A local non-profit is seeking to spread its mission of helping seniors maintain independence. 

Taylor Stevens with Synergy Home Care explains their goal is to help people of any age keep their independence at home while keeping them safe. She notes they are always looking for caregivers to help them serve the community. 

Stevens notes the assessment process is completely free to the client. A representative will visit the family and find out what their needs are, then match them to a caregiver. 

If you or a loved one could benefit from the services offered by Synergy Home Care, visit their website at synergyhomecarecentralillinois.com 

The City of Clinton approved rate increases for water and sewer at its most recent City Council meeting.

City Treasurer Clint Lichtenwalter indicates the rate increases are reactions to inflation. These are generally taken up with the budget, but a miscommunication put off the approval of these until just a few weeks ago.

The City Council will convene again on Tuesday night. 

Longview Community Bank in Clinton held a Friday ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate its newest location. 

Vice President Nate Sams told Regional Radio on Friday it's very exciting to finally be open for the community to come out and see the brand new facility. 

Curt Homann is the Executive Director of the DeWitt County Development Council and calls it very exciting to have a new business in the community. He was a part of early conversations to bring Longview to Clinton.

Longview Community Bank specializes in ag lending and general banking needs. 

If you're planning to be outside this weekend, the weather should be more than ideal.

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln called this weekend a banner weekend.

According to Shimon, the last few days of May have been much cooler than normal. He explains the heat in the area has shifted, bringing cool air to central Illinois.

May has been cool and just below normal for precipitation. We'll have more on that with Shimon next week on Regional Radio. 
 

While a little cooler than normal the last few weeks, the City of Farmer City is still eyeing a weekend opening for its pool season.

City Manager Taylor Baxter indicates they had some maintenance they had to take care of on the pool, but that is done, and he is hopeful, things will stay in working order for the summer pool season.

The Farmer City pool has a manager for the season and life guard training took place this past weekend. Baxter is looking forward to the pool being a great hot spot for the community this summer. 

The pool will open at noon on Saturday.

Heritage Days in Farmer City opened with a beautiful night of entertainment for the community on Thursday evening. 

Brent Cordes (CORD-US), Heritage Days Spokesperson, told Regional Radio from the Farmer City Raceway that the event kicked off on Thursday with Community Night, an evening of fun events and free food for the whole family. 

Saturday night, there will be a free rodeo at 6:30 that you can watch from the grandstands. Cordes explains that a musical act will follow the rodeo each evening, so you can stay in your seats and enjoy the live music. 

A central Illinois favorite for any fair or festival is the car show. Cordes indicates that the show is on Saturday, and registration is from 10 AM to 1 PM, then the show begins at 2 PM. 

There are plenty more events fun events and attractions not mentioned by Cordes taking place this weekend. Learn more about the full schedule by visiting farmercityheritagedays.com 

The Clinton YMCA's Camp Osage begins next week in both Clinton and Monticello. 

Rennie Cluver, Executive Director of the Y, explains that Camp Osage is not only a great option for child care for those working parents during the summer, but it's also a fun and safe space for kids to be themselves and unplug from technology. 

Like Y-Zone, you can sign your child up for Camp Osage at any point throughout the summer. Cluver notes that there is no minimum requirement for attendance, making it great for parents who need a flexible schedule. 

Camp Osage will be collaborating with the Monticello Y-Zone Summer Camp at times as well. Cluver indicates that the two programs are very similar, so it only makes sense to work together. 

Camp Osage is packed full of fun activities for kids, including a field trip every Friday. The Y is making a point to keep things fresh for campers and staff while maintaining routine for parents. 

Camp Osage begins June 2nd. If you're interested in signing your child up for Camp Osage at the Clinton YMCA, visit The Y located at 417 South Alexander Street or call them at 217-935-8307. 
 

With students out for the summer, a DeWitt County school district has another busy summer planned for building maintenance. 

Dr. Michael Tresnak, Superintendent of DeLand-Weldon Schools, explains that the summer maintenance work has already started. Updates include improvements to the family and consumer science labs at the high school. 

The district brought their ag program back this year, and now Dr. Tresnak says with the success of the program, it's time to make upgrades to that area as well, including an area to teach welding.  

At the elementary school, Dr. Tresnak indicates they will be putting in drop ceilings and new LED lighting to match what was done to the high school last summer. In total, the renovations will cost about $1.25 million. 

DeLand-Weldon Schools will benefit from the recent wind farm development in northern Piatt County. Dr. Tresnak hopes to begin receiving funds next summer. 

DeLand-Weldon Schools took on several projects last year as they seek to refresh the look of their buildings in the years ahead. 
 

The City of Clinton has come under fire from residents both at City Council meetings and on social media for its efforts to clean up the City through code enforcement.

While it has been a long-running effort, Tony Harris - Clinton City Administrator - indicates the very first thing he was charged with was code enforcement. While many have been voicing opposition to it, Harris indicates he is often queried about why property neglect is allowed to carry on.

A trio of ordinance modifications recently caught the ire of individuals regarding the care of feral animals. Harris indicates he has heard from both sides on the issue, and for many, feral animals are a nuisance to their property.

While he gets complaints regarding feral animals regularly, what he gets more regularly is complaints from neighbors regarding properties that are not well-kept.

Another issue that has garnered more attention online than in City Council forums is a graffiti ordinance update. While some have argued the police will be coming for kids and sidewalk chalk, Harris says people need to use common sense, pointing out this is largely for vandalism. 

Last week, the City Council heard nearly an hour of testimony from residents defending their right to do with their property what they want, but Harris reminds residents also have neighbors who have to deal with the decisions of how you want to live on your property.

None of the proposed ordinances were voted on at last week's Council meeting and Harris stresses they continue to be a work in progress. 

The biggest event of the year in a local town is almost here. 

Taylor Baxter, City Administrator for Farmer City, is excited for his first experience with Heritage Days since starting his position. He notes that the location is changing from Downtown Farmer City to the raceway. 

Baxter indicates that many of the attractions of Heritage Days come at no cost to the community, including a free dinner. Other things will require purchase, like carnival tickets and admission to the concerts. 

Farmer City Heritage Days takes place from Thursday, May 29, to Saturday, May 31st. Learn more about the lineup, vendors, and attractions by visiting farmercityheritagedays.com

Tune in to 95.9 FM WEZC on Thursday from 5 PM to 6 PM to hear live updates from the event. 

A local addiction support group is taking a new approach to recovery. 

At the Warner Hospital Health Fair, Maggie Memmot with DeWitt County ROSC told Regional Radio that ROSC stands for Recovery Oriented System of Care. They connect those who are struggling with addiction with resources that can help their journey through recovery. 

At the health fair, ROSC was distributing free Naloxone. Memmot indicates that many people are unaware of life-saving medications such as Naloxone that can stop an overdose. 

ROSC also promotes the DART program, which is intended to give people who are caught with illegal substances the opportunity to go to rehab facilities rather than going to jail. 

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, mental health issues, or suicidal thoughts or actions, reach the suicide & crisis lifeline by dialing 9-8-8.

To learn more about the resources offered by DeWitt County ROSC, visit their Facebook page.
 

This Saturday, the biggest event of the year kicks off for the Warner Library.

The annual summer reading club, which brings hundreds of kids and adults from the community together aimed at reading throughout the summer. Mel Snow is the Children's Librarian at the Library and reminds this Saturday is the big kick-off event for the summer reading club.

Each year, those who enroll in the summer reading club are given a reading log. This year, Snow indicates they are really allowing those who participate to customize how they participate. Whether it is time spent reading or the number of books you read, they just want folks reading.

The library is looking to play into the theme of 'Color Our World' and Snow indicates there are plenty of great programs, from live animals coming to the library to a summer art program.

According to Emily Dunham, Adult Program Coordinator at the Library, they have a great group of prizes to choose from. They have favorites from last year and some new offerings they are excited about.

Snow and Dunham stress the importance of the summer reading club and how it helps prevent students from experiencing what is called 'the summer slide'.

Again, the Warner Library's summer reading club kicks off with its event this Saturday, May 31, from 9 am to 1 pm, and get signed up for the summer reading club at the same time. Visit vwarner.org for more information. You can also follow the library on most social media platforms.

While wet last week, there were a few days still for producers to continue to make headway in the fields, beginning to wrap up this year's planting.

Brad Summa, Director of the USDA NAS Heartland Region, indicates in this week's crop report there was around one and a half inches of rainfall this past week, but there were also four days suitable for fieldwork.

Corn planting is just over 80 percent complete, a bit behind the five-year pace, while soybean planting is 75 percent complete, on pace with the five-year average.

The winter wheat crop remains in mostly good or good to excellent condition.

