Woodford County news briefs

Chronicle Media
The Davidson Barn is proposed to be relocated near Eureka Lake to serve as a headquarters for the Woodford County Historical Society and community center available for meetings and events. (AgWeb)

The Davidson Barn is proposed to be relocated near Eureka Lake to serve as a headquarters for the Woodford County Historical Society and community center available for meetings and events. (AgWeb)

Get help on planning easy, healthy meals at Eureka Library

University of Illinois Extension-Livingston-McLean-Woodford is partnering with Eureka Public Library  on Planning Meals with Ease. This class will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at the library, 202 S Main St. Meal planning can be an overwhelming task, especially when life gets busy. This program will focus on five steps to simple meal planning. The program will include a cooking demonstration and taste the food prepared, receive a meal plan with recipes for five different meals, and take home a list of mobile apps made for meal planning. The class will be taught by Jenna Smith, University of Illinois Extension nutrition & wellness educator and registered dietitian.There is a $3 fee. To register for this class call, (309) 467-2922.

 

Free class at Eureka Hospital helps educate for advanced care planning

Advocate Eureka Hospital, 101 S. Major St.,  will offer Advanced Care Planning I, a free class on advanced directives, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4.  This class helps participants prepare their short- and long-term affairs managed by a loved one. Theresa Bailey, RN and Teri Hill, RN, both certified instructors,, will cover topics such as living wills, power of attorney, and other advanced directives. This is the first session of a two-part program. Participants may attend the first part only, but must attend this session in order to join Advanced Care Planning II on Aug. 11.This class is free, but registration is required. Call  (800) 323.8622 or visit www.advocatehealth.com/eureka to register.

Eureka residents undecided on what to do with old barn

Residents have expressed wishes for preserving the 176-year-old Davidson Barn and most have said they want a community center. But some residents say they don’t want the barn becoming the community center. The Davidson Barn is proposed to be relocated near Eureka Lake to serve as a headquarters for the Woodford County Historical Society and community center available for meetings and events. Some residents want the park on the shores of the lake left alone, according to reports. Local descendants of the barn’s original owner Caleb Davidson, reportedly do not have sentimental attachment to the barn. The development won’t be owned by a private entity, but likely operated under a private-public agreement between the city, and possibly the historical society, according to reports. Residents recently raised questions and concerns about the plans,  including the effects on Lake Road traffic, capacity of the community center and if any trees will be affected by the construction.

Retired Eureka school chief charged in accident with cyclist

A retired Eureka school superintendent, is charged with two traffic citations and  reckless conduct stemming from a July 14 accident in Hudson, Ill. that resulted in a bicyclist being seriously injured, according to reports. Randy Crump, 61, was released on bond with citations charging him with reckless driving and reckless conduct.  He also was charged with causing bodily harm by following a cyclist too closely, a misdemeanor offense, according to reports. The bicyclist, Dean Davis of Bloomington, was riding with a group of cyclists along a rural McLean County road near Hudson when the accident occurred, according to reports. Davis was being treated for his injuries at Regional Medical Center in Normal.  The accident is still under investigation, according to the McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office.

 

Metamora Park Board looks to fill vacancy

Metamora Park District Board of Commissioners is looking to fill a vacancy on the board. Anyone interested can contact the Park District at  www.metamoraparks.org/webpages/contactus.php  or call  (309) 367-2932.

The Park District Administrative Office is located at 717 W. Mt. Vernon St. in Metamora. The district shares office space with IPMR.

Roanoke-Benson registration set for upcoming school year

School District 60 will hold registration for the 2015-16 school year from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6,  the high school commons, 208 W. High St.   Parents of new students who are in K-8 must register in person at that time, according to the School District.  New high school students (9-12) need to contact the high school office (309-923-8401) to set up a registration appointment   Parents of returning students and kindergarten students, may register online. (Online registration information is posted below.)

Eureka woman gives birth in car on bridge in Tazewell County

A Eureka couple welcomed their infant son into the world in the back of their car on the  bank of the McClugage Bridge on July 18.  Paxton Smith was born at 4 a.m. on July 18 weighing 6 pounds and 19 inches long. His mother, Elizabeth Riddle, was reportedly sent home after going to the hospital because contractions were not progressing, according to reports.  She went home, but then decided to go back to the hospital because the pain was too much, according to reports. She and the baby’s father, Brandon Smith, decided to pull the car off the road where Riddle went into full delivery, according to reports.  He was eventually born in the backseat of the couple’s  Chevy Tahoe.  They waited safely there until East Peoria emergency responders arrived. according to reports.

 

Woodford County Health Department provides update on West Nile Virus

The Woodford County Health Department reminds residents that the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus is likely to remain a threat to Illinois residents.  The Woodford County Health Department will be submitting up to 10 total birds to a laboratory for testing of the virus. Anyone who observes a sick/dying “eligible” birds now through Oct. 15 are encouraged to report  this to their local health department.  Birds submitted for testing must be “eligible” birds with no obvious cause of death, such as birds killed by a gunshot or birds found crushed on a roadway. Birds dying from the virus are usually found singly, scattered over a wide area.  In contrast, birds that die from other causes (storm mortality, food poisoning, toxicants) often die in groups or clusters, according to the Health Department. The virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.  For more information, visit www.woodfordhealth.org.

 

— Woodford County news briefs —