Regional Media Podcast Network

Kara Sahagian returns to the studio to chat with Sparks about upcoming Macomb Park District events, including the Touch A Truck event on Saturday, October 7th in Macomb's Veterans Park. 

From at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a wide array of different vehicles from all across the community will all be at Veterans Park for kids and community members to view up close, climb on, and explore as well as inflatables and food trucks on site. There will be a sensory hour being observed from 1 to 2 p.m. where people and children with sensory sensitivities can enjoy a quieter time to take part in the event. 

On October 28th from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., Macomb Park District will be holding their Macomb School of Magic event at the Glenwood Stone Shelter. It's a free event where everyone can take part in activities including Wand Building, Potions Class, and get sorted into their Macomb School of Magic House. 

On November 4th, residents are invited to take part in the Pumpkin Smash at Veterans Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where they can dispose of their Halloween pumpkins in a smashing good time. Pumpkin carcasses and entrails will be then taken and used as compost and fertilizer for local farms. 

For more information or to see upcoming events, visit the Macomb Park District Facebook page or visit them at macombparkdistrict.com.

The Kewanee City Council met on Monday night in Council Chambers at Kewanee City Hall. Mayor Gary Moore joined Wake Up Tri-Counties on Tuesday to wrap up what occurred on Monday's agenda. Among the items discussed, there was an appropriations meeting prior to the regular City Council Meeting. Standard practice for a post-budget meeting, funds that were assigned to departments become officially assigned as appropriations. In the regular meeting, the City Council welcomed Dierdre Scott and Dianne Packee who announced the winners of a Gas Card auction that benefited Councilman Steve Faber who is still recovering from a double lung transplant. On the regular agenda for the meeting there were three rulings of of the Kewanee Zoning Board to look at and the Council approved two of the three based on the recommendations of the Zoning Board. And finally, the City of Kewanee has reached an agreement with State Senator Neil Anderson and State Representative Travis Weaver to share rented office space at the Kewanee Railroad Station.

Social Determinants and your health. What is a Social Determinant? It can be anything outside of you that can have an effect on your health. For some people, not having a vehicle to travel to needed medical visits can be a 'Social Determinant,' it can affect your health if you are not getting to your regularly scheduled check ups. Other social determinants can be money related or food insecurity. Not being able to afford healthy food is a major social determinant for your health. That's why OSF Saint Luke Medical Center and OSF Healthcare across Illinois are taking time to talk about Social Determinants and create ways to help patients relieve the stress such Social Determinants can place on your healthcare and wellbeing. Resources such as the OSF Transportation hub or connecting patients with local food pantries, are ways OSF can help with Social Determinants. Samantha Rux discussed this topic on Monday's Wake Up Tri-Counties.

Good Fellows Tag Days is set for this weekend, September 29th and 30th. Tag Days is a the fundraiser that supports the Good Fellows Baskets that are delivered to families in need in time for Christmas. It guarantees that families in need have food for the holiday. If you buy a tag this weekend during Tag Days, you will be helping volunteers obtain needed food items that will assure that a family in need will have food for the Christmas holiday. Tag Days will run from 3 PM to 7 PM on Friday, September 29th at Wal Mart, Sullivans and Save A Lot. And Tag Days continues on Saturday, September 30th at the same locations from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Actor Larry Wilcox, beloved from his work on the 70s and 80s TV series, CHIPS, is coming to Henry County. WIlcox joined Wake Up TriCounties to deliver the Cambridge News broadcast last week and announce that he will be in Cambridge for the Henry Co Fall Artisan & Mercantile Market on September 30th and Sunday October 1st, from 9am-4pm on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-2:30pm. Wilcox was set to be joined by his original CHIPS co-star Erik Estrada but sadly, Estrada has been forced to drop out due to health issues. Thankfully, it's been announced that Estrada will make it up to fans in Henry County by coming to Geneseo next April for an event. For now, Larry Wilcox has recruited another of his pals from CHIPS, co-star Robert Pine will join Wilcox for the autograph sessions as well as a bowling fundraiser in Geneseo on Saturday evening at the Arcadia Family Fun Center in Geneseo, IL at 6pm. Tickets for this event can still be purchased on Eventbrite.com, or in person at Arcadia Family Fun Center. This Cambridge News brief from Larry Wilcox was recorded before Erik Estrada was forced to drop out but all of the dates of the events are still in tact.

September is a very busy month for the Health Department. It is national sexual health awareness month, national preparedness month, and national suicide prevention month, all of which fall under the purview of the Health Department which has programs to serve each of these needs. But that's not the only reason the Health Department is busy this month, they are also preparing for a series of drive-through Flu Shot Clinics. October is generally the time to get your flu shot ahead of the start of the flu season. There are currently plans for four separate Drive Thru Flu Shot Clinics courtesy of the Henry and Stark County Health Department. RaeAnn Tucker with the Health Department was our guest on Wake Up Tri-Counties on Thursday.