The Hometown Heroes of Peoria
Peoria Councilmember Jon Edwards speaks at the second annual Hometown Heroes Awards luncheon, Feb. 21.

Peoria Heroes honored for exemplary work in the community

The second annual Peoria Hometown Heroes luncheon took center stage, Feb. 21, as 12 individuals who either work or live in the city were honored for their service to the community.
Independent Newspapers CEO Charlene Bisson emcees the 2021 Hometown Heroes Awards Luncheon. The Peoria Independent Hometown Hero luncheon is Feb. 21, at the Rio Vista Community Center.

Honoring the Peoria Hometown Heroes

An amazing group of community stand-outs are scheduled to be honored in February.
Longtime Peoria resident Don Bissinger has been named Hometown Hero in the Lifetime Achievement category.

VIDEO: Farming the future of Peoria

The centerpiece of the Peoria city logo is farmland in lines flanked by a Saguaro Cactus and the sun, with rays in lines extending the farmland into the sky.
The Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes luncheon will be Feb. 21, at the Rio Vista Recreation Center.

Support your Peoria Hometown Heroes with a sponsorship today

Here is a great opportunity to make a difference and support those who give back to your Peoria community.
Peoria resident Norman Palmer has been named Hometown Hero in the Veteran category.

VIDEO: Palmer drops historical knowledge

Norman Palmer weaves a yarn.
Peoria resident Norman Palmer has been named Hometown Hero in the Veteran category.

Get to know Peoria veteran Norman Palmer

For his work in the Peoria and beyond, Norman Palmer has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Veteran category.
Nick Suwyn has been named Hometown Hero in the Entrepreneur category.

VIDEO: Spreading the modern language of code

Nick Suwyn has been spreading the good word from Peoria for a while now.
For his work in the Peoria and surrounding communities, Nick Suwyn has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Entrepreneur category.

Get to know Peoria-based Promineo Tech founder Nick Suwyn

For his work in the Peoria and surrounding communities, Nick Suwyn has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Entrepreneur category.
Joe Eriquez at Java Grounds in Peoria City Hall. Eriquez has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Spiritual category.

VIDEO: Bringing today’s youth in-step with spirituality, personal growth

Mike Chavez first met Joe Eriquez at the age of 13 when his mom was in prison and his father was not in his life.
Joe Eriquez has been named Hometown Hero in the Spiritual category.

Get to know Heart For The City founder Joe Eriquez

For his work in the Peoria and surrounding communities, Joe Eriquez has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Spiritual category.
David “Skinny” Hill has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Educator category.

VIDEO: Building self-confidence in Peoria students

When David Hill started teaching at Peoria High 40 years ago, the only high schools serving the city were his and Cactus High.
David "Skinny" Hill has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Educator category.

Get to know Peoria educator David 'Skinny' Hill

For his work in the Peoria community, David "Skinny" Hill has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Educator category.
George Valverde has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Community Cheerleader category.

VIDEO: Serving up sustenance in the West Valley

More than a year ago, DPS Trooper Casey Rhinehart was helping a disabled vehicle on the U.S. 93 near Wickenburg.
Elmar Cobos has been named the 2022 Hometown Hero in the Coach/Mentor category.

VIDEO: Setting students on the right path

The roots of Elmar Cobos run deep in Peoria.
Elmar Cobos has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Coach/Mentor category.

Get to know the newest Peoria Independent Hometown Hero

Elmar Cobos has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Coach/Mentor category.
Beth Griffin performd in the Sunrise Mountain High School Musical “Newsies.” She has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Emergency Responder category.

Video: Bringing all the tools to today's youth

Peoria Police Officer Beth Griffin keeps her tool belt well stocked.
Peoria Police officer Beth Griffin has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Emergency Responder category.

Get to know the newest Peoria Independent Hometown hero

Beth Griffin has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Emergency Responder category.
Mike Heath has been named the 2022 Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Volunteer category. Here he is with Alice Wilson, a homebound senior citizen. Part of his volunteer work includes running errands such as picking up groceries and other items for homebound individuals.

