Dist. 150 board looks at budget cut suggestions
They are described as considerations but the Peoria District 150 school board now has a comprehensive list of possible budget cuts that can be made. Superintendent Ken Hinton presented the list to the board Monday saying action needs to be taken to erase what could be a $7.5-million deficit by the end of the 2009-2010 school year. There are high priority items like consolidating schools and re-drawing boundaries in addition to low priority items like closing a high school. "There is no way...
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Extreme Makeover with Grys family on TV Sunday
The Extreme Makeover Home Edition featuring the Grys family in Pekin will be shown on ABC-TV this coming Sunday night. Builder and Realtor Melodie Spurgeon has scheduled a viewing party at the Peoria Civic Center in a continued effort to raise money for the Grys' mortgage and other needs. The party will begin at 5:00 Sunday with free hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and live music. A behind the scenes look of the Extreme Makeover of the Grys home will be shown at 6:00 followed by the ABC-TV telecast...
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Suspected bank robber shot near Normal
(AP) - Police say a man suspected of robbing four banks has been shot after leading officers on a high-speed chase around Normal. Authorities say the man robbed a Bloomington currency exchange at gunpoint Monday and fled in his vehicle. Police began a pursuit around 3:00 Monday afternoon on Interstate 55. The chase, which authorities say reached speeds of more than 90 mph, included Keller Highway, rural road near Lake Bloomington and Interstate 39. Witnesses say the man jumped out of the...
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Interim principal named at Trewyn Middle School
Sheryl Ellis is out as principal at Peoria District 150's Trewyn Middle School. Retired educator Steve Schoch (SHOOK) has been named interim principal by District 150 superintendent Ken Hinton. Spokeswoman Stacey Shangraw says Schoch, who retired last spring, was formerly assistant principal at Woodruff High School. What was called a verbal confrontation by a substitute teacher and a one-on-one attendant at Trewyn school was reported to District 150 security by the principal December fourth....
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Schock Takes 18th Seat Tuesday
The youngest member in Congress gets sworn-in on Capitol Hill Tuesday and he happens to be our new 18th District Representative. Aaron Schock officially moves from the State to the Federal level, replacing Ray LaHood. The ceremony takes place at 1100 am Peoria time. Schock tells 1470 WMBD News after an evening of celebration following the swearing-in, it's right to work with the 111th Congress Wednesday morning. The new Congressman explains a lot of bills are going to be...
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New CAT plant in Arkansas
(AP) - State officials in Arkansas say Caterpillar Inc. will open a new plant in North Little Rock that will build motor graders. Officials say the Caterpillar plant will employ about 600 people. The Peoria, Ill.-based company says it plans to invest $140 million in the project. Production is expected to begin in early 2010. Motor graders are used primarily for mining applications, and a nearly full line of motor graders will be manufactured at the North Little Rock plant.
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Flood warning continues
The flood warning continues along the Illinois River. The flood warning is in effect until January 11th in Henry where the river reading at 7:30 Sunday night was 26.1 feet - still just over three feet above flood stage. The river will continue to fall to below flood stage by Saturday evening. The flood warning continues until further notice in Peoria. The river reading in Peoria Sunday night was 22.8 feet - flood stage is 18 feet. The river will continue to near 22.2 feet by Tuesday morning.
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Dist. 150 wants to increase student achievement
The effort to get more parents involved in their child's education is about to move into full speed within Peoria Public Schools. Superintendent Ken Hinton has been adamant in feeling the success of a child in school - no matter what level - is associated with how much parents are involved. He says a report is being developed to present to the school board. Hinton gave no timetable when the District 150 school board will see the report.
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Actor, playwright arrested in Normal
Police in Normal say actor and playwright Sam Shepard was arrested over the weekend on preliminary charges of speeding and drunk driving. Police tell the Bloomington Pantagraph Shepard was stopped early Saturday in Normal driving 16 mph over the 30 mph speed limit. Officials say a breath test on the 65-year old Shepard indicated his blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit. Shepard told police he had been at a tavern in Bloomington and was heading to a hotel. He said he was on his way to...
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Current Illinois River Levels
The flood warning continues along the Illinois River. The National Weather Service reports as of 830 pm Friday night the river level at Peoria was 23.6 feet, 5.6 feet above flood stage. The river is now falling in Peoria. It should drop to just under 23 feet by Sunday morning. But, in Henry the river continues to slowly rise. Current river height in Henry is 27.1 feet, 4.1 feet above flood stage. The river appears at it's crest in Henry, although a further slight...
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