Washington night with the Peoria chiefs PaGe B7

Rotarians at work Back to school info Golf for the Cure

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These features youll find only in this weeks print edition of the Washington Times-Reporter. For details, see page A3.

Wednesday, AUGUST 17, 2011

your hometown news since 1840

www.Washingtontimesreporter.com

Vol. 171 no. 33

Rash of burglaries in Washington, other communities

By Brandon schatsiek
TimesNewspapers

Art in the park

1 2 3
The fourth annual Washington Art Festival took place Saturday and Sunday in Washington Park. This years event was dedicated to the memory of artist and Washington resident JoAnn Bell. More than 100 artists from around central Illinois and the country used the opportunity to show off their artistic skills in ceramics, photography, painting, music and more. With unseasonably cool temperatures, hundreds of people took to Washington Park to enjoy the art and live music, which included performances by Paul Adams, Lucas and Sarah Doremus, the Howard Family and Friends Bluegrass Gospel and other local musicians. The Lions Club served up lunch with the Ice Cream Shack of Sunnyland providing the sweets.

THREE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

A recent string of burglaries in the city of Washington and surrounding cities in Tazewell and Woodford counties has left local police searching for answers. Since Aug. 1, there have been at least 15 burglaries in Washington alone six residential and nine automobiles, according to Washington Deputy Police Chief Don Volk. The six residential includes garages as well, Volk said. From what I understand at least on the first three or four here in town they are happening between midnight and 4 or 5 a.m. The two main areas in question are around Hillcrest and Washington Estates. It was mainly done (the nights of Aug. 1 and 3), he said. I even went back two weeks prior to that and we almost tripled the number of residential burglaries
see BurGlaries PaGe a11

Overheard at the event

This is just a really nice show. The booth fees were reasonably priced and I love the atmosphere it being outside and everything. Jacob Miller, 19, from Peoria. This was Millers first art show after taking up ceramics as a hobby and what he hopes to be a profession just two years ago while at Richwoods High School. I did this show last year. (Coordinator of the art festival) Marilyn Gee and everyone involved does such a great job with it. I really enjoy this show. Andrew Odum of East Peoria. Odum specializes in making objects both small and large through the welding of copper. We were pleased with the festival, the artists, the weather and the patrons. ... The park district was extremely helpful and the volunteers were invaluable. The music was excellent, and we were thrilled to see that the musicians drew quite a crowd on their own. We had excellent artists and the people seemed to appreciate that fact and seemed to be buying well. Honestly, we feel there could not have been a better event. Marilyn Gee, coordinator of the Washington Fine Arts Festival. above, Washington community high school student connor davis, 15, paints a picture during the 2011 Washington Fine arts Festival saturdays in Washington Park. in his first year at the fair, davis said, it was a lot of fun; i did it more for the experience than the money but (the money) was a bonus. davis said he first learned how to do spray paint art mainly by watching youtube videos. it was so great just having the crowd come and watch. right, sara cooksey, with her 2-year-old daughter, laughs while Joe McGuire draws their caricature. For more photos, see page B4.

DISTRICT 308

Board hears appeal of citizens over fate of Bayler home

By holly richrath
TimesNewspapers

Washington District 308 school board members began their discussion on what should be done with a 127-year-old house Aug. 8 after hearing from a group in support of its preservation. The district purchased the house located at 721 W. Jefferson St., along with 3.3 acres of land for $348,000 last month. While formal discussion on what to do with the home just began at the school board meeting, a group of citizens concerned for the fate of the home had already formed, created a Facebook page and collected 376 signatures on a petition in hopes of preserving the G. W. Bayler home.
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ONLY

ONLINE

A photo gallery full of pictures from this years Washington Fine Arts Festival can be found online at www.WashingtonTimesReporter.com.

New administrators ready for school to begin

Washington Middle
By holly richrath
TimesNewspapers

Beverly Manor
By holly richrath
TimesNewspapers

Charities in trouble
By Brandon schatsiek
TimesNewspapers

Callin the Schats

When Washington Middle School students return to school they will see a new face, but it is not a face that is new to Washington. Jon Smith, WMSs new principal has taken the reigns from Diane Orr, who retired in June after filling the role for nine years. Its a big blessing for my family and I to be here, Smith said. Jon smith I grew up in Washington and for me to be able to get a job in the same town is really amazing. Smith, 28, attended Central and Washington Community High School. His college career included playing baseball at Illinois Central College and Bradley University. After receiving
see Middle PaGe a13

Angela Ludlum said she has wanted to be a principal for quite some time. Achieving that goal in her hometown is just icing on the cake. Im very excited because Ive aspired to this for years and Ive always wanted to be working in Washington, she said. I grew up in Washington and I really love this community. angela Ludlum is a 1994 graduate of ludlum Washington Community High School. After graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, she began her career in education as a special education teacher in Salt Lake City. She spent two years in Salt Lake City before returning to central Illinois.
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Caring Illinois taxpayers stepped up and donated more than $1.6 million to charities and non-profits over the last two years through an option on their state income tax form. But Gov. Pat Quinn and other state officials seized that money to help pay for the states ever-ballooning state deficit. The money seized from at least 15 different charity funds is a part of the Illinois Department of RevBrandon schatsiek enues way of making giving Callin the Schats easy by allowing taxpayers to donate their tax refunds or
see charities PaGe a13

INSIDE Around Town .......... a2 Police News ............ B6 Opinion ................... a4 Obituaries ............. B6 Sports .................. B1-2 Classifieds ....... B13-14

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