Joining together to make their voices heard, area chambers of commerce have planned a trip to the state capital next month.

The chambers in Chillicothe, East Peoria, Morton, Pekin, Peoria and Washington have created a coalition called the Central Illinois Regional Chambers Legislative Effort.

If you like what you’re seeing at www.washingtontimesreporter.com, you could read even more about Washington through our printed paper.

Dr. Paul Kinsinger, Washington resident and co-founder of Illini Family Medicine in Washington, is a self-proclaimed “idea man.”

Many of his ideas come to him during his family’s long annual drive to Panama City Beach, Fla.

Input is being sought on an Illinois Route 8 corridor study this month.

Washington’s city planning and development director, Jon Oliphant, is working with East Peoria’s city planning and development director, Ty Livingston, on the issue.

Nonprofit organizations are always looking for innovative ways to raise funds. And in this economic climate, they have had to get even more creative.

But one for-profit company has found a way both to profit and raise money for non-profit organizations and schools.

Why spoil employees with extravagant meals and gifts this holiday season, when there are so many people in need?

That is the question some local employers asked themselves this year when planning their annual company Christmas party.

A restaurant franchise that began in 1926 may be coming to town due to the city’s ongoing growth over the past several years.

Maid-Rite Diner — famous for its ground beef sandwiches — is looking to the city of Washington as a possible franchisee candidate, according to Jon Oliphant, development director with the city.

A new salon has opened in Washington offering a hard-to-find service outside of the Chicago Land area.

Owner of Transformations Lash Studio and Salon, Aubrey Brown, 29, of Washington, is only one of two certified lash specialists in Illinois outside of Chicago.

The owner of a local Washington business owes $242,000 in delinquent taxes.

Doug Waldemar, who closed the Golden Corral restaurant this past February, neglected to pay $92,818,23 in state taxes and $150,000 in federal taxes, according to the Illinois Department of
Revenue’s delinquent taxpayer list.

One area business owner is putting a twist on the hectic Black Friday shopping experience. 

When thousands will be busting through store doors and pushing through crowds trying to get their hands on that prized item, John Kinsinger, owner of The Game Room, will be holding a gaming competition inside his shop at 8 a.m.

A new smell will soon be wafting through Washington, tantalizing nostrils and teasing stomachs within range.

The Elmore family of Washington will soon open Bone Appitit, a new barbecue restaurant on Walnut Street, the former location of the Tally Ho Diner.

Businesses on the downtown Washington square can breathe a little easier in 2010.
Tax-increment financing, which was set to expire at the end of this year, has now been extended for another 12 years.

The Washington Downtown Square TIF has been in place since 1986 and the funding generated has served to help businesses improve their properties throughout the years.

The effort to renovate Sunnyland Plaza and attract retailers to the shopping center has begun.

Armed with results of a recent in-depth retail study, Ray Poe of Chicago, who was hired less than two months ago by the plaza’s owner, Neelam Salmen, to serve as her asset manager, said he and Washington officials now have enough information to move forward with beautifying the plaza and attracting retailers.

City officials say they hope to use the results of a recent in-depth retail study to attract businesses to Sunnyland Plaza and eventually turn the blighted area into a thriving shopping center.

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After 48 years of business, Baurer Furniture is closing its doors.