Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 21st of August.
Good morning, Normal.
🏘️ Community
Sweet Corn Circus will return to Uptown Normal on Aug.
23 and Aug. 24 with free live shows, vendor booths, and locally grown corn celebrating our community’s circus and agricultural roots. Ahead of the event, Constitution Boulevard will be No Parking today from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. while additional nearby streets face closures on Aug. 22—traffic is expected to reopen by 6 p.m. on Aug. 24.
Tom Bessler—a trained weather spotter from Bartonville—founded the Facebook group Current Central Illinois Weather in early 2024 to share daily storm updates for residents in counties including Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Fulton and McLean.
The group now has over 8,200 members and he uses a radar app to pinpoint approaching storms.
🎭 Culture
The McLean County Museum of History has digitized over fifty photos from the Pantagraph Negatives Collection that show life in Bloomington-Normal in 1950.
The images capture school tests, police patrols, and farm tours — preserving a record of local events.
🎓 Education
On Wednesday, the Promise Council of McLean County completed its Caring Adults program leg at District 87 schools where Oakland Elementary students were greeted by parents, educators, and community supporters including the mayor and a local sports mascot.
The program has 19 stops from the start of the school year to Sept. 15 and aims to remove barriers to student success.
Mark Jontry, the regional superintendent for McLean, DeWitt, Livingston and Logan counties, announced his retirement after serving 17 years and said he will not run for re-election.
He endorsed assistant superintendent Molly Allen to run for the position in 2026 — she plans to focus on school safety and literacy programs.
McLean County Unit 5 has proposed a $244.7 million budget for fiscal 2026 with a projected $3 million deficit due to lower state funding and higher operating costs from a review on Wednesday night—this proposal outlines higher local revenue from property taxes and facility sales tax along with increased spending on salaries, benefits, transportation (including investments in new electric school buses) and a new five-year contract for Superintendent Kristen Weikle.
🏥 Health
Colleen Kannaday, president of Carle BroMenn Medical Center in Normal and Carle Eureka Hospital, will retire in 2026 — ending a career marked by over a decade of leadership and 30 years in healthcare.
🎉 Normal Events
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Corn Crib Pro Rodeo
7-9 p.m. — The Corn Crib — Family-friendly fun — Experience thrilling bull riding and bronc riding at this inaugural rodeo event in Normal, IL.
Paint Nite at BloNo Pizza Co.
6:30-8:30 p.m. — BloNo Pizza Co. — Supplies included — Create memories and masterpieces while being guided by a professional artist.
Hello Bob Live Concert
11 PM — Uptown Circle — Free entry — Enjoy 80’s alternative hits performed by local band Hello Bob.
Day of the Dozer
10 AM – 4 PM — McLean County Fairgrounds — Adults are FREE — Kids get to drive heavy construction equipment with professional guidance in a safe environment.
Family Paint Party
6:30-8:30 p.m. — BloNo Pizza Co. — Tips appreciated — Create memories and masterpieces at this family-friendly paint night led by a professional artist.
🏠 Normal Real Estate
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💼 Normal Job Board
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📣 Normal Announcements
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