Effective immediately, the Danville Fire Department has lifted the citywide burn ban.
Please remember that all burning needs to be in accordance with the City Ordinance of Burning.
Ordinance 92.16 Leaf Burning
Leaf burning shall not be allowed, except under the following conditions:
(A) The burning includes only the following: leaves, twigs, branches or limbs of no more than one (1)
inch in diameter, brush or similar natural vegetation. The burning shall not include the following: trash,
refuse, rubbish, garbage, plastic, paper, cardboard, litter, or similar household or commercial waste;
(B) The burning occurs between sunrise and sunset;
(C) The burning shall not occur on any public street, alley, or sidewalk;
(D) A responsible person above the age of 16 shall be in constant attendance;
(E) Burning which occurs out in the open shall be at least 50 feet from any structure;
(F) Burning which occurs in an approved container shall be at least 15 feet from any structure;
(G) Firefighting equipment in the form of a garden hose, buckets of water, or extinguishers shall be
readily available;
(H) The burning does not create a visibility hazard on roadways or railways within the city;
(I) The burning does not become a nuisance or health hazard by reason of smoke, fumes, fly ash, dust,
soot, or noxious odor;
(J) The burning occurs when atmospheric conditions will readily dissipate contaminants, unless such
conditions are likely to create or add to a hazardous situation; and
(K) The burning complies with all other applicable provisions of the IFC.
(Ord. 6117, passed 4-30-74; Am. Ord. 8344, passed 3-2-04; Am. Ord. 9135, passed 2-6-18) Penalty, see

§ 92.99

Mayor Rickey Williams says crew have been working around the clock to clean up after the Thursday storm, but there is plenty of work yet to do. The Mayor says there ae several sites in Danville that still do not have power.  These could include several reaturant which will not be able to open for Friday night dinner. He said one of the problems is that 20to 30 of the downed tree limbs have power lines tangled up in them, and the city cannot remove them until the power company gets the lines out.  And of course Ameren is ultra busy getting power to customers throughout the area by connecting the large power lines on the poles  There were a number of power poles that blew down during the storm and crews have been trying to replace or repair those. The Mayor was told his house will not have power until Sunday..  And many parts of those service area could be later than that.

All city parks are closed due to tree damage.  They will be closed until the city can assess the damage and safety.

Danville Mass Transit has been operating under the limited Saturday schedule today, and will be again tomorrow.  The DMT headquarters does not have power, but the bus officials have set up a temporary office in the bus transfer zone where there is power.  The routes to Champaign have also been cancelled today.

The City of Danville Public Works will be allowing all city residents to haul storm debris out to the yard waste site at no charge. Residents must stop by the Public Works facility at 1155 E

Voorhees to receive a ticket for the yard waste site.

Available drop-off dates for yard waste will be as follows...

Saturday, July 1st – Sunday, July 2 – CLOSED

Monday, July 3rd – 7:00AM – 3:30PM

Tuesday, July 4th – CLOSED

Wednesday, July 5th – Thursday, July 6th – 7:00AM – 3:30PM

Friday, July 7th – Sunday, July 8th – CLOSED

Monday, July 9th – Thursday, July 13th – 7:00AM – 3:30PM

The Danville Public Works Department announces that due to the severe weather conditions, there will be a special storm debris collection event. Collection of storm debris will begin on Monday July 3rd, with the final collection day being Thursday, July 13th. Limbs, branches and storm-related debris will be collected. Residents MUST CALL public works at 217-431-2288 to report addresses with storm debris for collection. The City will not collect debris if the address has not been called in.

The storm now has been classified as a Derecho. The National Weather Service says that a derecho (pronounced “deh-REY-cho”) is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to the strength of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. Still though, there can be embedded tornadoes in Derechos, much like Central Illinois experienced.

Following announcement from City of Danville

The City of Danville Parks Department announces that ALL CITY PARKS ARE CLOSED UNTIL
FURTHER NOTICE. The recent storm has left large amount of debris and fallen trees in most
parks making these areas potentially dangerous for residents.
With Public Works’ storm debris removal operations currently focusing on making City roads
safe for travel, an assessment of the potential hazards from storm debris in all City parks is not
able to be done at this time.
At this time, we are unsure when the parks will reopen to residents, a future press release will
be made to open all city parks as hazards are assessed and eliminated.
We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. The City appreciates your patience as
we are diligently working to clear all debris as quickly as possible.

The Westville police report that Zamberletti Park will be closed Friday due to damage from last nights storm. This is needed so employees can remove downed tree's, power poles, and assess all playground equipment to ensure it is safe. We hope to have it open again for this weekend. We will notify everyone when the park will open again. Please share this to help get the word out.

The local clean up from Thursday storm continues.

All city parks in Danville are closed until further notice.

The recent storm has left large amounts of debris and fallen trees in most parks making these areas potentially dangerous for residents. With Public Works’ storm debris removal operations currently focusing on making City roads safe for travel, an assessment of the potential hazards from storm debris in all City parks is not able to be done at this time. At this time, we are unsure when the parks will reopen.

City Hall is up & running today. Danville Mass Transit has been without power this morning and hopes to resume operations fully later today.

Public Works is on the streets clearing debris. Director Carl Carpenter says everything will cut back to edge of road and/or behind sidewalks. All trees that were pushed to clear roads will be addressed in the next several days as well. There are still nearly 20 trees that have some sort of utility line in them, those must wait until lines are cleared. The city has contacted some businesses to help.  Streets will not be swept until tomorrow or next week as EVERYONE is on a road clearing crew

Some lift stations are still running on generators.  Some traffic signals are still not working.  Carpenter estimates it could be a week or more before everything gets back to normal.

The fast moving storm that plowed through Central Illinois yesterday brought widespread damage and power outages.  Officials with Vermilion County Emergency Management said tree and power line damage was extensive and at one point, 85 percent of the customers in this Ameren service area were without power.  Officials said with damage that extensive, it could be days before the power is restored to everyone. County officials say there were no reports of injuries.

The City of Danville implemented its storm response system to handle the damage spread throughout the city. All city buildings were closed during the storm and bus transportation was suspended. Thursday afternoon people were urged to stay at home. All agencies were handling multiple calls  for power lines and trees down as well as other emergencies. The traffic was hindering official responses.

The Danville Public Works Department announces that due to the severe weather conditions, there will be a special storm debris collection event. Collection of storm debris will begin on Monday July 3rd, with the final collection day being Thursday, July 13th. Limbs, branches and storm-related debris will be collected. Residents MUST CALL public works at 217-431-2288 to report addresses with storm debris for collection. The City will not collect debris if the address has not been called in.

All materials are to be cut to lengths no longer than four feet (4’) and placed at the curb for collection. Smaller materials are to be bundled with twine and may be placed in the same location. Paper Yard Waste bags may be used for this special collection. No single limbs, bags or bundles may exceed 50 pounds.

The Rantoul Village Administrator and former Danville Mayor has pleaded not guilty to domestic battery charges. Scott Eisenhauer was in court Tuesday and also requested a trial by jury.  Eisenhauer faces three counts that include domestic battery and unlawful interference with reporting of Domestic battery.  The charges are from an incident earlier this month involving Eisenhauer and his wife. Eisenhauer was placed on administrative leave immediately after his arrest. He submitted his resignation, but the Village Board declined it pending the trial’s outcome. Eisenhauer is due back in court next month.

Danville Police are reminding people there is no parking allowed on the Dallas Bowman bridge. Deputy Chief Terry McCord says people cannot stop on this bridge over Lake Vermilion to watch fireworks. The bridge is regulated as a no parking and no stopping and standing area. Parking on the bridge to stop and watch fireworks causes safety issues for everyone involved. Emergency vehicles must be able to quickly get over the bridge in times of need. 

