DEE-MACK VS. GCMS – The Dee-Mack Chiefs march to the field before the start of their Week 2 football game against Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 in Mackinaw.
DEE-MACK VS. GCMS – Lydia Zehr of Mackinaw hugs her son Carter during a ceremony honoring her other son Adrian, 9, who was killed in a car accident in July, before the start of a football game Friday, Sept 1, 2023 between Dee-Mack and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley in Mackinaw.
DEE-MACK VS. GCMS – Dee-Mack’s Tyce Albritton, left, strips the ball from Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley’s Austin Kasper in the first half of their Week 2 football game Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 in Mackinaw.
DEE-MACK VS. GCMS – Dee-Mack’s Dane Lowery eyes a ball fumbled by Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley the first half of their Week 2 football game Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 in Mackinaw.
WASHINGTON VS. KANKAKEE – A pair of Kankakee defenders roll Washington quarterback Tyler Humphrey in the second half of their Week 2 football game Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 in Washington.
WASHINGTON VS. KANKAKEE – Washington’s Kainon McQueary, left, tries to escape Kankakee’s Zyon Turner in their second half of their Week 2 football game Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 in Washington.
WASHINGTON VS. KANKAKEE – Fans struggle for a plastic football thrown into the crowd as the Washington Panthers battle the Kankakee Kays in the second half of their Week 2 football game Friday, Sept. 1, 2023 in Washington.
PND VS. WASHINGTON – Peoria Notre Dame’s Declan Schuler, left, and Thatcher Hogan celebrate Schuler’s goal against Washington in the first half of their soccer match Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 5-0.
PND VS. WASHINGTON – Washington’s Eric Nolte kicks the ball away from Peoria Notre Dame’s Teddy LaHood in the second half of their soccer match Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 5-0.
PND VS. WASHINGTON – Washington goalkeeper Devin Miller, right, punches the ball away from Peoria Notre Dame’s Teddy LaHood, middle, and teammate Eric Nolte in the first half of their soccer match Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023 in Washington. The Irish defeated the Panthers 5-0.
METAMORA VS. WASHINGTON – Metamora’s Izzy VandeSchraaf spikes the ball past Washington’s Aubrey Hurckes in the first set of their volleyball match Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 in Metamora. The Redbirds downed the Panthers in straight sets.
METAMORA VS. WASHINGTON – Washington’s Becca McDougall (16) tries to put the ball past Metamora’s Kailey Ciesielski (12) in the first set of their volleyball match Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 in Metamora. The Redbirds downed the Panthers in straight sets.
METAMORA VS. WASHINGTON – Washington’s Mazzy O’Brien bumps the ball on a Metamora serve in the second set of their volleyball match Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 in Metamora. The Redbirds downed the Panthers in straight sets.
METAMORA VS. WASHINGTON – Metamora’s Bella Gregory, left, and Izzy VandeSchraaf block a shot from Washington’s Aubrey Hurckes in the first set of their volleyball match Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 in Metamora. The Redbirds downed the Panthers in straight sets.
METAMORA VS. WASHINGTON – Washington’s Dani Guedet, facing, and her teammates celebrate a goal against Metamora in the first set of their volleyball match Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2023 in Metamora. The Redbirds downed the Panthers in straight sets.
A crowd gathers for the unveiling of a new mural Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 on the back of the Simantel offices on SW Commercial Street in Peoria. The mural was dedicated to retired Simantel owner Maggie Whalen Misselhorn, created through a partnership with Big Picture Peoria and local artist Bob Doucette and assisting artist Brenda Pagán.
Longtime caterer Michael Little opened his Sexy Little Eatery, which recently rebranded to Seasoned Little Eatery at 1112 W. Pioneer Parkway in 2017. The restaurant offers homestyle food and a popular Sunday brunch.
UNIFIED PE FIELD DAY – Limestone senior Madison Swords, middle, raises her arms as she dances at the center of a crowd during the dance portion of the second annual Mid-Illini Unified PE Day on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at Washington Community High School in Washington. Dozens of developmentally disabled kids from throughout the Mid-Illini Conference and student-athlete volunteers gathered on Babcook Field to play games like gaga ball, football toss and kickball culminating in a giant dance party.
UNIFIED PE FIELD DAY – Developmentally disabled students and student-volunteers play the parachute game at one of the stations set up for the second annual Mid-Illini Unified PE Day on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at Washington Community High School.
UNIFIED PE FIELD DAY – Morton senior Joci McDaniels tries her hand at tossing a football through a hoop with help from Washington Panthers football player Jackson Sonderman during the second annual Mid-Illini Unified PE Field Day on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at Washington Community High School.
