MOBILIZATION CEREMONY – Dressed as a soldier, Blake Hofstetter and his mom, Melissa, of Marquette Heights bide their time next to a UH-60V helicopter during a mobilization ceremony for the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria. Blake’s dad, Bruce Hofstetter, is one of about 180 members of the regiment headed to the Middle East to support operations mainly involving the high-tech helicopter.
MOBILIZATION CEREMONY – Little Natia Bott, 1, is all smiles as his dad, Staff Sgt. Aaron Bott, holds her after a mobilization ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023 at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria. Staff Sgt. Bott and his fellow Army Guardsmen from the 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment are headed to the Middle East for a lengthy deployment.
BRADLEY VS. ILLINOIS STATE – Bradley’s Rienk Mast, left, and ISU’s Kendall Lewis collide in the second half Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Braves downed the Redbirds 79-61.
BRADLEY VS. ILLINOIS STATE – Bradley’s Darius Hannah dunks over the Illinois State defense late in the second half Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. The Braves downed the Redbirds 79-61.
The new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge is starting to take shape as steel girders for the decking now sit atop the concrete piers Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 in Peoria. The next big step will be construction and erection of the arch in the middle of the bridge, an ongoing project expected to last until late summer or early fall.
METAMORA VS. EAST PEORIA – Metamora’s Tyson Swanson, left, gets past East Peoria’s Jack Dubois for a reverse layup in the second half Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2023 at East Peoria High School. The Redbirds defeated the Raiders 60-50.
METAMORA VS. EAST PEORIA – Metamora’s Tyler Mason (10) shoots over the East Peoria defense in the first half Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2023 at East Peoria High School. The Redbirds defeated the Raiders 60-50.
METAMORA VS. EAST PEORIA – East Peoria’s Justin Paige, right, knocks a rebound away from Metamora’s Ethan Kizer in the second half Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2023 at East Peoria High School. The Redbirds defeated the Raiders 60-50.
BRADLEY VS. MURRAY STATE – Bradley’s Connor Hickman (10) and Murray State’s DJ Burns dive for a loose ball in the first half Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves rolled over the Racers 83-48.
BRADLEY VS. MURRAY STATE – Bradley’s Malevy Leons, right, blocks a shot at the rim from Murray State’s Kenny White Jr. in the first half Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves rolled over the Racers 83-48.
BRADLEY VS. MURRAY STATE – Bradley’s Ville Tahvanainen celebrates after his fifth consecutive three-pointer late in the second half against Murray State on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves rolled over the Racers 83-48.
BRADLEY VS. MURRAY STATE – A pair of Bradley Bravettes flip their hair during a timeout routine in the second half Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves rolled over the Murray State Racers 83-48.
BRADLEY VS. MURRAY STATE – Bradley’s Rienk Mast (51) and his teammates react to a Braves’ three-pointer in the second half Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves rolled over the Murray State Racers 83-48.
PEORIA HIGH VS. MANUAL – Manual’s Gerron Trapps reacts to a fourth-quarter three-pointer late in the second half Saturday, Feb. 14, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Rams rallied to defeat the Lions 66-61.
PEORIA HIGH VS. MANUAL – Peoria High’s LeShawn Stowers, left, moves to the basket against Manual’s Dietrich Richardson in the second half Saturday, Feb. 14, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Rams rallied to defeat the Lions 66-61.
BRADLEY VS. MISSOURI STATE – Bradley’s Rienk Mast (51) and Duke Deen (21) fight for a rebound with Missouri State’s N.J. Benson in the second half Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Bears 64-54.
BRADLEY VS. MISSOURI STATE – Missouri State’s Donovan Clay stops Bradley’s Darius Hannah at the basket in the first half Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023 at Carver Arena. Hannah recovered the rebound and scored on the play. The Braves defeated the Bears 64-54.
WASHINGTON TAKES SECTIONAL TITLE – Washington’s Claire McDougall, bottom, and Peoria Notre Dame’s Biz Daly collide in the second half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Limestone Regional title game Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 in Bartonville. The Panthers defeated the Irish 59-48.
