It’s our goal to help local businesses and the residents of this area. We’ll work with the schools, Chamber of Commerce, park district, churches, and all service groups such as the Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanis, in hopes of doing our part to help the community. We will urge you to keep your money local and support local businesses. It’s the local businesses that help to support local charities. Since mail orders have picked up in our society, local employment has been reduced. Sales taxes have dwindled, and the empty buildings don’t help our communities grow. The local shop owner, who’s following the American dream, might be your neighbor. So please shop local and help save your community.

Without the help of some local businesspeople, this publication wouldn’t have gotten started. Susan Rynerson from the Historical Society and Alisha Dault from the Miller Center were the first ones to talk with me about the need for a Pekin Hometown Voice. They had seen what we did in Chillicothe, and they were sure that this area could benefit from a similar publication.

After a few more conversations with other business leaders, I went door to door talking with many business owners and most were more than happy to discuss the idea of a new paper in town. Amy McCoy from the Pekin Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Burress, City Manager Dossey, and Police Chief Ranney have all been a joy to work with. I want to thank all of them for their time and support.

I hope you enjoy this publication as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.