The newest member of the McLean County Board Josh Barnett is sworn into office on Aug 16. His wife, Jenny Barnett, is to his right. (Photo courtesy of McLean County Board)

McLean County

Barnett fills County Board vacancy  

Josh Barnett officially became the newest member of the McLean County Board, following a swearing in ceremony Tuesday, Aug. 16. Barnett is representing District 10.

He succeeds former County Board member Ben Owens, who stepped down from his post in late June. Barnett will serve on the County Board’s Land Use, Transportation and Property committees.

County planning group seeking feedback  

Members of the McLean County Regional Planning Commission are in the midst of updating a long-range transportation plan. While the bulk of the group’s efforts are focused on the immediate Bloomington-Normal area, officials are exploring options for the other towns and rural areas within the county.

The commission’s planning process includes a resident survey, which asks 14 transportation-themed questions. To access the survey, visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/LRTP2017BPS1.  

Connect Transit launches new routes  

Connect Transit, the network of bus routes across Bloomington and Normal, has unveiled a new fixed route schedule, which took effect Monday, Aug. 15. The rolled-out series of tweaks included updated route schedules, increased bus frequency at strategic locations and, for the first time in the service’s history, a Sunday route schedule.

According to Connect Transit officials, the changes came after gathering data, holding public meetings and discussing options with community businesses and organizations. For information on the new routes, visit www.connect-transit.com or call (309) 828-9833.

Bloomington

St. Joseph Medical Center nurse dies in crash

Alexandria “Ali” Stevenson, a 23-year-old nurse who worked at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, died in a two-vehicle crash in LaSalle County about 10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15. According to law enforcement authorities, Stevenson, who lived in the city of Ottawa, was traveling northbound along Illinois Route 23 and is believed to have collided with a vehicle headed eastbound on North 18th Road in Streator.

Officials within the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office pronounced Stevenson dead, while the other driver involved in the accident, Miguel Alvarado, was transported to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. Stevenson received her nursing degree in 2015 from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Dick’s Sporting Goods relocates to Colonial Plaza

After a nearly yearlong process that kicked off with negotiations and subsequent renovations, retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods has officially relocated its McLean County store from Normal to the Colonial Plaza in Bloomington.

While Dick’s will continue offering the same assortment of merchandise as in the past, company officials in a news release said the new Bloomington store will feature several enhancements, including an expanded footwear selection, a department specifically devoted to women’s apparel and branded shops within the store devoted to baseball, lacrosse and soccer.

New medically based fitness center opening this fall

A new facility designed to fuse together fitness and medical services amenities under one roof has been announced. Leaders of several businesses and organizations recently announced the unveiling of the Center for Integrated Wellness, a 106,000-square-foot operation that will open Tuesday, Sept. 6, at 1111 Trinity Lane.

The operation will offer such amenities as a medically based fitness center, a sports performance institute, physician offices, sports performance institute and an orthopedic and imaging center. Partners include Advocate BroMenn, Method Sports Performance, McLean County Orthopedics and Signet Enterprises. Staffers within the center will hold a community open house at the new facility from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 27

Normal

ISU leaders reviewing protocol for fall kick-off activities

On the heels of a sexual assault last month that grabbed national headlines, Illinois State University officials are reviewing their policies and procedures for Preview, the annual student orientation event held in mid-July to give new students an opportunity to acclimate themselves with the ISU campus.

Although no specifics have been divulged at this point, ISU’s leaders could make changes in years ahead. On Tuesday, July 19, during this year’s Preview, Shawn Childs Jr. was charged with assaulting a woman. His father, Shawn Childs Sr., accompanied him to ISU and was charged with being a co-conspirator to the events that unfolded. ISU officials this month deemed Childs’ actions as extreme.

Unit 5 School District experiences busing issues

After receiving an earful from concerned parents, Mark Daniel, superintendent of the Normal-based Unit 5 School District acknowledged a number of busing-related issues occurred on the first day of school, which was Wednesday, Aug. 17.

According to reports, parents said buses dropped students off at incorrect locations and, in some instances, arrived too early or too late. Daniel said overcrowding is part of the reason for the problems. Unit 5 had to consolidate its routes, he said, as a cost cutting move to shore up a deficit in the district’s budget.

Daniel said he and other district leaders are examining the routes and will address the issues as the new school year gets underway.

–McLean County News Briefs–