A weekly roundup of news from around the region.
Simmons Street construction continues in Galesburg
Work continues on improvements to Simmons Street in downtown Galesburg.
The streetscape beautification project is funded by a $2 million Rebuild Illinois grant and $400,000 in local funds.
Work began in March, closing the intersection at Prairie Street. This week, that intersection reopened to traffic.
Now the Kellogg Street intersection will close during the next phase.
The project includes asphalt resurfacing and storm sewer improvements, plus new landscaping, benches, and street lighting.
The city parking lot adjacent to Simmons Street is also being improved.
Macomb to receive refund for special census
The U.S. Census Bureau will be sending money back to the city of Macomb.
The bureau required Macomb to pay $361,000 after the city asked for a special census. However, the work ended up costing $124,000.
So, City Administrator Scott Coker told the city council this week that Macomb is receiving a refund of nearly $237,000.
The recount, which was done last fall, added 494 residents to the city’s population. Coker said that will net the city an estimated $627,000 dollars over the next six years.
Sheriff’s office investigating fatal crash in Nauvoo
One person died after a head-on car collision in Nauvoo on Sunday, July 20.
The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office said the northbound vehicle driven by Spencer Clark of North Dakota crossed into the southbound lane on Highway 96 at around 3 p.m.
The driver of an oncoming vehicle, Robyn Villegas of Keokuk, tried to avoid a crash by steering into the northbound lane, but the vehicles collided when Clark swerved back into his lane.
A passenger in Villegas’ vehicle, Tina Huston of Mendon, was life-flighted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where she died.
Two other passengers in Villegas’ vehicle were airlifted to hospitals in the region, as was Clark. All three suffered severe injuries.
Villegas was treated for minor injuries at Memorial Hospital in Carthage.
The sheriff’s office said it continues to investigate the crash.
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