There will be fireworks from the Boat Club on Saturday, and police will have extra patrols on the bridge and no parking police order signs will be posted.

The Illinois Gaming Board has approved the Danville Golden Nugget to expand hours of operations and to 7 days per week. The new hours beginning July 5 will be

M-Tu 4 pm to 12 Midnight.

W- Th 2 pm to 1 am.

F - 12 noon to 1 am.

SAT 10 am to1 am.

SUN 8 AM to 9 pm.

The expanded hours this holiday weekend are

Friday, June 30 12:00pm - 1;00am

Saturday, July 1 10:00am - 1:00am

Sunday, July 2  10:00am - 1:00am

Monday, July 3 11:00am - 1:00am

Tuesday, July 4 9:00am - 9:00pm

The casino opened May 27th with 161 employees. It is now up to 229.

Two of the people killed in a traffic accident Tuesday night have been identified. Vermilion County Coroner Jane McFadden said the crash claimed the lives of 19 year old Joseph Stallone and 17 year old Keegynn Martinek, both of Paxton. The third person who died in the crash has not yet been identified. McFadden stated the accident occurred on State Route 49 at 3550 North Rd., in Rankin.

State police say the driver of a stolen car was driving at a high rate of speed when he ignored a stop sign and hit a vehicle driven by Stallone. The driver of the stolen auto had earlier been involved in a chase with Rantoul police where he reached speeds estimated at over 100 miles per hour.

The road was closed for several hours after the accident. The Illinois State Police and the Vermilion County Coroner’s office continue to investigate the accident.

Air quality continues to be poor today in East Central Illinois due to smoke from the Canadian Wildfires. Who needs to be on high alert?

Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare spoke to a doctor.

Three people died in a two car crash on Illinois Route 49 near Rankin Tuesday night.

State police say the driver of a stolen car was driving east at a high rate of speed when he ignored a stop sign and hit a northbound vehicle. The driver of that vehicle, a passenger and the suspect were all killed in the crash. Their names have not been released

Rantoul police spotted the car which had been reported as stolen. The driver fled at speeds estimated at 100 miles per hour. Out of safety concerns, the officer stopped pursuing the vehicle. State police report the stolen car  involved in the fatal crash about 15 minutes later. The road was shut down for several hours while the scene was cleaned up

The City of Danville is going to review the procedure for a business to get approved as a cannabis dispensary. Several members of the Public Services committee Tuesday said that the current ordinance about such dispensaries is not working.

The city made zoning restrictive so that cannabis dispensaries can only be opened along the Lynch Road corridor. But, two different dispensary plans now have been rejected or delayed because it was felt that there would be too many such businesses in a small area. There is already a dispensary operating on Lynch Road, and another is about to break ground.

The state has increased the number and locations for cannabis sites. Danville aldermen felt that the city has to change its regulations to keep pace.

Mayor Rickey Williams said one change could be for each marijuana request just be viewed as a special use permit instead of a change in the zoning for the area sought.

Recommendations for changes in the city procedures will be brought back to the council in the future.

The legal battle over the tallest building in Danville continues. Corporation Council James Simon told the Public Services committee Tuesday that a judge has approved a default notice the city filed against the company that owns Collins Tower (which is better known as Breese Tower).

The battle over the vacant building has been going on for years. The city has filed a variety of legal actions about the decaying building with the owners. The next court date in July 18.

The Public Services committee Tuesday agreed to a five year contract with the company that provides license plate readers for the city. Chief Chris Yates says the five year contract will save the city some 75 thousand dollars.

The police also are looking into use of such camera for private business

He said the license plate reader could be a big help for large shopping areas.

The committee also approved accepting a 222 thousand dollar federal grant to cover 90% of the training and personal protective equipment expenses for six recently hired firefighters. The Grant requires a 10% local match by the City. The committee’s action will go to the full city council next week.

Danville police have arrested a man for a 2021 gun incident.

Tuesday morning, Danville Police observed 20-year old Natshun T. Bright standing in front of a residence in the 300 block of N. Alexander St. The officers knew Bright was wanted on a Vermilion County arrest warrant for a charge of aggravated UUW from an incident involving a firearm in 2021. When the officers attempted to make contact with Bright, he fled inside the residence.

Several members of the Danville Police Emergency Response Unit arrived and began making announcements for Bright to exit the residence. Bright exited the residence and surrendered to the officers without further incident. Bright was transported to the Danville Public Safety Building where he is currently being held on bond. The investigation into this incident continues and no other information is being released at this time.

Due to the drought, a burn ban has been put into effect for the entire Kickapoo Fire Protection District. The dry and windy conditions can cause fires to spread quickly. No burn barrels, fire rings, or open fires will be allowed until further notice.

The Twenty-Ninth Annual Community Day will be held Sunday, July 9, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park. This event is free and open to the public. There will be several musical performances. Free food, such as barbeque, beverages and ice cream will be served. There will be activities for children and free prizes.

The event is sponsored by the City of Danville Human Relations Commission and the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. In case of rain, Community Day will be held at St. James United Methodist Church.

Danville has been awarded a 222 thousand dollar grant to help firefighters. Back in February, Danville applied for the Assistance to Firefighters grant, and it was approved by FEMA. The grant would cover 90% of the training and personal protective equipment expenses for six recently hired firefighters. The AFG Grant requires a 10% local match by the City of Danville just over 22 thousand dollars.

The Public Services Committee on Tuesday will act on changing the budget to show this grant.

The Danville Fire Department had to battle two structure fires on Thursday afternoon.

The first fire was shortly before 1 p.m. at 430 Harmon Street.  Firefighters found a fully involved two-story vacant house. The fire had spread throughout the home and consumed the attic space area. Firefighters worked for over an hour to bring the fire under control and to protect the surrounding exposures. The aerial truck had to be used after the structure was deemed too dangerous to enter. The house was termed a total loss. 

The second incident occurred while firefighters were still on the scene at Harmon Street. Danville Patrol Officers located a fire near the intersection of Davis and Clay Streets. Fire Units responded to the area and found a large two-story vacant home at 519 Franklin heavily involved in fire. The overgrown property hampered firefighting efforts as did a downed live power line in the back yard of the residence.

This location also had two-nearby structures that had to be protected by Danville Firefighters.

The roof on this home had begun to collapse as firefighters worked, therefore the building was deemed to unsafe to enter. An aerial unit was brought in, and an excavator was brought to the scene to assist firefighters bring the building down. The structure is a total loss.

No injuries were reported in either incident. The high temperatures  made firefighting extremely difficult. Additional firefighters were called from home to assist with the fires. Ameren was called to assist firefighters secure the properties.

Both fires are considered to be suspicious and are under investigation by the Danville Fire Department. Anyone with information should call the Fire Department main line at (217) 431-2350.

The local unemployment rate has gone up in the past year, according to data released by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The jobless rate in Vermilion County for May stood at 5.2 percent.  It was 4.7 percent a year ago.  The Champaign County rate was 3.7 percent, the same as last year.

The jobless rate in Danville stood at 5.9 percent, compared to 5.1 percent in May of 2022. The rate in Urbana was 3.8 percent, a slight increase from 3.7 percent last year.  The rate in the city of Champaign was 3.6 percent, identical to last year.

The good news is that the total number of jobs increased in all fourteen metropolitan areas for the year, according to the state.  

