Todd Dedecker from the Bishop Hill Heritage Association joined WKEI on Tuned In on Wednesday. Todd talked about the challenges Bishop Hill has faced as a place that relies so heavily on visitors at a time when travel is limited due to fears of COVID-19. Todd says that despite the bad news out there, this weekend's Bishop Hill Chautauqua is completely full with a waiting list of people who wish they could attend. Bishop Hill and the Bishop Hill Heritage Association have some big decisions coming up for their next event, Jordbruksdargarna, the farm festival. Bishop Hill leaders are looking at what traditional parts of the farm festival can be done safely and effectively with key questions surrounding whether or not they can find enough volunteers.

When did Hog Days actually begin? Did Geneseo try to steal Hog Days? Who was the politician that managed to land Kewanee the title of "The Hog Capital of the World." Dave Clark has answers for all of these questions in our newest edition of Kewanee Back When. Dave looks back at memorable stories, the multiple origins of Hog Days and when the Labor Day tradition actually became a Labor Day tradition in Kewanee. Kewanee Back When airs on the third Wednesday of the month every month on WKEI.

Tuesday, August 18th marked the first day back at school since March of this year when COVID-19 sent kids home for the remainder of the school year. Not all kids were back inside the school today as Kewanee Schools are on a hybrid attendance plan which means group A attends school today and group B attends school on Wednesday. Group A returns on Thursday, Group B is back on Friday. Those days at home are not days off however, nor is Monday, the one day a week when no students attend in person. Instead, days at home during the week are E-Learning specific. We talked with Dr Chris Sullens, Kewanee Schools superintendent, about the new hybrid schedule and how the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Henry County may affect the future in-school learning in the near future. That plus news that Matt Clark, formerly 8th grade coach at Visitation School, is now the Head Coach of Boys Basketball at Kewanee.

The Henry and Stark County Health Department announced on Monday that Henry County had surpassed 300 individual confirmed cases of COVID-19, 304 to be exact. That means that there have been 111 cases in Henry County in the month of August alone. The rising numbers of COVID-19 coinciding as it does with kids going back to school has raised many concerns about Henry County remaining fully in Phase 4 of the Governor's re-opening plan. We talked to RaeAnn Tucker from the Henry and Stark County Health Department about what people need to know about the Governor's regional restrictions that could come into play if numbers continue to rise in Henry County.

Mayor Skip Lee by Regional Media

Sauk Valley Chamber Update by Regional Media

Dr Cliff Martin, Vice President Chief Medical Officer serving OSF Saint Luke Medical Center, OSF Holy Family Medical Center, and OSF St. Mary Medical Center, joined WKEI on Tuned In on Monday to talk about what we know and we don't know about COVID-19. One thing we know is how COVID-19 is spread, droplets from the mouth landing on other people or common touch surfaces. What we don't know yet is how an individual patient will react with COVID-19. Will the patient have respiratory issues with potential deadly consequence or will they be Asymptomatic and carry the virus with no outward symptoms. We also talked about immunity and how long immunity to COVID-19 lasts after someone has recovered.

The Greatest Comeback continues for area businesses and organizations including the Bureau County Senior Center in Princeton. The senior center is a resource center for seniors and disabled residents in Bureau County, offering them a variety of programs to assist them in their everyday life. Denise Ihrig, Director of the Bureau County Senior Citizens Association, reminds residents that the Bureau County Senior Center in Princeton is there for seniors during the coronavirus situation.

She says although the senior center is closed to the public, they are still doing business and helping seniors throughout the county via telephone. Their transportation is still running and they are doing home-delivered meals as well as food banks on Mondays and Wednesdays.

If you are in need or know of a senior who is in need of services, call the Bureau County Senior Center at (815) 879-3981 Monday through Friday between 8 am and 4 pm. You can also get more information on their Facebook page or by visiting their website at bcseniorcenter.com.

WIC at WCHD by Regional Media

YWCA of The Sauk Valley by Regional Media