September 2021 Calvin Gates, 4, of Edwards, heads down the slide as his grandfather Bob Gates of Peoria gets ready to catch the tennis ball during a visit Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 on the Tricentennial Playground at Glen Oak Park.Joshua Gunn, CEO of the Peoria Area Chamber of CommercePEKIN VS. DUNLAP – Pekin running back Kanye Tyler tears through the Dunlap defense in the second half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Pekin. The Dragons defeated the Eagles 27-7.PEKIN VS. DUNLAP – Pekin head coach Doug Nutter yells instructions to his team as they approach the goal line in the second half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Pekin. The Dragons defeated the Dunlap Eagles 27-7.PEKIN VS. DUNLAP – Pekin fans cheer on the Dragons in the second half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Pekin. The Dragons defeated the Dunlap Eagles 27-7.TREMONT VS. LEROY – Tremont running back Shemar Williams pulls away from a LeRoy defender who has a hold of his jersey in the first half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Tremont. The Turks defeated LeRoy 42-12.TREMONT VS. LEROY – LeRoy’s Jack Edmundson (15) snags a long reception under pressure from Tremont’s Tate Martin in the first half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Tremont. The Turks defeated LeRoy 42-12.TREMONT VS. LEROY – Tremont fans in the student section use a traffic cone as a megaphone in the first half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Tremont. The Turks defeated LeRoy 42-12.TREMONT VS. LEROY – A group of kids play on an old tractor tire behind the stands in the first half Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 in Tremont. The Turks defeated LeRoy 42-12.FIRST TO THE FINISH – Teams huddle together before the start of the Girls Class 2A race of the First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at Detweiller Park.FIRST TO THE FINISH – A puff of smoke from the starter’s gun signals the start of the Boys Class 1A race of the First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at Detweiller Park. Miles Sheppard of Hamilton West Hancock won the race with a time of 14:59.1 and Chicago Latin took the team title.FIRST TO THE FINISH – The pack narrows as runners in the Girls Class 1A race head into the woods during the First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at Detweiller Park.FIRST TO THE FINISH – Miles Sheppard of Hamilton West Hancock takes a huge lead in the Boys Class 1A race of the First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at Detweiller Park. Sheppard took the 1A title with a time of 14:59.1.FIRST TO THE FINISH – Members of the Eureka girls cross-country team try to recover after the Girls Class 2A race of the First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at Detweiller Park in Peoria. The team finished third while Anna Perry finished third individually.FIRST TO THE FINISH – Dunlap’s Kate Robertson, left, and Abby Tudeen, right, get a congratulatory hug after the Class 2A Girls race of the First to the Finish Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 at Detweiller Park. Dunlap finished second in the team competition. Robertson was the Eagles’ top finisher at 15th in a time of 18:47.1. Tudeen was 21st in a time of 18:55.6.ANDRE THE GIANT SUPERFAN – Chris Owens shows some of the memorabilia he’s collected over the years about professional wrestling legend Andre the Giant, who died in 1993. Owens has been an avid Andre fans for years and has a massive and diverse collection of items, from ticket stubs and Japanese posters to a rare get-well card signed by dozens of Andre’s fellow wrestlers.ANDRE THE GIANT SUPERFAN – Dozens of professional wrestlers signed this card for Andre the Giant when he underwent knee surgery in the early 1990s. At nearly 500 pounds, Andre the Giant was prone to a variety of injuries and other health problems.ANDRE THE GIANT SUPERFAN – Chris Owens lays his hand next to an actual-size X-ray of Andre the Giant’s hand, part of Owens’ large collection of memorabilia about the iconic pro wrestler.ANDRE THE GIANT SUPERFAN – One of the rarer items in Chris Owen’s collection – Andre the Giant’s passport.ANDRE THE GIANT SUPERFAN – A basement room in Chris Owens’ Groveland home is lined with posters of Andre the Giant and a few other professional wrestlers.ANDRE THE GIANT SUPERFAN – Photos, toys, books and magazines pertaining to the late pro wrestler Andre the Giant fill one corner of a basement room in Chris Owens’ Groveland home. Shannon Lock chats with a customer while refilling coffee cups at the Busy Corner Restaurant, 229 Derby St., in Pekin. The popular restaurant was recently voted by readers as serving the best breakfast in the Tri-County area. MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY – Aaron Barajas, 14, of Peoria waves a pair of Mexican flags during a Mexican Independence Day celebration Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 at Glen Oak Park. Hundreds gathered for a motorcade down Prospect Avenue to the event, which featured live bands, food and Mexican “dancing” horses. Mexico’s Independence Day on Sept. 16 marks the country’s first call for independence from Spain in 1810.MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY – A motorcade of dozens of vehicles, many waving Mexican flags, makes its way down Prospect to Glen Oak Park for a Mexico Independence Day celebration Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 in Peoria.MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY – A Mexican band performs from the back of a pickup truck at the head of a motorcade down Prospect Avenue through Glen Oak Park for a Mexican Independence Day celebration Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 in Peoria.MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY – Local kids enjoy the sight of a long motorcade down Prospect into Glen Oak Park for a celebration of Mexican Independence Day on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 in Peoria.MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY – A group of charros guide their Mexican “dancing” horses through Glen Oak Park as part of motorcade during a Mexican Independence Day celebration Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 