Western Illinois University's 13th president was officially installed into her role, new principals took the helm, mayors were elected, county officials retired and were hired and local and state officials announced their candidacy during 2025.
In a 10-6 vote at the Feb. 19 meeting of the McDonough County Board, Macomb resident Dana Moon was hired as the county's interim treasurer to replace Angela Graves, who retired March 7 after 37 years of service. Moon, who most recently served as the assistant to the dean in the College of Fine Arts and Communication and Bureau of Cultural Affairs cultural coordinator and assistant director of events for Undergraduate Admissions at Western Illinois University, started her interim role March 17. Moon is running unopposed for the county position.
Mark Clark was elected Colchester mayor on April 1, beating out incumbent Mayor Eric Haines. Clark, a 1989 Colchester graduate, served as an officer and sergeant with the Colchester Police Department for almost 23 years, as well as the Colchester Fire Protection District as a firefighter and EMT for several years. He retired from Western Illinois University after 32 years.
In the April general election, 2024 Macomb High School graduate and current Spoon River College student Justice Keene was elected as the newest member of the – and youngest member ever elected to – Macomb Community Unit School District No. 185 Board of Education. He was sworn in at the May 2025 Board meeting. Keene is the founder of the Bomber Sports Network, which he established as an eighth grader and continues to run today.
On Monday, May 5, Dave Norton was then sworn in as Mayor of the City of Bushnell by Clerk Teresa Buchen.
Norton has served on the council for decades and ran unopposed in the election.
On June 23, McDonough County Sheriff's Deputy Evan Schmalshof announced on Facebook his bid to run against current Sheriff Nick Petitgout for the county's top law enforcement position. Schmalshof first started working for the McDonough County Sheriff's Office in 2016 as a part-time correctional officer. He became a part-time deputy in 2018 and then a full-time deputy in 2019.
At the end of June, Sheriff Nick Petitgout announced his bid to run for a third term on the Republican ticket. Petitgout was elected in 2018 and re-elected to the position in 2022 after he won 69 percent of the vote against independent candidate Mark Clark. The U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) veteran began his law enforcement career as a McDonough County Sheriff's Office Deputy in 2007. Petitgout, who was born and raised in Galena, IL, served in the USMC from 1999-2004.
On July 1, Jimmy Heuer began his new role as Macomb High's principal, taking over for Scott Sullivan, who joined the Regional Office of Education 26. Heuer began his teaching career at MHS in 1999 after serving as an admissions counselor at Western Illinois University for three years. Before returning to MHS, he served as the principal for the new West Prairie Junior-Senior High School from 2022 until Spring 2025.
Dave Norton sworn in as Bushnell Mayor
Justice Keene was elected as the newest – and youngest member elected to the Macomb School Board of Education.
Macomb High School graduate and Adair native Megan Pittman, who previously served as assistant principal at Galesburg Jr.-Sr. High School and junior high athletic director for one year, began her new role as West Prairie Jr-Sr High School's principal and athletic director, taking over for Jimmy Heuer, on July 1. Pittman graduated from MHS in 2000. She taught one year at Hamilton before returning to Macomb High, where she taught English.
In mid-July, Democratic Sen. Mike Halpin announced that he would run for re-election to represent Illinois District 36, which covers portions of Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Knox, McDonough and Warren counties. Halpin first took office in January 2017, when he was elected as state representative of Illinois' 72nd district. He is the chair of the Senate's Higher Education committee.
In mid-August, retired Illinois State Police officer Joe Moon announced his bid for McDonough County sheriff, also on the Republican ticket, challenging current Sheriff Nick Petitgout's seat. Moon is a native of Macomb, a former Marine, and served with ISP for 26 years where he was a patrol officer, K9 handler and special agent in criminal investigations and undercover in the drug task force. He has also served as president of the Illinois Troopers Lodge 41.
On Aug. 20, Brad Beekman, a retired Illinois State Police officer from west-central Illinois, announced his candidacy on the Republican ticket for state senator, going up against 36th District incumbent Mike Halpin. Beekman served as a Master Sergeant and was selected to serve as a Detail Leader for the Governor's security team.