WASHINGTON TAKES SECTIONAL TITLE – Peoria Notre Dame’s Biz Daly (20) and Kaitlin Cassidy (21) defend against Washington’s Claire McDougall in the first half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Limestone Regional title game Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 in Bartonville. The Panthers defeated the Irish 59-48.
WASHINGTON TAKES SECTIONAL TITLE – The Washington Panthers celebrate their 59-48 victory over Peoria Notre Dame in the Class 3A Girls Basketball Limestone Regional title game Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 in Bartonville.
WASHINGTON TAKES SECTIONAL TITLE – Washington senior Claire McDougall, middle, and the Panthers celebrate their 59-48 win over Peoria Notre Dame for the Class 3A Limestone Sectional on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023 in Bartonville.
EUREKA TAKES REGIONAL TITLE – The Eureka Hornets bench explodes with excitement as teammate Ella Ausmus, in foreground, drops a pair of free throws in overtime to seal their victory over Canton in the Class 2A Girls Basketball Eureka Regional title game Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 in Eureka. The Hornets defeated the Little Giants 61-55.
EUREKA TAKES REGIONAL TITLE – Canton’s Karless Zumstein, left, teammate Jena Goforth, and Eureka’s Ellie Cahill collide under the basket on a layup attempt by Cahill in the first half of the Class 2A Girls Basketball Eureka Regional title game Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 in Eureka. The Hornets defeated the Little Giants 61-55 in overtime.
EUREKA TAKES REGIONAL TITLE – Eureka’s Ella Ausmus (24) tries to stop a shot by Canton’s Karleee Zumstein in the overtime period of the Class 2A Girls Basketball Eureka Regional title game Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 in Eureka. The Hornets defeated the Little Giants 61-55 in overtime.
STATE WRESTLING – Galesburg’s Gauge Shipp nearly pins Joliet Catholic’s Jake Hamiti in the 138-pound title match of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign. Shipp took the title with a 15-0 technical fall.
STATE WRESTLING – Carlyle’s Tyson Waughtel, top, and Farmington’s Keygan Jennings battle it out in the 113-pound match of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign. Davis took the title with a 3-2 decision.
STATE WRESTLING – Marmion’s Jack Lesher celebrates his 6-1 decision over Pekin’s Shamon Handegan in the 182-pound title match of the Class 3A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign.
STATE WRESTLING – Dakota’s Phoenix Blakely, top, puts a hold on Marian’s Vance Williams in the 132-pound match of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign. Blakley took the title with an 11-4 decision.
STATE WRESTLING – Illini Bluffs’ Paul Ishikawa spins on Oakwood’s Reef Pacot in the 145-pound title match of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign.
STATE WRESTLING – Washington’s Kannon Webster takes down Civic Memorial’s Bryce Griffin in the 145-pound title match of the Class 2A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign. Webster repeated as state champ with an 18-8 major decision.
STATE WRESTLING – El Paso-Gridley’s Dax Gentes hugs his coach after taking the title in the 160-pound match of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign.
STATE WRESTLING – Elmhurst IC Catholic’s Isaiah Gonzalez celebrates after pinning Auburn’s Cole Edie in the 285-pound title match of the Class 1A state wrestling tournament Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023 at State Farm Arena in Champaign.
HOUNDS & COMPANY – Casey and Danielle Eccles of Peoria opened their new dog grooming business Hounds & Company on Nov. 1, 2022 in a space formerly occupied by kitchen store Everyday Cook in Junction City.
HOUNDS & COMPANY – Piper, a Goldendoodle, sits quietly for a trim from Danielle Eccles at the new doggie spa Hounds & Company in Junction City.
3A GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS – Washington’s Addie Kimler (13), Alexa Moehle (20), head coach Kim Barth, far right, and Claire McDougall, third from right, converge on teammate Avery Tibbs after one of her three-pointers in the second half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional semifinals Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 in Eureka. The Panthers defeated the Geneseo Maple Leafs 58-41.
3A GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS – Washington’s Claire McDougall (3) battles a pair of Geneseo defenders for a rebound in the first half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional semifinals Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 in Eureka. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 58-41.
