David Adam, MRN Editor
April 26, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Chief Public Defender Todd Nelson filed a motion Monday seeking the release of Natasha McBride, who is charged in connection with a fatal 2020 traffic crash, from the Adams County Jail. During a status hearing Tuesday morning, Judge Timothy Wessel set a Monday, May 2 hearing on Nelson’s motion. McBride, who faces four counts…
Read Full Article April 26, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board approved Quincy Medical Group’s certificate of need applications for both the QMG Hospital and QMG Birth Center during its meeting on Tuesday. The decision reversed a May 26, 2021 ruling when the board cited the project would create an unnecessary duplication of services. QMG appealed,…
Read Full Article April 26, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — After 10 years as the principal at Quincy Junior High School, Dan Sparrow is eager to work directly with students again. The Liberty School Board hired Sparrow, 51, Monday during a special meeting. He will be the athletic director and dean of students for the Liberty School District next year. Sparrow recently guided…
Read Full Article April 25, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — About 45 minutes after an eight-man, four-woman jury found a former corrections officer at the Western Illinois Correctional Center guilty of all five charges against him, two jurors were frustrated no decision was reached regarding the fate of a lieutenant at the same prison. “I don’t feel like we finished the job,”…
Read Full Article April 25, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
SPRINGFIELD — An eight-man, four-woman jury found one former prison guard at the Western Illinois Correctional Center guilty of all five charges in a trial that ended Monday, but the jury could not come to a decision on the fate of a second prison guard. Alex Banta, 30, of Quincy was found guilty of depriving…
Read Full Article April 22, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Assistant U.S. Attorney Eugene Miller said the case against two prison guards at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling comes down to two facts. “They beat him up,” he said during closing arguments Friday afternoon in the U.S. District Courthouse in the Paul Findley Federal Building. “Then they lied to…
Read Full Article April 22, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Closing arguments started Friday afternoon in the federal trial for two prison guards at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling. Two defense witnesses and a rebuttal witness for the prosecution were on the stand Friday morning at the U.S. District Courthouse. U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough then read jury instructions…
Read Full Article April 20, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Carlos Williams has been in the Adams County Jail for 29 months awaiting his trial in the 2019 murder case of Orlando Smith. However, when he was scheduled to appear in Adams County Circuit Court on Wednesday for a status hearing in front of Judge Roger Thomson, Williams wasn’t there — twice. He didn’t…
Read Full Article April 20, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A Quincy man charged in connection with the February death of another Quincy man in his home pled not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder during his arraignment on Wednesday afternoon in Adams County Circuit Court. Devere S. Gholston, 27, and a 15-year-old boy were arrested after the beating death of 67-year-old…
Read Full Article April 19, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The jury in the federal trial for two prison guards at the Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling was sent home Tuesday morning because of “technical difficulties,” according to the chief deputy at the U.S. District Courthouse. During a brief status meeting on Tuesday afternoon, U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough scheduled…
Read Full Article April 18, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The new owners of the State Theater are ready for visitors to create new stories beginning this week. The Forward Quincy Cattywampus All-Stars, an offshoot of the Brooklyn-based musical group Food Will Win the War, will play a special performance Thursday night at the newly renovated theater at 434 S. Eighth. It will…
Read Full Article April 18, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup would like to discuss with the city’s new police chief, who is scheduled to be selected during the first week of May, about changes he would like to see at the top of the Quincy Police Department’s organizational chart. Three finalists to replace Chief Rob Copley were selected after a two-month search by…
Read Full Article April 14, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The finance committee for the Quincy Park Board met Wednesday night to discuss how to come up with $2.5 million and $3 million to pay for a new irrigation system at Westview Golf Course. John Frankenhoff, chairman of the finance committee, said commissioners are considering many options. He doesn’t believe a referendum is…
Read Full Article April 13, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The moment when Caroline Redenius finally held her brother’s dog tag was overwhelming. “It doesn’t seem real to me,” she said. “I can’t identify with it. Isn’t that odd?” Redenius and her sister, Beverly Warning, were in Smith Hall on the Illinois Veterans Home campus Wednesday morning for a ceremony during which they…
Read Full Article April 13, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — A Quincy woman speaking to the Quincy City Council at Monday’s meeting shed light on an increasing number of canceled Cape Air flights at Quincy Regional Airport. Whitney Mintert addressed aldermen during the public forum portion of the meeting. During her allotted three minutes, Mintert said she and her husband, Michael Joyce, moved…
