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Your Hometown News Since 1840 www.WashingtonTimesReporter.com Vol. 171 No. 8

Our ‘small town’ not so anymore, says 2010 Census

Population increased center, and the U.S. Route
40 percent since 2000 24 bypass built in 1995
that makes traveling be-
By steve stein tween Washington and
Gatehouse News Service Peoria a snap.
“Then there’s the qual-
There are plenty of rea- ity of life aspect, the good
sons why Washington’s schools and safe neighbor-
population has grown hoods,” he said.
more percentage-wise in The population grew
the last decade than any from 10,841 in 2000 to
other Tazewell County 15,134 last year, accord-
community. ing to 2010 U.S. Census
City Administrator Bob results released last week,
Morris points to the city’s a 39.6 percent increase.
location next door to Peo- Based on permits issued,
ria, the area’s employment Washington added 1,595
single-family, duplex and
multifamily residential was first elected in 2001, little more money and the telling newcomers to stay
units from 2000 through I couldn’t go anywhere family grows (they move) away.
2010, including 1,211 sin- without recognizing a face ... and then you’re left with Morris said people will
gle-family homes. or name. That changed in an older property that always feel that way and
Mayor Gary Manier two or three years.” could sit longer.” obviously have the right to,
said locally owned busi- In addition to the pop- Morris said that num- but he said he disagrees.
nesses, active ulation increase, ber of unoccupied homes “I honestly don’t know
churches, and First In vacant homes makes sense with other how to judge that,” Morris
the Five Points PRINT in Washington increases and he has not said. “All I know is that
Wa s h i n g t o n also increased seen a certain area of town new residents have found
multipurpose — more than 49 or subdivision with more Washington to be very ap-
facility have drawn people percent from 214 in 2000 vacancies than others. pealing. I don’t know the
to Washington. to 319 in 2010. While city officials are change from 10,000 to
“Small-town life is still “That’s always a concern elated that the town is 15,000 necessarily makes
attractive to people,” he of mine,” Manier said. growing in population, Washington radically dif-
said. “We used to be a “Younger families start some residents feel this ferent.”
well-kept secret. That’s not out in a starter home and is ruining Washington’s
the case anymore. When I then when they make a small-town appeal and are See census page a8

City council
Presidents come to life for students at Central contemplates
Students in Jane Woith’s fourth-grade social studies class at Central Intermediate School made U.S. presidents come to
life the week of Feb. 14 by dressing up like them and saying a speech of their biggest accomplishments and famous quotes census, cemeteries,
while in office. “I just thought, ‘How fun would that be to make (the presidents) really come to life?’ ... I think they research
(their president) more and they think it’s fun to act like them,” Woith said in her seventh year doing the assignment. “It’s funny construction
because some kids I didn’t think would get into it, really do and dress up.” See page A7 for more photos. By brandon schatsiek
TimesNewspapers

The Washington City Council

made short work of an even shorter
docket Monday night at Five Points
Washington.
With the recent release of the
2010 U.S. Census numbers showing
that Washington’s population has
increased almost 40 percent since
2000 — from 10,841 to 15,134 —
Mayor Gary Manier took the time
to thank city officials and council
members.
“It’s remarkable the growth Wash-
ington has seen,” Manier said. “I
just wanted to give accolades to the
staff and (City Administrator) Bob
Morris and his staff and this council
for being able to handle 40 percent
growth here in 10 years. With Bob’s
leadership, it’s been somewhat easy
compared to what other communi-
ties are faced with.”
Morris told the board members
that the increase in population also
increases the amount of money they
will get from the state.
“Our preliminary estimate is that
the population growth will net the
city about $160,000 in additional
state distributed revenue, which ob-
viously is very helpful,” Morris said.
Alderman Jim Gee said the spike
in population just shows how great
Jarrod Biggs is pictured here as the first President of the United States George Washington. The students are of a community Washington really
supposed to remain motionless until their button, seen on left, is pushed by another student. That is when the
is.
student president gives his or her speech covering a wide array of presidential topics such as his accomplish-
“We have great schools, a great
ments while in office and a famous quote or two. BRANDON SCHATSIEK/TIMESNEWSPAPERS
See council page a5

52nd Washington Chamber Banquet honors businesses, Washingtonian Harold West

By brandon schatsiek
TimesNewspapers
For one night every year for the
past 52 years, Washington’s movers
and shakers, big shots and residents
have been meeting to honor the best
and brightest in their community.
Thursday was “Washington’s night
to shine,” according to emcee of the
Washington Chamber Banquet Joe
Russell. The theme for this year’s
banquet was Survivor Washington,
which included a spin-off of the
popular TV show with Washington
Chamber members and Mayor Gary
Manier as contestants.
“We’ll have some laughs, but we
are here to honor two businesses
as well as a very special Washing-
tonian,” Russell said in his opening
speech.
The first business to be honored
was Washington Community Bank
which, through a new addition and
major remodeling of its building
at 1881 Washington Road, won the
chamber’s Business Beautification
Award.
According to the chamber’s spec-
ifications, the award is given to
the business which made the effort
these last few months to change the
face of their building and add to the
beauty of Washington.
“It’s almost as if we built a new
building,” said bank manager Matt
Moehle in a video addressing the
improvements. “It’s a better way
to serve customers and the com-
munity.”
In between the awards, the Survi-
vor videos were the highlight of the
night for the audience members as
they laughed at the team’s adven-
tures in Metamora that left Tom
Brecklin and Mark Swisher leaving
in the back of a Metamora Police
Department squad car among other
shenanigans.
One team challenge ended with
the self-named Taylor Swift team in
Joe Russell congratulates 2011 Washingtonian Harold
West. Russell worked for West at West Meats when he
See chamber page A6 was in high school. BRANDON SCHATSIEK/TIMESNEWSPAPERS

INSIDE

Around Town........... A2 Police News..............B7

Opinion.................... A4 Obituaries................ B6
Sports................... B1-3 Classifieds..........B9-10