Latest news with #Pekin
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sweet start to summer at Pekin Public Library's Candy Land Adventure
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — Summer kicked off in the sweetest way at the Pekin Public Library, where more than 500 people and families stepped into a life-sized game of Candy Land. The event was the library's Summer Adventure Kickoff Party, and was one of the largest turnouts in the library's history. Library staff say the goal was to spark joy, bring the community together, and encourage a love of reading as summer begins. 'It's very important because then they can keep up on their reading skills,' said Catrina Klassen, Head of Youth Services at Pekin Public Library. 'So then when they go into the school year, next year they're ready to go. And then teachers don't have to go back and re-teach some of those skills so that they can keep up on those skills throughout the summer.' The event was held on Saturday, May 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., which had the library transformed into a colorful, candy-themed wonderland to launch its annual Summer Reading Program with imagination and excitement. Children followed a rainbow path through the library, picking up their Summer Reading Game Cards and exploring a magical land of sweet surprises. Families enjoyed a day packed with fun, including a bouncy house, balloon artists, interactive games, and meet-and-greet moments with Sonic and Mario, adding to the excitement for kids of all ages. Klassen also explained the motivation behind this year's program theme. 'Illinois does like a summer reading theme for all the libraries, so 'Level Up' was the whole thing for the state of Illinois, which I think is a great motivator because kids love games. So this is a great way to get them to want to read.' Whether bouncing, reading, or racing through Candy Land, families left with big smiles — and even bigger stacks of books. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Otago Daily Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Hope to waddle away with win
Ivy Rose Vittle holds Pekin duck Lavender who will be on display at the Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club Annual Show this weekend. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it might just be judged the best duck in show. At least that is what Ivy Rose Vittle is hoping. The 11-year-old is taking her pet Pekin duck to compete in the Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club Annual Show for the first time this weekend. She and Lavender had become very close since she adopted her about two years ago, she said. "It's been one of my best decisions. "She's a good friend. She's quite a fan of cuddles." Since then, Ivy Rose has taught her to walk on a lead, to come when called, and she does tricks, too. "Sometimes, I'll put some cones out and she knows to weave through them, a bit like a dog." But it appears there are some things you cannot teach an old duck. "She doesn't roll on her back and play dead or beg or anything like that though." It has been estimated Lavender is about 10 years old. Ivy Rose' relationship with Lavender is such that her dad regularly threatens to turn the duck into dinner if she refuses to do her chores. "It makes me do my jobs every time." She was entering Lavender in the show, at Forrester Park, because she had never done it before and wanted to do it before her feathered friend died of old age. Most Pekin ducks live for five-10 years. "She's probably around 100, I'd say, in duck years, and she's got arthritis now, too. "I'll be very proud of her if she wins something. But it's more about the fact that she will get to go out and have a bit of experience as well." Lavender will be one of nearly 700 birds at the show, which is open from 11am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-1pm on Sunday.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pekin's highest-paid employees: 13 who make $125,000 or more annually
Illinois statute requires municipalities that participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund to publicly post a list of all employees making more than $75,000 in total compensation. The Journal Star is reviewing those public documents and sharing contents of the reports with readers for transparency. Pekin's compensation report includes annual salary; education and other premiums; holiday payouts; allowances for equipment and uniforms; and stipends. Here are the 13 highest salaries for Pekin employees for 2025-26, according to the city's annual compensation report. The report has not been posted on the City of Pekin website, but copies are available for public viewing at Pekin City Hall at 11 S. Capitol St. or by emailing Pekin city clerk Nicole Stewart at nlstewart@ Dossey is the city's highest-paid employee, earning an annual salary of $184,862, according to Pekin's compensation report. As Pekin's city manager, he is the administrative head of the municipality and responsible for its day-to-day operations, implementing city policies, preparing and submitting budgets to the City Council, personnel management and delivering city services. Pekin's police chief, Ranney collects an annual salary of $146,404, and an annual $1,100 equipment and uniform allowance for a total compensation of $147,504. As Pekin's fire chief, Reeise oversees the fire department's administrative, fiscal, and operational aspects. He collects $147,154 annually in total compensation, including his $146,404 salary and a $750 equipment and uniform allowance. Hutchinson