Macomb accountant facing felony theft charges
A Macomb CPA is accused of taking control of property worth more than $100,000 from the corporation BBB, Inc.
Allan P. Reusch, 67, is charged with two counts of felony theft. McDonough County court records state the alleged crimes took place from 2017 to 2019.
McDonough County State’s Attorney Matt Kwacala declined to provide details about what Reusch is accused of doing.
Nor could he provide any information about the company, BBB Inc.
Reusch is scheduled for a first court appearance on Feb. 23.
Burlington names superintendent finalists
The Burlington Community School District board of education named three finalists in its search for a new superintendent.
All three finalists currently work in administrative positions in other Iowa school districts:
- Joseph Brown is interim superintendent at Clear Creek Amana and previously was superintendent of Fairmont Area Schools in Minnesota.
- Dr. Laurie Noll is the superintendent of the Fairfield school district. She previously was the director of curriculum and instruction and principal of the alternative high school in Burlington.
- Robert Scott is director of athletics and activities for Centennial High School in Ankeny. Prior to that, he was associate superintendent and chief academic officer in Davenport.
Current superintendent Patrick Coen is retiring at the end of this school year. The new superintendent will begin July 1.
Farm King to get $16M USDA loan
Macomb-based Farm King Supply LLC will receive a $16 million dollar loan from the USDA’s Rural Development Awards program.
The company is headquartered in Macomb and operates six farm retail stores in southeast Iowa and west central Illinois.
The business and industry loan guarantee from the USDA will provide additional financing for the company and its co-borrowers.
Refinancing of Farm King’s existing loans will remove balloon payments and reduce its loan payments by more than $370,000 a month, according to the USDA.
That is expected to stabilize cash flow and help Farm King retain the 218 full-time equivalent jobs it currently has in the six communities it serves.
The USDA’s Rural Development Awards are meant to increase economic opportunities for rural communities that historically have lacked access to critical resources and financing.
Former Galesburg inmate sentenced for battering guards
An Illinois Department of Corrections inmate will serve an additional seven years in prison after battering guards at Henry C. Hill Correctional Center in Galesburg.
On April 2, 2021, Ike Larry Jr. was found in another inmate’s cell.
According to Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin, a magnet had been placed over the cell’s lock, preventing it from closing properly.
When three correctional officers tried to remove Larry from the cell, he attacked them with his fists. The guards required medical attention at a Galesburg hospital, and some of the injuries were severe.
Larry was transferred to Menard Correctional Center following the attack. He pleaded guilty this week in Knox County court to three counts of aggravated battery to a correctional officer.
Larry is already serving a 25-year murder sentence.
Carthage man died of cold exposure
The death of a Carthage man this week was from extended exposure to cold weather, according to law enforcement.
Darren McGrew, 27, was last seen on foot in the early morning hours of Feb. 4.
He was reporting missing Feb. 6 and found dead just outside the Carthage city limits later that day.
Hancock County Sheriff Travis Duffy said there was no indication of trauma or foul play.
Macomb snow storm cleanup
Macomb City Administrator Scott Coker said last week’s winter storm dropped eight inches of snow on the community.
That was the amount measured at Macomb’s water plant, which is an official weather service site for the city.
City crews this week removed the large mounds of snow from the downtown area and city parking lots.
The snow was dumped in the parking lot near Glenwood Pool.
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