am to 5 pm and Friday from 9 am to noon. The Performing Arts Center Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm, and Friday from 9:30 am to noon. In addition, the Performing Arts Center Gallery also is accessible when the Performing Arts Center is open for public events. Operation of all galleries may vary with ICC’s holidays and breaks; call the Arts & Behavioral Sciences Department at (309) 694-5113 to verify a gallery is open.

               The exhibits are presented by the ICC Art Program and the Arts at ICC. The Arts at ICC has a rich history of enhancing the arts community and expanding education beyond the classroom. Arts at ICC presents more than 500 exhibits, performances, lectures, rehearsals, meetings, master classes, clinics, seminars, receptions, orientations, forums, auditions and tournaments annually.

               For more information or to confirm a gallery will be open at a particular time, visit ArtsAtICC.com or contact the ICC Arts and Behavioral Sciences Department at (309) 694-5113.

Goodwill to Hold Google Event

Goodwill will hold an event showcasing its collaboration with Google. Attendees can learn about Goodwill’s free computer educational services, Google’s job search tools and Google’s digital skills curriculum.

WHAT: Grow with Goodwill & Google

WHEN: Thursday March 21, 2019
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

WHERE: Goodwill Commons
2319 East War Memorial Dr., Peoria

Goodwill funds their free services through the sale of donated goods. These services include: job placement assistance and training, veterans’ support services, a 15-bedroom veterans’ home, youth mentoring and youth career planning programs and more.
Goodwill of Central Illinois is a non-profit organization supporting individuals and families who are working to better their lives. For more information on retail stores, donation centers and free services, visit the website at www.goodwillpeo.org or call the Administrative Offices at (309) 682-1113.

February Biz Barometer

CASA Ribbon Cutting

To effectively serve abused and neglected children in Tazewell County, CASA opened a new branch office in Pekin. The Court Appointed Special Advocate of the Tenth Judicial Circuit have staffed the Pekin office since July of 2018.  Ryan Lacerna and Matt Collins have been working full-time to establish program services and address the need in the area.

To celebrate the new Pekin office and presence in the community, the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at the CASA office located at 351 Sabella Street on Thursday February 28 at 4:30 PM.

Please join us to mark the grand opening of the office! The parking lot and entrance are on the north side facing Busey Bank. Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, CASA will host an optional information meeting for those interested in volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the abuse and neglect court system.

Leadership Class Visits Springfield

The student's in the 2019 R. David Tebben Community Leadership Academy visited the Illinois State Capitol on February 21st.  They heard legislative updates from Senators Bill Brady and Dave Koehler, and Representatives Mike Unes, Tim Butler, and Keith Sommer.  They also spent additional time with Representative Unes on the House floor, and with Senator Koehler in the leadership offices.  Before arriving at the Capitol, the class visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.   You can see more pictures from this event at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JtZMmo4qz4AxA18i7

23rd Annual John M. Evans Scholarship Golf Tournament

Mark your calendar for this special event! Our outing will be held, Wednesday, June 19, 2019. Look for more information coming out March 15th.

Seventh Annual “ICC Presents: Jim Maloof’s Legacy of Love for the Arts in Central Illinois” Returns to the East Peoria Campus April 15

Along with the Peoria Ballet, ICC Vocal Jazz and Hard Bop Band, the Penguin Project, Youth Music Illinois, and Peoria Players, the family of former Peoria Mayor Jim Maloof and others will join forces and talents to raise money in a one-of-a-kind showcase of entertainment for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The 7^th Annual “ICC Presents:  Jim Maloof’s Legacy of Love for the Arts in Central Illinois,” takes place on Mon., April 15 at 6:30 pm, in the Performing Arts Center on the ICC East Peoria Campus. The doors will open at 6 pm.

This one-night only event is a family-friendly entertainment extravaganza designed to promote the performing arts in Central Illinois and highlight former Mayor Maloof’s local and national legacy with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The entire event is planned and executed by ICC students each year and is the kick-off event to ICC Arts Week.

Tickets for the event are $8 each. Tickets are required and limited to the first 500 people. Tickets can be purchased online at ArtsAtICC.com or via the ICC box office at (309) 694-5136. All proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Special guests include ICC Board of Trustees Chair Gale Thetford, members of the Maloof family, and former St. Jude patient Tori Lodge.  A cookie and punch reception will be offered at the close of the program, and participating organizations will showcase upcoming and past performances through interactive displays located in the lobby.

