Within hours of tickets going on sale, the 600 seats in the auditorium and the 420 banquet seats available were sold out for Sarah Palin’s appearance. There are, however, still tickets available for the private reception at $5,000 per couple.

At the Jan. 19 city council meeting, planning and development director Jon Oliphant presented a summary of residential and business development activity showing steady growth in Washington, despite the nation-wide recession and substantial cutbacks in new construction.

“All things considered, 2009 was a very solid year ... Staff was pleasantly surprised to see that the level of construction in Washington had not decreased nearly as substantially as it had in other cities,” Oliphant wrote in a memorandum.

Playing to a nearly sold-out house, 200 students, 25 teachers, 12 pianos and four conductors put the monster into Monster Concert.

Presented by the Peoria Area Music Teachers Association Saturday evening at Five Points Washington, the Monster Concert showcased a unique performance in which 24 pianists shared 12 pianos, playing the same songs simultaneously and following a conductor.

Forty-year-old classrooms and doors that remain unlocked all day long— these are just two of the many reasons why renovations are needed at Washington High School, according to District 309 School Board members.

And, after the board’s annual special planning meeting Saturday, the district is one step closer to making the $10.2-million renovation/construction plans a reality.

Former Alaskan governor-turned-political celebrity, Sarah Palin, will visit Washington this spring to share her leadership experiences.

The announcement was made Monday morning at Five Points Washington, where she will give her presentation April 17 titled, “You don’t need a title to make a difference.”

The “shock and awe tour” ­— That is what Washington Police Chief James Kuchenbecker said as he walked through the tight quarters of his police station.

One restroom for female employees, no central break room and a shower blocked by police equipment are just a few of the problems.

From electronic projects to alternative reading forms, 18 Tazewell County teachers sought out new and improved ways to engage their students in their classrooms this school year.

And, in order to make their visions a reality, the Tazewell County Regional Office of Education awarded them about $7,700 in mini-grants.

Five of these ideas are being put in action right here in Washington.

Superintendent Susan Dudley will retire at the end of the school year after three years in District 50.

Dudley said discussion and gossip in Springfield about changes to the teachers’ pension system convinced her it was the “right time” to retire in order to get the full pension she signed for when starting her teaching career.

Starting Feb. 6, Mayor Gary Manier will sit down over a cup of coffee with Washington citizens once a month to hear their questions and discuss their concerns.

Manier will host “Coffee with the Mayor” 8 to 10 a.m. once a month at the new city hall location at 301 Walnut St.

Although the planned $4.3 million health/life safety repairs at Washington Community High School are required by the state, some people are questioning the academic value of such repairs.
Some of the work to be done over the summer includes a new roof, new plumbing, electrical work, removal of asbestos tiles, new windows in most of the buildings and renovation of the heating and cooling system.

The state labels these health and life safety issues, but some people want to know how these repairs will directly impact academics.

Aaron Schock looked at the photo of his swearing in as the U.S. representative for the 18th District and smiled.

The question posed to him was whether Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, smiling broadly in the photo, still smiled at him like that after a contentious year with the freshman Republican.

A local resident, who has volunteered countless hours at the Washington Historical Society, is expanding his expertise to an executive-level position in Peoria.

The Peoria Historical Society board has named Walter Ruppman as its new executive director.
Ruppman began his new position Jan. 4 and succeeds Amy Kelly, who retired.

The planning committee for the Washington Area Community Center’s annual gala is hoping to prove to Washington residents they do not have to slug all the way to Chicago or even across the
river to Peoria to experience first-class entertainment.

Murder Mystery Players Inc., from Chicago, will stage an interactive murder mystery dinner, “Murder Most Romantic,” in the banquet room at Five Points Washington for the WACC’s annual gala in February.