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July 3, 2009--46 new flags along with military plaques will debut in downtown Aledo this weekend. It's a project of the Aledo Police Department says officer Nick Seefeld. Those wishing to purchase a plaque to honor a local soldier, contact the Aledo Police Department at (309)582-2331.

 

July 3, 2009--Four Alexis brothers taking part in the third Quad Cities Honor Flight.  The effort sends World War II veterans from the Quad Cities International Airport to Washington D.C. for free. Bus, Pete, Jack and Dick Moore will be on the October flight. 200 Quad City area vets traveled on the first two Honor Flights.   

 

July 2, 2009--Local State Representative Patrick Verschoore is looking for a state budget compromise and he says he'll continue to support Governor Pat Quinn's call for an income tax increase. State lawmakers return to Springfield July 14th, but Verschoore says Republican legislators remain lukewarm to an income tax hike.

 

July 1, 2009--In response to the 4th of July holiday weekend, the Mercer County Sheriff's Department will be conducting special late night enforcement. The focus is on impaired drivers says Sheriff Tom Thompson. Thompson says motorists should also promptly report any impaired drivers they encounter on the roadways.

 

July 1, 2009--The high school football season isn't that far off, just ask the Illinois High School Association. They release the official schedules this week. Kick off will be here before you know it says Mercer County head coach Nat Zunkel. The Golden Eagles have a 2-and-1 record at the Rock Island 7-on-7 league this summer.

 

July 1, 2009--A ruling in Mercer County Circuit Court this week sends a strong message to dog owners. Judge James Conway awarded $150,000 to 75 year old Peggy Gluba of Keithsburg after she was bitten by an Australian Shepherd last year. Gluba's attorney, Richard Whitman of Monmouth says if owners can't control their pets, they should be held accountable. He says the action taken this week should be a warning for all pet owners. Whitman says Gluba spent five days in the hospital, racked up $22,000 in medical bills, and suffers from severe scarring. Click here for interview with Richard Whitman.

 

June 30, 2009--Sherrard High School's Becky Ince coaches three sports during the school year and is already back in the gym this summer. Ince is holding her girls basketball camp this week with over 50 young ladies. In addition to being the varsity girls basketball coach at Sherrard, Ince is also the head softball coach and an assistant volleyball coach.

 

June 30, 2009--The Aledo Fire Department again presenting a 4th of July fireworks display, but there will be a change this year says Fire Chief Dennis Litwiler. Donations are being accepted and the fire department receives financial support from the City of Aledo and Aledo Area Chamber of Commerce for the fireworks show, which costs about $6,000.

 

June 30, 2009--Organizers are getting set for the 17th Annual Dr. Charles Ford Frog Race. The event is July 4th at Aledo Central Park and Dave Lawson of the Aledo Exchange Club helps out. Registration begins at 10 AM. There are five age divisions, including a senior division, ages 56 and up.

 

June 30, 2009--The Illinois Department of Transportation is urging drivers to slow down in construction zones this summer. You may have received an e-mail lately warning about photo enforcement at construction zones in Illinois that could mean huge fines for drivers speeding just a little bit. IDOT spokesperson Paris Ervin says it isn't a new law and that cameras will be ready to take your picture if you're driving too fast. Five photo enforcement vans will be used at road construction sites in Illinois throughout the summer.

 

June 30, 2009--Although the Aledo and Westmer School Districts are officially deactivated today, the two schools will still be represented this week at an FFA competition. Aledo FFA advisor Mike Chausse says the event is an FFA Fair at Knoxville and features schools from Mercer, Henderson, Rock Island, Fulton, Warren and Knox Counties.

 

June 26, 2009--There could be a new tenant for the Aledo Hardee's location. Dave Wetzel of Barr Real Estate in Champaign says the sale of the property should be finalized after the 4th of July. Crews working on the property said the site has been sold to PepsiCo, a company that runs Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut chains, but Wetzel said that is not accurate. He did confirm the new owner plans to open a restaurant, but he would not elaborate on specific details. The Aledo Hardee's location closed in June of last year.

 

June 26, 2009--Over 50 Illinois Main Street directors get a look at Aledo. The group was in town yesterday as part of a workshop that was being held in Dixon. Among those was Illinois Main Street's Wendy Bell. The group also stopped in Orion and Prophetstown. 

 

June 25, 2009--Seven local high school graduates are getting free college tuition from Black Hawk College. They are taking advantage of the school’s “Top 10% Academic Achievement Award Program.” The initiative includes free tuition for district high school students who rank in the top 10-percent of their graduating class and plan to attend BHC. Those local students taking advantage of the program include Derek Dixon from New Boston; Elizabeth Hessman and Hillary Johnson from Reynolds; Cody Curry from Alpha; and Lora Scott, Heidi Talbott, and Brittney Walker from Aledo.   

