News

Bushnell, IL – A health care firm plans to open at least 30 units of senior assisted living apartments in Bushnell. Mayor Steve Russell says Petersen Healthcare plans to begin construction by next fall. The units could be open in 2007. Russell says several studies showed that one of the town's biggest needs was housing that would let retired seniors stay in town. The building will be in the northeast part of Bushnell with its back fence adjoining the elementary school. Russell says he'd like to see the seniors and the students working together on projects.

Macomb, IL – McDonough County's health department and the Western Illinois Council are cooperating on a survey that could help a rural water supply get started. The survey is to bolster an application by the fledgling West Prairie Rural Water Cooperative for $400,000 in state construction funds. Shannon Duncan of the council says residents in the area south and west of Colchester have already complained of inadequate flow from their wells. She says the health department will have samples checked for evidence of bacteria or nitrate pollution in the wells.

Macomb, IL – Macomb aldermen have agreed to stiffen the penalty for fighting, though support for the change was not unanimous. First Ward Alderman Charles Gilbert voted against the plan, which will increase the minimum fine from $25 to $250. Gilbert says an increase is warranted, but believes this hike is excessive. The new penalty will go on the books within the next two weeks. The city believes it will serve as a deterrent. Police say there has been an increase in fighting since the beginning of the school year. Police also say the fights have been more serious.

Macomb, IL – A dual-admission agreement is now in effect between WIU and Morton Community College students. It will provide an academic advisor to Morton students who want to receive their bachelor's at Western. The advisor will monitor a student's progress at both schools. WIU spokesman John Maguire says the agreement addresses a growing concern in the state regarding transfer students. This is the 28th admissions agreement between WIU and schools in Illinois and Iowa.

Macomb, lIL – An expert on atmospheric science says humans are exacerbating the effects of global warming. Dr. Don Wuebbles of the University of Illinois says people often play down the human impact on the environment. He says a common misrepresentation is that the carbon dioxide produced by the environment nullifies the amount produced by humans in the form of transportation, industry and domestic emissions. Wuebbles says years of evidence suggest the earth is getting warmer, carbon dioxide concentrations are increasing and the planet's climate is changing.

Burlington, IA – A Google search of the word "weather" yields 618,000,000 results. It seems everyone has something to say about the topic. An audience at the Arts for Living Center in Burlington got to hear more about it from three writers who focused on prairie weather. The presentation was part of the annual Harvest Celebration done in conjunction with the Humanities Iowa "Voices of the Prairie" program. Thomas Dean's piece is titled "Confessions of A Tornado Virgin." He's lived the Midwest his entire life without ever having seen a tornado.

Burlington, IA – A Google search of the word "weather" yields 618,000,000 results. It seems everyone has something to say about the topic. An audience at the Arts for Living Center in Burlington got to hear more about it from three writers who focused on prairie weather. The presentation was part of the annual Harvest Celebration done in conjunction with the Humanities Iowa "Voices of the Prairie" program. Thomas Dean's piece is titled "Confessions of A Tornado Virgin." He's lived the Midwest his entire life without ever having seen a tornado.

Macomb, IL – A McDonough County committee has decided to go with deadbolts instead of electronic locks to control access to the judges' chambers. Board chairman Bob Harwick says initially the group was considering an electronic, thumbprint-activated lock. However, he says judges preferred a simple but strong dead-bolt lock. Harwick says security became an issue when a man tried to fight his way back into the judges' area several weeks ago.
He says the locks should be installed by the beginning of the year and will cost about $1,000.

Fort Madison, IA – One of the men who escaped from the maximum security prison in Fort Madison has been captured. Martin Moon, 34, was captured early Thursday morning in Chester, Illinois, which is about 250 miles southeast of Fort Madison. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations Director, Gene Meyer, says people found Moon asleep in a vehicle near the Menard State Penitentiary. Meyer says Moon woke up and drove away before crashing. He then tried to escape on foot before being captured.