VIDEO: Continuing the spirit of outreach in Peoria

Peoria resident Mike Heath came to know the spirit of outreach as a boy watching his father, Charles, who owned and operated a Standard Oil/Chevron gas station, donate his free time to several organizations and help people with advice on car repairs.
Mike Heath

Get to know the newest Peoria Independent Hometown hero

Mike Heath has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the volunteer category.
Maylee Acosta has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Leader of Tomorrow category.

VIDEO: Acosta named Hometown Hero in Leader of Tomorrow category

Maylee Acosta says she’s not entirely sure where her passion for service was born but it certainly came to the forefront as a young girl at Sundance Elementary School when she would ask her …
Maylee Acosta has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Leader of Tomorrow category.

Get to know the newest Peoria Independent Hometown Hero

Maylee Acosta has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Leader of Tomorrow category.
ht to pass The Brandon Act, named after their son, who died of suicide while serving in the U.S.

Peoria family fights for mental health in military

A new law is one way to change things for the better in this country — that is, if lawmakers could agree on anything these days.
Sen. Mark Kelly speaks in support of the Brandon Act in Washington D.C.

VIDEO: Get to know the newest Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes

Teri and Patrick Caserta have been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Heros in the Health Care category.
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Video: Hamby named Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in Trailblazer category

Theaters across the country were dark in 2020, into 2021, and have only recently begun to find more widespread life since COVID-19 began to spread.
Theater Works Artistic Director Chris Hamby has been named Hometown Hero in the Trailblazer category

Get to know Theater Works Artistic Director Chris Hamby

Theater Works Artistic Director Chris has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the Trailblazer category for his work in bringing theater and art into the community.
Scott Slack pays his respects to his father, Dean, who was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at the inaugural Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes event at the Rio Vista Recreation Center, Feb. 24. He is pictured with Peoria Independent News Editor Philip Haldiman, who presented the awards.

Peoria Heroes honored for exemplary work in the community

The inaugural Peoria Independent Hometown Heroes luncheon took center stage, Feb. 24, as 12 individuals who either work or live in the city were honored for their service to the community.
Peoria High School science teacher Jeff Sears has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the trailblazer category.

Peoria teacher introduces students to science

It was around the sixth grade when Diego Cardenas Rivera started to take an interest in STEM disciplines. At that time he became involved with the MESA program at Peoria High School. He learned about …

VIDEO: To the moon and back - Peoria teacher brings adventure of science, space to classroom

For Peoria Unified School District teacher Jennifer Cheesman, science and space really are the final frontiers.
Capt. Hunter Clare

Recovering from the explosion, coming out on top

As a fire fighter for the Peoria Fire-Medical Department, Capt. Hunter Clare was badly injured in an explosion at an APS battery facility in Surprise in April of 2019, and has yet to return to full duty work.
Olga Tipton-Tucker has been named the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the veteran category. The Hometown Heroes Awards are a celebration of individuals who live in the city, and Peoria businesses for their local achievements and distinguished contributions to the community.

Pushing through PTSD to give back to vets in need

Olga Tipton-Tucker’s call to serve her country has long been in her temperament — her dad served in the military for 23 years and she was surrounded by male figures who served as well.
Dean Slack brought his love for music to Peoria when he moved to Peoria in the 1950s. Over the years, Mr. Slack contributed his many talents to the community, making it a better place.

Hometown Heroes launches by recognizing long-time Peoria resident

Over the years, Dean Slack, 83, has donated his time to the Peoria community in an astounding variety of ways. His dedication to the community has earned him a nomination for the first Peoria …
Ken Parsons was named Peoria Independent’s Hometown Hero in the Community Cheerleader category.

Parsons honored as Peoria Hometown Hero in Community Cheerleader category

To Ken Parsons, business and community are intrinsically intertwined.
Rosalina Vilar is the Peoria Independent Hometown Hero in the category of health care.

VIDEO: Making a home for Peoria’s seniors

Cleanliness is great. But caregiving is next to godliness. Just ask the family members of the clients who Rosalina Vilar cares for.

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