Karen Martos’ rare six-leaf clover sits in a small box Monday, Aug. 3 at her home in Morton. Martos has made a habit of looking for the elusive four-leaf clovers whenever possible, but Monday she came across one even more unusual in a small patch in her backyard.
Peoria County Crime Scene Unit investigator Brian Groper takes photos as a wrecked vehicle is towed out of a wooded area Monday, Aug. 3 off Airport Rd. south of the intersection with Detrich Lane near Bartonville. A woman in her 40s was killed and two others critically injured in the single-vehicle accident.
A Northern water snake slithers through the lily pads Wednesday, Aug. 5 in the lagoon at Charter Oak Park off Orange-Prairie Road in Peoria. Non-venomous water snakes are sometimes confused with highly-venomous water moccasins which have been known to frequent far southern Illinois. Water snakes typically feed on frogs, toads, salamanders and fish.
Nylaine Smith, left, and Cole Hardin, both 4, are separated by a homemade barrier and lots of plastic sheeting as they work in teacher Mary Keltner’s classroom Thursday, Aug. 6 at Valeska-Hinton Early Childhood Education Center, 800 W. Romeo B. Garrett Avenue in Peoria. The school was the first in the Peoria area to resume classes with heavy COVID-19 restrictions.
Chuck Riggert of Metamora backs his son Will’s 1981 DeLorean into a parking spot Sunday, Aug. 9, during the monthly Hot Rods & Hamburgers cruise-in on the square in Metamora. Will, 15, is an avid fan of the “Back to the Future” movie trilogy and has owned the car for about two years.
FIRE DESTROYS BUILDINGS IN RURAL MINIER – Firefighters gather around to inspect damage done to an apartment building and storage warehouse after an overnight fire Monday, Aug. 10, at 118 S. Main in downtown Minier. The fire began at about 1:45 a.m. in the warehouse and quickly spread to the three-story building which housed twelve apartments. A dozen fire departments battled the blaze, which was under control by about 8 a.m.
A group of local activists plant “tombstones” Monday, Aug. 10, in front of the Peoria Public Schools administration building, 3202 N. Wisconsin Avenue, in protest of the impending coronavirus-affected opening of the district to students and teachers.
Despite some apprehension about COVID-19, retired Washington Community High School math teacher Jeff Little, left, still plans to work as a substitute teacher this year while his daughter Baylie, also a math teacher, will be starting her first year as a full-time teacher at the school.
Dunlap High School boys cross country runners work out on the course Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Dunlap. The team began official practices Monday with COVID-19 restrictions in place.
Smoke from a pair of charcoal grills wafts around Shantel Wells as she cooks bratwurst and hamburgers for sale at the lemonade stand she set up to raise extra money for her family Tuesday, Aug. 18, in Peoria. The mother of six was doing a brisk business in the vacant lot at the corner of N. University Street and W. Brons Avenue and she plans to continue the stand as long as she can.
A construction worker installs a light post on a girder Wednesday, Aug. 19, as upgrades continue on the Murray Baker Bridge across the Illinois River between Peoria and East Peoria.
The sun glints off Orville Haun’s racquet as he returns a shot during a game of pickleball Wednesday, Aug. 19, at the Birchwood Park courts in Morton. At least two dozen pickleball enthusiasts pursued their passion Wednesday morning on six courts near the Morton Park District offices at 349 W. Birchwood Street.
LaCora Holesome, left, of Peoria, a makeup artist by trade but also an amateur model, poses in a wedding dress for photographer Whitney Jensen, also of Peoria, during an afternoon photo shoot Sunday, Aug. 23, at Bradley Park. Jensen is building her portfolio in hopes of starting a wedding photography business.
Northmoor Primary second grade teacher Robin Tandeski, left, and special education teacher Katie Hobin give virtual hugs to their students at the end of an online class Monday, Aug. 24, the first day of remote learning in Peoria Public Schools.
MA8FL CHAMPIONSHIP – Donald Brown of the Peoria Punishers pops the cork on a bottle of champagne as he celebrates with his teammates after their 58-35 victory over the Midwest Hawks for the Mid-American 8-Man Football League (MA8FL) championship Sunday, Aug. 30, at George Doering Park in East Peoria. The Punishers were undefeated in a shortened season that normally starts in March.