Read Full Article April 12, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley said his department is “drowning” and needs to hire 10 more officers during a Monday meeting in City Council chambers as aldermen reviewed the city’s proposed 2022-23 budget. Chief Bernie Vahlkamp said the fire department is proposing a $12.9 million spending plan, a 5.48 percent increase over the…
Read Full Article April 12, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Aldermen approved funding for the first 10 projects in the Small Rental Rehabilitation Program during Monday’s City Council meeting. Building owners with property west of 18th Street, within the city limits, submitted proposals for funding assistance. Forgivable loans are available at zero percent interest for 50 percent of the total cost of renovation/construction up…
Read Full Article April 12, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Aldermen voted Monday night to authorize another $250,000 for the Quincy Workforce Relocation Assistance Program (Q-WRAP), but it was clear some aldermen aren’t convinced of the program’s effectiveness. The program aims to incentivize out-of-town employees to move to Quincy by offering $5,000 in property tax relief for those buying a house or $3,500…
Read Full Article April 9, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Two of the three finalists for the position of Quincy’s chief of police already are employed by the Quincy Police Department. An email sent Saturday night to local media by Barry Cheyne, one of three members of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, revealed the finalists selected after a two-month search. They are:…
Read Full Article April 8, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy firefighters responded to an apartment fire at 901 N. Ninth that displaced two families from their homes on Friday morning. The Quincy Fire Department was dispatched at 8:55 a.m. to the Frederick Ball apartment complex after it received a report of visible smoke and flames. Two trucks were on the scene. Fire…
Read Full Article April 7, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Illinois Supreme Court’s recent decision to reject the re-sentencing of a local criminal sexual assault case hasn’t deterred a local grassroots organization. “Stand With Cammy” held a peaceful protest during the noon hour Thursday in downtown Quincy in support of Cameron Vaughan. The Quincy teenager spoke out against Drew Clinton, who was…
Read Full Article April 6, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — As the managing broker and owner of Bower & Associates Realtors, Inc., Carol Shaffer’s primary job is to help people buy and sell real estate. However, when the building once known as the Forum Show Palace and Winter’s West Wing, along with two other properties at 415-419 Hampshire, was available to buy, Shaffer…
Read Full Article April 3, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Out of difficulties grow miracles. That quote from French philosopher Jean de la Bruyere might best sum up the creation of Smiles from Myles, a local program that donates new toys to patients for local hospitals and clinics. Doctors in early fall of 2020 diagnosed Courtney and Brandon Grant’s son, Myles, with hemophagocytic…
Read Full Article March 31, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
Dear MRN, I drive down 24th Street and have noticed a lot of construction activity on the west side of the street at 24th and Lind. What is happening? Is it retail? What is happening at the old Deters Dairy building on North 24th behind the Ladies of Charity? I notice construction going on, and…
Read Full Article March 30, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Rick and Becky Gengenbacher came up with the idea to go into business with Rick’s parents, Dick and Mary Lou Gengenbacher, to sell shaved ice and help put their four daughters through Quincy’s private Catholic schools. Twenty years later, the proceeds from Gengenbacher’s Shaved Ice Shack also helped pay for college expenses and…
Read Full Article March 30, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials reached an agreement last week with the Bel Aire Motel, 2314 N. 12th, to provide emergency shelter. The TRRC previously provided vouchers to stay at the Welcome Inn, 200 Maine, to people needing emergency shelter. However, city officials shut down the Welcome Inn on July…
Read Full Article March 29, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Judge Amy Lannerd has delayed her ruling as to whether an aggravated driving under the influence charge should be dismissed in the case of the Quincy woman accused of killing four people in a 2020 crash. Natasha McBride, 37, returned to Adams County Circuit Court Tuesday morning for a status hearing. An evidentiary hearing…
Read Full Article March 27, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — The days of a truck stopping in front of your home and picking up your recyclable materials are likely ending. “Yeah, it’s probably a fair statement,” Central Services Director Kevin McClean said. “We are definitely looking for other alternatives to make things more economical, so it’s not costing the taxpayers more money than…
Read Full Article March 25, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
HANNIBAL, Mo. — The implementation of what transitional President Rodney Harrison called an “integrity plan,” coupled with increased giving from alumni in the past month, has put Hannibal-LaGrange University on what Harrison believes is a path to “ensure the long-term sustainability” of the school. Asked how close the university was to shutting the doors earlier…
Read Full Article March 25, 2022 | By David Adam, MRN Editor
QUINCY — Quincy has one of the finest public golf courses in the Midwest, and Quincy Park District officials know a major expense is coming if it hopes to maintain the 27-hole course for future generations. Finding a way to pay for it won’t be simple. Rome Frericks, executive director of the Park District, and…
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