The McLean County Museum of History has a new permanent exhibit chronicling farming life in Bloomington, Normal and surrounding areas throughout the past 200 years. For more information, visit http://www.mchistory.org/exhibits. (Photo courtesy of McLean County Museum of History)

McLean County

County unemployment rate dips, year-over-year

The unemployment rate at the end of the first quarter of this year dropped a full percentage point across McLean County, data from Illinois Department of Employment Security reveals. A year ago, the jobless rate stood at 5.8 percent.

Today, it hovers around 4.8 percent. Despite the encouraging statistic, there were some caveats. Non-farm jobs, for instance, dropped during the same comparison period by 300 positions across the county. Statewide, the unemployment rate stands at 5.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent a year ago   

Airport names new deputy director of entire facility

Jason Centeno, a veteran of the Central Illinois Regional Airport, was recently promoted to the position of deputy director of operations and facilities. Centeno previously served as an operations supervisor at the Bloomington-based facility for the past four years. Centeno, a graduate of Southern Illinois University, will be tasked with overseeing the airport’s ongoing certification, maintenance, operations and security measures.

New exhibit chronicles 200 years of ag life

The McLean County Museum of History has officially unveiled a new permanent exhibit chronicling farming life in Bloomington, Normal and surrounding areas throughout the past 200 years.

The exhibit, which has been years in the making, opened at the museum, 200 N. Main St., on Saturday, March 25. It features displays of various artifacts, hands-on activities, digital interactive games, videos and images.

Bloomington

City vendor names interim director for BCPA facility   

Former VenuWorks staffer Carl St. Clair has been named interim director of the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts. He is succeeding Tina Salamone, who died unexpectedly in March. St. Clair officially retired from VenuWorks, which manages the BCPA, but remains active within the company on a consultative basis.

“Mr. St. Clair has an impressive background, and the city is fortunate that he will be assisting us during this time of transition,” City Manager David Hales said in a statement. “I know that he will enjoy working with our employees, and I appreciate our relationship with VenuWorks that makes this arrangement possible.”

Hales said a search for a new permanent BCPA director will get underway soon.      

Man struck by vehicle on Veterans Parkway, dies   

Bloomington resident Jeffery Darr, 50, died on Veterans Parkway after being struck by an SUV about 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 31. The incident occurred along the parkway in Normal, near the Shephard Road intersection. Medical personnel pronounced Darr dead at the scene at 9:19 p.m. County coroner Kathy Davis said Darr died of multiple blunt injuries. Davis’ office, in conjunction with the Normal Police Department, have been investigating the incident.

City moving forward on plan to build two new wells   

Two additional wells will soon be constructed as part of a plan to add more capacity to the St. Peter Aquifer. The $1.8 million project, included in Bloomington’s FY 2018 budget, was approved by the City Council recently.

City officials have cited several plausible reasons for the added wells, including efforts toward combating rising nitrate levels and increasing the supply of available water during droughts and other challenging times.

Normal

Town pledging to improve sidewalks near ISU campus

In a maneuver aimed at meeting new state guidelines and assisting local college-age pedestrians, the town of Normal is moving forward on a plan to improve a number of sidewalks near the Illinois State University campus.

The improvements are coming to sidewalks on Beech Street, Fell Avenue and University Street this summer. Town Manager Mark Peterson said the public sidewalks slated for improvement do not run contiguous with municipal streets. The upcoming work, he said, is designed to fill in some of the gaps. The capital project is also required under new Illinois Commerce Commission guidelines.  

Destihl Brewery slated to open in Normal next month

Destihl, a previously announced brewery, will open to the public Saturday, May 27. Fittingly, the opening coincides with National Beer Day. Destihl has constructed a new $14 million facility on six acres of land at 1200 Greenbriar Drive in Normal. Included within the 47,000-square-foot facility is a 6,300-square-foot beer hall, which is the portion that will be open to the public.

–McLean County News Briefs–