For several months now, the City of Clinton has been without a functional elevator.

Tuesday night at the Clinton City Council meeting, Mayor Tom Edmunds requested an update on the repair of the elevator in City Hall. City Administrator Taylor Baxter says the City is looking for a new maintenance provider for the situation.

In the meantime, if you are a person with limited mobility and have business at City Hall, officials are requesting you call City Hall either ahead of your planned visit or when you arrive and someone will have to come downstairs to meet you. 

Information on available resources for individuals struggling with addiction will be available at next weekend's Clinton May Days.

DeWitt County Recovery Oriented System of Care - or ROSC - will host a site at the event on May 17, 18 and 19 in downtown Clinton. Free materials include NARCAN and information on local recovery resources. 

DeWitt County ROSC is part of a statewide network of organizations funded in whole or in part by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery.

ROCS sponsors events for people in recovery and their families, hosts NARCAN training, and works to educate the public on addiction and recovery assistance that is available in the community.

For more information on ROSC services, contact Maggie Memmott at 217 935 3427, or mmemmott@piattmhc.org.

The DeWitt County Genealogical Society will meet this Tuesday at 4 pm in the genealogy room of the Vespasian Warner Public Library.  

Two videos will be shown: "Abraham Lincoln's Family Tree" and "Lincoln's Parents - Their Story."  

The presentation is free and open to the public with a business meeting to follow for members.

If you are an individual who needs help with your energy bill, a central Illinois non-profit says annual funds made available through a popular program are dwindling.

On the WHOW Morning Show Friday, Breann Titus, Chief Visionary Officer for Community Action, told Regional Radio funds from the annual program LIHEAP are dwindling fast despite an extension of the availability of those dollars by the federal government.

Titus estimates there is enough LIHEAP funding available to get to the end of May or early June, so again she encourages a call to Community Action at 217-732-2159 or visit capcil.info to schedule your appointment online. 

The Warner Library in Clinton is gearing up for its annual summer reading club.

It should be a fun summer says Emily Dunham with the Warner Library. June 1 is when registration for summer reading begins and this year the Library is ushering in the program with a big kickoff event.

According to Dunham, when readers come into the library to get registered, they'll receive a tracker that will show their progress throughout the summer. Each age group will have its own milestones to make throughout the summer. 

The theme this year is 'Read. Renew. Repeat.' with a theme of conservation. According to Dunham, they are focused on conservation and being thrifty with some of the things they're doing this year.

There is so much happening at the library this summer with several programs each week of the summer. Dunham adds there will be ongoing activities that will be available. Some programs will center around the theme of 'Read. Renew. Repeat.'

Executive Director of the Library, Bobbi Perryman, indicates the summer reading club, while providing a fun outlet for kids to continue reading, is also a great program to help prevent the summer slide - where kids fall back in their progress made during the school year.

The Summer Reading Club again kicks off on June 1. You can register at the Warner Library any time throughout the summer. It is a free program and you do not have to have a library card to participate - although library staff hopes you'll get signed up for one if you do not have one already. 

The remainder of April is shaping up to be cooler and wet.

Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in April says a brief cool down to end the week will be followed by more cooler temperatures as the outdoor spring sports season heads to the postseason.

To finish out the month, it is looking cooler and wet. Shimon notes May historically is when we start to warm up so cooler is certainly relative given the time of the year.

The three-month outlooks into the summer continue to suggest a warm summer is ahead but Shimon isn't predicting an unbearably hot summer. We'll have more with him next week on Regional Radio with that summer outlook. 

An Illinois lawmaker wants to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program after its expiration earlier this spring.

The A-C-P program ensures that households receive broadband internet at a discount and a one-time hundred-dollar discount to purchase a laptop. However, the program expired at the end of April, and Congressman Eric Sorensen wants his counterparts to renew the program.

The A-C-P is limited to one monthly service discount and only provides help to eligible households. The program expired at the end of April.

