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Week to Dream Big fundraiser to run Nov. 1-5

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Quincy, Ill. – The Quincy Public Schools Foundation will host its Week to Dream Big fundraiser Nov. 1-5 to support its annual Dream Big campaign.  The kickoff will be celebrated Monday morning at Carter’s Coffee Bar as part of the Dine to Dream Big initiative, with local restaurant owners donating a percentage of their day’s […]

UPDATE: Guthrie steps down as director of Quincy’s downtown district to take job with Chamber of Commerce

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QUINCY — Bruce Guthrie announced Friday morning he was leaving his position as Executive Director of “The District”, the organization that promotes downtown Quincy businesses and events. His new position, president and CEO of The Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce, was made public Friday afternoon about seven hours later. Guthrie, a former executive with the […]

Workouts from home, like work, gaining popularity; fitness facilities learning how to entice people to come back

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QUINCY — Sam McKelvie greets the people in her class with “Hello, my friends,” then instructs them to begin stretching before they start exercising. It’s a routine she’s gone through many times. On some days, those instructions are given in a studio she rents in the Washington Theatre building in downtown Quincy. On many days, […]

Infrastructure, economic development projects discussed during ‘Lunch with the Mayor’

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QUINCY — Mike Troup’s first “Lunch with the Mayor” drew about 15 people to City Council chambers Wednesday afternoon.  “I think it was good,” he said. “We need to do more of these. Some ideas that came up today are important, and we need to follow up with them.” Quincy Planning and Development Director Chuck […]

Broadway Bullring back in business: dirt-track racing to return to Adams County Speedway in Spring 2022

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QUINCY – The track is back! And it has a new name. Owner Paul Holtschlag announced Wednesday that Jimmy Lieurance will be taking over as director of operations at Adams County Speedway, formerly known as Quincy Raceways, and that the .29-mile track at 8000 Broadway will reopen in spring 2022.  Lieurance will be leasing the […]

Investigation reveals abuse resulted in disfigurement to child; meth also provided to children

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QUINCY — A man and a woman are in the Adams County Jail facing drug charges after an investigation revealed methamphetamine was provided to children. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office received a tip in August from the Department of Child Family Services regarding a report of child abuse and neglect. A forensic interview was completed […]

Eight-person committee formed to search for Webb’s successor as superintendent

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QUINCY — An eight-person committee has been formed to search for Roy Webb’s replacement as the superintendent of the Quincy School District, and the deadline for candidates to apply is Nov. 5. Sayeed Ali, president of the Quincy School Board, returns to the committee. He was part of a seven-person committee in 2015 that eventually selected […]

A new Quincy City Hall? Not yet…

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QUINCY — The Quincy City Council awarded a no-bid contract of $60,000 to Klingner & Associates to “provide architectural studies, planning, conceptual design and cost estimating services for City Hall space allocation needs.” But as aldermen questioned Director of Utilities and Engineering Jeffrey Conte about the contract, a broader discussion developed regarding the possibility of […]

Reuschel leaves theatre to become executive director of Quincy Catholic Elementary Schools Foundation

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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

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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?

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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 […]

Taking the first steps back to pre-pandemic health

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QUINCY — It came without warning, that single glance in the mirror that left me dumbfounded. “YIKES! What on earth has happened here?” Sure. I knew I’d gained eight pounds since March 11, 2020, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global pandemic. I knew I’d sort’ve tried to stay healthy at home, walking […]

‘It’s amazing what talents some of these people have’: Owners anxious to show vintage cars during Fall Color Run

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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 […]

After eight months of renovations, former Comfort Inn set to reopen Friday as AmericInn

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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

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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

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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 […]

Park Board president: ‘we have to financially take a hit on’ Indian Mounds Pool as it loses $57K this year and needs nearly $200K in repairs

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QUINCY — Indian Mounds Pool lost more than $57,000 in 2021, and the Quincy Park Board voted Wednesday night to spend $173,000 on a filter replacement. Yet Park Board President Roger Leenerts says the board will continue to fund the city’s only public pool. “We feel that this is a service to the community, just […]

Adams County looking at possible 32 percent increase in employee health insurance