Information provided by the Terp School

The Trep School announces the grand opening of the Soar Space Business Center, a coworking and
meeting space in the Towne Centre plaza at 2 E. Main St., in Suite 36. The grand opening event on Friday
June 30 starts with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. followed by tours and networking until 1 p.m.
Tricia Teague, Danville Alderman and owner of the Trep School calls Soar Space Business Center the
natural expansion of the work that she’s been doing at The Trep School, particularly the Trep OnTrack
Business Bootcamp. She said it also fills a desperate need for the city of Danville.
“Twenty years ago, before I moved back here, I was sitting in Danville coffee shops trying to find good
wi-fi so I could work remotely,” Teague said. “New small business owners need a space where they can
work, meet, and grow. Providing it has been a dream of mine since I first came across the coworking
concept.”
Soar Space Business Center provides a location for small home-based business owners to have
professional meetings or work regularly, without the distractions of other public spaces and with terms
as short as a single month or even a day pass. Memberships start as low as $50 monthly.
“My first office required a 3-year lease. That feels like a big commitment when you’re getting your
business started,” Teague said.
A receptionist is available for public access hours 9 a.m. to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. Soar Space
also offers night and weekend access for an additional fee. The space has lockable desks for those who
choose to leave belongings at their own dedicated desks, as well as furnished offices, meeting rooms, a
training space, and even a podcast equipment. Additional services and amenities include an optional
members logo wall, TVs, projectors, virtual mail, a notary, shredding, printing, and copying.
The space will host programming for The Trep School after opening. “We’ve been hosting the classes for
our Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp while we developed the space. The feedback we’ve gotten from
current participants and prior graduates has been overwhelmingly positive,” Teague said. “Workshops
will ramp up this fall. We’re happy to provide a space for other groups to host their events as well.”
For more information contact Paula Young, the Community Manager, at 217-499-3800.
Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Points of view or
opinions contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official
position or policies of the State of Illinois, or the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

Information provided by CRIS

CRIS Healthy Aging continues to bring expert resources to community members and is partnering with State Senator Paul Faraci on a timely educational event. Seniors and their family members are invited to learn how to detect fraud and prevent their susceptibility to scams during a free seminar conducted by state officials at CRIS Healthy Aging locations in Danville and Champaign.

CRIS Healthy Aging is part of the Carle Health system and works to support individuals over age 60 live healthy, active lifestyles at home.

“Working in partnership with State Senator Paul Faraci and a representative from the Illinois Attorney General’s office, we are happy to share protective information to advance the health outcomes and wellbeing for those 60 and older,” Lisa Miller, executive director of CRIS, said.

Anyone over the age of 60 can access CRIS services, which include these events. Other services include help preparing income taxes, signing up for Medicare/Medicaid, applying for state vehicle sticker discounts, and funding requests for food, clothing, utilities and other assistive devices. CRIS also offers support for grandparents raising grandchildren, memory care, reducing social isolation and classes in mastering aging as well as stressbusters for caregivers of those with dementia.

Participants can expect to hear from state and local experts, meet others and learn more about the wide variety of CRIS Services.

Date: June 27, 2023

Location: CRIS Healthy Aging Center | 309 N Franklin St, Danville, IL 61832

Time: 10 a.m.

Date: June 27, 2023
Location: CRIS Healthy Aging Center | 4116 Fieldstone Rd, Champaign, IL 61822

Time: 2 p.m.

  Information provided by St. James Church

After 40 years of dedication to serving the Lord throughout various congregations, Randy
Robinson, Lead Pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, will offer his last sermon before
retirement on Sunday, June 25th at 10:00 am in Saint James sanctuary.
Pastor Robinson was ordained a minister in 1983, a graduate of Oral Roberts University and
O.R.U. School of Theology. His church homes have ranged from 40 to 800 members, and he
has also served as district superintendent.
Randy has dedicated his last 12 years as spiritual leader of St. James UMC as lead pastor,
friend, confidant, and much more. Dr. Ron Serfoss, a church council member remarks, “He was
the right person, at the right time, instantly breathing fresh air into the current and new Christian
way of life in our church.”
Pastor Robinson and Pastor Justin Snider, the associate pastor at that time, instantly connected
with the congregation by establishing small group meetings in the homes of church members for
feedback to develop rapport, and determine the needs, growth, and perception of the church.
Two priorities immediately resounded – building accessibility and growth throughout the
congregation to ensure future generations.
The St James building, an architectural icon, was anything but accessible from the outside or
inside throughout. That led to several vision teams meetings, partnering with architects and
consultants, several revisions, a major and highly successful capital development campaign,
and finally, a major renovation project. Now St. James’ exterior features a beautifully blended
combination of ageless church home with a warm and welcoming accessible for all entrance on
the north facade, an elevator for access throughout, and the beautiful Wesley Commons area
for meetings, fellowship, food pantry staging and much more featuring the preserved mantle
from its previous home.
Just as the physical structure of the St. James church home has evolved over the years,
spiritual style and philosophy have adapted and expanded as well. A contemporary service has
been added through the guidance of the associate ministers that have served with Pastor
Robinson, including Justin Snyder, Greg Boylan, and James Fielder, who now lead their own
congregations. It allows people to connect with God in a worship experience where they are the
most comfortable. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, St. James radio, streaming online, and
Facebook broadcasts maintained the connection and expanded access to worship services. St
James UMC continues to host several fellowship and community events focusing on youth
opportunities.

“Randy, through his sermons, has this wonderful, understandable way of explaining the
readings and translating them to where everyone can feel a connection,” shared Dr. Serfoss.
“The United Methodist Church has experienced much controversy in recent years,” he
continued, “Pastor Robinson has guided us through relatable and noncontroversial ways of
understanding and continuing its mantra where everyone is welcome with open hearts, open
minds, and open doors.”
Pastor Randy and his wife, Laura, have purchased a home here in Danville and are looking
forward to their retirement years, spending time with their daughters, Rachel and Sarah, and
their families.
Pastor Don Jackson will take the reins as lead pastor at St. James UMC on July 1st. He and his
wife Cynthia are looking forward to calling Danville home. “I have much confidence that the
people of St. James United Methodist Church are being left in good hands,” stated Pastor
Robinson.

St. James UMC would like to invite everyone to an open house in honor of Reverend Randall
Robinson's Retirement from 2-5 pm in the St. James Wesley Commons.

The 34^th annual Arts in the Park will be this weekend at Lincoln Park in Danville. Admission is free to Arts in the Park. It runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday rain or shine.

The event will be feature jewelry, acrylics and canvas paintings, oil paintings, pottery, glassware, ceramics, photography, clothing, metal items, 2-D and 3-D art, wood items, stained glass, mixed media, gemstones, wood burning and other drawings and items. There will be games and lessons for the kids and the adults. There will be 27 artists selling items in the Artist Promenade area, in addition to a variety of food vendors.

Other activities include the car show “Art on Wheels” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

full stage lineup both days including music groups and individuals, dance groups, and a gospel choir. The Danville Municipal Band will play at 6 p.m. Sunday.

A burn ban is issued for the City of Danville effective 8:00 am Thursday, June 22, 2023.

The burn ban does not apply to charcoal or gas grills used for cooking, although extra safety precautions should be taken.

According to U.S. Drought Monitor for Illinois, our area is experiencing severe drought conditions, in addition to a high fire danger index rating. The current and future weather forecast models include conditions that are not favorable to open burning.

Because of these conditions, Danville Fire Officials recommend individuals avoid using personal fireworks.

The burn ban will remain in place until further notice.

City of Hoopeston has put in place a Burn Ban effective June 21, 2023

This is in place till further notice is given.    Condition is too dry to allow any burning. 

ALSO:

City of Hoopeston has postponed fireworks for Saturday, June 24th till further notice. due to the dry conditions

Summer Reading Challenge: This year's theme is Find Your Voice. Register at tinyurl.com/dpl-reading

Used Book Exchange & Sale! June 29-July 1. Join us at the end of the month for our next Used Book Sale inside the Library. Bring in your used books to exchange. All books in the sale are at-will donations. We will gladly accept whatever you choose to donate.

