A weekly roundup of news from around the region.
Thunderstorms followed by snow showers
Thunderstorms moved the region Wednesday afternoon, followed by snow Wednesday night into Thursday.
The National Weather Service said a tornado was reported near St. David on Wednesday afternoon. No other details were available.
Thunderstorm damage was reported near Lewistown, where a portion of a barn roof was removed and a section of a large tree fell, and a thunderstorm wind gust of 55 mph was reported in Biggsville.
Temperatures dropped Wednesday night, and rain changed to snow.
The weather service received reports of 4 inches of snow in Knoxville, 2 inches in Burlington, and 1.5 inches in Carthage.
Strong storms also battered the region on Friday night, March 14, tearing the steeple off Gerlaw Christian Church, and knocking out power for thousands of Schuyler County residents.
Significant wind speeds were recorded with the Friday night storms, including a gust of 81 miles per hour southeast of Blandinsville.
Burlington council delays vote on fire station bids
The Burlington city council delayed a vote on bids for building the community’s third fire station.
City Manager Chad Bird said the bids came in either too high or too close to the construction project’s budget. He wants time to find savings or efficiencies for the project.
The council will consider bids during its meeting on April 7.
Bird said contractors showed a lot of interest in the project. The city received 14 bid packages.
Voters in November of 2023 approved spending up to $7.3 million to build and equip the new fire station, which will be located in the northwest part of the city.
Macomb to get Underground Railroad mural
Macomb will soon have a new piece of public art. It will depict McDonough County’s involvement in the Underground Railroad.
The mural will be painted at the Thomas C. Carper Amtrak station by local artist Michael Mahoney, who created the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian mural in downtown Macomb.
The cost of the new mural will be covered with a $4,000 grant from the Looking for Lincoln program and matching money from the Macomb Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Work could begin next month and be completed in time for the city’s Heritage Days festival in late June.
Bridge replacement on I-74 in Knox County
Work will begin Monday on a bridge replacement project on I-74 in Knox County, just west of the Spoon River Rest Area.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said the eastbound span will be removed and replaced, with two-way traffic using the westbound bridge while the work is done.
Drivers can expect delays during the project, which should be completed in December.
Bridge project on Route 67
Work began this week on a portion of Route 67 in Mercer County.
Construction workers will replace the bridge over North Henderson Creek, about seven miles south of Viola.
The Illinois Department of Transportation said traffic delays are expected.
The project is scheduled to be completed in May 2026.
State grants for field trips
State grants will help students in western Illinois take field trips to state parks and natural areas.
West Central Elementary School in Biggsville received $783 for second grade students to visit Wildlife Prairie Park.
ROWVA Junior-Senior High School in Oneida received three grants.
A $275 grant will allow ninth and tenth graders to visit Western Illinois University in Macomb. A separate $275 grant will help ninth through twelfth grade students make a trip to Snake Den Hollow. A $500 grant will allow ninth through twelfth graders to visit Wildlife Prairie Park.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources awarded $99,600 statewide for 113 student field trip grants.
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