Child porn charges in Cass County
An Arkansas man is facing child pornography charges in Cass County.
Taylor Rainwater, 19, of Batesville was reportedly soliciting child pornography from a juvenile.
After an investigation by Illinois State Police and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force, the Cass County State’s Attorney’s office charged Rainwater with five counts of child pornography.
Rainwater is being held at the Morgan County Detention Facility in Jacksonville. Bond is set at $200,000.
Fatal bicycle accident in Keokuk
A Keokuk man died after he was struck from behind by an SUV while riding his bicycle.
Clark Pfeiferling, 57, of Keokuk, was traveling west on South Seventh Street early Wednesday evening when he was hit by a 70-year-old woman from Niota driving the SUV.
Pfeiferling was taken to the Fort Madison hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
No citations have been issued to the driver.
Iowa State Patrol, Lee County EMS, and Keokuk police responded to the accident.
Macomb middle school opening delayed
The Macomb School District hoped the building might open for the second half of the current school year.
But Superintendent Patrick Twomey said the contractor told him it won’t be ready until at least February. As a result, Twomey said the district will adjust its plans.
“We’ll just be patient now and wait for the 2023-24 school year,” Twomey said. “We will get busy making plans for a grand opening sometime over the summer and let the community come in to see the final product.”
The school is being built just south of the current junior-senior high. It will house sixth through eighth grade students.
The junior-senior high will then be used exclusively for high schoolers.
The projected cost of the new middle school is $17.7 million. It’s being paid for with revenue collected from a one-cent sales tax that McDonough County voters approved for school facilities.
Late Galesburg dentist establishes scholarships
The first woman to work as a dentist in Galesburg has left a hundred thousand dollars for dental hygiene students at Carl Sandburg College.
Dr. Kandy Sayrs died in March after more 30 years working in her hometown.
She was a graduate of Galesburg High School and Knox College, and she was involved with Sandburg’s dental hygiene since it began in 2001.
The funds will be used for scholarships.
Macomb to expand Flags of Love Brick Memorial
The brick memorial honors military veterans from McDonough County. Its first phase is on the south side of Chandler Park, in front of the Ruth Watts Memorial Fountain.
The Macomb Flags of Love & Memorial Bricks Committee said the next phase will start on the north side of the fountain.
The committee said the new section will include four benches, two of which are already sponsored. The group said it is seeking sponsors for the other two benches. Anyone interested should contact Marcia LeFante at mmlefante@yahoo.com
The group plans to complete the second phase next spring.
Tri States Public Radio produced this story. TSPR relies on financial support from our readers and listeners in order to provide coverage of the issues that matter to west central Illinois, southeast Iowa, and northeast Missouri. As someone who values the content created by TSPR's news department please consider making a financial contribution.