33rd Annual Meeting - Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award Presentation - Youth Scholarship Presentation
July 03, 2019

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County will announce the winner of the Fifth Annual Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award at its Annual Meeting to be held on Thursday, July 11. The award is given to a citizen of Champaign County who most exemplifies the crimefighting spirit that Dave displayed during his award-winning newscasts and programs on WCIA-TV, and as a Crime Stoppers board member. Dave lost his battle against cancer in May 2015. Also during the Annual Meeting, the winner of the Champaign County Crime Stoppers Youth Scholarship will be announced.

Members of area law enforcement agencies are among the invited guests. The guest speaker is Circuit Court Judge Jason Bohm.

The Annual Meeting will be held from 12 to 1 p.m., July 11, 2019, at The Elks Lodge, 903 North Dunlap, in Savoy. The winner of the Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award, the person who nominated the recipient, and the President of the Crime Stoppers Board ,John Hecker, will all be available to the media following the meeting.

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Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award Deadline Extension
May 30, 2019

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Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award
May 20, 2019

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Shred Event and Drug Drop-Off Scheduled May 18, 2019
May 06, 2019

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are once again joining together to provide a one-stop opportunity for residents to protect themselves from identity theft and to safely dispose of old prescription drugs.

 

Crime Stoppers is sponsoring a Shred Event along with the DEA’s free Drug Drop-Off on Saturday May 18, 2019, from 9-11a.m. on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign. The events will be held in Lot E14 at the corner of First and Kirby, across from the State Farm Center.

 

Shredding old personal documents is one of the best ways for people to protect themselves from identity theft. Crime Stoppers is working with Triad Shredding to provide off-site shredding of up to two banker’s boxes of documents. Crime Stoppers is also asking for a small donation of $5 to help pay future rewards to tipsters who help solve crimes.

 

The following documents will be accepted: medical records, financial statements, credit applications, bank  statements, documents with social security numbers or driver license numbers, bank checks, tax records, and legal documents over 8 years old.

 

At the same time, the DEA is offering an easy way to prevent pill abuse and theft through the Drug Drop Off.  Residents can rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. People can bring their pills and patches, but the DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

 

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that remain in home cabinets are highly susceptible to abuse. In addition, usual methods for disposing of unused medicines such as flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, pose potential safety and health hazards. More information about the Shred Event and Prescription Drug Take Back is available at 373tips.com.

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Crime Stoppers Extends Successful Gun Bounty Rewards
April 29, 2019

Ten handguns, 2 shotguns, and a semi-automatic rifle are among the weapons removed from our neighborhood streets as a result of tips to Champaign County Crime Stoppers during a 3 ½ - month trial period for its new Gun Bounty Reward Program. The seizure of firearms through the pilot program, that ran from January 10 to April 26 this year, shows a 467 percent increase in recovered guns over the same period in 2018. Through this initiative, anyone who contacts Crime Stoppers with a tip that leads to the arrest of person who used a gun during the commission of a felony crime in Champaign County will receive our maximum $1,000 cash reward pay outs. During the trial period, Crime Stoppers approved five payouts to tipsters of $1,000 each for a total of $5,000. As a result of the success of the initiative, the Crime Stoppers Board voted unanimously at its monthly meeting on April 25, 2019, to continue the Gun Bounty Reward Program as long as financial resources are available to pay the maximum rewards.

The anonymous tips from the public regarding gun-related crimes has led to the arrest of 6 individuals on charges that include felony gun crimes. In addition to the recovery of a total of 14 firearms, officers seized drugs and cash. Here is a breakdown: (see attached photo of police seizure related to a Crime Stoppers tip through Gun Bounty Reward Program).

• • Ten handguns (including one stolen handgun)
• • Two rifles (including one semi-automatic and one stolen rifle)
• • Two shotguns
• • More than 5,000 grams of cannabis with street value of $50,000
• • More than $3,000 cash

A comparison of tips and recovered weapons between January 10 and April 26 for the years 2018 and 2019 also shows the program is making a difference: (stats are based on Crime Stoppers Mobile App P3 Tips analysis)

• • 27% increase in drug-related tips
• • 143 % increase in weapons-related tips
• • 6% increase in overall tips
• • 467% increase in weapons seized

The success of the Gun Bounty Reward program has increased our need for financial assistance from the community we serve. As a result, the Champaign County Crime Stoppers Board is appealing to local businesses and members of the public for financial support. Crime Stoppers has no paid staff and relies totally upon the support of our community for reward money and operating expenses. Members of the public are asked to support Crime Stoppers with a tax-deductible donation which can easily be made via our website at 373tips.com. Also, in order to make giving simple for donors, Champaign County

Crime Stoppers has set up a crowdfunding campaign through GoFundMe. Donations can be made at gofundme.com/gun-bounty-reward.

