Caterpillar increases dividend 15%

Caterpillar Inc. announced Wednesday it will raise its quarterly cash dividend 15 percent, by eight cents to 60 cents a share.

The dividend will be payable Aug. 20 to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 22, the company said.

Caterpillar's board of directors voted on the dividend increase on Wednesday, marking the fourth consecutive year the...

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Parks to head Methodist Foundation

Roberta Parks, president of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, will take over leadership of the Methodist Foundation on July 1, UnityPoint Health-Methodist announced Wednesday.

Parks will replace Rebekah Bourland, who retired earlier this year, as vice president of the Methodist Foundation. Her last day with the Chamber of Commerce, for whom she has worked for 25 years -- including the last four as president -- will be June 14.

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Watson: Honor Flight's Memorable Trip (Part 2)

Over the years when I've promoted a military event on radio or TV, I've debated whether to call the former soldiers veterans or heroes. I've decided that, even if they didn't serve during a time of war, the term heroes is justified. When they volunteer today, they don't know what the future holds. No one knows when or where our military will be called upon. Many of the veterans we easily describe as "heroes" – guys who fought courageously on...

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Honor Flight was priceless for veterans

Getting the inaugural Greater Peoria Honor Flight off the ground on Tuesday took a whole lot of dollars and dimes, its chief organizer said.

But to the 81 veterans who made the trip, it was priceless.

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Watson: Honor Flight's Memorable Trip (Part 1)

Editor's note: Doc Watson was aboard the inaugural Greater Peoria Honor Flight that took 81 veterans to Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, June 4, as a guardian. He is writing a series of articles, and including photos he took, for his employer's website, www.955glo.com, and is sharing them with readers of The Peorian. The articles will appear first on the WGLO site.

The...

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Putting the Dozer in Dozer Park

On Wednesday morning at Dozer Park, everyone was on the move, from the children participating in baseball camp on the field to the staff and crew scurrying about getting the stadium ready for the day’s game. However, that all came to a stop around 10:45 a.m. when the roar of an antique Cat dozer echoed through the stadium.

That’s when, just off the third base side of the field, Kent Bates of the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners...

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Bob Miller: What's Worse Than a Bear Market?

In my last writing I shared how I was first introduced to the idea of saving money from my grandfather at the age of 5. I am now 48 and enjoy sharing the financial knowledge I've gained thus far.

Helping people make better financial decisions is a passion for me. It means making sure all bases are covered, risks...

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Heartland Partnership changes name in restructuring; EDC splits off

More major changes at the Heartland Partnership and Economic Development Council of Central Illinois were announced Monday, including that the two no longer are connected and that the Partnership has a new name.

The restructuring, which has been coming for many months since the departure of former CEO Jim McConoughey, will result in a smaller organization now known as the Greater Peoria Business Alliance. It will consist of just two entities...

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