ROCKFORD

Wheelchair rugby championships here

Oscar Mike Foundation, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB), and the Rockford Park District (RPD) announced last week that the United States Quad Rugby Association (USQRA) National Championship will be held in Rockford for the first time.

The three organizations have been working together to secure the bid for the multi-year championship tournament, which will take place in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The bid was awarded to Rockford during the 2018 championships in Phoenix, AZ. In 2019, the tournament will take place March 28-31, 2019 at UW Health Sports Factory, 305 S. Madison Street.

The United States Quad Rugby Association National Championship is the largest co-ed wheelchair rugby tournament in the United States, and consists of 36 games taking place over three days. 

The best 18 teams in the country will come to Rockford to compete and determine who will be crowned National Champion. Marengo, IL-based Oscar Mike Foundation will not only host the tournament, but will also compete, and is the first team in USQRA history that is 100% comprised of military veterans.

Wheelchair rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the world today, and offers players the chance to stay active. To participate in this adapted sport, players must have a combination of upper and lower extremity impairment to be considered eligible.

ROCKFORD

Health Department hosts tire drop-off

On Saturday, June 9 the Winnebago County Health Department will hold a Tire Drive where residents can drop off up to 36 passenger vehicle-sized tires per address.

There is no cost to turn in tires, however, pre-registration is required. Tires will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, so register as soon as possible.

Each approved address that registers will receive a confirmation email. This email will let you know the location of the drop-off site within the City of Rockford. Tires can be dropped off on Saturday, June 9 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. When turning in the tires, participants will stay in their vehicles and the tires will be unloaded by event staff.

For questions or more information regarding the Tire Drive, contact Ryan Kerch, Environmental Health Supervisor at 815-720-4347.

STOCKTON

Extension offers food preservation class

Whether just starting out or updating your food preservation knowledge, join University of Illinois Extension’s Nutrition and Wellness Educator, Diane Reinhold, for a seasonal program titled: Yes! You Can: Preserve It Safely-Water-bath and Pressuring Canning Basics.

The class will be held on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 from 5:30-9 p.m. and again on Thursday, August 2, 2018 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The first class will be held at the Stockton Library, 140 E Benton Ave, Stockton, IL 61085 and the second class will be held at a location yet to be determined. Pre-registration is required to attend. 

To register, call the University of Illinois Extension at (815) 858-2273 or visit us online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw/ . There is a $5 registration fee which will cover the educational session and pressure canner gauge testing.  Space is limited, so register today.

STATE

Noah, Olivia big names for babies

Do you have a newborn named Noah or Olivia? If so, you helped make these the top names for babies born in Illinois during 2017, according to the Social Security Administration’s recent announcement.

The second-most-popular names in Illinois — Liam and Emma — were the most popular names nationwide during the same year.

Rounding out the list for boys’ names in Illinois were, in declining order of popularity, Benjamin, Logan and Alexander.

For girls, the remaining ones in the top five were Ava, Sophia and Isabella.

WOODSTOCK

McHenry County board explores downsizing

McHenry County Board Chairman Jack Franks (D-Marengo) is reconvening the Ad-Hoc Committee on Governmental Consolidation to explore reducing the County Board’s size from its current roster of 24 members.

County boards have an opportunity after each decennial U.S. Census to adjust their size. The McHenry County Board has remained at 24 members since 1972, when voters were first empowered to directly elect their board members under the 1970 Illinois Constitution.

It is the only collar-county board to not reduce its size since then. The DuPage County Board shrunk in 2000, and the county boards of Lake, Kane and Will reduced their sizes after the 2010 U.S. Census.

Seventy-seven percent of McHenry County’s voters supported a 2016 advisory referendum asking whether the County Board’s size should be reduced. The original language of the referendum proposed cutting the size in half to 12 members.

The Ad-Hoc Committee was scheduled to meet on May 15 to debate the idea. For more information, call 815-334-4000 or visit www.mchenrycountyil.gov.

–Winnebago County News Briefs–