Pretrial hearings in McDonough County homicides continued
Defendants in three McDonough County homicide cases had pre-trial hearings this week, and all three cases were continued until early March.
Portia Garrison, 30, is charged in the stabbing death of her husband, Ricky Haymer, 27, in February 2023 in Macomb.
Nicholas Lafary, 19, is charged in the June 2023 shooting death of Travis Purden, 43, in Bushnell. LaFary’s co-defendant, Davin Purden, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder last November. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 28.
Timothy Smith, 41, is charged in the beating death of his cellmate, Darrell Hocker, 51, in the McDonough County jail in November 2023
Keokuk to keep five-day school week
The Keokuk School District will stick with a five-day school week.
The school board studied the idea of switching to a four-day week, but members have indicated they prefer to continue with the current schedule. The board was particularly concerned about the effect a shorter week of classes would have on elementary school students.
Superintendent Kathy Dinger proposed the idea of a shorter week as the district looks for ways to retain students and staff and attract new employees.
A vote to make it official will be held in February or early March.
Burlington to seek federal grant for Main Street rehab
The city of Burlington is going after a federal grant to support a $15 million project for improving Main Street.
“A Safe and Connected Main Street” includes comprehensive improvements along South Main from Angular Street to the Cascade Bridge, and would extend the city’s trail network from downtown, across Cascade Bridge, and into the park system
The city is applying for a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program, and would match that with $3 million in local funds.
Public Works Director Nick MacGregor said the city’s match is money they’re already planning to use for the Mississippi River Interceptor project, which includes laying a new sewer line along Main Street.
He said applying for the transportation grant is a way to leverage those dollars to replace that section of Main Street as a concrete roadway, rather than just patch it.
New leader for the Legacy Theater in Carthage
The Legacy Theater in Carthage has hired a new executive director.
Casey Hall was a group sales director for The Brett Family in Branson, Mo., from 2010 to 2017. He has also worked in graphic design.
Hall moved to Hancock County in 2019, where he worked for Nauvoo Facilities Management.
Hall replaces Tom Robbins at the theater.
Robbins was the Legacy’s first full-time executive director. He has moved to Minnesota to be near family following the death of his wife.
Mental health grants available in Knox County
Around $1.7 million in local grants is available to Knox County organizations that fund programs for mental health, substance use, and people with developmental disabilities.
The Knox County Mental Health Board is accepting applications through the end of February.
The grants are funded by a property tax levy approved in 2017.
More information is available on the county’s website.
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