Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How could West Peoria’s annexation plans reshape Farmington Road and your neighborhood?

Also check out Knoxville Ice Bears at Peoria Rivermen on the Peoria Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 10th Patch AM
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Hello Peoria! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How could West Peoria’s annexation plans reshape Farmington Road and your neighborhood?
  • How three Peoria Public Schools students landed life-changing Ivy League offers
  • How much more will Peoria County residents pay for vital records?

Also on today's calendar: Game Awards Watch Party and 9 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did the alien say to the puzzle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Wednesday: A snow squall in the morning, with a high of 37 and low of 17 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Thursday: Cloudy and chilly, temps: high: 30, low: 23.
  • Friday: Cloudy and chilly, with a high of 30 and low of 10 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. City of West Peoria Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals met Dec. 9 (peoriastandard.com) — West Peoria’s Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals outlined a Dec. 9 agenda that includes annexing and rezoning 3435 W. Farmington Road in Peoria for heavy industrial use and possible auto parts sales. Members will also consider a variance for a standalone storage garage on North Rohmann Court and continue work on the city’s comprehensive plan next month.
   

2. Peoria Richwoods High School students receive full-ride to Ivy League schools (1049thewolf.com) — Two Richwoods High School students from Peoria have earned full-ride QuestBridge scholarships to attend the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton, easing major financial burdens for their families. Another Peoria Public Schools student also matched through QuestBridge and will choose a college in spring 2026. Their stories highlight both academic excellence and strong family support in the local school community.
   

3. Peoria County boosts fees for vaccinations, birth and death certificates (wcbu.org) — Starting early next year, Peoria County residents will pay more for vaccinations and for copies of birth and death certificates, following a new fee schedule approved by the county Board of Health. Vaccination charges will align with private insurance and Medicare, while birth certificates will cost $20 and death certificates $24, with a revised hardship policy to help uninsured or low-income residents.
   

4. New Hope apartments receive funding from Peoria City Council (centralillinoisproud.com) — Peoria City Council has approved $300,000 in COVID-19 relief funds to repair the fire alarm system at New Hope Apartments, keeping roughly 80 residents safely housed after a recent arson fire. With a 24/7 fire watch and Red Cross support already in place, the funding aims to stabilize a building central to the city’s ongoing struggle with homelessness and affordable housing.
   

5. Peoria forgives Exposition Gardens of more than $400K in debt (pjstar.com) — Peoria City Council has voted 6-5 to forgive more than $400,000 in stormwater and late-fee debt tied to Exposition Gardens, which the city bought at auction this fall. Supporters say the struggling organization can’t realistically repay, while opponents worry about setting a precedent. The city now hopes to market the large site for new housing within Peoria Public Schools boundaries.
   

📸 Around Peoria

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Reminder: Food Pantries Open Tuesdays
    TUESDAY Manna from Heaven 607 S. Western Ave. 309-533-3051 Food pantry open Tuesdays from 11am-1pm Peoria Friendship House 800 NE Madison, Peoria… (Nextdoor Bournedale)
  • I want to give a shout out to my mobile mechanic Dylan at Garage on Wheels.
    I hit him up yesterday about getting some work done and he was like he can come tomorrow. So today gets here he calls to let me know he was on the… (Nextdoor North East Bluff)
  • The last regularly scheduled #peoriacc meeting of the year is tonight at 6. Our meetings are exclusively broadcast on our YouTube page (... (X: CityofPeoria_IL)
  • The increases come after being authorized by the Peoria County Board at their Nov. 13 meeting and will affect both the Peoria City/County Health... (X: WMBDNews)
  • Molly Maid posted a job opening for Professional House Cleaner in Peoria. Apply here.
  • Kroger Family of Companies posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Peoria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Peoria here.

Ok 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 come in peace. You come in pieces.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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