McLean County News Briefs

Chronicle Media
Milner Library at Illinois State University.  The board of trustees has voted to spend money to fix water leakage problems at the library. (Photo courtesy ISU)

Milner Library at Illinois State University.  The board of trustees has voted to spend money to fix water leakage problems at the library. (Photo courtesy ISU)

McLean County

Job losses tick upward in Bloomington-Normal

The jobless rate within the Bloomington Metropolitan Statistical Area has ticked upward, from 5 percent to 5.4 percent, in year-over-year comparisons, the Illinois Department of Employment Security has reported. As of June 30, data from the state agency revealed the area lost about 1,500 nonfarm jobs. Bloomington-Normal was one of five statistical areas reporting job losses. The others were Carbondale-Marion, Decatur, Peoria and the Quad Cities. Statewide, jobs were added in the past year. According to the DES, Illinois hosts 39,700 more jobs compared to a year ago.   

Plans to widen U.S. Business 51 on hold indefinitely

After learning a federal grant application has been denied, municipal officials in Bloomington and Normal have announced a $20 million project, calling for widening and upgrading U.S. Business 51, is on hold indefinitely. Across the country, governing agencies vied for a piece of the $500 million the federal government had available through the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER, program.

The value of all the projects, however, was $10 billion, meaning this year’s application process was highly competitive. The Illinois Department of Transportation worked in tandem with Bloomington and Normal to seek funding for the widening project, which runs through one of the municipalities’ main thoroughfares.

First responders receive pet oxygen mask donations

Invisible Fence, a Chicago-based company focused on pet safety products, recently donated 40 pet oxygen mask kits to the McLean County Area EMS System. Industry reports reveal upward of 150,000 pets across the U.S. die in fires annually, most from smoke inhalation. The donated masks will give first responders the ability to administer oxygen to a stricken animal.

Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner and retiring Assistant Chief Gary Sutherland (Photo courtesy city of Bloomington)

Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner and retiring Assistant Chief Gary Sutherland (Photo courtesy city of Bloomington)

Bloomington

Assistant police chief Sutherland to retire Aug. 5

Gary Sutherland, assistant chief of the Bloomington Police Department, is retiring from the force as of this Friday, Aug. 5. Sutherland is a 25-year veteran of the BPD.

“He retires as one of the most decorated officers in the department and is well respected for the multitude of assignments he fulfilled in his career,” Police Chief Brendan Heffner said in a statement. Sutherland came to the BPD after serving in the U.S. Army.

Throughout his law enforcement career, he worked within Bloomington’s patrol division, K-9 Unit and within the Office of Professional Standards.

Four city aldermen seeking re-election

With petition circulating a month away, Bloomington municipal officials up for re-election next year have begun announcing whether they will make another bid for office. Aldermen Mboka Mwilambwe (Ward 3), Joni Painter (Ward 5), Scott Black (Ward 7) and Jim Fruin (Ward 9) have announced they are running in next year’s consolidated election on Tuesday, April 4.

Alderman Kevin Lower (Ward 1) and Mayor Tari Renner also have terms expiring, but neither have indicated whether they will seek another term. Nonpartisan municipal candidates can begin circulating petition papers Tuesday, Aug. 30 under state law. The official filing period runs from Monday, Nov. 21 to Monday, Nov. 28.

Bloomington Police investigating latest ‘shots fired’ report

Several calls of shots being fired in the area of Mason and Mulberry streets came in around 7:55 p.m. Thursday, July 21. According to Bloomington Police, officers responded immediately and canvassed the area. An undisclosed amount of evidence was collected, and an investigation into the incident is taking place. At press deadline, no injuries or arrests were reported.

Normal

Local credit union robbed; police investigating

An undisclosed amount of money was taken from the Land of Lincoln Credit Union, 115 Susan Drive, after a man armed with a handgun entered the financial institution at 3:50 p.m. Thursday, July 28.

According to Normal Police, the man left the credit union in a silver Buick Rendezvous and was last seen at the intersection of College Avenue and Veterans Parkway. An investigation is ongoing. No injuries have been reported.

Long-standing water leakage issue to be resolved

With the hopes of putting an end to a decade-and-a-half-old problem, the Illinois State University board of trustees on Friday, July 29, backed a plan to allocate $3.5 million to address water leakage issues at the Milner Library.

New, long-term structural work will occur on an as-yet unspecified date to address the leakage concerns. Once the improvements are completed, the large Teflon-coated fiberglass canopy will be removed. It was installed in 2000 in the hopes of diverting leaking water away from the facility, but the structure ultimately did not solve the problem.

–McLean County News Briefs–