Page 20 - Steve Stein News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

MORTON — Tom Neeley has been a member of the Morton School Board since 1989. His 32 years of service, among the longest of any school board member in the Peoria area, will increase by four years after he was elected unopposed earlier this month to a ninth term. During that time, he's seen enormous changes in the technology used in schools, and the upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Neeley's legacy of service Neeley's longevity on the Morton board is driven in large part by a decision he made after he returned home from the Vietnam War. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as...

MORTON — A Long Island-based film company is making a movie based in Morton. Candice Cain and Nelson Smith, the movie's writer/director and director of photography, came to Morton this past weekend to shoot scenes around the village. "Transition scenes," is how Cain described them. Cain and Smith were so impressed with Morton's character and its people during their whirlwind three-day visit that instead of just a few scenes, the entire movie may be shot in the village starting next month. "That's our goal. That's our intention," said Morton Mayor Jeff Kaufman, who hopes to have a contract...

Live election coverage: Peoria mayoral race too close to call, goes to mail ballots Journal Star staff So far in the Peoria mayoral race, it’s Montelongo. But not by much. By a 73-vote margin with 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, Jim Montelongo led Rita Ali for the right to be Peoria mayor for the next four years. Montelongo received 7,983 votes, or 50.23%. Ali received 7,910 votes, or 49.77%. The totals included election-day ballots from all 95 city precincts, as well as early and mail voting. © Supplied photos Rita Ali and Jim Montelongo Outstanding mail-in vo...

MORTON — It didn't take long for Craig Hilliard to realize he isn't the retiring type. Ten months after retiring as the Morton police chief, Hilliard is on the cusp of returning to public service. He's one of three candidates for three open seats on the Morton Village Board in Tuesday's election. "While I was working, I toyed with the idea of running for the Village Board after I retired," Hilliard said. "Then I retired, and it came down to a decision of do I want to run for the board, or am I done with public service? "I decided in November that I wanted to be involved in the village for ...

Mayor Jeff Kaufman announced Monday at a Village Board meeting that an ALDI store will be built at the corner of North Morton Avenue and East Courtland Street on the property of the Blain's Farm & Fleet store at 150 E. Courtland. Kaufman said Tuesday the Aldi store will be open by the end of the year, but possibly as early as summer. "Aldi is one of the top businesses that Morton residents have said they want to have in Morton, so we're thrilled to get an Aldi in our town," Kaufman said . "Aldi couldn't have picked a better location for their store in Morton. The store will be very visible, a...