is one of Pekin's two deputy police chiefs. Hutchinson earns an annual salary of $135,795 and a $1,100 uniform allowance for a total compensation package of $136,895. Rendleman collects a $135,795 annual salary and a $750 equipment and uniform allowance, adding up to $136,545 in total compensation. A deputy police chief, Willmert's total compensation package consists of his $135,795 annual salary. Dubrowski serves as the city's finance director and earns an annual salary of $133,900, which is his total compensation. Grimm's annual salary and his total compensation as Pekin's public works director is $130,000. Top salaries: See which 11 city of Washington employees earn the most in 2025 A lieutenant with the Pekin Police Department, Jones collects a $125,768 total compensation package. That includes a $124,668 salary and an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance. Kirk's annual salary as a police lieutenant is $124,668. He also collects an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance to boost his total compensation to $125,768. As a police lieutenant, Rabe collects a $124,668 annual salary and an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance for a total compensation of $125,768. Damron is a lieutenant with the Pekin Police Department. His $125,768 in total compensation consists of a $124,668 annual salary and an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance. Top salaries: These city of Peoria employees have the highest compensation for 2025 Pekin police lieutenant Bush's annual salary is list as $124,668. He also collects an $1,100 uniform and equipment allowance for a $125,768 total compensation package. This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Pekin highest-paid employees: these 13 make $125,000 or more annually
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Thinking about getting a live animal as an Easter gift? Clarksburg animal rescue says think twice
CLARKSBURG, (WBOY) — Easter is almost here, and for many parents, that means getting the last-minute items for those Easter baskets, and sometimes live animals are a part of that. But is it a good idea? Chicks, ducklings and rabbits are often depicted as the perfect Easter animals and pets for the holiday. However, AJ Springfield, the director for PupSavers Rescue in Clarksburg, said that abandonment of these pets is a big problem. 'They bring the duck, the rabbit, what have you, in, and they soon find out that it's a lot of care, a lot of work, very time-consuming, smelly, and expensive,' Springfield said. Although these animals are fluffy and usually smaller than a cat or dog, don't let their size fool you into thinking they require less care. Springfield said that ducks, chicks and rabbits require a lot more space than the small crate or box they're usually purchased in, as they can grow very quickly. 'If you can't commit to that animal's life, if it is about teaching a child responsibility, great. But if it's just purchased as you know, an ornament for your Easter basket, not a good idea,' Springfield said. Already before Easter this year, Springfield has had Pekin ducklings returned because they grew quickly. Springfield said he was told 'they're too big for the Easter basket.' Pekin ducks are typically meat ducks and generally don't have a long lifespan, but are one of the most common Easter ducks given and are not suited for the wild. Beeping egg hunt held in Bridgeport for visually-impaired children Many already know the big problem of cat and dog surrenders after Christmas time, but Springfield said he sometimes sees the Easter season has a higher surrendering rate. 'People often forget about Easter, where the problem is just as bad if not more, there's just some wider range of animals and there are very few resources for poultry and rabbits,' Springfield said. Springfield added that these animals are usually surrendered by owners who did not give proper nutrition or housing to the animals and giving them up is the best outcome. 'We never recommend releasing any domestic animal into the wild, into a city park, or to your yard or to your woods […] Because of the fact that these rabbits, ducks, things like that they're not used to predators, they don't have that awareness, they've lost that instinct, a lot of it, and so they're easy prey and they meet gruesome ends,' said Springfield. Because of this year's egg prices, there has been a high rise in adoptions of those chicks and ducks and Springfield is already expecting a high surrender rate of those animals as well. If you've already purchased one of these animals and are worried about long-term care, Springfield said to contact local farms and rescues for help. But if you are committed to caring for these animals, Springfield suggests doing proper research on the best food and habitat for the animal's lifetime. In order to combat an expected high rate of surrenders this year, PupSavers Rescue will be holding an event on Friday at Pet Supplies 'Plus' in Clarksburg from 3-8 p.m. for families to get an opportunity to pet popular Easter pets and get photo opportunities. 'They can get that experience, get it out of their system so to speak, without mom and dad having to invest a small fortune in,' Springfield said. On Saturday, there will also be another event held by PupSavers from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tractor Supply on Emily Drive. During the event, people will be able to adopt cats and dogs, get photo ops with the Easter bunny and hang out with the easter pets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
