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Top Stories of 2016: 10-6

NO 10: DCRA Celebrating First Tenant To Magil Home

 

The DeWitt County Restoration Association's efforts to restore the Magill House on Center Street to it's once prominent state has teken a positive turn.

 

For many years the DCRA has been tirelessly working to restore the home and find business to fill the space and Becky Adams indicates they are going to welcome Bryce Starkey from Edward Jones into half of the space.

 

 

Starkey says it's a great opportunity for the agency and for him and looks forward to his transition to downtown Clinton.

 

 

According to Adams, Brady Realtors in Clinton has been authorized to seek out a tenant for the rest of the lower level and work on the upper levels continues.

 

NO 9: DJWH Board Approves Hospital Name Change, Values and Mission Statement

 

Clinton's biggest health services provider will soon be under a new name.

 

Monday night at the Dr. John Warner Hospital Board meeting, the board approved a new name for the city-owned facility. CEO Paul Skowron explains the name Warner Hospital and Health Services will be its new title.

 

 

Skowron indicates he was very careful in how he approached the topic of a change to the name of the Dr. John Warner hospital. He explains he approached John Warner IV and got his approval.

 

 

Skowron believes a change in the name of the hospital will provide a fresh perspective for those outside the community on what the facility is all about and also believes it will help in the recruitment of providers.

 

This was a process that started at the Board level in February and Skowron says this was a process they took very seriously. He feels this is going to lay the foundation for the future of the hospital for many years to come.

 

NO 8: Lovie Smith Comes To Illinois

 

It was a rather unexpected weekend for the University of Illinois and their football team in early March. First the firing of Head Coach Bill Cubit and then the announcement that they would hire former Bears’ Head Coach Lovie Smith was a surprise.

 

Smith comes to the university after being fired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past offseason and he hasn’t coached in college since 1995.

 

Smith says it’s an opportunity to relish.

 

 

Smith adds he won’t commit to any one style of play on the field but that he wants to give fans a reason to show up and support the team.

 

 

Smith says that the six year contract should speak for its self and he isn’t planning on going anywhere even if the NFL comes calling. The hire, worth $2 million a year over the next two seasons, $3 million the following year, $4 million in 2019 and then $5 million in 2020 and 2021.

 

In his first season in Champaign, the Illini went 3-9 with two wins in the Big Ten.

 

Many questioned whether Lovie Smith could recruit in his return to the college game. Illinois currently ranks 41st the country in the 247sports composite recruiting rankings.

 

NO 7: Clinton Football Coach Resigns

 

Clinton High School Football Coach John Hayden resigned his position as football coach in late October this year.

 

In his seven years at Clinton High School, Hayden compiled a 20-52 record, leading the Maroons to the 4A playoffs in 2015, their first appearance in 11 years.

 

The football coach position still remains unfilled.

 

NO 6: Clinton Police Department Investigating Drive-By Shooting

 

The Clinton Police Department investigated a drive-by shooting from the evening hours of December  12, near downtown Clinton.

 

At approximately 8:15 pm, authorities were called to the 400th block of South Center Street in Clinton for a report of shots fired.

 

Investigation by the police indicate four to six shots were fired from a semi-automatic handgun at intended victims standing outside.

 

No one was injured in the incident.

 

25-year old Michael A. Herald was arrested shortly after the incident.

 

Herald was charged with the unlawful discharge of a firearm and attempted murder.

 

Herald plead not guilty to the unlawful discharge of a firearm charge and the attempted murder charge was dismissed.

 

Tune in Monday on Regional Radio News for the top 5 stories from 2016. 

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