Drew Zimmerman

Staff Writer at Pantagraph

Staff Writer @Pantagraph. RTs and follows not endorsements.

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Articles

Heat dome to bring high temperatures, humidity to Central Illinois this week

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

BLOOMINGTON — Summer will make a dramatic entrance in the U.S. this week with a heat dome that will bring stifling temperatures and uncomfortable humidity to millions. The heat will be particularly worrisome this weekend across wide stretches of Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa, where forecasters are warning of extreme temperature impacts.
Rader Family Farms 2025 corn maze to celebrate 100 years of Country Financial

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

NORMAL — In honor of Country Financial's 100th anniversary, Rader Family Farms' corn maze for the 2025 fall season will celebrate the insurance company's milestone. A ribbon cutting for the maze will take place at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 prior to the farm's official opening on Sept. 13.
Heartland Community College provost announces retirement

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

NORMAL — Rick Pearce, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Heartland Community College, will retire at the end of June. A reception honoring Pearce's 10 years of service will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Gregg Chadwick Community Board Room on HCC's main campus on Raab Road in Normal. Pearce joined HCC in 2012 as vice president of learning and student success. He was named provost in July 2019.
Bloomington outlines neighborhood revitalization program

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

BLOOMINGTON — The Neighborhood Housing Rehabilitation Program, a multi-faced initiative to address deteriorating property and community safety in Bloomington, was introduced to the City Council during a non-voting session on Monday. Cordaryl Patrick, director of community impact and enhancement for Bloomington, said the goal is to confirm, assess and return housing units that can be reasonably rehabilitated back to the housing market.
Country Financial donates $20K to Illinois Farm Bureau grant program

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts BLOOMINGTON — Country Financial committed $20,000 to the Illinois Farm Bureau's Rural Development Grant program during the Tailgate n' Tallboys festival on Thursday. "The Rural Development Grants administered by the Illinois Farm Bureau serve a similar purpose – to positively impact rural Illinoisans," Nikki Johnson, vice president of marketing at Country Financial said in a news release.
ISU Department of Economics hosting summer program on energy, sustainability

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

NORMAL — Illinois State University and Constellation in Normal are teaming up to provide a one-of-a-kind summer program for local students called “Smart Choices: Empowering Future Leaders in Energy & Sustainability.”This energy boot camp is designed to education students and teachers on all aspects of energy.
Eureka, Minonk manufacturers awarded up to $50K in state grants

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

EUREKA — Tri C Company in Eureka and Zarc International in Minonk were among the recipients of roughly $1.35 million in capital grant funding awarded statewide through the 2025 Made in Illinois Grant Program. This program awards grants of up to $50,000 to small and mid-sized manufactures for the purpose of driving innovation, efficiency and growth, according to a news release. Tri C has 14 employees and Zarc has nine, the news release said.
Faces of Fatherhood: Bloomington's TJ Smith makes sure kids with different personalities all feel loved

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

BLOOMINGTON — When TJ Smith, a real estate agent and small-business owner from Bloomington, welcomed his first child, Ariela Jade, into the world, he said the experience made him a more focused and responsible individual. But once his two sons, 4-year-old Terence Armani and 1-year-old Scottie Angelo, were born, he realized how challenging it can be to address the individual needs of each of his kids.
Bloomington-Normal Boys and Girls Club staffer fills fatherly role for kids in need

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

BLOOMINGTON — Carlos Armstrong of Normal said he was about 12 years old when the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal first moved to its current location on Illinois Street. Although his mother did the best job she could taking care of her family, Armstrong said as one of four children in a primarily single-parent household at the poverty level, it was not uncommon to go to bed hungry.
Bloomington announces lane closures on Hamilton Road

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Drew Zimmerman

BLOOMINGTON — A partial lane closure will be in effect on East Hamilton Road starting June 23. The lane reductions are expected for median work on East Hamilton Road just south of Morrissey Drive for about 800 feet. The projected completion date is Oct. 3. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts For years, the city has been , which turns into Rhodes Lane before connecting to Morrissey Drive.