State Senator Rezin is optimistic about former Hennepin steel mill

Left-behind tools and machinery are being cleared out of the former Hennepin steel plant. IPS Steel bought the property from ArcellorMittal in November with plans to clean up the property and make it marketable to interested companies.

It’s a strategy State Senator Sue Rezin supports. She says the mill was a huge asset before it closed and says that you can look forward to this site becoming an economic and jobs engine again.

Kishan Sutariya of IPS Steel says inefficient buildings on the site are being torn down with their cement pads left in place for possible new buildings. He wants to see multiple businesses using the site.

The property is close to Interstate 180, the Illinois River and a rail line.

Items from former Hennepin steel mill being sold at auction

An online auction is underway to sell off what remains inside the former ArcellorMittal steel plant in Hennepin.

Items up for bid include overhead cranes, refurbished motors, and many hand tools and toolboxes. A preview day was Monday. The auction opened Tuesday morning and continues through 10am Thursday. The auction is through Heritage Global Partners.

ArcellorMittal closed the plant in March 2009. The building was sold to IPS Steel last November.

Former Hennepin woman nominated for Military Spouse of the Year

Members of the military are often recognized for what they do, but often they have dedicated wives and husbands. Theresa Johnson, formerly Theresa Izizarry of Hennepin, is receiving attention for her efforts.

Johnson has been nominated for the 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Award. Johnson is credited with starting the Fisher House Hero and Remembrance Run at Fort Campbell, Hawaii. She calls the nomination humbling.  She says the nomination helps spread the word about the run.

Johnson was once in the Army Reserves. Her husband and one of her three sons are active in the Army. She’s living at Fort Hood, Texas with her family.

Voting begins Wednesday. You can learn more about Johnson and cast an online vote at the contest website.

Optimism following the sale of former steel plant

Hundreds of people use to drive to Hennepin to work at the steel mill. The shuttered plant was sold to IPS Steel Thursday.

A spokesperson for ArcelorMittal says the company is pleased that this sale will turn the property back to productive use and ultimately create new jobs.

The plant closed in March 2009. Over the years the machinery has been removed from the building.

Putnam County Board Chairman Duane Calbow says he’s optimistic, but he doesn’t want to make assumptions about how the building will be used.

Celebration planned at the Dixon Waterfowl Refuge

Before it was a cornfield, a large area along the Illinois River south of Hennepin was originally a backwater lake. That area, now known as the Sue and Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge has been restored into a wetland and destination for birds and nature lovers.

The restoration was done by the Wetlands Initiative. They are celebrating their progress over the past 10 years with food, music and hiking Saturday, July 26. Suzanne Wagner is with Wetlands Initiative.

She’s says not only are they celebrating what they’ve done, they are also kicking off restoration of an oak savanna and an expanded trail system.  The refuge already includes Hennepin and Hoppers Lakes and is open to the public. Wagner says it’s a popular place for bird watching.

Tickets to the celebration are $25 a person and include food, canoeing, nature walks and activities for children. You can learn more about it and how to get tickets by listening to an interview that’s available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.

Trial reenactments, music and fireworks planned in Hennepin

Independence Day in Hennepin is more than a party with fireworks – it’s a step back in time. The village is celebrating the 175^th Anniversary of the Putnam County Courthouse along with their traditional July Fourth activities.

Village Board member Quentin Buffington thinks everyone will enjoy reenactments of a trial in which Abraham Lincoln was an attorney.  The reenactments are at 1:30pm and 2:30pm Friday at the Putnam County Courthouse. Local actor John Redshaw will be playing the part of Lincoln. 

The courthouse will be the backdrop for The Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra when they perform at 6pm.  They’ll be followed by the Craigs. In between concerts there will be a golf cart parade featuring decorated golf carts. You’ll also find food booths and a beer garden. The fireworks start at 9:30pm on the riverfront.

Learn more by listening to an interview that’s available at the WLPO AM and FM news page.