Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) announced that 51 local high school students have been named 2012 Illinois State Scholars by the Illinois Students Assistance Commission (ISAC).

“I would like to congratulate all of the students who have been named an Illinois State Scholar. Their hard-work and dedication in high school will help them achieve great success throughout their academic and professional lives,” Gordon said. “I am proud to represent so many of the bright leaders of tomorrow.”

According to ISAC, Illinois State Scholars must rank in the top 10 percent of the state’s high school seniors from the 711 high schools in all 102 counties. Selection is based on SAT, ACT and/or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores, and/or class rank at the end of the junior year. Input from the schools’ guidance counselors is also used to help determine the winners.

The 2012 Illinois State Scholars from the Peoria area include: Kelsey Kauffman of Bartonville; Aubrie Gardiner, Sarah Simpson, and Alexander Weck of Edwards; John Richier and Keli Totton of Hanna City; Amy Andrejasich, Jessica Armour, Benjamin Austin, Cameron Baker, Sarah Banister, Devin Berchtold, Luis Blanco, Christian Brown, Patrick Daly, Alaina Dennis, Christian Dinh, Loan Dinh, Caitlin Evers, Andrea Fortner, Bethany Geer, Francis Greene, Gabrielle Healy, Duncan Katlack, Kody Krupps, Alec Linehan, Bridget Miles, David Monahan, Jimmy Montelongo, Samuel Moser, Samuel Neff, Luc Nguyen, Thao Nguyen, Emily Nielsen, Sierra Pizano-Jordan, Jessye Rada, Ashley Randall, Patience Robinson, Kathryn Rolli, Kyle Santos, Marie Sheets, Courtney Silver, Kadeja Tyler, and Zilin Zheng of Peoria; Christian Lees, Ellynn Rolett, Duncan Ryan, Jasmine Seitz, Ciera Storey, and Ty Williams of Peoria Heights; and Morgan Timm of West Peoria.

ISAC was created by the General Assembly in 1957 and has been at the forefront for providing scholarship information, student loans and the administration of state and federal educational grants for the state’s community colleges and universities.

Gordon also directed high school students and their parents to visit ISAC’s website, www.collegezone.com, for more information about available college financial assistance programs. The site also offers career counseling services, a planning timeline, virtual campus tours and online applications.

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) will hold satellite office hours at Manual Academy on Thursday, December 15 from 3 PM to 5 PM in the Workforce Development Room.

Rep. Gordon’s office has satellite office hours at various locations throughout the 92nd District. Office Hours at Manual Academy are held on the third Thursday of every month. Gordon holds additional satellite office hours in West Peoria, Peoria Heights, Bartonville and Kickapoo Township.

“If you have the opportunity, please stop by my satellite office hours. In addition to being able to listen to any concerns you have, we will also have pamphlets, maps, and resources guides available,” Gordon said. “We look forward to seeing you at Manual Academy or at any of our other satellite office locations.”

For more information about Rep. Gordon’s Satellite Office Hours, please contact her constituent service office at (309) 681-1992 or e-mail her at repjgordon@gmail.com.

With an eye towards creating jobs, state Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) on Tuesday signed on to legislation that would reduce the state’s corporate income tax rate and help make Illinois more friendly to potential and current employers. The measure comes one day after Gordon backed a plan to provide tax relief to working families.

“One of my chief responsibilities is to support policies that encourage job growth and investment in our workforce. A key to achieving these goals is to make sure our tax rate is competitive with other states,” Gordon said. “I believe that the tax increase has been a burden on our businesses. I did not vote for the tax increase this past January. I am supporting this legislation to reduce the tax burden on businesses to help to grow and create jobs in our communities.”

The proposed legislation (HB 3917) returns the state’s corporate income tax to its pre-tax increase level. The corporate income tax businesses will decrease from the current 7 percent to 4.8 percent.

This bill was introduced a day after lawmakers voted to provide tax relief to individuals via the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) enhancement and an increase in the personal exemption. It is part of Gordon’s efforts to make Illinois more business friendly and provide relief to taxpayers.

“We, as legislators, need to do everything in our power to help create an environment that is conducive to job creation, not one that drives businesses away,” Gordon explains. “This piece of legislation is a step in the right direction for businesses, our communities, and our families. I will continue my work to keep more money in the pockets of taxpayers and entrepreneurs.”

For more information about this legislation, please contact Rep. Gordon’s constituent service office at (309) 681-1992 or e-mail her at repjgordon@gmail.com.

Lost Cat since December 5th in the Grande Pairie Area of Peoria

Siamese Mix

Please call: 453-7837

COYOTE CREEK GOLF CLUB SITE OF NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH

Rachel’s Hippo will headline a New Year’s Eve Party at Coyote Creek Golf Club, Saturday December 31, 2011 at 8PM. Scenic Coyote Creek Golf Club is located in Bartonville at 8201 West Lancaster Road.

Rachel’s Hippo is one of Peoria’s premier local bands and promises a New Year’s Eve Party to remember. The night’s festivities include dancing, hors d ‘oeuvres, unlimited draft beer and soda with a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $45 per person in advance or $50 at the door.

For reservations and information contact Stephanie at 309-323-1667.