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As Adams County prepares its 2022 budget, the Adams County Board received a little bit of sticker shock on one important item at Tuesday night’s meeting. Finance Committee Chair Bret Austin informed the Board that the County’s employee health insurance plan was looking at a 32 percent increase. “There are not a lot of options […]

Mayor hopes monthly lunches will provide more information about city issues

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QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup informed aldermen Tuesday night of his plans to hold a monthly meeting for people to learn more about issues the city is facing. The first meeting of “Lunch With Mayor Troup” is set for noon on Oct. 20 in City Council chambers at City Hall.  “But bring your own […]

Mayor wants to bring new hotel to Quincy; president of local hotel association questions if one is needed

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QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup says he’s working to bring a hotel to the city, and the director of real estate for the company that owns the Quincy Town Center says he’s talking with several major hotel chains about building in Quincy. However, the president of the Quincy Hotel and Lodging Association isn’t sure […]

‘It’s scary how fast it is’: Walk to raise money for pancreatic cancer research set for Saturday in Hannibal

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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The statistics aren’t in Erin Hedges’ favor, but she remains determined. Hedges is helping coordinate the Lustgarten Foundation’s sixth annual Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk on Saturday at the Sodalis Nature Preserve. However, she doesn’t see from year to year many of the people she’s trying to help. “When I started (the walk), […]

Monday’s Facebook outage probably annoyed you, but it cost some businesses money

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QUINCY — For most of us, Facebook’s five-hour outage on Monday was merely annoying. It prevented us from wasting time at work to mindlessly scroll on our phones to find out what is happening with friends and family. However, for some, Monday’s outage cost them business. “I was planning on doing a live video that […]

UPDATE: New London man charged after man shot, killed in Hannibal

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HANNIBAL, Mo. — The 10th Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County issued a warrant for John M.R. Kurth , 24, New London, charging him with Second Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action. Kurth’s bond was set at $1,000,000.00 cash only. Kurth remains in the Marion County Jail.    The Hannibal Police Department reported officers were […]

Troup’s promise to file complaint against Copley at Fire and Police Commission meeting doesn’t happen

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QUINCY — The three-man Fire and Police Commission met Wednesday afternoon in the Caucus Room at City Hall. They discussed training, interviews, hiring, and recruitment of firefighters and police officers during a nearly two-hour session. However, a promise made Monday by Quincy Mayor Mike Troup to attend the meeting and file a complaint against Police […]

Troup goes 0-2; rental registration defeated and police/fire chief resolution tabled “indefinitely”

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QUINCY — Monday night’s meeting of the Quincy City Council had most of those who left the chambers shaking their heads. No one was quite sure exactly what happened. While Mayor Mike Troup’s proposed rental registration ordinance went down in flames on a 9-5 vote, the status of the proposed ordinance to give the mayor […]

Troup says Copley has ‘lack of performance’, says crime report was ‘misleading’ and doesn’t believe Vahlkamp was ‘top candidate’

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QUINCY — Quincy Mayor Mike Troup called Police Chief Rob Copley’s annual report to aldermen last month “misleading,” believes there’s a “lack of performance” in regard to Copley and doesn’t believe Fire Chief Bernie Vahlkamp was “the top candidate” when he was hired in July. Troup made those comments during a Fire and Police Commission […]

Former Culver-Stockton, Western Illinois professor faces up to life in prison on rape charges in Oklahoma

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TONKAWA, Okla. — A former theater professor at Culver-Stockton College and Western Illinois University faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being charged May 5 with first-degree rape and other felony sex-related charges. Anthony Lee Luetkenhaus, 37, made his first appearance in Kay County District Court on May 7. He […]

WGEM Today anchor terminated from job for refusing to get COVID-19 vaccine

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QUINCY — Don Dwyer, an anchor on the WGEM Today morning show since January 2019, was terminated from his job Thursday afternoon because he refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Dwyer was told of his dismissal after a noon meeting with his supervisors at WGEM. “I didn’t know it was coming. I followed every protocol […]

