Billboard announced Tuesday that an Illinois State University student from Washington has made it to Billboard’s top 10 in the worldwide Lady Gaga Look-Alike Contest.
Jessica Funcannon was chosen from hundreds of entries in the first round of the competition to make it to the finals. This final round began Wednesday and voting will continue on Billboard’s website until Aug. 30.
After a blazing hot Saturday kept some people at home, the third-annual Washington Fine Arts Festival drew a crowd to Washington Park Sunday to see art from across the country.
The 130 artists at the festival displayed a wide variety of art from copper wire tree sculptures to jewelry, photography, painted shoes, wood fishing lures and more.
Katie Beasley said she has been interested in art her whole life.
“I can’t remember not doing art,” she said.
The Washington-based artist said she does abstract oil paintings, some as large as 5 feet by 8 feet in size.
She will show off some of her smaller paintings at the third annual Washington Fine Arts Festival.
Students involved in the young adults Summer Reading Program at the Washington District Library recently participated in a behind-the-scenes tour of the Peoria Zoo. The two hour tour marked the culmination of the program in which students logged hours spent reading during summer months.
For the third consecutive year, friends, family and avid Frisbee golfers will gather to celebrate the life of a young man who died too soon.
During the weekend of Aug. 7 and 8, the third Annual Evan Knoblauch Frisbee Golf Outing is scheduled to take place at Washington Park. All proceeds generated by the event will go to the Evan Knoblauch Memorial Fund for the Washington Park District Programs and Facilities.
The Book Nook is a monthly book review written by Washington Community High School book club members.
Seconds are great, but visitors to the square will soon be able to have a third helping of some local flavor.
From 5 to 8 p.m. on July 20, the public is invited to the third installment of the Taste of Washington, during the eighth annual Heartland Pride Celebration. Treats such as pizza, brisket sandwiches, chicken puff pie, meatball sandwiches and stuffed mushrooms from area restaurants and caterers will be available.
Candy Liggin, office manager at the Washington Chamber of Commerce, said organizers are hoping for a turnout similar to the Taste’s two previous years.
Dana Bowman says he is not special, and he is not different from anybody else. He is just an ordinary guy without legs who jumps out of airplanes.
Washington's Relay For Life event was Saturday and Sunday at Oak Ridge Park. The event raised $45,097 with 148 participants.
Summer does not officially begin until June 21, but as far as those at the Washington Park District are concerned, it is in full force.
Many of the park district’s summer activities begin this week, including Camp Adventurer’s Day Camp, a summer camp that keeps children coming back and puts their parents at ease.
Washington Cherry Festival Friday and Saturday Schedule of Events
It could be an event, a favorite memory or something as simple as hanging out with friends.
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Applause and cheers erupted from the audience as Josh Kensinger hit the high note in the ever-popular song, “Unchained Melody,” winning him a spot as a finalist in last year’s Washington Times-Reporter Cherry-Oke contest.
But it was his robust performance of “New York, New York” that earned him $250 as the first-place winner.
Five Points recently announced the inaugural Entertainment Series 2010-11. The program offers season tickets to four shows beginning in August and concluding in April of 2011.
This year’s line-up includes a celebration of the swing movement, called “Club Swing” with the vocal ensemble, Five By Design, the musical “Bruce in the U.S.A.,” a tribute to Bruce Springsteen, a comedy show by The Second City and country singer Pam Tillis.
For his 50th birthday, Chuck McCarty had a 1950s party complete with classic cars, good friends and food. The party inspired him to start a club which continues to uphold these traditions.
It has been 12 years since that party. McCarty founded the Central Illinois Cruisers in May 1997. He is still holding the cruise-ins that offer car enthusiasts a place to show off the vehicles they love, chat with other car lovers and grab a bite to eat.
One prom ticket — $35, a dress or tux — $200, beauty and accessories — $50.
A night full of memories?
Not exactly priceless, but for most area students, the cost is worth it in the end.
Recently, prom committees from four area schools — East Peoria, Morton, Washington and Illinois Valley Central — answered questions about the cost of prom.
After 10 long months, the owners of Kep’s Place in Washington say they are looking forward to breaking ground and rebuilding the popular bar and restaurant in a bigger and better way, and giving it a new name.
“We knew from the beginning that we wanted to rebuild,” said Brook Heider, co-owner and manager. “You should see something going up within the next two weeks.”
The establishment was nearly fully destroyed June 28 by a fire which caused about $600,000 worth of damage. It was ruled a spontaneous combustion fire started by greasy rags in the kitchen area.
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Washington residents Shirley and Larry Hackmann will be whirling around in a hoop skirt and frock coat in the rotunda of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield Saturday.
The couple is part of the Central Illinois Civil War Dance Society Performers group, which will return to Springfield for the third time to perform at the museum.
With temperatures warming up, many are looking to get outdoors. The opening of Bowen Lake April 1 adds many options for those who seek a little fun in the sun, or a peaceful area for fishing, boating, picnicking or enjoying 13.8 acres of nature.
Located just off Main Street, Bowen Lake boasts a six-acre fishing lake complete with pier, a sheltered picnic area, wildlife areas, grasses with wildflowers and a walking trail around the lake.
Washington Park District executive director Doug Damery said the lake is stocked with fish such as blue gill, large mouth bass and redear.