For more information on the event, please contact Brent Goken at (309) 694-5107 or Tony Voss at (309) 981-9044. Visit the event's page on Facebook at facebook.com/icclegacyoflove/ and on Instagram at instagram.com/icclegacyoflove/

Welcome To Our Newest Member

Teen Challenge Illinois - Peoria
2400 N. 8th St.
Pekin, IL 61554
309-673-3735 
Website 
Randy Atchley, Executive Director
Joe Rogers, Director of Operations
Teen Challenge Illinois endeavors to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive. They also desire to enrich the lives of our students by providing actual work experience so they can improve their work ethic and become productive members of society.

Illinois Central College Hosts Home Educators and High School-Aged Students for Informational Session

               Illinois Central College will host an informational session for home educators and their high-school-aged students on Fri., March 8 from 8 am to noon on the ICC East Peoria Campus. The event provides an overview of ICC and its programs, as well as discussing ways in which the College can partner with home educators to supplement and/or extend their home school curriculum.

               Topics will include information on financial aid and admission, including ICC’s home school admission policies, as well as an overview of student activities and other ways of getting involved on campus. Students also will have the opportunity to complete surveys at the Career Center to see how their interests align with career options.

The event is free, but space is limited. Reservations are required, as breakfast will be provided. For more information or to make a reservation, visit icc.edu/home-educator-day or contact Mandy Hidden at (309) 694-5228 by Fri., March 1.

Miller Center Resources

Miller Center Upcoming Trips

Miller Center Ballroom Dancing

Miller Center Game Night

EXPERIENCED EXECUTIVES JOIN MCB TRUST & WEALTH MANAGEMENT

Well-known professionals Connie Barr and Beth Jones have joined MCB Trust & Wealth Management. 

“Beth and Connie have been building relationships with people in Central Illinois for years,” said Darrin Autry, President of MCB Trust.  “Both are highly-regarded for their skills in assisting their clients with long-term management of their assets.”

Connie Barr has been a Senior Private Banking Relationship Manager for the last 15 years, helping her clients maximize their assets and leading a team of experts.  A graduate of the Peoria Chamber’s Community Leadership School, Connie has devoted many hours and much talent to nearly a dozen not-for-profit organizations in our area.  Connie is a lifelong Peoria resident and currently lives in Peoria Heights.  She and her husband Jim enjoy traveling and spending time with family, friends and their beloved dog, Bodhi. 

Beth Jones has been a Private Banking vice president and loan officer for the last 14 years.  She currently volunteers in leadership roles for EP!C and OSF Legacy of Hope.  She is dedicated to strengthening her clients’ financial security and her community. Beth lives in Peoria Heights, loves to read, and spends her free time with family and friends.

Autry added that Barr and Jones have excellent reputations for strong customer service skills and a focus on treating their customers like family. “We recognize that trust and wealth clients can choose from many different sources,” he said. “What makes the difference for us is the overlay of professional expertise with strategic advice and local service.  We are delighted that Beth and Connie have joined our team and we invite people to call or stop in to see them anytime at our Clock Tower location in East Peoria.”

MCB Trust & Wealth Management is a division of Morton Community Bank, one of the largest privately-owned banks in Illinois.  With over $3.7 Billion in assets and over 40 locations throughout Central Illinois, Morton Community Bank offers comprehensive financial services for both business and personal clients.

2nd Annual SENIOR DAY IN THE PARK

Join us for the 2nd annual SENIOR DAY IN THE PARK! This is a senior resource fair that provides education, health screenings, bingo, prizes, entertainment and a FREE lunch for seniors! This year we have added a Cruise In, as well as a ceremony to honor our Veteran's. DATE: Tuesday, April 23, 2019 TIME: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Vendor set-up is Monday April 22nd from 3:00 - 4:00 PM or Tuesday April 23rd from 7:30 AM - 8:30 AM) LOCATION: Veteran's Memorial Arena, 250 Red Bud Drive, Pekin Vendor tables are available for the resource fair portion of this event. Registration is required and payment is due by April 5th. Please bring a door prize and your own table coverings. You can collect names at your table, or pull one out of our bucket. Lunch is available to vendors for purchase of $8.00 and includes Avanti's spaghetti, salad and bread. This event is hosted by the Pekin Park District Miller Center, Farmington Country Manor and John Evans Supportive Living.

