Beginning Monday, Aug. 15, the Connect Transit bus line will run several part-time routes each day to a number of locations within Bloomington and Normal, including such multi-family housing developments. (Photo courtesy Connect Transit)

McLean County

County joins national coalition in addressing mental health

McLean County is one of 60 municipal or regional governing agencies across the U.S. invited to take part in an upcoming task force aimed at addressing the growing number of mentally ill people within the criminal justice system.

The White House made the announcement last week as it unveiled a new project known as the Data-Driven Justice Initiative. The goal, according to federal officials, is to link law enforcement representatives with health care and mental health providers. When he took the reigns of county government early this year, Board Chairman John McIntyre indicated he planned to make mental health care one of his top priorities.

LaHood opening Bloomington office

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Dunlap, recently announced he will open a satellite office in Bloomington. The specific location has not yet been announced, though LaHood indicated he plans to share the space with state Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington.

LaHood, who serves Illinois’ 18th Congressional District in Washington, D.C., assumed the seat in a special election in September after his predecessor, Aaron Schock, stepped down. In November, LaHood is facing off against Democratic opponent Junius Rodriguez of Eureka.

Connect Transit to pilot ‘tripper’ routes at specific locations  

Connect Transit will soon add part-time routes, described by the agency as “trippers,” following a decision by its board of trustees. Beginning Monday, Aug. 15, the mass transit bus line will run several routes each day to a number of locations within Bloomington and Normal, including such multi-family housing developments as Danbury Court and Lincoln Square apartments.

The part-time routes, which will cost the agency an additional $39,000, are being rolled out on a pilot basis and will be revisited late in the year. For information on the routes, visit Connect Transit’s website at www.connect-transit.com.

15 area youth take part in statewide 4-H livestock competition  

Fifteen members of the Livingston-McLean 4-H chapter took part in an annual livestock judging competition in Urbana on Monday, June 20. The participants were among 400 youth from across the state. Leslie Walker placed third overall as an individual in the senior division.

As a team, Caroline Landstrom, Leslie Walker, Ty Drach and Bri Groth placed seventh overall in the senior division. In the junior division, there were several individual top 10 finishers from Livingston and McLean counties, including Ellie Drach, eighth; Preston Rhode, ninth; and Rodney Billerbeck, 10th.

As a team, Emerson Tarr, Rodney Billerbeck, Brittney Billerbeck and Preston Rhode placed second overall, and Maddie Kraft, Autumn Botkin, Ellie Drach and Klayton Botkin placed 10th in the junior division. To qualify for participation, youth are required to rank animals’ bone structure, mobility, growth rate and potential profitability.

Bloomington

Local man arrested for cocaine possession

The Bloomington Police Department’s Vice Unit arrested Rodney T. Pillows, 43, Bloomington, on Monday, June 27, after seizing 43 grams of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia from him during an investigation of drug sales within the community.

The cocaine was seized after police obtained a search warrant into Pillows’ residence in Bloomington. According to officials within the agency, the seized cocaine has a street value of $4,300. Pillows, who has been detained at the McLean County Jail, faces multiple counts of drug possession and sales charges.

Vehicle struck by bullet on East Empire Street

A bullet struck a vehicle after multiple shots were fired in the 2100 block of East Empire Street, according to Bloomington Police. The incident occurred about 10:17 p.m. Monday, June 27. No injuries were reported, and an investigation continues.

Police are asking people with information to contact the department at (309) 820-8888 or anonymously through McLean County Crime Stoppers at (309) 828-1111.

Missing Bloomington girl found safe

Holly M. Auth, 14, of Bloomington was found safe eight days after having last been seen, Bloomington Police confirmed. Auth was declared missing when she did not return home after entering a vehicle outside her home on Sunday, June 19. Police confirmed she was found safe Tuesday, June 28, at an unspecified location.

Normal

Annual arts and crafts festival on tap for July 9-10

More than 100 arts and crafts vendors from across the U.S. will showcase their creations during the annual Sugar Creek Arts Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 9 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 10. The event will take place within the Uptown Normal neighborhood, primarily in the 100 block of Mulberry Street.

For information on the event, including a full itinerary of the vendors, visit the McLean County Arts Center’s website at www.mcac.org.

State

Unemployment down slightly from a year ago

The statewide jobless rate came in at 5.6 percent for May, down slightly from May 2015 according to the, compared to 5.7 percent in May 2015, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.        

The state as a whole gained 33.500 jobs in May, with a total employment of 6,035,400 in May compared to 6,001,900 in May 2015.

A breakdown of jobless rates by county were 5.8 percent DeWitt; 5.2 percent, McLean; 6.5 percent, Peoria; 6.3 percent, Tazewell; 5.2 percent, Woodford; 6.7 percent, LaSalle; 5.3 percent, Livingston; and 5.2 percent, Logan.

The Bloomington Metropolitan area, along with the Carbondale-Marion and the Quad Cities areas, saw losses for May·        

Illinois added jobs in the metropolitan areas of Lake-Kenosha, Rockford, Elgin, among others.

Most of the new jobs were created in education and health services, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and transportation, warehousing and utilities, according to the state.

Major road projects saved from shut down

Construction jobs and projects in the Peoria area are set to receive nearly $5 million in state funding as a result of the General Assembly passing a stop-gap budget on June 30.

The legislation comes as the Illinois Department of Transportation recently announced it would be forced to cease all road construction due to the lack of state funding.

“Maintaining Illinois Infrastructure is vital to the people and the economy of Illinois,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria).  “We voted to keep our road crews on the job and to keep drivers safe on Illinois roads.”  .

Without the budget, the reconstruction of Interstate 474/Interstate 155 near Morton and the resurfacing of Interstate 474 in Tazewell County would have been suspended. Additional local projects would halt without the funding as well.

Senate Bill 2047 includes $2.4 million for Peoria County, $2 million for Tazewell County and $546,000 for Fulton County collected from taxes local motorists pay at the pump.

Spoon River College, located in Canton, will also receive $7 million to construct a multi-purpose building on campus.

–McLean County News Briefs–