As always, tips must come directly to Crime Stoppers in order to qualify for a reward. Tipsters will remain completely anonymous and can submit tips by phone (217-373-TIPS), our website (373tips.com), or through our free "P3 Tips" mobile app.

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Crime Stoppers Sees Success With Gun Bounty Reward Program
April 04, 2019

To help combat a marked increase in gun-related crime in our community, Champaign County Crime Stoppers announced a 3-month pilot program called the Gun Bounty Reward on January 10, 2019.  Through this initiative, anyone who contacts Crime Stoppers with a tip that leads to the arrest of person who used a gun during the commission of a felony crime in Champaign County will receive our maximum $1,000 cash reward pay out.  Now halfway through the pilot program, Crime Stoppers is pleased to announce the successful outcomes that have resulted from the Gun Bounty Reward.

• Seven handguns (including one stolen handgun)
• Two rifles (including one stolen rifle)
• One shotgun
• More than 2,000 grams of cannabis
• More than $2,000 cash

 

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Announcing New $1,000 Gun Bounty Reward
January 10, 2019

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Announcing: Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award of the Year and Crime Stoppers Scholarship Recipient
July 19, 2018

Crimes Stoppers of Champaign County today announced the winner of the Fourth Annual Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award at the organization’s Annual Meeting held at the Elks Lodge in Savoy. Also, the recipient of the Crime Stoppers Criminal Justice Scholarship was announced.

The winner of this year’s Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award is Bryan Yacko, in his role as an Assistant Principal of Champaign Central High School. He was nominated by Sgt. Brandon Thomas on behalf of the Champaign Police Department. Sgt. Thomas called Bryan Yacko’s actions at the time of a shooting near Central High School “nothing short of HEROIC”.  On December 12, 2017, several shots were fired from off the property in the direction of the school as people were leaving a basketball game. Three people were hurt by the gunfire. Sgt. Thomas said, “Mr. Yacko began shouting instructions while physically and verbally directing those potential victims back to the relative safety of the school building and out of the line of fire.” “Mr. Yacko displayed selfless service in the face of extreme danger,” continued Sgt. Thomas. “I have no doubt that Mr. Yacko’s actions saved lives and spared many potential victims from harm. I am awestruck by his bravery.”

The winner of the Annual Crime Stoppers Criminal Justice Scholarship is Breahna Ramirez. She was graduated from Centennial High School in Champaign and plans to use the $2,000 scholarship toward her education at Parkland College. She hopes to pursue a career in Corrrections Institutions. The underlining purpose of this scholarship program is to promote criminal justice as a career and to financially assist a graduating senior in pursuit of an education in that field. This year's scholarship was made possible, in part, by Doug Mills.

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Accepting Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award Nominations
May 22, 2018

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Crime Stoppers Announces Shred Event/Drug Drop-Off on April 21, 2018
April 17, 2018

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Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year & Crime Stoppers/Busey Mills Scholarship Winners Announced
July 26, 2017

Crimes Stoppers of Champaign County today announced the winner of the Third Annual Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award at the organization’s Annual Meeting held at the Elks Lodge in Savoy. Also, the recipient of the second Crime Stoppers/Busey-Mills Community Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship was announced.

The winner of this year’s Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award is Tony Comtois. He works full-time with C-U At Home where he taps into his own life history to help the homeless, law enforcement, and to make the community safer. The Nominating Committee was impressed with Tony’s battle to overcome drug and alcohol problems and his own homelessness. He began turning his life around as a resident of the Times Shelter in Champaign
in 2006. He then went on to work at the Detox Center and the Salvation Army, and currently with C-U at Home. He can relate to the issues facing the homeless and uses that knowledge in an ongoing effort to make a difference in the lives of the homeless and in the community. Tony Comtois was nominated by former Urbana Police Chief Pat Connolly on behalf of
all Champaign County law enforcement agencies. Connolly said “Tony epitomizes the concept of this award by improving the long term interaction between the police and the homeless community.” His nomination highlights Tony’s importance to the local Law Enforcement community and how he helps officers deal with a growing problem that police are not trained to
deal with effectively.

