Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Illinois State Police, Tazewell County Probation Office, Tremont Police Department and members of the Tremont Junior High Cross Country Team to carry the Illinois Special Olympic Torch across Tazewell County on June 7. The team crossed the county to deliver the torch to Mclean County officers. (Photo courtesy of Tazewell County)

EAST PEORIA

Program helps budding entrepreneurs get started

This free workshop, to be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, is for individuals who are interested in starting their own business.

Participants will learn about: getting your business name registered, where to obtain a tax ID number, which legal form to choose, business plans, taxes, financing options and much more.

The workshop will be held at the Fondulac Bank, 2nd FL 201 Clock Tower Drive, East Peoria.

Online registration available at www.bradley.edu/turner/sabil/

or call the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University 309-677-2992.

The program is sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University and Co-Sponsored by Morton Community Bank.

Chamber golf outing supports local scholarships

The annual East Peoria Chamber of Commerce will hold its golf outing on Thursday, June 20 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Quail Meadows Golf Course, 2215 Centennial Drive, in Washington.

The event annually attracts more than 100 golfers, and includes food and prizes, and offers an active day with fellow Chamber members and their guests.

Check in is at 11:30 a.m. with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m.
Proceeds from the outing support the Terry Brewer Memorial Scholarship and the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce Business Scholarship, awarded annually to two East Peoria Community High School students.

To register, go to https://bit.ly/2J6DhAs. To donate, go to https://bit.ly/2GU3qkr.

For more information, call 309-699-6212

REGIONAL

Poetry art exhibit extended, expanded at Heartland

The Joe McCauley Art Gallery at Heartland Community College presents “Summer Typo(etry)”, an interactive exhibit of art, graphic design, poetry, and typewriters, through Thursday, July 25.

The gallery is located on the second floor of the Instructional Commons Building (ICB) in room 2507 on Heartland’s Normal campus, 1500 W. Raab Road

“Summer Typo(etry)” is an expansion of the gallery’s spring exhibit, redesigned with additional graphics, poetry, manual typewriters, vintage ads and ephemera, and an expanded typewriter station. Visitors are invited to type on manual typewriters, and post their poems, drawings, designs and thoughts on the community response wall.

The exhibit includes:

• Artworks by Matt Erickson and Lisa Lofgren
• Blackout poetry by students
• Community wall responses by spring contributors
• Ekphrastic poems by Cathy Gilbert paired with source photographs
• Graphics by marketing and design interns Quinnie Calvert and Bree Evans
• Typewriters, ephemera, and reproductions of vintage typewriter ads and manuals
• Typewritten poems by faculty, staff, and students, selected by Cathy Gilbert and Jennifer Pauken

Participating Poets:

Wayne Bass, Quinnie Calvert, Cathy Gilbert, Stephanie Kratz, Jennifer Pauken, Cherie Rankin, Jeremy Scott, Richard Seehuus, Rachael Stanford, Ardis L. Stewart, Libby Torbeck, Amanda L. Webster, Alaina Winters, Donelle York, Kathi Zurkowski.

The Joe McCauley Gallery’s summer hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on days the college is open. Exhibits, events, and parking are free.

For more information about this exhibit, contact Danell Dvorak, gallery coordinator, at danell.dvorak@heartland.edu, or call Heartland’s Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Department at 309-268-8620.

ICC has openings in select apprenticeships

Illinois Central College is seeking interested individuals to fill select career and technical programs with openings for summer and fall enrollment.

Programs with openings for additional students include the Industrial Maintenance and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining apprenticeship programs, as well as a Pre-Apprenticeship/Workforce Ready Program.

Potential students who are currently unemployed or under-employed are encouraged to apply.

ICC’s apprenticeship programs provide a mix of 300 to 450 hours of coursework per year, in addition to on-the-job training with local companies, to train for a specific career.

The partnering companies hire the apprentices and pay their tuition/fees and books plus a salary while they learn.

Successful students can complete the apprenticeship program with an associate degree debt-free and commit to work an additional two years for the sponsoring company.  Candidates first apply to ICC and then are screened and pre-qualified prior to company interviews.

Openings also are available for the Pre-Apprenticeship/Workforce Ready Program, which helps prepare students with the Math, English and other essential skills to become college-ready apprentices.

All participants are paid while attending training. This eight-week program has immediate openings for June/July and August/September.

ICC is aligning its programs and partnering with businesses to fill regional skills gaps reported in the areas of manufacturing, information technology and health care, while providing individuals a credential leading to jobs with a living wage.

To apply or for more information, contact the ICC Workforce Development Division at 309-690-6863 or visit icc.edu/earnandlearn.

STATE

 Officials caution of blue-green algae on waterways

As temperatures begin to rise, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Public Health are reminding residents to be cautious if they are planning activities on Illinois lakes and rivers, now and throughout the summer.

Water conditions are ideal for blue-green algae growth. Blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria) are microscopic organisms that naturally occur in lakes and streams. Rapid growth of algae is referred to as a “bloom.”

While most blue-green algae are harmless, some can produce toxic chemicals that cause sickness or other health effects in people and pets, depending on the amount and type of exposure.

Sensitive individuals, including young children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems are most at risk to adverse health effects attributable to algal toxins. Individuals are most often exposed to algal toxins while swimming or participating in other recreational activities in and on the water.

The most common routes of exposure are direct skin contact, accidental ingestion of contaminated water, or accidental inhalation of water droplets in the air.

Symptoms of exposure to algal toxins include rashes, hives, diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, or wheezing. More severe symptoms may result from longer or greater amounts of exposure.

People who plan to recreate in or on Illinois lakes or rivers this summer are advised to avoid contact with water that:

• looks like spilled, green or blue-green paint;
• has surface scums, mats, or films;
• is discolored or has green-colored streaks; or
• has greenish globs suspended in the water below the surface.

People are also advised to keep children and pets out of the water. Do not allow pets to drink from the water and do not allow them to lick their fur after swimming in water containing a blue-green algae bloom. If you or your pet has contact with water you suspect may have a blue-green algae bloom, rinse off with clean, fresh water as soon as possible.

Activities near, but not in or on a lake or river, such as camping, picnicking, biking, and hiking are not affected. With all activities, wash your hands before eating if you have had contact with lake water or shore debris.

If you are concerned you have symptoms that are a result of exposure to algal toxins, contact your health care provider or call the Illinois Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. If your pet experiences symptoms that may be a result of exposure, contact your veterinarian.