Caterpillar To Upgrade Plants in East Peoria and Decatur, Creating 300 New Jobs

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - Caterpillar Inc. says it will spent $640 million to upgrade plants in East Peoria and Decatur, creating 300 new jobs. A company spokesman tells the (Peoria) Journal Starthat Caterpillar will make more tractors in East Peoria and more trucks in Decatur. Friday's announcement comes two months after Caterpillar said it would spend $200 million to modernize part of its East Peoria plant. The company also said Friday that it would seek to buy a Chinese maker of mining machinery for as much as $886 million. That deal needs the approval of China's Ministry of Commerce and other regulators.

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Home on Shattuc Road Damaged By Fire

Centralia Fire Protection District Chief Greg Earle says a fire at the Bob Grote home in the 2700 block of Shattuc Road Friday afternoon was confined to two rooms. The fire started behind the dryer in the utility room, but the exact cause of the blaze has not been determined. Earle says firemen were able to knock down the fire quickly, but the entire home sustained smoke and water damage. The Grote family was out of the home by the time firemen arrived. There were no injuries. Sandoval Firemen were called for mutual aide assistance. Firemen were on the scene for about two hours. Earle says a new roof was being put on the home, but the construction work did not have anything to do with the fire. The home is located south of the Centralia Correctional Center.

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Both Centralia City and Centralia Fire Protection Districts Battle House Fires

Centralia City Firemen say they were able to confine a fire in a vacant home at 223 South Maplelate Friday afternoon to two second floor rooms and a portion of the attic. Two extra shifts of firemen were called in and the fire was quickly knocked down. The cause of the fire remains under investigation and is deemed suspicious because there was no power to the home. The ownership of the home was not immediately determined. While the fire was confined, there was smoke and heat damage throughout the home. Firemen were on the scene for about two hours. There were no injuries. A short time earlier, Centralia Fire Protection District Firemen were called to a house fire in the 2700 block of Shattuc Road just south of the Centralia Correctional Center. All occupants reportedly got out safely and the fire was knocked down quickly. No other details, including the owner of the home, was immediately available.  - http://goo.gl/bkroU