Galesburg

Russ Idle became Galesburg police chief in 2019. One of his top priorities then was to develop more police outreach and communication with residents.

Galesburg Mayor-elect Peter Schwartzman will be sworn in on Monday, May 3. Tri States Public Radio talked to Schwartzman about his plans for leading the city.  

One issue on top of Galesburg voters' minds is a proposed $26 million Lake Storey expansion project. A Phase One feasibility study, released in December, outlined expanding the lake to four times its current size and building new homes. 

City leaders in Galesburg are encountering pushback to a plan for expanding Lake Storey to four times its current size. 

Most of us expect water to run freely from our faucets without disruption. Pay your bill, and the water flows. But for some Galesburg residents, keeping up with their water bill has been a struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Food insecurity in Galesburg was already a problem before COVID-19 shut down schools in mid-March. So when Governor J.B. Pritzker issued stay-at-home orders three months ago, Knox County United Way director Laun Dunn knew her organization had to act fast. 

Scott Rasso said he got hooked on the rock opera Tommy when he was in high school.  Now he will direct a version of the classic story for the Prairie Players Civic Theatre in Galesburg.

Housing Program Coordinator Judy Guenseth said Galesburg received grant funding last fall to remove lead paint from up to 200 homes. But only 20 people have applied for the program, so the city is trying again to get out the word.

The Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg will host a series of documentary films during the first part of the year. Executive Director Erin Glasnovich said the theatre has shown documentaries in the past but never week-after-week as part of a series.

Erin Glasnovich has worked at the Orpheum Theatre in Galesburg for seven years. She has served as a box office assistant, operations manager, and – for the past 11 months –interim director.  Now the word "interim" has been dropped from her title and she is the theatre's new executive director.

Galesburg has completed the latest round of testing for the presence of lead in drinking water. The city said the results show its prevention efforts are working.

Captain Russ Idle joined the Galesburg Police Department as a patrol officer in 1994. On September 9, he will assume command of the department and its roughly 75 employees, including nearly 50 sworn officers.

"Lights for Liberty" vigils were held around the world on July 12.  Demonstrators called for an end to the human detention camps used by the United States along its border with Mexico.

Milwaukee-based Phoenix Investors has announced the acquisition of the two buildings that housed the Maytag facility in Galesburg. Phoenix is a commercial real estate firm.

There might soon be a public transit option for Knox County residents who live outside of Galesburg.

When Heather Dickson relocated to Galesburg with her husband and daughter, she had no personal connection to the town. In Hope Cemetery, she began putting streets to names. In the process, she gained a deep appreciation for the free thinkers and innovators that abound in Galesburg's past.

Dr. B.S. Kesavan became a much-beloved pediatrician during his four decades in Galesburg.  A stroke sidelined him a couple years ago. It left him wondering what he should do and how he might recover.

Hundreds of people turned out Wednesday morning for a ceremony to mark the opening of the East Main Street underpass.  It will allow emergency vehicles and other drivers to get around that part of town without being stopped by trains.