June 26: Anime & Gaming Club. Join us after school each Monday for a fun mix of Anime and Gaming! Meet us in the Teen Zone to watch anime, have snacks, and play video games together! 4:00 PM in the Teen Zone.

June 26: Children's Wonder Garden Club. Weekly gardening event for children and families. 9:30 -10:30 AM in the 1st Floor Meeting Room. This program is made possible through a partnership with the University of Illinois Extension Office.

June 27: Tween It! Tuesdays. Fun programs for tweens each Tuesday. 4:30 p.m. in the Children's Room. Ages 8-13. This week: Break a record. Choose a Guinness World Record and try to break it. 

June 27: Wee Wigglers Story Time with Special Guests Bert and Ernie! Travel to Sesame Street and visit with Bert and Ernie! Action rhymes, stories, and songs for children age 5 and under. 10:00 a.m. in the 1st Floor Meeting Room.

June 28: Dungeons & Dragons. A tabletop role-playing game that allows teens to quest for treasures and fame, or at the very least hunt enemies. This program is for teens, both those who are new to the game and those who already know the best way to cleave an orc. New players always welcome! Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Teen Zone.

June 28: Girl Scouts Mobile STEM Experience. Enhance your student's experience in science, technology, engineering, and math. From robots to slime, this program provides unique activities based on girls' interests. Five weeks of STEM fun from June 28 to July 26! Starts Wednesday, June 28 at 3:00 p.m.in the 1st Floor Meeting Room. For girls in K-8. Must preregister by calling the Children's Department @ 217-477-5225.

June 28: Rainbow Readers Playgroup.  Enjoy stories, STEM projects and socialization activities for preschoolers, ages 3-5 years, and their caregivers. 10 AM- 11 AM. June 7, 14, 21, 28 in the 1st Floor Meeting Room.

June 29: Anything Tech for Teens. Introducing teens to some of the library's cool technology, including 3D Printing, 3D Pens, Sphero Balls, Cricut, and a Flight Simulator. Thursdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Teen Zone.

July 1: Berry Cool Market: Come join the fun and familial environment at The Berry Cool Market at the beautiful DPL park! The Berry Cool Market features weekly music by this area's top musicians and other demonstrations, activities, and family friendly events throughout the season … and of course, our weekly, eclectic mix of art, food, and produce vendors! Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

July 1: Hear It, See It, Make It, Take It: Sensory Story Time. Sensory program designed for youth of various ability levels including differently-abled youth. Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. in the 1st Floor Meeting Room.

July 1: Saturday Movie Matinee. Join us for a family-friendly movie in the Children's Room every Saturday at noon. Children and Tweens welcome!

Daily Crafts. Drop by for fun crafts in the children's department. Available Monday through Thursday starting at 9 AM to 7 PM and Friday and Saturday 9 AM to 3 PM.

Teen Crafts. Stop by the Teen Zone anytime during the month of June to make a cute pom pom cactus for our teen monthly craft! July’s craft is a Flamingo Snow globe. Crafts are available daily during Teen Zone open hours starting at 11 AM.

YouTube: Check out Danville Public Library's YouTube page. Visit DanvillePublicLibrary.org or tinyurl.com/DPL-YouTube

Operating Hours: Monday -Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday: Closed.

Danville is hoping that by agreeing to spend 2.5 million dollars, the city can get a federal grant of 12.5 million dollars for street work. The City Council Tuesday approved applying for a Safe Streets and Road Grant. The work to be done is based on the recent Danville Area Transportation Study.

City engineer Sam Cole if the grant is received, it would mean street projects throughout the city.

Cole…street

The project is a joint effort with Vermilion county. The county would also have a match for any work it does.

An engineering agreement for improvements of East Voorhees from Griffin to Michigan Avenue was also approved.  Danville agreed to pay its 20 percent match of the project which is expected to cost 760 thousand dollars.

A project along East Williams Street is going to be slowed up.  The city recently reached a grant agreement with the state on a pavement patching and overlay on portions of Williams.  However, Cole says the city only received one bid, and it was way over estimates.

          Cole…bid

The council also okayed a 254 thousand dollar agreement for engineering services for a downtown sanitary sewer bid. The services will include televising and cleaning, manhole inspections, smoke testing, dye water flooding and renovation recommendations.

Two improvement projects for the Harrison Park golf course were approved by the city council. A Wisconsin firm would be paid 38 thousand dollars for a study and consultation for an irrigation system. The current system is over 20 years old.

The council also approved a 17 thousand dollar study on stabilization of a roadway leading into the golf course.  The winding hilly road runs alongside the Vermilion River, and bank erosion has caused minor road failure.

There will be a complete roadway closure of Ferndale Avenue at Liberty Lane beginning Thursday morning. A contractor needs the closure to install a storm sewer pipe across Ferndale Avenue as part of the roadway improvement project. This will close access for all through traffic just north of Liberty Lane. The installation is scheduled to be completed by 3:00 pm on Friday. Motorists should choose alternate routes during the scheduled timeline.

A presentation “VA Illiana Through the Generations”  will open at the Danville Public Library Wednesday at 11 a.m.  The presentation is in celebration of VA Illiana’s 125^th Anniversary. This exhibit explores the way in which service to Veterans though VA employment has become a family tradition for many in the region. The exhibit is comprised of static poster displays accompanied by written responses to interview questions about the experience of life in a VA family. The exhibit will be available through Saturday at 3 p.m.

The Danville Public Library is at 319 North Vermilion.

State Senator Paul Faraci is hosting a Summer Book Club to encourage students to read and continue their studies during the summer vacation. The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form, and return the form to Faraci’s office by Aug. 18. Every child who completes the Summer Book Club will receive a gift card and a certificate from Senator Faraci.

Club forms are available to download at SenatorFaraci.com.  Call his Champaign office at (217) 355-5252 or Danville Office at (217) 442-5252 with any questions.

Incident #1
On 06/16/23 around 4:24 pm, Danville police responded to the unit block of S. State St in reference to a
report of a victim with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers located an 18-year old Danville man
with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim stated he was standing in the unit block of S. State St when
an unknown male black man started shooting at him. The victim said the suspect was wearing black
pants and a blue shirt and left the scene on a bicycle. The victim was transported to an area hospital for
treatment of his non-life threatening injury.
Incident #2
On 06/17/23 around 7:53 pm, Danville Police responded to the 1000 block of Koehn Dr for a report of a
man with a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers located a 46-year old Danville man with a gunshot
wound to his abdomen. The victim stated he was in his residence when two men entered his home and
attempted to rob him. The victim said during the robbery he was shot and the suspects fled the residence
in an unknown direction. The suspects were described as two male black men wearing dark clothing.
The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of his injury and is currently listed in stable
condition.
The investigation into these incidents continues and no other information is being released at this time.
Anyone who has information regarding these incidents is asked to call Danville Police at (217) 431-
2250. Or you can call Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at (217) 446-TIPS

The company hoping to get a permit to open a marijuana distribution center in Danville has withdrawn its petition. Mariworks came to the Danville Planning and Zoning Commission earlier this month with a petition to become the third distribution center in Danville. The commission rejected the idea because it would have been the third such business along the Lynch Road corridor. The issue was supposed to come to the City Council on Tuesday.  It would have taken a super majority vote of the council to overturn the zoning commission decision.

The Danville City Council meet at 6 pm Tuesday at City Hall.

Smoky air and allergens come out to play during the summer months, making asthma and COPD worse. That’s why you should know how the ailments are alike and differ. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more from a Danville provider.

Three people were taken to area hospitals Friday night following a head-on collision south of Danville.

Illinois State Police said that at about 8:30 p.m., a car driven by 18 year old Thaddeus Serrano of Danville was southbound on Georgetown Road. It crossed the centerline for an unknown reason and hit a northbound car head-on near East Forrest Avenue.  Serrano was seriously injured and airlifted to an area hospital. He was issued tickets for improper lane usage, driving on the wrong side of the road, and driving too fast for conditions.

