Illinois Wesleyan University’s Wind Ensemble was recently named the national winner of the American Prize in Band Performance competition. (Photo courtesy of IWU)

McLean County

Bloomington-Normal jobless rate on the rise

After crunching numbers across the state, officials within the Illinois Department of Employment Security revealed most regions, including Bloomington-Normal, experienced increases in jobless rates between January 2016 and January 2017. According to the agency, Bloomington-Normal’s rate increased 0.2 percent during the study period, from 5.9 percent in 2016 to 6.1 percent at the beginning of this year. Agency officials said Bloomington-Normal has shed 2,200 jobs since January 2016. Only two regions within the state — Chicago and the Quad Cities — reported job gains during the same sample period, according to the agency.  

Eastland Mall losing another anchor department store

Struggling department store retailer JCPenney will close its Eastland Mall store early this summer, the company announced late last week. The Bloomington store is one of 138 locations the venerable Plano, Texas-based company announced on its closure list across the U.S.

JCPenney last month hinted it would be looking to cull its fleet of underperforming stores as it tries to regain profitability after years of slumping sales. The JCPenney announcement at Eastland Mall comes on the heels of Macy’s decision in January to shutter its store. Once the pair of closures are completed, Eastland Mall will have three remaining traditional department store anchors: Carson’s, Kohl’s and Sears.

IWU Wind Ensemble recognized at national competition

Illinois Wesleyan University’s Wind Ensemble was recently named the national winner of the American Prize in Band Performance competition in the performing arts: college/university division. “We are incredibly honored to receive this award,” Lev Ivanov, a visiting assistant professor of music, said in a statement.

He has conducted IWU’s Wind Ensemble since the fall 2014 semester.

The American Prize is a series of nonprofit, national competitions in the performing arts. The organization offers cash awards, professional adjudication and recognition for the best recorded performances by ensembles and individual musicians across the U.S.    

Bloomington

Bloomington fire chief urging additional station within city   

Citing slow response times in one quadrant of the city, Bloomington Fire Chief Brian Mohr went on record this past week and implored municipal decision-makers to considering adding another station in the community.

The city’s northeast side, in particular, is underserved, Mohr said Monday, March 13, as he combed through the department’s statistical annual report at a City Council meeting. On occasion, Mohr said response times in Bloomington’s northeast quadrant can run as long as 12 minutes. If approved, Mohr’s request would bring the total number of stations across the city to six.

Bloomington Police seeking man deemed ‘violent,’ ‘dangerous’   

Bloomington Police, in conjunction with other neighboring law enforcement agencies, are seeking the whereabouts of David Hermosillo. The agency described the 50-year-old Bloomington man as “violent” and “dangerous” in a news release. Hermosillo is wanted on a McLean County warrant for escape of a sexually violent person.

He is described as Hispanic, 6 feet, 1 inches tall, weighing about 225 pounds, bald with brown eyes. Hermosillo, who had been in custody for prior offenses, had been released on the condition he wear a GPS ankle monitor.

He cut the monitoring device off, meaning law enforcement authorities have been unable to track his specific location. Bloomington Police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Thomas Rena at (309) 275-5345.

Painter’s works to be showcased across Bloomington   

Local painter Julie Meulemans is joining Bloomington’s bustling, growing arts scene. Meulemans opened the self-titled Julie Meulemans Gallery at the former Coca-Cola bottling plant at 1106 E. Bell St.

Meulemans took the wraps off her gallery during an opening reception Saturday, March 18. Meulemans said she has long lent her support to local charities and has pledged to donate 10 percent of her gallery sales to a rotating roster of local charities, the first being Easter Seals of Central Illinois.

Normal

State AG’s office: Normal’s public comment policy illegal

State Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office has determined the Normal Town Council’s existing public comment policy at meetings is illegal and should be changed to uphold all of the provisions within the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

A municipal ordinance on the town’s books states speakers can only come before the council once every 45 days.

The council in January began discussing possible changes to the policy, but first asked for Madigan’s office to weigh in on the issue. In a letter delivered to the town last week, Neil Olson, a deputy public access counselor in Madigan’s office, said Normal should promptly change its existing policy.

“The Public Access Bureau concludes that (Normal’s) rules governing public comment impermissibly restrict the right of members of the public to address public officials at public meetings,” Olson wrote in a letter.

The Town Council is slated to resume possible changes to its policy at upcoming meetings. Neither the Bloomington City Council nor the McLean County Board have restrictions on how frequently a person can comment at meetings.

Normal man charged in court with attempted murder   

Asa Stover, 20, of Normal, was charged in McLean County Circuit Court on Thursday, March 16, on allegations he tried to strangle a woman because he thought she was the devil. Stover was charged on counts of aggravated domestic battery and attempted murder.

Stover was to have appeared via a video link from the county’s jail facility, where he is being held, but he reportedly became combative with officers. Bond in the charging was set at $750,000, and Stover would have to post $75,035 to be released.

–McLean County News Briefs–