The winner of the Second Annual Crime Stoppers/Busey-Mills Community Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship is Danielle Boulos, Unity High School in Tolono. She said the scholarship would give her a greater chance of going to the University of Maryland for its top rated
criminology program. The underlining purpose of this scholarship program is to promote criminal justice as a career and to financially assist a graduating senior in their pursuit of an education in the field of criminal justice.

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Crime Stoppers 31st Annual Meeting and Award Presentations
July 24, 2017

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County is proud to announce the winner of the Third Annual Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award at its Annual Meeting to be held on July 26, 2017 The award is given to a citizen of Champaign County who most exemplifies the crimefighting spirit that Dave exhibited during his award-winning newscasts and programs on WCIA-TV, and as a Crime Stoppers board member. Dave lost his battle against cancer in May 2015.

Also during the Annual Meeting, the winner of the second annual Crime Stoppers/Busey-Mills Community Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship will be introduced.

Members of area law enforcement agencies are among the invited guests. The Guest Speaker is Dr. Michael Schlosser, Director of the Illinois Police Training Institute.

The Annual Meeting will be held from 12 to between 1-1:15, July 26, at The Elks Lodge, 903 North Dunlap, Savoy.

The winner of the Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award, the person who nominated the recipient, and John Hecker (President of the Champaign County Crime Stoppers) will all be available to the media following the meeting.

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Crime Stoppers Shred/Drug Drop Off Event
April 18, 2017

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) are joining together to provide a one-stop opportunity for you to protect yourself from identity theft and to safety dispose of old prescription drugs.

Crime Stoppers is sponsoring a Shred Event in conjunction with the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday April 29, 2017, 9-11am, at the southwest corner of St. Mary’s Road/Fox Drive and Neil Street, in Champaign.

The best way to protect yourself against identity theft is to make sure your personal information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Shredding old personal documents can get rid of the potential risk permanently. Crime Stoppers is working with Triad Shredding to provide off-site shredding of up to 2 banker’s boxes of documents to help you protect yourself. Crime Stoppers is also asking for a small donation of $5 to help pay future rewards to tipsters who help solve crimes.

The following documents will be accepted: medical records, financial statements, credit applications, bank statements, documents with social security numbers or driver license numbers, bank checks, tax records, and legal documents over 8 years old.

At the same time, the DEA will give you an easy way to prevent pill abuse and theft through the Drug Drop Off. You can rid your home of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Bring your pills and patches, but the DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that remain in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. In addition, usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

For more information about the Shred Event and Prescription Drug Take Back Day is available at 373-tips.com. 

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Crime Stoppers Announces New Mobile App
November 14, 2016

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County is adding a new weapon in its fight against crime, while continuing to keep the identity of the tipster anonymous.  Beginning Tuesday, November 15, 2016, a new free mobile app will provide citizens with an easier and more efficient way to submit information to help solve and prevent crimes or other serious or life threatening matters.

Crime Stoppers is partnering with Texas-based Anderson Software to provide the upgrade in technology to better meet the needs of smart phone users.  Anderson Software leads the industry with its latest secure and anonymous tip acquisition and management solution, called P3 Intel.  This partnership allows Champaign County to foster a relationship between law enforcement and the public to proactively create  safer neighborhoods.

 

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County will continue to accept tips at our TIPS phone line 373-TIPS, and at our website 373tips.com. But tips will no longer be accepted via SMS text messages. Instead, tips will be accepted through the new free P3 Tips mobile app available on the iOS and Android platforms, greatly enhancing the mobile tip submission process.  Still completely anonymous, tips submitted through the P3 mobile app, unlike SMS text tips, have no length limitations and allow images, video and documents to be uploaded with the tip.  Anderson Software’s sophistication encryption processes obscure any and all identifying information and provides assured anonymity for tipsters.

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Champaign County Crime Stoppers Coordinator Wins National Award
September 27, 2016

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County is very proud to announce that our former Law Enforcement Coordinator, Troy Daniels, has been named as the recipient of the highest honor awarded by Crime Stoppers USA. Daniels, who serves as Deputy Chief of the Champaign Police Department, received the Chairman's Award, on September 27, 2016, at the Crime Stoppers USA Conference held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

John Lamb, former chairman of Crime Stoppers USA, nominated Daniels for the award to recognize Daniels’s work for Crime Stoppers throughout his career. He said, "Troy Daniels has gone above and beyond on the national level for Crime Stoppers. That is what the award recognizes. He has sacrificed his time and energy on trips to Washington DC and multiple meetings with Congressmen and Senators as well as White House Officials trying to make this country a safer place to live. I also chose him because of his level of commitment to the organization."

