Lawmaker invites constituents to stop by to see if the state is holding their property

PEORIA, IL- Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth (D-Peoria) will be teaming up with the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer to host an I-Cash Day at various locations throughout the area on Monday, April 29th. This event had been rescheduled due to adverse winter weather conditions.

“Illinois banks and businesses are required to turn over any unclaimed property after five years to the Illinois Treasurer’s Office, who holds this unclaimed property or money until the rightful owner has been found,” Gordon-Booth said. “During these difficult economic times, it would be wonderful to find money that you didn’t know you had. If you are owed anything, I want to assist you in getting your claim information and owed assets returned as soon as possible.”

Staff from the State Treasurer’s office will be on hand for this free public event to help people search the online I-Cash database and offer assistance in filling out the necessary paperwork to receive found assets. Common forms of unclaimed assets include unpaid wages, overpayments on bills, life insurance policies, and even safety deposit box contents.

Gordon-Booth is planning three I-Cash Day stops that will be available to the public on Monday, April 29:

Kroger Grocery Store from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at 1405 W. Garfield Ave., Bartonville

City Link Transit Center from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at 407 S.W. Adams St., Peoria

Kroger Grocery Store from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at 3311 N. Sterling Ave., Peoria

If you have any questions about I-Cash, or any other upcoming events, please contact Rep. Gordon-Booth’s constituent services office at (309) 681-1992 or by e-mail repjgordon@gmail.com.

Peoria, Illinois – Midstate College congratulates the following 2012 Winter Term Graduates:

Bartonville – Cynthia Crosswhite, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
Canton – Joseph Riley, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
Deer Creek – Cassie Flannigan, Diploma in Office Assistant
Delavan – Jennifer Mitchell, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology
Edelstein – Patricia Colwell, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Administrative Professional
Edwards – Andrea Gallagher, Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist
Glasford – Kourtni Allen, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
Lacon – Wendy Dietrich, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer & Information Science
Mackinaw – Michel Mayberry-Pawlak, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree;
Jennifer Osman, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
Metamora – Jennifer Padilla, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree; Diane Sprague, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assistant
Morton – Angelia Evans, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree; Jonathan Leggins,
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Administration
Pekin – Deborah Brooks-Sherlock, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Administration; Kelly Kilgus, Diploma in Medical Office Technician; Felicia Travise, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assistant; Andy Wubben, Diploma in Medical Transcription
Peoria – Ariane Cox, Diploma in Medical Office Technician; Tamica Davis, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assistant; Jacklyn Hatchett, Diploma in Medical Office Technician; Julie Hoadley, Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist; Kathryn Kelly, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology; Daniel Krile, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree; Kacie Lumley, Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Services Management; Megan Maxwell, Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Information Systems; Felishia Pace, Diploma in Medical Office Technician;
Jessica Ross, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer and Information Science; Deborah Smith, Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting; Dietria Smith, Diploma in Medical Office Technician; Heather Swanigan, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assistant; Annette Swanson, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Computer Accounting; Erica Telles, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Administrative Professional; Jennifer Tuley, Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist
Peoria Heights – Briana Couve, Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Services Management; Diane Mariscal, Bachelor of Business Administration Degree
Princeville – Jennifer Ortiz, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer and Information Science; Cynthia Schuerr, Diploma in Medical Coding Specialist
Rome – Amber Lewis-Loser, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Administration
Spring Bay – Jillian Hansen, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Business Administration
Springfield – Anne Kerwin, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Information Technology
Las Vegas, NV – Shanita Fields, Associate of Applied Science Degree in Administrative Professional

Plan to stop by the West Peoria Senior Community Health Fair on Tuesday, April 23 at Franciscan Rec Complex (FRC) from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This free event is to help inform seniors of, and link them to, resources available in their community.

Over 20 vendors will be on site with free information and advice. Some features of the day include:
• Lions Club hearing lab
• Methodist MammoVan (call 671-8282 for an appointment)
• Illinois Retina Institute eye disease screening
• Free Food
• Door Prizes
• Free transportation, courtesy of Courtyard Estates of Peoria (call 674-2400)
More information, including a complete vendor list, can be found at www.peoriaparks.org/frc or by calling FRC at (309) 677-6705.

Nearly 100 4th grade students from Trewyn and Roosevelt schools will participate in hands-on activities in the science labs in Olin and Westlake halls at Bradley University.

The event is in observance of National Lab Network Day, a national initiative that connects K-12 teachers with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professionals to bring hands-on learning experiences to students.

Faculty and student volunteers lead the activities and Bradley education majors act as chaperones for the students.

RELEASED BY: Captain Scally – Criminal Investigations Division
DATE: Tuesday April 9, 2013
SUBJECT: Homicide Investigation #13-7232

Suspect wanted for this homicide investigation, Marquis D Costic, is now in custody.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, call the Peoria Police Dept at 673-4521, or Crimestoppers at 673-9000.

The Annual Town Meeting for the City of Peoria will be held on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013. This annual Town Meeting is held for the transaction miscellaneous business and will be held at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, Room 400, 419 Fulton St., Peoria, IL. A Moderator has been elected and will proceed to hear and consider reports of officers and decide on such measures as may, in pursuance of law, come before the meeting.

(April 9, 2013) – Illinois American Water announced today that the company’s 2012 Consumer Confidence Reports (Water Quality Reports) will be available online to customers this spring and will not be printed and mailed to all customers as in previous years.