Rain is in the forecast for most of the middle part of this week. 

The McLean County Museum of History plans to unveil a new mural at the east steps of the building to honor the 168th anniversary of the Lost Speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln. 

Candace Summers, Director of Education with the McLean County Museum of History, explains that the mural will be dedicated on Thursday, May 29th at 5:25 PM. This time and date were chosen because it is the same time and date as when President Lincoln reportedly gave his lost speech at Major's Hall in Bloomington, for the Anti-Nebraska Convention. 

Summers states that the speech is called "lost" because there is no complete transcript of the address. That being said, historians have collected pieces and reports of the speech, alongside what Lincoln had said in previous speeches, to gather a summary of what the President had said. 

The event will include more than just the unveiling of the mural. Summers says that the 33rd Illinois Regimental Band will be performing period-appropriate music beginning at 4:45 PM. Lincoln Scholar Guy Fraker will also be giving the opening remarks of the day. 

Visit the McLean County Museum of History's east steps this Thursday at 5:25 PM to see the unveiling of the Lost Speech mural, painted by Troy Freeman of Free Sky Studios. Learn more by visiting mchistory.org/events.

The DeWitt County Mental Health Board is accepting applications for financial year 2026 funding.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Sharon Mills with the DeWitt County Mental Health Board told Regional Radio that the board provides financial resources to local organizations that support those who suffer from mental health issues, addiction, or intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Local mental health organizations can apply online for funding for FY 2026 from the DeWitt County Mental Health Board from June 1st to July 2nd, 2025. Mills notes that they will have technical assistance sessions on June 10th at 10 AM and June 18th at 2 PM, both over Zoom. 

When you go online to apply, you will be asked about the programming that your organization would like to be funded. Mills explains they are looking to learn more about the goals of the program and who it is intended to serve. 

If your organization is interested in applying for funding from the DeWitt County Mental Health Board, email Mills at smill@dewittcountymhb.com. For more information, visit dewittcountymhb.com/funding. 
 

The DeWitt County Board took up a series of amendments to its local wind energy ordinances at last Thursday night's County Board meeting. 

Among the amendments were changes regarding curtailment during severe weather. State's Attorney Dan Markwell again stressed to the Board the agreements they currently have in place are with Enel and not the National Weather Service.

Board Chair Joe Witte explains there are differences between recommendations coming from the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Regional Planning Commission.

Witte stresses the County is not dictating under what conditions curtailment must take place.

The County approved the changes last Thursday. 

As noted last Friday, the County turned down implementing a 1978 Illinois Supreme Court precedent into its local ordinances that could have potentially superseded State of Illinois laws for renewable energy applications. 

Local non-profits are seeing a rising need as many fall on hard times.

DOVE of DeWitt County reminds its food pantry is available for anyone in need. Silvia Comfort with DOVE indicates they have been very busy as of late and are always seeking donations to keep up with that need.

The food pantry is just one of a trio of services provided by DOVE. We'll have more on those services on Regional Radio. In the meantime, DOVE in DeWitt County is located at 803 W. Leander St. in Clinton. 

Find more information by visiting doveinc.org or calling the DeWitt County office at 217-935-6072. 

With growing interest in cross country and bass fishing from its students, a local high school as announced that they will offer both sports this fall.

Jason Spang, Superintendent of Mt. Pulaski Schools, points out in a survey conducted with students, bass fishing was the number one answer for sports to bring to the district. The Mt. Pulaski School Board of Education recently approved bass fishing for the next school year. 

The School Board also added cross country to its activities. Track is a popular sport among Mt. Pulaski athletes, and with the new track at Veterans Park almost completed, Spang felt cross country would be a great addition. 

It's not as easy as it may seem to add new sports to the offerings of a high school. Spang explains bass fishing is difficult in particular, with needs like coaching, boating equipment, and volunteers for driving the boats.  

Bass fishing is a recently approved IHSA-sanctioned sport as well, with interest growing across the State. Illinois was the first State in the US to offer bass fishing as a sanctioned school sport.

A local lawmaker has a couple of pieces of legislation that have advanced in Springfield. 

The bill to protect the Mahomet Aquifer from carbon sequestration, SB1723, was passed by the Illinois House last week 91-19. State Senator Sally Turner says it now awaits the Governor’s signature.

Senator Turner also helped support Senate Bill 2372 - establishing the Farmland Transition Commission, a new body within the Illinois Department of Agriculture tasked with studying and addressing the challenges faced by individuals aged 25 to 40 who are seeking to purchase or access farmland. 

Legislation sponsored by the Lincoln Republican to improve food safety for individuals with celiac disease has officially cleared the Illinois General Assembly. SB1288 requires all Illinois food handlers to complete training on celiac disease and the safe handling of gluten-free foods.

The State of Illinois has until Saturday at midnight to pass a budget. Sen. Turner sits on the budget committee and says there has not been a lot of discussion with Illinois Republicans regarding the budget. 

The House Budget Reconciliation Bill won approval by a one-vote margin last week in Washington. Reaction from Illinois Farm Bureau Director of National Legislation Ryan Whitehouse.

The issue now moves to the U.S. Senate.

Summer Horticulture Field Day set for next month at Flam Orchards in Cobden says Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of Food Systems Development Raghela Scavuzzo.

The Summer Horticulture Field Day is June 12.

A Henry County farmer testifies before the Senate Ag Committee last week in Washington. Megan Dwyer serves as Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship for IL Corn.

Dwyer is also a certified crop advisor.

During Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Jennifer Russell with the Illinois Lyme Association is reminding livestock producers about the Asian Longhorned Tick.

The IDOA, IDPH and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are monitoring for the Asian Longhorned Tick.

On this Memorial Day, our nation celebrates the military service members who have given their lives for our country.

Social Security is reminding families who have lost loved ones that Social Security benefits may be payable to surviving family members, including spouses and children. Jack Myers with Social Security notes there are a couple of programs for those who have served.

According to Myers, Social Security disability benefits can help financially if you are unable to return to work. As a thank you for your service, we can expedite disability claims through our Wounded Warrior initiative if you became disabled while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001. We can also expedite your disability claim if you have a VA Compensation Rating of 100% Permanent & Total. 

VA Disability benefits and Social Security disability benefits are different, and eligibility for one does not guarantee eligibility for the other. Myers says you should consider applying for both. 

Learn more about the Social Security disability programs, the expedited claims process, and other info for veterans at www.ssa.gov/people/veterans/. And again, check out our new fact sheet “Social Security Disability and Veterans Affairs Disability - How do They Compare?” 

A local non-profit annually receives grant funding that allows it to give those in need a hand up. 

Nicole Wilder with Community Action explains that the Community Services Block Grant, or CSBG, has ambiguous wording intentionally to make it usable for a wide range of services. She emphasizes that this aligns well with their mission statement. 

Community Action performs assessments to learn what it is that the community needs. According to Wilder, one major service that fights those needs is case management. 

Academic scholarships are also available through Community Action. Wilder indicates that they can help cover GED programs, traditional four-year schools, or trade schools. 

Wilder says that when you reach out or visit for the first time, a representative will ask some questions to see if you qualify for Community Action's programming. 

If you qualify for CSBG programming, you have the opportunity to participate in other resources offered by the non-profit, or choose not to. Wilder highlights Head Start, their youth development program. 

Community Action is committed to supporting the people in their communities who are most in need. If you think you could benefit from the resources offered by Community Action, visit capcil.info or call 217-732-2159.

Whether a disability is physical or mental, the stresses and struggles of a disability can weigh on the person suffering from them and their loved ones. 

At the Warner Hospital Health Fair earlier this month, Tina Baxter with Prairie Land Services explains their goal is to connect people and families with mental or physical disabilities with state resources that can help them.

Baxter indicates Prairie Land clients will meet quarterly with their case worker to make sure they are receiving all the care and resources they need. While most clients come from a recommendation, a recommendation is not required to work with the non-profit. 

If you or a loved one could benefit from the resources offered by Prairie Land Services, visit psci.info or call the Decatur office at 217-362-6128.

While he supports a proposed statewide cell phone ban, Clinton School Superintendent Drew Goebel notes not much would change for the district.

The State of Illinois is considering a ban on cell phones in schools and Goebel reminds, this is a policy that is in effect at the junior high and high school. 

Goebel calls the bill common sense and reminds, Clinton was one of the first to put a cell phone ban in place when they did so at the junior high just a few years ago.

Coming up on the final week of session in Springfield, some school leaders anticipate the legislation to pass. Many educators hope the State will allow them to make decisions that are best for their districts and not have an over-the-top mandate. 

At Thursday night's DeWitt County Board meeting, the Board swore in its newest Board member.

