December 2023 Issue Below are the articles printed in the December 2023 edition of the Chillicothe Hometown Voice. A Gift of Love During the depression in 1939, my mother and my four little sisters were on our own. A year before, my father had left to find a job in another town. Read More » OBITUARY – James Oliver “Slim” Traver James, 80, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Jim was born on April 2, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois, to Oliver Clarence Traver and Birdeen Rosalyn Patten. Read More » Nellie’s Corner – December 2023 Christmas was slowly approaching and most of us kids were battling the cold and snowy weather downtown at the Ben Franklin store. Christmas music was pumping us up to near delirium. Read More » December 15, 1922 Chillicothe, Illinois This photo was taken 101 years ago and published in the Chillicothe Bulletin. The smoldering rubble is of the two-building complex that stood where 1027 and 1029 N. Second Street are today. Read More » Cooking With Vickie Britton – Corn Casserole One of my favorite holiday receipts is my corn casserole. It is quick and easy, can be made in one pan, and can be made the night before. Read More » The Insurance Corner – Fix Deck Problems Before Someone Is Injured Everyone loves to spend time on the deck with the family or entertaining. That’s why you bought a house with a deck, or you built one yourself. Read More » Chillicothe, IL 1954 - 1956 The following is the thirteenth of a multi-part article about the timeline of Chillicothe, IL. This article will illustrate the key dates along with the key individuals who helped to shape our city’s great history. Read More » Phase II of the Shore Acres Park Master Plan Shore Acres Park—A foundation of our community filled with years of memories: the triangle slide, merry-go-round, baseball games, picnics, long summer nights, and that infamous barrel. Read More » Community Needs Agency Is Preparing for Its Annual Campaign to Support Christmas Food Basket Distribution Community Needs Agency’s (CNA) annual campaign to provide needy families in the area with Christmas food baskets—as well as provide the agency with year-round operating funds—is off and running. Read More » Sometimes the Cost of Freedom Can’t Be Seen In our society, we hear the word freedom a lot. It’s written in our constitution, and why this country was started; we wanted freedom. Read More » Christmas Holiday Safety Tips 2023 The winter holidays are a time for families and friends to gather and celebrate. It’s a wonderful time to decorate your home and prepare memorable meals. Read More » Lions Club Sneaker Recycling Program The Chillicothe Lions Club, in conjunction with the Illinois Foundation, is collecting old tennis shoes to recycle. Old sneakers that you don’t use anymore, or don’t want any longer can be recycled for their rubber. Read More » Eat Breakfast, Change the World Do you like to eat breakfast? Are you a morning person? Are you ready to make a difference in the community and the world with minimum time commitment? Read More » Optimistically Speaking The Christmas Bonanza has begun! Each year the Optimists Club brings Chillicothe one of the best fundraisers of the year! We began selling tickets at the Santa Parade and will continue to sell tickets up to the drawing on December 16th. Read More » Chillicothe Circle of Service At the October meeting of Chillicothe Circle of Service, Scoutmaster Gwyn Krause and Scout Rachel Krause presented the history of how girls became members of Boy Scouts. Read More » Almost 50 Years and Cutting I always enjoy finding businesses that have survived the test of time. I marvel at the people who have overcome many obstacles and challenges to maintain and grow a business. Read More » In the Garden – December 2023 WOW! Can you believe that the year is almost over? Enjoy your perennial bed in winter by refraining from unnecessary fall cleanup. Leave standing plants on stout stems or seed heads and fruit in winter. Read More » Free Family Christmas Experience Are you looking for a way to experience Christmas as a family this year and create memories around the gospel together? Chillicothe Christian Church is hosting its FREE annual “A Night in Bethlehem” on Saturday, Dec. 9th from 2pm–5pm. Read More » Chillicothe Public Library Offers Home Delivery Service Unable to visit the library in person? Chillicothe Public Library’s free Home Delivery Service can bring books and more directly to you! The Home Delivery Service is for patrons who are unable to come to the library due to disability or illness, or because they are caring for a family member. Read More » IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jeannie Quick – Loving People and Her Community Jeannie was born and raised in East Peoria, IL. She graduated from high school in 1967 from East Peoria High. After graduating, Jeannie moved to the suburbs of Chicago for a year, and then at 19, she came back to the Peoria area where she met her first husband and had two boys, Shane and Matthew. Read More » What’s Happening in Chillicothe... December 2023 The start of the Holiday Season was swept in at the November 18th Christmas Parade. There is nothing like a parade, Santa, holiday music, caroling, and carriage rides to inspire the holiday spirit! Thanks to all who attended and those who stopped in to support the local small businesses on Small Business Saturday! Read More » Letter From the Editor – December 2023 December is such a busy time of year for so many of us and for so many different reasons. For those of us still working a full-time job, it’s hard to fit in all the extra events, shopping, and decorating. Read More » Chillicothe’s Hometown Hero: Bill Dwyer Inspiration – Canoe Man There is no life as happy as that of a Voyageur. Why do we humans often yearn to dare, calculate, and risk, to do the seemingly undoable? Is it simply curiosity to see what’s behind the farthest star or around the bend in a river? Read More » In-Print