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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Heartland responds Williams: 40 percent decrease in foot traffic By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
DEPUE – In response to the doubt and confusion surrounding the reason behind Heartland Bank and Trust Co.’s decision to close down their DePue branch, the bank has spoke out about the decreasing business at the branch. As previously reported, the bank’s reason for closing was due to a decline in the number of transactions made at the branch. The number of people using electronic banking also played into the decision, according to a Heartland press release. Paula Mitchell, Heartland’s vice president/retail director, said the numbers didn’t warrant the branch, and the bank couldn’t sustain the branch at its location. On Monday, Nicole Williams, marketing director for Heartland Bank and Trust in Bloomington, confirmed there has been a consistent 40 percent decrease in foot traffic recorded at the branch throughout the last five to six years. The decrease has been linked to the trend of electronic banking, which includes the use of ATM and debit cards and the direct deposit option a lot of companies are now utilizing. The current trend in banking is one that has had an affect on the banking business as a whole, Williams said. The trend has created new reasons for people to visit bank locations. While less and less customers everywhere are using bank branches to make deposits and cash checks, more and more are using locations for consulting services and financial advice for investments.
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Mineral man on life support Aledo men jailed, facing charges By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
MINERAL — The investigation continues into a Saturday incident which has left a Mineral man brain dead. On Monday morning, Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll confirmed Brandon Anthony was pronounced brain dead at 5:38 p.m. Sunday at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He is being
maintained on life support to complete an organ donor process. Once that process is completed, an autopsy will be done and inquest scheduled, the coroner said. In a press release issued Monday morning, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said the sheriff’s department is continuing its investigation into the Sunday morning incident which led to the critical injury of Brandon R. Anthony, 20, of Mineral.
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Former city commissioner dies at 76 By BCR Staff news@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Becky Kramer
Building a great homecoming in DePue Jorge Moreno (left) and Hector Madrigal work on a project for DePue’s Homecoming Week, which includes a variety of activities for students this week. DePue’s soccer team with meet on the soccer pitch at 10 a.m. Saturday, where they will face off against Peoria Christian. Watch the BCR for details of the game.
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Bureau County deputies responded to Mineral at 11:45 a.m. Sunday regarding a subject who had reportedly fallen, exited or been ejected from a moving vehicle. The witness(s) reported the victim, Brandon Anthony, was unresponsive. The incident happened on Central Street, about 45 feet from the corner of Third Street, Thompson said. Upon arrival of the initial responding deputy sheriff, Anthony had been
Remembering Duane Quiram
See Heartland Page 3 Year 167 No. 115
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PRINCETON – Duane Quiram of Princeton is being remembered for his professionalism, outstanding sense of humor and dedication to his community. Quiram died Thursday at the age of 76. He moved to Princeton with his family in 1964 and managed Spurgeon’s Mercantile Co. until 1979, when he was promoted to superintendent of more than 30 stores. Jim Smith, a longtime friend, became acquainted with Quiram when he was working for Spurgeon’s, and Smith was working at Citizens First National Bank. Around that time, they would meet at the Princeton Chamber to discuss business with merchants. “He was very instrumental in those meetings. He was all for the retail portion of Princeton and about promoting it,” he said. Throughout the years, Smith and Quiram grew close. “He was an excellent individual. He had a great sense of humor and was very reliable,” he said. “He was the type of friend everyone looks for.” In the last 20 years, Smith and Quiram grew closer than ever and on a weekly basis would meet together with their spouses for dinner. “People just enjoyed being around him,” he said. Quiram was also a member of the Princeton Fire Department from 1969-79; five of those years he served as assistant fire chief. He also served as Commissioner of Public Health and Safety for the city of Princeton from 1979-95. During his time on the council, he served with former Mayor Dick Welte. Welte said Quiram will be remembered for his dedication. “He was a great man, had a great family and just served the city very well,” he said. “He was very dedicated to the people. He liked people, and people liked him.”
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