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Peoria County is turning 200 in 2025, and the celebration is anything but ordinary. Branded the “Bisontennial,” a playful twist combining “bison” and “bicentennial” the year long festivities showcase creativity, history, and community spirit.At the center of the celebration is a county wide public art project featuring life size fiberglass bison sculptures. Originally, organizers expected about 20, but enthusiasm has doubled that number, with nearly 40 sculptures being installed at schools, parks, and landmarks. Each bison is uniquely painted by local artists and organizations, turning the county into an open gallery.To encourage exploration, Peoria County launched the “Bison Trek” digital passport. Residents and visitors can use their phones to check in at sculpture sites, earn digital badges, and even win prizes from Wildlife Prairie Park. The program adds an interactive twist to the celebration, inviting families and tourists to discover the herd together.Community participation extends beyond the large sculptures. At Fired Up pottery studio in Peoria Heights, people can paint mini ceramic bison for a flat fee. Each comes with a commemorative tag, and one winning design chosen through public voting will be transformed into a full-size bison unveiled at October’s grand celebration.The Bisontennial began with a kickoff event at the Peoria Riverfront Museum on January 13, 2025. Festivities will culminate in a block party at the Peoria County Courthouse this October, bringing together music, food, and, of course, the colorful bison herd.Bison were chosen as the central symbol because they embody resilience and strength qualities that reflect Peoria County’s enduring legacy. With its mix of art, history, and community engagement, the Bisontennial not only honors the county’s past but also showcases its creativity and pride moving into the future.

Peoria native and entrepreneur Reuben Cummings is the founder of Nerevu Group, a thriving company specializing in IT, analytics, and cybersecurity solutions for businesses. His passion for technology was sparked during his time at the Urban League of Peoria, where exposure to local schools and a computer club ignited his curiosity.Reuben is passionate about creating a critical thinking workspace, where he encourages his employees to problem-solve intuitively. He is very active in the local business community, and can frequently be seen networking, or just chatting with fellow business owners, at different events.A graduate of Manual Academy High School, Cummings was an active member of the track and cross-country teams, valuing the camaraderie as much as the competition. He went on to study chemical engineering at MIT, spending time in Boston before moving to Tanzania to study abroad.Reuben eventually returned to Peoria to reconnect with a longtime friend—now his wife—and to invest his expertise back into his hometown. What he loves about coming back to Peoria is all the new local spots popping up around town and the improvement the city has seen in the past few years.His journey reflects the exceptional talent within Peoria and the limitless potential of its community.

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I recently had the opportunity to visit the Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association here in Peoria. I met with Daryl Carlson, a project manager and passionate advocate for the cause. During our sit-down, it quickly became clear that this was not your typical nonprofit. Daryl explained many of the things his chapter is doing to both spread awareness and work toward curing a disease that most people are uncomfortable even thinking about.From creating volunteer support groups to hosting fundraising events, the mission at the Illinois chapter is clear: bring information about this terrible disease to the forefront of people’s minds so we can one day be free of it for good.I was admittedly one of the many young people who hadn’t given Alzheimer’s much thought, but Daryl clearly explained just how important it is to discuss and prevent these things early on. Our brain is the captain of our body, and if not taken care of, it can lead to many issues—including Alzheimer’s.The most important thing we can do to support this cause is not only to spread awareness but also to start thinking now—regardless of how old we are—about how we can prevent it in the future. The next time you’re bored scrolling the internet, maybe mix in a few brain teasers or pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read.Overall, my biggest takeaway from my trip to our local chapter here in Peoria is that we have great people behind great causes. All we need to do as a city and community is support them in their mission to take down this terrible disease once and for all.