As the calendar turns to 2023, it’s time to wrap up the year that was in the Galesburg area. Health care issues, the tragic death of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty, a change of leadership in Galesburg city government and the saga of where to build and how to fund a new community center dominated the headlines in 2022.
Following is a recap of WGIL’s Top 10 Stories of 2022, as voted on by the members of the news staff.
1. Beleaguered Galesburg Cottage Hospital closes
The biggest story of 2022 came in January with the initial announcement that Cottage Hospital was temporarily closing and the Cottage Clinic filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. It was announced in June of 2020 that Cottage Hospital was acquired by SBJ Group Inc. of Austin Texas. With the closing came a surge of patients to Galesburg OSF St. Mary’s Medical Center and OSF Holy Family Medical Center in Monmouth.
The suspension of services at Cottage came after it was announced on Dec. 28, 2021, that the hospital had lost its Medicare and Medicaid funding due to violations. Also in December, the hospital lost its accreditation. — Tyler Gumm, WGIL News
2. Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy killed in the line of duty
(Photo by Alex Vucha)
Knox County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Weist was hit and killed by a car April 30 as he was setting out spike strips at the intersection of U.S. Route 150 and 150th Avenue to stop a vehicle fleeing from Galesburg police.
The incident began in Galesburg at the Circle K Gas Station on East Main Street when officers responded to a 911 call about an individual with a gun. Officers attempted a traffic stop but the suspect continued traveling north on US Highway 150.
The suspect’s vehicle struck Weist and then crashed in a field north of the intersection. Galesburg officers apprehended the suspect, Daylon K. Richardson, after a brief foot pursuit. The 22-year-old Richardson was indicted on three Class X felonies including Attempted First-Degree Murder.
Law enforcement from all corners of Illinois and neighboring states joined the public to pay tribute to fallen Knox County Sheriff’s deputy Nicholas Weist during a memorial service May 7 at Galesburg High School. — Tyler Gumm, WGIL News
3. Body discovered in Maquon storage unit
Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies discovered a decomposed body in a storage unit in Maquon on Oct. 7, leading to the arrest of 50-year-old Marcy Oglesby for concealment of a death and more.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a storage unit at 105 East 3rd Street in Maquon on Oct. 7 for a suspicious odor. Deputies met with the manager of the storage facility and the owner of the storage unit where the smell was coming from. The owner of the unit told deputies the odor was from a dead opossum that had died inside the unit. According to the release, inside the unit was a large box and the owner was ordered to open the box. The owner then advised there was a body inside the box. After a search warrant was obtained, the box was opened and decomposed human remains were discovered.
The body found in the storage locker has not yet been officially identified. DNA testing and dental records are being used to determine an ID and cause of death. — Tyler Gumm, WGIL News
Notable deaths of 2022: Remembering influential Galesburg-area people we lost this year
4. Debate swirls over creation of community center
The discussion over a future Galesburg Community Center has ebbed and flowed since the last Community Center was sold to become Iron Spike in 2013.
But there was a torrent of action to make a community center a reality in 2022.
May is when Council officially approved the acquisition of Churchill Junior High from District 205, just as classes were letting out for the final time.
Again the acquisition fell along a divided 4-3 vote, with Hix, Dennis and Cox opposed.
The vote when along similar lines when Council voted to officially move forward with Churchill as the center.
Hired architectural firm Farnsworth Group estimates Churchill will cost $6.5 million to renovate, although that doesn’t factor in programming.
The Council approved a .25% increase to the home rule sales tax in December in part to fund a community center. — Cameron Line, WGIL News
5. Construction starts on new Galesburg Public Library
A project that had been in the works for some time finally broke ground in April with construction beginning on the new Galesburg Public Library.
The library had received $15.3 million through the Public Library Construction Act Grant, covering 75% of construction expenses.
The new structure will be significantly larger and house another 30,000 books, according to Library Director Noelle Thompson.
The community’s generosity was on full display as a $1 million campaign put forward by the Galesburg Community Foundation helped fund the creation of a community room.