Timothy Earl takes over the spot on the board vacated by Tom Ferris, who resigned earlier this spring.

The County Board will meet again on Thursday, June 19. 

DeWitt County Board Chair Joe Witte anticipates multiple solar applications this year.

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, the County Board Chair told Regional Radio the Board is preparing for multiple applications and getting agreements ready with engineering firms for those applications.

Additionally, Witte and the Board received feedback just this week from the developers of the Wapella Bluffs project. While no application from them has been submitted and nothing seems imminent, he notes it was a little late in the process to take into account the requests and recommendations they made.

A little less than a year ago, leadership from Enel - the proprieter of the Alta Farms II Wind Farm - came before the County Board expressing a desire for a better relationship. Since that time, the DeWitt County Board has had its own turnover but Witte points out, so too has Enel and they continue to have issues with compliance of the wind farm. 

A local non-profit has a program that gives mentorship to young people and purpose to the elderly. 

At the Warner Hospital Health Fair, Alisha Mitchell with Community Action told Regional Radio that the Foster Grandparents Program gives those who are 55 and older opportunities to mentor young people in an educational setting. She adds that they are still looking for volunteers in DeWitt County. 

The Foster Grandparents Program will pick back up when school begins in the fall, but they are still actively looking for more volunteers in DeWitt County throughout the summer. If you’re interested in becoming a foster grandparent, visit capcil.info. 
 

It's easy to get wrapped up in grilling and fun in the sun, but local veterans groups are reminding that Memorial Day is a day to honor our fallen veterans. 

Josh Thielen, Department Adjutant for the American Legion, explains that this Memorial Day, the Clinton Legion will be gathering with community members at the Civil War plot at 10 AM to honor those who came before them. 

Thielen notes there should be plenty of parking; however, if you need assistance getting from your car to the plot, they will be providing a golf cart to bring you back and forth. 

Memorial Day Celebrations are taking place all across central Illinois. 

In Bloomington, the VFW Post 454 will place flags on veterans' graves at several cemeteries on Saturday. 

Peoria American Legion Post 2 will be hosting services at various cemeteries in Peoria throughout the weekend, and they are hosting a golf tournament in Pekin on Sunday. 

In Decatur, Moran & Goebel Funeral Home and the Veterans Assistance Commission of Macon County will host the Avenues of Flags Ceremony on Saturday at 9 AM and a Memorial Day Service on Monday at 11 AM. 
 

The Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start to the 2025 boating season, and local authorities are reminding boaters to play it safe this weekend.

Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Officer Noah Workman is encouraging boaters to give those boats a good once-over before getting them on the water for the first time.

One of the biggest points of emphasis for DNR officials is life jacket compliance. Officer Workman says it is simply about safety, and they want everyone on the water to be safe.

Officer Workman is also stressing parking in the designated parking areas for both boat trailers and vehicles. He says they get too often people not parking in the proper lots, and it can create a lot of problems.

While open containers of alcohol are permitted on boats, Officer Workman reminds the operator of the watercraft has to be sober. He also indicates the legalization of marijuana in Illinois has changed the game a little bit.

If you are planning to keep your boat on the water all weekend, Officer Workman reminds it cannot be left unattended on the water for more than six hours. When they encounter this issue, they make every effort to contact the owner of the boat for them to get it off the water before having it towed.

Visit dnr.illinois.gov for more all things boating regulations in Illinois and information for State Parks. 

The DeWitt County Board sought to implement a 1978 Illinois Supreme Court ruling to evaluate zoning decisions for potential renewable energy applications into its local ordinances.

At Thursday night's DeWitt County Board meeting, DeWitt County State's Attorney Dan Markwell explained the factors - of which there are six - are used to evaluate whether a zoning restriction or special use permit denial is reasonable or arbitrary.

The State of Illinois does not have laws in place regarding zoning, so the 'LaSalle Factors' are often turned to as the standard for applications. However, when the State of Illinois came in with its own laws for wind and solar, they superseded the 'LaSalle Factors'. The County is seeking to implement the 'LaSalle Factors' into its local ordinances, something Markwell fears would be seen as more stringent than State - which would be prohibited.

Discussion among Board members turned to grousing about not being able to make its own decisions about renewable energy development and having to follow State law.

According to Board Chair Joe Witte, the current language is clear, and this action would only add confusion.

The Board sought the counsel of Markwell in the event an application met all the criteria but was overruled because of the 'LaSalle Factors' being in place. He recommended if the Board were to turn down an application, they would need to cite specific reasons for not approving an application. He notes, State law has not been challenged to this point. 

Board member Terry Ferguson inquired if a local ruling was challenged, would there be financial implications for the County Board, and Markwell noted the County's rejection of building permits where Enel Green Energy only sought the permits and did not seek restitution, but he noted, a company might seek financial compensation for other reasons.

The revision to the local ordinance failed. Patrick Ryan, Buck Carter, and Megan Myers voted in favor of adding the 'LaSalle Factors' to the local ordinances. 

While participants can register for the bike ride around DeWitt County up to the day of the event on June 7th, if you register by the end of the day Friday, you will receive a free t-shirt. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, Dr. Mark Hobbie, organizer of the event, told Regional Radio that the deadline to register for the Tour DeWitt bike ride and receive the free t-shirt is Friday at midnight. If you register online, before or after the t-shirt deadline, it costs $30, while if you register in person on the day of the event, it's $35. 

While Hobbie expects to have extra t-shirts, he notes that registering by the deadline is the only way to guarantee getting one. He notes that volunteers will have priority over the extras. 

The proceeds collected from registration will all be donated to Heartland Casa, formerly known as Macon County Casa. Thanks to the sponsors that cover the event's operational costs, Heartland Casa is the sole recipient of the money raised. 

Again, the registration deadline for your free Tour DeWitt t-shirt is Friday night at midnight, and race day is June 7th. Register online and support Heartland Casa by visiting tourdewitt.weebly.com. 
 

Farmer City learned Wednesday it will be receiving half a million dollars for a sidewalk project on the community's south side.

City Manager Taylor Baxter indicates the Illinois Department of Transportation announced the grants on Wednesday. He says this development will make the community safer.

Baxter credits former City Manager Sue McLaughlin for doing most of the heavy lifting on this grant.

According to Baxter, they will update the specs of the project in hopes of still getting the project out for bid this year, but he notes it will most likely be next year.

Heritage Behavioral Health is reminding the community of its services and that it continues those services at a state-of-the-art location on Clinton's west side. 

At last Thursday's Warner Hospital Health Fair, Corey Baxter with Heritage Behavioral Health Center told Regional Radio they continue to offer substance abuse and mental health counseling. 

Baxter also indicates they see those struggling with transition. This time of year can display that due to the ending of the school year and new chapters. 

To learn more about all that's offered by Heritage, visit their website at heritagenet.org or find them on Facebook.

It could be a record-setting weekend for travel, at least that's the prediction from Triple-A.

With over 45 million Americans expected to be on the roads or in the skies, pump prices could be mixed. Here's Patrick DeHaan, a petroleum analyst with GasBuddy....

Prices at the pump in Illinois have fallen three cents per gallon over the past week, with the average around $3.35 a gallon. On the national stage, prices are up six cents a gallon.

Illinois FFA Delegates will consider adding a 6th state officer position next month says Illinois FFA Center Executive Director Mindy Bunselmeyer.

This marks the 97th Illinois FFA Convention.

A new state FFA officer team will be selected next month. Former State FFA Secretary Haley Bode has advice for the ten finalists….

The Illinois FFA Convention is June 10-12 at Bank of Springfield Center.

As many around the state prepare for Memorial Day cookouts, the Illinois Fire Marshal's Office has a warning.

The holiday, which marks the unofficial start of summer, often involves outdoor grilling or uncontrollable campfires. Fire Marshal Public Information Officer JC Fultz says....

For those cooking at a state park using charcoal, Fultz encourages those cooking to wait until the coals cool before leaving. If left unattended, those hot coals could cause significant damage.

According to FEMA, an average of 65-hundred grill fires each year result in nearly 27 million dollars in property loss.

During Lyme Disease Awareness Month, Jennifer Russell with the Illinois Lyme Association is reminding livestock producers about the Asian Longhorned Tick.

The IDOA, IDPH and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are monitoring for the Asian Longhorned Tick.

A Henry County farmer testifies before the Senate Ag Committee last week in Washington. Megan Dwyer serves as Director of Conservation and Nutrient Stewardship for IL Corn.

Dwyer is also a certified crop advisor.

The City of Lincoln recently made the decision to withhold funding to the Logan County Tourism Department and take over its own tourism.

Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch says this decision was made for the City to go in a different direction for its tourism. He feels the decision to run its own tourism department gives them a little more control. 

Mayor Welch has been busy visiting local communities to get a feel for what they are doing to promote Route 66. Two places he's been have been just up the road in Atlanta and then up Interstate 55 in Pontiac.

The Lincoln City Council was split in its decision, and the Mayor had to break the tie. The Mayor admits while they have a long way to go to be ready for the 100th anniversary of Route 66, they are actively trying to get the right people in place to make sure they are ready for that milestone and celebration next year.

The Mayor believes the City Council has the vision for what needs to be done to move Lincoln forward. But he is also excited about the potential of working with a consultant to utilize their knowledge and expertise in moving the City forward as well. 

Students a part of the English as a Second Language - or ESL - program will be getting instruction time this summer.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Clinton Schools Superintendent Drew Goebel told Regional Radio the idea is that a summer program will help prevent learning loss.

Part of the summer program will be mini field trips into the community to help students put into practice the things they are learning.

Goebel says the students in the ESL program range from second graders to tenth graders.

A series of proposed ordinance changes in the City of Clinton codebook filled the City Council chambers with residents ready to share their thoughts on the issue.

Prior to the public comment period, Mayor Helen Michelassi clarified several portions of the proposed ordinances that were recently amended over concerns noted by the community. The first was regarding feeding feral animals. 

Another ordinance revision regarding trees on properties, the Mayor called a miscommunication, and notes much of it mirrors legislation from the State of Illinois. 

There was also confusion regarding whether the ordinances were going to be voted on at Tuesday's meeting - to which Mayor Michelassi noted they would not be voted on despite a recent filing of the ordinances suggesting they would be.

Finally, property upkeep has been a hot topic in recent months in Clinton, and there was also clarification provided regarding the fine structure for those citations.

Commissioner John Wise addressed some of the developments of recent days and some social media chatter. He stresses the changes were meant to be discussed and there was never any intent to vote on the proposed changes on Tuesday.

Commissioner Wise's comments were met with a bit of pushback as he described the process the Council takes when passing ordinance changes.

Public comment highlighted support for the trap, neuter, and release program through Second Chance for Pets while also noting their support for things like the number of vehicles on a property, and issues regarding the use of "chalk" in a graffiti ordinance. 

During April's DeWitt County Land Use Committee Meeting, the committee discussed wind ordinances that failed to pass through the Zoning Board of Appeals. 

At May's meeting, Committee Chair Buck Carter indicated that after being revisited by the ZBA, the wind ordinances have passed, but not without having sections of them changed or removed. The ordinances have also been reviewed by State's Attorney Dan Markwell. 

The ZBA did not move on the curtailment piece of the ordinance, but Carter plans to propose an amendment at the full board meeting that would reinstate it. This amendment requires the wind turbines to essentially turn off during severe weather to prevent damage to the surrounding area. 

The May Full Board Meeting is this Thursday. We'll have more on the progress of the proposed amendments from Land Use Chair Buck Carter next week on Regional Radio. 
 

The busy summer camping season is well underway at Clinton Lake and Weldon Springs.

On the WHOW Morning Show on Tuesday, Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Officer Noah Workman told Regional Radio the camping season has started hot, and this weekend is sold out for the holiday.

Officer Workman indicates it isn't uncommon to have some issues with neighboring visitors in the campground or even family disputes. He hopes all visitors this summer find a way to get along.

Keeping the campground clean has been a challenge in recent years, and Officer Workman reminds of the old saying, if you bring it, take it out, noting there are also dumpsters all over the campground.

Officer Workman also reminds to park only in designated parking areas. Park staff have experienced challenges the last couple of summers with visitors making parking spots out of space that is not meant for parking. 
 

The Piatt County Mental Health Board is beginning an initiative to bring therapists into schools. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center Tony Kirkman told Regional Radio thanks to funding coming in the near future due to a passed tax referendum, one initiative would bring full-time therapists into Piatt County schools. 

Monticello Schools Superintendent Adam Clapp indicates they are one of the two districts that will potentially participate in this program. First, it must be voted on by the school board this week.

As the Illinois Youth Survey reflects, Clapp says young people across the country are in need of extra mental health support. He notes while they already have school counselors, it's always good to offer more resources. 

Learn more about the resources that will be coming from the Piatt County Mental Health Center by visiting piattmch.org.

To keep up with all the latest with Monticello Schools, check out sages.us or find them on Facebook.

Funds from LIHEAP, a program intended to assist low-income families with energy bills, have run out, but there are still ways for you to receive assistance. 

At Thursday's Warner Hospital Health Fair, Anita Russell with Community Action explains that while LIHEAP funds have been exhausted, you can still apply for the Low Income Discount Program through Ameren to get assistance with your gas bill. 

If you are looking for help with your energy bills, reach out to Community Action by calling 217-732-2159 to see how they can help or visit capcil.info.

It was another good week for producers to continue to make progress in the fields.

USDA NAS Heartland Regional Director Brad Summa indicates roughly five days were suitable for field work for the week ending Sunday, May 18.

Corn planting is making good progress, nearly reaching the five-year average while soybean planting remains ahead of the five-year pace.

According to Summa, winter wheat remains in mostly good or excellent condition while pasture conditions are also in mostly good or excellent condition.

This week is off to a pretty wet start so far across the State. 

We could be in store for a warm summer.

Nicole Albano at the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates the summer outlook shows a warm-up for Illinois.

The severe weather season has been one to remember, and Albano indicates May is actually the most active severe weather month of the year. By the time the traditional summer months roll around, the severe weather threats drop off.

Keep it to Regional Radio as we get an update from the National Weather Service on the holiday weekend, a recap of the recent storms that rolled through central Illinois, and much more. 

The Piatt County Mental Health Board is taking a big step forward as it establishes its footprint in its communities. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center Tony Kirkman reminds that last November, the people of Piatt County voted to pass a referendum that gives the Piatt County 708 Board dollars from property taxes. 

Now that the 708 Board has figured out funding, Kirkman explains they have been deciding on how to best use those dollars. One local issue that stands out is the inflated rate of suicide ideation and depression in young people. 

On the other end of the spectrum, those who answered a recent survey were age 55+ and also showed an increased rate of depression. 

With tax day still in the rearview mirror, the 708 Board is still waiting for funds to be officially allocated to them; however, once the money is received, Kirkman hopes these new programs will be up and running by the fall.

To keep up with all the latest from the Piatt County Mental Health Center and all their resources, visit piattmhc.org or find them on Facebook. 

We’ll have more with Kirkman on giving access to therapists in schools in the days ahead on Regional Radio. 
 

Quick Response codes, better known as QR codes, are a popular way to get information,n but they are scannable bar codes (squares) that will direct you to a website.

Most new phones will scan them with the camera app. Jack Myers with Social Security says they are helpful and convenient, but like most other things, require a little caution. Scammers can create QR codes to trick people into visiting a fraudulent website or downloading malware that compromises their personal information.

Take a moment to look closely and see if the QR code appears to be stuck over the top of another one.  Look for signs of tampering or misspellings, even color mismatches. If something seems suspicious, don’t scan the code. Myers encourages that when you hover over a QR code, you should see the site you are going to be directed to, so pay attention to the URL. 

Myers says to be cautious with any unfamiliar phone calls, text messages, or emails you receive. There are a variety of scams circulating right now aimed at gaining access to vital information.

Social Security will use QR codes on some of its publications as shortcuts to parts of the www.ssa.gov website.  They also use them on signage at field offices for mobile check-in.

Myers encourages you to learn more about fraud and scams at www.ssa.gov/scam.  If you’ve come across a scam including a fraudulent QR code related to Social Security, there is a link to report it on that website. 

A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would further handcuff local law enforcement in responding to property crimes.

Local property crimes are up in many communities in Illinois, and Lincoln Police Chief Joe Meister indicates the response from law enforcement could be further limited if a bill pending in the Illinois House is passed in the spring legislative cycle.

According to Chief Meister, there are several issues with this legislation. Limiting the time frame of a search warrant is also in addition to not being able to execute a search warrant for a property crime valued at less than $1,000 in value.

With property crimes on the rise in Lincoln, Chief Meister calls it concerning legislation. The legislation also compounds what many communities are experiencing, and that is repeat offenders of crimes returning to the community's streets after committing crimes, thanks to the Safe-T legislation. 

Additionally, Chief Meister says HB1611 is a direct contradiction to 'Karina's Law' - legislation the Chief highlighted last week on Regional Radio. 
 

Memorial Day weekend can often be the kickoff to the summer grilling season for some, and a University of Illinois Extension Nutrition Educator has some reminders to make sure those meals or gatherings don't turn sour.

