August is tick season, and the Christian County Health Department urges community members to take steps to protect themselves.  Data from the Illinois Department of Public Health show tens of thousands of cases of tickborne diseases each year in the state.  Ryan Bowsher, lead and vector inspector at the Christian County Health Department, recommends spraying clothes with permethrin before going into wooded areas. 

The threat of West Nile Virus from mosquitoes persists, as well.  Bowsher says residents can request that the health department spray larvicide near standing water areas, where mosquitoes often breed. 

More information on the Christian County Health Department is available at www.cchdil.org.

Ryan Bowsher appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Emerald Gardens Stone Soup Festival is coming to Owaneco on Saturday, September 12th, with a full day of food, live music and family activities.

The festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1524 East 900 North Road in Owaneco.

Food and live music will begin at 2 p.m. Organizers say the event will feature music in the open air, with performances by Jason Milligan, Mark Milligan, John Johnny Johnson, known as “Pork Chop,” Joe Chek, Matt Kuhlig and Jancin Cronkhite.

The event will also feature Rick Kennedy’s famous pulled pork as a community fundraiser. Food tickets are eight dollars and will be available until the food is gone.

Families can also enjoy crafts and other activities, including arts and crafts, nature activities, food and games for kids and more. Garden tours will be offered throughout the day as well.

Organizers say the festival is designed to bring the community together while promoting sustainability, education and shared experiences.

For more information, call 217-825-0088 or visit www.emeraldgardensnonprofit.com.
.

Get all of your local news, sports, weather, and much more, at taylorvilledailynews.com.

The Christian County Historical Society is calling for volunteer persimmon pulpers ahead of the annual Persimmon Party on November 7.  The museum requires enough of the fruit to serve to attendees, and they are now without the leftover stock from last year.  Co-President Jodi Heberling says a problem with their freezer spoiled their extra persimmon, and they are now in desperate need of help to pulp more persimmon.

The persimmon bake-off is expected to return, along with more vendors. 

Find out more about the CCHS at www.christiancountyhistorical.com.  More information is also available at their Facebook page.

Jodi Heberling appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

The Christian County Historical Society is launching a wholehearted appeal for volunteers and members to join their efforts.  The museum hopes to expand its hours and overall availability to the community, and doing so requires more helping hands and funding.  Jodi Heberling, the Historical Society’s co-president, says leading school tours are among the many ways volunteers can help on the grounds. 

The Historical Society plans to begin a membership drive in the fall and fundraise through the Persimmon Party on Saturday, November 7.  Heberling says the lack of government funding contributes to the added necessity of these resources. 

Find out more about the CCHS at www.christiancountyhistorical.com.  More information is also available at their Facebook page.

Jodi Heberling appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show. 

Faculty, staff, and families in the Central A&M school district will soon see a refurbished website and new app.  Administrators expect it to be an improvement in aesthetics and functionality, with the latter point also encompassing communication between parents and teachers.  Superintendent Sacha Young says despite development delays, she hopes the website and app are launched in the early fall. 

Young says the school district has received feedback stating that the current website is not user-friendly, and the new release is expected to improve on that. 

Find out more about the Central A&M School District at www.camraiders.com.

Sacha Young appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a National Weather Service office? Central Illinois residents will soon have an opportunity to find out.

The National Weather Service Central Illinois Forecast Office in Lincoln is inviting the public to a free Community Open House on Saturday, August 29th, from 9 AM to 3 PM.

The family-friendly event will offer visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the facility responsible for providing daily weather forecasts and issuing watches, advisories, and potentially life-saving severe weather warnings for communities across central Illinois.

Those in attendance will have the opportunity to learn more about how meteorologists monitor changing weather conditions and how the National Weather Service works to keep the public informed, both before and during severe weather events.

The open house will be held rain or shine at the National Weather Service Central Illinois office, located at 1362 State Route 10 in Lincoln.

Admission is free and the event is open to all ages. However, advance registration was required for office tours, and organizers say all tour tickets are currently sold out. 

Those still interested in taking a tour are encouraged to continue checking the registration page, as cancellations could result in additional tickets becoming available.

The reservation page can be easily accessed by clicking here

Get all of your local news, sports, weather, and much more, at taylorvilledailynews.com.

The Taylorville High School announced that activity passes are now available for pickup, offering families, students, and adults access to sporting events throughout the school year.

According to the announcement, anyone who has ordered a family, student, or adult activity pass can now stop by the main office to pick it up. The passes are intended to provide admission to eligible sporting events, making it easier for community members and families to support local student-athletes and school activities throughout the upcoming school year.

Pickup hours are scheduled for Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Those who ordered a pass are encouraged to stop by during those hours to make sure they have their pass before attending upcoming events.

Anyone who has not yet purchased an activity pass still has time to do so. Passes can be picked up at a later date, and additional information is available through the main office.

For questions about activity passes, pickup information, or purchasing a pass, contact Stephanie in the main office at 217-824-2268.

Get all of your local news, sports, weather, and much more, at taylorvilledailynews.com.