WIUM Local

The West Central Illinois Arts Center in Macomb is trying something a little different. Instead of asking artists to display works, it asked collectors to share a favorite piece.

The show, which opens Friday, June 22, is called “A Few Of Our Favorite Things.” An opening reception will be held 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm on June 22.  The reception is free and open to the public.

Artist Fred Jones, who helped put together the show, said those who contributed pieces were also asked to write a short blurb about the art work.

The late Dr. Maurice Nielsen has left a legacy beyond his contributions to the philosophy department he helped establish at  Western Illinois University in 1959.

His family has donated his personal collection to WIU's Malpass Library.

It is the largest such donation in the library's history. It is composed of more than 9,000 items including nearly 3,000 books.

Library Specialist Greg Phelps helped to catalog the collection. He says it was a “treasure hunt” that took about six months.

Carthage residents will soon get a call from city hall. A new phone message system is being set up by city employees.

Second-ward Alderman Gary Smith says the system has been very easy to set up. He says the contact numbers for water service customers are being used for the initial test.

He says, “If we have a number that isn't one that they want called they can let us know. We're going to let residents use up to three numbers that they can have called. So a cell phone or home phone or whatever they want.”

School board President Dan Colvin says it received a “great gift” of time when Superintendent Alene Reuschel announced she would retire next year.

Colvin says the task of filling the position is one of the most important duties for board members. He says it will hire a search firm to perform many tasks that would be time-consuming or difficult for the board such as criminal background checks and reference checks.

The state of Iowa is recommending the Lee County Narcotics Task Force change some of its operating practices.

The recommendations are based on a report, released this week, by State Auditor David Vaudt.

The report was requested by the board that oversees the task force.

The most significant finding is the task force is carrying a $90,000 deficit from the time period of July 1, 2010 - May 31, 2012.

Owner Larry O'Hern had one year to complete the permitting process for Shamrock Acres.  He did not meet the deadline.

The facilty would have housed up to 18,000 hog at a time. It would have been built in southeastern McDonough County.

Warren Goetsch is the bureau chief of environmental programs for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

He says, “We had issued an additional information request, I believe it was around the 7th of November, and did not receive a response.”