The driver of the other car, a 61-year-old woman, and her passenger, a 25-year-old woman, both from Westville, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A section of the highway had to be closed for about two hours after the accident.

Danville police are investigating an attempted robbery and shooting Friday afternoon. Deputy Chief Joshua Webb said Danville Police responded to the 1200 block of Garden Drive for a report of shots fired in the area. They learned that a victim had driven himself to the OSF emergency room. Officers met with the 25-year old Danville man who said he was in a parking lot when two men attempted to rob him at gunpoint. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his wrist during the attempted robbery.

The suspects were last seen running southbound from the area. No other information is currently available.

The Danville Juneteenth Celebration will be at Temple Plaza Monday from 2-7 p.m. The event will feature music, speakers, and activities s for the kids like a bounce house, face painting and bubbles. The presenter will speak about the history and importance of this fairly new holiday, which was declared a federal holiday in 2021. There will be a cards tournament during the festival and at 7 p.m., the Fischer Theater will be showing the 1978 musical “The Wiz.”

Because of the holiday, governmental offices, schools and many financial institutions will also be closed Monday.

An effort led by OSF HealthCare to bring emergency vehicles to the battlefields of Ukraine...has reached 50 vehicles donated...and plenty more to come. The man leading the charge spoke to the Danville Kiwanis club Thursday. Tim Ditman of OSF has more.

If you have an emergency vehicle or an SUV to donate you can email timothy.ditman@osfhealthcare.org. And you can follow the effort on Twitter. Search “US Ambulances for Ukraine.”

 The Danville Police Department announced plans for stepped-up July Fourth traffic enforcement with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers. The safety campaign will run from June 16 through the early-morning hours of July 5 to encompass three summer weekends leading up to and after Independence Day.

“It’s simple: If you’re driving, don’t drink, use marijuana or other drugs,” said Sergeant Andrew Brooks. “Our officers will be working around the clock to keep impaired drivers off the roads and enforce all other traffic laws. We’re doing it to save lives.”

The Danville Police Department will join the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local police and sheriff’s departments for the increased statewide enforcement effort.

Use these tips to help ensure a happy and safe holiday:

• Designate a sober driver and give them your keys before you go out.
• Don’t let friends or family members drive under the influence.
• If you are drunk or impaired by marijuana or other drugs, call a taxi, take mass transit, use your favorite ride-sharing app, or call a sober friend or family member to get home safely.
• Promptly report drunk drivers to law enforcement by pulling over and dialing 911.
• Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears their seat belt. It’s not only the law, but also your best defense against an impaired driver.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” programs are made possible by federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The enforcement period runs concurrently with a media campaign reminding motorists that “It’s Not a Game” to drive impaired.

The City of Danville has been awarded a 22 thousand dollar Assistance to Firefighters Grant by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Mayor Rickey Williams told the Public Works committee that the funds will be used to equip and train six new firefighters being added to the Danville department. Fire Chief Aaron Marcott says it will mean each day an additional two firefighters will be in service to the community.

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly announced the grant.  Kelly’s congressional district has included Danville since January.

Two funding measures were approved for the Harrison Park golf course this week by the Public Works committee.  17 thousand dollars would go for a study on stabilizing the road that goes into the golf course. The river bank alongside the road has slid, making repairs to the road urgent.

Also approved was a 38 thousand dollar  cost for a study and consultation about a new irrigation system in the golf course. City officials say the current system needs frequent repairs and renovation.

The committee also approved a memo of understanding with the state for the plan to repair the I-74 bridge over Griffin Street. The state wants to renovate the bridge at a future date.  The city would agree to close portions of Griffin street while work is underway on the structure. The city would then make some roadway improvements on Griffin Street.

The committee’s action will go to the full city council next week.

With a return to summer comes the reopening of Danville’s
popular Three Kings of Peace Youth Mentoring Center near Garfield Park. The Center provides
free mentoring and social activities for young people age 5 and up.
The Center is located at 428 N. Washington St. inside the recreation room of Mt. Olive
Church. The summer hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The
Center is nonsectarian and welcomes all youth, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Rev. Frank McCullough has been mentoring Danville’s young people for more than 30
years. The vast majority of the Three Kings’ success stories are African-American children. He
says, “Along with (NAACP) President (Edward) Butler, I have greatly enjoyed our interactions
with the young people of Danville. We meet kids every day that, because of poverty or other
pressures, are at risk of making some bad moves in their lives. There’s nothing more rewarding
when we see these kids now grown up as successful adults—as business owners and teachers and police officers and doctors and nurses and many other careers. There’s great satisfaction in
seeing young people attain a life that seemed impossible to them when they were growing up.”
The Three Kings of Peace are strong advocates for education as well as social and
athletic endeavors. Says Rev. McCullough, “Our emphasis is on activities that help enrich the
minds of young people. Education, art, music, sports, and even video games remote-control car
racing can all be productive outlets for young people and a means for inspiring them to excel.”
For more information about Three Kings of Peace Mentoring Center, call Rev.
McCullough at 217-766-8735 or Edward J. Butler at (217) 920-2825..

Mentors engaging with students at the Three Kings of Peace Mentoring Center. The
Center is reopening on Tues., June 20, between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sessions run on
Tuesdays through Thursdays. All young people age 5 and up are welcome to attend free of charge.

Information submitted by City of Danville

Join us on Friday, July 7 from 6-9 PM in your Hawaiian garb for the first ever Midsummer
Luau at Temple Plaza and Vermilion River Beer Company. Temple Plaza will host steel drums

and fire spinners for entertainment as well as an outdoor bar with Tiki drinks and Exotic-
Pina-To-Go will have pineapple drinks for purchase. Don't forget your lawn chairs!

Lovin' Cup and VRBC will host a whole hog roast outside with delicious Hawaiian sides
served up by Lovin' Cup. Tickets for dinner at the Midsummer Luau are available for
purchase! For only $10, receive dinner at the Midsummer Luau on Friday, July 7 from 6-9
PM.
Your dinner ticket includes roasted hog, 1 Huli Huli Chicken Skewer and 1 Grilled Pineapple
Skewer over a bed of rice. Beverages available to purchase at VRBC, Lovin' Cup & Temple
Plaza!
Purchase dinner tickets here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f44acaf2da3fec43-midsummer#/
Requite Tattoo will be taking walk-ins just around the corner on North Street with a flash
sheet of Hawaiian designs to choose from.
Do not forget about the after party from 8 PM-close at Obsidian Coffee in the back alley at
137 N. Vermilion Street! Obsidian will have a full menu of Tiki drinks and an inviting outdoor
patio to relax on.

The City of Danville Human Relations Commission and the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee will sponsor
their Twenty-Ninth Annual Community Day on Sunday, July
9, 2023 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Lincoln Park. This
event is open to the public, and there is no admission fee.
The program will feature “Standard”, a gospel group from
Indianapolis, and include performances by the top winners of
Danville’s Got Talent: Jennie Lou-Lang, Wizzo, and Amani
Torres.
Free food, such as barbeque, beverages and ice cream will
be served. Activities for children (ages 4-12). The event will
also include free prizes. Come out and enjoy the festivities.
In case of rain, Community Day will be held at St. James
United Methodist Church, 504 N Vermilion.

For additional information call:
Elder Tyson Parks, MLK Chair at 217-369-3920
Martha Espino, HRC Chair at 217-597-1465
Human Relations Division at 217-431-2280

Scott Eisenhauer has resigned as Rantoul Village Administrator.  The former Danville Mayor  was arraigned in Champaign County Court Tuesday  afternoon on two charges of Domestic Battery.  Eisenhauer was released on his own recognizance and given a court date of June 27th.

