McLean County

Judge: Man unfit to stand trial for slaying parents  

Brian Petersen, the 25-year-old man accused of stabbing his parents inside their rural Bloomington home late last month, is unfit to stand trial, Circuit Judge Robert Freitag ruled Friday, Aug. 12. Freitag’s ruling was based on a recent psychiatric evaluation of Petersen’s mental health.

Details of that report are sealed, and Freitag declined to go into details of the findings before handing down his ruling.

Petersen killed his parents, Bruce Petersen, 68, and Nancy Petersen, 63, in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 31. Nancy was pronounced dead as paramedics arrived, and Bruce died later at the BroMenn Medical Center.  

Former ISU student acquitted on sex assault charges  

A former Illinois State University student has been acquitted of sexual assault charges linked to an incident in February on the campus. A McLean County jury on Thursday, Aug. 11, rendered the verdict for William Wells, 24, who was accused of raping an 18-year-old woman early this year.

Prior to rendering their verdict, jurors watched a video of Wells’ interview with police, where he denied the accusation. In the video, Wells said he and the plaintiff had known one another for a lengthy period of time and further stated the sex was consensual. The jury did convict Well on one count of resisting arrest. He has spent the past six months in the McLean County Jail.

Master naturalists to hold wildlife preserve tour Sept. 26-29

The Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists, a group dedicated to engaging the public in preserving natural areas, are sponsoring a bus trip tour to four Midwest wildlife preserves from Monday through Thursday, Sept. 26-29. Tour stops will include the North American Bear Center and International Wolf Center in Ely, Minn.; the Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth, Minn.; and the International Crane Center in Baraboo, Wis.

Tour guides also will stop at a number of scenic and historic spots throughout the four-day event. The cost to attend is $385 per person for double-occupancy rooms and $555 for a single-occupancy room. The registration deadline is Monday, Aug. 22.

For information or to register, visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lmw/ or contact Reid Young at ryoun@illinois.edu or call (309) 663-8306.  

Bloomington

Bloomington officials considering e-cigarette ban

Visitors of the U.S. Cellular Coliseum and other facilities and land under the auspices of the city of Bloomington could soon be prohibited from using electronic cigarettes and other so-called vaping devices.

The City Council is considering an ordinance that would place a ban on the practice, which has gained popularity as bans on traditional cigarette smoking have taken hold in recent decades across the country. Ward 8 Alderwoman Diana Hauman has proposed the e-cigarette ban in Bloomington.

Late summer road closures in effect throughout city

Citing a variety of factors, Bloomington public works crews recently closed public access to three municipal streets. The 1300 block of Cadwell Drive is inaccessible for an indefinite period of time as officials tend to street repairs. South McClun Street, between Front to Grove streets, also is closed to motorists indefinitely for sewer repair work. Additionally, Park Street, between Ames Place and University Avenue, will be closed through Friday, Aug. 19, as contractors install water mains. For information on the closures, contact the public works department at (309) 434-2225.

Bloomington Police Officer Brian Brown, who recently was promoted to rank of lieutenant.

Bloomington Police Officer Ivy Thorton, who was recently promoted to the rank of sergeant.

Three BPD officers receive promotions

Three sworn officers within the Bloomington Police Department have received promotions, Chief Brendan Heffner announced recently. Brian Brown, a 19-year veteran of the force, was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant.

Brown’s achievements have included a distinguished achievement award, unit citations and several letters of commendation. Greg Scott, who has been a worn member of Bloomington’s force for two decades, has advanced from a lieutenant position to an assistant chief of administration post within the agency.

In the past, Scott has been honored with an exemplary performance citation and has played a pivotal role in BPD’s accidental reconstruction team. Additionally, Ivy Thornton, a 14-year veteran, has been promoted from a parole officer to a sergeant. During her tenure, Thornton received two life saving awards, five exemplary performance citations and numerous letters of commendation.

Performing arts center adding two new shows to line-up

Heading into the upcoming 2016-17 season, leaders within the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts have announced two shows are being added to the existing roster.

The Amazing Max, with illusionist Max Darwin, is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, while the performance, “The Greatest Story (N)ever Told” is slated for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

For details on these additions and other shows this season, visit www.artsblooming.org or call (309) 434-2777.

Normal

Two streets closed to accommodate public works improvements

Two streets within Normal have been closed to public access to accommodate a series of improvements, town officials have announced. Belt Avenue, between Ethell Parkway and Maplewood Drive, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through at least Friday, Aug. 19 as crews perform maintenance on a nearby bridge. Additionally, Greenbriar Drive, between Jacobssen and Taft drives, has been closed through Friday, Aug. 19, for water main installation work.

–McLean County News Briefs–