PEKIN INSURANCE® HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING

The Farmers Automobile Insurance Association held its annual meeting on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, at their Home Office in Pekin, Illinois.

The following directors were elected for three-year terms: Scott A. Martin, Chillicothe, Illinois; and Thomas C. Hornstein and Christine A. Schwartz, both of Pekin, Illinois.
Subscribers elected, Scott A. Martin, Chillicothe, Illinois; and Thomas C. Hornstein and Christine A. Schwartz, both of Pekin, Illinois, to the Advisory Committee.
Pekin Insurance officers elected included: Scott A. Martin, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer; Steven R. Anderson, Vice Chairman of the Board; Daniel V. Connell, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; Todd A. Clark, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Property/Casualty; Brian K. Lee, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer - Life; Amy M. Darling, Vice President - Life Claims; Curtis A. Eeten, Vice President - Claims; Gregory L. Feller, Vice President - Sales; Joel M. Jackson, Vice President - Marketing; Subhasis Mukherjee, Vice President - Chief Information Officer; Edward A. Mulvey, Vice President - Personal Lines Underwriting and Assistant Secretary; Tyler D. Petersen, Vice President - General Counsel and Secretary; Kimberly S. Remmert, Vice President - Human Resources; Joseph C. Ricigliano, Vice President - Commercial Lines Underwriting and Assistant Secretary; Diane K. Steiner, Vice President - Life Underwriting and Assistant Secretary; Michael A. Zabinski, Vice President - Controller; Amber J. Stenger, Assistant Treasurer; Michele E. Ginther, Assistant Treasurer; and Aaron Z. Potacki, Assistant Secretary.

Pekin Insurance is a group name adopted to designate the combined operation of The Farmers Automobile Insurance Association, Pekin Insurance Company, PAC, Inc., and Pekin Life Insurance Company.

Pekin Insurance has been in business since 1921, and is one of the leading insurers in the state of Illinois, providing multiple lines of insurance. Pekin Insurance offers insurance coverage in Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, and Wisconsin through its growing agency force which now totals 1,054 independent agencies and 8,300 insurance producers in the six-kstate area. The company is headquartered in Pekin, Illinois, with service offices at Phoenix, Arizona; O’Fallon, Rockford, and Warrenville, Illinois; Indianapolis, Indiana; Des Moines, Iowa; Columbus, Ohio; and Appleton, Wisconsin.

Debbie and Keith are excited to share the update from Dennis Triggs, Methodist Health Services Corporation (MHSC) Board.

Today, we are privileged to announce an important and exciting change for UnityPoint Health in Central Illinois. Later this year, Debbie Simon, who has positively impacted healthcare in the Greater Peoria area for more than four decades, will retire as chief executive officer, and will be succeeded by Dr. Keith Knepp, currently our president.

It is not possible to announce Debbie’s retirement without acknowledging her impressive 43-year career with our organization and expressing our gratitude for her passion and leadership over the years.  She began her career in 1976 as a nurse at Methodist Hospital. She rose through the ranks of clinical and operational leadership.  She was instrumental in leading Methodist’s affiliation with UnityPoint Health in 2011 and was named the regional president and CEO in December of that year. She has since fostered continuous growth and development of the greater Peoria market to ensure quality care for the people and families there. Simon led the integrations of Proctor Hospital in 2013 and Pekin Hospital in 2017, increasing access to UPH services and expanding our physician clinics throughout the Region.  Also, under her leadership, Methodist College has grown to more than 600 students pursuing certificate, baccalaureate and graduate degrees.

At a UnityPoint Health Regional Board of Directors meeting, the board voted to accept Debbie’s resignation and to appoint Keith Knepp, MD, as the president and CEO of the Central Illinois region. Keith, formerly a family medicine physician practicing in Eureka, IL, currently serves as president of UnityPoint Health’s hospitals and clinics in Peoria. He has spent most of his career with the organization and has held a number of leadership positions. Keith will assume the role of chief executive officer on April 1 and work together with Debbie on the transition and important strategic work for the organization until she officially retires on June 30.  