He was arrested in his Rantoul home Monday evening for allegedly harming his wife, who called 911 for help. Rantoul mayor Charles Smith placed Eisenhauer on administrative leave after his arrest.  Eisenhauer has served as Rantoul Village Administrator since 2018.

Eisenhauer was elected Danville Mayor four times.  He has also worked for many years broadcasting local sports.

Danville’s Public Works committee has approved a variety of street and sewer improvement studies.

Danville plans to apply for a 12.5 million dollar grant for improvements of high risk road segments and intersections. Completion of a recent Vermilion County Safety Action Plan enabled the city to seek the large grant.  If it receives the grant, Danville will have to have a 20% match of 2.5 million dollars.

City Engineer Sam Cole says the plan would address many areas that need safety improvements. He said one area surprised him in the study.

The study done for this application also can be used for other projects the city plans to do soon.

Another approved plan would be for the improvement of Voorhees street said Cole

The project was selected by the Danville Area Transportation Study.  The city would pay an engineering company up to 70 thousand dollars for the study.  That would be part of the city’s match for the estimated 760 thousand dollar project.

The committee also gave the okay for an evaluation of sanitary sewers in the downtown area. Cole says the project will includes sewer cleaning, manhole inspections, smoke testing, and recommendations

The city recently got a three million dollar grant to improve roads and alleys in the downtown area.  

Also approved was a 25 thousand dollar transfer to the Midtown TIF budget for work on the downtown sidewalk projects.  The increase was needed because of unforeseen construction problems, and including of additional locations.  The total sidewalk project will cost 442 thousand dollars.

Committee members also gave the green light to a 230 thousand dollar contract with an engineering company to prepare a design for replacement of the Ellsworth Park sanitary sewer lift station.  City officials say the current pump station is 60 years old and needs renovation.

All of the committee’s actions will come to the full city council next week.

Rantoul Village Administrator Scott Eisenhauer has been placed on leave after he was arrested for domestic battery Monday. Eisenhauer is the former Mayor of Danville, where he was elected Mayor four times.

Channel 3 news reports Mayor Charles Smith released a statement that says he was notified of a domestic incident involving Eisenhauer that occurred at his home in Rantoul. Rantoul Police responded but handed the investigation over to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office. That investigation led to Eisenhauer’s arrest for domestic battery and interfering with the report of domestic violence.

The statement says Eisenhauer was immediately placed on administrative leave, where he will remain pending the outcome of an administrative hearing and the conclusion of his criminal charges.

After six months of renovations...people getting care at OSF Hegeler Cancer Center in Danville now have a less stressful visit. Tim Ditman of OSF has more.

Call 217-431-4290 for more on OSF Hegeler Cancer Center.

The irrigation system at the Harrison Park Golf Course is more than 20 years old, and city officials think it is time to get a new one.

The Public Works Committee tonight will consider a 38 thousand dollar proposal for a study for irrigation and consultation. A firm from Wisconsin was chosen as the most qualified from bids received by the city. The money would come from Harrison Park fund reserves.

Champaign Police are asking for the community’s help in the investigation of two separate shooting incidents early Sunday morning that left 8 people hurt. At this time, police said there is no evidence that there is any relationship between the two.

In the first shooting incident, Champaign Police received reports of shots being fired, and  found on the scene a 21-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the arm and a 21-year-old man with a stab wound to the back.

Later Champaign Police got a report of a shooting with injuries and multiple traffic collisions. Police said officers found several victims on the scene with gunshot wounds and began to render medical aid. At the same time, police said additional victims arrived at an area hospital. Four people in all were struck by gunfire and two were struck by vehicles related to this incident, police reported.

Police said a large crowd had formed for an impromptu gathering when an unknown subject opened fire. Immediately, a chaotic scene erupted when multiple vehicles attempted to leave the area, causing at least three collisions over multiple blocks. In addition to those who were hurt, police said multiple parked vehicles were damaged in collisions, and at least one residence was struck by gunfire.

Work is beginning on a connector road between Lynch Road and Eastgate Drive. The roadway construction startup will be at 204 Eastgate Drive. The project will entail lane widening on Lynch Road along with the construction of a new roadway between the streets.  This will improve access to the Golden Nugget Danville casino. The work is expected to be done by the end of August. Motorists traveling north or southbound on both roads are urged to use caution around the marked construction zones.

The OSF Hegeler Cancer Care center in Danville is wrapping up months of renovation. Health officials say patients will have a more comfortable and streamlined experience. Improvements include more patient rooms, including a larger room for people who need special care to get around, a relocated discharge room for better workflow, and improved privacy for infusion bays. OSF leaders will bless the renovated space Monday afternoon. 

Attorney General Kwame Raoul today announced a consent order with Dynegy Midwest Generation LLC (Dynegy) that resolves a 2021 lawsuit Raoul’s office filed against Dynegy. The consent order requires the company to close three ponds located at the company’s now-shuttered Vermilion Power Station, and simultaneously Dynegy must remove an estimated 3 million cubic yards of dumped coal ash near the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River that was produced by operations at the site. The Attorney General’s office filed the consent order with the Vermilion County Circuit Court to resolve Raoul’s lawsuit over Dynegy’s disposal of coal ash that allegedly led to groundwater pollution surrounding the power plant and created a public nuisance. The consent order was the result of lengthy, complex negotiations between the Attorney General’s office, Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy’s office, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Dynegy and Prairie Rivers Network, represented by EarthJustice. “While the Vermilion Power Station was operating, Dynegy dumped coal ash generated during operations, which endangered the surrounding environment and the Vermilion River, our state’s only national scenic river,” Raoul said. “This consent order will result in cleanup of this natural area, and I appreciate Vermilion County State’s Attorney Lacy’s partnership on this important issue. I will continue to work with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to hold companies accountable when they violate our environmental laws.” Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy’s office prosecuted the case with Raoul’s office. “The Middle Fork is a popular location outdoor recreational activity, and has been designated as Illinois’ only National Scenic River under the Federal National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act,” said Vermilion County State’s Attorney Jacqueline M. Lacy. “The consent order signed by Judge O’Shaughnessy acts not only as a penalty, but also to ensure the safety of the Middle Fork for years to come.” The Attorney General’s lawsuit was based on a referral by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). “This consent order facilitates the responsible closure of the former Dynegy Vermilion Power Station, and we thank the stakeholders involved for their work to achieve this important resolution,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim. “Illinois EPA’s work on this issue will continue as we review Dynegy’s proposed coal ash impoundment closure plans to ensure the protection of groundwater, public health, and our natural resources.” The consent order also requires Dynegy to comply with the statutory and regulatory framework governing coal combustion residual surface impoundments, to continue implementation of the Dewatering Plan and Groundwater Collection Trench Plan at the site, to complete a safety emergency response plan and continue ongoing riverbank inspections. The consent order also requires Dynegy to pay a $100,000 civil penalty and fund two beneficial environmental projects totaling $400,000. Dynegy owns the property in Oakwood, Illinois where a coal-fired Vermilion Power Station operated until November 2011. Dynegy’s operations involved burning coal to generate electricity, resulting in the generation of coal ash that Dynegy dumped in human-made ponds at the site. Coal ash can contain a number of harmful byproducts that may adversely impact groundwater and the nearby Middle Fork of the Vermilion River, which is Illinois’ only national scenic river under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The river’s banks continue to steadily erode, and Raoul’s lawsuit alleged the proximity of the coal ash ponds in the flood plain further threatened the river’s well-being. The Attorney General’s office enforces Illinois’ environmental protection laws. Attorney General Raoul’s Environmental Enforcement Division, which enforces civil environmental laws, has recovered millions of dollars from polluters and required companies to undertake environmental improvement projects in communities impacted by pollution. Raoul encourages residents to report environmental justice and other environmental concerns to his office by emailing ej@ilag.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announces the final plan to clean up contaminated soil and sediment at the Hegeler Zinc Superfund site in Vermilion County.

