Counting completed for Macomb special census
The counting is wrapped up for Macomb’s special census, but Community Development Coordinator Miranda Lambert told the city council the results won’t be available until February or March.
The recount focused on areas around the Western Illinois University campus. The city believes they were undercounted during the census done in April of 2020 because many students remained in their hometowns during the early stages of the pandemic.
The recount also included the Georgetown subdivision, which the city annexed earlier this year.
The federal government uses census figures to determine its distribution of funding for hundreds of programs, such as school lunches and infrastructure.
Downtown Galesburg building destroyed by fire
A fire in a vacant building downtown Galesburg building is under investigation.
Firefighters responded to 175 N. Cherry St. at 3:18 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2.
Heavy smoke and flames were coming from the roof of the commercial building that used to be a printing company.
Freezing temperatures and heavy winds made it difficult to control the fire. But crews were able to stop it from spreading to a restaurant next door.
The building is a total loss.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact the Galesburg Police Department.
Macomb man arrested on child porn charges
Illinois State Police arrested a Macomb man for child pornography after executing a search warrant in the 200 block of N. Sherman Ave.
Christopher Metcalf, 43, is charged with six counts of possession of child pornography.
Police said he was disseminating child sexual abuse material through an online platform.
Metcalf was arrested on Nov. 26. He remains in the McDonough County jail after being denied pretrial release.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 23.
New McDonough County board chairperson
The McDonough County Board has a new leader.
Board members on Monday night unanimously agreed to appoint Republican Eric Blakeley as chairperson.
He replaces Scott Schwerer, who served as chair for much of the past 17 years.
Illinois hunters harvest more than 54,000 deer
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources said its preliminary figures show hunters harvested 54,661 deer during the first weekend of the firearm deer season.
Adams County led the way in western Illinois with 1,1414 deer harvested, followed by Fulton County with 1,317, Pike County with 1,136, and Hancock County with 1,102.
The final four days of the state’s firearm deer season are being held this weekend, ending on Sunday, Dec. 8.
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