🌱 How will East Peoria’s new 2045 plan reshape your neighborhood?

Hey hey East Peoria! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How will East Peoria’s new 2045 plan reshape your neighborhood?
• Where exactly the FOLEPI ornament was discovered this year
• How a local tech business allegedly became a massive fraud scheme

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 50 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Breezy and much colder, temps: high: 29, low: 28.
• Saturday: Breezy in the morning, with a high of 46 and low of 22 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. East Peoria adopts city's long-range plan. See the first steps (pjstar.com) — East Peoria’s City Council has officially adopted a 2045 Comprehensive Plan that will guide future development, zoning, housing, transportation, and infrastructure investments across the city. Crafted with two years of resident and stakeholder input, the plan sets specific goals for the coming year, and city leaders say some action items are already underway so residents should see early results soon.
   

2. East Peoria Festival of Lights ornament found (centralillinoisproud.com) — A lucky family has wrapped up East Peoria’s FOLEPI ornament hunt by finding the hidden ornament under a bench along the river trail at Matheny Road. The Rupert family keeps the ornament and receives prizes including a $250 gift card, EastSide Centre membership, Winter Wonderland passes, and a hotel stay, celebrating a favorite Festival of Lights tradition.
   

3. East Peoria man accused of fraud, large identity theft scheme (pjstar.com) — An East Peoria man is in federal custody after being indicted on multiple wire fraud and identity theft charges tied to an alleged years-long scheme involving his unlicensed tech business. Investigators say they uncovered vast stores of stolen financial data and hacking tools, and a judge ordered him detained, citing strong evidence and concerns about flight risk and witness intimidation.
   

4. IHSA sparks controversy approving football playoff expansion (25newsnow.com) — East Peoria residents should know that new IHSA rules will expand high school football playoffs next season, allowing teams to qualify with only three wins instead of five. East Peoria High School coach Sam Durley worries this could dilute competition and disrupt teams’ routines, even as it may open doors for smaller schools to face more evenly matched opponents.
   

📸 Around East Peoria

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🗓 Upcoming Events in East Peoria

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday December 19

• The Putt Club: Ugly Sweater Party & DJ Night
  The Putt Club , 1001 Bass Pro Drive , East Peoria
  6:30 pm

📣 East Peoria Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Primary Concert
  Pleasant Valley Elementary School , 4623 W Redbud Dr , Peoria
  1:30 pm
• LGBTQ+ Talk Space
  Illinois Central College Performing Arts Center East Peoria Campus, Academic Building, 1 College Drive, East Peoria, IL, 61635-0001, United States
  2:00 pm
• Peoria Housing Authority Board Meeting
  Peoria, IL Calendar , Peoria Housing Authority 100 S. Richard Pryor Place/Multi Purpose Room , Peoria
  4:30 pm
• 7/8 Boys Basketball @ Hollis
  Pleasant Valley SD 62 , 5624 W Tuscarora Rd , Peoria
  5:00 pm
• Boys Basketball: Pleasant Valley @ Hollis
  Hollis Consolidated School District #328 , 5613 W Tuscarora Rd , Peoria
  5:00 pm
• YPGP Ugly Holiday Sweater Party
  Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery , 619 SW Water Street , Peoria
  5:30 pm
• World Peace Meditation
  Soul Restoration , 2914 Court St , Pekin
  6:00 pm
• A Jolly Holiday Adventure
  Peoria Players Theatre , 4300 N. University , Peoria
  7:30 pm
• Free Drive-Up Food Pantry
  101 N 8th St , Pekin
  10:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Quarter 2 Grading Period Ends
  Peoria SD 150 Peoria, IL 61603
• End of 2nd Grading Period
  Pleasant Valley SD 62 Peoria, IL 61604

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Kroger posted a job opening for Courtesy Clerk/Grocery Bagger in East Peoria. Apply here.
• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Meat Cutter in East Peoria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near East Peoria here.

Ok East Peoria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
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