Hornets on the march
Color Guard Captain Faith Caron is one of 11 seniors in this year’s 88-piece Eureka High School Marching Band. The EHS Marching Hornets’ show entitled “Shine” will take the field for competition several more times this season:  Oct. 8 at Downers Grove South High School, Oct. 15 at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, and Oct, 22 at ISU for the State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band. The band also will perform halftime shows for the remaining home football games on Fridays, Oct. 7 and 14. (Photo courtesy of EHS Band Boosters)

WOODFORD COUNTY

Health department continues work against West Nile virus

Surveillance for the West Niles virus will continue in Woodford County until Oct. 16, according to the Woodford County Health Department.

A dead crow that had been collected in Metamora tested positive for West Nile virus Sept. 28.  So far this year, two of three birds have tested positive for the virus in the county. Health department officials encourage the public to continue to call in with any dead bird findings. The department documents calls about dead birds. Dead crows, blue jays and American robins are key indicator species for activity of West Nile virus.

The virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird. Therefore, the county health department will continue to set mosquito traps throughout the county to monitor the mosquito population. The culex pipiens (common house mosquito), is most active from about 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Only female mosquitoes bite. The female mosquito uses the protein in blood for egg-laying. The peak biting time for the house mosquito is around 10 p.m. As temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the activity of the mosquito greatly decreases.

The best way to prevent the virus is to reduce the number of mosquitoes around yards and home and to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Precautions include:

• Minimize time spent outdoors when mosquitoes are most active. When outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing works best.
• Wear insect repellent and supervise use with children.
• Repair holes in door and window screens.
• At least once every five days, empty standing water from containers such as: buckets, birdbaths, baby pools, tires, flowerpots, wheelbarrows, boats, etc.
• Clean roof gutters.
• Make sure a backyard swimming pool is properly cared for while on vacation.
• Keep roadway ditches and culverts clear of debris so water will drain properly and fill in low areas to eliminate standing water.

Horse owners also should take precautions to minimize exposure of their animals to mosquitoes. A vaccine to protect horses is available. For more information, horse owners are urged to contact their veterinarian.

Information regarding the virus is available at the county health department at (309) 467-3064.

EUREKA

College is ranked as one of best in country

Eureka College has been ranked as one of the Best Regional Colleges, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s recently released 2017 list of Best Colleges. Eureka is one of just five Illinois colleges to receive this recognition.

Eureka placed second in Illinois and 26th in the Midwest among colleges that focus entirely on the undergraduate experience and offer a broad range of liberal arts programs.

The U.S. News & World Report’s rankings are based on data gathered from and about each school in up to 16 areas related to academic excellence. The full list of the 2017 Best Colleges can be found at www.usnews.com/education.

Play to raise funds for Boys and Girls Club

Proceeds from performances of “The Grown-up” by Jordan Harrison will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington.

The play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6- 8 and Oct. 12, 3 p.m. Oct. 14 and 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, in Pritcharb Theater on the campus of Eureka College, 300 E. College Ave., Eureka. Donations will be accepted as admission.

The play is a fantastical story following the journey of Kai as he uses a magical doorknob to travel through time. All the while, his sister is chasing him, trying to get him back. The play has adult themes and language.

–Woodford County News Briefs–