The University of Illinois Extension and Illinois State University are working on an upcoming program putting a spotlight on importance of pollinators.

McLean County

Veterans office accepting nominations for Honor 200

The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs is accepting applications for an event tied into the state’s bicentennial.

Two hundred veterans from across the state will be recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty and making notable achievements through service. Nominations are being accepted through Friday, Aug. 31, and honorees will be announced in September.

For information on the program, visit www.illinois.gov/veterans.

Veterans Parkway lane closures will continue

Veterans Parkway, one of the major thoroughfares through Bloomington and Normal, is in the early stages of an extensive reconstruction project that is expected to stretch into November. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, lane closures began Monday, July 30, and will continue for the next several months.

The work, in particular, will result in lane closures between Washington Street and Clearwater Avenue. Most of the work will take place in the overnight hours, from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.

IDOT officials are reminding motorists traversing through the area to expect delays, consider alternate routes and pay attention to changed conditions and signs. 

18th District candidate plans town hall meetings       

Junius Rodriguez, who again is running for the 18th District U.S. Congress seat that encompasses portions of McLean County, has announced a series of town hall meetings across Central Illinois.

Rodriguez’s schedule includes stops in Peoria and Tazewell counties.

Upcoming nearby stops are at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, at Five Points, 360 N. Wilmor Road, Washington; 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at the Pearce Community Center, Chillicothe; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, at the Gateway Building, 200 NE Water St., Peoria. For details on Rodriguez’s platform and other stops, visit www.rodriguezcongress.com.  

Pollinator Palooza coming to ISU in August       

The University of Illinois Extension and Illinois State University are working in tandem for an upcoming program putting a spotlight on pollinators.

The aptly titled Pollinator Palooza program will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at ISU’s horticulture center on Rabb Road in Normal.

Festivities, geared toward persons of all ages, will include such hands-on activities as making hummingbird feeders and an assortment of talks from local experts.

Light refreshments will also be served — each made possible from a pollinator. For information, call the Extension’s McLean County office at 309-663-8306 or visit go.Illinois.edu/LMW.    

Bloomington

BPD recognizes 20 officers with awards      

Twenty current and former Bloomington Police Department officers and other personnel within the agency were recognized recently for exemplary service.

BPD annually hosts an awards program in an effort to recognize persons who excel while on the job.

BPD recognized investigator Charlie Crowe with its meritorious service award. He retired Jan. 1 after giving the department 52 years of service.

Officer Jared Johnson also received a meritorious service award for street-level investigations that resulted in multiple suspects being arrested on weapons violations.

Four officers received a life-saving commendation award for life-saving applications: Pedro Diaz, Jacob Law, Anna Legner and Curt Squires.

Fourteen BPD employees receiving exemplary performance citations for their swift actions during critical incidents.

Officers receiving the citation included Ben Brace, Andy Chambers, Steve Fanelli, Chad Hitchens, Scott Karstens, Tim Marvel, Robert McKinney, David Quinn and James Smith. Telecommunicators receiving the citation included Addison Jepsen, Kacey Pettit, Lindsay Schumm, Bobbie Jo Smith and Amanda Zook.   

New bulk waste pickup fee begins Aug. 1       

Beginning in August, the Bloomington Public Works Department is moving forward with a new bulk waste system that calls for collecting bulk waste, sod, dirt, concrete, rock and shingles at the curb.

The city will charge $25 for each bucket of bulk waste collected or $100 per bucket of sod, dirt, concrete, rock and shingles.

The goal, according to city officials, is to improve the appearance of the community and ensure unsightly bulk waste is not left at the curb for extended periods of time.

For information on the new protocol, visit www.cityblm.org/publicworks or call the DPW at 309-434-2225.

Normal

Earl Kingman named 2018 Citizen of the Year

Earl Kingman has been named Normal’s 2018 Citizen of the Year. Mayor Chris Koos made the announcement Thursday, July 26, amid the town’s 61st annual honoree program.

In a news release, Koos said Kingman’s recognition was based on his “quietly, and without fanfare, making extraordinary and valuable contributions to our quality of life in this community.”

Kingman and his wife, Rhea, have been married 62 years and are longtime Normal residents. The couple’s two children reportedly traveled to Normal to watch their father receive the recognition. 

Children’s Discovery Museum receives grant 

The Children’s Discovery Museum has been awarded a $20,000 grant from State Farm Insurance to benefit an afterschool program aimed at assisting at-risk youth in the community. The funds will go toward the museum’s Innovation Institute, which is run through a collaborative effort with Illinois State University and the UNITY Community Center.

“We are so thankful that State Farm has chosen to continue their support of our program with this grant,” Jennifer Raisbeck, the museum’s outreach coordinator, said in a statement. “It is so rewarding to see how the kids grow throughout the year and how excited they are to transition through different levels of the program.”

–McLean County News Briefs–