Category Archives: Police and Fire

Police conducting traffic enforcement details on Gridley Blacktop

Police conducting traffic enforcement details on Gridley Blacktop

By Neil Doyle MCLEAN COUNTY – The McLean County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting traffic enforcement details in the northern part of the county. In a Facebook post, the sheriff’s office says the traffic enforcement will be on the Gridley Blacktop, 1925 East Road and County Hwy. 29, between Gridley and Towanda. “We’d much rather…MORE

Normal Police Chief announces retirement

Normal Police Chief announces retirement

By Neil Doyle NORMAL – Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner on Monday announced plans to retire at the end of April 2022. “I have given this great consideration and the time is right,” said Bleichner in a news release. “The organization has six new recruits preparing to report to the academy at the end of April and…MORE

One person dead after McLean County interstate accident

One person dead after McLean County interstate accident

By HOI ABC BLOOMINGTON – One person sustained fatal injuries after a two-vehicle crash on southbound Interstate 55 in Mclean County. Illinois State Police said that at around 9:31 a.m. near mile marker 156, in southwest Bloomington, a truck-tractor semi-trailer combination was slowed or stopped in traffic when a passenger vehicle failed to slow and…MORE

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…