In addition to zinc products, the former smelting facility produced sulfuric acid and cadmium which resulted in large amounts of slag, stored in piles on the site. Soil, sediment, groundwater and surface water are contaminated with cadmium, lead, arsenic and zinc, according to the EPA.

The design phase of the cleanup will start in about six to eight months and will last approximately two years. After that, construction will begin. The EPA anticipates the construction will take about three years, according to a press release.

The EPA’s cleanup will involve excavating contaminated sediment and soil and adding it to the existing slag pile or disposing of it off site. The agency will then install a low-permeability cover over the pile, reroute portions of a creek to ensure a safe distance from the slag pile, and continue monitoring groundwater and surface water.

The EPA received six public comments on the proposed plan.

The Hegeler Zinc site in Vermilion County is a 100-acre area that was a zinc smelting facility from 1906 until about 1954. Hegeler Zinc produced various grades of zinc slab and rolled zinc products as well as sulfuric acid. The smelting operation resulted in large amounts of slag (through a burning process), which was stored in piles on the site. The slag material contains unburned residues and metals such as lead, arsenic and zinc.

In May 2003, the EPA secured the site with fencing. It listed the site on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 2005. Site investigations are ongoing.

In 2015 the EPA began cleanup of the residential properties at OU3 of the Hegeler Zinc Site. The EPA’s cleanup of lead and arsenic included digging up and removing contaminated soil from residential yards; backfilling excavated properties with clean soil; transporting excavated non-hazardous soil to the former smelting facility for stockpiling to be addressed as part of the future remedy; transporting and disposing of hazardous excavated soil to an agency approved landfill.

The EPA completed cleanup of residential yards in OU3 in 2016.

The EPA completed a review of the site's cleanup in June 2020. This type of review is required at least every five years where the cleanup is complete but hazardous waste remains managed on-site. These reviews are completed to ensure that the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. It was this site’s first five-year review.

The review included an evaluation of: background information, cleanup requirements, effectiveness of the cleanup and any anticipated future actions, maintenance and monitoring efforts, and possible ways of operating the site more efficiently.

The review found the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. The next scheduled review will be in 2025.

At this site, activity and use limitations that the EPA calls institutional controls are in place. Institutional controls play an important role in site remedies because they reduce exposure to contamination by limiting land or resource use. They also guide human behavior. For instance, zoning restrictions prevent land uses – such as residential uses – that are not consistent with the level of cleanup.

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts has announced the reappointment of Vermilion
County’s associate circuit judges, Mark S. Goodwin, Karen E. Wall, Derek J Girton, and Charles
D. Mockbee IV to four-year terms beginning July 1, 2023. Associate judges are subject to
reappointment (by receiving at least 3/5 vote of the circuit judges) every four years.
These four associate judges are assigned to Vermilion County and handle high-volume court
calls. The diverse nature of the associate divisions requires the judges to be knowledgeable,
resourceful, and versatile. They routinely preside over civil small claims, eviction, traffic,
misdemeanor, divorce, and order of protection cases. They are also are appointed to hear felony
and law division cases.
Judge Goodwin has served as an associate judge since 2009 and is currently the presiding judge
of the Vermilion County Drug Court. He served the Illinois Judicial Conference, concluding five
years of service as Chairperson of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinating Committee.
He serves by appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court as a Peer Judge Mentor and a Cohort
Leader in the New Judge Orientation Program. He is a member of the Illinois Judges
Association as well as the Vermilion County Bar Association, serving the latter as President
during 2019-2020. Prior to becoming a judge, he practiced law in Vermilion County for twenty-
two years, with a general practice. Judge Goodwin graduated from Illinois State University and
John Marshall Law School. He lives in Danville with his wife.
Judge Wall has served as an associate judge for 12 years and is the presiding judge of the
County’s Mental Health Court. She currently serves as a board member, planning chair and
faculty member for the Supreme Court’s Committee for Judicial Education. Judge Wall is also a
board member for the Judicial Retirement System. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar
Association and Vice President of the Vermilion County Bar Association. Prior to becoming a
judge, she practiced law with Manion, Devens & McFetridge in Danville as an associate
attorney, and later became the first female partner of that firm. Thereafter, she was a founding
partner of the firm, Spiros & Wall, practicing primarily personal injury litigation. Judge Wall
graduated from Illinois State University and John Marshall Law School. She lives in rural
Danville with her husband and two sons.
Judge Girton has also served as an associate judge for 12 years and recently stepped aside as the
presiding judge of the County’s Drug Court after 12 years, a Vermilion County record for
continuous service to the program. He is a member of the Illinois Judges Association, ISBA, and
Vermilion County Bar Association. Prior to becoming a judge, he practiced law as a partner in
the Danville firm of Acton & Snyder with a general practice, but primarily handled family law
and criminal defense cases. Judge Girton graduated from The Pennsylvania State University and
Ohio Northern Law School. He lives in Oakwood and has two adult children.

2

Judge Mockbee has served as an associate judge since 2020 and is the presiding judge of the
Vermilion County Veteran’s Court. He is a member and past President of the Vermilion County
Bar Association, member and past committee member of the Illinois Judges Association, and
member of the Illinois State Bar Association, currently appointed to the Standing Committee on
Professional Conduct. Prior to becoming a Judge, he served as an assistant State’s Attorney in
Vermilion County and practiced law with his father at Kesler, Nelson, Garman, Brougher &
Townsley, P.C. in Danville. Most recently, he served as Corporation Counsel for the City of
Danville. Judge Mockbee graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and
Southern Illinois University School of Law. He lives in Danville with his wife and son.
Vermilion County Presiding Circuit Judge Thomas M. O’Shaughnessy responded to the re-
appointments: “The circuit judges of Vermilion County are pleased with the reappointment of
these dedicated judges and extend them a sincere and whole-hearted congratulations. They each
earned reappointment through hard work. They adhere to high standards of integrity and ethical
conduct, have exceptional experience, knowledge, and abilities, exercise appropriate judicial
temperament, fairness, patience, and dignity, and attend to the management of their cases in
prompt and skillful manners.”

The City of Danville Parks & Recreation Division has announced that the AMBUCs splash pad at Winter Park is open. The splash pad will be available through Labor Day weekend. The water for the splash pad is on a timer, which will turn on at 10:30AM and shut off at 8:00PM daily.

Robert Cunningham of Danville, was found guilty June 6, 2023, by a Vermilion County jury of
Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer, a class 2 felony and Aggravated Fleeing or Attempting to
Elude a Peace Officer, a class 4 felony.
The jury heard evidence that on May 5, 2021, around 2:00 p.m., Cunningham, led Tilton Police
on chase after causing a disturbance at the Tilton Village Hall. Tilton Police Chief Phillip
Bernardi attempted to pull Cunningham over, but Cunningham fled past a dead end and on to a
sidewalk path, through a parking lot, driving on the wrong side of streets, disobeying stop signs,
and reaching speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour on Georgetown Road. The chase ended when
Cunningham got his vehicle stuck in a ditch. Cunningham was arrested and secured in a police
vehicle. Soon after that, Cunningham managed to move his hand-cuffed hands from behind his
back to the front of his body and lured Chief Bernardi into opening the back door of the police
vehicle. Witnesses stated this is when Cunningham “launched” himself at Chief Bernardi,
leading to a fight on the side of the road, which was witnessed by several people.
Circuit Judge Thomas O’Shaughnessy presided over the jury trial, and will sentence
Cunningham on August 8, 2023.

