SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker announced Monday his administration has reached agreement with multiple trade unions requiring certain state workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, but it is extending the deadline for workers to get their first shot to Oct. 26 while negotiations continue with the state’s largest public employees union. Pritzker issued executive orders in late […]
Reuschel leaves theatre to become executive director of Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools Foundation
QUINCY — Sara Reuschel wasn’t actively looking to leave her position as the executive director of the Quincy Community Theatre. “If you would have talked to me about two or three months ago, I would have told you I was going to retire from the theater,” she said. “There was not a job that I […]
City Council to vote on overtime funds for fire department; temporary station closures due to lack of firefighters
QUINCY — Fire Station 6 at 24th and Cedar was briefly closed twice in the past 30 days because of a lack of available firefighters. “A guy called in sick in the morning. We had four guys in Chicago training, and we had some guys taking vacation days,” Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp said of the […]
Ask MRN: What is a cannabis amnesty box, and does Quincy have one?
I recently was in Chicago and boarding a plane at O’Hare when I saw something called a cannabis amnesty box. Does the airport in Quincy have a cannabis amnesty box? Marijuana became legal in Illinois on Jan. 1, 2020. Airports in Chicago immediately set up “cannabis amnesty boxes” that allowed travelers departing the state to […]
New congressional maps unveiled ahead of fall veto session
SPRINGFIELD – Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly released a proposed set of new congressional district maps Friday, just days before lawmakers return to the Statehouse for the start of their fall veto session, which begins Oct. 19. All states redraw their congressional districts following each decennial census. The proposed new maps reflect the fact that Illinois […]
‘It’s amazing what talents some of these people have’: Owners anxious to show vintage cars during Fall Color Run
PLAINVILLE, Ill. — A visitor stopping by Richard Chapman’s home in rural Adams County might look at the car parts scattered throughout the property and wonder what he’s planning to do with all of that … well, junk. “My wife tells me that all the time,” Chapman said. “But what’s junk to someone else, I […]
World’s largest earthquake drill set for Thursday
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The world’s largest earthquake drill will take place at 10:21 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency is encouraging families, schools, businesses and other organizations to register to participate in this quick and easy preparedness drill. ShakeOut is an international event involving millions of participants from more […]
After eight months of renovations, former Comfort Inn set to reopen Friday as AmericInn
QUINCY — The former Comfort Inn at 4122 Broadway, closed since it was sold in February, will reopen Friday as an AmericInn Lodge and Suites. Shil Patel said he and his father, Sunny, bought the 58-room facility in February for $1.1 million. He says they’ve spent $700,000 in renovations. “We’re just waiting on some of […]
Second search for private operator to take over Art Keller Marina comes up empty
QUINCY — The Quincy Park District’s search for a private operator to take over the Art Keller Marina has ended without success for a second time. The Park Board voted at its Wednesday meeting to close the process for accepting requests for proposals for marina operations. Proposals were requested in June and January, but none […]
Park Board votes to save extra tax money, authorizes $1.04 million general obligation bond
QUINCY — The Quincy Park Board voted Wednesday night to approve its annual district capital project list for 2022, but how it was going to be paid for was the subject of considerable discussion Wednesday night. The Quincy Park District authorizes each year a non-referendum general obligation bond for capital projects. The proceeds are used […]
