Ground could be broken on a new Mercer County animal control facility later this month. Funds continue to be raised by the group FurEver Friends for Mercer County Animals. Jerry Bryan of Viola is vice president of the organization.
The new facility will be built near the existing one—just behind the Mercer County Highway Department—west of Aledo off Illinois Route 17. Also, FurEver Friends is involved in a challenge grant—where each dollar donated locally will be matched up to $25,000 by the Gabriel Foundation in Florida. The challenge period is from May 1 to next February.