Please join us in congratulating Debbie on a retirement much deserved. And congratulations to Keith who is well positioned to lead the region into the future. We look forward to celebrating them both in the months to come.

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Quinn Johnston Announces New Attorneys in Peoria and Springfield

Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo is pleased to announce the addition of three lateral attorneys to its team. The firm welcomes J. Matthew Thompson as a partner and Matthew Warner as an associate attorney to its Peoria offices, and Betsy Wirth as an associate attorney to its Springfield offices.

J. Matthew Thompson, of Morton, has more than a decade of experience in medical malpractice defense and healthcare litigation, earning the distinction of being named an Illinois Emerging Lawyer and Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly and serves on the Illinois Cancer Care Young Leaders’ Board.

Matthew Warner, of Morton, will focus his practice in the litigation practice group. An honors graduate, De Paul University School of Law, he previously served as an Assistant Peoria County State’s Attorney, where he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases, trying multiple cases to verdict.

Betsy Wirth, of Springfield, has 10 years’ experience both defending personal injury lawsuits and handling family law matters. She has earned the distinction of the AVVO Rating Excellent and being named an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star.

“We regularly review the trending needs of our clients and evaluate the experience and capabilities of the Quinn Johnston teams that serve them. The experiences and diverse concentrations that these attorneys bring will further strengthen and broaden our client support” said John Kamin, Managing Partner at Quinn Johnston.

About Quinn Johnston
Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo has built a reputation as a leading provider of comprehensive legal services. The firm advocates on behalf of its clients ranging from private individuals to large business entities. With 23 lawyers in offices in Peoria and Springfield, Illinois, the firm represents clients with a variety of legal issues, including but not limited to, transactional law, civil litigation and healthcare. The firm’s website can be found at www.quinnjohnston.com.

Gateway Foundation: Impact of Substance Abuse on Relationships

Our work touches more than just the lives of our patients, it impacts the lives of their loved ones. One of the many examples is Debbie, who has been engaged in the recovery community after her son successfully completed treatment at Gateway Foundation. For more of Debbie’s story, click here.  In addition to health, financial and legal consequences, substance use can also fracture relationships. Addiction takes a toll on more than just the person with the substance use disorder. In many cases, families and loved ones of the individual are also negatively impacted. Addiction is isolating for those struggling with it and their loved ones, but Gateway Foundation is here to make sure no one has to overcome it alone. Our skilled staff specialize in substance use treatment for men, women,  adolescents and patients with co-occurring substance use disorders. Our specialized treatment programs also include support for families and loved ones. We treat more than just the symptoms of addiction – we treat the whole person, which is why during treatment we take families and loved ones into consideration. Our treatment programs engage families in educational and therapeutic services to support their loved one’s recovery. Through educational programming, families and loved ones can learn about the disease of addiction, family dynamics and ways to build a supportive relationship. Weekly visitation, recovery support education and family counseling sessions ensure each person touched by addiction has the greatest chance of a successful outcome.   About Gateway Foundation Since 1968 our goal has been straightforward: to help clients get their life back on track and achieve a life of sobriety, free from drug use and symptoms of mental illness, that is productive, socially responsible and healthy. Gateway Foundation is the largest nonprofit treatment provider in the country that specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders, providing treatment for men, women, adolescents and clients diagnosed with co-occurring mental health disorders. Gateway's professional clinicians help thousands of individuals successfully complete treatment by developing a personalized plan that treats the underlying causes of substance abuse—not just addiction to drugs or alcohol.   Call 877.505.HOPE (4673) to learn more about our treatment programs.

Minimum Wage Bad for Pekin Business

INKED ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES THE REMAINING LINEUP OF THE 2019 TAILGATE N’ TALLBOYS FESTIVAL!

Inked Entertainment, LLC has just announced 18 more artists that are set to perform for the 2019 Tailgate N’ Tallboys Music Festival. Tailgate N’ Tallboys will be held on the riverfront in downtown Peoria for the third year. In 2019, the series will span 7 dates. June 13, 14, 15 and 16 will be the first set of concerts and July 19 and 20 will follow. There will be a final concert on Saturday, September 14th. In addition to the main stage performances, there will be numerous local, and national performers on the Tailgate N’ Crusens Side Stage, as well as various festival activities throughout the series. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets!

