City Council makes deal for downtown parking lot
The city of Kewanee will sell another downtown parking lot, thanks to action at Monday’s City Council meeting. The council approved the sale of the parking lot at the northwest corner of First and Chestnut streets to Gustafson Ford. The property would allow expansion of the dealership’s downtown location.
Read full storyKewanee police report heroin, meth bust
Early Sunday, the Kewanee Police Department concluded a narcotics operation that ultimately led to the seizure of approximately 4 ounces of methamphetamine and approximately 3 grams of heroin and the arrest of two individuals for various drug charges.
Read full storyAnother clergyman opposes Pride event
A second Kewanee pastor has questioned the need for a Pride Festival in the city. A committee of the city government’s Human Relations Commission is planning the festival for June 10 in the downtown area. Pride events are a “celebration of LGBT identity, self-acceptance, legal rights and pride,” according to the website RightForEducation.org.
Read full storyTeen apparently shot himself accidentally, police say
Kewanee police are investigating an apparent accidental shooting of a 17-year-old male Sunday morning on Birth Place. According to Police Chief Nicholas Welgat, at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Kewanee police and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the 800 block of Birch Place on a 911 report of a male subject with a gunshot wound. Deputies and officers located a 17-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound to the buttocks.
Read full storyArrests made in South Grace Avenue shooting
Three people have been arrested in connection with a shooting incident early Thursday in the 100 block of South Grace Avenue in Kewanee. Kewanee Police Chief Nicholas Welgat issued a news release Saturday on the arrests. The release said police seized eight firearms, several hundred rounds of ammunition, methamphetamine, heroin, cannabis, packaging materials, more than $2,000 in cash and a vehicle.
Read full storyPolice: Shots fired at South Grace Ave. home
Another incident involving shots fired into a Kewanee residence occurred early in the morning of Thursday, Jan. 19. In a news release, Kewanee Police Chief Nicholas Welgat said that at approximately 5:14 am, officers were dispatched to the area of Willow Street and South Grace Avenue for a report of shots being fired.
Read full storyIllinois sheriffs won't enforce assault-weapons ban
The Protect Illinois Communities Act is hailed by its supporters as an important step in reducing violent crime in the state. But not everyone in Illinois is in favor of the law.
Read full storyKewanee pastor says he opposes local Pride festival
A Kewanee pastor expressed his “heartfelt concern” to the City Council Monday about a Pride event planned for June in Kewanee. A subcommittee of the city’s Human Relations Commission has set June 10 as the date of the event, which is intended to promote awareness, raise acceptance and form a strong bond with the community, according to committee member August Wolf.
Read full storyMidland Plaza expansion planned -- if city helps out
A major expansion of Midland Plaza in Kewanee is on the drawing board, and company officials are looking for financial help from the city for the project. Les Cohen, president and CEO of Cohen Development Group, the Peoria firm which owns the shopping center, outlined the expansion plans at Monday’s City Council meeting. Cohen said he hopes the project can be completed this year.
Read full storyDonation boosts Christmas decorations in local parks
The Christmas decorations have come down at Windmont and Northeast parks in Kewanee, but organizers of the two displays are already thinking about 2023. The displays in both parks have grown through the years, as new features have been added.
Read full storyKewanee High students to present historical musical
The musical that Kewanee High School students will present later this month will be a multimedia presentation. There will be acting, singing and dancing, of course. But this musical will make full use of a new piece of equipment at KHS: a state-of-the-art projection system.
Read full storySheila Donovan Visitation's Honorary Giant this year
One of the highlights of Catholic Schools Week at Visitation Catholic School is the presentation of the Honorary Giant Award, the school’s highest honor. The 2023 recipient, Sheila Donovan, will be recognized at a special Mass and award ceremony February 3.
Read full storyKewaneeans' generosity brightens Christmas for nursing home residents
The generosity of the patrons — and owners — of a Kewanee gaming establishment made Christmas brighter for the residents of Kewanee Care Home. Joe and Tina Chamberlain set up a Christmas tree in their business, EZT Gaming on East Third Street, and attached a tag for each of the 60 residents at Kewanee Care.
Read full storyMike Berry column: A new era for local news
There’s one thing they don’t teach you in journalism school about working in journalism:. Newspapers are businesses. So are radio stations, TV stations, magazines, websites — in other words, virtually all sources of information about the world around us. Like all businesses, media companies have to make money to survive.
Read full storyScooter's Coffee coming to Kewanee
A new Scooter’s Coffee business is under construction on Tenney Street, and is scheduled to open in March. The building is on the east side of Tenney just south of the former Broken Chimney building. According to a news release from Scooter’s, the store will be “our drive-thru kiosk model.”
Read full storyAfter 60 years, City Council finally vacates alley
The Kewanee City Council vacated a portion of an alley on the city’s north side Monday, and they had a good reason to do it. It happens that there’s a building right where the alley was supposed to be.
Read full storyGrant will help Bishop Hill add new programs
A Civil War Days festival is among new additions planned at Bishop Hill thanks to a grant from Henry County.Photo byPhoto Courtesy Bishop Hill Heritage Assn. The Bishop Hill Heritage Association is proud to announce that it has recently been given a $111,000 grant from Henry County, approved by the Henry County Board.
Read full storyMike Berry column: Nothing certain but death and taxes (and commercials)
I realize that it’s a little late to reveal what we’re thankful for, but here goes. . . I’m thankful, of course, for the things everyone cites — friends, family, food and so on. But Thanksgiving was also a time to be thankful that the immense onslaught of political commercials was finally over.
Read full storySalvation Army kettles aren't filling
The Kewanee Salvation Army recently gave local kids an opportunity to meet Santa and receive a candy cane,Photo byMike Berry. With just over a couple of weeks left before Christmas, the Kewanee Salvation Army’s annual kettle campaign has a long way to go to meet its goal.
Read full storyPolice offer high-tech business checks
Kewanee police are incorporating QR codes into their business-check program.Photo byMike Berry. About 30 Kewanee businesses are taking part in a new system that keeps track of how many times police offers check the security of their buildings.
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