It's been a tough time at Kewanee Dunes. The course had been closed for the entire month of April due to the Stay at Home order. All weddings and gatherings that had been booked for the Dunes clubhouse remain cancelled with no indication when such gatherings will be able to take place again. All that said, at the very least, the course is now open again and tee times are available. There are a few rules to be aware of under the current stay at home order from Governor J.B Pritzker, but still, you can get on the course and play 18 holes again and that is great news for Colby and the staff at the Dunes.

Retiring Bureau Valley Athletic Director Vicki Litherland spoke with Wake Up Princeton host Paul Bomleny recently. She talked about her career in education, as a Physical Education and Health teacher, volleyball coach and athletic director. Vicki graduated Western Illinois University in Macomb. She began her education career by substituting at Wyanet high and grade schools before joining Manlius High School in 1988, teaching PE and health and coaching. She was brought into the new Bureau Valley School District and wanted to teach elementary age students. She was assigned high school instead and says she loved teaching the older kids immediately and never regretted it. She would later teach elementary PE in Wyanet and Buda along with coach junior high volleyball. Out of the blue she was asked to return to BV as athletic director and served in that role the past five years. She took part in the state volleyball tournaments at Redbird Arena at ISU, for three years as an IHSA official and then later as Bureau Valley coach. Her advice to someone just starting their career in education is to "find the old owl" in the building and listen to them and they will help you. As for retirement, Vicki says she plans to stay active, likely as a substitute teacher. Vicki says you may get some curve balls in life but as long as you do the best you can do, you won't have any regrets.

Elective Surgery is being allowed again in Illinois as of today (May 11). Colleen Ewing, Care Coordinator at Memorial Hospital in Carthage called WLMD's Mid-Morning in Macomb to discuss the resumption of that service at their Carthage medical center.

There are now 60 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Henry County. That was the number as of Friday morning. Stark County continues to have only 1 confirmed case. The hope is that soon the Health Department will be able to discuss recovery rates. Meanwhile, questions abound regarding enforcement of the Governor's orders regarding masks and local businesses deemed essential. The Health Department has limited enforcement related to the Governor's order, deferring mostly to local law enforcement. That said, the best approach is a personal one, if you see a local business not enforcing a mask requirement, consider not shopping there.

Dr Chris Sullens and Bell Elementary Principal Rebecca Baney joined WKEI on Friday to celebrate National Teacher's Week. Dr Sullens and Principal Baney had nothing but praise for the dedicated work of the Kewanee teachers who've taken to online learning with gusto. Dr Sullens also discussed the unique plans they have for a socially distanced graduation in the month of May and hope for a full scale graduation some time in late July or August.

Matt Clark, coach of the 8th Grade Boys basketball team at Wethersfield has been honored as the IBCA Coach of the Year. Matt's 8th grade team went 24-2 and two this season and while that season ended earlier than he'd hoped, it was a rewarding and memorable experience. We talked to Matt Clark about being recognized, about his basketball philosophy and what life looks like totday and going forward as a teacher and a basketball Coach.

Coach Jeff Parsons found himself with a little time on his hands after COVID-19 ended the Spring sports season prematurely. Not one to stay idle, Coach Parsons found an outlet in podcasting. Beyond the Baseline with Coach P was the result, a weekly podcast where Coach Parsons talks with Wethersfield sports legends, friends, former colleagues and anyone who strikes him as worth a chat in the world of sports. It's been a fun and successful journey thus far with the podcast now available on the most popular podcast outlets including ITunes, Spotify and Anchor.

Macomb High School Principal Scott Sullivan called WLMD's Mid Morning in Macomb show to talk about the upcoming "Drive-In Graduation" at the high school, set for May 16.

Sheriff John Booker Whiteside County by Regional Media

YWCA of The Sauk Valley by Regional Media