Making sure you have cooking zones and food preparation zones can be key to keeping foodborne illnesses from becoming a factor, says Caitlin Mellendorf, University of Illinois Extension Nutrition Educator.

Mellendorf also stresses the importance of clean cooking surfaces - especially indoors - as well as having clean utensils. Washing those surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water is the best practice.

Cooking food to its proper, recommended temperatures is a must. Mellendorf says a food thermometer is a great tool, and it can be as simple or as high-tech as you want.

The USDA reports a 3.2% increase for food-at-home in 2025 and specific spikes in beef  -- 8.6% higher than 2024-- and eggs. A 2023 Axios report noted inflation driving up barbecue costs, a trend continuing into 2025.
 

A local zoo has been in the process of restoring its carousel, a fan favorite of many, but it looks like the project will not be ready as soon as they had hoped. 

Jay Pratte, Executive Director of the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, explains that while most of the restoration process of the carousel is complete, the canopy of the attraction is taking more time than previously thought. 

Pratte describes the estimated arrival of the finished carousel to be a moving target. He indicates that rather than the end of May, it's looking more like the end of June or the start of July. 

The Miller Park Zoo hopes to align the unveiling of the new carousel with another fun summer event, but it all depends on when the project is finished. Get more information at mpzs.org or find the zoo on Facebook. 
 

Third Friday Celebrations are a beloved summer event with residents of Lincoln, and the fun kicks off tonight. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch told Regional Radio that for this year's series, the city has secured attractions like live music and the art market, as well as almost 50 vendors. 

The Third Friday celebrations are open to all, not just Lincoln residents. Mayor Welch indicates that while the event has grown immensely, they still have the same family-friendly values as when they started. 

Visit Lincoln tonight, and on the third Friday of each month, to participate in the fun. Get more information about the Third Friday Celebrations by visiting lincolnil.gov.  

DeWitt County will update the protocol in the event of flooding. 

At Monday night's DeWitt County Land Use Committee Meeting, Zoning Administrator Elizabeth Weikle received the updated flood plain ordinances from the State of Illinois. All that has to be done now is to plug the information for DeWitt County into it. 

The State of Illinois will often put out generic ordinances to be adopted by the counties. The Committee decided that they would officially revoke the previous flood plain ordinance and adopt the new one. 

It's National Police Week, and Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers is highlighting the good work of his officers.

Law enforcement agencies have struggled recently to retain staff, and the Chief is hopeful some officers they have going through training right now will allow them to be fully staffed for a while.

If you follow the Clinton Police Department on Facebook, you have noticed the spotlight the Chief is putting on his staff. He says they are having a lot of fun with those posts, but they also want the community to understand there is a person with a story inside those squad cars.

In just the last few years, the environment for law enforcement has been quite hazardous, but the Chief believes we are starting to see a swing back to a respect for law enforcement and its importance in a community.

Thursday of this week was Peace Officer Memorial Day.

Despite a dreary start to the month, May weather has overall turned out to be excellent.

Nicole Albano from the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates so far this month, the weather has been near normal for both precipitation and temperatures.

Over the next few weeks, Albano says the Climate Prediction Center shows a below-normal temperature trend as we lead up to the Memorial Day weekend.

Albano also points out as we continue through May, we'll see more and more daylight as we approach the summer equinox in June.

Storms stayed away just long enough for the Warner Hospital and Health Services health fair to be a hit on Thursday.

CEO Paul Skowron told Regional Radio as part of its live coverage on Thursday from the Health Fair, he felt it was a huge success despite the last-minute venue change to First Christian Church in Clinton.

The event shifted to the First Christian Church, and because of air conditioning issues in the Family Life Center, the basement housed all the groups that attended, and Kelly Burton says it had a nice flow.

Synergy Home Care was among the many groups at Thursday's health fair and Taylor Stevens told Regional Radio about what they do for seniors trying to maintain independence in their homes.

Rose Grimm from Gift of Hope was informing those in attendance about the importance of organ and tissue donation.

Rebecca Wheat with Community Care Systems was informing those at Thursday's event about everything available to seniors in their network, from financial assistance to support groups.

Skowron indicates there will be a health fair next year.

Black cutworm is a pest that is hard to notice until it starts doing damage to your crops, but a local extension educator has tips to prevent it. 

Reagan Tibbs, Commercial Ag Educator for the University of Illinois Extension serving Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties, explains that this time of year is when black cutworm starts to appear. 

Black cutworms do not behave in the same way that other insects might. Tibbs indicates that during the day, they will often burrow underground, making them hard to notice while farmers are in the fields. 

The most common sign of black cutworm in your fields is stalks that are completely cut at the soil level. If the plants are on the taller side, sometimes that damage can even occur underground. 

The good news is, according to Tibbs, black cutworm does not often affect an entire field. This means they can be managed more easily with localized insecticide treatment. 

When dealing with pests, prevention is almost always easier than treatment. Get more information on pests and more agricultural resources by visiting extension.illinois.edu/lms. 
 

Despite a dreary start to the month, May weather has overall turned out to be excellent.

Nicole Albano from the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates so far this month, the weather has been near normal for both precipitation and temperatures.

Over the next few weeks, Albano says the Climate Prediction Center shows a below-normal temperature trend as we lead up to the Memorial Day weekend.

Albano also points out as we continue through May, we'll see more and more daylight as we approach the summer equinox in June. 

While the youth of the area look forward to the annual May Days Festival, don't kid yourself that some of the adults in the community don't enjoy it.

That goes for Police Chief Ben Lowers and much of his staff who will have a strong presence at the annual event in downtown Clinton. On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Chief Lowers told Regional Raido they always enjoy watching the young people of Clinton enjoy the fun of May Days.

You might notice a few more officers on the streets of the downtown area than normal. Chief Lowers notes that is because they are in the process of training some new hires still.

May Days is tonight through Sunday. Streets in downtown Clinton and the square will be closed off for the annual festival. 

Get more on the May Days Festival by finding the Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. 

The Warner Hospital and Health Services are inviting the community out for Thursday's health fair, and to remember the recent change in venue. 

Kelly Burton with Warner Hospital and Health Services reminds that the health fair takes place this Thursday. Originally scheduled to be in the north parking lot at the facility, the event has been shifted to First Christian Church. With almost 50 vendors planned for the event, they hope you will find everything for your health-related needs. 

Vendors will include insurance companies, assisted living centers, and local nonprofits. Burton is grateful to all the organizations that are coming out to help make the event fun and informative. 

Hospital CEO Paul Skowron hopes notes you can also get a preview of the new footprint of the hospital, including the renovated emergency room, as well as the new specialty clinic entrance that is very close to being completed. 

Visit the Warner Hospital and Health Services and all the vendors that will be present for the Health Fair taking place this Thursday from 5 pm to 7 pm. Get more information about the event by finding Warner Hospital on Facebook. 

A very seasonable stretch of weather has been just what the doctor ordered the last few weeks.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Nicole Albano with the National Weather Service in Lincoln indicates an upper blocking pattern for the very quiet and pleasant weather the last few weeks.

Thursday could be a record day for temperatures across the area. Albano indicates that upper blocking pattern will move off, and it will pave the way for very warm and humid conditions.

According to Albano, the conditions are nearly ideal for severe weather. She indicates, however, the severe weather could still miss central Illinois.

A cold front moves through on Friday, but the weekend looks ideal. Albano says Saturday is going to be the best day of the weekend with chances of rain on Sunday.

A law that went into effect earlier this month will task law enforcement to carry out civilian warrants to confiscate firearms.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Lincoln Police Chief Joe Meister told Regional Radio, 'Karina's Law' allows those who have an order of protection against another individual to have a search warrant executed to seize the firearms of that individual.

Chief Meister calls it a huge burden on law enforcement. While much of his staff is trained in tactical situations like executing a search warrant, there will be continuing education that comes with this legislation.

There are several concerns over this legislation. Chief Meister points out this will bog down law enforcement because he predicts many petty or frivolous orders of protection being sought and then the following search warrant requests.

Chief Meister also is concerned that executing a search warrant on short notice will create uncertain circumstances for his officers. He explains, normally there is knowledge of what is happening at the targeted site of a warrant but with this legislation, there will be little time to prepare. 

Another piece of legislation, House Bill 1611, works in direct opposition to 'Karina's Law'. We'll have more on that proposal that is in the House next week on Regional Radio.

It’s been a smooth planting season in northern Illinois. Larry Hummel farms in Lee County.

54-percent of the state’s corn crop is in the ground with 51-percent of Illinois soybeans planted, according to the latest USDA crop progress report.

