With a long Fourth of July weekend ahead, celebrations will carry on as we celebrate America's 250th.

Whether you're firing up the grill or baking goods in the house, University of Illinois Nutrition Educator Caitlin Mellendorf is sending out some food safety reminders ahead of the long weekend. The four core pillars of home food safety are clean, separate, cook, and chill. She emphasizes these foundational guidelines apply equally whether cooking in an indoor kitchen or at an outdoor grill station. 

Maintaining clean culinary surfaces is a vital part of seasonal safety. Mellendorf advises grill operators to thoroughly scrub down grill grates with soap and water between cooking different types of food.

According to Mellendord, the "chill" protocol dictates leftovers cannot sit out at room temperature or outdoors for an extended period. Because summer temperatures frequently climb into the high 80s and 90s, bacteria grow rapidly in the heat.

Beef and pork should cook to 145°F internal and allow the meat to rest for at least 3 minutes before cutting or eating, while ground meats like beef and pork should cook to 160°F internal, and no rest time is required before consuming them.

Additionally, all Poultry - including breasts, whole birds, legs, thighs, and wings need to reach 165°F internal before they are ready to eat. 

If you have questions about safe food handling, storage, or holiday cooking rules, you can contact the USDA's food safety experts directly, by calling 888-MPHotline, or 888-674-6854. You can also email MPHotline@usda.gov. The hotline is staffed by food safety specialists on weekdays, Monday through Friday, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time.

Local drivers may have noticed some significant construction at a high school just off US Highway 51. 

Maroa-Forsyth Schools Superintendent Adam Ibbotson says the press box at the football field has been completely removed to make way for concrete work and preparation for the new press box. He hopes the project will be complete in time for the football season to begin in August. 

Other than the outdoor facilities, Ibbotson says general maintenance will be taking place all summer long in the high school. Through all the work, Ibbotson feels that summer activities should not be interrupted. 

The district is also hiring this summer. Ibbotson indicates that they are in need of some grade school classroom teachers, as well as substitute teachers and bus drivers. He notes that after condensing bus routes in light of potential transportation cuts, they are fully staffed with full-time bus drivers. 

The district shifted building start times for the upcoming school year to accommodate having to staff fewer bus drivers. 

Those looking for more information on hiring at Maroa-Forsyth should visit the school website at mfschools.net or find the district's Facebook page. 

Warner Hospital and Health Services is announcing the expansion of an existing partnership and is touting partnerships as instrumental to its success.

CEO Paul Skowron explains that while Warner Hospital remains one of the last independently owned rural hospitals, its ability to offer specialized care is built entirely on these collaborations.

Warner is adding Dr. Sid Rohrscheib to its primary family medicine and general surgery practices. Dr. Rohrscheib, a bariatric and general surgery specialist with decades of local experience, is permanently moving his clinical operations into Warner Hospital.

Skowron credits positive word-of-mouth patient experiences for driving the hospital's growth, particularly at its newly expanded west side access.

Last week at the Hart Media Group, Skowron indicated the City-owned hospital will have to continue to rely on and grow its partnerships because of nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicare starting in 2027. 

There are two different disability benefit programs at Social Security, and understanding the difference is the goal for the agency this month. 

You must recognize which benefits you receive to fully understand your reporting responsibilities. Jack Myers with Social Security explains that Social Security Disability - or SSDI - is payable to adults who are younger than full retirement age. But you must have a history of working and paying into Social Security or be eligible on the record of someone who does.

The benefit amount is going to be based on earnings history. Myers indicates that unearned income and resources are not relevant. Earned income must be reported. 

According to Myers, if you are receiving SSDI or SSI benefits, you must contact Social Security when you start a job. If you receive SSI and live with your spouse, you must report their changes, and parental changes must be reported when minor children receive SSI. 

Visit www.ssa.gov/myaccount. You’ll simply log into your account and be able to report wages for yourself, and if applicable, your spouse
 

The DeWitt County Fairgrounds have been a beehive of activity this summer and that activity carried on Saturday despite some unexpected morning rain showers.

Part of the WHOW Fair Tour coverage on Saturday, DeWitt County 4-H Fair Board President Dan Enos told the Hart Media Group, the annual DeWitt County 4-H horse show took place despite the elements putting a wrench in the plans of the participants.

Stephanie Neisen was among over 30 participants this weekend. She had a mix of young horses and an older horse she was showing this year. She is new to training horses and is learning all the time.

Lexi Merriman has been around horses her whole life and says she is still learning in her pursuit of training and showing horses.

The DeWitt Count 4-H horse show wrapped up Sunday. It's off to the general projects and livestock shows in two weeks at the fairgrounds.

Hear live coverage from the fair on WHOW Saturday, July 11, from 10 am to noon. 

You may see American flags going up across the community this weekend thanks to efforts by the Clinton America 250 Committee. 

Bobbie Perryman explains that the Committee will be decorating yards and properties with American flags. She says it was a fundraising and beautification effort for their Fourth of July festivities next weekend.  

Perryman is grateful to all the community members and volunteers who are not only assisting in this effort but who are helping to make the entire celebration possible. 
 

The Federal government plans to cut Medicaid by a trillion dollars starting January 1, 2027.

Warner Hospital CEO Paul Skowron indicates that while the city-owned hospital is operating at budget for now, these cuts are going to force them to consider further expansion of services going forward. 

Despite 25-percent of the Hospital's patient volume being Medicaid patients, they do not know the total impact on those individuals or the hospital. 

Next week on Regional Radio, we'll hear from Skowron about the expansion of an existing partnership within its system.

In the meantime, Skowron implores those interested to visit warnerhospital.org or find them on Facebook for more information.