BPD seeks public’s help to find out who damaged Abe Lincoln’s bench

Posted on January 25, 2018

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police are asking for the public’s help to find out who is responsible for damaging the Abraham Lincoln bench on the courthouse square.

The department issued a news release Thursday afternoon looking for tips.

The Lincoln bench is located at the south entrance to the McLean County Museum of History. Museum staffers early Monday found a corrosive material that’s not water soluble on part of the bench and statue.

Local artist Rick Harney, commissioned to create the sculpture for Bloomington’s 150th birthday celebration in 2000, used special tools to remove the green substance.

Anyone with information about the damage is asked to call Bloomington Police Detective Curt Maas at 309-434-2534. Maas can also be reached at [email protected].

People wishing to offer anonymous tips can contact McLean County Crime Stoppers at 309-828-1111. Rewards of up to $1,000 are paid for information leading to an arrest and indictment.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…