September 2020 LOCAL SCULPTOR MOUNTS EXHIBIT – Washington artist Marlene Miller puts the finishing touches on a pedestal for her artwork in a new exhibit at Exhibit A Gallery in Peoria Heights.Metamora’s Ian O’Laughlin checks his time as he nears the mile mark ahead of the pack during a cross country meet Wednesday, Sept. 3, at Black Partridge Park in Metamora. O’Laughlin won the race with a time of 15:43.29, leading the Redbirds to a team victory as well.AGILITY TRIALS – A competitor leaps over an obstacle during a Peoria Obedience Training Club competition Friday, Sept. 4, at The Yard sports facility in Peoria. The Peoria Obedience Training Club (https://potcdogs.com) offers obedience training and competitive agility trials for dogs of all levels and breeds. Although some events have been canceled due the COVID-19 pandemic, the club has been able to operate at limited capacity with smaller events.BOAT PARADE FOR TRUMP SUPPORTERS – Dozens of boats and jet skis gather Saturday, Sept. 5, on the Illinois River at the Peoria riverfront for a parade supporting President Donald Trump. The boaters were planning to cruise north to the Rome area before heading back south to Paradice Beach in East Peoria. The event was hosted by the organizers of the annual White Trash Bash.FLAGS FOR 9/11 – Jim Bremner raises an American flag Friday, Sept. 11, outside the police department in Washington. Bremner and a crew of Washington Rotary Club members led by Dennis Hermann erected about 100 flags around the police and fire stations in lieu of the city’s annual 9/11 ceremony, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bremner bought his FDNY sweatshirt a year after the 9/11 attacks while visiting New York City for the annual marathon.Farmer John Ackerman hauls a giant pumpkin out of his fields Friday, Sept. 11, at Ackerman Family Farms in Morton.Scottie Ward wears a T-shirt calling for justice for his murdered son Jeremiah Ward and #LLKJ, which stands for Long Live King Jeremiah, on the playground at the Franciscan Recreation Complex in Peoria. Jeremiah was four years old when he was shot to death May 13, 2019 in the parking lot of Lincoln Terrace Apartments in Peoria. Amy Hutchens, left, and her boyfriend Randy Westlake look over Hutchens’ property at 111 Church Street in Roanoke. Hutchens had recently bought the house only to see it completely flooded and largely destroyed in a heavy rainstorm in July.Kindergarten teacher Angie Klimko engages her students with a stuffed unicorn wearing a face mask during a remote learning class Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Charter Oak School in Peoria.John Marino, left, an assistant professor of biology at Bradley University, picks up litter while his sons Zack, 5, right, and Alex, 9, help out Saturday, Sept. 19, during the annual Illinois River Sweep. Nearly 45 volunteers fanned out in small groups Saturday morning at six different spots from the Peoria riverfront north to Resthaven Road, filling garbage bags with broken bottles, plastic wrappers and other refuse.Damarion Taylor, 11, of Peoria drives a battery-powered replica of an all-terrain vehicle up onto the sidewalk near his grandparents’ house Tuesday evening, Sept. 22, on W. Krause Avenue in Peoria. A fresh set of batteries brought the secondhand toy four-wheeler back to life and gave Damarion a chance to test his youthful driving skills.Decked out in a balloon bull horns and a nose ring from The Unique Twist, Jackson Meier, 9, of Washington checks out the stained glass work on display Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Tarmann Treasures booth of Minonk. Saturday marked the last day of the season for the weekly market which opened May 16 under strict coronavirus-related restrictions.A pair of nuns and a priest pay their respects to the late John J. Myers, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey and former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, during a visitation Tuesday, Sept. 29, at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. The Most Reverend Myers served in Peoria from 1990-2001 and in Newark until 2016 . The front row of corn falls to a combine as a farmer harvests row after row Wednesday, Sept. 30, off VFW Road near Pekin.A waxing gibbous moon, also known as a Corn Moon, hangs over a farmhouse Wednesday, Sept. 30, near Tremont. Normally, a full moon in September is called a Harvest Moon because it’s closest to the autumnal equinox, but once every three years, the full moon rises in October. A bright Harvest Moon rose Oct. 1 over the Peoria area but was obscured by cloudy skies for most of the evening.FALLEN MARINE COMES HOME – Lois Lauderback of Washington poses with a scrapboard of family photos and memorabilia about her brother George “Bud” Reeser, a U.S. Marine who was killed in action in the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. Lauderback was only 7 years old at the time. Reeser’s remains were recently recovered from the South Pacific island and were laid to rest with full military honors at the family plot in Deer Creek. FALLEN MARINE COMES HOME – Family and friends gather to pay respects to fallen WWII Marine George “Bud” Reeser during a visitation Friday, Sept. 25, at Deiters Funeral Home in Washington.FALLEN MARINE COMES HOME – Members of the Patriot Guard Riders stand at the entrance to Deiters Funeral Home during a visitation for U.S. Marine Sgt. George “Bud” Reeser on Friday, Sept. 25, in Washington.FALLEN MARINE COMES HOME – The hearse containing the casket with the remains of U.S. Marine Sgt. George “Bud” Reeser passes through the flag-lined streets of Washington on its way to the funeral Saturday, Sept. 26, at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Deer Creek.