Lilija Stevens

Now that all the vacancies have been filled on Washington city boards and commissions, the city is taking action to discourage the poor attendance that plagued some of those bodies in the past.

Former Washington Mayor Gary Manier, the city's longest-serving mayor, was honored Monday with at a city council meeting. Manier did not attend the meeting because of another commitment.

History was made Monday in Washington during the city's bicentennial year. Lilija Stevens, the first female mayor in the city's 200-year history, was sworn in by Tazewell County Clerk John Ackerman.

Washington Chief of Police Mike McCoy has announced his retirement, ending a 48-year career in law enforcement.

Washington joined the grocery sales tax crowd Monday. The City Council voted 6-2 for the city to impose a 1% sales tax on groceries starting Jan. 1 to replace the state's 1% grocery sales tax.

Washington residents knew they'd have a new mayor this year for the first time since 2001. The question was: Who?

Officials from the Washington Chamber of Commerce and Discover Peoria each made a pitch Monday to the Washington City Council for continued city funding.

Washington City Council began its discussion about possibly adopting a 1% local grocery tax Monday. An ordinance must be approved and a certified copy of the ordinance sent to the Illinois Department of Revenue by Oct. 1 for a local grocery tax to go into effect Jan. 1.

Alderpersons Mike Brownfield and Lilija Stevens sit next to each other at Washington City Council meetings.

Brownfield made the announcement in front of about 40 friends and family members outside the south entrance to Five Points Washington.