Fischer discharged as director of state agency

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QUINCY — Brent Fischer was fired from his position as the executive director of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board on Sept. 8 after an investigation and three-month suspension with pay, Fischer, who is from Quincy and formerly served as Adams County Sheriff, confirmed his discharge in an interview with Muddy River News […]

Brenner grants temporary injunction to Blessing/QMG employees; employment ‘maintained’ until a hearing next week

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QUINCY – Circuit Judge Tad Brenner has called for a full hearing on employment claims from suspended and terminated workers from Blessing Health System and Quincy Medical Group. The hearing is set for October 6 at 9 a.m. and until then, Brenner ruled, the employees in question shall have their “employment maintained”. At the beginning […]

More discharged health care workers take to Broadway picket lines for a second day

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QUINCY — The numbers are growing, but local health care providers won’t disclose how many employees have terminated or suspended because they have refused to either receive the COVID-19 vaccine or subject themselves to regular testing. About 30 people gathered at the corner of 12th and Broadway around noon Wednesday carrying signs. They were receiving […]

Blessing, QMG begin terminating or suspending non-vaccinated employees; legal action filed Monday

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QUINCY — Eleven former and current employees of Blessing Health System and Quincy Medical Group who say they were suspended without pay or terminated from their jobs because they refused to receive COVID-19 vaccinations or refused to be tested regularly are part of a lawsuit filed Monday in Adams County Circuit Court. On behalf of […]

Ask MRN: What are these squares in the middle of our roads?

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As I travel along streets and highways, I see these squares in the middle of the road. They always are the same size. They have nothing to do with filling a crack or a hole. What are these squares? Do they have something to do with aerial photo calibration? Maybe extraterrestrials left them?  Jim Frankenhoff, […]

QACVB targeting St. Louis in increased marketing efforts

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QUINCY – Quincy Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Holly Cain said the increase in marketing support for her organization has enabled better outreach. Cain gave a report at Monday night’s Quincy City Council meeting which focused on QCAVB’s marketing efforts. Cain said the www.seequincy.com had 20,000 users during the last quarter, which was a […]

Local diaper bank celebrating one-year anniversary with fundraiser on Wednesday

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QUINCY — The Covered Bottoms Diaper Bank started a year ago to help address a basic need for young local families.  The National Diaper Bank Network, based out of New Haven, Conn., reports one in three families in the United States must deal with unmet diaper needs, affecting their ability to nurture happy and healthy […]

Chief medical officer at QMG says vaccines should be focused on high-risk populations

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QUINCY — Dr. Rick Noble believes the leaders of the health industry in the United States are missing an opportunity. Noble has been in primary care practice at Quincy Medical Group for 38 years, and he became QMG’s chief medical officer in February. He hears the politically charged arguments for and against getting the COVID-19 […]

Quincy’s Avenue Beat announces break-up with farewell album

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Avenue Beat’s Sami Bearden, Savana Santos and Sam Backoff came onto the Nashville music scene with clever, relatable songs and a fresh sound. With wry songs like “Delight” and “Be A Bro,” and relatable anthems “Ruin That For Me” and “Broke,” Avenue Beat charmed their way into the hearts of fans and industry members alike. After signing with Big Machine Label Group’s […]

Quincy University launches $1.2 million fund drive; Moore to serve as campaign chair

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Quincy University launched its 2021-2022 QU Fund Drive with a $1.2 M goal on Thursdayat a reception held on campus. Last year, the QU Fund Drive surpassed the $1M goal in support of campus improvements, technology enhancements and student scholarships. The QU Fund is comprised of unrestricted gifts to the university and temporarily restricted gifts […]

Motion to suppress cellphone evidence denied in Wiley murder case

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QUINCY — A motion to suppress evidence obtained from a cellphone was denied by Judge Bob Adrian during a hearing Thursday morning in the first-degree murder case for Travis Wiley in Adams County Circuit Court. A pretrial hearing for Wiley’s case has been set for Oct. 18, with jury selection set to begin Oct. 25.  […]

Quincy School District’s $85.9 budget approved; citizens tell School Board ‘they’re not being heard’