3A GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS – Washington’s Carly Vaughn shoots over Geneseo’s Allison Griffin in the first half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional semifinals Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 in Eureka. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 58-41.
3A GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS – Peoria High’s Aaliyah Guyton, right, shoots over the Galesburg defense in the first half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Lions defeated the Galesburg Silver Streaks 63-34.
3A GIRLS BASKETBALL SECTIONALS – Peoria High’s Aaliyah Guyton, left, talks with teammate Danielle Ruffin on the bench in the closing seconds of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional semifinals Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Lions defeated the Galesburg Silver Streaks 63-34.
VINTAGE BARN – Farm owner Dave Bishop, left, and tenant Kira Santiago of Kira’s Flowers stand near an Sears and Roebuck’s dairy barn built in 1927 on 100 acres of Bishop’s property on the edge of East Peoria. Bishop and Santiago have mounted a campaign to fund the restoration of the rundown barn, which suffers from a badly leaking roof .
VINTAGE BARN – Holes have appeared in the roof of an old dairy barn on farm owner Dave Bishop’s property in East Peoria. The barn, built in 1927, has served many purposes over the decades, most recently for gatherings hosted by Downriver Farms and Kira’s Flowers, who have rented out the land for their respective businesses.
VINTAGE BARN – Farm owner Dave Bishop and his tenant Kira Santiago of Kira’s Flowers have mounted a fundraising campaign to save Sears and Roebuck dairy barn built in 1927 on Bishop’s farm land on the outskirts of East Peoria.
3A BOYS SECTIONALS – Manual’s Gerron Trapps (2) and Carrion Ferrell, left, stop Peoria High’s Eli Love under the basket in the first half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Sectional semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Rams defeated the Lions 59-51.
3A BOYS SECTIONALS – Peoria High head coach Daniel Ruffin yells directions to his players as they battle Manual in the first half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Sectional semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Rams defeated the Lions 59-51.
3A BOYS SECTIONALS – Manual’s Carrion Ferrell (25) fouls Peoria High’s Eli Lover (33) under the basket in the first half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Sectional semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Rams defeated the Lions 59-51.
3A BOYS SECTIONALS – The Peoria High defense battles Peoria Notre Dame’s Cooper Koch in the first half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Sectional semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Knights defeated the Irish 51-40.
3A BOYS SECTIONALS – Peoria Notre Dame’s Eoin Dillon, right, tries to knock the ball away from Richwoods’ Jared Jackson in the second half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Sectional semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Knights defeated the Irish 51-40.
3A BOYS SECTIONALS – Richwoods’ Greg Burnside, right, and the Knight’s bench cheer on their teammates as they take a lead over Peoria Notre Dame in the first half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Sectional semifinals Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Knights defeated the Irish 51-40.
3A GIRLS SECTIONAL TITLE – A trio of young Washington fans with painted faces yell for the Panthers during player introductions before the start of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional title game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Peoria High Lions advanced to the Pontiac supersectional with a 35-29 win over the Panthers.
3A GIRLS SECTIONAL TITLE – Washington’s Addie Kimler, left, and teammate Becca McDougall, third from left, collide with Peoria High’s Danielle Ruffin, second from left, and Denali Craig Edwards in the first half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional title game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Lions advanced to the Pontiac supersectional with a 35-29 win over the Panthers.
3A GIRLS SECTIONAL TITLE – Washington’s Claire McDougall, left, blocks a shot by Peoria High’s Niasha Rutherford in the second half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional title game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Lions advanced to the Pontiac supersectional with a 35-29 win over the Panthers.
3A GIRLS SECTIONAL TITLE – Peoria High head coach Meechie Edwards consoles Washington senior Claire McDougall after the Panthers fell to the Lions 35-29 in the Class 3A Girls Basketball Richwoods Sectional title game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 at Richwoods High School.
3A GIRLS SECTIONAL TITLE – The Peoria High Lions raise their Class 3A sectional title plaque after defeating Washington 35-29 in the title game Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Lions will face Chicago Marian at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Pontiac supersectional for a berth in the state finals.
3A BOYS SECTIONAL TITLE – Richwoods’ Jared Jackson (5) goes to the basket against Manual’s Marquis Woodson (24) and Carrion Ferrell in the second half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Regional title game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Knights defeated the Rams 64-56.
