Galesburg attorney disbarred on consent
A Galesburg attorney has chosen to be removed from the practice while facing charges of misconduct.
Cyril William Butts, who was licensed in 1979, was disbarred on consent, according to attorney regulation summaries from the Illinois Supreme Court.
Butts reportedly misappropriated $14,245 in client funds in an estate matter and failed to communicate with clients in two other matters. In the latter two matters, he also did not return more than $6,000 in unearned fees.
Fulton County included in national disaster declaration
President Joseph Biden signed a federal Major Disaster Declaration for Fulton and six other counties in Illinois.
The action makes the counties eligible for the Individual Assistance program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The declaration is in response to severe weather and flooding from storms in mid-July that produced tornadoes, high winds, and heavy rainfall.
The other counties included in the declaration are Cook, Henry, St. Clair, Washington, Will, and Winnebago.
Governor JB Pritzker earlier issued a state disaster proclamation for Fulton and the other counties, making state assistance available.
Monmouth College awarded mental health grant
Monmouth College has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the National Institute for Health to strengthen student mental health and well-being.
The college will use the grant to implement “Scots POW,” which stands for “Prioritizing Our Well-Being.” In addition to developing programs centered on physical and mental health, Scots POW will support at-risk students, strengthen support systems for marginalized students, and promote overall student health initiatives that bolster retention and graduation rates.
The grant will also support an effort to train students, faculty, and staff to be Mental Health Peer Educators.
The three-year grant is through the NIH’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and it is part of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Suicide Prevention Program.
Arizona man sent to prison in Illinois meth case
A federal judge sentenced an Arizona man to 15 years in prison for leading a conspiracy to distribute meth in western Illinois.
The case dates back to 2017, when Christopher Harris, now 44, recruited two women from Quincy to serve as drug couriers.
Prosecutors said the plan was for the women to pick up drugs from Harris in Arizona and drive the substances to Quincy. Harris would then fly to Illinois to retrieve the drugs.
However, the women were arrested while still in Arizona. Harris had given them 11 pounds of methamphetamine and one pound of cocaine.
Harris had three prior felony drugs convictions
Critical need for blood donations
There’s an ongoing critical need for blood and platelet donations to keep the blood supply stable as autumn begins, according to the American Red Cross.
Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with type O blood and those giving platelets.
Make an appointment to give by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app. Those who come to give by Sept. 30 will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of choice.
Those who come to give Oct. 1-31 will receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card by email, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win one of three $5,000 gift cards.
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