Stormy weather has been a feature of the Illinois spring and that puts utilities on high alert says Brian Bretch with Ameren Illinois.

Bretch says when you experience a power outage, contact Ameren Illinois at 800-755-5000 or visit amerenillinois.com. He adds, never approach downed power lines.

Members of the General Assembly headed home for the weekend. Both houses have been sending bills to the Governor’s desk. But they haven’t done the biggest task yet. Speaker of the House Chris Welch recently said that’s the budget and he and house democrats are ready to balance it.

The House passed a bill creating the Department of Early Childhood, that’s off to the Governor’s desk for a signature.

Committee hearings at the statehouse can be tedious.

Many are filled with quiet but critical conversations about the impact of a new bill or the reasons it should or shouldn’t be approved. So “testimony” during the House revenue committee stood out.

The witnesses sang a tune to support extending a tax credit for live broadways style performances.

A few weeks ago, longtime Clinton Police Chief Mike Reidy passed away and his successor is remembering the man he describes as a mentor and father figure.

On the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday, Clinton Police Chief Ben Lowers called Chief Reidy the epitome of professionalism and class.

Chief Lowers learned how to be a fair leader and felt Chief Reidy was patient and calm even in the face of adversity.

Chief Lowers recalls the time as a young officer, Chief Reidy got him hyped up for a stakeout but what he walked into he could never have expected.

Chief Reidy had been retired for ten years before his passing and Chief Lowers remembers Chief Reidy as a family man who was very active in the community. 

Reidy was the Chief of Police in Chenoa, Wiscasset, Maine, and retired from the Clinton Police Department.  

He went to Bloomington Central Catholic High School and Western Illinois University.  He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bloomington and Catholic Church of the Little Flower in Springfield. 

Chief Reidy was 69 years old. 

Put June 1 on your calendars for the return of a long-running event in rural DeWitt County.

Dr. Mark Hobbie had participated in the Tour DeWitt bike ride since he came to Clinton in 2016 and on the WHOW Morning Show Wednesday told Regional Radio when the event got called off at the last minute last year, reached out to find out if there was anything he could do to help make it happen again in 2024. It wasn't until earlier this year he finally heard back on that inquiry.

Hobbie says it took a little bit but he's got momentum on his side now. They have settled on a date of June 1 and the ride will originate from Weldon Springs State Park with four different rides for participants.

As the event gets closer, Hobbie needs volunteers. He says to make an event like this happen, volunteers are essential because of what goes into having an enjoyable ride for its participants.

The 'Tour DeWitt' evolved into a fundraiser for local charities. Hobbie has not decided on where the proceeds for this event will go but he hopes to tie it to getting volunteers for the event.

If you are an individual or group interested in volunteering for this year's 'Tour DeWitt' bike ride, contact Hobbie by call or text at 217-313-6718, you can also email him at mahobbie89@gmail.com. 

Registration for this year's bike ride is underway. Visit tourdewitt.weebly.com. Registration by June 17 gets you a t-shirt for the event. 

An ongoing back and forth between a Clinton resident and a Clinton City Commissioner continued Tuesday night at the Clinton City Council meeting.

Seth Reddington has been addressing the Clinton City Council for a few years now regarding questionable payments and reimbursements to Clinton Commissioner of Safety Dan Ballenger. Reddington is calling for an audit on payments to Ballenger over his reimbursements for responding to fire calls even though he is a City Council commissioner.

Reddington contends Council members, referencing Ballenger, should not be able to benefit from policy changes. 

Firefighter Adam Lagaman called on the drama between Reddington and Ballenger to end saying it impacted the rest of the department.

Ballenger Tuesday night introduced new policies regarding reimbursement for response for fire personnel. Among those changes is Ballenger choosing to surrender his pay for volunteer services, however, he points out by state law, he is within his rights to take pay for those hours. The changes were effective May 1. 

