State budget cuts could close the National Guard Armory in Delavan. Governor Rauner's office has included the armory in a list of cuts. When students at the high school in the Tazewell County Village heard that, they decided to mount a letter writing campaign. A group of high school students will deliver the packages, letters, drawings, and other materials to Governor Bruce Rauner's office Friday.
Delavan School District Superintendent Andrew Brooks says he's proud of the student mobilization. "Very encouraging to us that are a little older to have them be involved and be engaged and to be respectable in that process and to approach this from a grass roots effort," he said.
Brooks says Delavan has had a militia and later a national guard presence since 1883. The Armory at Third and Pine dates to 1939.
Community leaders say the armory is a vital part of the town.
Brooks says the jobs at the armory would move to other guard facilities, so the proposal would only save the $20,000 per year it would take to heat and cool the facility.
