Joey Malinowski, a Bloomington Central Catholic High School junior

McLean County

Deputies seize $42,000 worth of drugs; three in custody

Three suspects are in custody in connection with what the McLean County Sheriff’s Office has deemed “a large-scale drug operation.” Sheriff’s officials on Thursday, Feb. 9, announced they had arrested two Normal residents, age 24 and 20, and a Hoffman Estates resident, age 23, in connection with the incident.

A home in the 100 block of Kings Mill Road is suspected of being used as a drug house, where marijuana and other illegal items were stored and sold. Sheriff’s officials said the value of the marijuana and other drugs they have confiscated from the suspects has a street value of $42,000. The suspects are due in court this Friday, Feb. 17, for arraignments.

Director of health dept. stepping down late this month

Walt Howe, director of the McLean County Health Department, has announced he is stepping down from his leadership role within the agency, effective Friday, Feb. 24. Howe’s announcement caps off a 26-year span of employment within the department.

Although he has unofficially retired from the department, Howe has indicated he is assuming a new role with the advocacy group Illinois Public Health Association. Howe’s background in public health stretches back nearly four decades. He has directed the McLean County Health Department since 2009.

U of I Extension’s lawn, garden show returning in March

The University of Illinois Extension’s Home, Lawn and Garden Day will kick off the spring season with a show from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 4, at Central Catholic High School, 1201 Airport Road, Bloomington. This year’s program will feature a variety of events, including a series of presentations related to native plants. For information, or to register, visit go.illinois.edu/HLGD or call (309) 663-8306.

Former Norway prime minister to deliver talk Feb. 23 at Wesleyan

The Hon. Gro Brundtland, the first female prime minister of Norway, will present a lecture at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Westbrook Auditorium on the Illinois Wesleyan University campus, 1210 N. Park St., Bloomington.

Brundtland, who has been a staunch environmental advocate, will deliver an address titled, “Our Common Future: Sustainable Development and Addressing Climate Change.” Brundtland served three terms in office: 1981, 1986-89 and 1990-96. Brundtland’s address is free and open to the public.

Bloomington

Central Catholic High School student nominated for spirit award  

Joey Malinowski, a Bloomington Central Catholic High School junior, has been named a nominee in the Illinois High School Association’s Spirit of Sport award through the National Federation of State High School Associations.

Malinowski has made a number of strides in recent years and has been credited with a strong work ethic in the nomination process. In terms of his athletic pursuits, Malinowski was named a First Team All-Corn Belt Conference offensive linemen this past fall. He also was honored on the All-Conference Second Team for his work on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally, Malinowski has taken part in a variety of philanthropic efforts, including a Kohl’s Kicking and Snapping Camp in Wisconsin.

Normal

Normal Theater slated to close for repairs this summer

The Normal Theater is expected to close for a one-month stretch, likely from mid-July to mid-August, to replace the heating and air-conditioning system within the historic facility, 209 W. North St. As part of a plan recently discussed at a Town Council meeting, the municipality will allocate $213,000 in the upcoming fiscal year budget toward the replacement of the system. According to town officials, maintaining and replacing parts on the existing system has been challenging and is no longer cost-effective. Although specifics have not yet been fleshed out, town officials might undertake other unrelated routine maintenance near the theater amid the busy construction season.

New sports complex eyed near auto plant site

A new sports complex featuring such amenities as soccer fields has been proposed in Normal, adjacent to the town’s border with Bloomington. If it moves forward, the multimillion-dollar project is expected to replace Community Fields, which is owned by the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington and needs to cease operations at the end of this year to comply with changes in Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

The existing Community Fields site hosts such teams as the Illinois Fusion and the Prairie Cities Soccer League. The Normal Town Council is among the governing entities currently discussing the proposed sports complex. Further details are anticipated in the months ahead. 

Town Council OK’s options for pedestrian railroad crossings

The Normal Town Council on Monday, Feb. 6, approved study alternatives, project goals and analytic criteria linked to the pedestrian railroad crossing in the Uptown Normal neighborhood. As part of their recent motion, the council adopted a three-pronged set of guidelines for the project, which is aimed at improving accommodations and safety for pedestrians and bicyclists in the urban Uptown area, improving access to Constitution Trail and improving safety for Amtrak passengers boarding and departing vehicles at the station.

To view the full report, visit the town’s website, www.normal.org.

–McLean County News Briefs–