Latest news with #PekinPublicLibrary
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pekin Public Library holds free comic book day
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — With the first Saturday in May comes Free Comic Book Day at the Pekin Public Library. From 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, the library is teaming up with The Zone Comic to bring free comic books, which can be picked up at the Youth Services Desk at the library. There is a limit of one book for each person while supplies last, and they have comics appropriate for kids and teens available. Event goers can also enjoy a graphic novel, pick up DIY comics activities or color their own superhero mask. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pekin City Council candidates answer questions, tout reputations, at forum
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — Pekin residents got the chance to ask questions to prospective members of the city council at a forum Wednesday night, and discussion topics ran the gamut. It was held at the Pekin Public Library, and it featured a mix of incumbent council members and new candidates ready to shake things up. There will be at least one new council member, as Lloyd Orrick chose to not seek re-election. Chris Onken and Dave Nutter's terms are up, and seek re-election against challengers Jim Fletcher, Chris Hogue, Peg Phillips, and Matthew Johnson. Questions were posed about public safety pensions, the April city council decision to implement a 5% utility tax, and more. Matthew Johnson ran for city council two years ago and came up short, but he wasn't discouraged. He consistently attends council meetings to voice his opinions and sees several things he'd like to change about how the city is run. 'I don't care for the wasteful spending. I don't like all the fee increases and I certainly do not like the abuse of home rule that happens within the city of Pekin,' he said. Home rule, which can also be referred to as local control, gives municipal governments the power to adopt any legislation unless it's against state law. In essence, its purpose is basically to allow the local community to solve its own problems. Chris Hogue is another one of the challengers and is a lifelong Pekin resident. If elected, he wants to bring more transparency to the citizens of Pekin about city council decisions. 'It seems like when you talk to people, they aren't quite on the same page as the direction the city's going, so I just want to be able to have that outlet to talk to people and bring those opinions back to council,' he said. Jim Fletcher, who owns two businesses in the city and has lived in Pekin his entire life, echoed Hogue's thoughts. He believes the city should be run like a business that works for the people of Pekin. 'I believe we need to have more public input on a lot of the issues that seem to get passed without a lot of the voter's knowledge,' he said. Dave Nutter has been on the city council for the past six years and said he has tried to make the council more proactive than reactive. He agrees with Hogue and Fletcher, saying there needs to be more transparency from the city to its residents. 'Things that go out on social media are not always factual and that creates rumors which creates other problems. We need to get more of the facts out to make sure people understand why we're doing what we're doing,' he said. Chris Onken has been serving on the council since January of 2024 when he was appointed to fill Becky Cloyd's vacant seat. This is the first election for the physical education teacher at Pekin High School, and he believes he has brought a 'cool head' to city council. 'I think some of the decisions we've made as a council have been tough ones, but I feel most of the citizens are pleased with what we had to do,' he said. Election Day is April 1. The three candidates with the most votes will be elected. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pekin Mayor holds State of the City address, details yearly plan
PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) — It's a new year, Pekin's 201st to be exact. At the Pekin Public Library, Mayor Amy Burress address around 50 residents and business owners on what 2025 looks like for the city. A new energy plant could be in Pekin's future Probably the most celebrated aspect of the address by the mayor was how the city has handled their finances as of late, among what projects will be continued this year. 'We are going in the right direction,' Burress said. 'We are stable now. I want people to believe in us and to know that our finances are in order to make the city grow.' The finance department of the city is currently working to pay off pension debt at 105% to have it paid off quicker. They are organizing the yearly budget, and are sending in the 2023-24 fiscal year audit. Burress gave the department a round of applause for what they have been able to do for the past year. A major note made at the address was the purchase of Luttiken land which will connect Veterans Drive to Interstate 474. Burress said she also acquired a $2.8 million grant for Broadway Street in Pekin which she said will be 'developing within the next two years.' Construction on Court Street and Derby Street will be continued this year as well. Just as the city dug up the 50 year old time capsule on the Fourth of July, they are going to make another one. Pekin unearths time capsule from the 1970s It won't be buried, however, after the difficulty it took to retrieve the previous capsule, with moisture ruining a few items inside. The city is accepting items until May. Other items discussed in the State of the City included the just over $10 million budget, commercial and economic development with a hope of bringing in more business, and the optimism for resources available and for the opportunities ahead for the city. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
