The Gazette-Democrat

05/21/2026

Cobden Masonic Lodge rewards young readers with new bikes

05/20/2026

Don’t let a bad decision ruin your Memorial Day weekend. Buckle up and drive sober!

Seat belt tips:
✅Keep the shoulder belt across your chest, not your neck
✅Rest the lap belt low on your hips
✅Never tuck the belt behind your back or under your arm

Let's make it a safe weekend, Illinois! Learn more: http://prez.ly/teHd

05/20/2026

05/19/2026

Anna Police Department shares thanks

05/19/2026

05/18/2026

Illinois earns top ranking for emergency preparedness

05/18/2026

05/15/2026

When heading into the great outdoors, plan ahead and check for ticks afterward!

Tick activity has been higher than usual this spring, according to reports from the Illinois Natural History Survey and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

To avoid ticks:
• Use insect repellent.
• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts/pants.
• Wear a hat and pull back hair into a ponytail.
• Avoid deer trails and tall grassy areas.
• Check clothing and pets upon returning home.

If you are bitten:
• Remove the tick as soon as possible.
• Use tweezers to grasp the tick close to the skin and pull it out with steady pressure.
• Clean the bite area with disinfectant.
• Take a picture of it and then flush the tick down the toilet or freeze it in a plastic bag for future identification.
• Check with your doctor if symptoms such as a rash, fever, or flu-like symptoms appear.

Report tick bites at https://bitemap.illinois.edu.

Learn more about tickborne illnesses at https://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/tickborne-illnesses.html

05/14/2026

Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign deadline near

05/14/2026