News

Macomb, IL – A 33-hour memorial vigil will be held on the W.I.U. campus to honor the soldiers and citizens killed during the on-going fighting in Iraq. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday November 1 and will conclude on Wednesday evening November 2. It will be held in the Campus Commons area near Stipes Hall. Afterwards, a panel discussion will be held in the University Union Grand Ballroom. Graduate student Jason Reitz organized the event. He says the names of fallen soldiers will be read and a small American flag will be placed in the ground after each name is announced.

Carthage, IL – The Carthage Chamber of Commerce is working on a marketing campaign for the town that recognizes the effect Route 336 will have when it passes the town. Member Bill Pyatt says the basic thrust will be to stress qualify of life, including housing, schools and available health care. He says there must also be a balance between attracting new shoppers and convincing Carthage resident to continue to "shop at home." Pyatt says the chamber will view a presentation on a proposed marketing campaign early Friday.

Carthage, IL – Three Hancock County school districts want to form a joint high school district. Under a petition filed with the regional school superintendent, Carthage, LaHarpe and Dallas City would each form an elementary district. Superintendent Bob Baumann has scheduled a hearing on the issue Nov. 30. Preliminary plans by the Committee of Ten call for using the current Carthage High School to house the projected 480 students. LaHarpe Superintendent Jo Campbell says the districts would eventually try to pass a bond issue for a new school building.

Keokuk, IA – One of Iowa's Gubernatorial candidates says campaign contributions have too large an impact on state government. State Representative Ed Fallon says big money has become the driving force in developing state policy. The Democrat from Des Moines says state lawmakers are too focused on offering payback for wealthy contributors. Fallon says the first thing he would do if elected would be to follow the lead of other states and institute a statewide clean election law. He says the state also needs to focus more on helping small businesses and to become energy independant.

Bath, IL – A contest at Bath, on the Illinois River, is trying to eliminate the Asian Carp from the river. It's also trying to raise awareness of what villagers see as a major problem on the chute that links the town with the main channel. Organizer Betty DeFord says the fish leap into the air whenever a large boat passes over. Often, they'll land in a boat. Sometimes they even hit people who are on a boat. There are occasional injuries. DeFord says the problem has become much worse in the past few years, but no one seems to have a solution yet. Her contest removed more than 1,200 fish.

Galesburg, IL – Art in Knox County can be found in schools, post offices, and libraries. Now it can also be found on the Internet. Artist Paulette Thenhouse worked with the Galesburg Civic Art Center to create the site. She wanted to draw attention to art works people see every day. Thenhouse says locally produced art can be found in towns throughout the county. "Public Art in Knox County - A Century of Murals and Sculptures" can be found on the web at www.galesburgarts.org/publicart

Macomb, IL – McDonough County squad cars will be getting laptop computers by the end of the year. Board Chairman Bob Harwick says the computers will let deputies download information from the statewide Law Enforcement Agencies Data System without having to radio the dispatch center. It will also let them talk keyboard - to - keyboard to any other law enforcement person who also is on the computer network. Chairman Bob Harwick says the software subscription will cost the county about $4,000 per year. The county boarrowed about $14,000 to get the system started.

October 27, 2005 – Rich Egger speaks with Macomb City Administrator Mike Hays and Community and Economic Development Educator Kathie Brown of the University of Illinois Extension about the Community Charrette that will be held November 4-5.