By Bob Balgemann Reporter Budget and Finance Officer Becky Tobin has provided city officials some highlights of the new spending plan, which went into effect May 1, and a heads-up of the sources of revenue she is watching for impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. That monitoring will continue after businesses […]
As part of their COVID-19 relief efforts, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) donated 2,000 surgical facemasks to the City of Belvidere, with an additional 5,000 to the Boone County Health Department (BCHD). FCA, which operates the Belvidere Assembly and Stamping Plants, has long been a partner and philanthropic role model to […]
By Anne Eickstadt Editor At 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, a mini-parade honoring a long-time employee was held at Jack Wolf Auto Group. Gus Santa Olalla was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. It has spread from his thyroid to his lungs and beyond. Tony McIntire, Operations Manager for 23 […]
By Anne Eickstadt Editor “Due to the generosity of the community,” said Deputy Chief Matt Wallace, “the Belvidere Police Dept. is able to provide three mobile food pantries this year with enough food for 250 families each time. Our first one is at the B1 church, 1105 7th Ave. on […]
By Mindy Long Local History Librarian, Ida Public Library During the past two years as the local history librarian and the past 40 plus years residing in Belvidere, I have frequently run across strange and unusual events or tidbits which are not well known. Belvidere is a beautiful city to […]
By Anne Eickstadt Editor The Belvidere Fire Dept. and Belvidere Police Dept. are normally working, training, and doing their jobs each and every day. Whenever they can, they do something special to encourage the community and make people smile. So far this year, things are a little different with social […]
By Bob Balgemann Reporter The COVID-19 pandemic has brought lots of changes in the way local government does business. Among them is ensuring that residents have a method of making public comments during municipal and county meetings. That question found its way to the Illinois Public Access Counselor, who is […]
By Anne Eickstadt Editor I don’t know about you, but staying locked in my office makes me want to bounce off the walls. So, I went to Facebook to see what people are doing to stay connected with others in the community. Here are four ideas: Heart Hunters In this […]
By Bob Balgemann Reporter Unknowns and what-ifs caused by the coronavirus pandemic created numerous problems for the city, especially as it prepared its 2020-21 budget. Being in a state of flux prompted Alderman Marsha Freeman to suggest at the April 6 city council meeting that the new budget be amended […]
By Anne Eickstadt Editor In an interview with Mayor Mike Chamberlain on April 3, Jennifer Jacky, Chief Executive Officer of the Belvidere Family YMCA was enthusiastic about how Belvidere has pitched in to help with children and frontline workers. The YMCA is running a childcare service for first responders and […]