Special Olympics Illinois needs volunteers for its summer games to be held Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 11 at Illinois State University and Normal West High School. (Photo courtesy of Special Olympics)

McLean County

Twin Cities receive historic preservation-related grant

The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency recently announced the City of Bloomington and Town of Normal will receive a $7,000 grant through the Commission Assistance and Mentoring Program, or CAMP, later this year. The funds will go toward a series of sight workshops led by historic preservation professionals.

Further details on meeting dates and times are still being fleshed out, but Bloomington and Normal officials in a joint news release indicated a range of topics will likely be explored throughout the process. Preservation planning, designating historic resources and offering incentives are among the topics on the docket for discussion. “This is a great opportunity for our communities to learn from the experts in historic preservation,” Taylor Long, associate planner with Normal, said in a statement.   

Special Olympics seeking volunteers for upcoming summer games

Special Olympics Illinois recently opened volunteer registration for its upcoming summer games, which will be held from Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 11 at Illinois State University and Normal West High School. In keeping with past tradition, volunteers are the backbone of much of the logistics and planning for the annual event, which gives more than 4,000 Special Olympics athletes across the state to compete in one of six sports.

For information or to sign up for a volunteering slot, call the state Special Olympics office at (309) 888-2551 or visit www.soill.org/summer-games.

Bloomington

Police arrest suspect in May 14 Main Street shooting

Bloomington Police on Friday, May 19, arrested a 28-year-old Bloomington man in connection with a shooting that occurred in the 600 block of North Main Street at 2:06 a.m. Sunday, May 14. According to police, the suspect shot a 34-year-old man in the leg. Several officers were patrolling Main Street at the time of the incident and heard a popping sound. A large group of people subsequently began dispersing in different directions. A news release from the Police Department said officers had located “evidence of a shooting” in the area sidewalk. The victim was located at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal a short time later.

Juveniles arrested for suspected vandalism

Three juveniles have been arrested in connection with a Sunday, May 7, incident at McGraw Park involving graffiti depicting racial slurs, imagery of a swastika and profanity. The suspects also are believed to have entered several nearby vehicles near the park, which is located on Bloomington’s east side.

A large burn pile, measuring 12 feet in width, was also found in a nearby residential property. It contained numerous items, including pieces of glass. According to the city, public works crews moved swiftly to remove the graffiti and have since restored the damage.

Harbor Freight Tools could open store in June

Harbor Freight Tools, a growing hardware retailer, anticipates opening its 25th Illinois store in Bloomington on Tuesday, June 13. Company officials recently outlined plans for the new store, which will occupy space that once hosted Rooms Direct and Cohen’s Furniture at 1344 E. Empire St.

Harbor Freight, which has more than 750 locations across the U.S., manufactures its own tools and touts lower prices than many competitors because of its house brands.

City mails notices of improper boat docks

The city of Bloomington recently put 16 property owners on notice for having docks installed on the Lake Bloomington shoreline that were not compliant with municipal code. According to city officials, each of the specific docks either were linked to environmental concerns or lacked the proper permits to have been constructed in the first place.

Officials from the city’s water department raised concerns of the docks, noting Lake Bloomington is the primary source for the municipal water supply.  

Normal

Moody’s reviewing ISU’s credit rating; downgrade possible

Investment services firm Moody’s announced recently it is reviewing the credit rating of Illinois State University and four other schools across the state because of the ongoing budget stalemate in Springfield. Moody’s said the review was necessary since ISU has not received all of its state-earmarked funds this past school year.

In its announcement of the review, Moody’s said the review zeroes in on ISU’s outstanding $2.2 billion of debt. Credit ratings impact interest rates and governing agencies’ abilities to borrow funds for capital projects. The other schools Moody’s is reviewing include Eastern Illinois, Governors State, Northern Illinois and Southern Illinois universities.  

College Avenue railroad crossing project wraps

Orange construction equipment, a familiar sight near the College Avenue railroad crossing the past six months, has been removed. The Illinois Department of Transportation closed the crossing late last October to accommodate a series of infrastructure upgrades for a new high-speed rail system.

IDOT has been closing rail crossings throughout the state for the upgrades, and the projects have meant detours and delays for motorists. The work is being made possible through federal funds.  

–McLean County News Briefs–