Michelle Teheux works in her office at her Pekin home. The former newspaper editor writes for online publications and recently self-published a novel called “The Trailer Park Rules” that is finding significant success on Amazon.
D.A. POINTS OPEN – Veteran PGA pro and Pekin native D.A. Points conducts a clinic for young golfers competing in the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Renewal by Andersen Junior Open on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Pekin Country Club. The AGJA host dozens of tournaments across the country for aspiring young golfers between the ages of 12-19. Points joined the PGA Tour in 1999 after an All-American career at the University of Illinois and a state championship at Pekin High School in 1993.
D.A. POINTS OPEN –Dozens of young golfers attend a clinic by veteran PGA golfer and Pekin native D.A. Points, in gray hat and shirt, before their practice rounds at the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) Renewal by Andersen Junior Open on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Pekin Country Club. Points helped bring the AJGA tournament to Pekin in 2018.
D.A. POINTS OPEN –Parents and other spectators watch from the shade during a clinic by PGA pro and Pekin native D.A. Points before practice rounds during the AJGA Renewal by Andersen Junior Open on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Pekin Country Club.
D.A. POINTS OPEN –Veteran PGA pro and Pekin native D.A. Points, middle, chats with a young golfer after leading a clinic during the AJGA Renewal by Andersen Junior Open on Monday, July 8, 2024 at the Pekin Country Club. The tournament, which features some of the best young junior golfers from around the country, tees off Tuesday morning and continues Wednesday with a final round Thursday. A qualifying round was held Sunday at Lick Creek Golf Course.
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH – Cesar Villa, 4, works on his Tropical Son shaved ice treat during the second annual Heartland Health Services Back to School Bash on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in the parking lot of the East Bluff medical center. Dozens of school kids enjoyed food, a bouncy house, free backpacks filled with school supplies, sports and school physicals, on-site immunizations and community resources.
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH – Kids line up for free backpacks filled with school supplies donated by Molina Healthcare and Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Network during the second annual Heartland Health Services Back to School Bash on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in the parking lot of the East Bluff medical center.
BACK TO SCHOOL BASH – Youngsters bounce and flip in a Fun on the Run bouncy house during the second annual Heartland Health Services Back to School Bash on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 in the parking lot of the East Bluff medical center.
RC OUTFITTERS – RC Outfitters owner Adam White is marking a decade since moving the store from Peoria Heights to a historic building at 311 Southwest Water Street on the Peoria riverfront. The acclaimed shoe and apparel business was founded in 1977 as Running Central at the corner of Main and Sheridan. White took over in 2007 and moved the store to the Heights in 2011. He rebranded it as RC Outfitters in 2019.
RC OUTFITTERS – RC Outfitters, formerly known as Running Central, has occupied a renovated space in a former antique center at 311 Southwest Water Street on the Peoria riverfront since 2014. The business was located at Main and Sheridan from 1977 until moving to an expanded space in Peoria Heights in 2011.
RC OUTFITTERS – Employees help customers with choosing shoes at RC Outfitters, 311 Southwest Water Street on Peoria’s riverfront.
RC OUTFITTERS – A wide variety of running and walking shoes fill a lighted wall at RC Outfitters, 311 Southwest Water Street on the Peoria riverfront.
RC OUTFITTERS – Ben Huntley of Morton inspects a new pair of running shoes with help from RC Outfitters employee Jonathan Lee at the popular store on the Peoria riverfront.
RC OUTFITTERS – RC Outfitters employee Gina Kennedy helps customer Breanna Huff with a pair of custom-fitted inserts at the noted business on Peoria’s riverfront. Flat inserts are heated and then contoured to fit a customer’s feet.
RC OUTFITTERS – RC Oufitters on the Peoria riverfront has expanded its inventory dramatically since its days as a small niche shoe store specializing in runners apparel at Main and Sheridan. The store now offers a wide variety of outdoor and casual apparel while still maintaining a reputation as the go-to retailer for every level of running enthusiast.
RC OUTFITTERS – Posters from past Steamboat Classic road races fill a wall at RC Outfitters on the Peoria riverfront.
JOINT PRACTICE – Peoria High and Morton battle it out during a joint 7-on-7 practice that also included Moline High School on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Peoria Stadium.
JOINT PRACTICE – New Peoria High School head football coach Aaron Montgomery, left, and assistant coach Asa Lewis confer during a joint 7-on-7 football practice Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Peoria Stadium.
JOINT PRACTICE – Morton and Moline football teams participate in a joint 7-on-7 football practice with Peoria High School on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Peoria Stadium.
JOINT PRACTICE – Moline players celebrate a touchdown against Peoria High School during a joint 7-on-7 football practice along with Morton High School on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Peoria Stadium.
ONE PEORIA – State Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth helps young students try on their backpacks during the One Peoria back-to-school event Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Glen Oak Park in Peoria. Hundreds of families lined up for free backpacks and other supplies, school physicals, bounce houses and treats.
