Things are happening in Minonk

Construction of the new recreation park at the north end of Minonk also started last week as the earthmovers came in to move dirt. The ten acre park including a shelter with restrooms, skateboard park, inline hockey rink, and a water retention pond should be completed by this fall as well.

To the north of the park being developed by the New Millennia Group will be a residential development area. Lots will be developed and sold by a local group of investors. With the Builta addition filling up on the south end of town, now is a good time to open up a new residential development for the city. The area to be developed will border on Lincoln and Eleventh Streets.

In the downtown area, construction has started on a new funeral home for Ruestman-Harris in the north half of the block that is bordered by Eighth Street on the north and Chestnut and Oak Streets on each side. The land was formerly Illinois Central property.

The city is replacing the wall in the 300 block of Chestnut Street with a new ornamental block. The wall should be completed by the end of the month.

At Monday night's council meeting, the city announced plans to extend Moran Street west to Chestnut Street that will provide an east-west access to Chestnut Street from the north end of Minonk. In addition, it will tie in with the recreation park being developed at the north end of the city.

With the economy on the skids for the past three years, it is a good sign to see construction picking up again. It is especially encouraging to see signs of revitalization in our city. It is hoped that this renewed activity in the city will feed on itself and lead to further improvements down the road. I believe that Minonk has turned the corner and it is only a matter of time before the city will be bustling again.

The city is to be commended for completing the plans to extend Moran Street. However, there still remains a lot to be done. Minonk desperately needs a hardware store and a pharmacy. I wish that Greentree Pharmacy would open up a retail outlet for its pharmaceutical products. Currently, the company packages and delivers drugs to nursing homes throughout the area. Why not consider running a retail service from their building in the north block of Chestnut Street?

Minonk needs another fast food restaurant at the Caroline Develpment at the I-39 interchange. This would draw a lot more cars off of I-39 if there were a McDonalds or Hardees at the interchange. Personally, I wish we could get a Steak 'n Shake. They have the best steakburgers and milkshakes of any restaurant.

Finally, has anyone noticed those little snowflake like insects floating around the area? Kay Monge of The Country Florist called me the other day and asked if I knew what they were. They really do look like tiny snowflakes but they go up and down just like an insect. If anyone knows what they are, contact me and I will report it so that everyone else will know as well.