This tree trunk shows damage by the Emerald Ash borer. An expert about the effect of the beetle that feeds on ash and fruit trees will answer questions at the next Woodford County Master Gardener information booth to be held from 4:30-6 p.m. July 2 at the Eureka Public Library 202 S. Main St., Eureka.

STATE

Department of Aging calling attention to elder abuse

June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month in Illinois, and the state’s Department on Aging (IDoA) is encouraging “Building Strong Support for Elders.” That’s the theme of this year’s recognition, which emphasizes the importance of strengthening communities and preventing elder abuse.

Jean Bohnhoff, director of IDoA, calls elder abuse “a silent epidemic,” and one that has to end.

In 2017, Adult Protective Services at IDoA responded to more than 16,000 reports of suspected abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of adults with disabilities and adults 60 years of age and older. Financial exploitation represents 54 percent of elder abuse cases, and victims generally experience more than one type of abuse, i.e., financial abuse is highly associated with emotional abuse at 43 percent.

To report suspected abuse, call the 24-hour elder abuse hotline at 866-800-1409.

Justin Blandford named Governor’s Mansion curator

The newly renovated Illinois Governor’s Mansion has a new curator. He is Justin A. Blandford, who will be responsible for creating and implementing the mansion’s new strategic vision, which includes a greater focus on history, education, creative arts and visitor experiences. As curator, he will be the Mansion’s liaison with the Springfield historical community and ensure the mansion’s place among the city’s historic sites. 

Blandford will lead the development of events and marketing programs to attract visitors to the mansion, which is the third oldest governor’s mansion in use today. In addition, he will manage day-to-day operations, oversee maintenance of the grounds and the facility, and manage the mansion’s workforce and volunteers. 

The mansion is now being promoted as The People’s House, encouraging the public to enjoy the building and learn state history from it.

Blandford has been a historic site superintendent in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR) since 2004. Most recently he directed operations at six nationally significant state-owned historic sites: Lincoln Tomb, Veterans Memorials, Old State Capitol, Lincoln Law Office, Vachel Lindsay Home and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana House. The sites attract 325,000 visitors each year.  

The new curator began his career in public service as a Dunn Fellow/Policy Assistant in 1999 following his graduation from Webster University in St. Louis. He worked at the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency before joining DNR. He obtained his master’s degree in history this year from the University of Illinois in Springfield.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Narcotics undercover group chooses new leadership

The Policy Board of the Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group (MEG) has new leadership. In elections held June 12, Washington Police Department Chief Michael McCoy is president, Woodford County Sheriff Matt Smith is vice president, and Board member Bob Baietto was re-elected to serve as secretary/treasurer. The terms are for two years. MEG serves a four-county area: Woodford, Tazewell, Peoria and Knox, and several municipalities. The unit focuses on undercover drug enforcement operations. The current director, Dave Briggs, had already been granted a one-year extension on his contract at an earlier meeting of the policy board.

EUREKA

Missionaries to talk about their work

Missionaries Jeff and Shauna Spence will speak about their work in Mongolia and Taiwan at 7 p.m. July 2 at Eureka United Methodist Church, 208 N. Callender St., Eureka. A reception will follow. 

The couple served for 10 years in Mongolia. Last year, they moved to Taiwan, where Jeff Spence is strategy coordinator for North Asia for World Partners. The organization is an international ministry of the Missionary Church, which has congregations in central Illinois, including Peoria, East Peoria, North Pekin and Groveland. The church’s mission is focused on making disciples around the world.

Spence moved to Eureka as a child in 1987 with his parents, Jeff and Melanie (Musick) Spence, when his father accepted the position of pastor at Eureka Bible Church. Spence graduated from Eureka High School in 1996. He and his wife have four children, Mikayla, 10; Ava, 7; Jeffrey III, 5; and Alyssa, 3.

For more information about the lecture, call Eureka United Methodist Church at 309-467-3026. 

Master Gardener to have information booth at library

An expert about the effect of the Emerald Ash borer on fruit trees will answer questions at the next Woodford County Master Gardener information booth to be held from 4:30-6 p.m. July 2 at the Eureka Public Library 202 S. Main St., Eureka.

Even though the Illinois Department of Agriculture detected Emerald Ash borer in Chenoa in 2008 and Woodford County was part of the state of Illinois’ Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine, residents are now starting to see damage from the insect infestation. Shirley Blackburn, as a Master Gardener for the University of Illinois Extension service, spends her time telling people how to put their trees on a pruning schedule to start next winter and talking about grafting new cultivars to the base of these old orchard trees. She will be the guest speaker at the information booth at the library.

For more information on this program or other Extension programming, contact Kelly Allsup at 309-663-8306 or kallsup@illinois.edu.

–Woodford County News Briefs–