The Peoria Art Guild Junction City Art Fair over the weekend drew people to the arts.

During an advance sneak peek of the entire yet-to-be-opened Africa exhibit at Glen Oak Zoo, the giraffes, and a pair of white rhinos, lounged lazily around their pens. 
The sky was overcast and the air cool, yet the sight of these animals brought a touch of Africa to mind.

Midwest Green Energy, LLC, a self-described “clean, alternative energy supplier,” is not yet a household name.
 The company, co-owned by Joe Driscoll and brother Dave Driscoll, who were born and raised in Central Illinois, head the barely two-year-old company. They have but a handful of customers inside the Peoria area. But with President Obama all but assuring future breaks for home and business owners in the form of further rebates and tax incentives for “green” building and remodeling, Joe said he expects MGE’s business to pick up dramatically.

Tim Riggenbach might seem like a contradiction when it comes to his interpretation of The American Dream. For Riggenbach, 50, a bank manager for Associated Bank, money has nothing to do with his vision.
“Obviously, The American Dream means different things to different people. For me, it means being surrounded by the people you care most about,” he said.

Due to the Kellar Branch getting the April 7th Oink Award from the Peoria Journal Star the directors of Recreational Trail Advocates decided to have any emergency clean up along the access road to the Ameren CILCO sub station parallel to the Kellar Branch.

Caterpillar employees and their families celebrated Earth Week 2009 by planting about 15,000 trees Saturday at the Peoria Park District's Fern Park, located northwest of Chillicothe.

Editor's note: The Army misidentified two of the soldier's in this story.

Doing more with less is commonplace at Forward Operating Base Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq.
Be ready to do things that are not in your military occupational specialty.
Soldiers are prepared for a wide range of contingencies while conducting operations in Iraq, but delivering a baby is a task most would not expect.

Lee Albright left Peoria 24 years ago seeking adventure in the great outdoors.
The Peoria native is now back in Peoria, and he is still in love with the outdoors.
That love is what brought him back home to serve as the new manager for the Illinois River National Wildlife and Fish Refuges for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Find forms for classified ads and garage sales here.

Kathryn Rochford cannot be president.
It is not because she is 8-and-a-half years old, or that there has not yet been a female president. No — her story is a bit more esoteric.

Mary Haynes said, for her, the American Dream has never been about money.
“I don’t view success as money,” she said. “I see success as having influence. I have that.”
Haynes, 66, the Peoria City Clerk, has been in public service for 29 years. And, during that time she has been influential in making Peoria an example nationwide of transparent government.

A sparrow's nest has appeared in the bushes in front of the offices for Times Newspapers. It's a sure sign of spring.

Bart Shatto calls Peoria his hometown, but he gets back here very seldom.
“I live like a gypsy,” he said, laughing.
Shatto, 44, is a Broadway performer and vocalist and a regular vocalist with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. 
He came home for a few days last month to spend time with his mother, who lives in North Peoria. It was a short stop-over before heading to rehearsals for the lead in a new production of “Scandalous,” a play based on the life of D.H. Lawrence, in New Orleans later this month.
“This is my purpose,” he said. “This is what I’m supposed to do.”
 

Though cerebral palsy has twisted her legs, Samantha Fox loves playing soccer. Her gait hardly slows her down.
Fox also has a dream of riding her bike soon without training wheels and help from mom or dad.
The therapy Fox receives at Easter Seals will lead her to her goal, the 9-year-old North Peoria girl said.
“They are working hard to help me,” Fox said.

More than a dozen girls from throughout the state will be competing at three different pageants at Five Points Washington on Sunday.
After a seven-year absence, the Miss Heart of Illinois pageant will be returning to the area as a local preliminary opportunity for girls to make it to Miss Illinois in June, and then possibly move on to Miss America.