3A BOYS SECTIONAL TITLE – Manual head coach Marvin Jordan watches his Rams battle Richwoods in the second half of the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Regional title game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 at Peoria High School. The Knights defeated the Rams 64-56.
CLASS 3A BOYS SECTIONAL TITLE – Richwoods senior Greg Burnside, facing, hugs teammate Jaylen McFadden after the Knight’s 64-56 victory over Manual in the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Regional title game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 at Peoria High School.
3A BOYS SECTIONAL TITLE – The Richwoods Knights lift their championship plaque after defeating Manual 64-56 in the Class 3A Boys Basketball Peoria Regional title game Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 at Peoria High School.
ROLLED ICE CREAM – Noah Sidney, 3, and his sister Isla, 4, of Morton keep a close eye on Krystal Sondag, right, and her husband Jordan as they create the kids’ rolled ice cream treat at their new shop Scrolls Rolled Ice Cream, 321 S. First Avenue in Morton.
ROLLED ICE CREAM – Fresh cream is mixed with flavoring ingredients like peanut butter, strawberries, and bananas on a freezing cold tray, then flattened out and rolled into “scrolls” of ice cream at the new shop Scrolls Rolled Ice Cream in Morton.
ROLLED ICE CREAM – A chalkboard menu hangs in the background as Scrolls employee Maggie Brummel makes rolled ice cream for a trio of regulars at the new shop in Morton.
ROLLED ICE CREAM – A freshly-made cup of rolled ice cream from Scrolls Rolled Ice Cream in Morton.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPS – Bradley’s Malevy Leons, right, and Drake’s Tucker DeVries chase a loose ball in the second half Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Bulldogs 73-61.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPS – Bradley’s Connor Hickman (10) and Duke Deen, right, block a shot by Drake’s Garrett Sturtz in the first half Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena. The Braves defeated the Bulldogs 73-61.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPS – The Bradley Braves celebrate their Missouri Valley Conference title with fans on the court after defeating Drake 73-61 in the winner-take-all regular season finale Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPS – Bradley head coach Brian Wardle hugs a trio of his players as they celebrate their 73-61 victory over Drake to claim the Missouri Valley Conference title Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPS – Bradley’s Duke Deen, middle, holds a sign proclaiming the Braves’ Missouri Valley Conference championship as he and his teammates celebrate their 73-61 victory over Drake in the regular-season finale Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena.
MISSOURI VALLEY CHAMPS – Bradley’s Zek Montgomery holds the MVC championship trophy as he celebrates with his teammates after their 73-61 victory over Drake in the regular-season finale Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023 at Carver Arena.
3A GIRLS SUPERSECTONAL – Fans swarm the Peoria High Lions after their 37-34 win over Chicago Marist in the Class 3A Girls Basketball Pontiac Supersectional on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at Pontiac High School. The Lions will face Nazareth Academy at 10:00 a.m Friday in the state semifinals at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
3A GIRLS SUPERSECTONAL – Peoria High’s Denali Craig-Edwards shoots over the Chicago Marist defense in the second half of the Class 3A Girls Basketball Pontiac Supersectional on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at Pontiac High School. The Lions defeated Chicago Marist 37-34 and will face Nazareth Academy at 10:00 a.m Friday in the state semifinals at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
3A GIRLS SUPERSECTONAL – The Peoria High Lions celebrate their 37-34 victory over Chicago Marist in the Class 3A Girls Basketball Pontiac Supersectional on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023 at Pontiac High School. The Lions will face Nazareth Academy at 10:00 a.m Friday in the state semifinals at CEFCU Arena in Normal.
PRECISE ICE – The Precise Ice figure skating team works on a routine with coach Christa Martin, facing in glasses, during a recent practice session at Veterans Memorial Arena in Pekin.
PRECISE ICE – Jada Mutchler of Precise Ice works on her routine during a recent practice at Veterans Memorial Arena in Pekin.
PRECISE ICE – The Precise Ice figure skating team works on a routine during a recent practice session at Veterans Memorial Arena in Pekin.