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QUINCY — After mostly hearing complaints from citizens for the first 75 minutes of Wednesday’s meeting in the Quincy High School cafeteria, the Quincy School Board took about two minutes to unanimously approve an $85.9 million school district budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The budget includes a three percent increase in salary, a one […]

TikTok ‘devious licks’ vandalism challenge hits bathrooms at QHS, QJHS

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QUINCY — Junior high schools, high schools and colleges across the country have seen a recent increase in vandalism because of a social media challenge. Quincy hasn’t avoided it. Jody Steinke, principal at Quincy High School, reported “maybe six, no more than eight” incidents during a four-day stretch last week at the 33rd and Maine […]

Enrollment numbers on rise at Quincy University

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QUINCY, Ill. – The number of freshman and transfer students at Quincy University has risen 5.9 percent, and overall enrollment has increased 2.6 percent for the fall 2021 academic term. The school is reporting 340 new students on campus this year, with all undergraduate and graduate students totaling 1,154 students. The total enrollment has risen […]

Blessing employees must be vaccinated or be tested weekly; compliance with executive order started Monday

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QUINCY — All employees at the Blessing Hospital campuses in Illinois were asked to demonstrate proof of vaccination or proof of a negative test starting Monday. The hospital is complying with an executive order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker that was issued Aug. 26 that details vaccination requirements for healthcare workers. Employees at Blessing Health Centers at […]

No substitutes available for Quincy Public Schools bus drivers

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QUINCY — Scott Douglas has been in his new position as the assistant director of transportation for Quincy Public Schools for only a few months. So when the former athletic director and longtime basketball coach was asked to describe the shortage of bus drivers in the transportation department, he dipped into his sports past. “We […]

Quincy author releases ‘Stress No Evil,’ a timely toolkit for today’s unsettled world

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QUINCY — When Bobbe White began writing a book about stress three years ago, she had no idea its 2021 release would coincide with the off-the-charts normal stress levels of today’s uncharted pandemic Facebook world.  “There’s the COVID thing, the political thing, a sense of disarray,” White said. “People are on their last nerves. There […]

Copley: Reports of my retirement have been greatly exaggerated

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QUINCY — Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley told Muddy River News Friday morning he has not set a firm date for his retirement from 41 years of service to the Quincy Police Department. “Well, it’s been in the (other) media, but it’s news to me,” Copley said. “I have had conversations with various people that […]

Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County celebrating 125th anniversary on Sunday

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QUINCY — The Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County has curated thousands of documents and other physical items since its creation 125 years ago. Asking Rob Mellon what are the Historical Society’s most prized items is like asking a father which is his favorite child. He has a story and a love for each […]

Sale of bicycle collection leads to $40,000 donation for development of Bill Klingner Trail

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QUINCY — Donnie Weinberg’s passion for bicycling now will help future bicyclists in Quincy. Family members sold about 60 of Weinberg’s bicycles after his death in May 2016, and on Thursday, the family used those proceeds to make a $40,000 donation to the Quincy Park District Foundation.  Rome Frericks, executive director for the Quincy Park […]

‘It’s a gift to city and the region’: Oakley family gives record-setting $6.5 million to Quincy University

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QUINCY — The Oakley family’s commitment to the news business spanned more than 120 years until the sale of Quincy Media Inc.’s newspaper, television and radio properties in February. The family’s commitment to Quincy University continues to flourish. QU announced Tuesday during a reception at Friars Field it has received a gift from the Oakleys […]

Austin calls ARPA funds ‘a once-in-a-generation opportunity’

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Bret Austin is confident the funding already received — and what is yet to come — will prove to be a major assistance to Adams County in its efforts to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the health and economic impacts tied to the present situation. “I’m optimistic about the process,” said Austin, who serves […]

Former mayor, fire chief speak out against mayor naming chiefs

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Former Quincy Mayor John Spring, former Fire Chief Joe Henning and a current firefighter and police officer all spoke out against a proposed ordinance to consolidate the power of hiring a new police or fire chief to Quincy’s mayor. Spring said the proposal “will have damaging consequences for the city” that would “destroy the confidence […]

BUILDING BRIDGES: Msgr. Leo Enlow receives Chaddock’s “Friends of Children” award

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QUINCY – Msgr. Leo J. Enlow, the pastor of Quincy’s St. Peter Church at 25th and Maine, recalls he once received a parish-campus security report advising him to build a fence between St. Peter’s and its next-door neighbor, Chaddock. “I remember thinking, ‘I’ll never do that!’” he saID. “Instead, I’ve tried to build a bridge.” […]

Sunset Veterans Cemetery in Quincy to get $1.3 million in upgrades

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WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration recently announced that the Veterans Cemetery Grants Program, which it oversees, has awarded the state of Illinois a grant of $1,330,192 to expand Sunset Veterans Cemetery in Quincy, Ill. “The Veterans Cemetery Grant Program is a model for how federal and state governments can work […]

Remembering 9/11: Harris Broadcast mobilizes to get New York City back on air

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A long-time employee of Harris Corporation’s Broadcast Communications Division (now GatesAir), Don Carpenter was manager of Harris’ TV service department 20 years ago when, at 8:45 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 11, an airplane slammed into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. “I was in shock,” Carpenter recalls. “On a television near my office, I […]

Muddy River News This Week with Randy Phillips of ‘The Maulers’

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Pinch-hitting for MRN Publisher J. Robert Gough, MRN Editor David Adam talks with Randy Phillips of the popular local air band “The Maulers.” Phillips explains how the group got together in 1983, what a typical Maulers concert looks like and why Saturday’s concert will be the last one (well, they’ve said that before, but it […]

Quincy Worx hopes to be option for workers forced out of office by COVID

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QUINCY — People accustomed to driving to work and doing their job alongside other employees had to work from home when the COVID pandemic started in March 2020. Many businesses shut their doors and told employees to set up shop at the kitchen table or living room couch. Eighteen months later, some people still work […]

‘He reminds me every day to choose joy’: Quincy woman helping son with lissencephaly beat expectations

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QUINCY — Elijah Tarpein is much like many kids his age. At 3 1/2 years old, he wants a puppy, likes peanut butter milkshakes and enjoys watching YouTube videos. “He lives a life full of joy,” said Amy  Elijah also is much different than many kids his age. He was diagnosed at birth with lissencephaly, […]

Proposal to allow mayor to appoint, terminate fire and police chiefs catches many by surprise

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QUINCY — An amendment to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Quincy that would call for the mayor — instead of the three-person Board of Fire and Police Commissioners — to appoint and terminate the city’s police and fire chiefs raised a few eyebrows. The City Council chambers were filled for Tuesday night’s […]

Pandemic leads to decreases in crimes of all kinds in Quincy Police Department report

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QUINCY — Crime of all kinds decreased in Quincy during 2020, and the likely reason was the COVID-19 pandemic. An annual report provided by the Quincy Police Department shows violent crimes in Quincy — which cover murder, criminal sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault and battery — dropped 18.9 percent (from 243 in 2019 to […]

Six local volunteers inducted into Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame

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SEDALIA, Mo. — “Making the best better” for generations of Missouri 4-H club members, 44 volunteers joined the Missouri 4-H Hall of Fame on Aug. 21 at State Fair Community College in Sedalia. Local people recognized were Heather Thomas from Knox County, DeWayne Selway from Clark County, Tim Coy from Clark County, Rusty Rothweiler from […]

QMG merges with DuPage Medical Group

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Quincy Medical Group announced Thursday that it had signed a letter of intent to join together with DuPage Medical, becoming one organization. A news release stated “…the organizations will intentionally focus on providing an unrivaled patient experience, while working to raise the standard for quality and excellence for physician-directed care.” DuPage Medical Group is the […]

Downtown Quincy losing two restaurants

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QUINCY – After Labor Day weekend, Quincy’s downtown district will have two fewer eating options. Management of both Drake’s Steak & Ale and Que-Town BBQ are both closing their doors, each for their own reasons. “We are extremely saddened to inform you, our loyal customers and the entire community of Quincy, that due to decisions […]

Opponents of government mandates seek local control

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QUINCY — People are sick and tired of being sick and tired. But does the COVID-19 virus care about that? As the State of Illinois re-tightens its COVID protocols, a packed house at Quincy’s Holiday Inn heard people wanting local control back in government and a lawyer who has traveled statewide attempting to block governments […]