ONE PEORIA – Hundreds of families make their way down a long line of community organizations offering free school supplies and resources during the One Peoria back-to-school event Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Glen Oak Park.
ONE PEORIA – A group of boys pass some time playing football as hundreds wait to take part in the One Peoria back-to-school event Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Glen Oak Park.
ONE PEORIA – A youngster slides backwards down an inflatable slide during the One Peoria back-to school event Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Glen Oak Park.
ONE PEORIA – Kids test their skill at an inflatable basketball game during the One Peoria back-to-school event Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Glen Oak Park.
ONE PEORIA – Leilani Taylor of the Peoria Park District kisses her pet chihuahua, Sophie, during the One Peoria back-to-school event Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at Glen Oak Park.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Chicago-based performer Priscilla Rock performs for the crowd during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2024 on the Peoria riverfront. Hundreds packed the Peoria riverfront for drags shows, musical acts, art, food and community resources for the annual event.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Drag artist Zoe Meltdown from Decatur poses for the crowd during a performance Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the River City Pride Festival on the Peoria riverfront.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Drag king Max E. Pad sports a giant pompadour hairstyle for an Elvis-inspired show Saturday, July 20, 2024 during the River City Pride Festival on the Peoria riverfront.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Drag performer Portia Lynn Snaps strikes a pose during her performance in the Drag Show Wars at the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2024 on the Peoria riverfront.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Drag performer DeCevia Mann accepts a tip from a fan during the Drag Show Wars at the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2024 on the Peoria riverfront.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Shahala DeBosco of Peoria, dressed as furry character Elina, attracts some attention during the River City Pride Festival on Saturday, July 20, 2024 on the Peoria riverfront.
RIVER CITY PRIDE – Charlie, right, and Oscar, middle, share a laugh as Oscar’s partner Naeveh scans her cellphone during a quiet moment under the Gateway Building on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the River City Pride Festival on the Peoria riverfront.
USL2 PLAYOFFS – Young fans greet their Peoria City heroes before their start of their USL2 playoff match against Thunder Bay on Friday, July 19, 2024 at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Peoria City defeated Thunder Bay 2-0.
USL2 PLAYOFFS – Peoria City soccer players mob teammate Jose Gomez after his goal against Thunder Bay in the second period of the USL2 playoffs Friday, July 19, 2024 at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Peoria City defeated Thunder Bay 2-0 to advance.
USL2 PLAYOFFS – Peoria City’s Charlie Dickerson, top left, and Luke Persenico, top right, pressure Thunder Bay’s Sam Jordan in the second period of their USL2 soccer playoff match Friday, July 19, 2024 at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Peoria City defeated Thunder Bay 2-0.
USL2 PLAYOFFS – Peoria City and Thunder Bay players battle for the ball in the first period of their USL2 playoff match Friday, July 19, 2024 at Shea Stadium in Peoria. Peoria City defeated Thunder Bay 2-0.
WASHINGTON 7-ON-7 – A Pekin player sports a T-shirt with an inspirational message during the annual 7-on-7 football camp Saturday, July 20, 2024 hosted by Washington Community High School.
WASHINGTON 7-ON-7 – Spectators watch the action from the stands during the annual 7-on-7 football camp Saturday, July 20, 2024 hosted by Washington Community High School.
WASHINGTON 7-ON-7 – Washington and Pekin players face off during the annual 7-on-7 football camp Saturday, July 20, 2024 hosted by Washington Community High School.
WASHINGTON 7-ON-7 – Players practice tackling techniques during the annual 7-on-7 football camp Saturday, July 20, 2024 hosted by Washington Community High School.
WASHINGTON 7-ON-7 – Eureka and Dunlap players battle during the annual 7-on-7 football camp Saturday, July 20, 2024 hosted by Washington Community High School.
DISTILLERY LABS – The new Distillery Labs innovation center at 201 SW Adams Street held a grand opening ceremony Tuesday, July 30, 2024 in downtown Peoria. The facility offers entrepreneurs a space to develop their startup, brainstorm ideas and even learn new skills. Distillery Labs is part of the Illinois Innovation Network promoting entrepreneurship throughout the state. A $10 million grant helped fund construction at the former site of Illinois Central College’s downtown campus.
DISTILLERY LABS – A giant decorative lighting fixture hands over the coffee bar as several hundred listen during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at the new Distillery Labs innovation center in downtown Peoria. The coffee bar, which is open to the public, is a spinoff of Cafe Santa Rosa in Peoria Heights.
DISTILLERY LABS – Large windows illuminate a spacious work area at the new Distillery Labs innovation center at 201 SW Adams Street in downtown Peoria. The long-awaited facility held an ribbon-cutting celebration on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.
DISTILLERY LABS – Patrons sample some offerings from chef Jeremy Washburn of Reservations catering in the commercial kitchen at the new Distillery Labs innovation center during an opening celebration Tuesday, July 30, 2024 in downtown Peoria.