Announced Performers:
• June 13 Kick-off Party –
o Headliner: Bret Michaels
o Support: Matt Stell and Seckond Chaynce

• June 2019 –
o Headliners (in alphabetical order): Brett Young, Brett Eldredge, Kane Brown
o Support (in alphabetical order): Ashley McBryde, Carter Winter, Dillon Carmichael, Jimmie Allen, Jordan Davis, Lauren Alaina, Logan Mize, Michael Ray, Mitchell Tenpenny, Muscadine Bloodline and Sweet Tea Trio.
o Crusens Side Stage (in alphabetical order): Aileeah Colgan, Devin Clemons Band, Joe Stamm
Band, Josh Phillips, and Tasji Bachman

• July 2019 –
o Headliner (in alphabetical order): Aaron Lewis, Clutch, Jamey Johnson, Tyler Childers
o Support (in alphabetical order): Bishop Gunn, Dallas Moore, Josh Card, The Sisterhood and The Steel Woods.
o Tailgate N’ Crusens Side Stage (in alphabetical order): Craig Gerdes, Billy Don Burns and Bryan James.

• September 14, 2019 – (more yet to announce including direct support)
o Headliner: Alabama
o Support (in alphabetical order): Diamond Rio, The NATU Band and Mason Ramsey.
o Tailgate N’ Crusens Side Stage: New City Road

June 13, 2019 will be the Kick-off Party to the festival. All Ticket holders (including multi day passes and single day passes) will receive free entry into the Kick-off Party. Single day tickets for the kick-off party will be $15 for those without festival passes. Those tickets are available now.
Inked Entertainment has also been working with the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to set up discounted hotel rooms at many area hotels for concert goers. A link to the reservation system is be located on the festival website: www.TailgateNtallboys.com (under the travel section) now. You can also find this link on www.enjoypeoria.com. There is a limited amount of rooms on hold at negotiated prices, once these are sold out they are gone. In addition to the hotel rooms, Tailgate N’ Tallboys has secured a new camping location for the 2019 June weekend, at the Heart of Illinois Fairgrounds. Full hookup and primitive spots for campers and tents is available. This will include shuttle service to and from the festival throughout the day. There will be onsite showers, security and festival personal 24 hrs from Thurs – Monday of the June weekend.

There will be multiple new amenities and logistical changes in 2019. The stage will now be south facing with the stage facing bridge on what was the backend of Festival Park (venue). This allows for more room for those with chairs and allows for the growing attendance that the festival has experienced over the past few years. The VIP section will have a full-service bar, air-conditioned restrooms and express entrances.

The new NASH Pass is available for all three weekends. Included in this pass is secure gated parking, a pre-show reception at Cumulus Studios (with drinks and food), a weekend VIP Pass, entry through a special VIP entrance that is close to parking and leads right into the VIP section.
The 6 Pack Pass is once again be available for the festival. This allows purchaser entry into all dates of the series for a deeply discounted price.

6 Pack Passes, June Weekend Passes and July Weekend Passes are currently on sale at Tier 1 Prices and slated to increase in price on March 4 (or when allotted tickets sell out at Tier 1 pricing). Single Day tickets are officially on sale now for each date. will become available in early Spring, when more artists are added to the schedules.

There are many more announcements in the works, including a new mobile app for the festival so keep up with the latest by following Tailgate N’ Tallboys on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, or by visiting the official website at www.TailgateNtallboys.com.

About Tailgate N’ Tallboys
Tailgate N’ Tallboys is Central Illinois #1 Country Music Festival. The Music Series is designed with the true Midwestern summer concert goer in mind. Boasting top country acts to span over the summer months all at one low cost ticket price. Our 6 Pack Pass allows entry to 6 concerts for practically the cost of one concert. This allows our Midwestern country music lovers the ability to attend one or all six shows on the calendar to keep the party going all summer long.

ICC’S COLLEGE FOR KIDS COMBINES SUMMER LEARNING WITH FUN

               Registration opens March 11 for the summer 2019 sessions of Illinois Central College’s popular College for Kids program. The summer program features fun and educational classes for students entering fourth through twelfth grades. Session 1 runs Monday –Thursday, June 10-21, and Session 2 runs Monday ─ Thursday, July 8-19. 

