MLB Hall of Famer Jim Thome shares a laugh with WMBD’s Kurt Pegler and the crowd at the annual Sunday Morning League banquet Sunday, May 1, 2022 at the Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION – Workers assemble the framing for the construction of a section of a new concrete pier while an excavator tears apart a pier that was used for the old on-ramp that was removed to eastbound McClugage Bridge.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION – Bridge workers work below the water level on a concrete footing for a pier for the new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge. Steel pilings hold the water back and pumps pull the water out as thousands of tons of concrete are poured down into the pit to create the bottom portion of the pier.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION – Workers patch and sand small pockmarks in a recently constructed pier for the new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION – Concrete workers tie rebar in place for a pier under construction on the new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge.
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION – A pair of engineers take a look around the construction zone for the new eastbound span of the McClugage Bridge.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Confetti flies as Alec Hagaman, far right, of the Peoria Rivermen hoists the President’s Cup and teammates Eric Levine, foreground, Mike Gurtler, to his right, and Cody Dion exit the bus to the cheers of their fans on their return to the Peoria Civic Center on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from their SPHL championship run in Roanoke, Virginia. The Rivermen defeated the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 3-1 in the best-of-5 series for the title.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Peoria Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel passes the SPHL President’s Cup around to family and friends Wednesday, May 4, 2022 upon the team’s return to the Peoria Civic Center from their championship run in Roanoke, Virginia.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Peoria Rivermen fans cheer as the team bus returns to the Peoria Civic Center from Roanoke, Virginia on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 after defeating the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 3-1 in the best-of-5 series for the SPHL President’s Cup championship.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Several hundred fans lined up along Jefferson Street to cheer on the SPHL champion Peoria Rivermen atop a Peoria Fire Department ladder truck Friday, May 6, 2022 in downtown Peoria. A short parade was followed by a celebration in Carver Arena for the team who clinched their first championship in 22 years with a victory over the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs in the SPHL finals.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Rivermen defenseman Dale Deon plants a kiss on head coach Jean-Guy Trudel’s face as the team exits the Peoria Fire Department ladder truck they rode on in a parade Friday, May 6, 2022 through downtown Peoria. The team joined hundreds of fans for a celebration of their SPHL championship at the Peoria Civic Center.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Peoria Rivermen defenseman Zach Wilkie pumps up the crowd before the start of a ceremony celebrating the team’s SPHL championship Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Peoria Rivermen captain Alec Hagaman of Dunlap raises the SPHL President’s Cup as he makes his entrance during a ceremony celebrating the team’s championship Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – Peoria Rivermen head coach Jean-Guy Trudel celebrates his team’s SPHL championship with fans during a ceremony Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
CHAMPIONS RETURN – The Peoria Rivermen gather around the SPHL President’s Cup at the conclusion of a ceremony celebrating the team’s championship Friday, May 6, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
PRO-CHOICE PROTEST – Sisters Cecilia, left, and Myranda Huerta of Peoria join with other protesters in chanting against the Supreme Court’s leaked opinion overturning the Roe v. Wade abortion rights case during a rally Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the corner of University and Main in Peoria. About 200 people gathered for the protest.
PRO-CHOICE PROTEST – Protesters show their support for abortion rights during a rally Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the corner of University and Main in Peoria. The rally was organized by the Peoria Democratic Socialists of America, the Peoria Communist Party USA, and the Peoria Area Socialist Alternative.
PRO-CHOICE PROTEST – Cari Blodgett of Canton holds up a papier-mache sign in the shape of the female reproductive system during an abortion rights rally Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the corner of University and Main in Peoria. Blodgett repurposed the sign from a hysterectomy party.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS –Dave Mustaine and Megadeth perform Saturday, May 7, 2022 on The Metal Tour of the Year featuring Lamb of God, Trivium and In Flames on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS –Megadeth bassist Jame LoMenzo greets thousands of screaming fans at the start of their show Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS – Lead vocalist Randy Blythe of the thrash metal band Lamb of God leaps from the drum platform between a pair of fireballs during their show Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS –Lamb of God bassist John Campbell swings his white hair as he performs during their show Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS –Lead singer Randy Blythe of Lamb of God swings his dreadlocks during their show Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS –A spotlight shines down on Trivium bassist Paulo Gregoletto as he and lead singer and guitarist Matt Heafy perform with the thrash metal band Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
MEGADETH AND FRIENDS –Stage lights shine on Trivium vocalist and guitarist Matt Heafy as he sticks his tongue out while performing Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Peoria Civic Center.
SILO FIRE – A pair of Peoria firefighters pour water on the still-smoldering remains of a set of grain silos damaged in an explosion nearly a week ago Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the BioUrja plant on Southwest Washington Street in South Peoria.
