State Sen. Jason Barickman (right) with former Chicago Blackhawks player Chris Chelios.

McLean County

Bloomington lawmaker meets with former Blackhawks player

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington), met with former Chicago Blackhawks player Chris Chelios at the state capitol May 24. Chelios, who has been named to the NHL’s Hall of Fame, was in Springfield advocating for sports-related legislation.

subhed: Republicans name candidate to run for 2nd District seat on McLean County Board

The McLean County Republican Party did not have to look far in naming a candidate to run for a 2nd District seat on the McLean County Board. The local chapter on May 26, announced Scott Murphy would run on the ticket in this November’s election. Murphy in February was appointed to serve out the remaining nine months of the seat after Matt Sorenson, who held the position, resigned abruptly as details of a federal indictment against him surfaced.

Bloomington

Police investigating Empire street shooting

A 20-year-old man has been injured with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest after a shooting occurred in the 2000 block of East Empire Street about 11:53 p.m. May 21. The man was immediately transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. According to a news release from the Bloomington Police Department, a handgun and an unspecified number of spent shell casings were recovered during a canvass of the surrounding area. At press deadline, no arrests had been made, and department officials say the investigation is ongoing. Local police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective John Atteberry at (309) 434-2548 or email jatteberry@cityblm.org. Callers also can report information anonymously through McLean County Crime Stoppers at (309) 828-1111.

Police attempting to locate 16-year-old boy

Officials within the Bloomington Police Department have gone public in their search for a 16-year-old Bloomington boy. Marshun D. Collins was officially reported by his family as a runaway on May 7, and he was last seen a day later at an unspecified location within Normal. In the weeks since, police have attempted to locate Collins without success. He is described as black, standing about 6-feet, 1-inch tall and weighing about 160 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. A photo of Collins can be found on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website, www.missingkids.com.

Public works crews tending to water main emergency repair

The city of Bloomington’s water department has been tending to an emergency repair of water service infrastructure in the 800 block of South Center Street, between Oakland Avenue and Wood Street. To accommodate the work taking place at the site, the city might close and offer detours within the impacted area. Signs will be posted when lane reductions and detours are necessary.

City amending hours for drop-off facility for summer

The hours of the city of Bloomington’s solid and yard waste drop-off site, 109 E. Olive St., have been changed for the summer. Immediately after Memorial Day, the site will be open to residents from 6 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Mondays, 6 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Saturdays. For information on the site, call the public works department at (309) 434-2225 or email publicworks@cityblm.org.

Normal

Performers no longer being scheduled for Make Music Normal

Organizers of Make Music Normal, the daylong event aimed at putting the spotlight on music and other art forms, have announced a record-setting number of performers have signed up to take part in this year’s program, slated for Saturday, June 18. Because of the large turnout, performers are no longer being scheduled for times and locations throughout the Uptown Normal area. However, musicians not yet scheduled can still show up the day of the event, and efforts will be made to accommodate people on a space-available basis. For information, contact Adam Fox at afox@normal.org or (309) 454-9720.

Town of Normal sets summer hours for electronics recycling

The town of Normal’s electronics recycling center, 11 Uptown Circle, will be open to residents on the first Saturday of each month this summer, beginning June 4. The facility will accept unwanted TVs, computers, radios and other equipment from 8 a.m. to noon. For information, visit the town’s website at www.normal.org.

–McLean County News Briefs–