The Iroquois County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, outlining projects and activities to reduce damage caused by severe weather and other natural hazards, will be available for public review and comment starting Thursday, February 13. A public form will be held in conjunction with the Iroquois County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meeting at the MABAS 37 Building, 103½ Main St., Crescent City (behind Ailey’s Welding Shop) from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday, February 13. Individuals can come and review the Plan at any time during the forum. Those unable to attend can still review the Plan and provide comments without participating in the public forum. The Plan, along with a summary sheet and a comment survey, will be available for review at the Iroquois County Clerk’s Office (550 S 10th St, Watseka) and on the County website. The comment period will remain open through February 27. Public comments received will be used to make any revisions needed before the Plan is submitted to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Iroquois County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee has been conducting working meetings open to the public since January 2024. The Committee updated the Plan with technical assistance from state and federal agencies as well as a consultant specializing in emergency management planning. The municipalities of Ashkum, Beaverville, Chebanse, Danforth, Gilman, Watseka, and Woodland have participated in the planning process. Other participating jurisdictions include Belmont Township, Crescent Township, Lovejoy Township, Ridgeland Township, Central CUSD #4, Iroquois County CUSD #9, Iroquois West CUSD #10, Crescent-Iroquois FPD, Danforth FPD, Gilman Community FPD, Iroquois-Ford FPD, Loda FPD, WellingtonGreer FPD, and Woodland FPD. “This Plan describes how the County and the participating jurisdictions have been impacted by severe weather and other hazards and identifies specific mitigation actions that can be taken to reduce damages to people and property before events occur,” explained Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator, Scott Anderson

Mayor Watson, alongside the Village of Bradley Board and the enthusiastic Bradley 315 Music Fest Committee, is delighted to unveil the 2nd Annual Bradley 315 Music Fest! This vibrant event is set to transform the town into a lively celebration filled with captivating music, heartfelt laughter, and an array of exciting activities for all ages. Mark your calendars for June 5 to June 8, 2025, as the festival takes over the Northfield Square Mall in Bradley, Illinois, promising an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss!

 

On Thursday, June 5, the first night of the festival will be headlined by the rapper and singer Flo Rida. His breakout single "Low" spent ten weeks at number one in the United States and set a record for digital download sales at the time of its release. Since then, he has sold over 80 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Opening for Flo Rida is the GRAMMY®-nominated, multi platinum entertainer Chingy. Chingy has reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart eight times and gained rapid mainstream success with his double-platinum RIAA-certified debut album, *Jackpot*, featuring smash hits like "Right Thurr," "Holidae In," and more! 

 

Rock Night is scheduled for Friday, June 6, and will be headlined by one of the most prominent and bestselling rock bands of the 21st century, Daughtry. The band has sold out concerts around the world. Their debut album, the self-titled "Daughtry," was the top-selling album of 2007 and holds the record for the fastest-selling rock debut album in SoundScan history. The album was nominated for four GRAMMY® Awards and won four American Music Awards, as well as seven Billboard Music Awards, including Album of the Year.

 

While each night of the festival has the potential to sell out, Saturday, June 7, is sure to be a standout! Headlining the event is the band Alabama, which first gained fame in 1980 with their Top 20 hit, "My Home's in Alabama." Since then, they have sold over 80 million albums and charted 43 #1 singles, including a record-breaking 21 consecutive #1 hits—an achievement that is unlikely to be surpassed in any genre.

 

Alabama has received numerous awards, including 178 CMA Awards, Grammy Awards, and ACM Awards. They have also earned 21 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum albums. Additionally, they were named the RIAA's Country Group of the Century and are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

Opening the stage for Alabama is Eddie Montgomery, a CMA, ACM, and Grammy award-winning country artist known for his work with Montgomery Gentry. Don’t miss this incredible night in Bradley, Illinois!

 

Sunday, June 8^th, will be a day filled with fun family activities at the venue, including a car show, cornhole tournament, Bradley Idol, and the 315 Family Olympics Challenge. More details on Sunday activities will be added soon.

 

Join us in the heart of Bradley, Illinois, for a musical celebration like no other! We are thrilled to bring back the Bradley 315 Music Festival for the second year! This festival, again, promises to set the town alive with the sound of music, laughter, and much fun! The festival is a testament to the vision and dedication of the Mayor of Bradley, Mike Watson. Under his leadership, Bradley has thrived as a community that cherishes culture, togetherness, and the joy of music. Mayor Watson's commitment to his town is matched only by his love for music, making him the perfect host for this unforgettable event. 

 

Festival tickets will go on sale on January 17, 2025, at 8AM, only at www.bradley315.org. 3^rd party tickets will not be accepted.

 

General Admission and Party Pt (the section closest to the stage) tickets will be available on each night. A seated upgrade to the Party Pit will be available on Saturday Night only.

 

3-DAY FESTIVAL PACKAGES are available for a discounted rate for both the General Admission Tickets and Party Pit Tickets. Packages include one individual ticket to each night of the festival.

 

PREMIER PARKING is available each night. It is the closest parking to the entrance. Free parking is also available.

 

VIP PARTY UPGRADES are available on each night of the festival. VIP PARTY UPGRADES DO NOT include entry into the festival. You must purchase your festival ticket separately from the VIP PARTY UPGRADE. The VIP PARTY UPGRADE provides access to the exclusive VIP PREPARTY, hosted inside the Northfield Square Mall. There will be food, drinks, and potential artist appearances. Each attendee will get a collector lanyard and festival swag. If you have a general admission ticket, you will automatically be upgraded to the PARTY PIT section for that night at the concert. Each night is sold separately. 