The Illinois Farm Bureau Actively Engaged Student of the Month for May is Natalie Pratt from Amboy High School. She has no fear of public speaking.

Among the many things Pratt is involved with—4-H, FFA, Amboy cross country and softball, school plays, band, chorus, scholastic bowl and student council.

Crews from the Illinois Department of Transportation are hitting the state's interstates to fill potholes.

Last year, IDOT spent over 19 million dollars filling and repairing roads across the state from the winter. IDOT Public Information Officer Paul Wappel says this year is no different.

According to Wappel, crews from IDOT will be on highways and interstates repairing the roads during the summer.

To report a pothole, visit IDOT dot Illinois dot gov.

Due to heat and possible thunderstorms, Thursday's Warner Hospital and Health Services health fair will shift indoors.

First Christian Church in Clinton will host the health fair, which will keep its same times. 

Join the City-owned hospital to learn about the latest with the hospital, including its recent renovations to the emergency room and the upcoming completion of the west side entrance and new parking lot.

The health fair will be from 4 pm to 7 pm, and again, will shift to First Christian Church in Clinton. 

Find the hospital on Facebook for more information. 

This Thursday’s health fair at Warner Hospital was meant to showcase the new west side entrance, but because of delays, the unveiling will be delayed. 

CEO of Warner Hospital and Health Services, Paul Skowron, explains that while the project is getting finished later than he would have liked, attendees of this week's health fair will still get a sneak peek at the almost-finished project. 

Skowron reminds that the purpose of the new entrance is to make it easier for patients to reach the specialty clinic and avoid traveling through the ER, where they could potentially be exposed to sick patients. 

See the new West entrance at the Warner Hospital Health Fair taking place this Thursday from 5 to 7 PM. Keep it to Regional Radio for live updates from the fair beginning at 4 PM until the event concludes at 7 pm.
 

As soon as this afternoon (Tuesday), the City of Clinton will begin closing down streets for this weekend's May Days Festival.

Clinton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Janice Petersen indicates they will begin closing down streets in the downtown area starting this afternoon to get the carnival set up for the weekend.

Peterson reminds, there is still time to get those pre-sale wristband tickets for the carnival. They are $22 for a four hour time window during the carnival and she believes it is a great deal to give you as many rides within the carnival as you want.

May Days is again, this Thursday through Sunday in downtown Clinton. Get more information by finding the Clinton Chamber of Commerce on Facebook. 

Engineering firms are an essential part of the permitting process when it comes to wind and solar farms, and DeWitt County is looking into spreading out who they use. 

Agreements with Cummins Engineering for two separate solar applications were on the agenda for Monday night's DeWitt County Land Use Committee Meeting, however, Committee Chair Buck Carter feels they shouldn't accept the first bid they receive. 

The purpose of having an engineering firm involved when solar applications are submitted is so experts can review and approve the construction plans. This process is lengthy, but necessary. Chris Hammer is concerned that Cummins could become overwhelmed if they are to be approved for every application, and feels that it would be better to spread out the work with multiple firms. 

Carter decided no action would be taken on the agreements with Cummins at the meeting, and City Administrator Dee Dee Rentmeister will seek out other potential firms before the county board meeting next week. 

Once a solar application has been approved by the county, a 60-day clock begins for the permitting process to start. For that to happen, applications must be reviewed and approved by an engineering firm, meaning that having a firm ready is necessary to stay within the timeline allotted by county ordinances.

Another good week of weather gave producers more time to make significant progress in the fields.

Brad Summa, Director of USDA NAS Heartland Region, says soybean planting is ahead of pace while corn planting is slightly behind.

Topsoil moisture remains in mostly good condition. Summa notes, last week, there were roughly five days suitable for fieldwork.

According to Summa, winter wheat headed is a bit behind the five-year average. Meanwhile, pasture conditions remain overall in good condition.

Producers will be looking to take advantage of continued windows of nice weather coming up in the days ahead. 

A truck inspection blitz over the next three days. Don Schaefer is with the Springfield, Illinois-based Midwest Truckers Association.

Again, the International Road Check Inspection Blitz is Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week.

A rural mental health summit is set for later this week. The event is on Thursday at the AgriCenter in Bloomington, says Lynn Weis with the Farm Family Resource Initiative.

More info at siumed.org/farm.

Starting a new family farm can be difficult for many, but a local extension educator is giving people a place to start. 

Reagen Tibbs, Commercial Ag Educator with the University of Illinois Extension serving Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties, explains that this June he will be introducing the Farm Business Foundations program. This new initiative is built to teach new farmers about getting into the industry. 

Tibbs is the creator of this program, and he indicates that the idea came from the community, which agrees that the extension has a lot of resources for production, but lacks when it comes to the business side of farming. 

Something that Tibbs heard frequently in his conversations with local producers was the need for succession plans. With the increasing average age of the American farmer, producers are looking towards passing their properties down to their descendants. 

The sessions will take place on June 10th, 17th, and 24th in Springfield. Registration costs $10. Get your spot by visiting extension.illinois.edu/lms 

The annual May Days Festival is this weekend in downtown Clinton.

Janice Petersen is the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and on the WHOW Morning Show Monday told Regional Radio they have four days of great fun planned for the whole family.

Pre-sale wristband tickets for the carnival are on sale until Thursday afternoon at 3 pm. Petersen says this is a great deal to give you as many rides within the carnival as you want.

A very popular event within May Days is the Clinton High School Thespians sing off event which Petersen indicates is moving to Friday night. She hopes that will get more people out to participate.

A concern for Petersen and the Chamber at this point is they need volunteers for the ticket booths. In years past, Second Chance for Pets has coordinated the volunteer efforts for that, but they pulled out of it this year. Petersen says it is a vital part of May Days taking place.

May Days is this Thursday through Sunday in downtown Clinton. Learn more by finding the Clinton Chamber of Commerce on Facebook.

From the second Saturday in May to the third Saturday, we honor our active armed forces. 

Josh Thielen, Department Adjutant with the American Legion explains that May is a busy month for the Legion due to the two major holidays for them in the month. Armed Forces Week is May 10-17, and Memorial Day is May 26th. 

In Illinois, Armed Forces Week is an opportunity for veterans to travel around the state and visit other posts to build relationships within the community of veterans. 

To learn more about Armed Forces Week celebrations with the Clinton American Legion, find their Facebook page. 

Those summer BBQs can quickly go south if good grilling practices are ignored this summer.

With the summer grilling season upon us, Caitlin Mellendorf at the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties indicates you want to start by making sure all of that grilling equipment is cleaned out and ready for the new season - especially if you haven't used it yet this year.

Sometimes grill grates can be tricky to get clean all the way and Mellendorf has a few suggestions of how to make sure you get those properly and thoroughly cleaned out.

Other tips from Mellendorf include making sure all cooking surfaces are cleaned and utensils are washed - especially if they are going to be used across different food preparations. 

Visit extension.illinois.edu for more on the summer grilling season with Mellendorf and other Extension educators. 

Identity theft can leave individuals and families devastated from the things fraudsters can do with all the information they have.

That is why it is important to spot scams before they get to that point. Jack Myers with Social Security encourages protecting documents that contain personal info, ask questions before giving out your Social Security numbers, and protect your personal info online by using a strong password and multi-factor authentication when offered. 

According to Myers, if you become a victim of identity theft, report the fraud to the company where it occurred, and be wary of calls or text messages that come from them.  If possible, initiate all contact yourself. He also encourages contacting a credit bureau to place a fraud alert on your credit report.

For more info on scams and identity theft, visit www.ssa.gov and look for the publication, "Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number." 

Many gardeners have been working their flower and vegetable beds for weeks, but the rain has thrown the proverbial monkey wrench into many plans. 

Some forecasters say we have started to turn the corner towards drier and warmer weather, so one expert says it’s time to think about what you can plant in May and beyond. University of Illinois Extension Commercial Ag Educator Nathan Johanning (JOE-hanning) says before jumping into any project, look around to see if your piece of land is ready for planting.

He says raised-bed gardens can be a way around some of the saturated soil, as the nature of those promotes better drainage. Around mid-May you can start to plant your warm-season vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers, and then come back to the cool-season plants heading into fall.

The Real ID deadline is here to fly domestically, but scammers are taking advantage of the rush to the DMV.

Effective last week, domestic flyers must have a Real ID or a passport to fly domestically, leading to a surge at the DMV. Don O'Brien, a Better Business Bureau scam investigator, says scammers are waiting to take advantage of the rush.

The B-B-B urges those seeking a Real ID to obtain one only at a DMV. Never provide financial information, a social security number, or an address to an unknown site on the web.