"It’s been my honor and pleasure to work with these men and women from across the country with Crime Stoppers USA", Deputy Chief Daniels said. "I feel Blessed to be able to work with something I really believe in and I know Crime Stoppers helps a lot of people stay safe by keeping them anonymous. There have been a lot of people arrested through Crime Stopper tips that would not have been arrested without Crime Stoppers."

Daniels served as the Law Enforcement Coordinator for Crime Stoppers of Champaign County for 15 years, and continues to serve as an advisory member to the Board of Directors. "We are extremely pleased that Troy has received national recognition for his work that has moved the Crime Stoppers program forward on a local as well as a national level", said John Hecker, President of the Board of Directors of Crime Stoppers of Champaign County. "Troy has been a tireless leader for the betterment of the program and richly deserves this prestigious award."

Congratulations Troy!

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Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year and Crime Stoppers/Busey Mills Scholarship Winners Announced
July 28, 2016

Crime Stoppers of Champaign County today announced the winner of the Second Annual Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award at the organization’s Annual Meeting held at the Urbana Country Club. Also, the recipient of the first Crime Stoppers/Busey-Mills Community Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship was announced.

The winner of this year’s Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award is Jorden Moore, who as a mentor to a young girl who was legally adopted by her foster parents, was told by the girl that she had been sexually abused by her adoptive father Daniel Baltierra over a period of years. When Moore learned Baltierra denied the abuse, the girl’s mother hid the abuse from investigators, and had instructed her daughter to mislead authorities, Moore made a commitment to expose the sexual abuse, including recording conversations where the crimes were discussed. Moore’s actions led to a confession by Baltierra and to his eventual felony conviction of Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault of a Child. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison on the Class X Felony in May, 2016.

Jorden Moore was nominated by two investigators with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office who worked the case, Sgt. Christopher Darr and Investigator Dwayne Roelfs (pronounced rollfs). In their nomination, they stated that Moore’s actions ultimately led to the re-examination of the suspect and to his conviction. They also said, "Moore initially volunteered to mentor a young girl in our community which then led to her protecting and pursuing justice for that girl. We would like to thank Jorden Moore for making our community a better place with her positive character, sound integrity, and commitment of protecting children."

The Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award was established by Crime Stoppers of Champaign County in 2015 in honor of the late WCIA-TV anchorman Dave Benton for his crime-fighting spirit exhibited during his award-winning newscasts and programs and as a Crime Stoppers board member. Dave lost his battle against cancer in May, 2015.

The winner of the 1^st Annual Crime Stoppers/Busey-Mills Community Foundation Criminal Justice Scholarship is Chloe Buttry, a 2016 graduate of Centennial High School in Champaign. She will attend Parkland College this fall, majoring in Criminal Justice. As part of the application process, Buttry wrote a personal essay and submitted two letters of recommendation. The underlining purpose of this scholarship program is to promote criminal justice as a career and to financially assist a graduating senior in their pursuit of an education in the field of criminal justice.

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Crime Stoppers of Champaign County 30th Annual Meeting
July 25, 2016

CRIMESTOPPERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY

30^th ANNUAL MEETING

 

DAVE BENTON CRIME FIGHTER AWARD PRESENTATION

and

CRIME STOPPERS/BUSEY MILLS SCHOLARSHIP PRESENTATION

  

 As Crime Stoppers of Champaign County celebrates its 30^th anniversary this year, Crime Stoppers is proud to announce the winner of the Second Annual Dave Benton Crime Fighter of the Year Award  at its Annual Meeting to be held on July 28^th.  The award is given to a citizen of Champaign County who most exemplifies the crime-fighting spirit that Dave exhibited during his award-winning newscasts and programs on WCIA-TV, and as a Crime Stoppers board member.  Dave lost his battle against cancer in May 2015.  Also during the Annual Meeting, the winner of the first Crime Stoppers/ Busey-Mills Community Foundation Criminal Justice

Scholarship will be introduced. 

