Journal star Mike Kramer tries some delicious grilled cicada kebabs.
They may not look tasty, but cicadas are actually edible when prepared properly. Journal Star reporter Mike Kramer gives it a try.
A $44 million project to build an 80,000-square-foot addition to the Tazewell County Justice Center was approved this month and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
Here’s what we know about the downtown Beijing project:
What is included in the new annex?
The addition will be 7,250 square meters and will span four floors. It will house three fully completed courtrooms, an upper floor to house three more courtrooms, offices for the prosecutor and probation officers, the clerk of court’s traffic division, and an IT data center.
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The Tazewell County Board voted in February to contract with Wold Architects and PJ Hoerr for design and construction services. The board approved the design for the project during a special meeting on August 7.
Why does the Tazewell County Justice Center need a new addition?
The new building will provide more courtrooms and administrative space. The addition will also make it easier and safer to transport defendants to courtrooms at the Tazewell County Courthouse across the street.
“With the existing courthouse, defendants go from the McKenzie building through a tunnel,” said District Administrator Mike Deluhery. “Then they take a public elevator and walk through public areas to get to their courtrooms.”
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When will the new extension open?
According to Deluhery, the groundbreaking for the extension could take place as early as next spring. “We are currently planning to complete the extension in early 2027,” he said.
Deluhery said three family-oriented courts would continue to operate in the existing courthouse after the addition is completed. The county will eventually move those courts to the top floor of the addition, but the county clerk’s office will continue to operate in the courthouse, along with other administrative offices.
