Members of the 4-H will be showing their livestock and wares at the annual Tazewell County 4-H Show and Junior Fair. From Aug. 1-3 at Mineral Springs Park in Pekin. (Photo Tazewell County 4-H)

TAZEWELL COUNTY

4-H members prepare for annual fair

For Tazewell County 4-H members, it all comes down to this: the annual Tazewell County 4-H Show and Junior Fair. From Aug. 1-3, members of 4-H — ages 8-18 — will showcase their projects, including horticulture, livestock, rocket launches, dogs shows and more at Mineral Springs Park in Pekin. Roughly 200 youngsters and teens will participate.

Here are highlights of the three-day schedule. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 1, with its first major activity: the horse show in the livestock arena. Other Aug. 1 activities will include leather demonstrations, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; a craft and vendor show, 12-8 p.m.; chalk art, 1 p.m.; an ice cream eating contest, 3-4 p.m.; and the four-cylinder mini rod tractor pull, 6 p.m.

The day will culminate with the grand opening ceremonies in the Memorial Ice Arena at 7 p.m., where royalty contest winners will be announced and the Farm Bureau Ice Cream Social will be held. 

Aug. 2’s schedule is dominated by a poultry show, 8 a.m.; 4-H exhibits, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; cat show, 11 a.m.; Dan Barth’s Old Time Medicine Show, 12 p.m.; Teens as teachers, 2-4 p.m.; rocket launch, 4 p.m.; and lightweight antique tractor pull, 6 p.m. The Aug. 2 activities will end with a general awards presentation, livestock parade and club banner parade, beginning at 6 pm.

Aug. 3, the final day of the fair, will feature a swine show, 8 a.m.; dog show, 8:30 a.m.; dairy show, 9 a.m.; Pekin Fire Department safe house escape, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; sheep show, 1 p.m.; knocker balls, 3-5 p.m.; the 14^th annual antique heavy-weight tractor pull, 6 p.m.; and Youth project auction, in which participants will have the option to auction off their livestock and horticulture projects, 6:30 p.m. 

Tazewell County Home and Community Education will once again host a food tent with a different special each day. Aug. 1’s special will be bratwursts; Aug. 2, ribeye sandwiches; and Aug. 3, pork chops. 

For a full schedule of activities, go to the University of Illinois Extension website, web.extension.illinois.edu/.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Red Cross reports blood shortage

The American Red Cross has issued an emergency appeal asking eligible blood and platelet donors to give as soon as possible.

Red Cross blood products are being distributed to hospitals faster than donations are coming in. The shortage is attributed to the fact that more than 75 percent of regular Red Cross blood donors will be on vacation sometime this summer.

To donate, call the American Red Cross Center at (309) 677-7272. The center is at 405 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Ave., Peoria.

MORTON

Police entrance exam set for Aug. 20

The Morton Police and Fire Commission will conduct testing for the entry-level position of police officer. An eligible applicant must be United States citizen and possess a valid driver’s license and a high school diploma or equivalent, and be between the ages 21 and 35 as of Aug. 17, 2016.

The current base salary range is $47,472 to $62,901, plus benefits.

Applications may be obtained at the Morton Police Department, 375 W. Birchwood St., and Morton Village Hall, 120 N. Main St., or online at www.morton-il.gov. They are due by 5 p.m. Aug. 17.

Written and physical testing will be conducted at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 20, at Morton High School, 350 N. Illinois Ave. Questions? Call (309) 266-6666.

STATE

Website launched for school nutrition professionals

University of Illinois Extension has a new website for school nutrition professionals, called the ABCs of School Nutrition.

University of Illinois Extension has partnered with the Illinois State Board of Education to provide professional development opportunities for school nutrition professionals. These opportunities are available through onsite training, online training and live and recorded webinars.

For onsite training, Extension educators will train staff on a range of topics to satisfy the USDA Professional Standards. To host such a training session, contact Michelle Fombelle at mfombell@illinois.edu.

The website also offers online courses on relevant school nutrition topics. Create an account to get started at extension.illinois.edu/ABCsofschoolnutrition.

Webinars take place the first Wednesday of each month during the school year. USDA Professional Standards credit is given for live and recorded webinar viewing. For more information, go to extension.illinois.edu/ABCsofschoolnutrition.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–