McLean County

Probable human West Nile case found in county  

A probable case of the West Nile virus has been located within McLean County, health officials confirmed recently. The Illinois Department of Public Health, in conjunction with the McLean County Health Department, have ruled a resident within the county has a “probable” case of the virus.

The agencies’ findings come on the heels of animal testing that revealed West Nile was present in a bird and mosquito pool within the county’s limits. McLean County is one of 39 counties across the state to report West Nile thus far this year. Five human cases have been reported in the state this year, though none resulted in deaths.   

ISU expecting enrollment increase for third straight year  

Illinois State University continues to buck a trend. At a time when statewide public universities have reported enrollment declines, ISU officials said they are expecting an enrollment surge for the third straight year. When the fall semester kicked off Monday, Aug. 22, ISU had an enrollment count of about 21,000 students. This year’s freshman class totals more than 3,600 students. ISU officials will report their official enrollment figures to the state on the traditional 10th day census on Friday, Sept. 2.

Horses linked to animal cruelty investigation being auctioned  

Four horses rescued from a farm near LeRoy are being auctioned to new owners, McLean County officials announced recently. In June, authorities seized five horses from the farm after fielding a complaint from a concerned citizen.

The McLean County Animal Control Center investigated the incident and found the horses malnourished and had open sores. One horse was eventually euthanized. The remaining horses have since fully recovered.

Airport receives FAA grant to fund snow removal efforts  

The Federal Aviation Administration recently issued an $891,915 grant to the Bloomington-based Central Illinois Regional Airport. The funds will go toward two high-speed rotary plows that will be used to remove snow. In prior winters, the airport had removed snow with one 23-year-old rotary plow.

According to local airport officials, the dual plows are equipped to remove up to 6,000 tons of snow per hour, which will help in meeting the FAA’s rapid-paced snow removal requirements.

Bloomington Police are seeking information that will lead to the whereabouts of Oceana Mohead, 17, and her 3-month-old daughter, Nakayla Catchings

Bloomington

Bloomington Police searching for runaway juvenile

Bloomington Police are seeking information that will lead to the whereabouts of Oceana Mohead, 17, and her 3-month-old daughter, Nakayla Catchings. Mohead was last seen with her daughter Thursday, Aug. 11. She is black and stands 5-feet, 5- inches tall. She weighs 160 pounds and has brown eyes and hair. Authorities are asking anyone with information to call the Bloomington Police Department at (309) 820-8888.

Normal

Normal man dies after being struck by car

Normal resident Lanny R. Lobdell, 74, died after being hit and run over by a vehicle shortly after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, according to an analysis from the McLean County coroner’s office.  The incident occurred as the man was trying to cross a street at the intersection of Grandview Drive and Vernon Avenue.

The unnamed motorist who struck Lobdell was headed east on Vernon. Police and fire crews responding to the scene found Lobdell pinned underneath the vehicle.

Raab Road closure extended to late September

The sea of orange along Raab Road will make an appearance through at least late September, crews within Normal’s public works department have confirmed. Since late May, Raab Road has been closed to all through traffic between Normal Community High School and the entrance of Apostolic Christian Church, located immediately west of Towanda Barnes Road.

Workers have been reconstructing the roadway, and the project was to have wrapped by mid-August. But town officials said a number of unexpected factors — including high water levels and subgrade soils — have extended the project timeline.

Normal Editions Workshop reaches 40-year milestone

Normal Editions Workshop, or NEW, is entering its 40th anniversary this fall. The arts-themed programs are a community outreach effort put on by Illinois State University. The first of five exhibitions this fall will open Friday, Sept. 9.

“Four Decades of Prints from Normal Editions Workshop” will kick off with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and continue at the McLean County Arts Center, 601 N. East St., through Saturday, Oct. 22. For information on NEW, visit normaleditions.illinoisstate.edu.

–McLean County News Briefs–