Coyote Creek Golf Club in Bartonville, Illinois, is a stunning 18-hole championship golf course designed by the late Bruce Borland. Coyote Creek, along with Catering Peoria, offers full banquet facilities as well as limitless activities and social events throughout the year.

Who: Coyote Creek Golf Club & Catering Peoria
What: New Year’s Eve Party
Where: Coyote Creek Golf Club, 8201 West Lancaster Road, Bartonville IL 61607
When: Saturday, December 31, 2011, Doors open at 7:30 PM; Music at 8:00 PM

Catering Peoria Contact: Stephanie Leafgreen at 309-323-1667

State Rep. Jehan Gordon (D-Peoria) presented the Good Neighbor Business of the Month Award for November to Associated Bank for the work they do promoting The Center of Prevention of Abuse Annual Duck Race Fundraiser. Gordon presented the award to Carla Losey and Sara Fickes of Associated Bank, which was nominated by Carla Payne of The Center for Prevention of Abuse. Associated Bank also helps The Center by assisting with landscaping and cleaning at the shelter. The Center or the Prevention of Abuse provides services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and elder abuse. The Center also provides outreach programs in the community to help prevent violence and abuse in the community.

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is pleased to announce that 55 Registered Nurses have become nationally certified in Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing. To achieve this status nurses attend a certification review class and take a nationally certified exam. The certification is good for five years and recognizes that the highest standards of medical-surgical nursing practice have been achieved.

Those earning the certification, listed by hometown, are:
Canton: Michele Walljasper
Chillicothe: Shauna Facker; Laura Rohman; Sandy Pomazal
Deer Creek: Mary McCance
Delavan: Ellen McConnell
East Peoria: Tracie Crawford; Edwin Flores; Leah Leas; Kerri Waldorf
Edwards: Heather Dykeman; Zachary Dykeman; Jen Ward
Elmwood: Oscar Gomez
Eureka: Jamie Rocke; Alissa Wiegand
Galesburg: Mary Pence
Hanna City: Mary Campen
Lacon: Tammy McMahan
Lewistown: Glenna Shank
Metamora: Rebecca Curless; Jackie Doty; Christa Nee; Tracy Reisdorf; Lorraine Weers
Minier: Carol Litwiller
Morton: Dorinda Fox
Mossville: Jennifer Butler
Pekin: Whitney Aaron; Ann Gingras; Lauren Krile; Brandy Pittman; Danielle Smith
Peoria: Jennifer Atterberg; Linda Chase; Melissa Finney; Samy Gonstal; Leslie Hensley; Betsy Hipple; Jessica Johnson; Constance Kissner; Kara Mack; Julith Padagas; Aimee Phothisene; Marni Seramur; Diana Sondag
Peoria Heights: Joe Cook; Karyn Henderson
Princeton: Holly Piper
Roanoke: Karen Hertz
Tremont: Laura Gray
Washington: Jennifer Bandy; Darren Carlock; Debra Rodreguez
Wenona: Jennifer Dose

Per Mar Security Services partnered with Arizona-based Rocket Media to design, create and launch the company’s re-designed website. The website improves usability for its customers while also introducing a fresh look and feel.

Per Mar’s new website includes features such as online account management and bill pay, the ability to view requested background checks, and a referral program. These elements allow the company to continue to compete in today’s online marketplace by making it easier for customers to find information.

The re-designed website also implements large, easy-to-use navigation, including a new Resources button, which allows customers to access everything from product manuals to frequently asked questions and the monthly e-newsletter, The Shield.

Another one of the highlights of the new website is the ability for the Per Mar staff to easily and quickly update the content on the website through an integrated content management system. Employees can use a simple web interface to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date information is available for their customers.

Per Mar plans to add a fire inspection portal and a mobile web page as part of Phase II of the project. With this new website, customers, vendors, and employees are being provided with more information and resources than ever before and the goal is to continue that trend.

About Per Mar Security Services
Operating from offices throughout the Midwest, the company’s home office is located in Davenport, Iowa, with 22 branch offices located throughout Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska. For more details about Per Mar Security Services’ customized solutions, visit www.permarsecurity.com or call 800-836-8703.

Take a break from the frantic holiday rush. Don’t sit at your desk with that brown bag lunch!

Come to the GAR Hall, 416 Hamilton Blvd. in downtown Peoria, this coming Friday, December 16 at noon for A Little Noon Music, a free concert presented by the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy light, festive holiday chamber music by the PSO’s Chris Adams-Wenger, Elizabeth Laverdiere, Hannah Salazar and Brianna Smith.

Relax…slow down for an hour. Bring your lunch. It’s free. Invite your colleagues and friends.

Happy Holidays!

Give Blood on January 5, 2012

Proctor Hospital will be hosting the American Red Cross blood drive on January 5, 2012, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The drive will take place in Proctor’s Professional Building on the bottom floor in classrooms three and four.

The American Red Cross is currently urging platelet donations. With platelets having a short shelf-life of five days, it’s difficult for enough platelets to stay on hand to meet the needs of hospital patients around the country.

If you last donated on or before November 8, 2011, you may be eligible to give. Food will be provided in the donor canteen. Contact Carrie McMillion at (309) 689-8608 to schedule an appointment.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to learn about blood, donating blood, volunteering, or hosting a blood drive.