UNIFIED PE FIELD DAY – Morton junior Hudson Chan takes his best shot in the gaga ball pit during the second annual Mid-Illini Unified PE Field Day on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at Washington Community High School.
UNIFIED PE FIELD DAY – Washington senior Charlie Smith shows off his dancing skills during the dance party portion of the second annual Unified PE Field Day on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 at Washington Community High School.
EUREKA VS. CLINTON – The Eureka High School color guard raises their flags before the start of their Week 3 football in the first half Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Eureka. The Hornets knocked off the Clinton Maroons 47-28.
EUREKA VS. CLINTON – Eureka’s Sam Hoffman (32) tries to get a grip on Clinton’s Dawson Graves in the first half of their Week 3 football game in Eureka. The Hornets knocked off the Maroons 47-28.
EUREKA VS. CLINTON – Eureka’s John McDonald celebrates a touchdown against Clinton in the first half of their Week 3 football game Friday, Sept. 8, 2023 in Eureka. The Hornets defeated the Maroons 47-28.
FIRST TO THE FINISH – The Washington girls cross country team gets pumped up before their Class 2A race Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 in the First to the Finish Invitational at Detweiller Park. The Panthers took third place as a team behind a seventh-place finish by sophomore Sophia Ramirez.
FIRST TO THE FINISH – A trio of Eureka runners lie on the ground after running in the Class 1A girls race of the First to the Finish Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Detweiller Park. Eureka finished in third place as a team.
FIRST TO THE FINISH – Tuscola’s Jackson Barrett (5171) shows his enthusiasm as he wins the Class 1A boys race of the First to the Finish Cross Country Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at Detweiller Park. Barrett was followed closely to the finish by three of his teammates to help Tuscola take a team victory as well.
BIG PICTURE PEORIA STREET FESTIVAL – A pickup truck becomes an impromptu work of art as kids fling paint all over it Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 during the Big Picture Peoria Street Festival in the 1300 block of SW Adams Street in the Warehouse District. The free interactive arts festival featured mural painting, art activities, chalk art, food trucks, live music, and dancing.
BIG PICTURE PEORIA STREET FESTIVAL – Festival-goers could draw pictures, leave messages or just autograph a large mural on the side of the C.T. Gabbert Remodeling and Construction offices during the Big Picture Peoria Street Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 in Peoria’s Warehouse District.
BIG PICTURE PEORIA STREET FESTIVAL – A.J. Serna of Bloomington paints a section of a giant mural Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 during the Big Picture Peoria Street Festival in Peoria’s Warehouse District. The sign will be hung on an exterior wall of the Madison Theatre in downtown Peoria, which is currently undergoing a massive renovation.
BIG PICTURE PEORIA STREET FESTIVAL – Bloomington hip-hop artist V8 Vast Change performs in front of the Hello Peoria mural during the Big Picture Peoria Street Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 in Peoria’s Warehouse District.
MWL PLAYOFFS – Clouds fill the sky as the sun set behind Dozer Park during Game 1 of the Midwest League West Division Championship Series between the Peoria Chiefs and the Cedar Rapids Kernels in Peoria.
MWL PLAYOFFS – Peoria’s Darlin Moquete celebrates his home run against Cedar Rapids in the third inning of the MWL West Division Championship Series on Sept. 12, 2023 at Dozer Park in Peoria.
MWL PLAYOFFS – Fans try to catch a foul ball during the Midwest League West Division Championship Series between the Peoria Chiefs and Cedar Rapids Kernels on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at Dozer Park in Peoria.
MWL PLAYOFFS – Cedar Rapids third baseman Jose Salas, right, tags out Chiefs baserunner Chris Rotondo on a rundown between third base and home in the fourth inning of the Midwest League West Division Championship Series on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023 at Dozer Park in Peoria.
MORTON VS. LIMESTONE – Morton’s Graci Junis (6) spike the ball against Limestone in the first set of their volleyball match Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Morton. The Rockets downed the Potters in straight sets 25-23, 26-24.
MORTON VS. LIMESTONE – Morton’s Claire Ceresa bumps the ball against Limestone in the second set of their volleyball match Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Morton. The Rockets downed the Potters in straight sets 25-23, 26-24.
MORTON VS. LIMESTONE – Morton’s Kylie Berg, middle, spikes the ball between Limestone’s Mia Lamberti, left, and Anaya Seldal in the first set of their volleyball match Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Morton. The Rockets downed the Potters in straight sets 25-23, 26-24.
