The Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority was informed by Senator Richard Durbin on Friday, May 10, 2013 that the FAA has decided to continue funding the Air Traffic Control Tower at the Central Illinois Regional Airport through the federal fiscal year which ends September 30, 2013. For more information click here.  05102013 

The Alzheimer's Association's annual "Forget Me Not" Tag Days event will be held next week on May 17 and 18th. We are in need of volunteers to hit the streets, intersections, store entrances, and everywhere in between to raise funds for Alzheimer's Association. In exchange for a donation, we will be giving away Forget Me Not seed packets. Please contact Jocelyn Lamartina at jlamartina@alz.org or 309.319.9066 to sign up.   05092013 

For the 30th consecutive year, Shive-Hattery has been ranked on the Engineering News Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms list. Shive-Hattery is ranked number 208 and jumped 24 spots from number 232 in 2012. ENR is a national construction industry magazine and bases the rankings on design and construction management activity for the calendar year 2012.  05062013 

On June 12, 2013, at the Embassy Suites in Peoria, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, the USPFO and staff will provide information needed to be eligible to sell goods and services to the National Guard. Registration is FREE. Lunch will be provided by the Illinois Chamber Foundation. Click here to register or get more information here.  05062013

Is there an issue that is important to you in the community? United Way of McLean County is hosting McLean County Cares, a two day, community-wide service event in conjunction with Global Youth Service Day and they're inviting YOU to volunteer! Make a difference in things that matter! Click HERE to see a map of projects then Click HERE to sign up! 042213

The Red Cross is continuing to respond to the rapidly rising waters in Central Illinois.  They currently have 5 shelters open and ready to receive evacuees.  While assessing the needs with local officials in other communities with flood waters, The Red Cross is preparing to respond should the need arise.  The response has now reached a level that they are requesting the assistance of friends and neighbors.  Please donate to the Red Cross by visiting www.redcross.org/donate or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.  Any gift, large or small, can make all the difference to flood victims in Central Illinois. Anyone who needs Red Cross shelter assistance and those interested in volunteering on this relief effort should call their local chapter.  041913

The Bloomington-Normal YMCA kicked off its 2013 Strong Kids Campaign this morning with an announcement of a pre-campaign total of $68,800 toward the $130,000 goal. The kickoff was at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center with a breakfast for approximately 150 volunteers. The campaign will end June 30, 2013. Each year, the Strong Kids Campaign provides financial resources to help fulfill the Y’s mission of never denying access due to individuals’ inability to pay. One in six members of the Y receives a financial scholarship. One hundred percent of all contributions stay with the Bloomington-Normal YMCA.  040413

This year will be the seventh annual Passage to India fundraiser for Easter Seals. The evening includes amazing cuisine prepared by local Indian volunteers and a fashion show that includes Easter Seals children. Passage to India 2013 will be on April 26th at the Peoria Civic Center.  For additional details visit www.es-passagetoindia.com  040113

During the month of March, Red Cross Month, ARC of the Heartland would like to thank our nation’s militarymembers for their service and recommit to assisting military families, active armed forces members and veterans. Last year, ARC of the Heartland connected 155 military families in a crisis. When a military family experiences anemergency, the American Red Cross is there to help. Wherever their military service takes them, service members can rest assured that the Red Cross will deliver notification of an emergency such as the death or serious illness of animmediate family member, as well as the good news of the birth of a service member's child or grandchild.  031213

The Easter Seals Telethon held Saturday, March 2, signed off the air with a grand total of $2,391,905.  The Telethon was broadcast live on WMBD-31 from the Par-A-Dice Hotel in Peoria and the Parke Hotel in Bloomington. Hundreds of volunteers joined forces throughout central Illinois to raise money in the weeks leading up to the Telethon.  The VIP Campaign, chaired by Mary Jo Schettler and Kevin McKay in Bloomington, generated over $1.1 million.  031113