Messages included on upcoming water bills will provide customers with a URL address to access their service area’s specific water quality report. The report will also be made available online at www.illinoisamwater.com

In January 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that water utilities had the option to inform customers of the annual report’s availability at a specific website address as opposed to printing and either direct mailing or including the annual report as a bill insert. Illinois American Water acted swiftly to take advantage of this more efficient and environmentally friendly option for delivering reports on our 2012 water quality information.

Printed copies of the report will be available to customers who cannot — or do not wish to — access it online. Customers can call the company’s customer service center at 800-422-2782 and request a copy of their local district’s report and it will be mailed to them.

New delivery methods support the water industry’s commitment to ongoing nvironmental quality and do not minimize the importance of the annual report to customers, according to Illinois American Water President, Karla Olson Teasley, “We are pleased to report that the water supplied to our customers is of higher quality than required by state and federal drinking water standards,” said Teasley. “Our teams of water quality and plant operations professionals work hard each and every day to ensure the highest quality water and service to our customers. These annual results are a testament to their dedication.”

The annual water quality report, or consumer confidence report, is a performance measure of the quality of water supplied by Illinois American Water against the compliance standards established by the U.S. EPA and Illinois EPA. The report describes local drinking water sources, testing conducted on the water, substances detected, and the levels of those substances. Commonly asked questions and the answers concerning local drinking water are also included in the report.

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 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 approximately 6,700 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 14 million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.

Peoria, IL (April 9, 2013) The Bradley University Speech Team captured the American Forensics Association tournament championship that concluded last evening at Hutchinson, Kansas with team members taking the top five spots overall.

Senior Jacoby Cochran took his third national championship and teammates Cecil Blutcher, Kaybee Brown, Junior Ocasio and Ryan Tinlin placed 2nd through 5th, respectively.

Bradley finished the competition with 659 points. Second place went to Western Kentucky University with 488 points; and George Mason University placed 3rd with 335 points.

Bradley competitors also won national championships in four individual events – Kaybee Brown, Dramatic Interpretation; Cecil Blutcher and Kaybee Brown, Duo Interpretation; Junior Ocasio, Persuasive Speaking; Kaybee Brown, Prose Interpretation.

Seven team members placed in the top 20 in Individual Sweepstakes (the most points scored by students in at least four events).

Since 1978, the Bradley Speech Team has won 40 AFA and NFA national championships. The team’s record of success is unmatched by any other forensic or academic program in history.

Bradley is a private, independent university in Peoria, Illinois, offering 6,000 students the choice of more than 100 academic programs. Bradley links academic excellence, experiential learning and leadership development with an entrepreneurial spirit for a world-class education. Our size provides students with extensive resources not available at most private colleges and the personal attention not commonly found at large universities.

Individual Sweepstakes finishers
19th place – Talan Tyminski – sophomore, Ballwin, MO (Political Science/Economics)
10th place – Brooke Stevenson – senior. Fremont, CA (Psychology)
5th place – Ryan Tinlin – senior, Dellroy, OH (Psychology)
4th place – Junior Ocasio – senior, Cleveland, OH (Public Relations)
3rd place – Kaybee Brown – junior, Chicago, IL (Theatre Arts)
2nd place – Cecil Blutcher – senior, Chicago, IL (Political Science)
National Champion – Jacoby Cochran – senior, Chicago, IL (Philosophy)

Peoria, IL (April 8, 2013) Dr. Robert Yager of the University of Iowa, internationally known for his teaching, writing, and advocacy on behalf of science education, will give a presentation, titled “Exploring the Edge: New Learning Environments in the 21st Century,” at Bradley University on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Owens Professional Development Center in Westlake Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.

The presentation is Bradley’s Center for STEM Education’s inaugural Pioneers in STEM Education Lecture For more information, contact Kevin Finson at 677-3196. The lecture is co-sponsored by Bradley’s Center for STEM Education and the Intellectual and Cultural Activities Committee.

PEORIA, ILLINOIS…April 9, 2013…South Side Trust & Savings Bank, a subsidiary of Mid Illinois Bancorp, Inc., held their Annual Meeting on April 8, 2013 where David F. Cochran, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, announced his retirement as Chief Executive Officer. Cochran was re-elected Chairman of the Board. Mark W. Joseph was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer.

Joseph is a graduate of Illinois Central College and Sangamon State University. He began his banking career in 1978, moving to South Side Bank in 1990. Joseph is the President of the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce and the First Vice President of Neighborhood House.

Re-elected to the board of directors were: David F. Cochran, Chairman; David H. Bettinghaus, Kevin E. Colgan, Steven J. Fawley, David L. Golwitzer, Karen M. Jensen, Mark W. Joseph, Charles D. Karpowicz, Mark E. Matuszak, William C. Schwab, Michael J. Stone, Jeffrey W. Ward, and Timothy M. Ward.

Also elected to the board was John J. Waugh. Waugh is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. He has been employed by Waugh Foods, Inc. since 1982, becoming President in 1999. Waugh sits on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Club of Peoria and is the 2009 recipient of the Patrick T. Sullivan Community Service Award.

South Side Trust & Savings Bank, a locally owned financial institution since 1922, has $683 million in assets and serves the tri-county area with 13 full service locations in Peoria, East Peoria, West Peoria, Bartonville, Chillicothe, Washington, and Pekin. South Side Bank owns Mid Illinois Insurance Services, Inc. located at 1524 W. Glen Avenue in Peoria.