MORTON VS. LIMESTONE – Limestone teammates Khloe Stear, left, and Sophie Cremeens celebrate a point against Morton in the first set of their volleyball match Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Morton. The Rockets downed the Potters in straight sets 25-23, 26-24.
MORTON VS. METAMORA – Morton’s Seandon Buffington dives to tackle Metamora’s Jaiduan Cranford in the second half of their Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 in Morton. The Potters downed the Redbirds 45-19.
MORTON VS. METAMORA – Metamora’s Kendrick Schaffrin snags a touchdown reception in the second half of a Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 in Morton. The Morton Potters downed the Redbirds 45-19.
MORTON VS. METAMORA – Morton running back Seandon Buffington and the rest of the Potters listen to accolades from their coach after their Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 in Morton. The Potters downed the Metamora Redbirds 45-19.
RICHWOODS VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Richwoods lineman Zion Franklin carries the flag as the Knights take the field for their Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Peoria Notre Dame Irish routed the Knights 42-7.
RICHWOODS VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – The Richwoods Knights perform their traditional dogpile before the start of their Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Peoria Notre Dame Irish routed the Knights 42-7.
RICHWOODS VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Peoria Notre Dame’s Lawson Alwan, right, and Anthony Scime celebrate Alwan’s touchdown in the first half of their Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Irish routed the Richwoods Knights 42-7.
RICHWOODS VS. PEORIA NOTRE DAME – Peoria Notre Dame’s Phillip Rupiper (30) grabs Richwoods running back Amarii Scurlock in the first half of their Week 4 football game Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 at Richwoods High School. The Irish routed the Knights 42-7.
HOT DOG EATING CONTEST – Hot dog eating contest participants, including Remmy Smith, in orange hat, and John Palmgren, right, psych themselves up as the table is filled with hot dogs during the first annual Peacock’s Pub Hot Dog Eating Contest in the pub’s beer garden Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in Bartonville.
HOT DOG EATING CONTEST – Spectators cheer on their favorite eater during the first annual Peacock’s Pub Hot Dog Eating Contest on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in the Bartonville pub’s beer garden. The contest was part of the pub’s street party fundraiser for the Limestone Chamber of Commerce.
HOT DOG EATING CONTEST – Heidi Rhea, second from right, president of the Limestone Chamber of Commerce, jokingly tucks in her napkin as she and her fellow competitive eaters chow down in the first annual Peacock’s Pub Hot Dog Eating Contest on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in the Bartonville pub’s beer garden.
HOT DOG EATING CONTEST – Scorpio Sophanavong, representing Pour Bros., contemplates eating yet another hot dog as he competes in Peacock’s Pub’s first annual hot dog eating contest Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023 in the beer garden of the Bartonville pub.
Asa Lewis and students in a Make Your Marq session review a video they made for their TikTok page Monday, Sept. 18, 2023 at Elise Ford Allen Academy in Peoria. Lewis, a behavior coach and the school and an assistant football coach at Peoria High School, created the Make Your Marq non-profit organization in honor of his brother Marques Lewis Cotton, who was killed in a shooting in 2017.
PEORIA CHRISTIAN VS. MORTON – Peoria Christian’s Jacob Walton kicks the ball against Morton in the first half of their soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.
PEORIA CHRISTIAN VS. MORTON – Morton’s Harrison Dea, left, and Peoria Christian’s Colson Below tangle while chasing the ball in the first half of their soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.
PEORIA CHRISTIAN VS. MORTON – Peoria Christian’s Jacob Walton, right, and Morton’s Ian Bair head the ball in the second half of their soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.
SOUS CHEF – Patrick Couri, left, works on a veggie lentil pie recipe while his co-chef Alexander Bartoloni makes some fresh hummus for a weekend dining event at Sous Chef, 1311 SW Adams St. in Peoria’s Warehouse District.
SOUS CHEF – Chef Patrick Couri searches for some ingredients in the refrigerator among the shelves of the Sous Chef grocery store and kitchen in Peoria’s Warehouse District.
SOUS CHEF – Locally-made stoneware crocks are partially filled with veggie lentil filling for an upcoming dinner at Sous Chef in Peoria’s Warehouse District. The filling will be covered with homemade mashed potatoes for a vegetarian-style shepherd’s pie.
SOUS CHEF – Alexander Bartoloni, right, of Sous Chef chats with Rebecca Gnagey, owner of Morton-based Pumpkin Village Farms, who supplies homegrown micro-greens for the Warehouse District grocery store and kitchen in Peoria.