It was re-appointment night at the City Council meeting. Stephen Paige was re-appointed as the Fire Chief. Danny Ballenger, Jr. could not be re-appointed as the assistant fire chief because with Ballenger, Sr. abstaining from the vote, there was not a quorum at the meeting with John Wise absent Tuesday.

Additionally, Taylor Baxter was approved as the Public Health officer and Kamren Wilford as the City Sexton. 

Also at the Tuesday night meeting:

>>The Council approved downtown sidewalk work at a cost of just over $270,000. 

>>The Council approved the purchase of 23 building lots at a cost of $612,500

>>The Council approved the contract of City Administrator Taylor Baxter

After a day of volatile, stormy weather, a cool down should be arriving for the conclusion of this week.

On the WHOW Morning Show Tuesday, Ed Shimon at the National Weather Service in Lincoln told Regional Radio a low-pressure system out west was pushing through that was causing severe weather.

It's been a wet start to May so far and Shimon indicates we'll finally get a break from the rain starting later this week. The humidity will move out and while there is minimal chance of rain on Saturday, its forecast is looking pleasant. 

The early part of next week when we begin the outdoor high school sports postseason starts cool and should warm up as the week moves along. 

A NASCAR racing legend made a pit stop in McLean County Tuesday morning as part of the 28th annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America.

The cross-country motorcycle ride, led by Kyle Petty and his dad, Richard Petty, stopped at the Love's Travel Stop in LeRoy on their way to Indianapolis, Indiana. Kyle Petty, who lost his son to a tragic accident in 2000, explains why he hosts the ride.

The annual ride travels to raise awareness and funds for Victory Junction, a camp created to enrich the lives of children with chronic or life-threatening medical illnesses.

Kyle and his dad, Richard, signed autographs and took photos with fans at the stop.

They say they mean it this time.

16 years after the first deadline to get a REAL ID passed, Homeland Security says next year it will be the law. A REAL ID is a driver’s license that will allow you to board a plane in the United States. That means more people will need to go to the Secretary of State and get a REAL ID drivers license. Alexi Giannoulias says his office is kicking off a campaign to get people signed up who need one.

May 7th – 2025 is the deadline but travelers who have a passport, passport card or global entry card can board a plane with any of those documents.

US Senator Dick Durbin says a recent vote to pass a war aid bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan wasn’t perfect, but it was the bill that needed to be passed at the time.

$61 billion is going to bolster Ukraine’s fight against Russia, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid to Gaza and $8 billion to back Taiwan as they stand against China in the Pacific.

Teens in DeWitt County will have more opportunities for unique hands-on experiences this summer discovering various career opportunities.

The Vault in Clinton has annually hosted special one-week camps called 'Summer Career Camps' and youth activities director Jason Kitson says registration for the camps is underway now.

According to Kitson, the summer career camps are a huge hit with the kids and one of the reasons for that is because sign-ups are limited so there is a lot more time for kids with each activity.

For Kitson, he doesn't just want kids to have the short experience of whatever the field is they are exploring but he wants them to meet local leaders in that field and have those connections.

Sign-ups for camp this year are underway. Kitson says some camps are full but others still have a few spots. If you are a teen interested in this opportunity, inquire while you're at The Vault. If you're a parent interested in learning more, visit thevaultclinton.org. 

The prospect of a grocery coop in Farmer City continues to make progress.

On the WHOW Morning Show Monday, DeWitt County Development Council Director Curt Homann told Regional Radio the coop is currently pursuing a nearly $500,000 grant.

Homann says there has been good progress made toward an opening. An opening date is not imminent as the group has a lot more work to do over the next several months.

Because there is still so much to do before opening, Homann can only estimate the store could open by the end of the year. 

Celebrating IAA Foundation Scholarship recipients. David Mock of Galva is receiving the $7,500 Illinois Farm Bureau Legacy of Leadership Scholarship. He is a student at the University of Illinois. Mock spoke with RFD Radio about the award and his line of study.