The Vermilion Regional Airport has a new manager.  Teresa “Tess” Cook was named to the post today and talked exclusively to WITY.  She says her goal is to make the airport an even better facility…

Cook comes to the Danville airport from Lexington, Kentucky.  She has been working for the Silent Falcon company as a professional drone pilot providing pavement services and data analysis to U.S. airports. She has a bachelor’s degree in aviation.

Cook says her goal is to increase public awareness of the airport and improve the product for pilots.

She says functions like Balloons Over Vermilion are tremendously important to the airport.  She hopes to bring another air show into the airport and other events such as concerts.

Rod Hightower has been serving as interim airport manager.  He said he will continue at the airport for some time to help Cook.  He will also supervise work on physical improvements at the airport and will continue on compliance work for federal and state regulations.

Tess Cool Resume

Tess Cook – Vermilion Regional Airport Manager

Career
− Commercial Drone Pilot at Silent Falcon: Managed UAS operations, compliance,
airfield inspections, safety
− Data Analyst at Silent Falcon UAS: Identified airport distresses to evaluate
concrete quality (ASTM 5340).
− Mitigation strategies for safety management systems (SMS)
Pilot Credentials
− Part 107 certified remote drone pilot
− Student pilot with flight training in single-engine aircraft
Board Experience
− Treasurer for Yavapai 99's (women pilots club) in Prescott, AZ
− Treasurer for World4Women at Embry Riddle in Prescott, AZ
Education
− BS - Aeronautics Embry Riddle Aeronautical University 2021
? Minors: Aviation Safety, Aviation Business Administration
? Dean's List recognition in 2019, 2020, and 2021

Community Service
− Prepared cooked meals to support families at Ronald McDonald House
− Volunteered with Yavapai 99s at Skykids event
− Staff member at Girls In Aviation Day, promoting aviation to girls ages 10-13

The City of Danville has agreed to purchase a building that was going to be a VAPE store and will demolish the building.  It will be part of a 2 acre site at the corner of Fairchild and Vermilion that the city plans to use for commercial development.

Danville will pay about 310 thousand dollars for the building at 8 Fairchild. Discussion at Tuesday’s council meeting indicated that the price is much higher than what the current owner paid for it. The city had expressed interest in the property when it was sold before, but engineer Sam Cole says the previous owner would not allow Danville to do an environmental assessment.

Danville recently was awarded a nearly one million dollar grant to remove contaminated soil in the site.

Once the city gets control, the Royal Vape store will be demolished.  The Vape store has been planned for months, but never opened.  The Danville school district had opposed the Vape store because it was so close to Danville high School.

The council Tuesday also Authorized  application to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for up to $750,000 with no city match for securing, for maintaining and demolishing abandoned properties. Fence replacement at Fetch Dog Park for $56,500 was also approved. The funds are  from the Julius W. Hegeler II Foundation.

Mayor Rickey Williams announced at the council meeting that the city has gotten final approval for a million dollar grant for law enforcement. He said the grant will pay for two squad cars already purchased and a variety of needed items.

The police sub-station will be a training facility.

The mayor said the grant is the work of the late Senator Scott Bennett who made sure Danville got the funding 

He said current Senator Paul Faraci  and his staff continued the funding fight and got a year extension for Danville on the grant.

There will be a complete roadway closure of Cavalier Court at Ferndale Avenue in Danville Thursday morning. A contractor needs the closure to install a culvert pipe as part of the Ferndale Avenue roadway improvement project. This will close access for all through traffic to this cul-de-sac roadway. The installation is scheduled to be completed by 3:00 pm.

State Senator Paul Faraci is co-hosting a senior fraud seminar in Champaign and Danville.

 “I encourage older adults and their families to join us and learn more about how to keep their personal information safe,” said Faraci. The seminars will be on June 27.  It will be at the CRIS Heathy Aging Center in Danville at 10 a.m.  Later at 2 p.m. it will be at the CRIS Healthy Aging Center in Champaign.

Staff from the Illinois Attorney General’s office will give a presentation about how to detect and prevent scams and fraudulent business acts.

The Danville City Council tonight will vote on a purchase agreement for what was planned to be the “Royal Vape” shop near Danville High School. The city would purchase the property for $310,000 from a Peoria company. Funding comes from the city’s Midtown Tax Increment Financing District.

The city owns all of the land around that building. This would give the city a two acre site for future development at the corner of Vermilion and Fairchild streets. The city has received an almost $1 million Environmental Protection Agency brownfield grant to clean up underground contamination on that site. The proposed Vape shop will be torn down. The Danville School district has opposed opening a Vape shop that is so close to Danville High School.

Champaign County will get seven electric vehicle charging infrastructure under a grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The program totaling $12.6 million will fund 348 new Direct Current Fast Charging ports at 87 locations throughout Illinois. These grants were made by the State of Illinois with the remaining money in a The Volkswagen settlement. The Illinois EPA is funding charging stations at publicly accessible locations such as shopping centers, retail stores, gas stations, and hotels.

There will be a HEALTH & WELLNESS FAIR THIS Friday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Temple Plaza in Danville. There will be a variety of giveaways and resources at the event including first aid kits, family dental kits, legal aid services, mental health awareness, healthy snacks for kids, and more. And the first fifty people receive a FOOD BOX! The event is sponsored by the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency.

The Golden Nugget Danville Casino enjoyed its first weekend of being open to the public.

The Illinois Gaming Board  gave the necessary operating permit Friday evening, and the Golden Nugget opened on Saturday. Illinois Gaming Board staff were in town this week to check out all angles of the casino. The casino will be open for holiday hours from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. today. It will be closed tomorrow.

Beginning Wednesday, the casino hours are 4 p.m. until midnight daily except for Sundays and Tuesdays. The hours on Sunday are 11:00 am to 7:00pm. Golden Nugget Danville will be closed on Tuesdays. The hours of the casino and the steakhouse are expected to expand in the future. The Golden Nugget Danville is planning a Grand Opening, details for the Grand Opening will be announced later. 

The casino has 14 gaming tables and 500 slots, and a sportsbook on-site. The sportsbook features a bar and grill. The casino had several jackpot winners on its first weekend of operation. At least one was for 10 thousand dollars.

The Danville Area Planning and Zoning Commission has rejected a request for a special-use permit for a third cannabis dispensary in Danville. MariWorks, LLC of Chicago is requesting the special-use permit to operate an adult-use cannabis dispensary at 500 Eastgate Drive. The commission voted 4-0 against it, with two commissioners absent.

Commission members expressed concern that there would be a marijuana dispensary saturation with the approval. Another dispensary is already in operation in the area, and another has been approved, but has not yet started construction. The Lynch Road corridor is the only area approved for such a center in Danville.

The Danville City Council will act on the zoning request at its June 20 meeting. A  super majority vote would be needed to override the zoning commission’s recommendation.

A Hoopeston man has received a prison sentence after pleading guilty to Intimidation and Domestic Battery. Skyler Burke was sentenced to ten years in prison for the charge of Intimidation and he was sentenced to a concurrent term of Three years for the charge of Domestic Battery.

A news release from State’s Attorney Jacqueline Lacy says the court heard evidence that on December 23, 2022, Burke became irate with the mother of his children. The argument turned physical and Burke made various threats of violence against the victim. He threatened even more if police were called. The Hoopeston Police Department was contacted, arrived, saw the defendant holding the victim against her will, and the defendant bit her. The victim was able to break free and got away from Burke. While Burke was being detained and arrested by police, he was threatening revenge against the victim. 

Kimberly David has been named the new chief executive officer for Project Success. David has been with the agency since 2000 and has been the associate director since 2014. Lucas Seilhymer will be leaving his position as CEO of Project Success in June to pursue another opportunity.

The public is invited to a celebration and welcome reception for David from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 21 at the Catlin Community Building.