 

Members of area law enforcement agencies are among the invited guests.  Plus, this year’s guest speaker is long-time News-Gazette reporter Mary Schenk, who covers crime and courts and “breaking news” for the newspaper and website.

 

The Annual Meeting will be held from 12-1:30 p.m. on July 28, at the Urbana Country Club, 100 E. Country Club Road. 

 

The winner of the Dave Benton Crime Fighter Award, the person who nominated the recipient, and John Hecker (President of the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors) will all be available to the media during a news conference to be held on the front lawn of the Country Club immediately following the meeting. 

 

    

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Crime Stoppers Tip Leads to Arrest of Alleged Shooter
June 12, 2016

(From a news release from the Champaign Police Department 6-12-2016)

Crime Stoppers Tip Leads to the Arrest of Suspect in Holly Hill Drive Shooting, along with Two Additional Wanted Subjects

Today (6/12/2016) at approximately 5:10 PM, Champaign Police Officers and Detectives arrested 37-year-old Peter L. Campbell, who was wanted for the June 10,2016, Holly Hill Drive shooting of a Champaign woman.

An anonymous Crime Stoppers tip led Police to the 2700 Block of Wellington Drive.  As officers approached the home, Campbell attempted to flee from the residence through a back window; however, Police were able to apprehend the subject before flight, and without incident.

Campbell was transported to the Champaign County Jail for the offense of Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm.  Bond is set at $150,000.

In addition to the arrest of Campbell, Police also arrested 21-year-old Raekwon Collins and 21-year-old Marcus Merriweather who were both wanted in Vermillion County on unrelated outstanding arrest warrants.

Police officials greatly appreciate the community’s partnership in this ongoing investigation and continue to encourage anyone with information to call the Champaign Police Investigations Division at (217) 351-4545 or Crime Stoppers at (217) 373-8477.

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Champaign County Crime Stoppers Hosts State Conference June 9-11, 2016
June 06, 2016

The Illinois State Crime Stoppers Association Annual Conference will be held in Champaign June 9-11, 2016.  The conference is being hosted by the Champaign County Crime Stoppers at the Hyatt Place hotel in downtown Champaign.  Approximately 100 guests from Crime Stoppers organizations across the state are expected to attend the conference to exchange ideas, network, and learn about new ways to promote Crime Stoppers in their communities. 

“This is the third time Champaign has hosted the State Conference,” reports John Hecker, President, Champaign County Crime Stoppers.  “Crime Stoppers board members, coordinators, and supporters from across the state meet each year to share ideas and experiences about what works in their communities.  People then take that information back home and expand or improve upon the services they offer via their local Crime Stoppers organizations.  Across the state, Crime Stoppers tips have solved more than 82,000 cases, resulted in more than 125,000 arrests, and the recovery of $172 million in property.  Put simply – Crime Stoppers works.”

In addition to hosting this year’s state conference, Champaign County Crime Stoppers is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a Murder Mystery Fundraiser on June 9th.  The event is called “Maybury DOA” and follows a Barney Fife-like character as he attempts to unravel the mysterious happenings in his once peaceful town.  This fun event is open to the public.  Tickets are $50 each and a limited number are available for purchase at 373tips.com.

“The Murder Mystery is a fundraiser to help cover the money Crime Stoppers pays out for rewards and other expenses like our phone lines and website,” added Hecker.  “This event is presented by the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company, so this promises to be an entertaining, fun-filled evening and the proceeds go to a good cause.  We hope to have a packed room full of people supporting Crime Stoppers.”

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Champaign County Crime Stoppers Celebrating 30th Anniversary with Murder Mystery Fundraiser
May 31, 2016

In celebration of 30 years of service to our community, Champaign County Crime Stoppers invites the public to a unique night of fun and mystery.  Attend Crime Stoppers’ Murder Mystery Fundraiser on June 9, 2016, starting at 6:30 pm at the Hyatt Place Hotel in downtown Champaign.  Tickets are $50 each and available for advanced purchase at 373tips.com.

The case: Maybury DOA –Usually, not much happens in Maybury, but lately life has been a bit different.  In the past week, there’s been an infestation of rats, a fiery car crash, an accidental shooting, and a long-awaited engagement.  What more could happen?  Oh, that’s just the beginning for this evening of raucous fun like you’ve never seen, especially not on TV. Presented by the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company.

Event ticket includes heavy passed hors d’oeuvres and one specialty drink per guest.  Limited number of event tickets available.  Order at 373tips.com.

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