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Inside This Week
Emily Jurmu appointed new city attorney BY JOE McHUGH
Peoria Times Staff Writer
E FEATURES .....21 ‘Big Trains’ spring open house returns to the Valley
ven from just 3 years old when her mother took her to volunteer opportunities, Emily Jurmu always knew her calling was in public service. Throughout her career, she has worked under the mantra of helping people, and now she is in the prime position to do so, as she was sworn in as the official city attorney
BY JOE McHUGH
F Kids poetry group entered in statewide contest
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amily is one of the most important virtues in life. They offer support, love and care regardless of any circumstance. In the case of 7-year-old Jacob Tracy, he was born with bladder exstrophy, an extremely rare condition that has made his life harder than the average 7-year-old should have to deal with. Jacob has gone through his fair share of medical history to try to quell the condition, but the time is ticking down for his next surgery, and it is one that could have promised to return some normalcy to his life. In lieu of posting a GoFundMe to raise money, his mother, Melissa Tracy, is hosting the Party at the Park for Jacob on Saturday, April 1, at Windrose Park in Peoria. It is an event that will promise a core childhood
WE’VE Glendale
of Peoria at the March 21 regular city council meeting by a vote of 6-1 in favor. Being a part of a big period of change in the city, Jurmu is ready to jump at the opportunity to make Peoria the best place to live and help people who are in need through her new position. “It’s just fantastic; it’s more than people talking about the things they dreamed of doing, and it’s probably more I knew was possible,” Jurmu said. “I had someone who was
a good mentor to me many years ago tell me that this kind of work is few and far between, being able to touch people’s lives daily, and in so many different ways. “So, to have the opportunity, it’s a little bit surreal, but it’s very humbling, and I’m very grateful.” Serving as the acting city attorney in the wake of her predecessor stepping down, SEE JURMU PAGE 2
Event set to help fundraise 7-year-old’s medical expenses Peoria Times Staff Writer
YOUTH ..........26
March 30, 2023
Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
memory for Jacob while also serving as a fundraiser for expenses surrounding his next surgery, as Melissa plans to serve taco plates with rice and beans for $10, a simple gesture to rally the community around the “ball of energy” that is her son. “I like the idea of bringing people together in support of my son,” Melissa said. “I just want him to know how lucky he is and how brave he is. And just have the opportunity to have the community come together and our friends and our family come together and just show support for him.” When Jacob was born, his development caused his bladder to grow outside of its normal spot. This causes a number of challenges that Jacob has to deal with, including frequent uses of the restroom and little control of his bladder. His attitude through the whole process could have been one of frustration, or of an-
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SEE FUNDRAISE PAGE 4
Seven-year-old Jacob Tracy was born with an extremely rare condition called bladder exstrophy. (Submitted)
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