With Monday’s heat index’s reaching near 110 degrees, the American Red Cross of Illinois is reminding residents to take precautions as dangerously high temperatures move into the region this week. Health advocates say extreme heat can be dangerous for anyone, and they’re encouraging everyone to remember three important steps: stay hydrated, stay cool, and stay connected.

The Red Cross recommends drinking water regularly and is urging residents to drink about a cup every 20 minutes, even if you don’t feel thirsty. People should avoid sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages, and parents should make sure babies are being fed often. Signs of dehydration can include fewer wet diapers or darker urine.

Residents are also encouraged to stay cool by spending time in air-conditioned locations. If your home is too warm, consider visiting places like a mall, library, or cooling center. Outdoor workers and athletes should take frequent breaks in the shade and drink water or a sports drink every 20 minutes as well.

Kellie O’Connell, CEO of Red Cross Illinois, says knowing how to protect yourself and loved ones during extreme heat can save lives. O'Connell is also asking people to check on friends, neighbors, older adults, those with chronic conditions, outdoor workers, and athletes during the heat. It is also crucial to never leave a child or pet unattended inside a parked vehicle, and to make sure pets have access to fresh water and shade. 

The Red Cross says heat-related illnesses can become serious quickly. Heat cramps may include heavy sweating and muscle pain. Heat exhaustion symptoms can include weakness, dizziness, fainting, nausea, vomiting, and cool, clammy skin. Anyone experiencing those symptoms should move to a cooler place, drink fluids, and seek medical help if symptoms continue.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs include a high body temperature, confusion, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, nausea, or vomiting. Officials say to call 911 immediately, move the person to a cooler location, and help lower their body temperature.

The Red Cross also warns that extreme heat combined with a power outage can be especially dangerous. Residents should stay in air conditioning when possible and keep coolers stocked with food, water, and medicine.

For additional heat safety information, the Red Cross recommends downloading the free First Aid and Emergency apps, available by searching for the American Red Cross in your smartphone's app store or by visiting redcross.org/apps.

Additional information on the American Red Cross can be found at www.redcross.org.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of central and southeast Illinois. This advisory went into effect at 1:45 PM Monday and is currently set to remain in effect until midnight Friday.

Residents of the affected areas will see heat index values of 105 to 110 degrees. The collective effect of this prolonged heat will pose a serious risk to the health of the public. Prolonged exposure to this level of heat can cause serious illness such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Signs of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, and a fast heartbeat. If untreated, heat exhaustion can progress into heat stroke, which is a medical emergency marked by confusion, loss of consciousness, seizures, or a dangerously high body temperature.

To help prevent heat-related illness, stay hydrated, take frequent breaks in cool or shaded areas, avoid strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, wear lightweight clothing, and never leave children or pets in a hot vehicle. If someone shows signs of heat stroke, call for emergency help immediately and move them to a cooler area while providing any emergency assistance.

Health officials urge residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, refrain from direct sunlight exposure, and be sure to check in on your friends, family, and neighbors. Individuals who are outdoors or stuck in a non-air-conditioned space should seek shade or, if possible, move to a place where air conditioning is provided.

If your home does not have air conditioning, many communities have local facilities you can visit to get some time out of the heat. Contact your local non-emergency phone number or follow local media for specific locations.

Stay up to date with the heat, other weather breaks, local news, and more at taylorvilledailynews.com.

Shelby County-based 4-H participants are preparing for the county’s annual 4-H fair.  This year’s fair runs from Saturday, July 18 to Wednesday, July 22.  The livestock judging competitions will be a prime part of the festival, but there will be plenty else happening for participants and other attendees alike.

Yolanda Nation is the University of Illinois Extension’s 4-H youth program coordinator for Shelby County.  She says there will also be project showings which, in most cases, are not related to agriculture.

The auctions will happen on the final day.  New this year, project submissions of value can also be put up for auction. 

Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21 feature evening side events such as the pedal pull and kids games. 

Those not yet in 4-H but who are interested in enrolling can do so starting in September.  Nation says the fair is a great way to see what being in 4-H is all about. 

More information on the Shelby County 4-H Fair is available on the University of Illinois Extension’s website.

Yolanda Nation appeared as a guest on the WTIM Shelbyville Morning Show. 

A 3.5 magnitude earthquake rattled Marion County in the early morning hours of Monday, June 29th. The earthquakes epicenter was located along the Ohio River southwest of Berryville and just northeast of West Salem.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the 3.5 magnitude earthquake was felt as far east as Jasper, IN. The earthquake was also reported to be felt in Illinois within southeastern portions of Effingham, both the north and south portions of Mt. Vernon, and even as far west as St. Louis.

 A 3.5 magnitude earthquake feels like a slightly noticeable jolt or rumble that might be mistaken for a loud clap of thunder, a minor explosion, or heavy impact. This magnitude of earthquake would cause light shaking, rattling objects on shelves or may cause a hanging lamp to sway slightly. This magnitude may even wake people up, though it's usually too weak to cause any major damage.

The quake caused the shakes at approximately 2:05 am this morning. According to USGS data, the earthquake was recorded at 21 kilometers (13 miles) below the surface with a travel time of 0.28 seconds.

There have not been any damage or injury reports at this time, given the magnitude, the most damage was likely as simple as a slight jump scare.

For further details on this and other earthquakes, visit earthquake.usgs.gov.

The Findlay Police Department is receiving new funding aimed at helping improve public safety and strengthen local law enforcement efforts.

The department has been awarded 9-thousand in Organized Retail Crime Grant funding for Fiscal Year 2027. Officials say the grant funding will be used to purchase high-definition cameras, which will help support investigations, assist officers, and provide additional resources to protect local businesses and the community.

The Findlay Police Department says the new equipment will be an important tool in helping officers respond to incidents and continue working to keep the community safe. Department officials expressed appreciation for the funding opportunity and thanked residents for their continued support. They say they look forward to putting the grant funds to work as part of their ongoing efforts to serve and protect the Findlay community.

Get all your local news, weather, and more online at taylorvilledailynews.com.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie is criticizing Illinois’ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate following the release of new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA’s annual Payment Error Rate report shows Illinois’ SNAP error rate at 14.67 percent, placing the state among those with some of the highest reported error rates in the country. According to Representative McCombie, the increase in Illinois’ SNAP error rate is the result of poor management within the program, and she says the consequences could impact the state’s most vulnerable residents.

State Representative McCombie says errors within the program create concerns about the effectiveness of how SNAP benefits are being administered, and she argues that Illinois residents who rely on these services could ultimately face the impact of those issues.

SNAP provides food assistance benefits to eligible individuals and families, with the program administered at the federal level and managed through state agencies.

Representative McCombie says the newly released error rate highlights the need for improved oversight and accountability within Illinois’ SNAP system.

Follow along with tatylorvilledailynews.com for any further updates. For information on what the House and Senate for Illinois are up to, visit www.ilga.gov.

Data from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows that jobs in Christian County have dropped by nearly 18% in the last quarter-century.  This is despite a population decrease of only around 5% in the county.  New facility and road projects have sought to create more job opportunities, but they have only slightly impacted the current numbers.

The Christian County Economic Development Corporation has worked to facilitate new projects like the aforementioned ones along with other job-creating endeavors.  The organization’s Executive Director, Matt Hart, says the drop came in a steady decline in the 2010s.

Hart cites – among other factors – an aging population for the trends and says they have implications on local governments’ revenue through income taxes. 

Businesses like Dollar General and Sloan Implement have expanded their footprint into Christian County, and the CCEDC looks to build on these steps. 

More information on the Christian County Economic Development Corporation is available at www.christiancountyedc.com.

Matt Hart appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.