By Brandon schatsiekTimesNewspapers

Street maintenance, waste water treatment plants and other “big picture items” for 2011 were among the discussion points at Wash-ington’s Jan. 18 city council meeting.

City Administrator Bob Morris updated the city council that the Illinois Department of Transportation said the intersection of Nofsinger Road and Illinois Route 24 meets the requirement for traffic signals.

However, that doesn’t mean that there will be a signal there anytime soon, Morris said.

“The encouraging news is for the first time (after applying with IDOT several times), the intersection has met the warrants for traffic signals,” Morris said. “Years before it never got over that first hurdle … but that doesn’t mean we will have them right away.”

Morris said the intersection would need extensive work before signals could be put in because the intersection is not perpen-dicular.

Morris said IDOT isn’t making the city install a signal; only saying it warrants one, but the city would have to pay for everything itself.

“Nofsinger Road would have to be substan-tially improved to meet (IDOT’s) criteria for a traffic signal intersection with turn lanes,” Morris said.

He suggested the city begin preliminary discussions with engineering firms to “have a layout as to what it would take to have street improvements, so traffic signals could actu-ally be put in in terms of (possible) left turn problems.”

Police Chief James Kuchenbecker said with the increasing number of houses going up in the area, it could expedite the process.

“It’s getting increasingly busier out there, and with the development it’s just going to get busier,” Kuchenbecker said. “I don’t think it’s something we should wait five years to do, but we need to take baby steps.”

In other items the board:• discussed IDOT’s plan for the Dallas Road

project. A cost analysis of the project is said to be in hand in the next few weeks. Plans for the project will be put together at that point.

• adopted an ordinance that would list two classifications for those wishing to obtain a liquor license: a non-citizen legal resident and a limited liability corporation. Morris said this ordinance was nothing more than changing specifications to be consistent with state laws.

• discussed the plan for waste water treat-ment plant No. 1 at the end of Woodland Trail. Morris said the city took part in a com-prehensive study a few years ago to evaluate

Your Hometown News Since 1840 www.WashingtonTimesReporter.com Vol. 171 No. 4

wednesday, jaNuaRY 26, 2011

By chelsea peckTimesNewspapers

The Penguin Project once again gave children in the area with developmental dis-abilities a chance to shine.

“Disney’s High School Mu-sical 2” was per-formed by children ages 10 to 21 Jan. 14 through 16 at Eastlight Theatre in East Peoria.

In its seventh year, The Penguin Project gives chil-dren with developmental dis-abilities ranging from Down syndrome to Attention Deficit Disorder the chance to shine on stage.

“All we want is for them to succeed,” said Director Dr. Andrew Morgan. “It truly is

life-changing. The kids learn self-confidence and creativity.”

Morgan said the children, as well as their parents, gain from the experience.

“The parents gain the most from The Penguin Project. This is the first time they see

their child do some-thing they’ve never done before. It’s wonderful to see,” he said.

The group started rehearsing in September and the leads were picked within a few weeks.

Morgan said the leads are chosen from knowledge and past experiences with the art-ists. He said at least one lead in every show has never had a

By Brandon schatsiekTimesNewspapers

One day before the 38th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in favor of legalizing abortion, the seventh-grade class at St. Patrick’s school traveled Jan. 21 to area community outreach centers and donated baby food.

The food was taken to the Carver Center, Neighborhood House and Catholic Charities to be distributed to fam-ilies struggling to afford food for their children.

“The church takes a strong stand against (abortion) because of the right to live,” said seventh-grade teacher Melodie Dobner. “God created life and we all have the right to live. We figure if we’re asking women to have children then we need to provide food for them.”

In its 38th year of do-nating baby food, Taze-well County Right to Life Project Coordinator

Kay Grillot said this was a record amount of do-nations for the project, as more than $7,500 in food or monetary dona-tions was brought in.

“The people of Central Illinois are very gener-ous and recognize that all the money collected is used for baby food and formula to help families who have cho-sen life for their babies,” Grillot said in a press release.

While most of the food was purchased with donations from tri-county churches expressing their sup-port of the program, St. Patrick’s students also played a role in making it a record haul.

“The whole school, between food and money donations, was $1,748,” Dobner said. “I’m very proud of the effort of the whole school.”

What may have been just as important to the students as donating the

around Town ...........2aOpinion ................... 4aSports ..................8-9a

Police News ............ 6a Obituaries ............... 6a Classifieds .........9-10B

INSIDE

the question I’ve seen green bins in parking lots that

say “Clothes & Shoes.” Where do those donations go?

the answerA few months ago, residents began

noticing green bins sprouting up around town.

Second Chance Recycling owns the green bins, and they can be seen in Illi-nois and Wisconsin.

New to the Central Illinois area, the for-profit business offers residents a place to drop off clothes, shoes or small house-hold appliances in the plastic bins, or they may call 1-800-745-8843 for pickup.

“The ultimate goal here is to give it to someone who needs it, and it won’t end

up in the landfill,” said owner Mike Toska.Clothes are sold by the pound and are

sent to a recycling center in Texas, which are then graded.

The clothes in the worst condition may be used for washcloths or shop rags. Clothes in better condition, which could have a rip or defect go to those in Third World countries in Africa or Europe, Toska said.

The decent clothes are then sent to thrift stores, the Salva-tion Army or Goodwill.

Toska said his business may especially be good for thrift stores which will not take out-of-season clothes, but resi-dents want to get rid of them now.

While it could seem like he is in com-petition with thrift stores for donations,

Toska said he can assist them through a variety of ways.

He can donate a percent-age of the funds to a cause, give them coats or jeans, and/or pay for the seasonal items a thrift store manager needs to get out of the busi-ness.

“I’d like to give something back to them so it’s win-win,” Toska said about thrift shoppes.

Toska said his business employs five full-time em-ployees — four drivers and

a manager — and three part-time em-

ployees in Central Illinois.He is looking for a donation center

storefront for Peoria. His business is only donations, he said, noting he would not be opening a thrift shoppe.

The green, plastic bins also are located in Chillicothe, East Peoria, Washington, Morton, Metamora and Canton. In total, there are 40 to 50 in Central Illinois.

The Washington Walmart has a bin in the parking lot. For more information, call 1-800-745-8843, or visit the website www.secondchancerecycle.com.

Second Chance Recycling aims to keep items out of landfillsYour question answered By Marianne Gillespie | Staff Writer

how to suBmit If you have a question, we want to give you an answer. Send a question, name and contact information to:

mail P.O. Box 9426, Peoria, IL 61612e-mail wtr@timestoday.comfax 686-3101

Council discusses street repair plans

Penguin Project gives special needs students chance to shine

Anniversary of Roe v. Wade in students’ minds

top, students from st. patrick school on a conference call with u.s. rep. aaron schock at his peo-ria office. left, luke strong stacks boxes of baby food at the friend-ship house in peoria. above, austin mcmurray is handed boxes of baby food to take into the neighborhood house. BRaNDON SCHaTSIEK/TIMESNEWSPaPERS

emilie muller, 14, middle, helps her artist, saman-tha fox, during the final dress rehearsal of “dis-ney’s high school musical 2.” muller has been a mentor with the penguin project for five years. CHELSEa PECK/TIMESNEWSPaPERSsee council page 5

see st. pats page 5

see penguin page 2

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