A curiosity about the history of automobile dealers in western Illinois, and visits to search through the Western Illinois University Archives, has turned into a unique story of a Macomb man finding members of his biological family in the process. Gary Neuhardt and his wife, Marika, moved to Macomb from Arlington Heights, IL, in 2018, after retirement to be closer to family. As a retirement project, Neuhardt decided he wanted to find out what dealerships sold specific brands of cars throughout Macomb’s history. He was discussing his idea while having coffee with a group of people that included... Read More

Western Illinois University will honor members of the armed forces, along with two of its own fallen soldiers, Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin, Saturday, Oct. 30 as part of the 10th annual Fallen Soldiers 5K Run/Walk. The event will begin with a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Hanson Field, with the race beginning at 9 a.m. in front of Western Hall on University Drive. For those who cannot attend, the ceremony will be live-streamed on the Fallen Soldier Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FallenSoldiersWIU. Registration is $35 for the in-person race and $38.45 for the virtual race... Read More

Western Illinois University School of Agriculture Alumnus Riley Hintzsche has been named a National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) Teach Ag Champion. Hintzsche, a Streator Township High School agriculture teacher, and FFA chapter advisor, graduated from WIU in 2014, with a degree in agriculture education. He is one of three agriculture teachers nationwide to win the honor this year. Teachers were selected based on their passion and dedication to transforming agricultural education into a more inclusive and diverse profession, while cultivating the next generation of leaders, problem... Read More

Retired Western Illinois University Building Service Worker Sharon L. Robinson passed away Monday, Oct. 25, in Macomb. Cremation has been accorded and there will be no formal service. A celebration of life for family and friends will be held at a later date. Robinson began working at WIU in August 1980, and retired in July 2008. She is survived by her husband, William; her children, Tammy, Angie, and Ryan; nine grandchildren; three brothers; and two sisters. For additional obituary information, visit dodsworthfh.com.  Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Three candidates have been invited to interview for the assistant vice president for facilities management position at Western Illinois University. Troy Rhoads, interim assistant vice president for facilities management at WIU, will interview Monday, Oct. 25; Joe Roselieb, executive director of auxiliary services and risk management at WIU, will interview Thursday, Oct. 28; and Kevin Rushing, regional manager of National Management Resources Corporation of LaGrange, GA, will interview Friday, Oct. 29. An open session will be held via Zoom at 2:15 p.m. for each candidate. Individuals... Read More

The Western Illinois University Singers were named the first place national co-winners of The American Prize in American Music (College/University Division), winning the coveted Ernst Bacon Memorial American music award for their performance of “Considering Matthew Shepard.” Ensembles of all types (instrumental, stage and vocal) and levels, high school to professional, from around the United States, submitted recordings in late April 2020. From those recordings, a national panel of judges selected semi-finalists, finalists, and finally winners in each category. “I could not be... Read More

Western Illinois University will honor members of the armed forces, along with two of its own fallen soldiers, Capt. Derek Dobogai and Lt. Col. Robert Baldwin, Saturday, Oct. 30 as part of the 10th annual Fallen Soldiers 5K Run/Walk. The event will begin with a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Hanson Field, with the race beginning at 9 a.m. in front of Western Hall on University Drive. For those who cannot attend, the ceremony will be live-streamed on the Fallen Soldier Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FallenSoldiersWIU. Registration is $35 for the in-person race and $38.45 for the virtual race... Read More

The Western Illinois University Student Development and Success Center will host students, faculty and staff for “Think B4 You Drink” from noon-2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 in the grassy area behind Stipes Hall. The event is aimed at educating students about safe alcohol consumption around the Halloween holiday, including drinking and driving, legal and medical ramifications, sex education and information on consent. Participants can stop by a variety of stations, where information will include standard drink sizes, blood alcohol content (BAC), the impact of BAC levels on functioning and... Read More

Western Illinois University Communication Professor Nathan Miczo will deliver the 31st annual Wayne N. Thompson Scholar Lecture at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 in the University Union Heritage Room. The lecture is sponsored by the WIU Department of Communication. Miczo will deliver “Where’s My Toast? Age-Group Identification and Responses to Ageist Jokes.” Miczo came to WIU in 2001, and previously delivered the Thompson Lecture in 2010. He received his bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from Arizona State University, and both his master’s and doctoral degrees in communication... Read More

Western Illinois University Academic Advisor Tim Johnson has been named the Council of Administrative Personnel (COAP) Employee of the Month for September. According to Johnson’s nominator, he has delivered “exemplary academic services to his students,” coming up with innovative ways to provide assistance. “Tim also came to me with the idea of opening a satellite advising office in the residence hall,” said his nominator. “He adjusted his office hours to meet freshmen where they were at, and when it was most convenient, which was in the evenings.” Johnson... Read More