in Peoria.MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY – Flags fly as dancers twirl to the sounds of Mexican band during a Mexican Independence Day celebration Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021 at Glen Oak Park.MORTON VS. METAMORA – Metamora’s Victoria Hall (4) and Hannah Tellor (12) defend against Morton’s Katie Krupa during their match Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 at the Potterdome. Morton fell to the Redbirds in straight sets 25-16, 27-25.MORTON VS. METAMORA – Metamora’s Esma Frieden (8) tries to put the ball past Morton’s Claire Mulconrey during their match Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 at the Potterdome. Morton fell to the Redbirds in straight sets 25-16, 27-25.MORTON VS. METAMORA – Metamora’s Kayla Pacha (11) bumps the ball as teammate Emily Cronkhite backs her up during at match against Morton on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021 at the Potterdome. Morton fell to the Redbirds in straight sets 25-16, 27-25.DUNLAP UPSETS WASHINGTON – Dunlap head coach Brett Cazalet is engulfed by his players as they celebrate their 21-17 upset victory over state-ranked Washington on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 at Dunlap High School.DUNLAP UPSETS WASHINGTON – Dunlap’s Graham Glover, left, tries to stop Washington running back Thomas Borges in the second half Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 at Dunlap High School. The Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers 21-17.DUNLAP UPSETS WASHINGTON – Washington defenders bring down Dunlap ballcarrier Joe Carmean (35) in the second half Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 at Dunlap High School. The Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers 21-17.DUNLAP UPSETS WASHINGTON – A pair of Dunlap fans cross their lightsabers as the student section cheers for the Eagles during their game against Washington on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 at Dunlap High School. The Eagles rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Panthers 21-17.Developer Casey Baldovin stands in front of his latest project, the Federal Building at 800 SW Adams St and Mitchell Fabrics next door at 810 SW Adams in Peoria’s Warehouse District. Baldovin is renovating the space into a residential and commercial complex that spans about half the block.Air Force veteran Kenny Cross pets his service dog, a 2-year-old yellow Lab named Ripp, at his new business, the Sportsmans Barbershop, 4712 W. Farmington Road, in Peoria.MID-ILLINI GOLF – Bailey Strode of Morton chips out of a sandtrap during the Mid-Illini Boys Golf Championship on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Washington.MID-ILLINI GOLF – Jarod Odenwald of Metamora tees off during the Mid-Illini Boys Golf Championship on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Washington.MID-ILLINI GOLF – Sam Pershing of Washington drives from a tough spot off the fairway on No. 10 during the Mid-Illini Boys Golf Championship on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021 at Pine Lakes Golf Course in Washington.METAMORA DEFEATS DUNLAP – A Metamora cheerleader holds a pose while an American flag flies in the background at the second half kickoff of a game against Dunlap on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Metamora. The Redbirds defeated the Eagles 45-14.METAMORA DEFEATS DUNLAP – Dunlap’s Gavin Murphy-Carr, left, chases down Metamora’s Solomon Schwarz in the second half Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Metamora. The Redbirds defeated the Eagles 45-14.METAMORA DEFEATS DUNLAP – Metamora’s Ben Wallace, aka “The Big Guy,” flashes a big smile on the sidelines during a break in the action against Dunlap on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Metamora. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive left tackle has received an offer to play for Illinois State University.METAMORA DEFEATS DUNLAP – Metamora’s Solomon Schwarz (7) and Connor Willerton celebrate in a steady rainfall Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Metamora. The Redbirds defeated the Dunlap Eagles 45-14.WASHINGTON DEFEATS MORTON – Washington’s Isaac Mapson (1) and Easton Harris enjoy themselves during player introductions Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 at Babcock Field. The Panthers defeated the Potters 35-14.WASHINGTON DEFEATS MORTON – Washington’s Luke Wise, right, and Morton’s Ian Mutchler eye a fumble ball in the first half Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 at Babcook Field. The Panthers defeated the Potters 35-14.WASHINGTON DEFEATS MORTON – Washington’s Thomas Borge, left, dives for extra yardage as Morton’s Noah Losey moves in for the tackle in the first half Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 at Babcook Field. The Panthers defeated the Potters 35-14.WASHINGTON DEFEATS MORTON – Night falls over the Panther Plex and Babcook Field as the Washington Panthers battle the Morton Potters on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021 in Washington. The Panthers defeated the Potters 35-14.LIMESTONE FALLS TO WASHINGTON – Washington’s Quinn Gillespie, left, Leah Jones, middle, and Sami Schulte celebrate after defeating Limestone in straight sets, 26-24 and 25-19, on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 in Bartonville.LIMESTONE FALLS TO WASHINGTON – Washington’s Jori Dowling (13) and Sami Schulte (5) try to redirect a shot from Limestone’s Kennedey Barber in the second set of their match Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 in Bartonville. The Rockets fell to the Panthers in straight sets, 26-24 and 25-19.LIMESTONE FALLS TO WASHINGTON – The Limestone Rocket Rowdies cheer on their volleyball team as they battle the Washington Panthers on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 in Bartonville. The Rockets fell to the Panthers in straight sets, 26-24 and 25-19.LIMESTONE FALLS TO WASHINGTON – Limestone’s Ella Karmenzind (20) hits the ball against Washington defenders Sami Schulte (5) and Leah Jones in the first set Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021 in Bartonville. The Rockets fell to the Panthers in straight sets, 26-24 and 25-19.