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Pekin Closes Riverfront to the Public

Pekin Police Dept.

The city of Pekin is closing off access to the riverfront after people continued to gather there in violation of the governor's stay-at-home order.

Pekin Mayor Mark Luft ordered access to the Illinois River closed from Court to Caroline St. beginning Friday at 3 p.m.

The boat launch will remain open, and fishing will still be allowed along the river as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.

Pekin previously declared a local state of emergency. The council is set to vote on extending those powers for Luft and City Manager Mark Rothert next Monday, as well as imposing fines between $100 and $750 per violation of the governor's stay-at-home order.

The order shuts down many businesses and limits travel to essential needs, such as buying groceries or picking up prescriptions.

Copyright 2021 WCBU. To see more, visit WCBU.

Tim Shelley is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.