Peoria, IL (June 2, 2014)–Bradley University Doctor of Physical Therapy students are heading to the mountain town of San Juan de la Maguana in the Dominican Republic to volunteer at a local clinic. While there, students will assist in treating patients of all ages at a local hospital and at the Solid Rock International (SRI) medical clinic.
Students will work with nursing staff to teach proper body mechanics and safe transferring techniques for the patient and the provider. They will also treat patients of all ages with stroke, spinal cord injury, scoliosis, and overuse injuries.
Recently students worked with SRI to create a developmental screening program. During this trip they will be will be screening children for developmental delays in hopes of recognizing impairments early in life in order to prevent future disability.
Dr. Cheryl Sparks, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy and Health Sciences at Bradley says while most of their time will be spent treating patients, there is more to this trip. “They may work on various construction projects or be called to help out in other ways. It’s a wonderful way for students to serve the Dominican people while developing their newly learned skills, and it is also a cultural immersion experience.”
Three students and two alumni will be participating. The dates for the trip are June 7-15th. They will be joining a team from Northwoods Community Church on the trip.

Kickapoo, IL – Students of St. Mary’s School in Kickapoo will be pedaling for a cure on Friday to raise money for St. Jude.

The St. Mary’s Trike-A-Thon will begin at 1:30 p.m., pre-k and kindergarten students will be riding tricycles around the school parking lot to raise more from people they asked to contribute. Participating students saved their own money to contribute to the cause, as well.

“These children are starting young to become good citizens by helping others,” said Michael Maloof, president of Jim Maloof/Realtor^®, the trike-a-thon sponsor.

Rather than use their money to buy something for themselves, such as a new toy, “these kids are pedaling to help find a cure for the St. Jude kids. We are proud them,” he said. 

The Peoria Police Department is asking for the Public’s assistance in locating Jenny G. Mason (white/female), 55 years old, Height: 5’5” Weight: 175, Brown Hair, Blue eyes. Clothing description: unknown. She was last seen in the area of the 3200 Block of W. Richwoods Avenue on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 9:00 PM.

Anyone who has information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521 or Crimestoppers at (309) 673-9000

Placemaking Strategies to Strengthen Downtown

Working with University of Illinois College of Fine and Applied Arts, a process of using both demographic data analysis and community observations will be conducted as a pilot in preparation for a reoccurring studio workshop with Illinois Main Street communities.  From Mid-May – Mid-June students will conduct an assessment of community business development strategies,  intercept surveys or other techniques design to garner public opinion, demographic analysis, identification of 1-2 comparable community case studies,  develop a core set of recommendations for community consideration.  Final report will be presented to the local community Main Street Board or provided in a Town Hall style meeting.  

Students will visit Canton for the first time on Friday, May 23 as they initiate the one month studio workshop.

WHO:             Canton Main Street in partnership with University of Illinois Extension
WHAT:          Studio Workshop
WHEN:          Friday, May 23 11:30 a.m.
WHERE:        MidAmerica National Bank, 100 W. Elm St. Canton, IL 61520

Illinois Main Street Program has as its mission the development and promotion of the unique character of each member community’s marketable assets and creation of new business development opportunities.  Maintaining and revitalizing a downtown plays a critical role in overall economic development strategies, as a vibrant downtown infrastructure not only represents good use of land and infrastructure resources, it can also be a powerful tool spurring new business development.

This program is part of a new programming partnership.  Canton Main Street is a pilot programming initiative of the University of Illinois Extension and Illinois Main Street.

Peoria, IL – Midstate College hosted, for the first time, a Tech Day on Saturday morning,

May 17, 2014, for students and faculty in the Information Systems and Technology Departments.

The Director of the Information Systems and Technology department, Donna Greer, started the day by sharing the goal of this event, “The goal of Tech Day is to bring together local IT businesses, Midstate IT students and faculty to discuss and share with each other IT trends and challenges.” The day started off with talks by Cindy Olson from Heart Technologies, who is also a graduate of the Midstate’s IT program, Ryan Stalets from Sora Technologies, and Doug Orwig from Pekin Insurance. Doug Orwig is also a part-time instructor for Midstate College. A common thought was shared with the participants in that not only do students need technical skills to work in the IT workforce, they also need soft skills such as working in a team environment, and solving IT challenges while professionally handling the people who are attached to them. Ryan Stalets said it best, “Sora Technologies is in the people assisting business, just as much as the IT problem solving business.”

During Tech Day, the students shared several projects they had worked on during the spring quarter including a new department website and Android mobile apps. A computer forensics demonstration was also shared.

Ms. Greer summarized the event by saying, “The event went well because Tech Day reached its objective of bringing like-minded individuals together from industry and education to share IT ideas”.

For more information, please contact Ashley Spain, arspain@midstate.edu or 309.692.4092 ext. 1150

Like to sketch or paint? Or would you like to learn?

