As is customary at Regional Radio News, we'll look back at the year that was in 2021 for local news. Yesterday we counted down the top 10 stories of the year from 10 down to 6 and today we countdown the top stores from 5 to 1.
No. 5
https://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/592214
>>Scooter's Coffee Coming to Clinton
Regional Radio News has learned that Scooter's Coffee, a drive-thru coffee and breakfast menu shop, will be coming to Clinton.
Officials with the Scooter's corporate office have pulled a building permit, to tear down the former Pizza Hut building at 614 West Van Buren, to build the new Clinton Scooter's Coffee location. We're told they hope to be open by the end of this year.
Scooter's apparently builds the building, then leases it to a local franchisee. It's not known who the Clinton franchisee is, but we've learned, Scooter's corporate is constructing 3 new locations in Springfield, 2 in Decatur, and one in Taylorville, all to be operated by local franchisees.
The Clinton location's construction appears nearly complete.
No. 4
https://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/557543
>>Clinton Community Remembers David Torbert
The community of Clinton last week lost a man who touched the lives of countless people across DeWitt County and central Illinois.
David Torbert passed away Monday, February 15 at the age of 36 and friends and colleagues are remembering him for the impact he had on so many across Clinton. Torbert was involved in so many facets of the community from his time working at the Clinton Journal writing sports to his time at Baum Chevrolet Buick in Clinton and most recently impacting the community's young people as Youth Program Director at the Clinton YMCA.
Y Executive Director Rennie Cluver says Torbert was very passionate about his work through the YMCA and recalls just how happy he was every day to come in do what he was doing.
Torbert was frequently heard on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW through his roles with the Y, the DCDC and provided color commentary for Maroons sports with Jared White. White says you won't find a bigger fan of the Clinton Maroons than Torbert.
Torbert grew up in Clinton spending his early years at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago overcoming insurmountable health complications with a smile on his face and a prank in his back pocket for nurses and doctors alike.
In high school, he was a member of the Clinton High School golf team, working as a sportswriter for the local newspaper and officiating youth soccer and basketball games at the Clinton Community YMCA.
He and his wife, Rachel (Baum) were high school classmates and college sweethearts. The pair married in 2008.
Using his writing and communication talents in a variety of jobs, David settled in as the Youth and Adult Sports Program Director for the Clinton Community YMCA, where he served as the Camp Osage director and coordinated all youth sports programs.
Teaching and coaching youth basketball, football and soccer, and instilling a love of sport, sportsmanship and Christian principles of the YMCA, was a task he dearly loved.
David’s family, wife and daughter, and friends, were a top priority, and he expressed his love often, always flashing a million-dollar smile and willing to drop anything to help a friend or family member in need.
No. 3
https://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/595577
>>Record Turnout for Apple n' Pork Fesitval 2021
Over 100-thousand people turned out for the return of the 2021 Apple n' Pork Festival this weekend in Clinton.
The turnout resulted in numerous groups and organizations across the CH Moore Homestead grounds selling out of food well before the 5 pm conclusion of the annual festival. Police Chief Ben Lowers told Regional Radio during its Sunday coverage this was a record-setting weekend. Between pent-up demand and fantastic weather plus a COVID-friendly outdoor venue, the weekend blew away everyone's expectations.
DeWitt County Museum Director Joey Long told Regional Radio News Sunday afternoon she felt like this weekend's festival was a great event and hopes the groups that were on the grounds and throughout the community felt their time this weekend was well spent.
This year's festival did not allow for tours of the Homestead due to ongoing renovations of the exterior of the home as well as challenges with volunteers.
2014 was the last time the Festival broke the 100-thousand person threshold.
No. 2
https://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/561909
>>Clinton Fire Fighters on Scene for House Fire
First responders were called to the scene of an electric and gas fire on Jackson Street around 11 am on Thursday afternoon.
Captain Chris White tells Regional Radio News the house was partially involved in flames when crews arrived and due to there being active electric lines and gas lines involved, crews fough the fire from the exterior of the home.
Crews from Clinton, Wapella, Maroa, Kenney and Heyworth were on scene. White indicates it was too early to deem the home a total loss.
No. 1
https://dewittdailynews.com/local-news/595033
>>Clinton Man Dies at Clinton Lake
A 65-year old Clinton man is dead after a Tuesday incident at Clinton Lake.
At approximately 9:45 am, authorities were called to the Valley Mill Fishing Access for a suspicious gray truck teetering on the edge of the lake. A body was seen floating near the truck, identified 65-year old Allan W. Bell of Clinton.
DNR authorities utilized sonar in the surrounding waters and found nothing further of significance.
Assisting DNR authorities were the DeWitt County Coroner's office, the DeWitt County Sheriff's Office, DeWitt County EMS, Clinton Fire Department, the Illinois State Police, and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators.
The incident is being considered accidental at this time pending an investigation.
