Sara Billiet from the Kewanee Public Library tells RegionalDailyNews.com that the library has added several new informational databases to their Kewanee Public Library website. Those with library cards can go to the Kewanee Public Library website, KewaneeLibrary.org and access new databases for food, maps, world culture and language. Sara also took time in our conversation to remind everyone about the online adult book club hosted by the Kewanee Public Library at Goodreads.com. This month's book is Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA by Amaryllis Fox, and you can get a copy by stopping by the library and then talk about the book on Goodreads by searching Kewanee Public Library at Goodreads.com.

The Henry and Stark County Health Department is reporting a number of new positive tests for COVID-19. According to the Health Department on Thursday, Henry County added 16 new confirmed positive or probable cases since Recovery Rate Data was released just yesterday. We spoke with RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department prior to the release of these new COVID-19 cases and she reminded everyone that COVID-19 is not gone, the pandemic isn't over, and the only way to protect yourself from the worst of the COVID-19 infection is to get vaccinated. Vaccination slows the spread of the virus and vaccinated people are less likely to hospitalized or die from COVID-19 if they do become infected.

CGH About Your Health on WSDR by Regional Media

Melissa Ryan-Rock River Hospice and Home by Regional Media

Sterling Mayor Lee, City Manager Schumard by Regional Media

In searching for a new topic for Kewanee Back When for the month of July, I asked my friend Dave Clark if Kewanee had any known connections to the Olympics. The Tokyo summer Olympics get underway this week and thus the question is timely, what, if any, connection does Kewanee have with the Olympics? The answer to that question is Rudolph Scholz. Rudolph Scholz was born in Kewanee in 1896 and while his family moved to Oregon when he was a teenager, he nevertheless holds Kewanee ties. Scholz goes on to play Rugby while living in and attending school in California. His love of the sport and Rugby's massive popularity in California in the early 1900's drives Rudolph Scholz to become a founding member of the United States Rugby team at the 1920 Antwerp Summer Olympics. And Dave Clark and I tell the story of Scholz, Rugby and the Olympics on this edition of Kewanee Back When.

Hancock County continues to trail most of the rest of the state of Illinois in terms of the number of residents vaccinated. Raigan Brown, Chief Nursing Officer at Memorial Hospital, tells MacombNewsNow.com that with rising COVID-19 infections despite the availability of vaccine, that Memorial Hospital has once again been forced to put visitor restrictions in place and mandate that masks be worn if you go to the hospital. We talked to Raigan Brown about the rising number of COVID-19 infections in the area and how anyone can get vaccinated at Memorial Hospital.

It's been a tough month or so for the Kewanee Friends of the Animals. Recently, the Friends of the Animals lost their bid to continue operating the Kewanee Animal Control Pound. That said, the Kewanee Friends of the Animals are still around and still moving forward. Kathy Werderman is one of the leaders of Friends of the Animals and she joined Wake Up Tri-Counties to remind people that if they are in need of financial help to get needed care for their pet, you can find applications for financial aid from the Kewanee Friends of the Animals at your local veterinarians in our area. Kathy also put out the word that the Friends of the Animals fundraisers will be resuming early next year.

At Monday night's Kewanee School Board Meeting the Kewanee School Board voted in favor of a Bond Issuance that will allow for further expansions of Kewanee High School and Belle Alexander Elementary. The bond issue will also aid in the completion putting air conditioning in at the High School and elementary school as well. Dr Chris Sullens detailed the projects that will come from the bond issuance on Wake Up Tri-Counties. The Kewanee School District Superintendent also announced that the issue of a mask mandate for Kewanee Schools will be discussed at a special School Board Meeting to be held on August 2nd.

Kris Noble-Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce by Regional Media