BRIMFIELD VS. ILLINI BLUFFS – Brimfield’s Chloe Fabry tries to spike the ball between Illini Bluffs’ Brenna Davis (11) and Reese Cruit (4) in the first set of their volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Brimfield High School. Illini Bluffs defeated Brimfield in three sets 17-25, 25-19 and 25-18.
BRIMFIELD VS. ILLINI BLUFFS – Brimfield’s Anja Nelson dives for a dig against Illini Bluffs in the third set of their volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Brimfield High School. Illini Bluffs defeated Brimfield in three sets 17-25, 25-19 and 25-18.
BRIMFIELD VS. ILLINI BLUFFS – Illini Bluffs’ Annabelle Fortin (12) spikes the ball against Brimfield’s Layla Hersemann in the second set of their volleyball match Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Brimfield High School. Illini Bluffs defeated Brimfield in three sets 17-25, 25-19 and 25-18.
FARMINGTON VS. ELMWOOD/BRIMFIELD – Farmington’s Jack Gronewold (13) gets past the Elmwood/Brimfield defense for a touchdown reception in the second half of their football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 in Farmington. The Farmers held on to defeat the rival Trojans 30-26.
FARMINGTON VS. ELMWOOD/BRIMFIELD – Elmwood/Brimfield’s Jimmy Babcock (88) grabs a pass reception over Farmington’s Jack Gronewold in the second half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 in Farmington.
FARMINGTON VS. ELMWOOD/BRIMFIELD – Farmington head coach reacts to an official’s call as the Farmers battle Elmwood/Brimfield in the second half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 in Farmington. The Farmers defeated the Trojans 30-26.
FARMINGTON VS. ELMWOOD/BRIMFIELD – Elmwood/Brimfield’s Bo Windish (7) gets ahold of Farmington quarterback Lane Wheelwright in the second half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 in Farmington. The Farmers defeated the Trojans 30-26.
FARMINGTON VS. ELMWOOD/BRIMFIELD – Farmington’s Jack Gronewold snags a pass against Elmwood/Brimfield in the second half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 in Farmington. The Farmers defeated the Trojans 30-26.
PEORIA HIGH VS. MANUAL – Peoria High’s Cam Peterson (23) jumps on Manual Amanlee Breedlove on a return in the first half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 at Peoria Stadium. The Lions routed the Rams 58-0.
PEORIA HIGH VS. MANUAL – A trio of young Manual waterboys test the water bottles as the Rams battle Peoria High in the first half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 at Peoria Stadium. The Lions defeated their rival Rams 58-0.
PEORIA HIGH VS. MANUAL – Manual’s Demarcus Lucas (2) and London Tolliver (6) take down Peoria High quarterback Breon Green in the second half of their varsity football game Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 at Peoria Stadium. The Lions routed the Rams 58-0.
Peoria Quest’s Ruweya Nurriddin poses next to the sleds before a recent 8-man football practice at the school. Nurriddin has made a name for herself as a formidable female two-way lineman.
HOMELESS CAMP CLEARED OUT – At left, piles of clothing, plastic tubs and other items surround a makeshift dwelling at a homeless encampment near the Landmark Recreation Center in Peoria. At right, the same space cleared out by the City of Peoria a few weeks later.
HOMELESS CAMP CLEARED OUT – At left, a homemade loft structure is surrounded by tarps, plastic sheeting and other items at a homeless encampment near the Landmark Recreation Center in Peoria. At right, the structure and surrounding encampment are gone.
HOMELESS CAMP CLEARED OUT – At left, a path lined with discarded items leads from one makeshift shelter to another at a homeless encampment near Landmark Recreation Center in Peoria. At right, the path has been cleared out by the City of Peoria a few weeks later.
Herons forage in the shallow water at Spindler Marina in East Peoria as work continues on the span for the new eastbound section of the McClugage Bridge on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 above the Illinois River.
METAMORA VS. PEKIN – Football fans on the hillside watch the Metamora Redbirds battle the Pekin Dragons in a Week 6 football game Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Metamora.
METAMORA VS. PEKIN – Metamora’s Jaiduan Cranford runs the ball against Pekin in the second half of their Week 6 football game Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Metamora.
METAMORA VS. PEKIN – Pekin’s Gabe Schwermin (5) tries to catch a pass as Metamora’s Shae Seals defends in the second half of their Week 6 football game Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Metamora.
METAMORA VS. PEKIN – A member of the Metamora Marching Redbirds color guard makes a dramatic entrance during the halftime show of the Redbirds’ Week 6 football game against Pekin on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Metamora.
METAMORA VS. PEKIN – Metamora’s Wes MacNeil celebrates a tackle against Pekin in the second half of their Week 6 football game Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 in Metamora.
