Latest news with #McLeanCountyMuseumofHistory
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
A ten-foot corn statue set to go in downtown Bloomington
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — After a much-needed refurbishment, which included a complete rebuild in places, a familiar statue is set to return to downtown Bloomington. The McLean County Museum of History will unveil a refurbished corn statue that was first introduced 25 years ago. The 10-foot-tall corn statue is being placed in downtown Bloomington and will be unveiled at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2, according to the museum. The sculpture, which is made of wood, stainless steel, fiberglass, hemp, canvas, and acrylic paint, had to be restored and parts completely rebuilt after being displayed outside for more than two decades, they said. It was originally created as part of Bloomington's sesquicentennial — or 150th anniversary — and was created by Herb Eaton, who will beat the ceremony, they said. The sculpture is part of the city's Sculpture on the Square initiative, in which the city looks to bring more sculptures to the area in the future, said the Museum Executive Director Julie Emig. 'This new public art initiative is an interdisciplinary approach to storytelling and place-making,' Emig said. 'We're excited to preserve and share this piece of history with our community and look forward to bringing more locally significant sculptures to the square in the future.' Thanks to a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, the museum was able to make the much-needed repairs, it said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
McLean County Museum of History announces this year's History Makers
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — The McLean County Museum of History announced its winners for the next class of history makers. Every year, the History Makers Gala recognizes McLean County residents who have made lifelong contributions to McLean County. This year, they're honoring Sally Rudolph, who served on the McLean County Zoning Board of Appeals for 25 years, former president of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce Robert Fazzini and father Douglas Hennessy, who's had a large presence in the county for the past 50 years. Fazzini said it's a massive honor to be thought of as someone who's made history in McLean County. 'I didn't do that for that reason. I did that because it was the right thing to do, and it was helping make this place what it is and to be recognized as somebody who's helped do that. And that's pretty damn special,' said Fazzini. The History Makers Gala will be held on June 18th at Illinois State University's Brown Ballroom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Community members protest for Normal teen killed by police
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — Central Illinoisans are calling for justice for Cole Turner, the 15-year-old Normal resident shot and killed by Bloomington police in southwest Bloomington in February Dozens of Turner's friends, family, and community members marched from the McLean County Museum of History to the Bloomington Police Department. They're demanding for bodycam footage to be released so they can get answers. WMBD filed a Freedom of Information request for the bodycam footage on March 3, but was denied because releasing the footage could 'interfere with a pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings.' On Feb. 26, Bloomington police responded to the 800 block of Arcadia Drive around 5 p.m. for reports of a person with a gun. They made contact with Turner, but somehow things escalated and officers fired their weapons, hitting Turner multiple times. He died at the scene. Turner's mother, Kelsey Woodrum, said the police have failed to give her a justification as to why her son was shot and killed. 'They have given me nothing. I have not spoken with Bloomington police about anything. It makes me feel like things are being hidden from me. It makes me feel like people don't want me to see the videos for certain reasons. It makes me feel like they may or may not have been wrong or not justified. And that's what we're here to find out today,' said Woodrum. Turner was a student at McLean County Unit Five within the last year. Woodrum remembered her son as someone who loved life with a taste for adventure, despite a tough upbringing. 'Cole was wild. He was happy and he was smart. And he was bodacious. He was so gorgeous. He was always smiling. He was always happy. He's super adventurous. This is perfect weather. He's definitely out here with us today. He enjoyed people. He enjoyed his friends. He enjoyed his family. He had a tough life,' she said. WMBD has reached out to the Bloomington Police Department for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