During May Beef Month, the Illinois Beef Association is promoting the Illinois local beef directory on its website, says IBA’s Devin Bollman.

The website, illinoisbeef.com.

County fair queen pageants across the state looking for contestants. Haley Bode (Bode--ee) says she’s glad she entered one last summer……she’s the reigning Miss Monroe County Fair Queen.

Bode is finishing her sophomore year at SIU Carbondale and is receiving the $7,500 Illinois Farm Bureau Legacy of Leadership scholarship.

Mother's Day is here, and a local zoo has the perfect celebration for you and your loved ones. 

Heather Perdeu, Director of the Scovill Zoo in Decatur, explains that on Saturday, May 10th, they will host the Zippy Zoo Fun Run. She notes that moms can get into the zoo for free with a paying child all weekend, including for the race. 

The race begins at 9:00 AM learn more and register for the event by visiting scovillzoo.com or calling 217-421-7435. 
 

Getting books into the hands of youth is the aim of a little-known program at Warner Hospital and Health Service, and it will be on full display at next week's health fair.  

Kelly Burton with Warner Hospital and Health Services explains that at this year's health fair, taking place on May 15th, they are promoting a program called ‘All About Books’ - which aims to send home a book with every child that comes to see them. 

While the books are typically intended for children aged zero to five, Burton has reached out to get more books targeted at older children and young teens. The hospital is also distributing books for ages six to 13. 

The Warner Hospital Health Fair takes place on May 15th from 5 PM to 7 PM in the north parking lot. Learn more by finding the Hospital on Facebook. 

Tune in to WHOW and WEZC for live updates from the health fair beginning at 4 pm until the conclusion of the event at 7 pm. 

Antique tractor enthusiasts are looking forward to showing off their hobby in Argenta this weekend. 

Martin Bayless with Annella Farms explains this Saturday is 'Farming in the 50s', an event that brings antique tractors from as early as 1919 to downtown Argenta to participate in the tractor games, as well as a parade at the end of the day. 

Over time, the Farming in the 50s celebration has only grown. Bayless indicates that in the last three years of the event's existence, the number of tractors has almost tripled. 

Bayless notes new attractions to this year's tractor show is a pedal tractor pull. He says this idea came from the growing number of kids he sees each year. 

Visit downtown Argenta this weekend for the Farming in the 50s Tractor Show, taking place from 9 AM to 4 PM. Get more information by finding Annella Farms on Facebook. 

A significant sidewalk project in Farmer City that would provide a much safer path through the community to a heavily trafficked area is likely to be moved to 2026.

That's according to City Manager for the City of Farmer City Taylor Baxter, who told Regional Radio on the WHOW Morning Show on Thursday they are waiting on the Illinois Department of Transportation to approve the funding.

Baxter indicates a sidewalk through the community will provide more safety for those who access Casey's on foot. He calls it dangerous in its current state.

Baxter notes a lot is going on with the Interstate 74 development, and some dirt will be moving this summer. Additionally, the City is gearing up for the summer pool season and the upcoming Heritage Days celebration at the end of the month. 

We'll have more on that with Baxter coming up in the days ahead on Regional Radio. 

Springtime can often come with an increase in domestic abuse-related issues, and this spring is no different, says a local domestic abuse advocate. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Thursday, Andrea Kocher, (right) Director of Services at Willow Tree Missions in Piatt County told Regional Radio she saw a brief slowdown during the winter, but this spring she has seen not only an increase in cases but severity of cases.

According to Kocher, there can often times be a misunderstanding about what domestic abuse is, and the biggest misconception is that domestic abuse is only violent in nature.

In the weeks ahead, we'll highlight the simple things that make up an abusive relationship and things to be on the lookout for in the event you think you may be a victim.

For more information on Willow Tree Missions and its services, visit willowtreemissions.org or find them on Facebook.

The Friends of the Warner Library and the Warner Library in Clinton are celebrating reaching and exceeding a fundraising goal for a new pavilion on the front lawn of the library. 

Mel Snow and Emily Dunham at the Warner Library indicate the kick-off of the summer reading club on May 31 will also be a ribbon-cutting event for the pavilion.

Snow and Dunham thank the community that stepped up to help raise money for this $5,000 pavilion. The recent Friends of the Warner Library book sale was also part of that fundraising effort.

Library leadership is also getting ready for the biggest overall event they host each year - the summer reading club. We'll have more on that as the kickoff event approaches on May 31. 

The last few weeks on Regional Radio, we've been highlighting the impacts of artificial intelligence, or AI, on education.

AI is impacting so many aspects of life right now and among those is the world of mental health. Tony Kirkman is the Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center and points out there are going to be areas of life AI cannot reach.

According to Kirkman, it is impressive what is happening with AI in the medical field. Particularly in the mental health world, they are using it to make things more efficient in treating and helping individuals.

Kirkman admits he can be 'old school' about his approach, but does note there is a lot of nuance to a conversation that AI is likely to not pick up on.

At the Piatt County Mental Health Center, Kirkman notes they are also using it to help better communicate among many surface-level uses. 

Helen Michelassi was sworn in on Tuesday night as Clinton's Mayor.

Michelassi was the resounding winner of a special election on April 1 for the unfinished term of Mayor on the City Council. With friends and family in attendance, she was sworn in to fill out the two-year term.

City officials continue their efforts to crack down on properties that violate city codes. While to the contention of some residents, Commissioner Dan Ballenger implored residents to also keep their grass mowed. 

City Administrator Tony Harris also had an update on Kiwanis Park and getting new playground equipment installed.

The Council Tuesday night also approved appointments of:

>>Fire Chief Stephen Page

>>Assistant Fire Chief Dan Ballenger, Jr.

>>Sexton Kameron Willford

Additionally, a new K-9 unit for the Clinton Police Department was approved as well as water tower cleaning. 

Warner Hospital and Health Services will bring back a once-long-standing event next week with its Health Fair.  

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Kelly Burton with Warner Hospital and Health Services told Regional Radio the health fair takes place on Thursday, May 15th, in the hospital’s north parking lot. With almost 50 vendors planned for the event, they hope you will find everything for your health-related needs. 

Vendors will include insurance companies, assisted living centers, and local nonprofits. Burton is grateful to all the organizations that are coming out to help make the event fun and informative. 

Hospital CEO Paul Skowron says the Health Fair will be a chance for the community to get a glimpse at the renovations of the emergency room and its first sneak peek at the west side entrance. While not completed yet, Skowron says they are getting closer. 

Visit the Warner Hospital and Health Services and all the vendors that will be present for the Health Fair taking place on Thursday, May 15th, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Get more information about the event by finding the hospital on Facebook. 

Also, be sure to tune to WHOW and WEZC for live coverage of the Health Fair next Thursday from 4 pm to 7 pm. 

School leaders in Illinois are watching closely the latest legislative cycle, anticipating action on a proposed cell phone ban in schools.

Dr. Emily Weidner is the Superintendent of Cerro Gordo Schools and notes that while they don't have a hard cell phone ban, they do not allow cell phones in classrooms.

Like many of her peers, Dr. Weidner hopes Illinois lawmakers would allow schools to make their own decisions. 

With 25 years in education, Dr. Weidner says you get used to lawmakers regulating a lot in education. While frustrating, she believes it shows how important education is.

Dr. Weidner believes there is a balance between banning cell phones and still allowing kids the ability to be connected without it being a distraction. 
 

A Mt. Pulaski graduate is working his way through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police training program.

Noah Reidle is in the second phase of the Field Training Officer program with the IDNR, and explains that he is feeling right at home with his experience so far in DeWitt County. 

Reidle is passionate about hunting and fishing, as well as law enforcement, so when he saw the opportunity to bring those things together as a conservation police officer, he had to jump on it. He notes that learning the different rules for officers has been interesting to him. 

Reidle's next phase of training will take him to Lake County, north of Chicago, but he plans on coming back to central Illinois. Conservation officer Noah Workman says Reidle has been a great addition to the team. 

To become a DNR Conservation officer, you must complete seven months of academy training, as well as four phases of field training. 
 

A warm week in Illinois allows planters to keep making progress. 

Brad Summa, Director of the USDA NAS Heartland Region, indicates that there were 2.7 days suitable for fieldwork last week. 

Top soil moisture is in good condition, says Summa. 

When it comes to crops, corn planting is slightly behind the five-year average, while soybean planting is on pace. 

Winter wheat is also behind the five-year average, although conditions are reported 50% good to excellent. 

Lessons learned from the 2024 Tour DeWitt bike ride will help second-year organizer Mark Hobbie as he embarks on his second year to re-establish a long-running event in rural DeWitt County.