The 3,722 square-foot room will be located on the first floor of the new library and will be equipped with a serving kitchen, and the latest AV setup to facilitate quality performances and virtual meetings and presentations. — Nick Ischer, WGIL News
6. Todd Thompson out, Gerald Smith in: Galesburg sees change in city leadership
Gerald Smith became the latest person to fill Galesburg’s pivotal City Manager position, and also became the first black man in the job.
The City Council finally approved Gerald Smith as City Manager in September, but along a divided 4-3 vote, and he officially started in November.
Council members Bradley Hix, Wayne Dennis and Larry Cox voted against Smith’s hire saying that it was “too costly for the city.”
LISTEN: Meet Gerald Smith, Galesburg’s new city manager.
They were uncomfortable with Smith starting at the same salary that Todd Thompson left at.
Smith within weeks of being hired was a proponent of an increase to the home rules tax to pay for infrastructure improvements and a community center.
City Manager Todd Thompson left for a similar position in Rock Island in May ending an 11-year-stint of being arguably the most powerful person in Galesburg city government.
Thompson replaced Dane Bragg as City Manager and was succeeded by Gerald Smith.
Smith was one of the three finalists for the Rock Island job that Thompson was selected for.
A nationwide search was immediately started to find his replacement.
Director of Public Works Wayne Carl acted as interim city manager for the 6 months between the departure of Thompson and hiring of Smith. — Cameron Line, WGIL News
7. District 205 launches combined Galesburg Jr./Sr. High School
A major construction project for District 205 wrapped up this year with the Galesburg Junior Senior High School building renovation work finishing up for classes to start in the fall.
This major project saw the closure of Churchill Junior High, the move of the Galesburg Area Vocational Center, and the buildout of the high school building to accommodate the addition of grades 7-8.
With the completion of the Junior Senior High School building, the district moved forward with renovation work on the Northwoods Church building to make room for both the Bright Futures Pre-K and the District offices.
That work continues and Bright Futures is expected to open at the 940 Building in the fall of 2023. — Nick Ischer, WGIL News
8. OSF Healthcare buys Galesburg Cottage Hospital property
It was then announced in February that OSF HealthCare System agreed to purchase the Cottage Hospital real estate and medical equipment. OSF bought the former Cottage Hospital at 695 N. Kellogg St. from Galesburg Hospital Corp. for $4 million, according to the Knox County Assessor’s Office.
OSF moved its Prompt Care Clinic to the former Cottage emergency department facility in September.
OSF has not disclosed how it intends to utilize the remainder of the former Cottage Hospital property. — Tyler Gumm, WGIL News
9. Amtrak temporarily suspends some routes between Galesburg and Chicago
One of the major national stories that had real impacts on the local area, AMTRAK in September had to cancel routes due to ongoing labor disputes between the major freight rail services and the unions representing the different labor groups.
The rail service preemptively suspended nationwide routes between Chicago and the west coast. Amtrak pulled the plug on routes of the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief.
A tentative labor agreement was reached in the 11th hour and AMTRAK worked quickly to restore all routes through Galesburg.
In November, worker shortages proved to be an issue for the rail service as two early morning routes were canceled between Galesburg and Chicago. — Nick Ischer, WGIL News
10. Two people found dead from gunshot wounds in Abingdon
Gunshot wounds caused the deaths of the man and woman found in an Abingdon home on June 10, according to Knox County Coroner Mark Thomas. Thomas pronounced 33-year-old Ellen Renee Penn and 35-year-old Ryan Matthew Stromson dead at the scene. The Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation and the Knox County Major Crimes Unit was dispatched to the scene. Members of the Abingdon community later gathered for a vigil in the town’s Memorial Park to grieve the death of Penn and several other Abingdon residents. — Tyler Gumm, WGIL News
Other notable stories in 2022
- Knox County gets a new sheriff – Jack Harlan
- Knox College hit by ransomware attack
- City granted demolition order for former Broadview Hotel
- Graham Medical Group and Solvera Health open alternative health care options
- VA Clinic announces intention to move to Sandburg Mall
- BNSF train derails in East Galesburg
- People’s, Galesburg’s oldest lumber store, closes