The charitable arm of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation, is awarding $151,501 to 89 students pursuing degrees in agriculture-related fields.

Visitors to Chicago’s Field Museum are familiar with “Sue” the famous Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton that is on display.

Now visitors will see a much smaller and rarer set of dinosaur bones. Archaeopteryx (ar-key-aap-tricks) is a bird that lived 150 million years ago and is a link between dinosaurs and birds. Jingmai (Jing-May) O’Conner, the Fields’ Dino Curator says the fossil is one of the best species of what she calls a ‘holy grail’ find.

The fossil is just one of 13, it’s regarded as perhaps the best one ever found and the only one on display in a North American museum.

Monticello Police Chief Rob Bross and his wife, Piatt County Sheriff's Department School Resource Officer Lindsey Bross share a unique work-life balance as spouses in law enforcement in the same community.

Chief Bross has been in law enforcement for over 20 years however, Deputy Bross has only been in the field for just over a decade. Before that, she actually worked in education and now gets the best of both worlds.

Chief Bross tells the story of how the two went to school together but in 2000 they started their courtship.

When the two come home from a long day's work, they understand each other's problems unlike a lot of spouses can. But one says the other seems to attract a little more of the drama.

The two are parents and Chief Bross says it is nice to have someone that works closely with the youth and can see the things they are challenged with in a 21st-century world that may not have been issues when they were younger.

The two say the key to sharing the same line of work and being spouses is having open lines of communication, particularly as their children get older and are starting to get more involved.

Before having kids the Bross' enjoyed traveling and sharing experiences.

Quick Response codes - or QR codes - are a popular way to get information.

These are scannable bar codes - often in the shape of a square - and direct you to a website, which most new phones will scan with the camera app. Jack Myers with Social Security indicates they are helpful and convenient, but like most other things, require a little caution as scammers are creating QR codes to trick people into visiting a fraudulent website or downloading malware that compromises their personal info.

There are a variety of ways scammers could get you with this. For example, they could cover official QR codes with fake ones on parking meters, menus, or magazines, and send QR codes via e-mail or text message pretending to be from delivery companies. 

According to Myers, scammers can request that you confirm your information due to suspicious activity on your account using imposter QR codes or by placing harmful QR codes on social media advertisements.

While those are some of the things that can be done through QR codes, there are ways to protect yourself from a fraudulent QR code. We'll have more on that next week with Myers on Regional Radio. 

In the meantime, Myers encourages you to learn more about fraud and scams at www.ssa.gov/scam.  If you’ve come across a scam including a fraudulent QR code related to Social Security, there is a link to report it to Social Security on that website. 

The Land of Lincoln Honor Flight is kicking off the 2024 flying season on May 14 with Mission #70.

The first flight of the season will serve 94 Veterans including 15 Korean Era veterans, 79 Vietnam era veterans from Bloomington, Champaign, Chestnut, Clinton, Decatur, Farmer City, Lincoln, Mahomet, Mason City, Mt Zion, and Normal.

Veterans will represent all branches of the military as well as the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard.

These 94 veterans and their Guardians will report May 14th at the Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport at 4 AM to travel to Washington DC on a chartered Sun Country 737 aircraft to visit the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials, as well as Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknowns, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Air & Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, the US Marine Corps Memorial and the US Air Force Memorial.  

This day of honor is provided at absolutely no cost to our veterans and is completely funded by donations from the general public.

A central Illinois outdoors official says they are noticing an increase in fishing and hunting thanks to easier access to licensing.

Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police Capt. John Williamson indicates they have seen an increase in activity thanks to outdoorsmen or aspiring outdoorsmen being able to get licenses through the DNR website and app.

The spring trout fishing season recently opened and those fishing license renewals came up on April 1.

dnr.illinois.gov has all the licensing information and regulations. You can also apply for those licenses online or through the Illinois Outdoors app.