Join the Miller Senior Center Art Group on Tuesdays at 9:30am

Fee is only $1.50. Any skill level!

Just bring your sketch pad and pencils/paints and come join the fun.

 Contact the Miller Center with any questions at 346-5210.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Dave Koehler’s plan to make it easier for farmers and other vendors to sell their products at farmers markets throughout the state is on its way to the governor’s desk.

Under Illinois’ current law, local health departments set the rules for buying and selling food at farmers markets, which has resulted in a hodge-podge of conflicting regulations. Koehler’s plan would allow the Illinois Department of Public Health to establish a single set of regulations for the entire state.

“Making it easier for Illinois farmers to sell their products throughout the state benefits everyone,” said Koehler, a Peoria Democrat who has always been a strong supporter of farmers markets. “It gives customers more choices and opens up new markets for local growers.”

For example, state law requires that all raw meat be kept under 41 degrees. However, some local health departments require that all meats be sold frozen. Some say that farmers must use mechanical refrigeration units. Others allow coolers and ice packs.

“This change would be very helpful for local growers like me,” said Doug Day, owner of Spring Bay Farm in Woodford County. “It would lower our costs, both in time and money.”

The legislation would also create rules for offering samples and require labels that make it easier for customers to identify where the food they buy was grown or produced.

Illinois has more than 375 farmers markets with more than 1,000 farmers and other vendors. They connect farmers and other producers directly to customers, providing locally grown and produced fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, cheeses, meats, nuts, baked goods and more.

Many now accept credit cards and debit cards, and the state has pushed to make the markets more accessible to food stamp users. Farmers markets often offer fresh produce at rates that are competitive with – or even cheaper than – grocery stores.

Peoria, Illinois – May 21, 2014 – The Peoria County Farm Bureau Marketing Committee is hosting a Market Outlook meeting on Tuesday, June 17, at the Farm Bureau Park south of Kickapoo.  Raber Packing of Peoria will serve a ribeye sandwich meal at 6:30 p.m.

Two speakers will present information:  Herb Meyer, the Senior Appraiser at 1st Farm Credit Services in Edwards and Chuck Doubet, the Grain Department Manager for AgLand FS.

Herb has been an active real estate appraiser specializing in agricultural properties since 1991.  He is a State Certified General Appraiser in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.  Herb’s territory with 1st Farm Credit Services is Fulton, Peoria, Knox, Stark, and Marshall Counties.  He also serves 1st Farm Credit Services as their Swine Facility Specialty Appraiser.

Herb holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Bradley University and has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural business from Northeast Missouri State University.

Prior to attending college, Herb was a full time farmer in Nodaway, MO raising corn, soybeans, wheat, hogs, and cattle.

The second speaker, Chuck Doubet, graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Business Administration.  Chuck was a merchandiser for two years with Illinois Grain Corporation and a hedging advisor for three years with Mid-Co Commodities.  Chuck served as the General Manager for Elmwood Elevator Company for 19 years and the Grain Department Manager for Heartland FS and AgLand FS for 17 years.  He has also been an instructor in grain marketing for Carl Sandburg Junior College in Galesburg.

The cost to attend the Market Outlook is $5 for Farm Bureau members.  Tickets can be purchased at the Farm Bureau Building, 1716 N. University St., Peoria, IL.  For more information call the Farm Bureau at 309-686-7070.

On Friday, May 23rd, Columbia Terrace at University Street will be closed to through traffic as follows:

·Eastbound Columbia Terrace will be closed from approximately 8 AM to 12 noon.

·Westbound Columbia Terrace will be closed from approximately 12 noon to 4 PM.

The purpose of these closures is for construction of electrical work in conjunction with the traffic signals.

As always, please slow down and use extreme caution while driving through all work zones. For updated project information please visit our website at http://www.peoriagov.org/public-works or contact the office of City Engineer Scott Reeise, at (309) 494-8800.

The Marine Corps League, Detachment 81, Peoria would like to invite the public and local media to attend the special Memorial Day ceremony at Tower Park in Peoria Heights on Monday, May 26, 2014 beginning at 2:00 pm.  The ceremony will include a 21 gun salute by the members of American Legion, Post 2 in Peoria , an Honor Guard, and a Color Guard.  In addition, the Commandant of the Marine Corps League will read the names of the deceased Marines from the Peoria area lost in combat. 

The Young Marines from around Central Illinois will lay a wreath at the Marine Corps Memorial for all of the fallen as their names are read.  The special guest is Mrs. Sarah Nannen, widow of active duty Marine Corps Aviator Major Reid B. Nannen, who died on March 1, 2014 while training at the Top Gun NAS School in Fallon, Nevada.  Mrs. Nannen will be accompanied by her four children and her extended family.  The ceremony will conclude with the playing of TAPS.