Community Corner

🌱 What major tax, land, and kratom decisions faced Pekin’s council?

Coming up on the Pekin Patch calendar: Sports Card n' Collector's Show

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Coffee in hand, Pekin? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • What major tax, land, and kratom decisions faced Pekin’s council?
  • How Pekin’s new kratom ban could affect your neighborhood stores
  • Which Peoria-area volleyball stars earned all-area honors this season?

Also on today's calendar: An Unfriendly FRIENDS Reunion: An Ugly Sweater Murder-Mystery Dinner.

Find out what's happening in Pekinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Pekinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Snow late in the afternoon, with a high of 30 and low of 23 degrees.
  • Friday: Cloudy and chilly, temps: high: 31, low: 5. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Saturday: Frigid with a little snow, with a high of 8 and low of -10 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• City of Pekin City Council met Dec. 8 (peoriastandard.com) — Pekin’s City Council agenda from Dec. 8 covers big local decisions, including the annual property tax levy, land sales, annexing Groveland Township property, and a kratom ban ordinance. Council members also planned to choose a new city logo, review fuel purchasing, and consider hiring a temporary bus department assistant.
   

• Pekin takes action against synthetic drug kratom (centralillinoisproud.com) — Pekin has unanimously banned the possession and sale of kratom, giving local businesses just 10 days to pull products from their shelves. City leaders cite rising overdose deaths in Tazewell County, many in Pekin, and the easy availability of kratom products near schools as key reasons for the new ordinance.
   

• Meet the 12 top volleyball players around Peoria (galesburg.com) — Pekin volleyball fans will notice their city highlighted as a key tournament stop for one of the area’s top small-school players in this rundown of 2025 Journal Star all-area honorees. The story spotlights standout seasons from athletes across central Illinois, detailing their stats, college commitments, and postseason runs in classes 1A through 3A.
   

📸 Around Pekin

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Traffic on westbound I-74 in Piatt County is down to one lane following a crash, with Illinois State Police and EMS responding to the incident at milepost 16.
    9:37AM on Dec 9: Traffic on westbound I-74 is reduced to one lane in Piatt County due to a crash. (Nextdoor )
  • Yona Solutions posted a job opening for Laundry Aide in Pekin. Apply here.
  • Illinois Association Of School posted a job opening for Elementary / J. H. Teacher - Substitute Teacher in Pekin. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Pekin here.

🗞 Nearby News

Tremont

East Peoria

  • American Pest Control joins Toys for Tots drive (25newsnow.com)
  • Illinois libraries will soon have Narcan on hand (25newsnow.com)
  • Drinks, lights and cheer: Guide to festive Christmas pop ups in Peoria (pjstar.com)

Ok Pekin! 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 could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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