 

June 25, 2009--Mercer County's unemployment rate is down to 7.7 percent, but is still almost 2-percent higher than the same period a year ago.  The Illinois Department of Employment Security released the May jobless numbers today.  Rock Island, Warren, Henderson, Henry, and Knox Counties also saw higher unemployment compared to the same period last year. Total non-farm employment continued to decline. Professional-Business Services again was the primary factor to the over-the-year employment decrease. In addition, Retail Trade, Wholesale Trade, Manufacturing, and Leisure-Hospitality reported the largest employment declines compared with one year ago.

 

June 25, 2009--Formal teacher negotiations begin in the new Mercer County School District next month. Unit 404 Superintendent Alan Boucher says labor talks will impact about 120 teachers. The negotiating sessions are July 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th. Boucher says the district will also need to enter into labor negotiations with the Mercer County Education Employees Association, which represents the district's support staff.

 

June 25, 2009--The Mercer County Church Softball League is hosting a reunion celebration later this year. They'll get together November 1st at the Mercer County VFW.  Organizer Harold Morrison of Viola says over 1,200 people participated in the league from 1958 through 1993. For more information on the event contact Morrison at (309)596-2033. 

 

June 24, 2009--Outgoing Mercer County Nursing Home administrator  Carla Ewing is happy to be staying in the health care industry in Mercer County. Ewing will take over the administrator position at the Mercer County Health Department next week.  Ewing has spent 20-years in the nursing home business.

 

June 24, 2009--Who better to learn about thunderstorm danger than Little Leaguers? A district administrator from Rushville helped with an announcement of a new lightning safety campaign at the Illinois Emergency Operations Center this week. Tim Ward preaches safety during umpire school and wants other youth sports officials to be aware too. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency is using the phrase "When thunder roars, go indoors" to promote safety awareness.

 

June 24, 2009--Over 90 girls are sweating to volleyball this week in the Mercer County School District. The Golden Eagles volleyball camp runs through today. It's especially sweltering for the high school players, who are working out at the Westmer Secondary School building in Joy. The 5th-through-8th graders are getting a little relief as camp is being held at the air conditioned Aledo Junior High building. 41 high school kids and 52, 5th-through-8th graders are attending volleyball camp this week. Click here for interview with head volleyball coach Katie Jenkins. 

 

June 2, 2009--An Aledo man is facing weapons charges after a weekend disturbance. Aledo police arrested 39 year old Timothy Ehlers for aggravated assault stemming from an altercation with another individual. Officers also cited him with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon after two weapons were confiscated during the investigation. The incident took place in the 300 block of NE 4th Street.

 

June 19, 2009--Ameren is dedicating $2.2 million to help customers who are unemployed. The company is offering $300 grants, to be applied to Ameren electricity bills, to customers who were laid off in 2009, and are still jobless. This comes at a time when the state’s unemployment rate reached 10.1 percent, a 25-year high, in May says Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris. For more information, visit the Web site www.ameren.com.  Customers also can call (800)755-5000.

 

June 18, 2009--WRMJ News and Sports Director Jim Taylor was honored by the Illinois Broadcasters Association last night in East Peoria. Taylor won the IBA's "Best Sportscaster Award" in the small market radio category. He was recognized for his work in covering high sports through the "WRMJ Sportsline" program; "The High School Sports Spotlight"; and play-by-play of local schools. Taylor also won the IBA's "Best Local Newscast Award" for his work on WRMJ's "Western Illinois Today News."

 

June 18, 2009--The Mercer County School District Unit Office is now in it's new home. Alan Boucher and his staff will be set up at Mercer County Intermediate School, which is the former Aledo Junior High location. The phone number is the same as the Aledo Unit Office number--582-2238.

 

June 18, 2009--School’s out for summer, and though some districts have been out longer than others, the Illinois Department of Public Health is already urging parents to start preparing their kids to go back to class – with vaccinations. Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says it’s best to make appointments now, because come August it will likely be difficult to get an appointment. Locally, the Mercer County Health Department administers vaccinations. For more information call (309)582-3759.

 

June 17, 2009--Despite a lawsuit filed to stop construction of a proposed expansion at the Mercer County Jail, the Mercer County Board Chairman is still hopeful construction can begin this summer. Tom Harris says the county remains committed in seeing the project through. The $5-million expansion would add 30 cells, but a group called Concerned Citizens for Mercer County claims the building commission does not have authority to move forward with the project. The eight-page complaint filed in Mercer County Circuit Court alleges that the commission was created for the limited role of building the jail back in 1985 and would have to seek voter approval to assume expanded powers, specifically adding on to the facility. No hearing has been scheduled on the matter.

 

June 17, 2009--Downtown Aledo close to becoming a "wi fi" hot spot. Aledo Main Street manager Pam Myers says the Viola Telephone Company has been contracted to install the service. Myers says the "wi fi" should be hot within a couple of months.

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