UHD sells facility to academy

WINNEBAGO — United Hospital District Inc. has announced the sale of its former Adolescent Treatment Center building in Winnebago to Genesis Classical Academy.

The facility recently became available after UHD closed the treatment center program due, in large part, to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to UHD CEO Rick Ash, UHD determined that internal use of the building was not feasible, therefore the best option was to find a way to keep its use local.

“We’re pleased that our agreement with [Genesis Classical Academy] meets this criterion, and additionally creates value for the community by allowing another organization to grow and remain in the area,” he said in a statement.

At nearly 18,000 square feet, the former treatment center facility was completed in 2010 as the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, or “green,” treatment center in the nation. UHD owned and operated the treatment center program for nearly 30 years.

According to UHD, despite expanding programming and marketing changes, the treatment center operated a loss for many years from a combination of low reimbursement and low census. UHD says the arrival of COVID-19 virtually eliminated the residential nature of the program, making it impossible to sustain.

Genesis Classical Academy is a non-denominational classical Christian school. It has been operating at another location in Winnebago since opening five years ago. After undertaking renovations to adapt the building to its needs, the academy expects the facility to be completed in time to greet students at the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.

Children caught up in gun battle

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Dozens of young children practicing football at a Minneapolis park were spared when bullets began to fly over their heads from a rolling gun battle one shaken mother described in a Facebook post that has been widely viewed.

Carrie Heinrich said 50 or so children and a handful of parents heard fireworks one evening last week while the players were practicing at Jordan Park. But soon, gunfire rang out as a car slowly turned the corner. Coaches ordered the players, ages 5 to 14, to get down as bullets flew overhead and pinged off posts at the park, Heinrich said in her post, which has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.

Gunfire sprayed from one moving vehicle to another over the heads of those on the playing field. No arrests have been made in the park shooting, police said.