Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a series examining the ever-changing technology used within Washington’s schools.
Sixth-grade Central Intermediate School teacher Jessica Uftring said she utilizes some sort of technology in her classroom on a daily basis, something that did not happen when she first started teaching eight years ago.
“This is all they know,” she said of her students. “This is something they’ve grown up with, so for them to be able to bring in something that they use on a regular basis at home is exciting. They’re so excited to use these devices, so they’re really engaged in what’s going on in the classroom.”
Haiti, for Becky Reeser, has become a second home.
The Germantown Hills woman has been going to the destitute island nation often to make a difference in the lives of the people there through her non-profit organization called Life’s Path.
Life’s Path Corp. was formed in October 2010. Reeser holds the position of founder and chief executive officer. The titles are fancy but there is nothing fancy about the work she and her volunteers do.
The Washington Area Community Center is pleased to announce that 2011 NCAA Wrestling Champion Anthony Robles will be the third speaker in their annual Lessons from Leaders speaker series.
Mr. Robles will attend the banquet and make the keynote presentation at Five Points Washington beginning at 5:30 p.m. April 14.
Kate Anderson and Melissa Chanto sat in the stands at Bradley University along with 12 other students from Metamora Township High School on Jan. 7 wondering what was coming.
They were there, along with their teacher, Joe Bachman, to watch the unveiling of this year’s FIRST Robotics competition.
For Dr. Andrew Morgan, it is all about the smiles.
Thanks to Morgan’s hard work and dedication, smiles are never hard to find on the set of the annual Penguin Project production.
The Penguin Project, an annual junior musical performed by children and young adults with developmental disabilities, was founded by Morgan eight years ago.
It all started in a high school shop class.
John Schultz was a freshman at Watertown High School in Watertown, Wis., in 1955 when he became interested in putting things together.
Cameron Kirkpatrick has already checked one item off of his 2012 to-do list — jump into a freezing cold body of water.
At 10 years old, the Washington resident was one of the youngest participants at the 2012 East Peoria Boat Club’s Polar Ice Plunge. Ten marks the minimum age a jumper must be to participate. Three men shared the title of this year’s oldest jumper at 67.
The following stories are a collection of the Washington Times-Reporter's favorite feature stories of 2011.
Washington Community High School junior Dani Boley received an early Christmas present this year — a trip to New York City with a price tag for about $1,500.
Boley traveled to New York, along with classmate and friend Paige Zimmerman, and more than 200 student musicians from around the country, to march in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the parade’s Great American Marching Band.
Catia’s Alterations is in a new location and has a new word to add to the store’s title — boutique.
Catia Vinci began her alteration shop along Washington Road in 1998.
“It was supposed to be a hobby, but guess what, my first day, I had 25 people in the door,” Vinci, who is originally from Brazil, said.
An early morning fire Saturday at 1929 W. Cruger Road in Washington has left a family of three without a home or its contents, according to Washington Fire Chief Mike Vaughn; no injuries were reported.
Vaughn said the call came in shortly after 7 a.m.; the first unit from the WFD arrived four minutes later.
As if Santa Claus already didn’t have enough to do at this time of year, due to the ingenuity of 16 Washington Community High School students, Santa Claus will now be making semi-personalized phone calls to children of all ages come Christmas Eve.
In its first year, Tricia Gardner’s Business Entrepreneurship class has set up what she considers, “a direct line to the North Pole.”
When it was believed that Dax Locke would not live to see 2009’s Christmas season, Jerry and Lynda Young decorated their Washington home with the Christmas decorations the little boy loved.
Although it was only October, many in Washington, surrounding communities and even across the nation followed suit to show their support for Dax and his family. Dax lived to see his favorite holiday, but died a few days later on Dec. 30, 2009.
For the 27th year, a few Washingtonians will open their homes to the public during the holiday season.
Proceeds from the 27th Annual Washington Historical Society Christmas Tour of Homes — the Historical Society’s only fundraiser — will go to the Dement-Zinser House and Village Doctor’s Museum, monthly historical programs and the Time Travels in Trunks program.
The season of giving has arrived and it is in full swing at Washington’s Russell’s Cycle and Fitness.
The hometown cycle and fitness shop is sponsoring its sixth annual Operation Christmas Bike, a holiday drive in which customers can help to provide those in need with the gift of a bicycle during the holidays.
A fifth-grader at Washington Middle School died Nov. 16 after accidentally hanging himself while playing with rope in his backyard.
Thomas Sawchuk, 11, of 404 Lawndale Ave. in Washington was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria.
While Dani Boley and her family often watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while cooking for Thanksgiving dinner, they have other plans this year.
The Washington Community High School junior has been selected to join more than 200 other student musicians from around the country to march in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. She will be a member of the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, joined by fellow Washington junior Paige Zimmerman, who was also in the band last year.
Washington is a great city filled with even better people.
It is small enough where residents have a sense of strong community ties, but big enough to always be looking toward the future and a cycle of constant improvement.
With Dax Locke about to touch the world again at Christmastime, area filmgoers can be among the first to not only take part, but help out.
“The Heart of Christmas,” a new movie based on the Washington toddler’s inspiring saga, will begin airing next month on the Gospel Music Channel. But the flick will get a local showing Nov. 30 as a fundraiser for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
What has been somewhat of a local secret for about two years has now hit the big-time. Dr. Paul Kinsinger’s Piggy Paste has gone national.
Piggy Paste first hit the shelves at Lindy’s Downtown Market in January 2010. Since then, nearly 1,000 tubes of the toenail fungus cure has been purchased from those shelves.