 

For more information on the schedule, the festival, or any of our gracious sponsors, please visit www.bradley315.org!

Senator Tom Bennett’s (R-Gibson City) farewell message after retiring from the Illinois General Assembly.

 

“As I conclude my time in the Illinois General Assembly, I am filled with gratitude, humility, and an overwhelming sense of pride. Serving in this esteemed body for the past 10 years has been one of the most challenging, amazing, and rewarding experiences of my life. It has truly been the best job I have ever had.”

 

I extend my deepest thanks to my wife, Kathy, for her unwavering support, my incredible staff for their dedication, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their partnership. To the people of my district, thank you for trusting me to be your voice. As a dear friend once reminded me, 'It’s all about the people,' and that truth has guided me through every decision and vote.

 

As I step away from the General Assembly, I do so with a heart full of gratitude and pride. Representing my district and serving the people of Illinois has been the honor of a lifetime. I leave confident that this work will continue in the hands of dedicated leaders like my successor, Chris Balkema, who share the commitment to making Illinois a better place for all of us. Thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside you in the Illinois State Senate and the House. It has been a journey I will always cherish. God bless you all.” 

Police were called to the 400 block of Walnut Street for a trespasser at 6:21 pm. Richmond, David W., 33 of Watseka, was arrested for Criminal Trespass to Land and Resisting. Richmond was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

Police conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of W Walnut Street at 5:44 pm. Wendel, Tiffany A., 45 of Gilman, was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine and Delivery with Intent to Deliver. Wendel was transported to the Iroquois county Jail without incident.

Police conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of N 5th Street at 7:54 pm. Wanda, Lisa L., 47 of Watseka, was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Hypodermic Needles. Wanda was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

Police were called to the 100 block of W Herron Court for a trespasser at 5:31 am. Wood, Brandon J., 40 of Watseka, was arrested for Criminal Trespass to Land. Wood was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

Police were called to the 900 block of E Cherry Street for a disturbance at 8:23 am. Wood, Brandon J., 40 of Watseka, was arrested for Criminal Trespass to Land and Disorderly Conduct. Wood was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

Police were called to the 700 block of W Walnut Street for a trespasser at 11 :40 am. Wood, Brandon J., 40 of Watseka, was arrested for Criminal Trespass to Land. Wood was transported to the Iroquois County Jail without incident.

A Beaverville man was found deceased behind the McDonald’s restaurant in Gilman Jan. 7.

 

According to Iroquois County Sheriff’s Police reports, sheriff’s police and personnel from the coroner’s office were notified of a deceased individual in the parking lot that day.

 

The area was subsequently secured by responding officers and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Unit was requested to process the scene. The deceased was determined

to have been staying at a nearby motel. All indications are that this is an isolated incident and no foul play is suspected.

 

Coroner Bill Cheatum said the afternoon of Jan. 8 that the deceased was identified as Bruce Martell, 62. He said Martell’s house in Beaverville had burned earlier in December and that local aid organizations were offering him a motel room in Gilman.

 

Cheatum said there is surveillance footage from the motel showing that Martell left the building and was not dressed for the extreme cold weather.

Cheatum said that the autopsy report in Bloomington the morning of Jan. 8 showed that Martell died from cold exposure and hypothermia.

He said toxicology reports are still pending at this time.

 

The driver of an Illinois Department of Transportation snow plow died Monday after it collided with a Canadian National Railway train in Iroquois County.

Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner identified the victim as 29-year-old Aaron Pittman-Teague.

Pittman-Teague was transported to a Kankakee hospital where he was pronounced dead, ISP Troop 5 said in a release.

IDOT officials said Pittman-Teague had been working as a full-time temporary highway maintainer since 2023.

Iroquois County received as much as one inch of snow overnight Sunday.

The crossing is marked with cross bucks and yield signs.

a Danforth resident who works in the area near the accident said that a local mulcher cut down some trees near the railroad tracks to increase visibility.

According to Illinois Commerce Commission documents, funding for installation of crossing gates was part of Rebuild Illinois funds in 2024.

 

 

With the upcoming bitter cold predicted to settle into our area, the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency announces warming centers will be available for residents in Iroquois County, ensuring the most vulnerable of our residents are safe during the upcoming extremely cold winter days. The centers offer a warm location during periods of dangerous cold. In addition, residents are encouraged to ensure their senior relatives, friends and neighbors, and others whose health may be affected by extreme cold, are safe during extreme low temperature days. Churches and other organized groups are also encouraged to check-in on the well-being of their members. The following locations have been contacted this winter season and will be available during their standard business hours beginning Monday of next week. These locations will remain available throughout this winter season. Most government buildings will close for any upcoming legal holidays, as will some of the other published locations. Before heading to any warming center, it is recommended that a phone call be made to confirm availability. Ashkum: Ashkum Coliseum Chebanse: Chebanse Community Center Gilman: City Hall and the Iroquois West School District Office Martinton: Martinton Church of Christ Milford: Milford Christian Church Watseka: Watseka Public Library, Walmart, Iroquois County Administrative Center, Trinity Church Other locations may be made available as this office receives updated information. To keep our residents informed about potential winter weather events, Iroquois County EMA regularly shares winter weather information on our Facebook page. You can follow us at: https://www.facebook.com/IroquoisCountyEMA/ Scott Anderson, Coordinator Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency