Terri Ryburn: Are you receiving TWO pensions?
By: Diane Benjamin Additional information on this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/07/07/is-terri-ryburn-still-living-at-spragues/ From Open The Books Note: These numbers are MONTHLY.
Tag: Terri Ryburn
Is Terri Ryburn still living at Sprague’s
More in this story: https://blnnews.com/2025/07/07/terri-ryburn-are-you-receiving-two-pensions/ By: Diane Benjamin Since I don’t follow the Normal Council meetings anymore, I don’t know the answer to that one. I do know her name is still on the windows according to this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2025-07-04/b-n-tourism-group-gets-state-grant-for-route-66-renovations-at-spragues-in-normal I also know the place received another $150,000 grant from the State, your money that […]
The Terri Ryburn/Sprague fleece continues
By: Diane Benjamin If you are an insider with the Town of Normal you get deals like a place to live for $120 a year. Review this story on the “Historic” Sprague gas station: https://blnnews.com/2019/08/21/lets-revisit-the-route-66-gas-station-gift-shop/ Normal is going to spend more money on the building. They are requesting bids for asbestos removal: https://www.normalil.gov/bids.aspx?bidId=387 You can […]
One Normal Place TIF proves fake news is easy
By: Diane Benjamin I downloaded the TIF report for you. See yesterday’s story for directions on how to look up information on the Comptroller’s website yourself: https://blnnews.com/2020/09/29/normal-pay-attention-uptown-tif-report/ This story will prove TIF reports can say whatever the Town of Normal wants them to say. When a TIF doesn’t generate enough money to pay the bills, […]
Why is YOUR building still closed Normal?
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader If you forgot the details of the SWEET deal Normal gave Terri Ryburn to live cheap in the “historic” Sprague’s Service Station at 305 Pine St – see the details here: https://blnnews.com/2018/01/07/sweet-deal-for-koos-buddy/ If you can’t read the sign on the door: The Ryburn Place Facebook page says closed until […]
More Property Taxes Normal Doesn’t Owe
By: Diane Benjamin Ever heard “Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves”? The Town of Normal is not only not “watching the pennies”, they aren’t watching dollars either. (YOUR DOLLARS) These bills are “presented” for Monday night – nobody is suppose to ask questions. Start with the One Uptown Circle Rent. […]
One Normal Plaza and Nick Africano
By: Diane Benjamin From time to time a reader has left a comment about the deal Nick Africano had with the Town of Normal pertaining to the old Soldiers and Sailors property. I decided to investigate. Here’s what I know: At the September 18, 2017 meeting this check for $483,900 was issued after the old […]
One Normal Plaza TIF
By: Diane Benjamin Normal has 5 TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts. The theory is economic development can be spurred by government investing money and then using the increased tax receipts to repay bonds. It’s gambling with your money because if development doesn’t happen at high enough rates to repay what is borrowed, taxpayers get the […]
More info on Terri Ryburn/Sprague’s
By: Diane Benjamin Ryburn is the lady who got the sweet Koos deal to live at the old Sprague’s Gas Station on Pine Street in Normal. See this story for more details: https://blnnews.com/2018/01/07/sweet-deal-for-koos-buddy/ This email was included in the latest FOIA – this building will continue to cost taxpayers money: Another email referenced a visitor […]
Let’s Revisit the Route 66 Gas Station/Gift Shop
By: Diane Benjamin The location is 305 Pine in Normal – the former Sprague’s Service Station. It is supposedly historic and a Route 66 attraction. The Town of Normal: paid off Terri Ryburn’s mortgage – $229,000 gave Ryburn $5000 bought the lot next door for $24,000 paid $148,000 to replace the parking lot paid property […]
Imagine how many Lifeguards . . .
By: Diane Benjamin Would you prefer an adequate number of Lifeguards on duty when you take your kids to the pool, or a historic building benefiting one lady? If the taxpayers in Normal knew all the facts concerning the “historic” property at 305 Pine St, they might consider it a waste of their money. Let’s […]