Dr. Hobbie explains that last year, the event was moved a day due to inclement weather in central Illinois. In doing that, he was able to adjust one of his routes, which he felt ended up being a much better ride for participants.

Corresponding with law enforcement is one of the priorities in planning an event like this in rural DeWitt County. Because the event is very rural in nature, the need for a heavy law enforcement presence is not entirely necessary.

Proceeds from this year's ride benefit Macon County CASA. Find 'Tour DeWitt Bike Ride' on Facebook to keep up with the latest registration information and more on the event.

Dr. Hobbie says registration should be open at any time. The event is on Saturday, June 7, starting at Weldon Springs State Park. 
 

Educators across the country are quickly learning about the power of artificial intelligence, or AI.

AI has been described as the biggest thing to come to education since the internet, and Monticello Schools Superintendent Adam Clapp believes the budding world of AI could have very positive impacts on education.

Districts across the area are beginning to dive into this internally with staff. Whether it's special speakers and presenters or general internal focus groups, Clapp indicates that Monticello is meeting monthly to continue to grow their understanding.

In surveying students, Clapp found that most students are not, in fact, trying to cheat using AI. While anonymous, he believes AI could be a very useful tool for students to streamline how efficient they can be.

While AI is a great tool for educators and students, Clapp says it still does not replace the human element to learning, and that will be the balance they seek to strike as it relates to its use in day-to-day education as well as the policy they craft for the student handbook. 
 

Piatt County Collision Center just off Illinois Route 105 in Monticello is expanding.

Owner Corey Levitt's car and truck collision repair and towing business is getting an addition of some 4400 square feet, attached to their existing building.  

Concrete is being poured for the inside of the expansion this week.

Levitt began the business over 15 years ago.

Target date for completion is a month from now.

Bringing leaders across DeWitt County together to support one another is the aim of a new initiative through the DeWitt County Development Council.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, DCDC Executive Director Curt Homann told Regional Radio they want to increase collaboration between municipal leaders, County leaders, and the DCDC to be resources for one another.

Homann emphasizes this will not be just a Clinton and Farmer City-focused group. He wants to have every community represented and hear from them.

According to Homann, the goal is for this to be beneficial to everyone who participates. He also believes it will be good for when leadership goes through a transition, like a couple of communities are about to this month. 

Homann says they will be reaching out to all the leaders of the County to invite them to this. He believes it will be a net benefit for DeWitt County.

The spring holds recognition weeks for first responders, and a local law enforcement official is shouting out his hard-working peers. 

Piatt County Sheriff Mark Vogelzang indicates that in May, telecommunicators and court security staff will be recognized for their hard work in keeping people safe. 

To kick off the month of May, corrections officers are honored. The Sheriff says a good corrections officer is calm and collected to protect themself, inmates, and others in the building. 

Following Corrections Officer Week is Police Week, and Sheriff Vogelzang is appreciative of all the Piatt County communities who support their local law enforcement. 

Many communities in central Illinois will take time this month to recognize these individuals.

May is National Strawberry Month and as one of the most popular summer fruits comes into season, a University of Illinois Nutrition Educator is promoting the versatility of strawberries and promoting the general health benefits of fruit.

Caitlin Mellendorf is a Nutrition Educator for the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties and says there are many local places to pick fresh strawberries.

Strawberries have a high water content, which is why if you've ever bought strawberries and let them sit in the refrigerator for more than a week, they go bad quickly. To get the most out of them, Mellendorf says you want to eat them quickly.

Strawberries are also great because you can put them in drinks, make smoothies, or just cut them up and eat them by themselves.

Some social media influencers have made themselves famous talking about fruits and not recommending some because of their sugar content. Mellendorf says that is misleading because there are some sugars that our bodies need to function.

The summer grilling season is quickly approaching. We'll hear from Mellendorf in the weeks ahead on summer food safety as the grilling season often kicks off with the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Scams cannot be talked about enough because people continue to be victimized.

Learning more about identity theft can help you keep your personal info safe. Jack Myers with Social Security says there are two types of identity theft and that is thieves stealing your data physically or digitally, without contacting you directly, or thieves contacting you directly and convincing you to provide sensitive info or money.

If you are a victim of identity theft, you may never know how it happened if they didn’t contact you directly. According to Myers, if they contacted you directly and stole your money, the impact is immediately clear.  Thieves can do a lot of things if your identity is compromised, like buy items with your credit cards or bank accounts, obtain new credit in your name, or use your SSN to get a job.

To prevent yourself from becoming a victim of identity theft, Myers recommends keeping track of your mail for missing bills or other documents, reviewing credit card and bank statements for unauthorized transactions, and obtaining and reviewing your credit reports regularly to make sure they do not include accounts you have not opened.

Next week on Regional Radio, we'll from Myers on how to prevent identity theft from happening to you but also what to know if it does happen. In the meantime, visit annualcreditreport.com or identitytheft.gov for more information.

The Scovill Zoo recently announced the upcoming arrival of mountain lions, and now the wait is over. 

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Heather Perdeu with the Scovill Zoo in Decatur told Regional Radio that the new mountain lion exhibit has been a hit with guests since its opening in late April. She asks the public to be patient as the animals grow out of their shyness. 

Perdeu indicates that the mountain lions have been in human care since they were very young and are unfit to be released back into the wild. 

Visit the new mountain lion exhibit at the Scovill Zoo in Decatur, located at 71 South Country Club Road. Learn more at decatur-parks.org/scovill-zoo or follow them on Facebook. 
 

The DeWitt County Board pushed off a few agenda items to next month to do more research. 

DeWitt County Board Chair Joe Witte explains that while they did briefly cover wind energy ordinance updates at the April County Board Meeting, they didn't take any action so they could better develop the new ordinances. He says they plan to revisit it at May's meeting. 

At last month's Land Use Committee meeting, members discussed attending the May Zoning Board of Appeals meeting to help clear up any confusion on the battery ordinances that had previously been put on hold. 

The State of Illinois in the last couple of years, has put widespread regulations regarding wind energy development. However, the County has continued to seek to find ways to strengthen the ordinances locally.

Two popular seasons are going on right now at Clinton Lake.

Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Officer Noah Workman indicates the mushroom hunting and turkey hunting seasons are overlapping. These are two very popular seasons at Clinton Lake.

Officer Workman reminds mushroom hunters, the site doesn't open up for mushroom hunting until 1 pm. He often encounters mushroom hunters getting a head start, and they encounter a turkey hunter.

As the mushroom hunting season wraps up, the busy boating season will start to pick up at Clinton Lake. We'll hear more from Officer Workman next week about boating safety and getting those boats ready for the upcoming boating season.

Despite the increase in severe weather in April, precipitation levels were on target. 

Ed Shimon with the National Weather Service in Lincoln explains that the rainfall totals were just barely below normal for April, however, it was enough to hold off drought conditions. 

It's not unheard of to see snow in April in Illinois, but Shimon indicates that that's not the case for this year. However, he states that there was hail in parts of the state. 

The start of May has showers in the forecast before skies start to clear. Learn more about recent and future weather trends by visiting weather.gov/Lincoln. 
 

Tour DeWitt is Saturday, June 7.

Dr. Mark Hobbie took over the planning and organizing of the event last year and is looking forward to another great ride next month.

Dr. Hobbie took over the ride last spring after it was cancelled in the summer of 2024. Despite having to delay the ride by a day, he still ended up with nearly 100 riders.

Like last year, the race originates and concludes at Weldon Springs State Park. Hobbie has this year's routes established. We'll have more on that next week on Regional Radio.

You can find more on this year's event, including the latest on registration, by finding the event on Facebook. Hobbie hopes the registration page is up and ready in the next few weeks. 

DeWitt County employees will have a new insurance option as open enrollment approaches. 

DeWitt County Board Chair Joe Witte explains that although the two existing health insurance plans would see a premium increase this year, the county found a third option that is cheaper, giving employees the ability to find the plan that works for them. 

While insurance premiums often increase every year, Witte states that the county took on the majority of those costs the last two years to prevent employees from facing impactful price changes. 

Witte is grateful to the Finance Committee and the taxpayers of DeWitt County who enable the board to make county careers sustainable and desirable.

School leaders in America are actively learning about the future of education in a world where artificial intelligence is prominent.

Adam Ibbotson is the Superintendent of Maroa-Forsyth Schools and characterizes artificial intelligence as the next thing, but more powerful than even when the internet first arrived on the scene in education.

For Ibbotson, AI is a great resource however, he points out it cannot be his only resource. He feels there still needs to be that individual and human element.

Maroa-Forsyth and numerous other districts in central Illinois are actively bringing in speakers and presenters to show educators how AI can enhance their learning environment and ways AI is useful in education circles.