Grand Prairie master naturalists will hold a local event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Sugar Grove Nature Center, 4532 N. 725 East Road, in Funk’s Grove Township.  (Photo courtesy Illinois Weslyan U. Sierra Students)

McLean County

Sorenson removes himself from November ballot

It’s official: Matt Sorenson, the embattled, former chair of the McLean County Board, has cast aside any doubt he will seek his old seat in the November general election. Sorenson, a Republican, relinquished his seat on the board in January as details of a federal probe on fraud-related allegations came to light.

That investigation remains ongoing. Sorenson had filed candidacy paperwork in advance of the allegations, and his name was included on the Republican primary election for the seat earlier this year. Officials within the McLean County Republican Party have indicated they plan to have another candidate on the ballot in lieu of Sorenson.

The McLean County Democratic Party has until the end of the month to appoint a possible candidate, and an independent candidate could throw his or her hat into the ring by late June.

County Board freezing salaries for next four years

In a cost-saving move, the McLean County Board voted May 17, to freeze the salaries of all County Board members through a tiered process that begins in November.

As part of the plan, all board members elected or re-elected to seats in this fall’s general election will be subject to the freeze.

For the time being, all other board members, with remaining terms extending through 2018, will receive 2-percent pay hikes in accordance with a previous decision.

The freeze carries a four-year period, meaning no raises will be issued to any board members from 2018 to 2020.

Grand Prairie Master Naturalists to hold Trails Day celebration

In recognition of the National Trails Day celebration, grand prairie master naturalists will hold their fourth annual local event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Sugar Grove Nature Center, 4532 N. 725 East Road, in Funk’s Grove Township.

Throughout the event, hiking guides will take visitors through the more than seven miles of trails. Information will be shared on the diversity of plants and animals and the assorted prairie, woodland and savanna habitats that mark the area.

For information, visit go.illinois.edu/NTD or call (309) 663-8306.

Local 4-H participated in state horse judging competition; members earn recognition

Members of the McLean County 4-H chapter participated in a state-level horse judging contest on April 30, in Galva.

The contest included looking at horses’ conformation, adherence to breed and other animal quality standards. In the senior division, Bailey Wight of Bridle Path 4-H Club finished second; he was four points away from taking first place.

Other top finishers included Alyssa Casey of Blazing Saddles, fourth; and Hannah Casey of Blazing Saddles, sixth. McLean County was the high-point team in the senior division. In the junior division, top finishers included Kennedy Lindsey of Blazing Saddles, sixth; Madison Alliss of Blazing Saddles, 21st; Kiera Mitchell of Hearts and Hoofbeats, 25th; and Kyla Neal of Blazing Saddles, 32nd. McLean County took second place as a team in the junior division.

The horse judging team, which is a special interest club, is coached by Blazing Saddles 4-H Club leaders Kati Owen and Angie Lindsey and 4-H member McKenna Lindsey. Other members of the team include Honna Doolin, McKenna Lindsey and Shelby Lynch of Blazing Saddles and Sophia Wood of 3-F 4-H Club.

Bloomington

Bloomington one of 50 U.S. cities to receive health-related grant

The city of Bloomington was recently named a recipient of a $60,000 grant that will go toward amenities aimed at improving residents’ health. The Reinvestment Fund and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation dolled out the grants to 50 municipalities across the country for the program, which has been dubbed Invest Health.

At its core, grant dollars from the program are to be invested in affordable housing, spaces promoting play and exercise and efforts to promote quality jobs.

According to Bloomington officials, plans are already in motion to apply the grant funding toward such projects as an exploration of behavioral health services and health care access to stem the tide of the obesity epidemic.

Some possible outgrowths, locally, from the grant could include new bicycle and sidewalks plans, community garden expansions and improved transportation to social service sites.  

Police send reminder on motorcycle noise

Noise-related complaints have been on the rise in the city of Bloomington just as the thermometer outside also is inching upward. Acknowledging the heightened call volume, Bloomington Police recently began embarking on a public relations campaign aimed at educating motorcycle riders on a state law prohibiting noise amplification within muffler systems.

Police are warning motorcyclists that tickets could be issued if a person has been found to modify his or her exhaust system.

BCPA announces date change for Johnny Lang performance

A concert at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts with musician Jonny Lang, originally scheduled for Thursday, May 19, has been rescheduled to Friday, July 15, venue staffers have announced.

All concert-goers’ purchased tickets will be honored on the date of the rescheduled concert. For information, visit www.artsblooming.org or call (309) 434-2777.

Normal

Town to take ownership of historic Route 66 gas station

After sitting idle for a decade, plans to convert a historic gas station into a tourist destination are moving forward, following a decision by the Normal Town Council on Monday, May 16.

As part of the council’s approval, the town will pay $600,000 to own and renovate the former Sprague’s service station, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is situated along Route 66.

The current owner has owned the 85-year-old building since 2006 and had planned to convert it into a bed and breakfast, gift shop and restaurant, but none of those plans ever came to fruition.

–McLean County News Briefs–