McLean County

Health officials confirm additional West Nile Virus reports   

A third West Nile Virus pool was located in the immediate Bloomington area, Walt Howe, director of the McLean County Health Department, confirmed last week. Testing on mosquitoes on the east side of Bloomington revealed a pool of the insects carried the virus.

The findings came on the heels of a discovery the week prior that revealed two separate mosquito pools west of Bloomington carried the virus. McLean County is one of 44 counties across the state to report West Nile thus far this year. Five human cases have been reported in the state this year, though none resulted in deaths.

Midwest Professional Basketball Association returning

After a one-year dormancy, the Midwest Professional Basketball Association is returning to Bloomington. The organization has announced one of its franchises, the Lima (Ohio) Express, is relocating to Bloomington for 2017 and will play out of the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Another MPBA franchise, the Bloomington Flex, played out of the same venue in 2015, but disbanded at the end of the season. The Express will kick off their 2017 season in Bloomington on Wednesday, Jan. 25.   

Hours change at electronic waste recycling center

The McLean County self-service electronic recycling center is changing its hours for the fall. The center, located 1301 Warriner St., Normal, will operate from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of the month.

Although the center is based in Normal, residents across McLean County can drop off unwanted computers, phones, TVs and other electronic equipment so it is disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner.

Chef Curtis Aikens will participate in the Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and Novo Nordisk, diabetes workshop, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center, 1413 Leslie Drive, Bloomington.

Advocate BroMenn to host Diabetes Academy workshop    

Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and Novo Nordisk, a diabetes care company, are holding a workshop, Diabetes Academy, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Parke Regency Hotel and Conference Center, 1413 Leslie Drive, Bloomington.

Chef Curtis Aikens, who has appeared on The Food Network, will lead off a series of educational talks and presentations geared specifically toward persons diagnosed with diabetes. The event is free. For information, call Advocate BroMenn Medical Center at (309) 268-5952 or OSF Medical Group at (309) 664-3800.   

Region to host Route 66-themed event in October

The second annual Route 66: Miles of Possibility conference will be held at assorted venues throughout Bloomington and Normal from Thursday, Oct. 20 to Sunday, Oct. 23. Throughout the four-day event, speakers will touch on a range of topics related to Route 66 and how the historic highway’s prominence can play into local tourism and community events.

More than 25 speakers and presenters are expected to share their insight at a number of local landmarks, including Sprague’s Super Service Station. Last year’s inaugural event took place in Edwardsville in Madison County. For information on this year’s conference, visit www.route66milesofpossibility.com.

Bloomington

Man arrested for robbery, aggravated assault

A 27-year-old Bloomington man was arrested on suspicion of robbing a 26-year-old man at gunpoint in the 300 block of East Mulberry Street at 9:02 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. According to Bloomington Police, the victim was struck on the head multiple times with a handgun and was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash and his car keys. He was treated of his injuries and released a short time later.

Police are seeking one additional man who is believed to have instigated the robbery. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective John Atteberry with the Bloomington Police Department at (309) 434-2548 or jatteberry@cityblm.org.     

Bloomington Criterium race hits thud after tacks placed in road

Bloomington Police are investigating why one or more persons would place tacks on city streets in advance of the Bloomington Criterium bike race on Saturday, Aug. 27.

The tacks reportedly punctured tires, resulting in an eight-bike pile-up at one point in the race. Officials have not revealed an exact damage estimate for the incident. Some of the bikes used in the race cost upward of $9,000, and repairs can be costly.

Normal

Road closures extended for high-speed rail project

Officials with the Illinois High-Speed Rail project have announced several streets within Normal will have to be closed longer than initially anticipated to accommodate changes to railroad tracks and related infrastructure.

The changes impact Linden Street and Broadway, which both will be closed through Friday, Sept. 30; College Avenue and Mulberry Street from Monday, Oct. 3 to Saturday, Nov. 5; and Beech Street from Monday, Nov. 7 to Saturday, Dec. 3.

For detailed information on the entire project, visit www.idothsr.org. For specifics on Normal’s road closures, visit www.normal.org.

–McLean County News Briefs–