               Kids are sure to find topics to fit their interests, with classes available in leadership skills, French, chess, cooking, dance, science, art, Harry Potter, balloon artistry, computer design and coding, and much more. Several new classes are being offered this year. Some of these include: “The Price is Right!,” which teaches kids to earn, save and spend in a fun way; “Disney 101,” in which students will learn all things Disney-related; and “Python Programmers,” which explores coding with Python to create engaging apps and games.

Kids can extend their fun by participating in additional off-site Friday Fun Trips offered from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm on each Friday of College for Kids. Cost for these Friday fun sessions ranges from $75 to $95.

Two additional class options extend the day and accommodate working parents -- Early Bird Club, available Monday through Thursday from 7:15 to 8:15 am, and Club CFK, available from 3:15 to 5 pm. Both Early Bird Club and Club CFK feature games and computers. Cost for Early Bird Club is an additional $45, and Club CFK costs an additional $75.

Tuition per class varies for each class, based on instructional materials needed. Space is limited. Registration is available March 11 by phone at (309) 690-6900, or online at www.icc.edu/cfk. A complete listing of classes, descriptions and registration materials also will be available online.

               For questions, contact ICC Youth Programs Coordinator Steffi Xu at (309) 690-6916 or email steffi.xu@icc.edu                                                             

Illinois Central College “Between the Lines” Program Explores Extreme Portrayals of 1940’s African American Female Characters

               Join Illinois Central College’s “Between the Lines” program to discuss “The 1940’s African American Female Character: Gender Equality is Such an Illusion,” on Tues., March 5 from 7 to 8 pm in the Arbor Hall Auditorium on the Peoria Campus, located at 5407 N. University St., Peoria. Andrea Walton will lead the discussion.

               Female characters, much like real life, have been portrayed in seemingly radical (according to present-day norm) ways. Many times the "ideal woman" is one who submissively accepts her subservient plight in life, without much resistance. Yet readers find their interests pique by authors who dare to portray their heroine as one who bucks the system in an attempt to afford herself the same opportunities as male counterparts. In Ramona Lowe's “Woman in the Window” and Charles Chesnutt's “Uncle Wellington's Wives,” these two writers expose some of these extreme portrayals of African American women during the 1940's.

               “Between the Lines” is a lecture series presented by the faculty members of the English, Humanities and Language Studies Department at ICC. The goal of the series is to offer literary presentations that will interest students and people in the community, as well as promote reading literacy and scholarly study.

               The programs are free and open to the public.

               For more information, please contact Jim Sullivan at jsullivan@icc.edu or betweenthelines@icc.edu.

SCORE: Tax Planning for Small Businesses

SCORE Peoria has been invited to co-sponsor this workshop with the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship/Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University. Please take a moment to review this invitation and consider attending this SBDC workshop. Tax Planning for Small Businesses Tax planning is the process of considering various tax options in order to legally conduct and operate your small business. Good tax advice is a very valuable commodity. If you are a start-up business or if you are considering starting your own business, then this training event is for you. Date:  Wed, February 20, 2019 Location: PeoriaNEXT Innovation Center 801 West Main Street, Peoria Time: 11:30am – 1:30pm Agenda: 11:30 – 11:45 Lunch & Networking 11:45 – 1:15   Introductions / Presentation  1:15 – 1:30   Q & A, Adjourn Discussion Points: ·     Determine when and how to eliminate or reduce taxes ·     Keeping accurate accounting ·     Improper allocation of income ·     How to lower your tax rate ·     Controlling the time when tax must be paid ·     Claiming tax credits ·     Avoiding the most common and costly tax planning mistakes ·     Learn ways to save on business income taxes ·     Planning and organizing for a new business William Sharpe has been in the tax business since he was 8 years old, when he literally started in the mail room of the family enterprise. William has vivid memories of tagging along with his mother to help with whatever work needed to be done at the office. That’s how a family business operates…all hands on deck. William started preparing tax returns in 1999. He spent the next several years shadowing his  read more... Cost: (includes lunch & handouts) Early Bird: $35/pp through February 10, 2019 $50/pp February 11 – February 17, 2019 Deadline to register: 5pm Sunday, February 17, 2019  Questions, please call the Illinois SBDC at (309) 677-2992.