Attorney for three families files motion for temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction against Quincy School District

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QUINCY — Motions for a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction against the Quincy School District and superintendent Roy Webb were filed at the Adams County Courthouse late Monday afternoon by an attorney representing three Quincy families. The motions were filed by Thomas DeVore, a Sorento, Ill., attorney with Silver Lake Group, Ltd., in […]

Council accepts recommendation for water and fire damage restoration service in different 12th Street location

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QUINCY — Jeff Butler may finally have found a place for his business. The Quincy City Council voted Monday to accept the Plan Commission’s recommendation for a special permit for an office and shop for a water and fire damage restoration service at 3120 N. 12th, formerly the home of Outdoor Power Inc. Aldermen will […]

QU puts together plan for non-vaccinated students and staff; other schools call timeframe for implementation ‘daunting’

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QUINCY — Educators throughout Quincy are scrambling to put together plans to implement a vaccine mandate issued Thursday by Gov. JB Pritzker that must be in place by Sept. 5. All P-12 teachers and staff, all higher education personnel and all higher education students must be vaccinated. People who can’t or won’t receive the vaccine […]

Education, not arrests, to be focus when Quincy Police Department receives mask complaints

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QUINCY — You won’t be taken away in handcuffs if you choose to defy Gov. JB Pritzker’s order to wear a mask indoors. A mask mandate inside buildings begins Monday across Illinois. Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley said Friday education will the focus of his staff when complaints are lodged by the public about masks […]

Webb: Logistics of implementing vaccine mandate for teachers ‘a little more cumbersome’

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QUINCY — Quincy Superintendent Roy Webb heard the news Thursday morning about the vaccine mandate issued by Gov. JB Pritzker. Now Webb must figure out how to implement that mandate. The vaccine requirement goes into effect Sept. 5. It will apply to “all P-12 teachers and staff, all higher education personnel, all higher education students […]

CUSD No. 4 School Board votes to make masks mandatory, but fight with state ‘has just begun’

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MENDON — Jessica Humke struggled to spit the word out of her mouth. “Yes.” Humke and six other members of the Community Unit School District No. 4 School Board voted Wednesday night at Unity Elementary School to follow Gov. JB Pritzker’s announcement this month that masks are required for students, teachers and staff at pre-K […]

Local landlords anxious for eviction moratorium to be lifted

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QUINCY — The idea made complete sense.  Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive action has protected from eviction any Illinois residents who can’t pay rent because of the pandemic since March 2020. Nearly 18 months later, local landlords are ready for the eviction moratorium to expire. “A lot of politicians on the state and federal level are […]

Mask Mandate Update: Warsaw reverses course, CUSD 4 calls special meeting and Quincy’s St. James Lutheran is ‘nonrecognized’

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The Illinois State Board of Education is updating its list of schools that have chosen to defy Governor JB Pritzker’s mask mandate. The Warsaw School Board voted 5-2 on Monday night to follow the mask mandate when the district returns from the Labor Day break on September 7. School officials met with ISBE representatives earlier […]

Blick’s Construction continues to wait for trial against Adams County over demolition work

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QUINCY — A Quincy construction firm is waiting for its day in court to collect more than $110,000 from Adams County in a dispute about additional work completed during the demolition process before the construction of the Adams County Jail. The suit, filed in April 2018, was scheduled to go to trial on Monday. However, […]

Contributions so far for Quincy Children’s Museum project ‘amazing’

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QUINCY — The fundraising goal of the Quincy Children’s Museum has changed … and it hasn’t. The museum board announced in May it had a fundraising goal of $150,000. That figure would be achieved by getting 50 people or families to make a minimum $1,000 contribution, as well as 50 businesses or groups to make […]

Muddy River News This Week: The Last Stand?

