Elias Mendiola has been named the new public information officer for the Bloomington Police Department

McLean County

Behavioral health forum slated for May 18

The McLean County Behavioral Health Coordinating Council will hold a first-ever Community Behavioral Health Forum from 1 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, 600 N. East St.

The forum is the outgrowth of a two-year effort to develop an action plan addressing behavioral health needs in communities across the county. Admission to the forum is free and open to the public. For information, visit the county’s website, www.mcleancountyil.gov.        

County receiving outpatient treatment training grant

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has announced McLean County’s behavioral health division is receiving an assisted outpatient treatment training technical assistance grant. Funds will enable representatives of civil courts, the state’s attorney’s office, hospitals and behavioral health providers to participate in a regional training program.

The goal, according to county officials, is to gain a greater understanding of the barriers impacting assisted outpatient treatment training. County officials say they have long advocated for outpatient treatment services, whenever possible.  

Bloomington

Clayton Street homeowner shoots suspected burglar

A 21-year-old Bloomington man suspected of entering a home in the 700 block of South Clayton Street was allegedly shot in the leg by the property owner.

According to Bloomington Police, the incident occurred at 1:32 a.m. Friday, April 21. The resident, in statements to police, indicated she heard an alarm activated from her garage. She subsequently went to that area, armed with a handgun.

The suspect allegedly initiated an altercation, and the resident shot the suspect as a result. The suspect, according to police, fled the scene prior to the officers’ arrival, but was located a short time later. The suspect was transported to a local hospital before being booked at the McLean County Jail.  

Police name new public information officer

Elias Mendiola, a 19-year veteran of the Bloomington Police Department, has been named the agency’s new public information officer. He most recently served as a field-training officer on day shift patrol. Mendiola’s career with the department began in 1997 when he was a patrol officer.

Other career milestones include serving as a member of the Illinois State Police Covert Narcotics Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Metropolitan Enforcement Team and the Bloomington Police Department’s Vice and Street Crimes units. Mendiola, a Bloomington native, also has received numerous letters of commendation for his work and service to the community throughout his nearly two decades on the force.

City receives Tree City USA designation for 30th year

The Arbor Day Foundation has awarded the city of Bloomington the Tree City USA designation for the 30th consecutive year. The foundation has long laid out numerous pieces of criteria to achieve the recognition, including a dedicated forestry department, having a tree care ordinance on its books and a community forestry plan with a $2 per capita budget allocation. In honor of Arbor Day, the city held an observance and tree planting Friday, April 28, at Stevenson Elementary School

Overnight lane closures to continue through end of week

The city of Bloomington’s public works department is in the midst of a sewer main rehabilitation project along portions of Main Street that is slated to wrap at the end of the week. Lane closures are taking place from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through Friday, May 5 along Main Street, between Chestnut and Olive streets.

City officials are urging motorists to anticipate traffic delays throughout the construction project and consider alternate routes. Department representatives also said the decision to conduct the work in the overnight hours was done to minimize the impact on area businesses.

For information, call the public works department at (309) 434-2225.

New spring/summer hours for drop-off facility have begun

New hours have been set for the city of Bloomington’s drop-off facility as warmer temperatures have set in. The facility, 402 S. East St., will be open to residents from 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Mondays, 7 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 7 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Saturdays. The site is closed Sundays. For information on the drop-off facility, call (309) 434-2225 or email pubsvs@cityblm.org.

The Town of Normal will be flushing hydrants in specific areas from Sunday, May 14 to Saturday, May 20.

Normal

Town sets dates on routine hydrant flushing this spring  

The town of Normal’s public works department will conduct hydrant flushing throughout portions of the community in the weeks ahead. Flushing will occur in specific areas from Sunday, May 14 to Saturday, May 20.

Fire hydrants are flushed routinely to remove any sediment or stagnant water that has collected and to ensure the highest quality of water is available in emergency situations. Residents’ water might appear discolored immediately after flushing. For this reason, washing clothes between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. is discouraged throughout the week of the flushing.

For information, visit the town’s website, www.normal.org.  

–McLean County News Briefs–