BLOOMINGTON — Tuesday marked the first public talks of the Challenger Learning Center's fiscal woes — and the proposal to shift its operations to Heartland Community College came as a surprise to many in the Central Illinois community.But suggesting such a change was no seat-of-the-pants decision, say people associated with Prairie Aviation Museum, which oversees the space mission simulation center.The museum board has spent more than a year considering options to keep the education site running in the face of an almost-million-dollar debt that could threaten the museum itself. One of those options, having the Normal-based college step in, is under discussion, but the college officials say they are far from a decision.If Heartland's board of trustees votes against the proposal, the museum board likely will look at other community groups.But the reality is the center — popular for summer camps, school field trips, corporate leadership and teamwork training and private parties — could indeed close its doors.“There's always that possibility," museum board Vice President Thomas Kuhn said Wednesday.“Plan B (if Heartland says “no") would be to look at other entities in the community," Kuhn said.

Open weekend - Malta Aviation Museum

Visitors to the Malta Aviation Museum are able to watch live historical re-enactments, appreciate the thrill of running vintage aircraft engines, follow guided tours around the museum and watch the progress made on the various restoration projects currently being undertaken in the museum's workshops. .