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Warsaw native Steve Lucie of We Stand for Our Students, a community group concerned about parent choice regarding mask options, spoke during the Illinois State Board of Education’s meeting in Springfield on Aug. 18. He returned to Quincy for a taping of Muddy River News This Week, then attended the Warsaw School Board meeting. That’s […]

Tanniger, Fischers plan to renovate Fifth Infantry Armory

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QUINCY — Jay Krottinger and Ryan Jude Tanner were so pleased with the work done last year by Fischer Builders during the remodeling of the Patio Restaurant and Lounge that they’ve teamed up to create a new company. Krottinger and Tanner, partners in Tanninger Companies, have formed Fischer & Tanniger with Meegan Fischer and Ryan […]

Downstate doctor says state is threatening his medical license over mask issue

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A doctor and member of the Mahomet-Seymour Board of Education says state regulators are threatening his medical license over his criticism of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s school mask mandate. Dr. Jeremy Henrichs works at Carle Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Champaign, which is division of Carle Hospital in Urbana. He is a sports team physician at the […]

CUSD No. 4 (Mendon) School Board deadlocked, optional masks stay in place

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MENDON, Ill. – The Community Unit School District No. 4 School Board didn’t muster the votes to overturn its decision to remain mask optional. On August 4, the Board voted 5-2 to defy Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s decree that masks would be required for all students, teachers and staff for Pre-K to 12 students across Illinois […]

No issues regarding mask mandate reported at Payson, Quincy schools on first day

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Classes started Wednesday without incident at several schools around Adams County as students followed state mask mandates in the Payson and Quincy school districts. Students arrived at Payson Elementary School with backpacks, school supplies and smiles hiding behind their masked faces. Principal Julie Phelan met families outside and greeted students. She gently reminded a few […]

DOJ reaches $2.8 million settlement with Blessing Hospital

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The Department of Justice has announced it has reached a $2.82 million settlement with Blessing Hospital regarding a voluntary disclosure made by the hospital. Cardiac procedures were performed at Blessing that resulted in overpayments. Hospital officials say the procedures in question were performed by a physician who used to work at “a non-Blessing medical group […]

Masks now mandatory in Payson, but School Board vows to join other districts in fight to regain local control

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PAYSON, Ill. — Chanse Barker grew tired of the fight. His “yes” vote was part of the 5-1 vote by the Payson School Board on Monday night to amend the Return to School plan for Community Unit School District No. 1 to make masks mandatory for all students, teachers and staff — regardless of vaccination […]

Quincy students without masks getting excused absences this week, unexcused absences next week

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QUINCY — Students who arrive at Quincy schools without a mask for classes on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday will be sent home and given an excused absence. Those absences become unexcused next week. Superintendent Roy Webb outlined the Quincy School District’s plans for dealing with students without masks in a Facebook post on Sunday. The […]

Kelley’s father ready to start ‘healing process’ as Parker gets 20-year sentence for second-degree murder

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QUINCY — Roger Parker Jr., who claimed he grew tired of being bullied by Darrell “D.J.” Kelley Jr. and shot him to death on Sept. 26, 2019, was sentenced to 20 years on Friday morning in an Adams County courtroom. Parker, 18, pled guilty in May to one count of second-degree murder. He was 16 […]

‘The governor has just blatantly made it political’: Central School Board votes to highly recommend masks

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CAMP POINT, Ill. — The Central School Board voted 3-2 Thursday night to highly recommend its students wear masks for the upcoming school year, but Nikki Buehler celebrated for only a moment. “The work is not done,” she said after the meeting. “We have to get ready for the fight now.” Buehler is a parent […]

ISBE’s quick decision forces private school to change its mind over masks in one day

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Local school boards might want to pay attention. The Illinois State Board of Education isn’t messing around. A letter signed by Carmen Ayala, state superintendent of education, was emailed Wednesday to Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst, Ill., informing Superintendent Matt Davidson the school’s status as a recognized nonpublic school was removed “effective immediately.” Davidson announced […]

Boat dock grant proposal at Clat Adams gets Park Board support — but no commitment for funding

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QUINCY — The Quincy Park District’s Board of Commissioners endorsed the City of Quincy’s pursuit of a $200,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a transient boat dock to be built at Clat Adams Park. Just don’t be surprised if the Park Board chooses not to give the city any money. Commissioners […]