SILO FIRE – Peoria firefighters continue to battle reigniting flames Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at the BioUrja plant on Southwest Washington Street in South Peoria. Two people were injured and a set of grain silos was damaged in an explosion last Wednesday.THE UNDERGROUND – Ish Hicks, director of the new Underground Training facility at Landmark Health and Fitness Center, 3225 N. Dries Lane, works with a trio of young athletes on the facility’s speed and agility field. Landmark has converted several of their raquetball courts into the new workout facility.
THE UNDERGROUND – Ish Hicks works with former Peoria Central standout athlete and Southeast Missouri State running back Geno Hess in the Underground Training facility at Landmark Health and Fitness Center in Peoria.
THE UNDERGROUND – Ish Hicks, director of the Underground Training Facility at Landmark Health and Fitness Center, demonstrates the form he want a group of young athletes to use during a recent workout.
Boguslaw “Bogy” Czesak, 60, of Pekin contracted COVID-19 in November of 2021 and spent five months in the hospital and 88 days on a ventilator. He was so ill that doctors at UnityPoint Health Methodist Hospital had given up hope and nearly pulled him off life support if not for the intervention his son Anthony Czesak.
Manual’s Jerome Cranford gets some air in the long jump during the Class 2A Metamora Sectional track and field meet Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Metamora High School. Cranford finished fourth with a leap of 6.40 meters.
GIRLS STATE TRACK AND FIELD – Tremont’s Cambria Geyer smiles while crossing the finish line for victory in the 300-meter hurdles during the Class 1A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Eastern Illinois University.
GIRLS STATE TRACK AND FIELD – Eureka’s Anne Perry raises her arms in triumph as she crosses the finish line to victory in the 3200-meter run in the Class 1A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Eastern Illinois University.
GIRLS STATE TRACK AND FIELD – Chatham Glenwood’s Katelyn Lehnen, right, comes to the aid of another runner after the 200-meter dash during the Class 2A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Eastern Illinois University. Lehnen took the title in the race.
GIRLS STATE TRACK AND FIELD – Runners on the Winnebago 4X800-meter relay team celebrate their state title in the event during the Class 1A State Track and Field Championships in Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Eastern Illinois University.
GIRLS STATE TRACK AND FIELD – Winnebago’s Kaylee Woolery (691) reacts to her third-place finish in the 1600-meter run during the Class 1A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Eastern Illinois University.
GIRLS STATE TRACK AND FIELD – Tuscola’s Lia Patterson, facing, hugs teammate Alyssa Williams after the pair finished second and first respectively in the 200-meter dash during the Class 1A State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at Eastern Illinois University. The victory all but sealed Tuscola’s overall team victory.
SOFTBALL SECTIONAL – East Peoria’s Bri Despines celebrates scoring on a teammate’s hit against Rock Island during their Class 3A softball sectional semifinal Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Jan Smith Field in Washington. The Raiders held on to win 12-11 to advance to the title game against Metamora on Friday in Washington.
SOFTBALL SECTIONAL – East Peoria’s Gabby Lane, right, and Sidney Sawyer collide while chasing a Rock Island fly ball during their Class 3A softball sectional semifinal Tuesday, May 31, 2022 at Jan Smith Field in Washington. The Raiders held on to win 12-11 to advance to the title game against Metamora on Friday in Washington.
MANIAS MANOR – An excavator stands by as another dumps debris into a semi-tractor trailer at the demolition site of the former Manias Manor at the intersection of Knoxville and E. Pennsylvania Avenue in Peoria. Built in 1931 as an upscale apartment complex, the brick and steel structure was a marvel of its time and proved so popular that a second building was built. That building was razed first as part of a weeks-long project to clear the lot of the dilapidated structures.
MANIAS MANOR –An excavator carefully knocks down the final top piece of Manias Manor at Knoxville and E. Pennsylvania Avenue in Peoria. Workers were extra cautious due to the proximity of the structure to the intersection.
MANIAS MANOR – Workers with River City Construction stand by as an excavator scoops up brick and debris from a section of the former Manias Manor motor lodge at Knoxville and E. Pennsylvania Avenue in Peoria. The 1930s-era building was once a elegant apartment complex that changed hands several times over the years and finally fell into disrepair.
MANIAS MANOR – Steve Schlink of Peoria, whose father sometimes stayed at Manias Manor motor lodge on business trips, hammers off chunks of brick from the back of a salvaged piece of decorative terra cotta off the old building at Knoxville and E. Pennsylvania Avenue in Peoria. A self-professed collector of salvaged architectural artwork, Schlink plans to use the piece as decorative yard art.
MANIAS MANOR – A Caterpillar excavator removes debris from the rubble of the demolished Manias Manor building overlooking downtown Peoria at Knoxville and E. Pennsylvania Avenue in Peoria. Workers will separate and salvage material like metal and steel from the remains of the once-grand structure. There are currently no other plans in the works for the now-vacant lot.