On Aug. 20, Blake Severs, who previously served as security director, became the Macomb Park District's executive director, taking over for Rachel Lenz who departed earlier this summer to take the director's role at the Urbana Park District. Severs joined the park district in March 2023. Prior to joining the Macomb Park District, he was a lead paramedic and shift manager for the Lifeguard Ambulance in Macomb for six years.
It was Macomb Police Department's Operation Commander Tom Duvall's last call Aug. 29. Duvall, a 1988 Macomb High School graduate and 1997 Western Illinois University graduate, has been a member of the local police force since June 14, 2004, when he joined as a patrol officer. While Duvall began his career with MPD in 2004, he began his law enforcement service in 1997.
In early October, Josh Higgins announced his run for state representative against incumbent Rep. Norine Hammond. A U.S. Air Force veteran and West Central School Board member, Higgins works in the insurance industry and lives in Biggsville.
On Oct. 16, Western Illinois University's 13th president's investiture ceremony took place. Kristi Mindrup was named Western's 13th president Dec. 6, 2024 after serving as the interim president since April of that year. Previously, she was the vice president for WIU-Quad Cities Operations for two years. Mindrup began working at WIU as a Clerk II at the Quad Cities campus in September 1997. She was appointed to her first administrative position at the University in 1998, and has served in a variety of leadership roles at the Quad Cities campus until her appointment as interim president.
In mid-October, attorney Carissa Ann Bryant announced her candidacy for 9th Circuit Judge, which covers Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren counties. Bryant, a lifelong resident of McDonough County, graduated from Western Illinois University in 2009 and earned her law degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law. She was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 2013.
After law school, she returned to the region and joined the law firm Hartzell, Tucker & Hartzell in Carthage, and became a partner in 2017 at what is now Tucker, Hartzell & Bryant.
On Oct. 21, Republican Norine Hammond announced she filed her petitions for reelection to the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 94th District. Hammond is the Deputy Minority Leader of the House Republican Caucus. She had previously announced her bid to run for re-election in July. The 94th District includes all or parts of the following counties: Adams, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Peoria, Rock Island, Schuyler, Tazewell, and Warren. She was first appointed to her position on Dec 9, 2010 to fill the vacancy of the late Rep. Myers.
At the end of October, Associate Judge Chad M. Long announced his campaign for Circuit Judge in the 9th Judicial Circuit. He was appointed to associate judge in March 2024. Prior to serving as an associate judge, the Galesburg native spent 16 years as an attorney with Statham & Long, LLC, in Galesburg. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he received a bachelor's in economics and a Juris Doctorate.
On Dec. 1, Gary Smith began his role as Colchester's full-time police chief, the city's first full-time officer in nearly 25 years. Smith, a retired senior parole agent with the Illinois Department of Corrections, had served as chief of the Dallas City Police Department since April 2017. The city's current contract with the McDonough County Sheriff's Office will be up in June.
Macomb Police Chief Jeff Hamer signed off for the last time Dec. 12, retiring after more than 24 years with the Macomb Police Department. Hamer joined the Macomb Police Department in 2001, and was named chief in July 2023, after serving as the interim chief for four months prior. The MPD veteran, who hails from Bolingbrook, is a Western Illinois University graduate who has called Macomb home for 29 years.
On Dec. 13, Todd Tedrow, a lieutenant investigator with the Macomb Police Department, took over as interim chief. Tedrow graduated from MacMurray College in Jacksonville, and worked for two years as a correctional officer with the Pike County Sheriff's Office while he attended MacMurray. He joined MPD in 2009.
Jimmy Heuer began his new role as Macomb High's principal this year.
Megan Pittman began her new role as West Prairie Jr-Sr High School's principal and athletic director.
Kristi Mindrup was named Western Illinois University's 13th president.
Todd Tedrow (right), a lieutenant investigator with the Macomb Police Department, took over as interim chief. Pictured with former Chief Jeff Hamer.
