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Around the Tri States: Colchester homicide investigation continues; Two killed in wrong-way I-74 crash; Macomb to demolish more dilapidated houses

Jane Carlson
/
Tri States Public Radio

A weekly roundup of news from around the region.

Colchester homicide investigation continues

Investigators are continuing to search for suspects in last week’s shooting death of a Colchester woman.

The body of Cheyenna Decker, 23, was found in her apartment on North Coal Street on Tuesday, January 21.

An autopsy found she died from a gunshot wound.

The McDonough County sheriff’s office said anonymous tips can be made to the Macomb Area Crime Stoppers at (309) 836-3222.

Two killed in wrong-way I-74 crash

Two people are dead after a wrong-way crash on Interstate 74 in rural Knox County.

Illinois State Police responded to the two-vehicle accident at mile marker 63 near Gilson at 3:08 a.m. Thursday.

Police said a vehicle was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes when it hit another vehicle head-on.

The drivers of both vehicles were killed. A passenger in the second vehicle was flown to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Macomb to demolish more dilapidated houses

Macomb is seeking bids to demolish up to 25 more dilapidated houses.

The money for demolition projects comes from the state’s Strong Communities grant program. No city money is involved.

The grant program provides funding for addressing affordable housing needs and community revitalization efforts.

This will be the fourth round of demolition projects from two grants that the city has received.

Community Development Coordinator Miranda Lambert said the city is still finalizing its list of houses to be demolished.

She said the city hopes the work can begin early this summer and be completed by fall.

One wounded in Galesburg shooting

Galesburg police are investigating a shooting near downtown from

early Monday, Jan. 27.

Police responded to the 200 block of North Chambers Street at 2:26 a.m.

They found a 20-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

There were also bullet holes on the exterior of the residence.

The victim was treated at a local hospital.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Galesburg

police or Galesburg Area Crime Stoppers.

Burlington man sentenced in federal meth case

A Burlington man will serve 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in southeast Iowa between 2019 and 2021.

Giovani D. Timmons, 24, was found guilty of transporting methamphetamine to Burlington, including 362 pounds of the drug seized during a January 2020 traffic stop in Arizona.

Timmons’ eight co-defendants in the case were sentenced in 2022.

After serving his prison term, Timmons will be required to serve five years of supervised release.

Macomb man sentenced in child pornography case

A Macomb man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to three felony counts of possession of child pornography.

Christopher Fugate, 39, must also pay a $1,000 fine for each count, submit a DNA sample, and register as a sex offender.

Fugate was arrested on Feb. 7, 2024 after law enforcement conducted a search at his home in the 800 block of North Randolph Street and found evidence of child pornography.

The Illinois Attorney General’s office prosecuted the case with the McDonough County State’s Attorney’s office.

Quincy veterans’ home opens new facility

The Veterans’ Home at Quincy has opened its new domiciliary.

The facility includes a new 210-bed skilled care facility and 80 independent living rooms.

The state and federal governments collaborated on the project, which cost $300 million.

Quincy hospital receives Birth Equity Initiative grant

Blessing Hospital in Quincy will receive a $400,000 grant through the state’s Birth Equity Initiative.

Blessing will use the money for a project designed to reduce health inequities in women of color by increasing engagement and participation in their healthcare.

The Illinois Department of Public Health awarded $4.5 million in the competitive BEI grants to 12 groups across the state. The grants are designed to support community-based efforts to reduce inequities in populations that are historically at higher risk for adverse birth outcomes.

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