This photo taken in 1909 in Peoria shows a streetcar and its crew similar to the streetcars that transported Pekin residents around town. The Pekin Public Library will show, “Pekin Street Cars,”a film that is part of the library’s 2018 movie series celebrating the Illinois Bicentennial with local Pekin and Tazewell County history. The movie will be shown free at 11 a.m. Oct. 5 in the library’s Community Room.

STATE

Federal funds to help Illinois fight opioid abuse

Illinois’ fight against opioid abuse has received a $43.5 million boost in federal money.

That is the state’s portion of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services $1 billion distribution to all states as part of the department’s five-point opioid strategy.

Illinois will get about $29 million from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. It will increase availability of addiction treatment using medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration and to reduce overdose-related deaths through prevention, treatment and recovery activities.

A $14.5 million Health Resources and Services Administration grant will help 50 federally funded community health centers, academic institutions and rural organizations in Illinois expand substance-abuse and mental health treatment services.

Applications to be accepted for heating bill aid

The state’s winter heating assistance program for seniors and people with disabilities will begin scheduling appointments and accepting applications for aid Oct. 1. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Office of Community Assistance.

Customers must bring all required documentation when applying for assistance including:

• Proof of gross income from all household members for the 30-day income period beginning with the date of the application.
• A copy of current heat and electric bills issued within the last 30 days (if they pay for their energy directly).
• A copy of the rental agreement (if they are renting) showing that utilities are included, the monthly rental amount and landlord contact information.
• Proof of Social Security numbers for all household members.
• Proof that the household received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (AABD); or other benefits, such as Medical Eligibility or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), if receiving assistance from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Disconnected households and families with children ages 5 or under can begin applying for LIHEAP assistance Nov. 1. Individuals not eligible for priority enrollment can start applying Dec. 1. LIHEAP applicants will be served on a first-come, first-served basis until May 31, 2019 or until funding is exhausted.

For additional information about the program, go to liheapIllinois.com or call 877-411-9276.

COUNTY

Roadside sobriety checkpoints being conducted for rest of month

The Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office is conducting roadside sobriety checkpoints through the end of the month. Deputies are looking for drivers who are breaking seatbelt laws, operating unsafe vehicles, driving with suspended or revoked driver’s license or driving under the influence.

“Tazewell County is using roadside sobriety checkpoints to increase the awareness of law enforcement and safe roads,” says Tazewell County Sheriff’s Captain Kyle Klein. “The strategy is to increase visibility of law enforcement to reduce the number of drivers under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.”

PEKIN

UnityPoint Health opens urgent care clinic  

UnityPoint Health has announced a new urgent care clinic is now open at UnityPoint Health – Pekin East. Pekin First Care is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday at 3591 Griffin Avenue, Suite A.

Seth Van Heukelom, DO, is the lead physician for Pekin First Care. He will be accepting walk-in and primary care patients due to First Care’s open access model. UnityPoint Health’s First Care clinics can see patients for both walk-in urgent needs and serve patients as their primary care provider.

A graduate from A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Van Heukelom completed his residency with UnityPoint Health – Methodist’s Family Medicine Residency Program of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria as a Clinical Associate. Dr. Van Heukelom is specialized in a wide variety of cardiac life support certifications such as Neonatal Resuscitation and Pediatric Advance Life Support.

Pekin First Care, now located in the medical office building UnityPoint Health – Pekin East, shares the same facilities as primary care, pediatrics, radiology, podiatry, and lab services for convenience and coordination of patient care.

Illnesses and injuries treated by UnityPoint Health urgent care clinics include fever, cold, flu, infections, sprains, strains, small bone fractures, skin rashes and more. To schedule an appointment, call 309-353-6301.

Library to show local history film

The Pekin Public Library will show, “Pekin Street Cars,” a look at home Pekinites got from place to place. This film is part of the library’s 2018 movie series celebrating the Illinois Bicentennial with local Pekin and Tazewell County history; movies are shown at 11 a.m. on the first Friday of every month on the large movie screen in the library’s Community Room. All movies are free and open to the public. For more information, call the Pekin Public Library at 347-7111, ext. 0, or go to pekinpubliclibrary.org.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–